Reasoning About ORA-SS Data Models Using the Semantic Web

Yuan-Fang Li, Jing Sun, Gillian Dobbie, Hai H. Wang, Jun Sun

Abstract: There has been a rapid growth in the use of semistructured data in both web applications and database systems. Consequently, the design of a good semistructured data model is essential. In the relational database community, algorithms have been defined to transform a relational schema from one normal form to a more suitable normal form. These algorithms have been shown to preserve certain semantics during the transformation. The work presented in this paper is the first step towards representing such algorithms for semistructured data, namely formally defining the semantics necessary for achieving this goal. Formal semantics and automated reasoning tools enable us to reveal the inconsistencies in a semistructured data model and its instances. The Object Relationship Attribute model for Semistructured data (ORA-SS) is a graphical notation for designing and representing semistructured data. This paper presents a methodology of encoding the semantics of the ORA-SS notation into the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and automatically verifying the semistructured data design using the OWL reasoning tools. Our methodology provides automated consistency checking of an ORA-SS data model at both the schema and instance levels.