An improved algorithm based on subset closures for synthesizing a relational database scheme

An algorithm for synthesizing a better relational database scheme in elementary key normal form (EKNF) is developed. This algorithm eliminates not only extraneous attributes and other redundancies, but also superfluities from a given set of functional dependences (FDs), based primarily on subset closures, Hamiltonian cycles of FDs, and equivalent subsets of attributes. Following this algorithm, a better LR-minimum FD covering is obtained. A more practical and efficient method for designing a relational database scheme in EKNF is then provided. The time complexity of the algorithm is polynomial