A uniform framework for processing temporal object queries

The paper explores a uniform framework for processing temporal queries in the context of object oriented databases. A temporal object data model is developed by extending the unified model of RDBs and OODBs from UniSQL/X with a time dimension, that forms temporal relational-like cubes but with aggregation and inheritance hierarchies. A query algebra is thereby defined to provide an access of objects through these associations of aggregation, inheritance and time reference. Due to the hierarchy of the data model and reducibility of the query algebra, an extensible approach to processing temporal object queries within the uniform query processing framework is attained. A set of transformation rules is identified for query rewrite, that includes the known relational and object rules plus those pertaining to the time reference. To evaluate temporal queries involved in the path, a decomposition strategy is proposed. It has been shown that temporal object queries can be processed and optimized within the uniform query processing framework