Identifying Criteria for Classifying Paths in ER Schemata by Using a Description Logic

The notion of ´classes of a path in an Entity-Relationship (ER) data schema´ was put forward as a characterization of the capability of a schema of accommodating data instances whereby to provide information for various purposes including answering a query. Thus far though, criteria with which a process of classifying paths can be systematically carried out are yet to be found and formulated. To this end, one possible approach seems to first all accurately and formally describe paths so that we can reason about them, and then to examine the characteristics of the formal representations of the paths with a view to finding useful clues and indications. We propose to use Description Logics (DL) for this task. In this paper, we show how to use Description Logics to formulate paths in an ER schema whereby to find desirable criteria.