Entity tree clustering – A method for simplifying ER designs

Abstract

Entity Tree Clustering (ETC) is a method for clustering entity sets in large ER designs in order to improve the clarity of these designs. The procedure is stepwise so that clustered designs on different levels are achieved. Parenthood connections are used to build increasingly complex entity sets out of primitive ones. No semantical extensions of the original ER model are necessary because these connections are identified by their cardinalities alone.