Data modelling in complex application domains

Abstract

In many non trivial application domains, object types with a complex structure occur. Data modelling techniques which only allow flat structures are not suitable for representing such complex object types. In this paper a general data modelling technique, the Predicator Set Model, is introduced, which is capable of representing complex structures in a natural way. The expressiveness of the Predicator Set Model is illustrated by means of a number of examples. In those examples, the Predicator Set Model's expressiveness is related to the expressiveness of more traditional modelling techniques. Furthermore, some notational conventions are defined, which enable a more compact representation of complex structures.