Database system architecture - A walk through time: From centralized platform to mobile computing keynote address

Abstract

Classical distributed database systems monolithically offer distribution transparency and higher performance. This is made possible by making data available and closer to the application domain(s) that uses it by means such as the data distribution, duplication, and fragmentation. However, with the advances in technologies this monolithic and top down approach becomes insufficient. In the new networked computational environment, the data distribution issue has evolved into data integration from several heterogeneous and autonomous data sources. Heterogeneous distributed databases are designed to deal with issue of data integration and interoperability. They are developed to allow timely and reliable access to heterogeneous and autonomous data sources in an environment that is characterized as "sometime, somewhere." The concept of mobility, where users access information through a remote connection with portable devices, has introduced additional complexities and restrictions to the heterogeneous distributed database system. This keynote address first introduces a three dimensional space to classify and identify the evolution of different classes of database systems. It also extensively discusses Heterogeneous Distributed Database Systems (HDDBS) and Mobile Data Access Systems (MDAS). Finally, it will address several research issues and their potential solutions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.