Object-oriented databases (OODBs) have been utilized for complex modeling tasks within a variety of application domains. The OODB schema, typically expressed in a graphical notation, can serve as a useful presentation tool for the information contained in the underlying OODB. However, such a schema can be a large, complex network of classes and relationships. This may greatly hinder its effectiveness in helping users gain an understanding of the OODB’s contents and data organization. To facilitate this orientation process, a theoretical framework is presented that guides therefinement\/ of an existing schema’ssubclass-of\/ relationship hierarchy – the backbone of any OODB. The framework sets forth three rules which, when satisfied, lead to the establishment of a collection of contexts, each of which exhibits an internalsubclass-of\/ tree structure. A formal proof of this result is presented. An algorithmic methodology, involving a human–computer interaction, describes how the approach can be applied to a given OODB schema. An application of the methodology to an example OODB schema is included.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Health Informatics, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ, USA

   Huanying Gu

2. Computer Science Department, NJIT, Newark, NJ, USA

   Yehoshua Perl & James Geller

3. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Kean University, Union, NJ, USA

   Michael Halper

4. Fraunhofer IPSI, Darmstadt, Germany

   Erich J. Neuhold

Corresponding author

Correspondence toHuanying Gu.

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