A Logic-Based Approach to Data Integration

Title: A Logic-Based Approach to Data Integration

Research Question: How can a logic-based approach be used to efficiently answer queries using distributed resources, while maintaining data integrity and handling negation and recursion?

Methodology: The researchers developed a logic-based approach to query folding, which involves transforming a query from database relations to resources (or materialized views). This method uses resolution, a technique from logic programming, to handle integrity constraints, negation, and recursion.

Results: The researchers presented a uniform approach that includes as special cases much of the previous work on this topic. They demonstrated that their algorithm is guaranteed to find a rewriting of the query if one exists, ensuring the answers are sound (correct) and allowing them to determine under certain conditions if the folded query contains all answers to the original query, making it complete.

Implications: This research has significant implications for data integration systems. By using a logic-based approach, they were able to handle a wide range of complexities, such as integrity constraints, negation, and recursion, in a uniform manner without the need for specialized techniques. This can lead to more efficient and accurate query processing in distributed environments.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0110032v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0110032v1