Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Outline

Title
Abstract
Figures
References

On the use of Object-Role Modelling to Model Active Domains

Profile image of Stijn HoppenbrouwersStijn Hoppenbrouwers

Abstract
sparkles

AI

This paper explores the application of Object-Role Modelling (ORM) in developing models of active domains, extending traditional ORM methodologies. It outlines a new framework called the Object-Role Calculus (ORC) suitable for reasoning within historical contexts of active domains, integrating concepts like history descriptors and binary relationships into its structure. The findings demonstrate how specific views can be generated, showcasing the dynamic aspects such as activities and actor involvement within these domains.

Figures (3)
Elementary information descriptors can be composed into complex informa- tion descriptors using constructions such as concatenation, conjunction, implica- tion, disjunction and complement. These may refer to the fronts alone or both fronts and tails of descriptors. For more details, see [10]. In this paper we will use:
Elementary information descriptors can be composed into complex informa- tion descriptors using constructions such as concatenation, conjunction, implica- tion, disjunction and complement. These may refer to the fronts alone or both fronts and tails of descriptors. For more details, see [10]. In this paper we will use:
Fig. 2. Lecturing example Using the ORC temporal dependencies can be formulated governing the be- haviour of a domain. Currently, we are experimenting with effective graphical representation of some key classes of temporal dependencies. In [20] we have provided some examples using notations inspired by the field of workflow mod- elling [1].
Fig. 2. Lecturing example Using the ORC temporal dependencies can be formulated governing the be- haviour of a domain. Currently, we are experimenting with effective graphical representation of some key classes of temporal dependencies. In [20] we have provided some examples using notations inspired by the field of workflow mod- elling [1].
Fig. 3. Life cycle types In the example domain, courses are offered to students. In offering a course, a lecturer starts by setting up the course offering. This is followed by the actual lecturing. After lecturing the course, the lecturer sets an exam. This exam is given to the students attending the course, after which the lecturer marks the exam papers produced by the students. Students attend the course by enrolling. After their enrollment they attend the course. Once the course is finished, they prepare themselves for the exam, which is following by the actual exam, leading to an exam paper.
Fig. 3. Life cycle types In the example domain, courses are offered to students. In offering a course, a lecturer starts by setting up the course offering. This is followed by the actual lecturing. After lecturing the course, the lecturer sets an exam. This exam is given to the students attending the course, after which the lecturer marks the exam papers produced by the students. Students attend the course by enrolling. After their enrollment they attend the course. Once the course is finished, they prepare themselves for the exam, which is following by the actual exam, leading to an exam paper.

Related papers

Is it an Ontology Or an Abstract Syntax?: Modelling Objects, Knowledge and Agent Messages
Stephen Cranefield

Proceedings of the Workshop …, 2000

The Department of Information Science is one of six departments that make up the Division of Commerce at the University of Otago. The department offers courses of study leading to a major in Information Science within the BCom, BA and BSc degrees. In addition to undergraduate teaching, the department is also strongly involved in postgraduate research programmes leading to MCom, MA, MSc and PhD degrees. Research projects in spatial information processing, connectionist-based information systems, software engineering and software development, information engineering and database, software metrics, distributed information systems, multimedia information systems and information systems security are particularly well supported.

View PDFchevron_right
Formal definition of a conceptual language for the description and manipulation of information models
Theo van der Weide

Information Systems, 1993

Conceptual data modelling techniques aim at the representation of data at a high level of abstraction. This implies that conceptual data modelling techniques should not only be capable of naturally representing complex structures, but also the rules (constraints) that must hold for these structures. Contemporary data modelling techniques however, do not provide a language, which on the one hand has a formal semantics and on the other hand leads to natural looking expressions, for formulating these constraints. In this paper such a language is de ned for an existing data modelling technique (PSM), which is a generalisation of object-role models (such as ER or NIAM). In this language not only constraints, but also queries and updates can be expressed on a conceptual level. conceptual level. Many query and manipulation languages (e.g. SQL) require a fairly high level of training or are based on a rather primitive data modelling technique (e.g. ER).

View PDFchevron_right
Semantics of the MibML Conceptual Modeling Grammar: An Ontological Analysis Using the Bunge-Wang-Weber Framework
Rajiv Kishore

A conceptual modeling grammar should be based on the theory of ontology and possess clear ontological semantics to represent problem domain knowledge in a precise and consistent manner. In this paper, we follow the notion of ontological expressiveness and conduct an ontological analysis of a newly-developed conceptual modeling grammar termed MibML (Multiagent-based Integrative Business Modeling Language). The grammar is developed to respond to the emerging needs for a special-purpose conceptual modeling grammar for the MIBIS (multi-agent-based integrative business information systems) universe. We assign ontological semantics to the MibML constructs and their relationship using the BWW (Bunge-Wand-Weber) model. This article provides a starting point to further develop ontological principles and step-by-step guidelines to ensure the straightforward mapping from domain knowledge into MibML modeling constructs.

View PDFchevron_right
The notion of role in conceptual modelling
Nathalie Aussenac-Gilles

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 1997

In this article we analyse the notion of knowledge role. First of all, we present how the relationship between problem solving methods and domain models is tackled in different approaches. We concentrate on how they cope with this issue in the knowledge engineering process. Secondly, we introduce several properties which can be used to analyse, characterise and define the notion of role. We evaluate and compare the works exposed previously following these dimensions. This analysis suggests some developments to better exploit the relationship between reasoning and domain knowledge. We present them in a last section.

View PDFchevron_right
Formalizing Linguistic Conventions for Conceptual Models
Sebastian Herwig

Conceptual Modeling-ER …, 2009

View PDFchevron_right
A Set-Theoretic Formal Specification of the Semantics of Kermeta
Moussa AMRANI
View PDFchevron_right
Operational Semantics: Concepts and Their Expression
Cliff Jones

… SERIES-UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE …, 2003

View PDFchevron_right
The Role of ‘Conceptual Role Semantics
Barry Loewer

1982

In his paper Gilbert Harman defends conceptual role semantics (CRS), a theory of meaning he has been elaborating for the past decade ([11]-[13]). CRS is especially interesting for the way it combines issues that are central to both the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind. According to Harman it is founded on two claims:

View PDFchevron_right
Specifying the semantics of operation contracts in conceptual modeling
Anna Queralt

Journal on Data Semantics VII, 2006

View PDFchevron_right
On Domain Conceptualization
Henderik A Proper

Lecture notes in business information processing, 2021

The growing role of models across the life-cycle of enterprises, and their information and software systems, fuels the need for a more fundamental reflection on the foundations of modeling. Two of the core theories of the discipline of enterprise engineering (Factual Information (FI) theory and the Model Universe (MU) theory) aim at contributing to these foundations. The latest versions of the FI-and MU-theories have recently been published. Offering an analysis and criticism to them enables us to continue the important debate on the semiotic, ontological, and general philosophical foundations of domain modeling and enterprise modeling in particular. A core concept in the field of domain modeling is the conceptualization of the domain. In this paper, we specifically focus on the development of a deeper understanding of domain conceptualizations, while reflecting on the way this notion is positioned in the FI-and MU-theories.

View PDFchevron_right

References (22)

  1. W.M.P. van der Aalst and A.H.M. ter Hofstede. YAWL: yet another workflow language. Inform ation System s, 30(4):245-275, 2005.
  2. A.C. Bloesch and T.A. Halpin. ConQuer: A Conceptual Query Language. In B. Thalheim, editor, Proceedings o f the 15th International Conference on Concep tual Modeling ( E R '96), Cottbus, Germany, EU, volume 1157 of Lecture N otes in Com puter Science, pages 121-133, Berlin, Germany, EU, October 1996. Springer.
  3. B.F. Chellas. Modal logic: an introduction. Cambridge University Press, Cam bridge, United Kingdom, EU, 1980.
  4. P.P. Chen. The Entity-Relationship Model: Towards a Unified View of Data. A C M Transactions on Database System s, 1(1):9-36, March 1976.
  5. D.W. Embley, B.D. Kurtz, and S.N. Woodfield. O bject-O riented System s A nalysis -A m odel-driven approach. Yourdon Press, New York, New York, USA, 1992.
  6. G. Farrington. A n Overview o f the International Aerospace Language. 1996.
  7. D.S. Frankel. Model D riven Architecture: A pplying M DA to E nterprise Computing. Wiley, New York, New York, USA, 2003.
  8. P.J.M. Frederiks and Th.P. van der Weide. Deriving and paraphrasing information grammars using object-oriented analysis models. A cta Inform atica, 38(7):437-88, June 2002.
  9. T.A. Halpin. Inform ation Modeling and Relational Databases, From Conceptual A nalysis to Logical Design. Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo, California, USA, 2001.
  10. A.H.M. ter Hofstede, H.A. (Erik) Proper, and Th.P. van der Weide. Formal defini tion of a conceptual language for the description and manipulation of information models. Inform ation System s, 18(7):489-523, October 1993.
  11. A.H.M. ter Hofstede, H.A. (Erik) Proper, and Th.P. van der Weide. Exploiting Fact Verbalisation in Conceptual Information Modelling. Inform ation System s, 22(6/7):349-385, September 1997.
  12. S.J.B.A. Hoppenbrouwers, H.A. (Erik) Proper, and Th.P. van der Weide. Fact Calculus: Using ORM and Lisa-D to Reason About Domains. In R. Meers man, Z. Tari, and P. Herrero, editors, On the M ove to M eaningful In tern et S ys tem s 2005: O T M Workshops -O T M Confederated International Workshops and Posters, AW eSO M e, CAM S, GADA, M IO S + IN T E R O P , ORM, PhDS, SeBG IS, S W W S , and W O SE 2005, Agia Napa, Cyprus, EU, volume 3762 of Lecture N otes in Com puter Science, pages 720-729, Berlin, Germany, October/November 2005. Springer-Verlag.
  13. Inform ation processing system s -Concepts and Terminology fo r the Conceptual Schem a and the Inform ation B ase, 1987. ISO /T R 9007:1987.
  14. M.M. Lankhorst and others. E nterprise Architecture at Work: Modelling, Com m unication and A nalysis. Springer, Berlin, Germany, EU, 2005.
  15. R. Meersman. The RIDL Conceptual Language. Technical report, International Centre for Information Analysis Services, Control D ata Belgium, Inc., Brussels, Belgium, EU, 1982.
  16. G.M. Nijssen and T.A. Halpin. Conceptual Schema, and Relational Database D e sign: a fa c t oriented approach. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA, 1989.
  17. M.C. Paulk, B. Curtis, M.B. Chrissis, and C.V. Weber. Capability M aturity Model for Software, Version 1.1. Technical Report SEI-93-TR-024, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, February 1993.
  18. H.A. (Erik) Proper. ConQuer-92 -The revised report on the conceptual query language LISA-D. Technical report, Asymetrix Research Laboratory, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1994.
  19. H.A. (Erik) Proper, A.I. Bleeker, and S.J.B.A. Hoppenbrouwers. Object-Role Modelling as a Domain Modelling Approach. In J. Grundspenkis and M. Kirikova, editors, Proceedings o f the Workshop on Evaluating Modeling Methods fo r System s A nalysis and Design (E M M S A D '04), held in conjunctiun with the 16th Conference on Advanced Inform ation System s 2004 (C A iS E 2004),, volume 3, pages 317-328, Riga, Latvia, EU, June 2004. Faculty of Computer Science and Information Tech nology.
  20. H.A. (Erik) Proper, S.J.B.A. Hoppenbrouwers, and Th.P. van der Weide. A F act- Oriented Approach to Activity Modeling. In R. Meersman, Z. Tari, and P. Her rero, editors, On the M ove to M eaningful In tern et System s 2005: O T M Workshops -O T M Confederated International Workshops and Posters, A W eSO M e, CAM S, G ADA, M IO S+ IN T E R O P , ORM, PhDS, SeB G IS, S W W S , and W O SE 2005, Agia Napa, Cyprus, EU, volume 3762 of Lecture N otes in Com puter Science, pages 666 675, Berlin, Germany, October/November 2005. Springer-Verlag.
  21. H.A. (Erik) Proper and Th.P. van der Weide. EVORM -A Conceptual Modelling Technique for Evolving Application Domains. Data & Knowledge Engineering, 12:313-359, 1994.
  22. R. Schwitter. Controlled Natural Languages. Centre for Language Technology, Macquary University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2004.

Related papers

On the Use of Object-Role Modeling for Modeling Active Domains
Erik Proper

Conceptual modelling methods such as Object-Role Modelling (ORM) have traditionally been developed with the aim of providing conceptual models of database structures. More recently, however, such modelling languages have shown their use for modelling (the ontology) of domains in general. In these latter cases, the modelling effort results in a (formally based) conceptual reasoning systems using a domain calculus on top of a domain grammar. As the title suggests, this paper is primarily concerned with the application of ORM 'rigour' to the modelling of active domains. In doing so, we will position the logbook paradigm as a history-oriented extension of the traditional natural language approach of ORM, and define an accompanying domain calculus (the Object-Role Calculus) which is suitable to deal with active domains. Finally, we will show how specific views (with dedicated notations), which zoom in on different aspects (such as flow of activities and actor involvement) of active domains, can easily be derived. Person working for Department 'I&KS' People working for department 'I&KS' Person (working for Department 'I&KS' AND ALSO owning Car of Brand 'Seat') People working for department 'I&KS' who also own a car of brand Seat Note that the natural language likeness of the ORC expressions used in this paper can be improved considerably.

View PDFchevron_right
A Role Calculus for ORM
Terry Halpin

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2009

A conceptual schema of an information system specifies the fact structures of interest as well as related business rules that are either constraints or derivation rules. Constraints restrict the possible or permitted states or state transitions, while derivation rules enable some facts to be derived from others. Graphical languages are commonly used to specify conceptual schemas, but often need to be supplemented by more expressive textual languages to capture additional business rules, as well as conceptual queries that enable conceptual models to be queried directly. This paper describes research to provide a role calculus to underpin textual languages for Object-Role Modeling (ORM), to enable business rules and queries to be formulated in a language intelligible to business users. The role-based nature of this calculus, which exploits the attribute-free nature of ORM, appears to offer significant advantages over other proposed approaches, especially in the area of semantic stability.

View PDFchevron_right
Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics of Conceptual Modelling
Bernhard Thalheim

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2012

Models, modelling languages, modelling frameworks and their background have dominated conceptual modelling research and information systems engineering for last four decades. Conceptual models are mediators between the application world and the implementation or system world. Currently conceptual modelling is rather a craft and at the best an art. We target on a science and culture of conceptual modelling.

View PDFchevron_right
Action-oriented conceptual modelling†
Pär Ågerfalk

European Journal of Information Systems, 2004

The aim of this paper is to show how speech act theory can be used in systems development as a theoretical foundation for conceptual modelling. With the traditional notion of the conceptual model as an image of reality, the predominant modelling problem is to analyse how the external reality should be mapped into, and represented in, the system in a 'true' way. In contrast to this, we maintain that the main modelling problem should be to analyse the communication acts performed by use of the system within its business context. This implies an integration of traditional conceptual modelling with action-oriented business modelling based on speech act theory. With such an approach, it is possible to reconcile traditional conceptual modelling and the pragmatic aspects of language and computer use. It is argued that such reconciliation is essential to arrive at systems that provide relevant information to users and in which users can trace responsibilities for information, actions and commitments made.

View PDFchevron_right
Semantics of the MibML Conceptual Modeling Grammar
Rajiv Kishore

Journal of Database Management, 2000

A conceptual modeling grammar should be based on the theory of ontology and possess clear ontological semantics to represent problem domain knowledge in a precise and consistent manner. In this paper, we follow the notion of ontological expressiveness and conduct an ontological analysis of a newly-developed conceptual modeling grammar termed MibML (Multiagent-based Integrative Business Modeling Language). The grammar is developed to respond to the emerging needs for a special-purpose conceptual modeling grammar for the MIBIS (multi-agent-based integrative business information systems) universe. We assign ontological semantics to the MibML constructs and their relationship using the BWW (Bunge-Wand-Weber) model. This article provides a starting point to further develop ontological principles and step-by-step guidelines to ensure the straightforward mapping from domain knowledge into MibML modeling constructs.

View PDFchevron_right
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
© 2025 Academia. All rights reserved