Semantic Integrity Constraint Checking for Multiple XML Databases

Abstract

Global semantic integrity constraints ensure integrity and consistency of data spanning multiple databases. In this paper, we take initial steps towards representing global semantic integrity constraints for XML databases. We also provide a general framework for checking global semantic integrity constraints for XML databases. Furthermore, we set forth an efficient algorithm for checking global semantic integrity constraints across multiple XML databases. Our algorithm is efficient for three reasons: (1) the algorithm does not require the update statement to be executed before the constraint check is carried out; hence, we avoid any potential problems associated with rollbacks, (2) sub constraint checks are executed in parallel, and (3) most of the processing of algorithm could happen at compile time; hence, we save time spent at run-time. As a proof of concept, we present a prototype of the system implementing the ideas discussed in this paper.