Time and Relational Theory provides an in-depth description of temporal database systems, which provide special facilities for storing, querying, and updating historical and future data. Traditionally, database management systems provide little or no special support for temporal data at all. This situation is changing because:
Cheap storage enables retention of large volumes of historical data in data warehousesUsers are now faced with temporal data problems, and need solutions Temporal features have recently been incorporated into the SQL standard, and vendors have begun to add temporal support to their DBMS products
Based on the groundbreaking text Temporal Data & the Relational Model (Morgan Kaufmann, 2002) and new research led by the authors, Time and Relational Theory is the only book to offer a complete overview of the functionality of a temporal DBMS. Expert authors Nikos Lorentzos, Hugh Darwen, and Chris Date describe an approach to temporal database management that is firmly rooted in classical relational theory and will stand the test of time.


This book covers the SQL:2011 temporal extensions in depth and identifies and discusses the temporal functionality still missing from SQL.




Understand how the relational model provides an ideal basis for taming the complexities of temporal databases Learn how to analyze and evaluate commercial temporal products with this timely and important information Be able to use sound principles in designing and using temporal databases Understand the temporal support recently added to SQL with coverage of the new SQL features in this unique, accurate, and authoritative reference Appreciate the benefits of a truly relational approach to the problem with this clear, user friendly presentation


Table of contents :
Content:
Front matter, Page i
Copyright, Page ii
Dedication, Page iii
About the Authors, Page iv
Preface, Pages xiii-xix
Part I - A Review of Relational Concepts, Pages 1-2
Chapter 1 - Types and Relations, Pages 3-24
Chapter 2 - Relational Algebra, Pages 25-44
Chapter 3 - Relation Variables, Pages 45-58
Part II - Laying the Foundations, Page 59
Chapter 4 - Time and the Database, Pages 61-72
Chapter 5 - What’s the Problem?, Pages 73-86
Chapter 6 - Intervals, Pages 87-102
Chapter 7 - Interval Operators, Pages 103-114
Chapter 8 - The EXPAND and COLLAPSE Operators, Pages 115-126
Chapter 9 - The PACK and UNPACK Operators I: The Single-Attribute Case, Pages 127-141
Chapter 10 - The PACK and UNPACK Operators II: The Multiattribute Case, Pages 143-168
Chapter 11 - Generalizing the Algebraic Operators, Pages 169-194
Part III - Building on the Foundations, Page 195
Chapter 12 - Database Design I: Structure, Pages 197-226
Chapter 13 - Database Design II : Keys and Related Constraints, Pages 227-254
Chapter 14 - Database Design III : General Constraints, Pages 255-292
Chapter 15 - Queries, Pages 293-312
Chapter 16 - Updates, Pages 313-344
Chapter 17 - Logged Time and Stated Time, Pages 345-368
Chapter 18 - Point and Interval Types Revisited, Pages 369-400
Part IV - SQL Support, Page 401
Chapter 19 - The SQL Standard, Pages 403-448
Appendixes, Page 449
Appendix A - Cyclic Point Types, Pages 451-466
Appendix B - Is Ordinality Necessary?, Pages 467-472
Appendix C - Generalizing PACK and UNPACK, Pages 473-481
Appendix D - A Tutorial D Grammar, Pages 483-486
Appendix E - Implementation Considerations, Pages 487-516
Appendix F - References and Bibliography, Pages 517-543
Index, Pages 545-558