An Efficient Approach for Detecting and Repairing Data Inconsistencies Resulting from Retroactive Updates in Multi-temporal and Multi-version XML Databases

Abstract

In multi-temporal XML databases supporting schema versioning, updating a past element with retroactive effect is not always a graceful task, since it could give rise to inconsistencies in the database. In fact, modifying a past element due to a detected error means that the database has included erroneous information during some period and, therefore, its consistency should be restored by correcting all errors and inconsistencies that have occurred in the past. In this paper, we propose an efficient approach which preserves data consistency in multi-temporal and multi-version XML databases. More precisely, after any retroactive update, the proposed approach allows (i) determining the period of database inconsistency, which results from that update, and (ii) repairing of all data inconsistencies and their consequent side effects.