Comparing and synthesizing integrity checking methods for deductive databases

Abstract

We compare and synthesize different methods for integrity checking in deductive databases. First, we state simplified integrity checking for deductive databases independently of the particular strategy used by different methods found in the literature. In accordance with this statement, we classify integrity checking methods into two main groups: methods with a generation phase without fact access and methods with a generation phase with fact access. Then, we propose an implementation scheme (a metaprogram) where the differences and similarities among the methods can be pointed out. In this common implementation framework, we compare the methods; this comparison is based on the number of facts accessed by each of them during integrity checking. Finally and from the analysis of the results, we define a convergence method which synthesizes some different features from several methods. >