The Schema Mapper

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of matching the physical file structure of a database with the different types of user transaction requests that the database management software must process. Different physical file structures and user transaction types are explained and interaction between them is discussed and shown. The Schema Mapper, a model based expert system first assures stable transaction processes using Statistical Process Control methods. It then forecasts the frequency and response time of each type of database user transaction requests leading to the choice of file structure that should minimize total system response time. An experiment is presented which demonstrates The Schema Mapper’s performance during five days of simulated transactions. Experimental results are summarized and presented as evidence of the effectiveness of this expert system. Conclusions and extensions are then offered.