[mod.ai] Course - Advanced Topics in Databases

Tim@CIS.UPENN.EDU.UUCP (12/11/86)

Forwarded From: Peter Buneman <Peter@cis.upenn.edu> on Thu 11 Dec 1986 at  9:37
Subj: Course announcement - CIS 684, Advanced Topics in Databases


                 Advanced Topics in Databases

Instructors:  Peter Buneman and Susan Davidson

The topics covered next semester will include heterogeneous and distributed
databases, deductive databases and (time permitting) database theory. The
course will be taught from a collection of papers which will be made
available as a bulk pack from the copy center.   Students will be expected
to participate in the last third of the semester with presentations.

Heterogeneous Databases

We will examine the various data models and the integration of programming
languages and databases.  Particular attention will be given to the
representation of databases as data types and strategies for the treatment
of persistent data.  There are some interesting recent programming languages
that exploit type inheritance or an ``object-oriented'' approach to
databases.  

Distributed Databases

Topics will include the design of a distributed system, the translation of
global to fragement queries, query amelioration, concurrency control,
recovery, and an overview of sample systems.

Deductive Databases

There is a close connection between logic programming and relational query
languages.  We will examine the representation of database queries as logic
programs, implementation problems and some extensions to the relational
model that fit better with logic programs.   If time permits we shall
examine some of the underlying theory.

Recommended text:  Distributed Databases: Systems and Principles,
Ceri and Pelagatti, McGraw Hill (1985)