Temporal Database Management

dr.techn. thesis by Christian S. Jensen

defended April 2000

Preface i
Overview and Directions to the Reader vii
1.  Introduction to Temporal Database Research 1
Part I   Semantics of Temporal Data 29
2.  Semantics of Time-Varying Information 33
3.  Temporal Specialization and Generalization 65
4.  On the Semantics of "Now" in Databases 117
5.  Modification Semantics in Now-Relative Databases 167
6.  Unifying Temporal Data Models 215
7.  Point- Versus Interval-based Temporal Data Models 267
8.  A Foundation for Vacuuming Temporal Databases 287
Part II   The TSQL2 Query Language 317
9.   A TSQL2 Tutorial 321
10.  A Second Example 335
11.  The Surrogate Data Type 357
12.  The TSQL2 Data Model 361
13.  Schema Specification 397
14.  The From Clause 399
15.  Valid-Time Selection and Projection 403
16.  Modification 445
17.  Cursors 449
18.  Now 455
19.  Vacuuming 465
20.  An Architectural Framework 477
21.  An Algebra for TSQL2 485
22.  Language Syntax 519
Part III   SQL Standardization and Beyond 563
23.  Evaluating the Completeness of TSQL2 565
24.  Notions of Upward Compatibility of Temporal Query Languages 589
25.  Transitioning Temporal Support in TSQL2 to SQL3 615
26.  Adding Valid Time to SQL/Temporal 665
27.  Adding Transaction Time to SQL/Temporal 753
28.  Temporal Statement Modifiers 799
Part IV   Database Design 859
29.  Extending Existing Dependency Theory to Temporal Databases 863
30.  Temporally Enhanced Database Design 907
31.  Temporal Entity-Relationship Models–a Survey 939
32.  Conceptual Modeling of Time-Varying Information 1007
33.  From Temporal ER Models to Relations 1051
Part V   Implementation Techniques 1103
34.  Efficient Evaluation of the Valid-Time Natural Join 1109
35.  Efficient Differential Timeslice Computation 1135
36.  R-Tree Based Indexing of Now-Relative Bitemporal Data 1161
37.  Light-Weight Indexing of General Bitemporal Data 1187
38.  Layered Temporal DBMS's–Concepts and Techniques 1219
39.  Stratum Approaches to Temporal DBMS Implementation 1241
40.  Effective Timestamping in Databases 1263
List of Contributions 1315
List of Coauthors 1321
Summary In Danish 1323