Introduction to Constraint Databases [Paperback]

Differing from other books on the subject, this one uses the framework of constraint databases to provide a natural and powerful generalization of relational databases. An important theme running through the text is showing how relational databases can smoothly develop into constraint databases, without sacrificing any of the benefits of relational databases whilst gaining new advantages. Peter Revesz begins by discussing data models and how queries may be addressed to them. From here, he develops the theory of relational and constraint databases, including Datalog and the relational calculus, concluding with three sample constraint database systems -- DISCO, DINGO, and RATHER. Advanced undergraduates and graduates in computer science will find this a clear introduction to the subject, while professionals and researchers will appreciate this novel perspective on their subject.* Infinite relational databases * Constraint databases * Relational algebra and SQL * Datalog queries * Aggregation and negation queries * Constraint automata * Refinement queries * Safe query languages * Evaluation of queries * Computational complexity * Certification * Implementation methods * Spatio-temporal databases * Interoperability * Approximation by constraints * Data visualization * Indexing * The MLPQ system * The DISCO system *The PReSTO system * Computer vision * Bioinformatics * Environmental modeling

From the reviews:

Constraints, such as linear or polynomial equalities, are used to finitely represent possibly infinite sets of points. They provide an elegant way to combine classical relational data with, for instance, spatial or temporal data?.This book?will certainly play an important role in spreading the ideas behind constraint databases among a wider audience, especially among students?it offers a strong background in constraint-database theory and comprehensively addresses developer's issues. --SIGMOD Records

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