Validating constraints with partial information: research overview

Abstract

We are interested in the problem of validating the consistency of integrity constraints when data is modified. In particular, we consider how constraints can be checked with only "partial information". Partial information may include: (1) the constraint specifications only, (2) the constraint specifications and the modified data, or (3) the constraint specifications, the modified data, and portions ofthe existing data. Methods for constraint checking with partía! ínformation can be much more efficient than traditional constraint checking methods ( e.g. because work is done at compile time, or because less data is accessed). Partial information methods also enable constraint checking in scenarios where tradítíonal constraint checking methods fail (e.g. in distributed environments where not all data is accessible). We explain how existing methods and results for query containment and for independeñce can be applied to problems (1) and (2) above, and we give an overview of our research into problem (3).