1. A Universal Technique for Relating Heterogeneous Data Models
Nick Rossiter
David Nelson
Michael Heather

2. Introduction
Looking at multi-level architecture for information systems
Need to handle higher levels than intension
Take object work two levels higher to achieve interoperability between heterogeneous systems
Formalisation using category theory and adjoints
Example using relational and object oriented databases

3. Outline IRDS Introduces concept of meta-meta data Four-level approach
based on ISO/IEC Standards
Information Resource Dictionary System (IRDS)
Four-level approach
concepts
constructions
format
data values

4. Extract IRDS Standard Framework

5. Relating Extension to Intension
level example
Application data Supplier(1,’Smith’)
extension -direct
addressing
Schema data Supplier (supp_no, name)
intension - addressing
by name
level pair:

6. Relating Intension to Constructs
Schema data Supplier (supp_no, name)
intension - addressing
by name
Meta data Table(supplier)
data dictionary - addressing
by concepts, constructs.

7. Relating Constructs to Abstractions
Meta data Table(Supplier)
data dictionary - addressing
by concepts, constructs.
Meta meta data Aggregation(Table)
real-world abstractions
- addressing by abstractions

8. Interpretation of IRDS in Schematic form
concepts mission
MetaMeta Policy
constructs management
Meta Organize
intension enterprise
Name Data
extension information
Information Resource
Dictionary Definition
Schema (IRDDS)
Information Resource
Dictionary Definition
(IRDD)
Information Resource
Dictionary (IRD)
Information Resource
Data (APP)

9. Formalization of IRDS Approach
Quality enhanced by formalization
Can know more confidently the limits and behaviour of a system
Which formalism is best-suited?

10. Category Theory? Need relations to represent level-pairs
Multi-level construction (higher-order)
Category theory seems appropriate:
- categories for basic structures
- functors relate categories
- natural transformations relate functors

11. Adjointness

12. Relational/OO Example
Concept (IRDDS) Inheritance
Policy MetaMeta
Constructs (IRDD) InherTable <Subtype, Supertype>
Organize OrgUniDDR OrgUniDDO Meta
Format (IRD) StudentR StudentO Postgrad
Data DataUniDDR DataUniDDO Name
Values StudentR{1234, ‘James’, {1234, ‘James’, {1234, ‘The Language X’}
(APP) ‘15 Montfort Ave’, ‘The Language X’} ‘15 Montfort Ave’}

13. Conclusions
Interoperability is considered in the context of ISO Information Resource Dictionary System
Provides a complete definition of an information system from real world abstractions through constructs employed to real data
Levels in IRDS can be mapped using category theory concept of adjoints
Future work to develop model and test constructions for a variety of data models