# Evolving objects in temporal information systems

• Published 2007 in Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence

#### Abstract

This paper presents a semantic foundation of temporal conceptual models used to design temporal information systems. We consider a modelling language able to express both timestamping and evolution constraints. We conduct a deeper investigation of evolution constraints, eventually devising a model-theoretic semantics for a full-fledged model with both timestamping and evolution constraints. The proposed formalization is meant both to clarify the meaning of the various temporal constructors that appeared in the literature and to give a rigorous definition, in the context of temporal information systems, to notions like satisfiability, subsumption and logical implication. Furthermore, we show how to express temporal constraints using a subset of first-order temporal logic, i.e., $\mathcal{DLR}{_{\mathcal{US}}}$ the description logic $\mathcal{DLR}$ extended with the temporal operators Since and Until. We show how $\mathcal{DLR}{_{\mathcal{US}}}$ is able to capture the various modelling constraints in a succinct way and to perform automated reasoning on temporal conceptual models.

DOI: 10.1007/s10472-007-9068-z

### Cite this paper

@article{Artale2007EvolvingOI, title={Evolving objects in temporal information systems}, author={Alessandro Artale and Christine Parent and Stefano Spaccapietra}, journal={Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence}, year={2007}, volume={50}, pages={5-38} }