TECHNICALREPORT9007 tso Published 1987-07-01 Information processing systems - Concepts and terminology for the conceptual schema and the information base ISo (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (IsO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through iso technical committees. Each member body interestedinasubjectforwhichatechnicalcommitteehas establishedha stherighttoberepresentedonthatcommittee International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with Iso, also take part in the work. The main task of IsO technical committees is to prepare International Standards. In exceptional circumstances a technical committee mayproposethepublicationof atechnical reportof one ofthefollowingtypes type 1, when the necessary support within the technical committee cannot be obtained for the publication of an International Standard, despite repeated efforts; type 2, when the subject is still under technical development requiring wider exposure; type 3, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard ("state of the art", for example). Technical reports are accepted for publication directly by Iso Council. Technical reports types 1 and 2 are subject to review within three years of publication, to decide if they can be transformed into International Standards. Technical reports type 3 do not necessarily have to be reviewed until the data they provide is considered no longer valid or useful. ISO/TR 9007 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 97, Information processing systems. The reasons which led tothe decisiontopublishthisdocument intheformof atechnical reporttype3areexplained inthePreface UDC 681.3.02 Ref.No. ISO/TR 9007 : 1987 (E) factual database basic concepts (c)InternationalOrganizationforStandardization,1987 Printed in Switzerland Price based on 120 pages ISO/TR9007:1987(E) PREFACE. O.1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT. ponent for handling conceptual schemata. This Report explains the roles and concepts for a conceptual schema with the intentioa of providing a framework for discussion and for the design of conceptual scheaa languages. The rules described in the conceptual schema coatrol to alarge extentwhat may or aay not happen in an information systen and a data base. Therefore this Report Is not limiting its attention to the conceptual schema alone, but also considers and a data base. This Report is aimed at designers of information systems and data bases as well as suppliers of conceptual schema facilities. The provided framework will pre- pare the way for eventual standardization in the area of data base management. It does not, however, describe any particular method for using Buch facil- ities. In the meantime, the general principles in this Report can be used to evaluate emerging DBMs facilities. The approaches and associated languages described in appendices to the Report standard conceptual schema language. O.2. STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT. The main body of the Report (chapters one through four) contains the fundamen- tal concepts and terminology for the conceptual schema, the lnformation base, and the mechanisms iavolved in manipulating them. Chapter one gives an introduction to the subject, mentions the origins of some ideas developed in the Report, and discusses some major topics. In particular, it explains what a conceptual schema is used for, its roles, and requirements for a conceptual schema facility. Chapter two explains fundamental concepts, provides definittons of the concepts and terus, and deveiops some of the consequences of those concepts and defini- tions. Both tatic and dynamic aspects of the information system are considered and explained. Some readers may wish to skip this chapter on the first reading. Chapter three discusses some aspects of Implementation. In particular, prin- ciples are formulated fo