Ebook: The TSQL2 Temporal Query Language

Temporal databases have been an active research topic for at least fifteen years. During this time, several dozen temporal query languages have been proposed. Many within the temporal database research community perceived that the time had come to consolidate approaches to temporal data models and calculus­ based query languages, to achieve a consensus query language and associated data model upon which future research can be based. While there were many query language proposals, with a diversity of language and modeling constructs, common themes kept resurfacing. However, the community was quite frag­ mented, with each research project being based on a particular and different set of assumptions and approaches. Often these assumptions were not germane to the research per se, but were made simply because the research required a data model or query language with certain characteristics, with the partic­ ular one chosen rather arbitrarily. It would be better in such circumstances for research projects to choose the same language. Unfortunately, no existing language had attracted a following large enough to become the one of choice. In April, 1992 Richard Snodgrass circulated a white paper that proposed that a temporal extension to SQL be produced by the research community. Shortly thereafter, the temporal database community organized the "ARPA/NSF In­ ternational Workshop on an Infrastructure for Temporal Databases," which was held in Arlington, TX, in June, 1993.

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This book includes an overview of the scope of the design of the TSQL2 Temporal Query Language, a listing of the design goals for the language, a brief introduction to the major concepts of the language, a detailed examination of each of the language's major design decisions, discussing alternatives and surveying previous approaches, and a detailing of the changes that would be necessary to augment a conventional, non-temporal data base management system (DBMS) to support the facilities of TSQL2.
The book also contains the language specification itself, as an upward compatible extension of SQL-92.
The TSQL2 Temporal Query Language is an edited collection of papers intended for use as a reference by academics and industry professionals interested in temporal databases research. This book is also suitable as a secondary textbook for a graduate level course on temporal databases.

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This book includes an overview of the scope of the design of the TSQL2 Temporal Query Language, a listing of the design goals for the language, a brief introduction to the major concepts of the language, a detailed examination of each of the language's major design decisions, discussing alternatives and surveying previous approaches, and a detailing of the changes that would be necessary to augment a conventional, non-temporal data base management system (DBMS) to support the facilities of TSQL2.
The book also contains the language specification itself, as an upward compatible extension of SQL-92.
The TSQL2 Temporal Query Language is an edited collection of papers intended for use as a reference by academics and industry professionals interested in temporal databases research. This book is also suitable as a secondary textbook for a graduate level course on temporal databases.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Rationale for a Temporal Extension to Sql....Pages 3-18
Introduction to TSQL2....Pages 19-31
TSQL2 Tutorial....Pages 33-47
A Second Example....Pages 49-73
Front Matter....Pages 75-75
The Baseline Clock....Pages 77-96
The Data Model for Time....Pages 97-101
Supporting Multiple Calendars....Pages 103-121
Temporal Data Types....Pages 123-152
The Surrogate Data Type....Pages 153-156
The TSQL2 Data Model....Pages 157-240
Schema Specification....Pages 241-243
The From Clause....Pages 245-249
Valid-Time Selection and Projection....Pages 251-298
Modification....Pages 299-303
Cursors....Pages 305-309
Event Tables....Pages 311-318
Transaction Time Support....Pages 319-325
Temporal Indeterminacy....Pages 327-346
Temporal Granularity....Pages 347-383
“Now”....Pages 385-394
Front Matter....Pages 75-75
Aggregates....Pages 395-425
Schema Versioning....Pages 427-449
Vacuuming....Pages 451-462
Front Matter....Pages 463-463
An Architectural, Framework....Pages 465-473
A Timestamp Representation....Pages 475-499
SQL-92 Compatibility Issues....Pages 501-504
An Algebra for TSQL2....Pages 505-546
Front Matter....Pages 547-547
Language Syntax....Pages 549-549
Section 5 Lexical Elements....Pages 551-561
Section 6 Scalar Expressions....Pages 563-590
Section 7 Query Expressions....Pages 591-598
Section 8 Predicates....Pages 599-603
Section 10 Additional Common Elements....Pages 605-606
Section 11 Schema Definition and Manipulation....Pages 607-616
Section 12 Module....Pages 617-620
Section 13 Data Manipulation....Pages 621-627
Section 21 Information Schema and Definition Schema....Pages 629-630
Section 22 Status Codes....Pages 631-631
Back Matter....Pages 633-674

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This book includes an overview of the scope of the design of the TSQL2 Temporal Query Language, a listing of the design goals for the language, a brief introduction to the major concepts of the language, a detailed examination of each of the language's major design decisions, discussing alternatives and surveying previous approaches, and a detailing of the changes that would be necessary to augment a conventional, non-temporal data base management system (DBMS) to support the facilities of TSQL2.
The book also contains the language specification itself, as an upward compatible extension of SQL-92.
The TSQL2 Temporal Query Language is an edited collection of papers intended for use as a reference by academics and industry professionals interested in temporal databases research. This book is also suitable as a secondary textbook for a graduate level course on temporal databases.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Rationale for a Temporal Extension to Sql....Pages 3-18
Introduction to TSQL2....Pages 19-31
TSQL2 Tutorial....Pages 33-47
A Second Example....Pages 49-73
Front Matter....Pages 75-75
The Baseline Clock....Pages 77-96
The Data Model for Time....Pages 97-101
Supporting Multiple Calendars....Pages 103-121
Temporal Data Types....Pages 123-152
The Surrogate Data Type....Pages 153-156
The TSQL2 Data Model....Pages 157-240
Schema Specification....Pages 241-243
The From Clause....Pages 245-249
Valid-Time Selection and Projection....Pages 251-298
Modification....Pages 299-303
Cursors....Pages 305-309
Event Tables....Pages 311-318
Transaction Time Support....Pages 319-325
Temporal Indeterminacy....Pages 327-346
Temporal Granularity....Pages 347-383
“Now”....Pages 385-394
Front Matter....Pages 75-75
Aggregates....Pages 395-425
Schema Versioning....Pages 427-449
Vacuuming....Pages 451-462
Front Matter....Pages 463-463
An Architectural, Framework....Pages 465-473
A Timestamp Representation....Pages 475-499
SQL-92 Compatibility Issues....Pages 501-504
An Algebra for TSQL2....Pages 505-546
Front Matter....Pages 547-547
Language Syntax....Pages 549-549
Section 5 Lexical Elements....Pages 551-561
Section 6 Scalar Expressions....Pages 563-590
Section 7 Query Expressions....Pages 591-598
Section 8 Predicates....Pages 599-603
Section 10 Additional Common Elements....Pages 605-606
Section 11 Schema Definition and Manipulation....Pages 607-616
Section 12 Module....Pages 617-620
Section 13 Data Manipulation....Pages 621-627
Section 21 Information Schema and Definition Schema....Pages 629-630
Section 22 Status Codes....Pages 631-631
Back Matter....Pages 633-674
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