Introduction to RDBMS OODBMS and ORDBMS

Perhaps the most significant characteristic of object-oriented database technology is that

it combines object-oriented programming with database technology to provide an

integrated application development system. There are many advantages to including the

definition of operations with the definition of data. First, the defined operations apply

ubiquitously and are not dependent on the particular database application running at the

moment. Second, the data types can be extended to support complex data such as multi-

media by defining new object classes that have operations to support the new kinds of

information.

Other strengths of object-oriented modeling are well known. For example, inheritance

allows one to develop solutions to complex problems incrementally by defining new

objects in terms of previously defined objects. Polymorphism and dynamic binding allow

one to define operations for one object and then to share the specification of the operation

with other objects. These objects can further extend this operation to provide behaviors

that are unique to those objects. Dynamic binding determines at runtime which of these

operations is actually executed, depending on the class of the object requested to perform

the operation. Polymorphism and dynamic binding are powerful object-oriented features

that allow one to compose objects to provide solutions without having to write code that

is specific to each object. All of these capabilities come together synergistically to

provide significant productivity advantages to database application developers.

A significant difference between object-oriented databases and relational databases is that

object-oriented databases represent relationships explicitly, supporting both navigational

and associative access to information. As the complexity of interrelationships between

information within the database increases, so do the advantages of representing

relationships explicitly. Another benefit of using explicit relationships is the

improvement in data access performance over relational value-based relationships.

A unique characteristic of objects is that they have an identity that is independent of the

state of the object. For example, if one has a car object and we remodel the car and

change its appearance, the engine, the transmission, and the tires so that it looks entirely

different, it would still be recognized as the same object we had originally. Within an

object-oriented database, one can always ask the question, “is this the same object I had

previously?”, assuming one remembers the object’s identity. Object-identity allows

objects to be related as well as shared within a distributed computing network.

All of these advantages point to the application of object-oriented databases to

information management problems that are characterized by the need to manage:

 a large number of different data types,

 a large number of relationships between the objects, and

 Objects with complex behaviors.

An application area where this kind of complexity exists includes engineering,

manufacturing, simulations, office automation and large information systems.

Object-Relational database (ORDBMS) is the third type of database common today.

ORDBMS are systems that “attempt to extend relational database systems with the

functionality necessary to support a broader class of applications and, in many ways,

provide a bridge between the relational and object-oriented paradigms.”

ORDBMS was created to handle new types of data such as audio, video, and image files

that relational databases were not equipped to handle. In addition, its development was

the result of increased usage of object-oriented programming languages, and a large

mismatch between these and the DBMS software.

One advantage of ORDBMS is that it allows organizations to continue using their

existing systems, without having to make major changes. A second advantage is that it

allows users and programmers to start using object-oriented systems in parallel.

There are challenges in implementing an ORDBMS. The first is storage and access

methods. The second is query processing, and the third is query optimization.

Since the development of RDBMS, OODBMS, and ORDBMS, many vendors have

extended their systems with the ability to store new data types such as images and texts,

and with the ability to ask more complex queries.

One rising technique is enterprise resource planning and management resource planning,

which add another layer of application-oriented features on top of a DBMS. Included

applications come from Baan, Oracle, SAP, and Siebel. These programs each identify a
set of common tasks encountered by a large number of organizations and provide a

general application layer to carry out these tasks.

RDBMS:

RDBMS stands for Relational Database Management System. It is a database

management system based on the relational model i.e. the data and relationships are

represented by a collection of inter-related tables. It is a DBMS that enables the user to

create, update, administer and interact with a relational database. RDBMS is the basis

for SQL, and for all modern database systems like MS SQL Server, IBM DB2, Oracle,

MySQL, and Microsoft Access.

OODBMS:

OODBMS stands for Object-Oriented Database Management System. It is a DBMS

where data is represented in the form of objects, as used in object-oriented

programming. OODB implements object-oriented concepts such as classes of objects,

object identity, polymorphism, encapsulation, and inheritance. An object-oriented

database stores complex data as compared to relational database. Some examples of

OODBMS are Versant Object Database, Objectivity/DB, ObjectStore, Caché and

ZODB.
 Difference between RDBMS and OODBMS:

BASIS RDBMS OODBMS

Stands for Relational Database Management Stands for Object Orientedl Database

Long Form System. Management System.

Way of Stores data in Entities, defined as tables hold

storing data specific information. Stores data as Objects.

Data

Complexity Handles comparatively simpler data. Handles larger and complex data than RDBMS.

Class describes a group of objects that have

Entity type refers to the collection of entity that common relationships, behaviors, and also have

Grouping share a common definition. similar properties.

Data

Handeling RDBMS stores only data. Stores data as well as methods to use it.

Main

Objective Data Independece from application program. Data Encapsulation.

A Primary key distinctively identifies an object in a An object identifier (OID) is an unambiguous,

Key table.. long-term name for any type of object or entity.

Multimedia Database

Multimedia database is the collection of interrelated multimedia data that includes

text, graphics (sketches, drawings), images, animations, video, audio etc and have vast

amounts of multisource multimedia data. The framework that manages different types

of multimedia data which can be stored, delivered and utilized in different ways is

known as multimedia database management system. There are three classes of the

multimedia database which includes static media, dynamic media and dimensional

media.

Content of Multimedia Database management system :

1. Media data – The actual data representing an object.

2. Media format data – Information such as sampling rate, resolution, encoding

scheme etc. about the format of the media data after it goes through the acquisition,

processing and encoding phase.

3. Media keyword data – Keywords description relating to the generation of data. It is

also known as content descriptive data. Example: date, time and place of recording.

4. Media feature data – Content dependent data such as the distribution of colors,

kinds of texture and different shapes present in data.

Types of multimedia applications based on data management characteristic are :

1. Repository applications – A Large amount of multimedia data as well as meta-

data(Media format date, Media keyword data, Media feature data) that is stored for
 retrieval purpose, e.g., Repository of satellite images, engineering drawings,

radiology scanned pictures.

2. Presentation applications – They involve delivery of multimedia data subject to

temporal constraint. Optimal viewing or listening requires DBMS to deliver data at

certain rate offering the quality of service above a certain threshold. Here data is

processed as it is delivered. Example: Annotating of video and audio data, real-time

editing analysis.

3. Collaborative work using multimedia information – It involves executing a

complex task by merging drawings, changing notifications. Example: Intelligent

healthcare network.

There are still many challenges to multimedia databases, some of which are :

1. Modelling – Working in this area can improve database versus information retrieval

techniques thus, documents constitute a specialized area and deserve special

consideration.

2. Design – The conceptual, logical and physical design of multimedia databases has

not yet been addressed fully as performance and tuning issues at each level are far

more complex as they consist of a variety of formats like JPEG, GIF, PNG, MPEG

which is not easy to convert from one form to another.

3. Storage – Storage of multimedia database on any standard disk presents the

problem of representation, compression, mapping to device hierarchies, archiving

 and buffering during input-output operation. In DBMS, a ”BLOB”(Binary Large

Object) facility allows untyped bitmaps to be stored and retrieved.

4. Performance – For an application involving video playback or audio-video

synchronization, physical limitations dominate. The use of parallel processing may

alleviate some problems but such techniques are not yet fully developed. Apart from

this multimedia database consume a lot of processing time as well as bandwidth.

5. Queries and retrieval –For multimedia data like images, video, audio accessing

data through query opens up many issues like efficient query formulation, query

execution and optimization which need to be worked upon.

Areas where multimedia database is applied are:

 Documents and record management: Industries and businesses that keep

detailed records and variety of documents. Example: Insurance claim record.

 Knowledge dissemination: Multimedia database is a very effective tool for

knowledge dissemination in terms of providing several resources. Example:

Electronic books.

 Education and training: Computer-aided learning materials can be designed using

multimedia sources which are nowadays very popular sources of learning. Example:

Digital libraries.

 Marketing, advertising, retailing, entertainment and travel. Example: a virtual tour

of cities.
 Real-time control and monitoring: Coupled with active database technology,

multimedia presentation of information can be very effective means for monitoring

and controlling complex tasks Example: Manufacturing operation control.

Distributed DBMS - Distributed Databases

In a distributed database, there are a number of databases that may be geographically

distributed all over the world. A distributed DBMS manages the distributed database in a

manner so that it appears as one single database to users. In the later part of the chapter,

we go on to study the factors that lead to distributed databases, its advantages and

disadvantages.

A distributed database is a collection of multiple interconnected databases, which are

spread physically across various locations that communicate via a computer network.

Features

 Databases in the collection are logically interrelated with each other. Often they

represent a single logical database.

 Data is physically stored across multiple sites. Data in each site can be managed

by a DBMS independent of the other sites.

  The processors in the sites are connected via a network. They do not have any

multiprocessor configuration.

 A distributed database is not a loosely connected file system.

 A distributed database incorporates transaction processing, but it is not

synonymous with a transaction processing system.

Distributed Database Management System

A distributed database management system (DDBMS) is a centralized software system

that manages a distributed database in a manner as if it were all stored in a single

location.

Features

 It is used to create, retrieve, update and delete distributed databases.

 It synchronizes the database periodically and provides access mechanisms by the

virtue of which the distribution becomes transparent to the users.

 It ensures that the data modified at any site is universally updated.

 It is used in application areas where large volumes of data are processed and

accessed by numerous users simultaneously.

 It is designed for heterogeneous database platforms.

 It maintains confidentiality and data integrity of the databases.

Factors Encouraging DDBMS

The following factors encourage moving over to DDBMS −

 Distributed Nature of Organizational Units − Most organizations in the current

times are subdivided into multiple units that are physically distributed over the

globe. Each unit requires its own set of local data. Thus, the overall database of

the organization becomes distributed.

 Need for Sharing of Data − The multiple organizational units often need to

communicate with each other and share their data and resources. This demands

common databases or replicated databases that should be used in a synchronized

manner.

 Support for Both OLTP and OLAP − Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) work upon diversified systems which

may have common data. Distributed database systems aid both these processing

by providing synchronized data.

 Database Recovery − One of the common techniques used in DDBMS is

replication of data across different sites. Replication of data automatically helps

in data recovery if database in any site is damaged. Users can access data from

other sites while the damaged site is being reconstructed. Thus, database failure

may become almost inconspicuous to users.

  Support for Multiple Application Software − Most organizations use a variety

of application software each with its specific database support. DDBMS provides

a uniform functionality for using the same data among different platforms.

Advantages of Distributed Databases

Following are the advantages of distributed databases over centralized databases.

Modular Development − If the system needs to be expanded to new locations or new

units, in centralized database systems, the action requires substantial efforts and

disruption in the existing functioning. However, in distributed databases, the work

simply requires adding new computers and local data to the new site and finally

connecting them to the distributed system, with no interruption in current functions.

More Reliable − In case of database failures, the total system of centralized databases

comes to a halt. However, in distributed systems, when a component fails, the

functioning of the system continues may be at a reduced performance. Hence DDBMS is

more reliable.

Better Response − If data is distributed in an efficient manner, then user requests can be

met from local data itself, thus providing faster response. On the other hand, in

centralized systems, all queries have to pass through the central computer for processing,

which increases the response time.

Lower Communication Cost − In distributed database systems, if data is located

locally where it is mostly used, then the communication costs for data manipulation can

be minimized. This is not feasible in centralized systems.