Implementing integrity constraints of EXPRESS in an active object-oriented database

Abstract

A framework for engineering information exchange is proposed for an information-driven computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system, using the ISO STEP EXPRESS specification language and an active object-oriented database. The framework allows both the engineering data and its integrity constraints specified using EXPRESS to be stored in the active object-oriented database. Using triggers constraints, the active object-oriented application programs to share the engineering data without a any concern about the integrity constraints. That is, integrity checking is performed by the database management system, not by individual application programs. Further, it can resolve the problem of engineering semantics loss, and integrate various existing computer aided engineering tools in a heterogeneous CIM environment. The translation framework is described along with appropriate translation examples. A prototype design system based on the framework and comparisons with other approaches are also discussed.