FISQL/FIRA

Overview

FISQL is a powerful language that augments SQL with the ability to query and manipulate metadata alongside data seamlessly. Relational tables can be restructured into spreadsheet formats, and vice versa. Federated Information Systems relying on relational technology can simplify the process of writing wrappers, mediators, and integrating views. Furthermore, FISQL supports and facilitates schema evolution and legacy data integration.

Recent work has focused on Federated Interoperable Relational Algebra (FIRA). FIRA operates on federated relations and contains a subalgebra isomorphic to canonical RA, under a simple, non-intrusive embedding from canonical to federated relations. FIRA is equivalent to the querying core of FISQL, under a similar translation as SQL <-> RA. These properties make metadata querying in the relational model possible and, in fact, natural.

With the intrinsic ability to query and manipulate the structure (i.e. metadata) of our data as well as the data itself that FIRA/FISQL provides, we are poised to apply this framework to traditional database areas, such as Data Exchange or Relational OnLine Analytical Processing.

Publications

• Catharine M. Wyss and Felix I. Wyss. Extending Relational Query Optimization to Dynamic Schemas for Information Integration in Multidatabases ACM Conference of the Special Interest Group on Management of Data (SIGMOD), June 2007.
• George Fletcher, Edward Robertson, Dirk Van Gucht, and Catharine M. Wyss. A Calculus for Data Mapping Elsevier Electronic Notes in Computer Science (ENTCS) 150(2), March 2006.
• Catharine M. Wyss and Edward Robertson. A Formal Characterization of PIVOT/UNPIVOT ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM), November 2005.
• Catharine M. Wyss and Edward Robertson. Languages for Metadata Integration ACM Transactions on Databases (TODS), 30:2, June 2005.
• George H. L. Fletcher and Catharine M. Wyss. Relational Data Mapping in MIQIS. Demonstration at ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data. Baltimore, Maryland. June 2005.
• George H. L. Fletcher, Catharine M. Wyss, Edward Robertson and Dirk Van Gucht. A Calculus for Data Mapping. International Workshop on Database Interoperability (InterDB). Namur, Belgium. April 2005.
• George H. L. Fletcher and Catharine M. Wyss. Mapping Between Data Sources on the Web. International Workshop on Challenges in Web Information Retrieval and Integration (WIRI). Tokyo, Japan. April 2005.
• Catharine M. Wyss and Dirk Van Gucht. A Relational Algebra for Data/Metadata Integration in a Federated Database System. ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM). Atlanta, Georgia. November 2001.
• Catharine M. Wyss, Felix I. Wyss and Dirk Van Gucht. Augmenting SQL with Dynamic Typing to Support Interoperability in a Relational Federation. Engineering Federated Information Systems (EFIS). Berlin, Germany. October 2001.

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