A Data Model for Design Objects

Modeling concepts for handling structural data of hierarchically composed complex objects are presented. A complex object is modeled as an hierarchy of interfaces and an im plementation. Objects sharing the same interface at any level have same attributes and attribute values up to that level in the hierarchy. This structuring facilitates storage of multiple object versions and their subsequent reuse in design databases, &here multiple versions of design artifacts are routinely created and maintained. Other important concepts needed for design databases are presented, and in particular two types of instantiation parametric instantiation, and conditional instantiation are proposed.