User Modelling for Conceptual Database Design Based on an Extended Entity Relationship Model: A Preliminary Study Relationship Model

We introduce a new point of view into user modelling by analysing systematically the task of a database designer. The database designer accomplishes the design process using design steps. Design primitives are possible values of design steps. The main idea of the paper is to support an arbitrary user with an evaluation function and a finite set of application independent design primitives. A mechanism based on the belief function of the Dempster-Shafer calculus can be used to solve different problems: finding the most appropriate design strategy w.r.t. a specific designer and application, determining a plausible design primitive for the next design step. Finally, an Explanation Component can use this mechanism to guide the designer in an efficient way. The User Guidance Tool is sketched, whereby some aspects of context-sensitivity of the Explanation Component are shown in more detail. The user interface design is presented by an overview of the functions which are included in the RADD system.

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