Abstract Object Types for Databases

There is a need for exploring the theoretical and methodological foundations of database design and development with the intention to achieve provably correct systems and higher levels of reusability. To this end, topics rarely addressed so far in this area must be investigated, among them full incorporation of dynamic aspects, static and dynamic integrity checking, formal methods strongly backed by a sound theory, and design-in-the-large issues like modularization and parameterization. Our approach combines the object-oriented paradigm with experiences in formal methods in software engineering, especially algebraic data type theory, logical approaches to systems specification and design, and process algebra. In analogy to algebraic data type theory, we propose mathematical models for the basic notions of object, object type and abstract object type.