A Toolkit for Constraint Management in Heterogeneous Information Systems

Abstract

We present a framework and a toolkit to monitor and enforce distributed integrity constraints in loosely coupled information systems. Our framework enables formalizes weakened notions of consistency which are essential in such environments. Our framework is used to describe (1) interfaces provided by a database for the data items involved in intersite constraints; (2) strategies for monitoring and enforcing such constraints; (3) guaranregarding the level of consistency the system can provide. Our toolkit uses this framework to provide a set of configurable modules that are used to monitor and enforce constraints spanning loosely coupled heterogeneous information systems.