Manipulating Spatial Data in Constraint Databases
Constraint databases have recently been proposed as a powerful framework to model and retrieve spatial data. In a constraint database, a spatial object is represented as a quantifier free conjunction of (usually linear) constraints, called generalized tuple. The set of solutions of such quantifier free formula represents the set of points belonging to the extension of the object. The relational algebra can be easily extended to deal with generalized relations. However, such algebra has some limitations when it is used for modeling spatial data. First of all, there is no explicit way to deal with the set of points representing a spatial object as a whole. Rather, only point-based computations can be performed using this algebra. Second, practical constraint database languages typically use linear constraints. This allows to use efficient algorithms but, at the same time, some interesting queries cannot be represented (for example, the distance between two objects cannot be computed). Finally, no update language for spatial constraint databases has been defined yet. The aim of this paper is to overcome some of the previous limitations. In particular, we extend the model and the algebra to directly deal with the set of points represented by a generalized tuple (a spatial object), retaining at the same time the ability of expressing all computations that can be expressed by other constraint database languages. Moreover, we discuss the introduction of external functions in the proposed algebra, in order to cover all the functionalities that cannot be expressed in the chosen logical theory. Finally, we propose an update language for spatial constraint databases, based on the same principles of the algebra.

title: A temporal authorization model
abstract: This paper presents a discretionary access control model in which authorizations contain temporal information. This information can be used to specify temporal intervals of validity for authorizations and temporal dependencies among authorizations. A formal definition of those concepts is presented in the paper, in terms of their interpretation in first order logic. We characterize sets of temporal dependencies that can lead to undesirable states of the authorization system and we sketch an algorithm for their detection. Finally, operations to add, remove, or modify authorizations and temporal dependencies are described.

title: An index allocation tool for object-oriented database systems
abstract: The problem of index configuration is an important topic for database system performance and has been extensively investigated for relational Database Management Systems (DBMS). By contrast, the problem of index allocation for Object-Oriented DBMS (OODBMS) has been considered only from a theoretical point of view and no practical development of any tool for commercial OODBMS has been reported. In this paper, we investigate the problem of index configuration in the framework of a commercially available OODBMS. We first identify the features that characterize such OODBMS and we develop two cost models: the first extends the generic cost model presented by Gardarin et al. (), the second is an analytical cost model tailored to the OODBMS at hand. Both cost models have been validated by comparing the estimated costs and the actual costs observed from the system. The comparison has shown that both models are quite accurate. Using the proposed cost models, we have also developed an algorithm for the efficient index allocation on a given path, given a workload specified in terms of operation frequencies. Even though our algorithm has been developed for a specific OODBMS, we believe that it can be easily tailored to other OODBMS and persistent programming languages.

title: Extending the ODMG Object Model with Time
abstract: Although many temporal extensions of the relational data model have been proposed, there is no comparable amount of work in the context of object-oriented data models. Moreover, extensions to the relational model have been proposed in the framework of SQL standards, whereas no attempts have been made to extend the standard for objectoriented databases, defined by ODMG. This paper presents T_ODMG, a temporal extension of the ODMG-93 standard data model. The main contributions of this work are, thus, the formalization of the ODMG standard data model and its extension with time. Another contribution of this work is the investigation, on a formal basis, of the main issues arising from the introduction of time in an object-oriented model.

title: An Approach to Authorization Modeling in Object-Oriented Database Systems
abstract: Authorization is an important functionality that every data management system should provide. An authorization mechanism allows different access rights on data items to be selectively assigned to users. Authorization models and mechanisms have been widely investigated in the framework of traditional database systems. The extension of those models and mechanisms to advanced data management systems is quite complex, because those systems are characterized by data models with a larger number of semantic constructs than traditional models, like the relational one. A first authorization model defined for object-oriented (and semantic) database systems has been presented in . In this paper we present an authorization model that substantially extends and revises that model. The most significant extension concerns the support for content-dependent authorization, which was not provided in . Content-dependent authorization is very important in providing an authorization mechanism able to directly support authorization policies of application environments. Moreover, it is a crucial functionality in environments where data objects frequently change their status. In addition, the model presented here differs from the model defined in [20] in that new authorization types are introduced and a finer control of versions is provided. Finally, authorization administration of objects is considered.

title: Extending the ODMG object model with composite objects
abstract: In this paper we extend the ODMG object data model with composite objects. A composite object is an object built by aggregating other component objects. Exclusiveness and dependency constraints, as well as referential integrity, can be associated with composition relationships among objects. Our composite object model is developed in the framework of the ODMG object database standard data model, but can be used in both object-oriented and object-relational database systems. In the paper, we propose a language for defining composite objects and we define the semantics of update operations on composite objects.

title: Controlled and cooperative updates of XML documents in byzantine and failure-prone distributed systems
abstract: This paper proposes an infrastructure and related algorithms for the controlled and cooperative updates of XML documents. Key components of the proposed system are a set of XML-based languages for specifying access-control policies and the path that the document must follow during its update. Such path can be fully specified before the update process begins or can be dynamically modified by properly authorized subjects while being transmitted. Our approach is fully distributed in that each party involved in the process can verify the correctness of the operations performed until that point on the document without relying on a central authority. More importantly, the recovery procedure also does not need the participation of a central authority. Our approach is based on the use of some special control information that is transmitted together with the document and a suite of protocols. We formally specify the structure of such control information and the protocols. We also analyze security and complexity of the proposed protocols.

title: Systematic control and management of data integrity
abstract: Integrity has long been considered a fundamental requirement for secure computerized systems, and especially today's demand for data integrity is stronger than ever as many organizations are in-creasing their reliance on data and information systems. A number of recently enacted data privacy regulations also require high in-tegrity for personal data. In this paper, we discuss various issues concerning systematic control and management of data integrity with a primary focus on access control. We first examine some previously proposed integrity models and define a set of integrity requirements. We then present an architecture for comprehensive integrity control systems, which has its basis on data validation and metadata management. We also provide an integrity control policy language that we believe is flexible and intuitive.

title: Access control enforcement for conversation-based web services
abstract: Service Oriented Computing is emerging as the main approach to build distributed enterprise applications on the Web. The widespread use of Web services is hindered by the lack of adequate security and privacy support. In this paper, we present a novel framework for enforcing access control in conversation-based Web services. Our approach takes into account the conversational nature of Web services. This is in contrast with existing approaches to access control enforcement that assume a Web service as a set of independent operations. Furthermore, our approach achieves a tradeoff between the need to protect Web service's access control policies and the need to disclose to clients the portion of access control policies related to the conversations they are interested in. This is important to avoid situations where the client cannot progress in the conversation due to the lack of required security requirements. We introduce the concept of k-trustworthiness that defines the conversations for which a client can provide credentials maximizing the likelihood that it will eventually hit a final state.