In this paper we examine the semantics and develop constructs for temporal data independent of any tradltlonal data model, such as the relational or network data models Unhke many other works which extend existing models to support temporal data, our purpose is to characterize the properties of temporal data and operators over them without being influenced by tradltlonal models which were not specifically designed to model temporal data We develop data constructs that represent sequences of temporal values, identify then semantic properties, and define operations over these structures Our approach to modelmg temporal mformatlon 1s to start with the understandmg and speclficatlon of the semantics of temporal data independent of any specific logical data model (such as the relational model, the entity-relationship model, the CODASYL network model, etc ) We differ from many other works whose starting pomt 1s a given model which 1s extended to support temporal data Examples of works that extend the relational model are [Anav et al 84, Clifford & Tansel 85, Gadla 86, Lum et al 841, and examples of works that extend the Entity-RelationshIp model are [Klopproge 81, Adlba & Quang 861 We believe that our approach leads to precise characterlzatlon of the properties of temporal data and operators over them without being mfluenced by traditIona models which were not specifically deslgned to model temporal data Once such characterlzatlon 1s achieved, we can attempt to represent these structures and operations m specific logical models Typically, this will require extensions or changes of the loglcal models, or perhaps will point out that some models are inadequate for temporal modeling
In REF , Segev and Shoshani discuss the semantics of temporal data and corresponding operators independently from a specific data model.
Logical modeling of temporal data
SIGMOD '87
Computer Science