Temporal data management systems: a comparative view

Characteristics and requirements of systems for temporal data management in the areas of data and knowledge bases, artificial intelligence, and software engineering are investigated and discussed on the basis of a case study. Six representative approaches were selected for this analysis, with the goal of identifying particular features of systems proposed in different areas. The six approaches are: Allen's interval-based logic, Dean and McDermott's time map management, Kowalski and Sergot's event calculus, Maiocchi and Pernici's TSOS. Snodgrass' TQuel, and Hagelstein's ERAE. The characteristics of each system are classified and compared. On the basis of this analysis, a framework for the evaluation of temporal systems and for the specification of temporal data management systems is proposed.<>