A change management framework: Dependency maintenance and change notification

Abstract

In this article, we present an object-oriented database system (ODBMS)-based ''change management framework'' that manages dependency relationships between shared objects and dependent user views in a collaborative system and coordinates change and propagation activities between the two. First, it provides a set of abstract object classes that constitute the core constructs of the change management framework such as a dependent dictionary, a supporter, and a dependent. Second, it extends the framework in two directions: persistent shared objects and distributed computing. For persistent shared objects, a delayed change notification mechanism is additionally introduced to support a transaction management environment. For distributed computing, a client-server computing model is incorporated into the change management mechanisms. At the highest level of this framework, change manager classes are provided to encapsulate all the complex structures and dynamic behavioral schemes of the mechanisms. The framework is developed under a commercial ODBMS called OBJECTSTORE using the C++ programming language.