A tool for the conceptual design of a database

Abstract

The present study addresses the problem of logical database design in the framework of relational data model and semantic information in the form of functional dependencies (FDs) and multivalued dependencies (MVDs). An algorithm, that takes as inputs the different attribute names, along with FDs and MVDs, has been presented which (i) generates a minimal cover of the given set of FDs and MVDs, and (ii) generates a logical database schema. The schema designed (i) preserves all the original information, (ii) minimizes redundancy, and (iii) represents "independent relationships" by a set of independent relation schemes.