Meta Object Approach to Database Schema Integration

Database schema integration is significant not only in building multidatabase systems but also in data warehousing. Metadata, which define schemas, are normally involved in the surrounding issues. And while many of these issues have been addressed in the past, unresolved issues remain. In this paper, we present an approach that not only uses metadata but also uses meta-meta information to make schema integration more possible. Our solution requires meta object facility that serves not only as a repository but also as a more feasible means of managing meta data. We also advocate the use of such a facility as part of an object-oriented middleware environment that provides an open interface standard and several useful services in distributed object management.