The implementation of cooperative mechanisms among system components in a heterogeneous multidatabase environment

The cooperative interaction of component database systems and auxillary system components is a prerequisite to the smooth functioning of a heterogenous multidatabase system. The institution of mechanisms to foster such cooperative interaction is therefore a significant factor in the development of multidatabase systems. Issues to be considered in this regard include establishing and managing communication channels and information flow among system components, synchronizing their executions, and detecting and recovering from errors. This paper presents a practical solution of these issues, illustrated with detailed examples of its implementation in UNIX environments. Examples drawn upon experience gained in the development of the InterBase System, an ongoing heterogeneous database project at Purdue University. The implementation of the proposed solution in non-UNIX environments such as IBM CMS and MS-DOS, is also illustrated. Fundamental aspects of InterBAse, including logical architecture and component interoperability, are described briefly.