A framework for integration and standardization of data from heterogenous sources

Abstract

A wide variety of distributed applications are nowadays emerging in diverse domains. These applications deploy various database systems for the management of their information, in which the diversity stems from the specific information management requirements and the objectives targeted by these applications.Existing applications differ in their main characteristics and required features. On one hand, they differ in their distributed/centralized architecture, their size, complexity, and the type of data they handle. On the other hand, their requirements depend on the global functionalities that they need to provide and on the required level of interoperation with other sites. The used database management systems (DBMSs) are at best chosen to meet the specific characteristics and requirements of every application environment. However, currently available DBMSs lack the possibility to be efficiently used for all types of applications. Some DBMSs better suit smaller applications, while others are more dedicated to complex environments and focus on the management of, for example, multimedia information and large data sets. Thus, any attempt in the direction of forcing different applications to use the same database system for the management of all their information services is unrealistic. Even within the same environment, in certain complex applications, the use of more than one DBMS cannot be avoided. Furthermore, from the application case (Healthcare) described in the thesis, it is clear that in today?s organizations, new and existing applications require access to data stored in several preexisting databases detained at several local and remote sites. Therefore, a main criterion required by most complex organizations, is the provision of collaborationpossibilities and information integration mechanisms among distributed, heterogeneous, and autonomous systems. The development of an application case provides interoperability and information integration among distributed systems, via the deployment of database stand