The internal events method for integrity constraints enforcement in deductive databases

We propose a new method for integrity checking in deductive databases. The method augments a database with a set of transition and intemal events rules, which explicitly define the insenions and deletions induced by a database update. Standard SLDNF resolution can then be used to check satisfaction of integrity constraints. The method has the full power of the methods developed so far, and its implementation in Prolog does not require any meta-interpreter. It deals with both static and transition integrity constraints, providing a uniform approach in which both classes of integrity constraints can be defined and enforced. The method can also be used to optimize the integrity enforcement task. This work has been partially supported by the PRONTIC program project TIC 680