JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science 16(20): 3073-3101, doi: 10.3217/jucs-016-20-3073
Support for Schema Evolution in Data Stream Management Systems
expand article infoJames F. Terwilliger‡, Rafael J. Fernández-Moctezuma§, Lois M. L. Delcambre§, David Maier§
‡ Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, United States of America§ Portland State University, Portland, United States of America

Corresponding author: James Terwilliger ( james.terwilliger@microsoft.com )

© James Terwilliger, Rafael Fernández-Moctezuma, Lois M. L. Delcambre, David Maier.
This article is freely available under the J.UCS Open Content License.
Citation: Terwilliger JF, Fernández-Moctezuma RJ, Delcambre LML, Maier D (2010) Support for Schema Evolution in Data Stream Management Systems. JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science 16(20): 3073-3101. https://doi.org/10.3217/jucs-016-20-3073
Open Access
Abstract
Unlike Database Management Systems (DBMSs), Data Stream Management Systems (DSMSs) do not evaluate queries over static data sets — rather, they continuously produce result streams to standing queries, and often operate in a context where any interruption can lead to data loss. Support for schema evolution in such an environment is currently unaddressed. In this work we address evolution in DSMSs by introducing a new element to streams, called an accent, that precedes and describes an evolution. We characterize how a subset of commonly used query operators in DSMS act on and propagate accents with respect to three evolution primitives: Add Attribute, Drop Attribute, and Alter Data.
Keywords
data streams, schema evolution