Efficient query processing for a subset of linear recursive binary rules

We study the complexity of processing a class of rules called simple binary rule sets. The data referenced by the rules are stored in secondary memory. A necessary and sufficient condition that a simple binary rule set can be processed in a single pass of a file containing the base relations is given. Because not all simple binary rule sets can be processed in a single pass, a necessary and sufficient condition that a simple binary rule set can be processed by a constant number of passes is also given