Fuzzy inheritance in the UFO database model

The UFO database model is an extension of an object-oriented database model (OODBM), so that it allows for the processing and recording of fuzzy and uncertain (imprecise) information. The fuzziness part of the UFO DBM enhances the modelling capabilities of database applications, by making it possible to model approximations of reality in a flexible way within the database scheme. This is also referred to as “soft computing”, a strategy which, by modelling a simplified version of the actual problem, very quickly leads to the desired, good results. There are several aspects to this fuzzy extension, both at the data level and at the level of the database scheme. This paper discusses one issue at the database scheme level, i.e. how the inheritance relationship can be fuzzified in a meaningful way. A fuzzy inheritance relationship between classes in the UFO DBM allows for a flexible modelling of fuzzy extensions of both crisp and fuzzy notions. Its influence to the inheritance of both structure and behaviour is also discussed