Operations and implementation of complex objects

Many applications in the CAD/CAM and AI domains require the capability to define and manipulate a structured collection of records as a single logical entity, called a complex object. A complex object is the unit of sharing among many configurations of higher level entities. In this paper, we present a model of complex object and define a set of meaningful operations, both basic and advanced, on a single complex object and on a configuration of complex objects. We then present a set of requirements for storage subsystems that support complex objects. We also describe our implementation of complex objects and operations on a single complex object; and provide a detailed performance analysis which establishes the merit of complex objects. Finally, we propose storage techniques for supporting advanced operations on a configuration of complex objects.