Managing complex information in reactive applications using an active temporal XML database approach

Tasks, such as those in patient care practice, require constant monitoring of a dynamic context and environment based on best practices in the form of predefined experience-based information or knowledge. These applications could take the form of reactive applications. The problem of incorporating best practices into routines used in such tasks requires advanced approaches and methods for comprehensively managing complex information. This paper presents a generic and unified framework for Complex Information Management (CIM) in domains where best practices need to be incorporated into day-to-day work. The CIM framework is supported by a high level declarative language, called AIM. The approach adopted here uses the combined application of the event-condition-action (ECA) rule paradigm, a temporal mechanism, advanced DBMS features and XML technologies. Furthermore, the paper also presents the conceptual architecture for the complex information management system, AIMS. The main contribution of CIM framework and approach lays in managing the complex information by introducing multiple management planes under a unified framework.