An Object Oriented Approach to Multidimensional Database Conceptual Modeling (OOMD)

In the recent past, there has been an increasing interest in multidimensional databases (MDB) and On-line Analytical Processing (OLAP) scenarios. Several multidimensional models have been proposed in the last days. However, very few works have been focused on the area of multidimensional database conceptual modeling. Moreover, they are either conceptual extensions to the classical multidimensional model or translations from classical database conceptual models (such as the EntityRelationship model). Nevertheless, we take the concepts and basic ideas of the classical multidimensional model (dimensions and facts) to propose a revolutionary approach based on the Object Oriented (OO) Paradigm to MDB conceptual modeling. Then, the basic elements of our Object Oriented Multidimensional Model (OOMD) such as dimension classes and fact classes are introduced. We then present cube classes as the basic structure to allow a subsequent analysis of the data stored in the system. We fairly believe that the utilization of the OO Paradigm will provide us a general conceptual model to MDB conceptual modeling in a more flexible, natural and simple way than the models proposed until now.