System and method for teaching entity-relationship modeling
First Claim
1. A method for teaching entity-relationship modeling, comprising the steps of:
- instructing a student to complete a first template summarizing business rules of an organization in need of a database, the first template being graphically divided into numbered sections corresponding to each of the business rules;
for each of the business rules summarized in the first template;
instructing the student to complete a second template for each pair of related data entities referenced in the business rule, the second template being graphically divided into separate blocks for containing a name for each of the entities, a relationship existing between the data entities, and a class describing a distributive relationship between the entities;
instructing the student to complete a third template for each pair of data entities having a many-to-many distributive relationship reflected on the second template, the third template being graphically divided to include a central block naming a bridge entity and lateral blocks naming the pair of data entities on opposite sides of the block naming the bridge entity, each of the data entities having a one-to-many distributive relationship with the bridge entity;
drawing an entity-relationship diagram segment from the completed second and third templates, the drawing being performed by the student;
instructing the student to complete a fourth template for each entity named in the second template, the fourth template being graphically divided to contain a block for a name for each attribute of the data entity and a corresponding block for a description of the named attribute, and adding the attributes to the segment;
instructing the student to complete a fifth template graphically divided to define optional and mandatory participation of each of the pair of data entities in the relationship named in the second template, and symbolically notating the segment accordingly;
instructing the student to complete a sixth template graphically divided to define cardinality of each of the data entities, and symbolically annotating the segment accordingly; and
integrating the entity-relationship diagram segments for all of the business rules to form an integrated entity-relationship diagram for the organization, the integrating being performed by the student.
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Abstract
The system and method for teaching entity-relationship modeling employ graphical organizer templates to systematically analyze the data storage requirements of an organization. The student is taught to apply the templates in logical order, from recognizing the organization'"'"'s business rules and constraints on those rules, through classification of entities, the relationships between entities, distributive aspects of the relationships, attributes of the entities, identifying required and optional entities, and the cardinality of the relationships. The templates place the information in a graphical or chart form, which may then be easily translated into the formal symbolism of an entity-relationship diagram.
35 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for teaching entity-relationship modeling, comprising the steps of:
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instructing a student to complete a first template summarizing business rules of an organization in need of a database, the first template being graphically divided into numbered sections corresponding to each of the business rules; for each of the business rules summarized in the first template; instructing the student to complete a second template for each pair of related data entities referenced in the business rule, the second template being graphically divided into separate blocks for containing a name for each of the entities, a relationship existing between the data entities, and a class describing a distributive relationship between the entities; instructing the student to complete a third template for each pair of data entities having a many-to-many distributive relationship reflected on the second template, the third template being graphically divided to include a central block naming a bridge entity and lateral blocks naming the pair of data entities on opposite sides of the block naming the bridge entity, each of the data entities having a one-to-many distributive relationship with the bridge entity; drawing an entity-relationship diagram segment from the completed second and third templates, the drawing being performed by the student; instructing the student to complete a fourth template for each entity named in the second template, the fourth template being graphically divided to contain a block for a name for each attribute of the data entity and a corresponding block for a description of the named attribute, and adding the attributes to the segment; instructing the student to complete a fifth template graphically divided to define optional and mandatory participation of each of the pair of data entities in the relationship named in the second template, and symbolically notating the segment accordingly; instructing the student to complete a sixth template graphically divided to define cardinality of each of the data entities, and symbolically annotating the segment accordingly; and integrating the entity-relationship diagram segments for all of the business rules to form an integrated entity-relationship diagram for the organization, the integrating being performed by the student. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of preparing an entity-relationship diagram, comprising the steps of:
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completing a first template summarizing business rules of an organization in need of a database, the first template being graphically divided into numbered sections corresponding to each of the business rules; for each of the business rules summarized in the first template; completing a second template for each pair of related data entities referenced in the business rule, the second template being graphically divided into separate blocks for containing a name for each of the entities, a relationship existing between the data entities, and a class describing a distributive relationship between the entities; completing a third template for each pair of data entities having a many-to-many distributive relationship reflected on the second template, the third template being graphically divided to include a central block naming a bridge entity and lateral blocks naming the pair of data entities on opposite sides of the block naming the bridge entity, each of the data entities having a one-to-many distributive relationship with the bridge entity; drawing an entity-relationship diagram segment from the completed second and third templates; completing a fourth template for each entity named in the second template, the fourth template being graphically divided to contain a block for a name for each attribute of the data entity and a corresponding block for a description of the named attribute, and adding the attributes to the segment; completing a fifth template graphically divided to define optional and mandatory participation of each of the pair of data entities in the relationship named in the second template, and symbolically notating the segment accordingly; completing a sixth template graphically divided to define cardinality of each of the data entities, and symbolically annotating the segment accordingly; and integrating the entity-relationship diagram segments for all of the business rules to form an integrated entity-relationship diagram for the organization. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for teaching entity-relationship modeling, comprising:
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a first template summarizing business rules of an organization in need of a database, the first template being graphically divided into numbered sections corresponding to each of the business rules; a second template for each pair of related data entities referenced in the business rules, the second template being graphically divided into separate blocks for containing a name for each of the entities, a relationship existing between the data entities, and a class describing a distributive relationship between the entities; a third template for each pair of data entities having a many-to-many distributive relationship reflected on the second template, the third template being graphically divided to include a central block naming a bridge entity and lateral blocks naming the pair of data entities on opposite sides of the block naming the bridge entity, each of the data entities having a one-to-many distributive relationship with the bridge entity; a fourth template for each entity named in the second template, the fourth template being graphically divided to contain a block for a name for each attribute of the data entity and a corresponding block for a description of the named attribute; a fifth template graphically divided to define optional and mandatory participation of each of the pair of data entities in the relationship named in the second template; and a sixth template graphically divided to define cardinality of each of the data entities. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification