Temporal capabilities in support of conceptual process modeling using object-role modeling

Conceptual data modeling languages must be provided with temporal capabilities to support the data evolution throughout the execution of a conceptual process model. Asides from supporting the storage of historical data, temporal capabilities must also provide the means for verifying the consistency between the data temporal properties and the data modification resulting from the process execution. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) language is a conceptual data modeling language that is based on the concepts of Fact (i.e. true statements on the represented world), Fact Type, and Fact Base (i.e. the set of all the Facts). Currently, the ORM language does not address the specification of Facts temporal properties, and therefore does not also support the verification of Facts variations during a process execution. The paper introduces an initial ORM overlay methodology that aims to laying the foundation of the conceptual modeling structures that can support the verification of temporal evolution of conceptual data models (i.e., whether a Fact can be asserted or retracted, depending on its temporal properties). Moreover, the overlay methodology also defines a temporal visual notation and an initial semi-formal temporal verbalization that eases the use of the methodology to the ORM modelers. A simple example illustrates the potential application of the overlay methodology.