I Fundamentals.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Architecture of Active Database Systems.- Advanced Topics.- 3 Rule Analysis.- 4 Optimization.- 5 Monitoring Complex Rule Conditions.- 6 Performance Assessment.- 7 Tool Support.- 8 ECA Functionality in a Distributed Environment.- 9 Comparing Deductive and Active Databases.- III Systems.- 10 Active Database Features in SQL3.- 11 Ariel.- 12 SAMOS.- 13 EXACT: An Approach to Coping with Heterogeneous Rule Execution Models.- 14 REACH.- 15 NAOS.- 16 PFL: An Active Functional DBPL.- 17 Chimera: A Language for Designing Rule Applications.- 18 RAP: The ROCK & ROLL Active Programming System.- IV Applications.- 19 Database Internal Applications.- 20 Active Database Systems: Expectations, Commercial Experience, and Beyond.- 21 Active Real-Time Database Systems.- V Summary.- 22 Summary.

Active rules provide a new and important method for designing databases and the subject is seeing an increasing amount of attention from commercial database companies. This book provides a timely survey of the field from the point of view of some of the subject's most active researchers. The book is divided into several parts, organized by theme: the first, Fundamentals covers the underlying methodology reagrding active rules, next comes a collection of chapters which cover formal specification, rule analysis, performance analysis, and support tools, the third part is devoted to a number of chapters covering the implementation of active rules in a number of commercial systems. Finally, come sections on applications and future directions that research may take. All researchers in databases will find this provides a valuable overview of this topic.