The aggregate data problem

In this paper we describe the fundamental components of a database management system for the definition, storage, manipulation and query of aggregate data, i.e. data which are obtained by applying statistical aggregations and statistical analysis functions over raw data. In particular, the attention has been focused on: (1) a data structure for the efficient storage and manipulation of aggregate data, called ADaS; (2) the graphical structures of the aggregate data model ADAMO for a more user-friendly definition and query of aggregate data; (3) a graphical user interface which enables a straightforward specification of the ADAMO structures; (4) a textual declarative query language to retrieve data from the aggregate database, called ADQUEL.