Modeling Semistructured Data by using graph-based constraints

In this paper, we introduce the General Semistructured Meta-Model (GSMM), a simple meta-model for semistructured information which can be applied for the translation to a common formalism of the various abstract models proposed in literature; this approach fosters easy a priori comparison and discussion of concrete models’ features, such as allowed sets of values, handling of object identifiers, relationships representation; moreover, it supports effective inter-model translation and design.