Automated Database Restructuring

In modern database systems, it is common to define
views of stored data. Views can be materialized, that
is precomputed and stored in the database. Views are
typically materialized to improve some metric of
database performance, such as query-evaluation costs
or maintenance costs for the already materialized
views. To optimize the chosen performance metric, it
is critical to materialize the "right" views.

The problem of finding views to materialize has been
studied using the view-selection approach, where the
views to materialize are given in advance. However,
in general, it may be necessary to invent new view
definitions. Automated database restructuring is the
problem of automating the invention of new views. The
database-restructuring methods presented in this book
are applicable in many areas, including query
optimization, data warehouse design, and information
integration.