Temporal modelling and management of normative documents in XML format

In this paper, we present the results of a research project concerning the temporal management of normative texts in XML format. In particular, four temporal dimensions (publication, validity, efficacy and transaction times) are used to correctly represent the evolution of norms in time and their resulting versioning. Hence, we introduce a multiversion data model based on XML schema and define basic mechanisms for the maintenance and retrieval of multiversion norm texts. Finally, we describe a prototype management system which has been implemented and evaluated.