The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling

Silverston c07.tex V2 - 11/20/2008 5:44pm Page 305

What Is a Contact Mechanism? 305

dynamic environments require flexible solutions; flexible solutions by their

nature are more generalized; and generalized solutions are more difficult to

understand.

The last two patterns in this chapter are d ifferent from the other patterns in

that they cover additional common requirements that many enterprises face

when dealing with contact mechanisms.

First, there is a geographic boundaries pattern, which supports the

way a postal address may be categorized into physical and logical

geographical areas.

Second, there is a postal address p arts pattern, which supports the needs

of many enterprises to have m any different ways to construct the

different p arts of a postal address, for example, in order to accommodate

various i nternational address structures.

Finally, there is a section at the end of the chapter that deals with some other

common contact mechanism data (non-solicitation, directions, instructions,

and telephone extensions) that can be used to enhance the basic contact

mechanism information. This section discusses possibilities for modeling

these other aspects of contact mechanisms. They were not added as part of

each of the patterns because, in general, we do not view them to be as central

in influencing the structure of contact mechanisms in each pattern, but adding

them is easy once they are explained. ...