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Session 4

DFD, ERD, and Data Dictionary for the Railway Reservation System

This session turns the Railway Reservation System requirements into analysis models. DFDs show how data moves through the system, ERDs show how data entities are related, and the data dictionary gives precise meaning to the terms used in those diagrams.

Problem Statement

(a) Draw DFDs up to appropriate levels for the RRS.
(b) Draw ERDs for the RRS and describe the relationships between different entities.
(c) Design Data Dictionary for RRS.

Expected Deliverables

  • Context-level DFD
  • Level-1 DFD
  • ER diagram
  • Relationship description
  • Data dictionary

DFD Scope

External Entities

  • Passenger
  • Reservation Clerk
  • Administrator
  • Payment Gateway
  • Notification Service

Major Processes

  • Search Train
  • Book Ticket
  • Cancel Ticket
  • Manage Schedule
  • Process Payment
  • Generate Reports

Data Stores

  • Passenger Data
  • Train Data
  • Schedule Data
  • Reservation Data
  • Payment Data

ERD Entities

Entity Important Attributes
Passenger passenger_id, name, age, gender, contact
Train train_id, train_name, source, destination
Schedule schedule_id, train_id, date, departure_time, arrival_time
Reservation pnr, passenger_id, schedule_id, seat_no, status
Payment payment_id, pnr, amount, mode, payment_status

Data Dictionary Sample

Name Type Description
pnr Identifier Unique reservation number
train_id Identifier Unique train record
seat_no String Allocated seat number
payment_status Enum Pending, successful, failed, refunded

Submission Checklist

  • Keep DFD processes as verbs.
  • Keep data stores as nouns.
  • Show cardinality in ERD relationships.
  • Ensure all data dictionary entries are used in DFD/ERD.