Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/94946

Title

Knowledge verification in expert systems combining declarative and procedural representations

Author(s)

Renard, F.-X;  Sterling, L.;  Brosilow, C.

Abstract

We present an algorithm to verify the consistency and completeness of an object-oriented structured knowledge base of an expert system which combines procedures with a declarative representation using if-then rules. The algorithm has three stages. The first stage of the algorithm converts the procedures into rules which are added to the existing rules to produce the equivalent rule set. The second stage of the algorithm partitions the equivalent rule set into decision subtables by regrouping rules with similar conditions in their if part or similar actions in their then part. In the third stage, each subtable is checked for consistency by looking for redundant rules and potentially or strictly conflicting rules. Completeness is verified by looking for unreferenced attribute values and missing rules. The algorithm is designed to automatically check any modification to the knowledge base as the system is being developed or updated. We demonstrate the algorithm on examples from process control.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 17, no. 11 (Nov 1993), pp. 1067-1090

Publication year

1993

FOR Code(s)

0904 Chemical Engineering;  0913 Mechanical Engineering

Keyword(s)

Algorithms;  Expert systems;  Knowledge base

Publisher

Pergamon

ISSN

0098-1354

Copyright

Copyright © 1993 Elsevier Science.

Peer reviewed