Conceptual information processing: A robust approach to KBS-DBMS integration

Integrating the respective functionality and architectural features of knowledge base and data base management systems is a topic of considerable interest. Several aspects of this topic and associated issues are addressed. The significance of integration and the problems associated with accomplishing that integration are discussed. The shortcomings of current approaches to integration and the need to fuse the capabilities of both knowledge base and data base management systems motivates the investigation of information processing paradigms. One such paradigm is concept based processing, i.e., processing based on concepts and conceptual relations. An approach to robust knowledge and data base system integration is discussed by addressing progress made in the development of an experimental model for conceptual information processing

Design and implementation of an object-oriented expert system shell

Ankara : The Department of Computer Engineering and Information Sciences and the Institute of Engineering and Science of Bilkent Univ. , 1989.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 1989.Includes bibliographical references leaves 50-53.Expert systems represent a new opportunity in computing. An expert system is a computing system capable of representing and reasoning about some knowledge-rich domain with a view to solving problems and giving advice. Expert system shells are developed to create expert systems in an easy way. In recent years the object-oriented paradigm has been developed. The objectoriented approach has many advantages such as data abstraction, program modularity, and structural data representation. Therefore, we are developing an expert system shell which stores knowledge and data in object-oriented style. Also, an object-oriented DBMS part of our shell satisfy the needs of several expert systems rec|uiring large base of fcvcts. Such shells can be used to build expert systems by only adding the domain-specific knowledge.Toroslu, İsmail HakkıM.S

Intensional Query Processing in Deductive Database Systems.

This dissertation addresses the problem of deriving a set of non-ground first-order logic formulas (intensional answers), as an answer set to a given query, rather than a set of facts (extensional answers), in deductive database (DDB) systems based on non-recursive Horn clauses. A strategy in previous work in this area is to use resolution to derive intensional answers. It leaves however, several important problems. Some of them are: no specific resolution strategy is given; no specific methodologies to formalize the meaningful intensional answers are given; no solution is given to handle large facts in extensional databases (EDB); and no strategy is given to avoid deriving meaningless intensional answers. As a solution, a three-stage formalization process (pre-resolution, resolution, and post-resolution) for the derivation of meaningful intensional answers is proposed which can solve all of the problems mentioned above. A specific resolution strategy called SLD-RC resolution is proposed, which can derive a set of meaningful intensional answers. The notions of relevant literals and relevant clauses are introduced to avoid deriving meaningless intensional answers. The soundness and the completeness of SLD-RC resolution for intensional query processing are proved. An algorithm for the three-stage formalization process is presented and the correctness of the algorithm is proved. Furthermore, it is shown that there are two relationships between intensional answers and extensional answers. In a syntactic relationship, intensional answers are sufficient conditions to derive extensional answers. In a semantic relationship, intensional answers are sufficient and necessary conditions to derive extensional answers. Based on these relationships, the notions of the global and local completeness of an intensional database (IDB) are defined. It is proved that all incomplete IDBs can be transformed into globally complete IDBs, in which all extensional answers can be generated by evaluating intensional answers against an EDB. We claim that the intensional query processing provide a new methodology for query processing in DDBs and thus, extending the categories of queries, will greatly increase our insight into the nature of DDBs

Disjunctively incomplete information in relational databases: modeling and related issues

In this dissertation, the issues related to the information incompleteness in relational databases are explored. In general, this dissertation can be divided into two parts. The first part extends the relational natural join operator and the update operations of insertion and deletion to I-tables, an extended relational model representing inclusively indefinite and maybe information, in a semantically correct manner. Rudimentary or naive algorithms for computing natural joins on I-tables require an exponential number of pair-up operations and block accesses proportional to the size of I-tables due to the combinatorial nature of natural joins on I-tables. Thus, the problem becomes intractable for large I-tables. An algorithm for computing natural joins under the extended model which reduces the number of pair-up operations to a linear order of complexity in general and in the worst case to a polynomial order of complexity with respect to the size of I-tables is proposed in this dissertation. In addition, this algorithm also reduces the number of block accesses to a linear order of complexity with respect to the size of I-tables;The second part is related to the modeling aspect of incomplete databases. An extended relational model, called E-table, is proposed. E-table is capable of representing exclusively disjunctive information. That is, disjunctions of the form P[subscript]1\mid P[subscript]2\mid·s\mid P[subscript]n, where ǁ denotes a generalized logical exclusive or indicating that exactly one of the P[subscript]i\u27s can be true. The information content of an E-table is precisely defined and relational operators of selection, projection, difference, union, intersection, and cartisian product are extended to E-tables in a semantically correct manner. Conditions under which redundancies could arise due to the presence of exclusively disjunctive information are characterized and the procedure for resolving redundancies is presented;Finally, this dissertation is concluded with discussions on the directions for further research in the area of incomplete information modeling. In particular, a sketch of a relational model, IE-table (Inclusive and Exclusive table), for representing both inclusively and exclusively disjunctive information is provided

Third Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications, part 1

The application of artificial intelligence to spacecraft and aerospace systems is discussed. Expert systems, robotics, space station automation, fault diagnostics, parallel processing, knowledge representation, scheduling, man-machine interfaces and neural nets are among the topics discussed

The development of a metallurgical CAPP system for large steel forgings.

The development of CAPP (Computer Aided Process Planning) systems promises improvement to the design efficiency and quality of process plans, whilst maintaining knowledge for future developments. Although considerable progress has been made in Computer Aided Process Planning, most of the systems developed or under development so far are limited to one manufacturing operation and to planning for an individual part design. The systems lack an overall structure for real manufacturing practice. This thesis examines the problems involved in the planning of an extensive manufacturing task involving many different processes including chemical and thermal treatments. On the basis of the evaluation of the manufacturing system in the collaborating company, an intelligent database system has been designed to solve metallurgical process planning problems involved in the manufacture of large steel forgings. In this CAPP database system, two hierarchy control levels involving a number of local planning areas have been adopted to allow the development of process sub-plans as well as supporting engineering data. All the process sub-plans have been integrated into a single system rather than isolated as separate entities within the overall metallurgical process planning system together with quality assurance control and other functions. These sub-plans, however, are planned and modified in the separate planning areas, the development being conducted on facsimile data records. Only when each sub-plan has reached a satisfactory state of development is it issued - made available to the overall system - by transferring the facsimile records into the system data files, the facsimile records then being discarded.Metallurgical process knowledge and rules have been incorporated into the database. These allow the system to assist users to make decisions and achieve final desired process plans. A versional approach has been developed to organise and control the stage by stage evolution of issued process plans within this complex steel forging environment. The use of separate planning areas and local facsimile records allows the modification of sub-plans already issued to be undertaken on a step by step but secure basis. A fully operating authorisation system controlling access to the data and the deletion or modification of records has been achieved. This is essential in a CAPP system of this type in which historical decisions, or approved rules based on historical experience, are presented to the users as the basis to make new decisions.The work has been extended to explore external enhancement of the central database system with an expert system and with specially written C ++ programmes. The system architecture needed to support this link is described, and issues raised by the enhancement that relate to the overall control are then addressed. The final part of the thesis examines the limitations of the method that has been developed and discusses difficulties involved in implementing a CAPP system in a large concern involved in the 'bespoke' manufacture of complex engineering artifacts on a one-off design basis