Using FCA to Answer Fuzzy Queries in Cooperative Systems

In this paper, we present a cooperative approach to deal with empty answers in the case of fuzzy conjunctive queries by referring to the formal concept analysis theory. We present an architecture combining databases with this theory. In this architecture, fuzzy querying processing based on Galois lattices allows to detect the reasons of empty answers by providing the subqueries that are responsible of the failure. We also use concept lattices to answer the user with the nearest answers through fuzzy alternative subqueries.