Knowbel: a hybrid tool for building expert systems

Knowbel, an expert system tool that at one level supports representation and organization of concepts and on a second level offers a logic programming system that lets developers tailor an inference mechanism to a particular application, is discussed. Knowbel's top level uses the Telos knowledge representation language to represent and organize the concepts describing the application; instead of a production-rule language, Telos uses an assertional sublanguage based on deductive database research. Instead of a procedural language, Knowbel's second level uses the MRS (metareasoning system) logic programming system to customize the expert system's search strategy for the task at hand. Knowbel's system architecture and prototype implementation are described. Two prototype applications, an alarm-filtering component for the APACS project and an intelligent help system for computer users, are also discussed.<
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