A paradigm for coupling procedural and conceptual knowledge in companion systems

Companion systems are technical systems that adjust their functionality to the needs and the situation of an individual user. Consequently, companion systems are strongly knowledge-based. We propose a modelling paradigm for integrating procedural and conceptual knowledge which is targeted at companion systems that require a combination of planning and reasoning capabilities. The presented methodology couples the hierarchical task network (HTN) planning formalism with an ontology-based knowledge representation, thereby minimising redundancies in modelling and enabling the use of state-of-the-art reasoning and planning tools on the shared knowledge model. The approach is applied within a prototype of a companion system that assists novice users in the do-it-yourself (DIY) domain with the planning and execution of home improvement projects involving the use of power tools.