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A software architecture for knowledge-based systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1999

DIETER FENSEL
Affiliation:
University of Karlsruhe, Institut AIFB, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany. Email: [email protected]
RIX GROENBOOM
Affiliation:
University of Groningen, Department of Computing Science, P.O. Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

The paper introduces a software architecture for the specification and verification of knowledge-based systems combining conceptual and formal techniques. Our focus is component-based specification enabling their reuse. We identify four elements of the specification of a knowledge-based system: a task definition, a problem-solving method, a domain model, and an adaptor. We present algebraic specifications and a variant of dynamic logic as formal means to specify and verify these different elements. As a consequence of our architecture we can decompose the overall specification and verification task of the knowledge-based systems into subtasks. We identify different subcomponents for specification and different proof obligations for verification. The use of the architecture in specification and verification improves understandability and reduces the effort for both activities. In addition, its decomposition and modularisation enables reuse of components and proofs. Therefore, a knowledge-based system can be built by combining and adapting different reusable components.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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