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1996 Volume 11
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RESEARCH ARTICLE   Open Access    

TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems

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  • Abstract: TFL, the Task Formal Language, has been developed for integrating the static and dynamic aspects of knowledge based systems. This paper focuses on the formal specification of dynamic behaviour. Although fundamental in knowledge based systems, strategic reasoning has been rather neglected until now by the existing formal specifications. Most languages were generally more focused on the domain and problem-solving knowledge specification than on the control. The formalisation presented here differs from previous ones in several aspects. First, a different representation of dynamic knowledge is proposed: TFL is based on Algebraic Data Types, as opposed to dynamic or temporal logic. Second, dynamic strategic reasoning is emphasised, whereas existing languages only offer to specify algorithmic control. Then, TFL does not only provide the specification of the problem-solving knowledge of the object system, but also of its strategic knowledge. Finally, the dynamic knowledge of the meta-system itself is also specified. Moreover, modularisation is another important feature of the presented language.
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  • Cite this article

    Christine Pierret-Golbreich, Xavier Talon. 1996. TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review. 11:18 doi: 10.1017/S0269888900007918
    Christine Pierret-Golbreich, Xavier Talon. 1996. TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review. 11:18 doi: 10.1017/S0269888900007918

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RESEARCH ARTICLE   Open Access    

TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems

The Knowledge Engineering Review  11 Article number: 10.1017/S0269888900007918  (1996)  |  Cite this article

Abstract: Abstract: TFL, the Task Formal Language, has been developed for integrating the static and dynamic aspects of knowledge based systems. This paper focuses on the formal specification of dynamic behaviour. Although fundamental in knowledge based systems, strategic reasoning has been rather neglected until now by the existing formal specifications. Most languages were generally more focused on the domain and problem-solving knowledge specification than on the control. The formalisation presented here differs from previous ones in several aspects. First, a different representation of dynamic knowledge is proposed: TFL is based on Algebraic Data Types, as opposed to dynamic or temporal logic. Second, dynamic strategic reasoning is emphasised, whereas existing languages only offer to specify algorithmic control. Then, TFL does not only provide the specification of the problem-solving knowledge of the object system, but also of its strategic knowledge. Finally, the dynamic knowledge of the meta-system itself is also specified. Moreover, modularisation is another important feature of the presented language.

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    Cite this article
    Christine Pierret-Golbreich, Xavier Talon. 1996. TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review. 11:18 doi: 10.1017/S0269888900007918
    Christine Pierret-Golbreich, Xavier Talon. 1996. TFL: an algebraic language to specify the dynamic behaviour of knowledge-based systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review. 11:18 doi: 10.1017/S0269888900007918
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