Abstract
The basic feature of Hybrid Knowledge Representation Systems is the separation of the knowledge represented within the system into distinct components. In particular, the architecture of several such systems includes two components: terminological, containing the knowledge about the classes of objects and their relationships, and assertional, with the knowledge about the individuals. The aim of this work is to study how the deduction methods developed for the terminological component can be effectively used in the hybrid deductions on the whole knowledge base. We consider a hybrid system, whose terminological component provides the user with a quite powerful language, while remaining computationally tractable, and whose assertional component simply allows one to express membership assertions between the individuals and the concepts of the terminology. In this paper, we present the languages for the two components, define the semantics of the whole knowledge base, and describe an efficient technique for the implementation of hybrid reasoning procedures, based on the notion of most specific concept.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.