Representation and Inference in the Consul System

Abstract

Us ers of interactrve systems need a single cooperative mterface for all of the servi ces 1n their environment. The Interface must behave in a con s1stent manner in understanding natural user requests and in prov1 drng e xpl anation and help as requ1red . The Consul system is des1gn ed to prov1 de such an interface. Its natural i nteract1on capab11ity is ach1eve d by mapp1ng between detailed descriptions of users and systems 1n order to translate requests and provide explanations. An interactive sy stem of th1S k1nd would be infeasible if the onus of construct1ng the kno wledge base and inference techniques were '"aced on the ind1v1dual ser vrc e bu il ders . In Consul . serv 1c e-depende nt rnformat1on is mcor porated 1nto the knowledge base by sem i- aut om atiC acqu1S1t1on , resulting in 1n corporat1on of the new knowledge 1nto the system 's built -In abs tract framework . Th is Incorporation allows the se, vrce -dependent dat a to appropnately 1nfluence Consul's knowledge· based mapp1ng proc esses. The current Consul prototype demonstates natural request han dl i ng and explanation for a mail serv1ce .