Automated Enhancement of Knowledge Representations

Abstract

A new class of maintenance tool is presented. designed specifically for enhancement of knowledge representation systems. These tools are based on the structure of a domain model and the wa ys it can be changed. A complete language for changing domain models is presented. Associated with each change is an explicit assumption in the previous model that is violated. A complete analysis is presented of how existing knowledge representation frames and the associated operations on those frames must be updated to correct these assumption violations introduced by changing the domain model. Such tools are an important first step towards supp ort for an in cremental de velopment process . Almost no support cur rentl y exists for enhancing knowledge representation syst ems. The tools described here support enhancements invol ving modification to the domain model. Support for the remaining enhancements will require both more knowledgeable tools which understand the system they are manipulating, and more declarative structural specifications for such sys tems which fac ilitate that understanding.