Fuzzy-boolean multi-stage inference apparatus

Abstract

An inference conducted by use of fuzzy knowledge can be directly written in inference rules. It is possible to use ambiguous language expressions and freely describe flexible knowledge, although ambiguous, in a knowledge base. The user specifies execution priority orders or conviction degrees of inference rules such that even when an antecedent contains a confirmative or determinant action, a contention between rules is prevented. An intermediate results of a fuzzy inference is passed in a form of a real number or a fuzzy label to the next inference to achieve a fuzzy multi-stage inference. A multi-stage inference conducting a backtrack operation based on fuzzy knowledge is implemented to reflect a user's ambiguous knowledge. An inference method associated with a best value retrieval function is provided, in contrast to the conventional method in which a fuzzy inference and a binary logic inference are continuously achieved from an upper-level retrieval or search point to a lower-level retrieval point in a one-directional manner.