Reskb: A relational solution to an expert system’s knowledge base

Abstract

Despite the obvious equivalence between many of the problems and concepts of the knowledge bases in intelligent systems and standard databases, important differences exist which make a unified treatment difficult. This paper presents a combination of expert-system concepts with database management techniques that creates a more responsive and flexible rule-based system. The complete design, known as RESKB (Relational Expert System Knowledge Base) provides a widely applicable model for the actual construction and management of a rule base. The presentation of RESKB uses database design tools to organize the knowledge base and extends to the handling of “procedural inclusions” and their control. The whole development focuses on maintaining system transparency, simplicity, and expandability. Two possible methods of implementing the RESICB model are also presented. © 1987 SPIE.