Cooperative Multi-hierarchical Query Answering Systems

Autonomous information system An autonomous information system is an information system existing as an independent entity. Intelligent query answering Intelligent query answering is an enhancement of query-answering into a sort of intelligent system (capable or being adapted or molded). Such systems should be able to interpret incorrectly posed questions and compose an answer not necessarily reflecting precisely what is directly referred to by the question, but rather reflecting what the intermediary understands to be the intention linked with the question. Knowledge base Knowledge base is a collection of rules defined as expressions written in predicate calculus. These rules have a form of associations between conjuncts of values of attributes. Ontology Ontology is an explicit formal specification of how to represent objects, concepts and other entities that are assumed to exist in some area of interest and relationships holding among them. Systems that share the same ontology are able to communicate about the domain of discourse without necessarily operating on a globally shared theory. A system commits to ontology if its observable actions are consistent with the definitions in the ontology. Semantics The meaning of expressions written in some language as opposed to their syntax which describes how symbols may be combined independently of their meaning. Definition of the Subject