finin@prc.unisys.com (Tim Finin) (03/16/89)
AI SEMINAR
UNISYS PAOLI RESEARCH CENTER
Adding Forward Chaining and Truth Maintenance to Prolog
Tim Finin
Unisys Paoli Research Center
finin@prc.unisys.com
Prolog, like most logic programming languages, has a fixed reasoning
strategy based on depth-first, left-to-right backward chaining. Many
applications can benefit from more flexible reasoning strategies.
This talk describes an approach to extending Prolog's reasoning
capabilities by adding forward chaining, Horn clauses, and an
integrated truth maintenance system.
The Pfc system is a package, implemented in standard Prolog, that
provides a forward reasoning capability with an integrated
justification-based truth maintenance system. It is intended to be
used together with conventional Prolog programs, allowing the
programmer to decide whether to encode a particular piece of knowledge
as a forward-chaining Pfc rule or a backward chaining Prolog one.
Like other logic programming languages, Pfc programs have a
declarative interpretation as well as clear and predictable procedural
one. The integrated truth maintenance system maintains consistency,
supports non-monotonic reasoning, and makes derivations available for
applications. Finally, Pfc is designed to be practical, being
relatively efficient and fairly unobtrusive.
Monday, March 20, 2:00
BIC Conference Room
Unisys Paoli Research Center
Route 252 and Central Ave.
Paoli PA 19311
-- non-Unisys visitors who are interested in attending should --
-- send email to finin@prc.unisys.com or call 215-648-7446 --
--
Tim Finin finin@prc.unisys.com (internet)
Unisys Paoli Research Center ..!{psuvax1,sdcrdcf,cbmvax}!burdvax!finin (uucp)
PO Box 517 215-648-7446 (office), 215-386-1749 (home),
Paoli, PA 19301 215-648-7412 (fax)