Abstract
Computing with Words is an emerging paradigm in knowledge representation and information processing. It provides a mathematical model to represent the meaning of imprecise words and phrases in natural language and introduces advanced techniques to perform reasoning on inexact knowledge. Since its introduction, there have been many studies on computing with words but mostly from the theoretical point of view and the paradigm still lacks sufficient support from the software side. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap by presenting an enhanced inference engine toolkit for supporting computing with words. The scope of the presented toolkit, as opposed to many available fuzzy logic tools, goes beyond simple fuzzy-if-then rules and performs a chain of inferences on complex fuzzy propositions containing fuzzy arithmetics, fuzzy quantifiers, and fuzzy probabilities. The toolkit may be appealing to researchers, practitioners, and educators in knowledge based applications and soft computing as it implements a powerful declarative language which allows users to express their knowledge in a more natural and convenient way and performs a chain of reasoning on imprecise propositions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The points values based on DMV point system in Illinois
References
Cao Y, Chen G (2010) A fuzzy petri-nets model for computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 18(3):486–499
Cao Y, Ying M (2007) Retraction and generalized extension of computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 15(6):1238–1250
Cross V, Sudkamp T (2002) Similarity and compatability in fuzzy set theory: assessment and applications. Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing, vol 93. Springer, Berlin
Delgado M, Verdegay JL, Vila MA (1993) On aggregation operations of linguistic labels. Int J Intell Syst 8(3):351–370
Di Lascio L, Gisolfi A, Loia V (1996) A new model for linguistic modifiers. Int J Approx Reason 15(1):25–47
Galatos N (2007) Residuated lattices: an algebraic glimpse at substructural logics. In: Studies in logic and the foundations of mathematics, 1st edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Gudwin RR, Gomide F (1999) Object networks: a computational framework to compute with words, chap 6. Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing, vol 33. Springer, New York, pp 443–478
Hájek P (1998) Metamathematics of fuzzy logic. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Hanss M (2010) Applied fuzzy arithmetic: an introduction with engineering applications, 1st edn. Springer, Berlin
Hartwig R, Labinsky C, Nordhoff S, Landorff B, Jensch P, Schwanke J (1996) Free fuzzy logic system design tool: Fool. In: Proceeding of 4th European congress on intelligent techniques and soft computing (EUFIT 96), vol 3, pp 2274–2278
Herrera F, Martinez L (2000) A 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic representation model for computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 8(6):746–752
Herrera F, Herrera-Viedma E, Martinez L (2008) A fuzzy linguistic methodology to deal with unbalanced linguistic term sets. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 16(2):354–370
Herrera F, Alonso S, Chiclana F, Herrera-Viedma E (2009) Computing with words in decision making: foundations, trends and prospects. Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making 8(4):337–364
Herrera-Viedma E (2001) Modeling the retrieval process for an information retrieval system using an ordinal fuzzy linguistic approach. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol 52(6):460–475
Herrera-Viedma E, López-Herrera A (2010) A review on information accessing systems based on fuzzy linguistic modelling. Int J Comput Intell Syst 3(4):420–437
Herrera-Viedma E, Pasi G, Lopez-Herrera AG, Porcel C (2006) Evaluating the information quality of web sites: a methodology based on fuzzy computing with words: special topic section on soft approaches to information retrieval and information access on the web. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol 57(4):538–549
Herrera-Viedma E, López-Herrera AG, Alonso S, Moreno JM, Cabrerizo FJ, Porcel C (2009) A computer-supported learning system to help teachers to teach fuzzy information retrieval systems. Inf Retr 12(2):179–200
Juliano B (2001) Cognitive sciences and computing with words, chap 7. Wiley Series on Intelligent Systems. Wiley, New York, pp 235–250
Kacprzyk J, Zadrozny S (2001) Computing with words in intelligent database querying: standalone and internet-based applications. Inf Sci 134(1-4):71–109
Kacprzyk J, Zadrozny S (2010a) Computing with words is an implementable paradigm: fuzzy queries, linguistic data summaries, and natural-language generation. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 18(3):461–472
Kacprzyk J, Zadrozny S (2010b) Modern data-driven decision support systems: the role of computing with words and computational linguistics. Int J General Syst 39(4):379–393
Kaufmann A, Gupta M (1991) Introduction to fuzzy arithmetic: theory and applications. Electrical-Computer Science and Engineering Series, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
Khorasani E, Rahimi S (2010) Towards an automated reasoning for computing with words. In: 2010 IEEE international conference on fuzzy systems (FUZZ), pp 1–8
Khorasani E, Rahimi S (2011) Constraint propagation tree for the realization of a cw question answering system. Int J Comput Intell Theory Pract 6(2):75–87
Khorasani ES, Rahimi S, Gupta B (2009) A reasoning methodology for cw-based question answering systems. In: Proceedings of the 8th international workshop on fuzzy logic and applications, WILF’09. Springer, Berlin, pp 328–335
Khorasani ES, Rahimi S, Patel P, Houle D (2011) Cwjess: an expert system shell for computing with words. In: 2011 IEEE international conference on information reuse and integration (IRI), pp 396–399. doi:10.1109/IRI.2011.6009580
Lawry J (2001) An alternative approach to computing with words. Int J Uncertain Fuzziness Knowl Based Syst 9(Supplement):3–16
Liu F, Mendel JM (2008) Encoding words into interval type-2 fuzzy sets using an interval approach. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 16(6):1503–1521
López-Herrera AG, Herrera-Viedma E, Herrera F (2009) Applying multi-objective evolutionary algorithms to the automatic learning of extended boolean queries in fuzzy ordinal linguistic information retrieval systems. Fuzzy Sets Syst 160(15):2192–2205
Mendel J, Wu D (2010) Perceptual computing: aiding people in making subjective judgments. Wiley, New York
Mendel J, Zadeh L, Trillas E, Yager R, Lawry J, Hagras H, Guadarrama S (2010a) What computing with words means to me (discussion forum). IEEE Comput Intell Mag 5(1):20–26
Mendel JM, Lawry J, Zadeh LA (2010b) Foreword to the special section on computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 18(3):437–440. doi:10.1109/TFUZZ.2010.2047961
Morales-del Castillo JM, Peis E, Ruiz AA, Herrera-Viedma E (2010) Recommending biomedical resources: a fuzzy linguistic approach based on semantic web. Int J Intell Syst 25(12):1143–1157. doi:10.1002/int.20447
Novák V, Perfilieva I (1999) Evaluating linguistic expressions and functional fuzzy theories in fuzzy logic. In: Zadeh L, Kacprzyk J (eds) Computing with words in information/intelligent systems 1. Foundations. Physica Verlag, New York
Novák V, Perfilieva I, Mockor J (1999) Mathematical principles of fuzzy logic. The Kluwer international series in engineering and computer science, Kluwer Academic, Boston, pp 305–313 (99037210 GB99-66327 Vilem Novak, Irina Perfilieva and Jiri Mockor. 25 cm. Includes bibliographical references and index)
Orchard R (2001) Fuzzy reasoning in jess: the fuzzy j toolkit and fuzzy jess. In: Proceedings of the third international conference on enterprise information systems (ICEIS 2001)
Pan J, Desouza GN, Kak AC (1998) Fuzzyshell: a large-scale expert system shell using fuzzy logic for uncertainty reasoning. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 6:563–581
Porcel C, Herrera-Viedma E (2010) Dealing with incomplete information in a fuzzy linguistic recommender system to disseminate information in university digital libraries. Knowl Based Syst 23(1):32–39
Raskin V, Taylor JM (2009) The (not so) unbearable fuzziness of natural language: the ontological semantic way of computing with words. In: Annual Meeting of the North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society, 2009. NAFIPS 2009, pp 1–6
Reformat M, Ly C (2009) Ontological approach to development of computing with words based systems. Int J Approx Reason 50(1):72–91
Surhone L, Tennoe M, Henssonow S (2010) Fuzzyclips. VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller AG & Co. http://books.google.com/books?id=4Y8fkgAACAAJ
Türksen IB (2002) Type 2 representation and reasoning for cww. Fuzzy Sets Syst 127(1):17–36
Türksen IB (2007) Meta-linguistic axioms as a foundation for computing with words. Inf Sci 177(2):332–359
Wang J, Hao J (2007) An approach to computing with words based on canonical characteristic values of linguistic labels. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 15(4):593–604
Wu D, Mendel JM (2010) Computing with words for hierarchical decision making applied to evaluating a weapon system. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 18(3):441–460
Yager R (1995) An approach to ordinal decision making. Int J Approx Reason 12(3–4):237–261
Yager RR (1999) Approximate reasoning as a basis for computing with words. Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing. Springer, Berlin, pp 50–77
Yager RR (2006) Knowledge trees and protoforms in question-answering systems: special topic section on soft approaches to information retrieval and information access on the web. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol 57(4):550–563
Yager RR (2011) Reasoning with doubly uncertain soft constraints. Int J Approx Reasoning 52(4):554–561
Ying M (2002) A formal model of computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 10(5):640–652
Zadeh LA (1983) A computational approach to fuzzy quantifiers in natural languages. Comput Math Appl 9(1):149–184. doi:10.1016/0898-1221(83)90013-5
Zadeh LA (1999) Fuzzy logic = computing with words. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 4(2):103–111
Zadeh LA (2005) Toward a generalized theory of uncertainty (gtu): an outline. Inf Sci Inf Comput Sci 172(1–2):1–40
Zadeh LA (2006) From search engines to question answering systems. The problems of world knowledge, relevance, deduction and precisiation. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Zadeh LA (2011) A note on z-numbers. Inf Sci 181:2923–2932
Zadrozny S, Kacprzyk J (1996) Fquery for access: towards human consistent querying user interface. In: Proceedings of the 1996 ACM symposium on applied computing, SAC ’96. ACM, New York, pp 532–536
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khorasani, E.S., Patel, P., Rahimi, S. et al. An inference engine toolkit for computing with words. J Ambient Intell Human Comput 4, 451–470 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-012-0137-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-012-0137-8