A knowledge-based approach to merging information

Abstract

There is an increasing need for technology for merging semi-structured information (such as structured reports) from heterogeneous sources. For this, we advocate a knowledgebased approach when the information to be merged incorporates diverse, and potentially complex, conflicts (inconsistencies). In this paper, we contrast the goals of knowledgebased merging with other technologies such as semantic web technologies, information mediators, and database integration systems. We then explain how a system for knowledgebased merging can be constructed for a given application. To support the use of a knowledgebase, we use fusion rules to manage the semi-structured information that is input for merging. Fusion rules are a form of scripting language that defines how structured reports should be merged. The antecedent of a fusion rule is a call to investigate the information in the structured reports and the background knowledge, and the consequent of a fusion rule is a formula specifying an action to be undertaken to form a merged report. Fusion rules are not necessarily a definitive specification of how the input can be merged. They can be used by the user to explore different ways that the input can be merged. However, if the user has sufficient confidence in the output from a set of fusion rules, they can be regarded as a definitive specification for merging, and furthermore, they can then be treated as a form of meta-knowledge that gives the provenance of the merged reports. The integrated usage of fusion rules with a knowledgebase offers a practical and valuable technology for merging conflicting information.

A survey of formalisms for representing and reasoning with scientific knowledge

“…The antecedent of each fusion rule specifies the types of input for which it will fire, and the consequent specifies an action to be undertaken in constructing the output report (Hunter and Summerton, 2006). This provides a context-dependent form of combining, and so a set of fusion rules needs to be developed for an application.…”

Semantic-based Merging of RSS Items

“…Merging two items using our merging rule is similar to the propositional fusion rule of Hunter [26]. However, our merging process is dependent on the relationship existing between elements or items and presented as follows.…”

“…According to Hunter [26], an action determines the order and pattern in which an expression would be executed. It include each of the following expressions 1.…”

“…Hunter et al have published several papers [23][24][25][26][27][28] concerning the use of knowledge bases and fusion rules in merging information. Authors are particularly interested in merging semi-structured information such as structured reports: XML documents having same structure and the text entries are restricted to individual words or simple phrases, dates, numbers and units.…”

Ontology-based information extraction and integration from heterogeneous data sources

“…Hunter and Liu (2006) and Hunter and Summerton (2006), for example, have been concerned with the development of a framework for defining fusion rules specifying how conflicting values coming from different resources can be aggregated. Though we have not focused on information fusion in this sense, it would be an important aspect of future work to include a component for the fusion of different values in case of conflicts.…”