Qualitative pattern matching with linguistic terms

Abstract. In the framework of possibility theory, a tool named `fuzzy pattern matching' (FPM) has been proposed in the eighties and since successfully used in flexible querying of fuzzy databases and in classification. Given a pattern representing a request expressed in terms of fuzzy sets, and a database storing imprecise or fuzzy attribute values for some data, the FPM returns two matching degrees. Namely, for each item in the base, the possibility and the certainty that it matches the requirements of the pattern are computed. In multiple-source information systems, attributes values are often assessed in linguistic terms belonging to different vocabularies. The request itself, which may include preferences, may be expressed using terms of another vocabulary. The paper proposes a counterpart of FPM, called 'Qualitative Pattern Matching' (QPM), for estimating levels of matching between a request and data expressed with words; words can be related together through a qual...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2004
• Where: AICOM
• Authors: Yannick Loiseau, Henri Prade, Mohand Boughanem
• Keywords: AICOM 2004, Fuzzy Attribute Values, Fuzzy Pattern, Possibility Theory