R-calculus: a logical approach for knowledge base maintenance

Abstract

The concepts of maintenance sequence of a knowledge base and their limits are introduced. Some concepts used in maintenance of knowledge bases, such as new laws, user's rejections, and reconstructions of a base are defined; the related theorems are proposed. Some computational aspects of reconstructions are studied; an R-calculus is given to deduce a reconstruction when a base meets a rejection. Especially, an R-calculus for logic programming is provided and implemented to do it. Finally, the theory is compared with AGM's theory of belief revision.<>