Recursive modal unification for reasoning with knowledge using a graph representation

摘要

In this paper a modal reasoning mechanism adapted to the formalism of conceptual graphs is reported. The significance of the work lies in (1) unification of epistemological structures represented as nested graphs; (2) recursive nature of algorithm; and (3) full compatibility of the new sub-system with existing tools for knowledge engineering using conceptual graphs. The mechanism for modal reasoning comprises three elements: (a) generation of conceptual graph equivalents of modal literals; (b) unification of the modal literals; and (c) generation of the conceptual graph equivalent of the resolvent literals.