Affiliations: Department of Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1596
Note: [*] This research is supported by DARPA Contract N00174-91-C-0107.
Note: [2] Current address: Database Technology Department, HP Labs, Palo Alto, CA.
Abstract: A framework for integrating c1ass-oriented data groupings and subject-oriented knowledge groupings to support intelligent query answering is proposed. This framework is characterized by a three-layer data/knowledge organization: object layer, object–subject layer, and subject layer, where a database at the object layer and a knowledge base at the subject layer are coupled with virtual database patterns specified at the object–subject layer. In such an architecture, communicating databases and knowledge bases are organized and maintained independent of each other, but linked dynamically under specific application domain and context. The proposed approach avoids object duplication, migration, and respecification, thus providing a flexible and scalable technique for integrating knowledge base and database. An experimental cooperative database system, CoBase, has been developed at UCLA to demonstrate this approach in supporting intelligent query answering and in integrating large scale databases and knowledge bases.
