Die Suche nach geeigneten Produkten in Datenbanken und Internet stellt eine wesentliche Aufgabe i... more Die Suche nach geeigneten Produkten in Datenbanken und Internet stellt eine wesentliche Aufgabe in elektronischen Geschäftsprozessen dar. Dabei hängt die Qualität der Suchergebnisse im Wesentlichen von drei Faktoren ab: Genauigkeit der Anfrage, Struktur und Qualität des Produktdatenbestandes und Art des Suchverfahrens. In dieser Arbeit werden Methoden vorgestellt, mit denen merkmalsbasierte Produktkataloge durch die Kombination von Methoden des Information Retrieval mit fuzzyfizierten Ansätzen durchmustert werden. In einem mehrstufigen Verfahren wird zunächst die Anzahl der zu bewertenden Produkte eingeschränkt. Anschließend wird pro Merkmal jedes Ergebniskandidaten ein Gewicht anhand von Zugehörigkeitsfunktionen der Fuzzy-Technologie bestimmt, das schließlich zu einer Produktrelevanz zusammengefasst wird. Das Verfahren lässt sich auch zur automatischen Klassifikation vorhandener Produkte einsetzen.
Proceedings of the ACM-SIGSAM 1989 international symposium on Symbolic and algebraic computation - ISSAC '89
The application of rewriting techniques to enumerate cosets of subgroups in groups is investigate... more The application of rewriting techniques to enumerate cosets of subgroups in groups is investigated. Given a class of groups G having canonical string rewriting presentations we consider the GWP for this class which is defined by GwP(w,U) iff w E <U> for w E G, finite UsG, G E S;, where <U> is the subgroup of G generated by U. We show how to associate to U two rewriting relations-5 and =q, on strings such that w ECU> iff w t*ju h iff w &=bu h (h the empty word), both representing the left congruence generated by CUB. We derive general critical pair criteria for confluence and X-confluence for these relations. Using these criteria completion procedures can be constructed which enumerate cosets like the Todd-Coxeler algorithm without explicit definition of all cosets. The procedures are shown to be terminating if the index of the subgroup is finite or for groups with finite canonical monadic group presentations. If the completion procedure terminates it returns a prefix rewriting system which is confiuent on C*, thus deciding the GWP and the index problem for this class of groups.The normal forms of the rewriting relations form a minimal Schrcierrepresentative system of <U> in G.
Supporting knowledge-intensive processes (KiPs) has been widely addressed so far and is still sub... more Supporting knowledge-intensive processes (KiPs) has been widely addressed so far and is still subject of discussion. In this context, little attention was paid to the ontology-driven combination of datacentric and semantic business process modeling, which finds its motivation in supporting KiPs by enabling work sharing between humans and artificial intelligence. Such approaches have characteristics that could allow support for KiPs based on inferencing capabilities of reasoners. We confirm this as we show that reasoners are able to infer the executability of tasks. This is done by designing an inference mechanism to extend a currently researched ontology-and data-driven business process model (ODD-BP model). Further support for KiPs by the proposed inference mechanism results from its ability to infer the relevance of tasks, depending on the extent to which their execution would contribute to process progress. Thereby, it takes into account the dynamic behaviour of KiPs and helps knowledge workers to pursue their process goals.
Modeling and executing knowledge-intensive processes (KiPs) are challenging with state-of-the-art... more Modeling and executing knowledge-intensive processes (KiPs) are challenging with state-of-the-art approaches, and the specific demands of KiPs are the subject of ongoing research. In this context, little attention has been paid to the ontology-driven combination of data-centric and semantic business process modeling, which finds additional motivation by enabling the division of labor between humans and artificial intelligence. Such approaches have characteristics that could allow support for KiPs based on the inferencing capabilities of reasoners. We confirm this as we show that reasoners can infer the executability of tasks based on a currently researched ontology- and data-driven business process model (ODD-BP model). Further support for KiPs by the proposed inference mechanism results from its ability to infer the relevance of tasks, depending on the extent to which their execution would contribute to process progress. Besides these contributions along with the execution perspect...
This paper introduces the concept of the SEMANAS project, which integrates flexible workflow mana... more This paper introduces the concept of the SEMANAS project, which integrates flexible workflow management with semantic technologies and knowledge-based document management. The aim is to support users in grant application processes, which are knowledge-intensive and data-flow-driven. On the basis of an ontology, information coming from documents or process participants will be analyzed automatically and connected semantically. Inference mechanisms operating on this knowledge base influence further workflow control and offer flexibility. User support is further increased through adaptive information visualization.
This paper introduces a novel approach which unifies a data-centric and a constraint-based workfl... more This paper introduces a novel approach which unifies a data-centric and a constraint-based workflow principle to support the requirements of knowledge intensive business processes. By the integration of a knowledge-based system, process definition and execution relevant data coincide on an ontology-based semantic net. The data, mainly driving the process, can be delivered by different sources or can be the result of an inference step by the underlying ontology. In such a case, AI technology plays an active role during the process execution and result in a division of labor with human actors. This paper presents a concept for a semantically-oriented process visualization for the introduced unified approach.
Small and medium-sized enterpises need support by processaware information systems (PAIS) that of... more Small and medium-sized enterpises need support by processaware information systems (PAIS) that offer a high degree of flexiblity in workflow execution. Current agile workflow approaches lack acceptance as they introduce a significant overhead for workflow control. Therefore, we propose a new approach for flexible PAIS, based on workflow enactment flexibility by deviation. We enable the potential deviation of the factual workflow from the ideal workflow, while keeping track of the workflow execution. In this paper we describe the proposed SEMAFLEX architecture, which semantically integrates flexible workflow and knowledge-based document management, as well as selected use cases for illustrating the interrelationships among the architectural components.
Many researchers have addressed the demands of knowledge intensive processes and often propose a ... more Many researchers have addressed the demands of knowledge intensive processes and often propose a data-oriented workflow approach. Others use ontologies in the periphery of workflow management systems to achieve different kind of contributions, while just a few research utilize the ontology for a semantic process definition. This paper introduces a new approach which combines both perspectives to define an ontologyand data-driven business process model. The data-driven process characteristic is formed by a metamodel, placed in the base-ontology as the core of the conceptualization. These core concepts are expanded by more specific concepts to build a domain oriented framework for the enterprise and process knowledge. Aligned with an example, we will explain how process definitions are represented in the knowledge store and examine the gradual transition of an executable process instance. As a result, the ODD-BP approach takes advantage of a declarative data-oriented process model reg...
Document analysis is responsible for an essential progress in office automation. This paper is pa... more Document analysis is responsible for an essential progress in office automation. This paper is part of an overview about the combined research efforts in document analysis at DFKI. Common to all document analysis projects is the global goal of providing a high level electronic representation of documents in terms of iconic, structural, textual, and semantic information. These symbolic document descriptions enable an “intelligent” access to a document database. Currently there are three ongoing document analysis projects at DFKI: INCA, OMEGA, and PASCAL2000/PASCAL+. Although the projects pursue different goals in different application domains, they all share the same problems which have to be resolved with similar techniques. For that reason the activities in these projects are bundled to avoid redundant work. At DFKI we have divided the problem of document analysis into two main tasks, text recognition and information extraction, which themselves are divided into a set of subtasks. ...
A central problem in the study of autonomous cooperating systems is that of how to establish mech... more A central problem in the study of autonomous cooperating systems is that of how to establish mechanisms for controlling the interactions between different parts (which are called agents) of the system. One way to integrate such mechanisms into a multi-agent system is to exploit the technique of cooperation or negotiation protocols. In a protocol we distinguish to essential layers: the communication layer specifying the possible flow of messages between different agents, and the decision layer, which controls the selection of a message (speech-act) that the agent sends in a specific situation. In this report we first give a short introduction of our agent model InteRRap which provides the basis for the modeling of the different scenarios considered in the AKA-Mod project at the DFKI. The techniques we will discuss in the following are located in the plan based component and in the cooperation component of this model. The domain of application is the MARS scenario (Modeling a Multi-Ag...
Proceedings of 9th IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Applications
The transportation domain is presented as a multiagent scenario, and the use of DAI techniques fo... more The transportation domain is presented as a multiagent scenario, and the use of DAI techniques for solving cooperatively the hard problems that occur within this domain is demonstrated. New analysis has shown that in Europe almost 40
Communication to exchange information is essential for humans. In many fields of communication th... more Communication to exchange information is essential for humans. In many fields of communication this has lead to more or less fixed forms that guide or determine the way how people exchange information. This concerns at first a logical layer of the information blocks, i.e., which information has to be transmitted but also a procedural layer describing how the information is send. A very important domain of communication is the business letter domain. Here, a certain standard has evolved that determines the form of business letters. We distinguish a logical structure and a layout structure that is captured in the international Standard called Office Document Architecture(ODA, ISO 8613 [1]). In this paper we discuss the problem of presenting printed documents to blind people who cannot perceive the information provided by the layout structure of a document. We outline how the ODA Standard can be exploited to allow random access to the logical entities of a printed document. This approach is based on a system that has been developed at the DFKI and which has been described in [5] and which is able to extract the layout information from certain classes of business letters automatically.
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2010
The power consumption of ICT is still increasing. To date it is not clear if the energy savings t... more The power consumption of ICT is still increasing. To date it is not clear if the energy savings through ICT overbalance the energy consumption by ICT or not. Where manifold efforts of Green IT address the environmental aspects of sustainability considering computer hardware, there is a lack of models, descriptions, or realizations in the area of computer software. In this paper we present some results that form the basis towards a definition of the term "Sustainable Software", an outline of a process and lifecycle model for "Green and Sustainable Software Engineering", and six concrete instances of this model for practitioners.
IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
Although many governmental institutions have provided their costumers with access to electronic g... more Although many governmental institutions have provided their costumers with access to electronic government documents there is still a lack of accessibility for handicapped citizens. In this paper we present an approach to improve access to governmental forms for handicapped citizens, in particular for people with visual impairments, elderly people, illiterates or immigrants. We describe a system where we combine scanned images of paper-based forms containing textual information and a text-to-speech synthesis to an audiovisual document representation. We exploit standard document formats based on XML and web service technology to ensure independence from software and hardware platforms.
International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 2009
Many governmental institutions provide their customers with access to documents by electronic mea... more Many governmental institutions provide their customers with access to documents by electronic means. It is worthwhile to look at both the chances and the risks which this process implies for disabled citizens. Due to legal constraints governmental authorities are particularly responsible to consider the needs of handicapped persons. Our contribution follows the observation that governmental processes mostly are based on forms. We distinguish several processing scenarios, with the use of paper as means of transport on the one end and complete electronic treatment at the other end. This article focuses on approaches that provide access to governmental processes for people with visual impairments. Additionally, we aim to enable electronic government processes in developing countries where citizens have limited experience in handling IT-based processes. We describe an approach to associate synthesized speech to scanned images of printed documents, thus yielding an audio-visual document ...
The performance of document analysis systems significantly depends on knowledge about the applica... more The performance of document analysis systems significantly depends on knowledge about the application domain that can be exploited in the analysis process. Typically, one has to deal with different sources of knowledge like syntactic knowledge, semantic knowledge or strategic knowledge guiding the analysis process. We present a knowledge based document analysis system based on a knowledge representation language specially designed for document analysis tasks. It allows to model and to interpret structural knowledge about documents and knowledge about the analysis process declaratively in a common framework.
Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies, 2009
We observe that paper is still the dominant means to transport information. In particular, for th... more We observe that paper is still the dominant means to transport information. In particular, for the communication between governmental authorities and citizens paper based documents still play a vital role. In this paper we discuss ideas how documents can be designed so that they can adapt almost automatically to an actual reader. Therefore, we describe an approach to design documents and governmental forms so that they may change their appearance in accordance to the preferences of their recipients. This allows the creation of documents that can better be understood by different target groups, among them elderly people, people with visual impairments or people with dyslexia.
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Papers by Norbert Kuhn