Project : axis

Section: Software

CBR*Tools - Object-oriented Framework for Case-Based Reasoning

Participants : Sergiu Chelcea, Mihai Jurca, Brigitte Trousse [correspondante].

CBR*Tools is an object-oriented framework [71][67] for Case-Based Reasoning, that offers a set of abstract classes to models the main concepts necessary to develop applications integrating case-base reasoning techniques: case, case base, index, measurements of similarity, reasoning control. It also offers a set of concrete classes which implements many traditional methods (closest neighbors indexing, Kd-tree indexing [79], prototypes indexing [70], neuronal approach based indexing, standards similarities measurements). CBR*Tools currently contains more than 240 classes divided in two main categories: the core package for basic functionality and the time package for the specific management of the behavioral situations. The programming of a new application is done by specialization of existing classes, objects aggregation or by using the parameters of the existing classes.

CBR*Tools aims application fields where the re-use of cases indexed by behavioral situations is required. The CBR*Tools framework was evaluated via the design and the implementation of five applications (Broadway-Web, educaid, BeCKB, Broadway-Predict, CASA and RA2001). We showed that, for each application, the thorough expertise necessary to use CBR*Tools relates to only 20% to 40% of the hot spots thus validating the assistance brought by our platform as well on design as on the implementation, thanks to the re-use of its abstract architecture and its components (index, similarity).

CBR*Tools is used in two current contracts: EPIA and MobiVip.

URL= http://www-sop.inria.fr/axis/cbrtools/manual/.