Accession Number:

ADA289890

Title:

Actions and Events in Interval Temporal Logic.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

ROCHESTER UNIV NY DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Personal Author(s):

• Allen, James F.
• Ferguson, George

Report Date:

1994-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

We present a representation of events and action based on interval temporal logic that is significantly more expressive and more natural than most previous Al approaches. The representation is motivated by work in natural language semantics and discourse, temporal logic, and Al planning and plan recognition. The formal basis of the representation is presented in detail, from the axiomatization of time periods to the relationship between actions and events and their effects. The power of the representation is illustrated by applying it to the axiomatization and solution of several standard problems from the Al literature on action and change. An approach to the frame problem based on explanation closure is shown to be both powerful and natural when combined with our representational frame work. We also discuss features of the logic that are beyond the scope of many traditional representations, and describe our approach to difficult problems such as external events and simultaneous actions.

Descriptors:

• *COMPUTER LOGIC
• *ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
• *SYSTEMS APPROACH
• TIME INTERVALS
• REASONING
• SEMANTICS
• RECOGNITION
• EXTERNAL
• POWER
• FRAMES
• SYNCHRONISM
• NATURAL LANGUAGE

Subject Categories:

• Computer Programming and Software
• Cybernetics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE