Knowledge object modeling

Knowledge objects are an integration of the object-oriented paradigm with l ogic rules. The proper integration provides a flexible and powerful environ ment, as rule-based components provide facilities for deductive retrieval a nd pattern matching, and object-oriented components provide a clear intuiti ve structure for programs in the form of class hierarchies. Based on the kn owledge object concept, this paper presents a factor-centered representatio n language, Factor++, which models logic rules into the object-oriented par adigm, and a scheduling system, Schedular, using the Eactor++ framework. Th e construction of Schedular demonstrates that by using an object-oriented r epresentation of knowledge objects, users can be given explicit control of the object hierarchy to customize the system to their particular needs, whi ch includes letting users select among scheduling and other methods. In Sch edular, rules are designed as derivation rules and constraint rules. The pu rpose of rules is either to restrict object structure and behavior, or to i nfer new data from the existing data. Rules are arranged in positions so th at object methods are automatically firing up if environment changes are de tected by these rules.