Principles of Semantic Networks: Explorations in the Representation of Knowledge

Semantic networks have been used for knowledge representation since the early days of artificial intelligence. Recently, they have experienced a resurgence of interest motivated by the search for methods of organizing and displaying larger and more complex knowledge bases. New interest in object-oriented programming and object-oriented databases has also focused attention on the object-centered aspects of semantic networks, especially type hierarchies and inheritance.

This book is the first major overview of this field in ten years. It is the result of a unique collaboration of the most active researchers in semantic networks. The chapters fall into three major Knowledge Representation, Formal Analyses, and Systems. Each chapter is an original contribution that begins with a survey of one subfield and leads up to the latest research in the area. Principles of Semantic Networks will be of strong interest to AI researchers and developers concerned with issues of knowledge representation.