Using meta-knowledge within a multilevel framework for KBS development

This paper describes a multilevel development life cycle of representation refinement for knowledge-based systems that incorporates meta-knowledge at each level. The methodology uses formal techniques in the specification of the domain knowledge, the cognitive aspects and the representation. The methodology provides the knowledge engineer with a dynamic perspective of the system which can be used in conjunction with the static aspects found in the representation abstractions. To provide perspective, the paper details the refinement of one of the levels called the intermediate level, in which an implementation-independent representation is created by the use of a knowledge filter. ( 1997 Academic Press Limited