Design and Implementation of a Scalable Fuzzy Case-Based Matching Engine

We discuss the design and the implementation of a flexible and scalable fuzzy case-based matching engine. The engine’s flexible design is illustrated for two of its core components: the internal representation of cases by means of a variety of crisp and fuzzy data types, and the fuzzy operations to execute the ensuing case matching process. We investigate the scalability of the matching engine by a series of benchmark tests of increasing complexity, and find that the matching engine can manage an increasingly heavy load. This indicates that the engine can be used for demanding matching processes. We conclude by pointing at several applications in experimental electronic markets for which the matching engine currently is being put to use, and indicate avenues for future research.