Granularity-Based User-Centric Multi-Strategies and Application in Knowledge Retrieval

Granular computing is a general computing paradigm of problem solving for effectively using granules in problem solving. From the viewpoint of granularity, this paper presents a new granular computing data cycle model in which information granule construction, granular space, information granule operations, and knowledge acquisition approach are proposed respectively. To do a more user oriented way, a multi-strategies model, namely, Base-Level learning strategy, user interest retention strategy, and starting point strategy, introduces to unify search and reasoning for effective problem solving. Then, we discuss granularity-based unification using three strategies mentioned above and show three-levels of granularity from human problem solving to a wide variety of user needs satisfied. Furthermore, on the basis of user-centric multistrategies and granular information processing, we develop a conceptual framework of granularity-based knowledge retrieval model, which enlarges the application areas of granular computing.