The main objective of this paper is to describe how Dempster-Shafer’s (DS) theory of belief functions fits in the framework of valuation-based systems (VBS). Since VBS serve as a framework for managing uncertainty in expert systems, this facilitates the use of DS belief-function theory in expert systems.

One of the key challenges in designing expert systems is a credible representation of uncertainty and partial belief. During the past decade, a number of rule-based belief languages were proposed and implemented in applied systems. Due to their quasi-probabilistic nature, the external validity of these languages is an open question. This pape~ discusses the theory of belief revision in expert s...