Design and implementation of new object-oriented rule base management system

In this work, a knowledge model, new object-oriented rule model (NORM), is proposed based on the concept of learning and thinking behaviors of human. It provides high maintainability and reusability through the object-oriented concept. There are four basic relations between knowledge concepts defined in NORM: Reference, Extension-of, Trigger and Acquire. These relations are helpful in describing the cooperation of the different knowledge concepts. In addition, we describe how to construct and maintain a knowledge base under this model. A NORM knowledge modeled rule base system platform, DRAMA, is also introduced and applied in this paper. In order to illustrate the capability of NORM knowledge model, a learning management system using DRAMA to infer the knowledge for selecting appropriate learning content for different student is designed and implemented. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.