Objective The PALABRE project aimed to define and realise an acquisition and interrogation system for a large and evolving knowledge base. Information, interrogation and updating were performed using natural language. The input-outputs were to be either textual or vocal (speech understanding and synthesis). Common tools and methods were to be developed independently so that several languages (French, English, Italian) could be used. Requests were to be converted with the help of inference rules and sent to an intelligent retrieval process based on semantic knowledge representation. LISP and PROLOG on a LISP machine were used. The feasibility of such a system were to be demonstrated through a phone directory "Yellow Pages" prototype application in Italian, English and French. . The project aimed to define and realise an acquisition and interrogation system for a large and evolving knowledge base. Information, interrogation and updating were performed using natural language. The input/outputs were either textual or vocal (speech understanding and synthesis). Common tools and methods were developed independently so that several languages (French, English, Italian) could be used. Requests were converted with the help of interference rules and sent to an intelligent retrieval process based on semantic knowledge representation. LISP and PROLOG on a LISP machine were used. Different parts of the system were identified and their interfaces defined. The general architecture was based on a blackboard approach to combine several sources of knowledge. Two different approaches were proposed to parse a query set by the user: a deterministic parser for written input, and an augmented transition network parser for spoken input. The knowledge was represented using KL-ONE. The deduction module allowing the interpretation of a user query by the knowledge base and the answer generation module were investigated.Different parts of the system were identified and their interfaces defined. The general architecture was based on a blackboard approach to combine several sources of knowledge. Two different approaches were proposed to parse a query inputted by the user: a deterministic parser for written input, and an augmented transition network parser for spoken input. The knowledge was represented using KL-ONE. The deduction module allowing the interpretation of a user query by the knowledge-base and the answer generation module were investigated. Exploitations PALABRE served as a preliminary study for subsequent projects in the field of speech processing. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencenatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesknowledge engineering Programme(s) FP1-ESPRIT 1 - European programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1984-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator SOCIETE ETUDES SYSTEMS AUTOMATIONS (SESA) Address 3 rue du clos courtel 35018 Rennes France See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all British Telecom plc (BT) United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address 151 gower street WC1E 6BA London See on map CNET France Télécom France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2 route de tregastel 22300 Lannion See on map Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Quai anatole france 91406 Orsay See on map GSI-ERLI France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Quai des carrieres 94220 Charenton See on map Sarin Telematica SpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Statale 148 pontina km 29.100 00040 Pomezia roma See on map
