An assistant system for dairy works using CBR based on XML

This paper introduces an agent system for supporting user's dairy work on the Internet like a secretary. In this system, an agent is assigned to a user, and receives requests from the user or other agents. Since there are various kinds of requests, it is difficult to prepare a complete set of request-handling rules in advance. In order to handle various requests, the agent uses Case Based Reasoning (CBR), which is an approach to solve a problem by referring old cases. Requests and cases are described as XML documents, that are easily understandable for both the user and agent, because the agent needs to interact with them. Describing documents in XML enables an agent to match a request and a case more exactly. This agent consists of a request receipt module, planning module, executing module, and case storage module. The request receipt module receive a request from the user or other agents. The request is described as a XML document by interacting with the user. The planning module searches an old case similar to the request, and generates a sequence of basic operations as a plan by referring the case. The executing module executes the plan. If the agent fails to execute a basic operation or requires user's instruction, then it carries out the plan by interacting with the user. The case storage module stores the new case with user's evaluation score into the case base. The experimental results shows that increase in the number of cases raises a proposal rate and accuracy rate. However, too many cases may cause decline in the accuracy rate by inconsistency of user's evaluation.