Modeling knowledge-based anytime computation

dThis article describes a Knowledge-based Anytime Computation to design a real-time decision-making model. Such a computation combines the expressiveness and flexibility of knowledge-based systems with the real-time advantages of anytime algorithms. Anytime computation offers a simple means by which an intelligent system can trade off computation time for quality of results. Previous attempts to develop knowledge-based anytime algorithms failed to produce consistent, predictable improvement of quality over time. Without performance profiles, that describe the output quality as a function of time, it is difficult to exploit the flexibility of anytime algorithms. The model of knowledge-based anytime computation based on progressive reasoning presented here is based on a hierarchy of reasoning units that allow for gradual improvement of decision quality in a predictable manner. The result is an important step towards the application of knowledge-based systems in time-critical domains. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.