Applicability analysis of fuzzy inference by means of generalized Dempster-Shafer theory

The generalization of Dempster-Shafer (D-S) theory to fuzzy sets provides means for evidential reasoning on basis of fuzzy information. Fuzzy implication operators are used to turn partial fuzzy knowledge about a physical system into an inference engine. Presently there are more than 72 fuzzy implication operators known and investigated, evoking demand for strategies of finding the best performing fuzzy implication operator for the physical system under investigation. In this paper the authors propose such a concept based on generalized D-S theory. A convention to update prior knowledge regarding the applicability of fuzzy implication operators, with respect to fuzzy evidences pertaining to the physical system under consideration, is presented