Fuzzy expert system shell LIFE FEShell-working environment

There have been many investigations about fuzzy expert system shells that can handle uncertain data and knowledge. However, we have found many points in these shells that need improvement in terms of both knowledge representation and programming environment. To address this problem, we developed a fuzzy expert system shell named LIFE FEShell (Laboratory for International Fuzzy Engineering´s Fuzzy Expert Shell). LIFE FEShell can handle several kinds of uncertainty, and has a window-based graphic user interface. LIFE FEShell consists of three parts: a fuzzy production system, a fuzzy frame system, and an object editor. Not only used for data translation but also to organize the working environment, the object editor can run independently or cooperatively with the fuzzy production system and the fuzzy frame system via a communication protocol. The focus is on the working environment of LIFE FEShell and its communication protocol. An analysis of problems in fuzzy expert system shells, from the user interface point of view, and details of the LIFE FEShell object editor are also presented