Support function and objecting function, a new viewpoint to the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence

A new evidence model based on support function and objecting function is introduced by generalizing Dempster-Shafer theory into an open frame of discernment. Through exploration of the properties of support function and objecting function, it is shown that this model provides a more direct and natural way for the representation of evidence and the understanding of the Dempster´s rule of combination than the belief function model. The possibility to generalize this model to the closed frame is also discussed.