IR-NLI II: applying man-machine interaction and artificial intelligence conceptsto information retrieval

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses the problem of building expert interfaces to information retrieval systems. In particular, the problem of augmenting the capabilities of such interfaces with user modeling features is discussed and the main benefits of this approach are outlined. The paper presents a prototype system called IR-NLI II, devoted to model by means of artificial intelligence techniques the human intermediary to information retrieval systems. The overall organization of the IR-NLI II system is presented, together with a short description of the two main modules implemented so far, namely the Information Retrieval Expert Subsystem and the User Modeling Subsystem. An example of interaction with IR-NLI II is described. Perspectives and future research directions are finally outlined.

REFERENCES

• BATE79: Bates M. J. (1979). Information Search Tactics. Journal of the American Society_ for Information Sciencq#., 30, 205-214.
• BELK88: N. J. Belkin, On the nature and fuction of explanation in intelligent information retrieval, Proceedings of the 11th annual international ACM SIGIR conference on Research and development in information retrieval, p.135-145, May 1988, Grenoble, France [doi>10.1145/62437.62446]
• BRAJ87a: Brajnik G., Guida G., and Tasso C. (1987). Design and experimentation of IR-NLI: an intelligent user interface to bibliographic data bases, in L. Kerschberg (Ed.) Exper# Database #.##, The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA, USA, 151-162.
• BRAJ87b: Giorgio Brajnik , Giovanni Guida , Carlo Tasso, User modeling in intelligent information retrieval, Information Processing and Management: an International Journal, v.23 n.4, p.305-320, July 1987 [doi>10.1016/0306-4573(87)90020-3]
• BRAJ88: Brajnik G., Guida G., and Tasso C. (1988). Modeling individual users in the IR-NLI lI system for intelligent information retrieval. Proc. 3rd FLE_&.#LIFIP/EI_E_A/!FORS Conf. on Man-M#.c._h.i_# #Y._,s_k~__#2, Oulu, Finland. To appear.
• BROO87: Brooks H.M. (1987). Expert systems and intelligent information retrieval. Information Processing and #vlanagem_ent 23(4), 367-382.
• CHIA87: Y. Chiaramella , B. Defude, A prototype of an intelligent system for information retrieval: IOTA, Information Processing and Management: an International Journal, v.23 n.4, p.285-303, July 1987 [doi>10.1016/0306-4573(87)90019-7]
• CROF87: W. Bruce Croft, Approaches to intelligent information retrieval, Information Processing and Management: an International Journal, v.23 n.4, p.249-254, July 1987 [doi>10.1016/0306-4573(87)90016-1]
• DANI86: Daniels P. J. (1986). The user modelling function of an intelligent interface for document retrieval systems, Proc. IRF_IS 6: !nte!ligen_t !nfg_rmati_0_n Systems ~.# hkh_# Information_ Society, North-ttolland, Amsterdam, 162-176.
• HOEP86: Wolfgang Hoeppner , Katharina Morik , Heinz Marburger, Talking it over: the natural language dialog system HAM-ANS, Cooperative interfaces to information systems, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., New York, NY, 1986
• LANC79: Lancaster F. W. (1979). I___.nf__ormation. Retrieval Systems. Wiley, New York.
• MORI85: Morik K. and Rollinger C. R. (1985). The real estate agent - modeling users by uncertain reasoning. #A.IJVlagazine, Summer i985, 44-52.
• ODDY77: Oddy R. N. (i977). Information retrieval through man-machine dialogue, Journal_ of D#ocum#entaOgn, 33(I), 1-14.
• RICH83: Rich E. (1983). Users are individuals" Individualizing user models. Int. Journ#l#ofMarl-#EIachine Studies 18, 199-214.
• SPAR87: Spark Jones K. (1987). Realism about user modelling. Technical report n. 111, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, England.
• WAHL85: Wahlster W. and Kobsa A. (1985). Dialog-based user models. Report n. 3, University of Saarbruecken, FRG.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Performance