Enriching database models so as to allow the user to deal with fuzzy and uncertain information has been of scientists' concern for years. This resulted in numerous contributions, mainly with respect to the popular relational model or to some related form of it. The experience was instructive, although still far from concrete applications.The time has come that the advantages of object-oriented databases are acknowledged outside the research and academic worlds and a breakthrough of new commercial softwares is observed. Lately research has been devoted to the endowment of this type of databases with more real-world reflecting semantics. It proved that the object-oriented paradigm lends itself extremely well to it. This is very promising and opens new perspectives for the availability of new-generation database products in the near future.The book presents the latest research results in dealing with fuzziness and uncertainty in object-oriented databases.

This volume offers the advice of selected expert contributors on the application of heterogeneous methods for managing uncertainty and imprecision in databases. It contains both survey chapters on classic topics such as "flexible querying in databases", and up to date information on "database models to represent imperfect data". Further, it includes specific contributions on uncertainty management in database integration, and in representing and querying semistructured and spatial data.

"This book includes an introduction to fuzzy logic, fuzzy databases and an overview of the state of the art in fuzzy modeling in databases"--Provided by publisher.

This book covers a fast-growing topic in great depth and focuses on the technologies and applications of probabilistic data management. It aims to provide a single account of current studies in probabilistic data management. The objective of the book is to provide the state of the art information to researchers, practitioners, and graduate students of information technology of intelligent information processing, and at the same time serving the information technology professional faced with non-traditional applications that make the application of conventional approaches difficult or impossible.

"This book provides comprehensive coverage and definitions of the most important issues, concepts, trends, and technologies in fuzzy topics applied to databases, discussing current investigation into uncertainty and imprecision management by means of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic in the field of databases and data mining. It offers a guide to fuzzy information processing in databases"--Provided by publisher.

Intelligent systems are required to enhance the capacities being made available to us by the internet and other computer based technologies. The theory necessary to help providing solutions to difficult problems in the construction of intelligent systems are discussed. In particular, attention is paid to situations in which the available information and data may be imprecise, uncertain, incomplete or of a linguistic nature. Various methodologies to manage such information are discussed. Among these are the probabilistic, possibilistic, fuzzy, logical, evidential and network-based frameworks.One purpose of the book is not to consider these methodologies separately, but rather to consider how they can be used cooperatively to better represent the multiplicity of modes of information. Topics in the book include representation of imperfect knowledge, fundamental issues in uncertainty, reasoning, information retrieval, learning and mining, as well as various applications.Key Features:• Tools for construction of intelligent systems • Contributions by world leading experts • Fundamental issues and applications • New technologies for web searching • Methods for modeling uncertain information • Future directions in web technologies • Transversal to methods and domains

In recent years, the science of managing and analyzing large datasets has emerged as a critical area of research. In the race to answer vital questions and make knowledgeable decisions, impressive amounts of data are now being generated at a rapid pace, increasing the opportunities and challenges associated with the ability to effectively analyze this data.

The Springer Handbook for Computational Intelligence is the first book covering the basics, the state-of-the-art and important applications of the dynamic and rapidly expanding discipline of computational intelligence. This comprehensive handbook makes readers familiar with a broad spectrum of approaches to solve various problems in science and technology. Possible approaches include, for example, those being inspired by biology, living organisms and animate systems. Content is organized in seven parts: foundations; fuzzy logic; rough sets; evolutionary computation; neural networks; swarm intelligence and hybrid computational intelligence systems. Each Part is supervised by its own Part Editor(s) so that high-quality content as well as completeness are assured.

Database Semantics: Semantic Issues in Multimedia Systems reflects the state of the art of emerging research on the meaning of multimedia information, as presented during IFIP's Eighth Data Semantics Working Conference (DS-8), organized by its Working Group 2.6 on Databases, and held at Rotorua, New Zealand, in January 1999. DS-8 was planned as an active forum for researchers and practitioners focusing on those issues that involve the semantics of the information represented, stored, and manipulated by multimedia systems. Depending on the topic and state of research, issues may be covered either deeply theoretically or quite practically, or even both. These proceedings contain twenty-one papers carefully selected by an International Programme Committee and organized in six thematic areas: Video Data Modelling and Use; Image Databases; Applications of Multimedia Systems; Multimedia Modeling in General; Multimedia Information Retrieval; Semantics and Metadata. For almost every area, important topics and issues include: data modeling and query languages for media such as audio, video, and images; methodological aspects of multimedia database design; intelligent multimedia information retrieval; knowledge discovery and data mining in multimedia information; multimedia user interfaces. Three visionary keynote addresses, by famous experts Ramesh Jain, Hermann Maurer and Masao Sakauchi, set the stage for discussion and future directions for the field. The collection of papers that resulted now offers a glimpse of the excitement and enthusiasm from DS-8. Database Semantics: Semantic Issues in Multimedia Systems is suitable as a secondary text for a graduate-level course on database systems, multimedia systems, or information retrieval systems and as a reference for practitioners and researchers in industry.

Research and development surrounding the use of data queries is receiving increased attention from computer scientists and data specialists alike. Through the use of query technology, large volumes of data in databases can be retrieved, and information systems built based on databases can support problem solving and decision making across industries. The Handbook of Research on Innovative Database Query Processing Techniques focuses on the growing topic of database query processing methods, technologies, and applications. Aimed at providing an all-inclusive reference source of technologies and practices in advanced database query systems, this book investigates various techniques, including database and XML queries, spatiotemporal data queries, big data queries, metadata queries, and applications of database query systems. This comprehensive handbook is a necessary resource for students, IT professionals, data analysts, and academicians interested in uncovering the latest methods for using queries as a means to extract information from databases. This all-inclusive handbook includes the latest research on topics pertaining to information retrieval, data extraction, data management, design and development of database queries, and database and XM queries.