Computing with words in intelligent database querying: standalone and Internet-based applications

We present how computing with words, meant as a set of fuzzy-logic-based tools for an effective and efficient handling of imprecise elements of natural language, can be implemented for fuzzy querying via a user-friendly interface to Microsoft Access, FQUERY for Access. The system accommodates fuzzy (imprecise) terms and linguistic quantifiers allowing for queries exemplified by "find tall) records such that most of the (important) clauses are satisfied (to a degree from [0, 1])". L.A. Zadeh's [Comput. Math. Appl. 9 (1983) 149] fuzzy logic based calculus of linguistically quantified propositions, and R.R. Yager's [IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet. 18 (1988) 183] ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operators are employed to deal with fuzzy linguistic quantifiers. It is then shown how FQUERY for Access, which is a standalone application, may be extended to support fuzzy querying via the Internet (or, analogously, Intranet). It is shown how WWW browsers, both the Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer, can be employed for developing a fuzzy querying interface for handling imprecise natural language elements in database queries following Zadeh's computing with words paradigm. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.