Granular computing for the design and implementation of intelligent information systems

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Information and knowledge granulation plays a central role in human-centered information processing and problem solving. Any information system of true intelligence must be able to process information and reason at multiple levels of granularity. Granular computing is an emerging field devoted to the study of this topic. A great challenge faced by researchers is the lack of a well-accepted common understanding and a unified framework. In the proposed program, I not only search for a unified view of granular computing, but also apply its principles to implement intelligent information systems. The research program has three parts: building a conceptual framework, constructing a unified model, and implementing prototype information systems based on the framework and the model. A conceptual framework of granular computing will be fully developed at three levels by drawing results from many branches of science. Granular computing can be viewed as structured thinking at the philosophical level, structured problem solving at the practical level, and structured information processing at the computational level. These views correspond naturally to the conceptual understanding, logical design and software implementation of information systems. A unified model of granular computing will be built by synthesizing scattered results from existing studies and related theories. The value of the framework and the model will be evaluated by implementing prototype systems, such as information retrieval support systems, research support systems, and intelligent data analysis systems.