The meta-inferences engine: A new tool to manipulate metaknowledge

This paper presents the structure and the performance of a new inference engine: the MIE (meta-inference engine). It is able to manipulate not only the rules but also the meta-rules. The article first describes the architecture of the MIE and gives an example to illustrate its use. A comparison of performance between an RETE network and the MIE is then made. This shows that the MIE is more efficient at manipulating metaknowledge (meta-rules) but that an RETE network is quicker when the system inserts or deletes a fact.