Explanation-based Similarity: A Unifying Approach for Integrating Domain Knowledge into Case-based Reasoning for Diagnosis and Planning Tasks

. Case-based problem solving can be significantly improved by applying domain knowledge (in opposition to problem solving knowledge) , which can be acquired with reasonable effort, to derive explanations of the correctness of a case. Such explanations, constructed on several levels of abstraction, can be employed as the basis for similarity assessment as well as for adaptation by solution refinement. The general approach for explanation-based similarity can be applied to different real world problem solving tasks such as diagnosis and planning in technical areas. This paper presents the general idea as well as the two specific, completely implemented realizations for a diagnosis and a planning task. 1 Introduction and Motivation The underlying principle of case-based reasoning is the idea to remember solutions to already known problems for their reuse during novel problem solving. The case which is most similar to the current problem is retrieved from a case base and its solution is m..