This study provides a comprehensive treatise on the use of fuzzy sets, fuzzy logic and possibility theory for dealing with imprecise and vague information in database management systems. The articles are written by authorities from all over the world.

The manipulation of databases is an integral part of a world which is becoming increasingly and pervasively information-focused. This book puts forward a suggestion to advocate preference queries and fuzzy sets as a central concern in database queries and offers an important contribution to the design of intelligent information systems. It provides a comprehensive study on fuzzy preference queries in the context of relational databases. Preference queries, a recent hot topic in database research, provide a basis for rank-ordering the items retrieved, which is especially valuable for large...