Abstract: A semantic schema S is a graph structure such that each arc is labeled by an element of a Peano algebra. Two kinds of computations can be defined in such a structure: a formal computation and a semantic computation. The result of a formal computation is an element of a certain Peano algebra generated by means of the arcs of S. This is an abstract computation. The semantic computation is defined by means of an interpretation such that each node of S becomes an object of a real world and an arc describes a transformational process of two objects. Finally the result of the formal computation is interpreted by means of the semantic computation.
In this lecture we are concerned with recent progress in this domain. More precisely, the use of semantic schemas to obtain cooperating structures in order to increase the generative power of this mechanism of knowledge representation and reasoning systems is presented. We focus on the following cooperating structures based on semantic schemas: master-slave systems and hierarchical distributed reasoning systems. The first structure includes one master schema and several slave-schemas. These structures cooperate in a specific manner in order to find an answer to a query. The second structure is an arborescent one, such that each node is a semantic schema and the cooperation is based on a transfer of knowledge between nodes. Other kinds of cooperating structures are also discussed: cooperation based on maximal graphs and cooperation based on inheritance. Several applications of cooperating structures based on semantic schemas are discussed: image generation, semantics of communication, contact centers, dialogue systems.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Nicolae Tandareanu received the diploma in mathematics and Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest, Romania, in 1970 and 1975, respectively. He is currently Professor of Computer Science at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Craiova, Romania. Nicolae Tandareanu is the Head of the Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Craiova. He teaches the following courses: Knowledge Bases, Algebraic Representation of Knowledge, Object Oriented Systems for Knowledge Representation, Intelligent Dialogue Systems, Speech Processing.
Nicolae Tandareanu has published over 70 papers in refereed journals, lectures and monographs in the following domains: automata theory, formal languages, algorithms, numerical computation, generalized Boolean functions, logic programming, knowledge representation. He has chaired several international conferences in Romania and USA. He is quoted in the following encyclopedic works: International Book of Honor, Fourth World Edition (p. 223), Dictionary of International Biography, Twenty Fourth Edition (p. 328). His research includes algebraic methods for knowledge representation and their applications. Nicolae Tandareanu is reviewer at Zentralblatt fur Mathematik and Mathematical Reviews and member of the American Mathematical Society, Society for Computing Technologies and Romanian Mathematical Society.