A Specification Language for Discrete Dynamic Systems Based on Ontologically Structured Knowledge

This paper presents ABML (Attribute-Based Modeling Language), a language for the specification and prototyping of discrete dynamic systems grounded in ontologically structured knowledge. ABML supports the formal definition of both system ontologies and the rules that govern system behavior, including dynamic evolution of knowledge structures and object states. ABML is implemented as a lexical extension of a Common Lisp dialect (SBCL) and is built on a compact yet expressive conceptual foundation consisting of objects, attributes, and object types. The language emphasizes a clear distinction between mutable and immutable objects and provides flexible attribute-based typing mechanisms. The paper describes in detail the language constructs for type definition, object creation and modification, pattern matching, and attribute evaluation. A central feature of ABML is its attribute closure mechanism, which enables context-sensitive attribute computation and supports the modeling of system dynamics in discrete time. The practical applicability of ABML is illustrated by a case study involving a hand dryer. An ontology for the system is developed, along with rules governing system initialization and operation. The results demonstrate that ABML is a practical and effective tool for ontological modeling of intelligent, information, and software systems.