Consistency Verification of a Rule-Based Smart Home Reasoning System with Satisfiability Modulo Theories

This paper proposes a method for consistency verification of a rule-based smart home reasoning system (SHRS). To this end, it defines, formalizes and presents a static (off-line) analysis method for five primary causes of inconsistencies in rule-based SHRSs, using satisfiability modulo theories as a tool. Afterwards, it presents an empirical validation of the proposed method using a real-world smart home reasoning system as a model. The primary causes of inconsistencies considered are conflicting, duplicate, overlapping, self-looping, and circular rules. In general, this study presents a reliable and effective solution to analyze and verify the consistency of SHRSs.