Combination method of conflict evidences based on evidence similarity

Aiming at the problem that the traditional Dempster Shafer (D-S) evidence theory cannot deal with conflicted evidences effectively and correctly, this paper points out that the key issue of this problem is to measure the degree of conflict between evidences correctly after analyzing various improved methods. The existing evidence conflict measure methods are analyzed, and a new evidence conflict measure method called evidence similarity measure based on the Tanimoto measure is proposed, while a new evidence combination method is proposed on the basis of evidence similarity measure. Firstly, the conflict degrees between evidences are obtained through the evidence similarity measure. Then the evidence sources are modified based on the credibility of different evidences and the weights of conflicted parts of evidences on different focal elements are determined. Finally, the fusion result is obtained by this method. Numerical examples show that the proposed method can effectively fuse evidences when evidences are consistent or highly conflicted, and it has a fast convergence speed, a high degree of accuracy and good adaptability.

A new fusion approach based on distance of evidences

Based on the framework of evidence theory, data fusion aims at obtaining a single Basic Probability Assignment (BPA) function by combining several belief functions from distinct information sources. Dempster’s rule of combination is the most popular rule of combinations, but it is a poor solution for the management of the conflict between various information sources at the normalization step. Even when it faces high conflict information, the classical Dempster-Shafer’s (D-S) evidence theory can involve counter-intuitive results. This paper presents a modified averaging method to combine conflicting evidence based on the distance of evidences; and also gives the weighted average of the evidence in the system. Numerical examples showed that the proposed method can realize the modification ideas and also will provide reasonable results with good convergence efficiency.

A New Approach to Evidence Combination and Its Application to Targets Recognition in Image Sequence

The classical Dempster's combination rule is the most popular rule of combinations,but it is a poor solution for the management of the evidence conflict at the normalization step.When deal with high conflict information it can even involve counter-intuitive results.Based on evidence distance,some inherent characters of evidences are extracted,and discount method to combine conflicting evidence was proposed.The discount method can be also used to fuse image sequences to recognize targets.Examples show that the proposed method can provide reasonable results with good convergence efficiency.

Target recognition based on modified combination rule

Evidence theory is widely used in the field of target recognition. The invalidation problem of this theory when dealing with highly conflict evidences is a research hotspot. Several alternatives of the combination rule are analyzed and compared. A new combination approach is proposed. Calculate the reliabilities of evidence sources using existing evidences. Construct reliabilities judge matrixes and get the weights of each evidence source. Weight average all inputted evidences. Combine processed evidences with D-S combination rule repeatedly to identify a target. The application in multi-sensor target reeognition as well as the comparison with typical alternatives all validated that this approach can dispose highly conflict evidences efficiently and get reasonable reeognition results rapidly.

New conflict representation model in generalized power space

The study on alternative combination rules in Dempster- Shafer theory （DST） when evidences are in conflict has emerged again recently as an interesting topic, especially in data/information fusion applications. The earlier researches have mainly focused on investigating the alternative which would be appropriate for the conflicting situation, under the assumption that a conflict is identified. However, the current research shows that not only the combination rule but also the classical conflict coefficient in DST are not correct to determine the conflict degree between two pieces of evidences. Most existing methods of measuring conflict do not consider the open world situation, whose frame of discernment is incomplete. To solve this problem, a new conflict representa- tion model to determine the conflict degree between evidences is proposed in the generalized power space, which contains two parameters： the conflict distance and the conflict coefficient of inconsistent evidences. This paper argues that only when the con- flict measure value in the new representation model is high, it is safe to say the evidences are in conflict. Experiments illustrate the efficiency of the proposed conflict representation model.

Interactive-Adaptive Combination Rule

Aiming at the invalidation of DS theory dealing with the evidence in a high conflict and reducing confidence level of DSm theory processing a low conflict,this paper proposes an interactive-adaptive combination rule. Adopting the angle similarity based on hyper-power set as the weight of generalized Dempster rule and PCR rule,the new rule adaptively processes various evidence combination issues. In this way,the rule can obtain not only the better fusion of decision making effect in a low conflict,but also the solution to the synthesis in a high conflict. Simulation analysis demonstrates the validity and applicability from this rule of combination.

Measuring Conflict Functions in Generalized Power Space

One of the most important open issues is that the classical conflict coefficient in D-S evidence theory （DST） cannot correctly determine the conflict degree between two pieces of evidence. This drawback greatly limits the use of DST in real application systems. Early researches mainly focused on the improvement of Dempster’s rule of combination （DRC）. However, the current research shows it is very important to define new conflict coefficients to determine the conflict degree between two or more pieces of evidence. The evidential sources of information are considered in this work and the definition of a conflict measure function （CMF） is proposed for selecting some useful CMFs in the next fusion work when sources are available at each instant. Firstly, the definition and theorems of CMF are put forward. Secondly, some typical CMFs are extended and then new CMFs are put forward. Finally, experiments illustrate that the CMF based on Jousselme and its similar ones are the best suited ones.