Using deduction for intelligent data analysis

A Logic-based query language with built-in data mining primitives is presented. The aim is to have a language where knowledge extra ction and knowledge manipulation are integrated. Its flexibility and expressiveness in supporting the process of knowledge discovery in databases is illustrated presenting a market-basket analysis application. By focussing on association rules, we show that the query language deals effectively and uniformly with data preparation, rule extraction, analysis and construction of business rules. The implementation of the language is based on an architecture that allows a convenient compromise between tight and loose coupling of database querying and data mining.