001/**
002 * Copyright (C) 2007 - 2016, Jens Lehmann
003 *
004 * This file is part of DL-Learner.
005 *
006 * DL-Learner is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
007 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
008 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
009 * (at your option) any later version.
010 *
011 * DL-Learner is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
012 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
013 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
014 * GNU General Public License for more details.
015 *
016 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
017 * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
018 */
019package org.dllearner.refinementoperators;
020
021import java.util.Set;
022
023import org.dllearner.core.Component;
024import org.semanticweb.owlapi.model.OWLClassExpression;
025
026/**
027 * Interface for all refinement operators based on OWL/Description Logics.
028 * A refinement operator
029 * maps a description to a set of descriptions. For downward refinement
030 * operators those descriptions are more special. For upward refinement
031 * operators, those descriptions are more general. 
032 * 
033 * @author Jens Lehmann
034 *
035 */
036public interface RefinementOperator extends Component {
037
038        /**
039         * Standard refinement operation.
040         * @param description The description, which will be refined.
041         * @return A set of refinements.
042         */
043        Set<OWLClassExpression> refine(OWLClassExpression description);
044        
045}