Conflict between Belief Functions on Two-Element Frame of Discernment

Abstrakt

When combining belief functions by the conjunctive rules of combination, conflicts often appear, which are assigned to empty set by un-normalized conjunctive rule or normalized by Dempster's rule of combination. Combination of conflicting belief functions and interpretation of conflicts is often questionable in real applications, thus a series of alternative combination rules was suggested and a series of papers on conflicting belief functions was published. This contribution introduces a new definition of conflict between two belief functions on two-element frame of discernment. Its idea is based on our previous study of conflicts of belief functions (conference IPMU 2010, Dortmund), where internal conflicts of belief functions are distinguished from a conflict between belief functions, and on the decomposition of a belief function on 2-element frame of discernment into its conflicting and non-conflicting part (seminar CJS 2010, Otaru). Basic properties of the newly defined conflict are presented and analyzed.