Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for inference, comprising: knowledge base means containing frames comprised of: slots and slot values for storing knowledge on objects of interest, each object being represented by one of the frames, each categorized attribute being represented by one of the slots in the frame, a particular attribute value corresponding to the object being represented by one of the slot values in the frame; procedure information accompanying each slot which indicates procedure for deriving the slot value of the slot from the other slot values; pointer information for indicating the slots related to each other by the procedure indicated by the procedure information; and sign information accompanying each slot for indicating the validity of the slot value currently given; and knowledge base managing means for managing the knowledge base means including: means for deriving the slot value in accordance with the procedure indicated by the procedure information when the slot value is missing and when the slot value is indicated by the accompanying sign information as invalid; means for changing the indication of the sign information accompanying the slots which are indicated by the pointer information as being related to the slot whose slot value is derived by the deriving means; and means for caching in the slot value derived by the deriving means to the knowledge base means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for inference, comprising: knowledge base means containing frames comprised of: slots and slot values for storing knowledge on objects of interest, each object being represented by one of the frames, each categorized attribute being represented by one of the slots in the frame, a particular attribute value corresponding to the object being represented by one of the slot values in the frame; procedure information accompanying each slot which indicates procedure for deriving the slot value of the slot from the other slot values; pointer information for indicating the slots related to each other by the procedure indicated by the procedure information; and sign information accompanying each slot for indicating the validity of the slot value currently given; and knowledge base managing means for managing the knowledge base means including: means for deriving the slot value in accordance with the procedure indicated by the procedure information when the slot value is missing and when the slot value is indicated by the accompanying sign information as invalid; means for changing the indication of the sign information accompanying the slots which are indicated by the pointer information as being related to the slot whose slot value is derived by the deriving means; and means for caching in the slot value derived by the deriving means to the knowledge base means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sign information is a flag which carries different symbols to indicate the validity and the invalidity of the slot value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sign information is comprised of a first information concerning a time at which the slot value is derived by the deriving means, and a second information concerning a time at which the slot value is cached in by the caching means, and wherein the validity of the slot value is indicated by the time in the first information being later than the time in the second information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of inference, comprising the steps of: (a) representing each object of interest by a frame in a knowledge base; (b) representing each categorized attribute and corresponding attribute value of an object by a slot and its slot value in the frame representing the object; (c) accompanying each slot with procedure information which indicates procedure for deriving the slot value of the slot from the other slot values; (d) providing pointer information for indicating the slots related to each other by the procedure indicated by the procedure information; (e) accompanying each slot with sign information for indicating the validity of the slot value currently given; (f) deriving the slot value in accordance with the procedure indicated by the procedure information when the slot value is missing and when the slot value is indicated by the accompanying sign information as invalid; (g) changing the indication of the sign information accompanying the slots which are indicated by the pointer information as being related to the slot whose slot value is derived at the step (f); and (h) caching in the slot value derived at the step (f) to the knowledge base.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of inference, comprising the steps of: (a) representing each object of interest by a frame in a knowledge base; (b) representing each categorized attribute and corresponding attribute value of an object by a slot and its slot value in the frame representing the object; (c) accompanying each slot with procedure information which indicates procedure for deriving the slot value of the slot from the other slot values; (d) providing pointer information for indicating the slots related to each other by the procedure indicated by the procedure information; (e) accompanying each slot with sign information for indicating the validity of the slot value currently given; (f) deriving the slot value in accordance with the procedure indicated by the procedure information when the slot value is missing and when the slot value is indicated by the accompanying sign information as invalid; (g) changing the indication of the sign information accompanying the slots which are indicated by the pointer information as being related to the slot whose slot value is derived at the step (f); and (h) caching in the slot value derived at the step (f) to the knowledge base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the sign information is a flag which carries different symbols to indicate the validity and invalidity of the slot value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the sign information is comprised of a first information concerning a time at which the slot value is derived at the step (f), and a second information concerning a time at which the slot value is cached in at the step (h), and wherein the validity of the slot value is indicated by the time in the first information being later than the time in the second information.