Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for troubleshooting an object in a system under test, the method including the steps of interactively communicating between a user and a troubleshooting system, generating a learning knowledge base, identifying an object being tested by the user, utilizing the learning knowledge base for troubleshooting the test object, and classifying the test object as faulty or not faulty AND CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the method comprises the steps of: (a) structuring prior actions of the user as pairs of elements in a multi-branch tree in the learning knowledge base; (b) responsive to selected pairs of elements, comparing present actions of the user with the prior actions of the user, (c) generating a current signal path between a first input and a first output in the system under test; (d) determining whether the test object belongs to the current signal path; (e) responsive to the comparison of the actions of the user and responsive to whether the test object belongs to the current path, classifying the skill level of the user into one of a plurality of skill levels; (f) responsive to the skill level classification of the user, classifying the kind of troubleshooting advice to be given the user as to one of a plurality of kinds of troubleshooting advice; and (g) communicating the classified troubleshooting advice to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 1 CHARACTERISED IN THAT the method further comprises the steps of: (h) measuring the output of the test object and (i) responsive to the output of the test object, generating a new current signal path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 2 CHARACTERIZER IN THAT the method further comprises the steps of: (j) responsive to the output of the test object evidencing a fault in the test object, generating a downstream signal path as the new current signal path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the method further comprises the steps of: (j) responsive to the output of the test object evidencing no fault in the test object, generaring an upstream signal path as the new current signal path.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for troubleshooting an object under test, the system including means for interactively communicating between a user and a troubleshooting system, means for generating a learning knowledge base, means for identifying an object being tested by the user, means for utilizing the learning knowledge base for troubleshooting the test object, and means for classifying the test object as faulty or not faulty and CHARACTERISED IN THAT the system comprises: means for structuring prior actions of the user as pairs in a multi-branch tree in the learning knowledge base; means, responsive to selected pairs of elements, for comparing present actions of the user with the prior actions of the user; means for generating a current signal path between a first input and a first output in the system under test; means for determining whether the test object belongs to the current signal path; means responsive to the comparison of the actions of the user and responsive to whether the test object belongs to the current path for classifying the skill level of the user into one of a plurality of skill levels; means responsive to the skill level classification of the user for classifying the kind of troubleshooting advice to be given the user as to one of a plurality of kinds of troubleshooting advice; and means for communicating the classified troubleshooting advice to the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for troubleshooting an object in a system under test, the apparatus including means for interactively communicating between a user and a troubleshooting system, means for generating a learning knowledge base, means for identifying an object being tested by the user, means for utilizing the learning knowledge base for troubleshooting the test object, and means for classifying the test object as faulty or not faulty and CHARACTERIZED BY means for structuring prior actions of the user as pairs in a multi-branch tree in the learning knowledge base, means, responsive to selected pairs of elements, for comparing present actions of the user with the prior actions of the user, means for generating a current signal path between a first input and a first output in the system under test, means for determining whether the test object belongs to the current signal path, means responsive to the comparison of the actions of the user and responsive to whether the test object belongs to the current path for classifying the skill level of the user into one of a plurality of skill levels, means responsive to the skill level classification of the user for classifying the kind of troubleshooting advice to be given the user as to one of a plurality of kinds of troubleshooting advice, and means for communicating the classified troubleshooting advice to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 or apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising means for measuring the output of the test object, and means responsive to the output of the test object for generating a new current signal path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system or apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising means responsive to the output of the test object evidencing a fault in the test object for generating a downstream signal path as the new current signal path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system or apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 comprising means responsive to the output of the test object evidencing no fault in the test object for generating an upstream signal path as the new current signal path.