US4866635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Domain independent shell for building a diagnostic expert system
Assignee: Carnegie Group Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-19
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2007-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An application shell provides a domain independent diagnostic problem solver comprised of a knowledge base. The knowledge base includes a plurality of failure mode schemata arranged in a causal hierarchy from observable failure modes to failure modes having a repair procedure; a plurality of rule schemata related to certain of said failure mode schemata; a plurality of datum schemata for gathering data about the system under investigation, the information being used to determine the applicability of said rule schemata; and a plurality of repair procedure schemata each being related to one of the failure mode schemata having a repair procedure. A problem solver is capable of forward chaining through the knowledge base and backward chaining through the failure mode schemata based on the rules, the forward chaining, and the hierarchical arrangement of failure mode schemata so as to change the focus from one failure mode schema to another failure mode schema deeper within the hierarchical arrangement without having to focus upon any intermediate schemata to thereby locate an appropriate repair procedure schema.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary S. Kahn
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Pepper
- 👤 Al N. Kepner
- 👤 William Richer
- 👤 Rajiv Enand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2257; G06N; G06N5/00; G06N5/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An application shell providing a domain-independent diagnostic problem solver, comprising: knowledge base means including, (a) a plurality of failure mode schemata arranged in a causal hierarchy from observable failure modes to failure modes having a repair procedure; (b) a plurality of rules related to certain of said failure mode schemata; (c) a plurality of datum schemata for gathering data about the system under investigation, said data being used to determine the applicability of said rules; and (d) a plurality of repair procedure schemata each being related to one of said failure mode schemata having a repair procedure; and problem solver means for searching through said failure mode schemata based on said rules and the hierarchical arrangement of said failure mode schemata in such a manner as to be able to refocus on another failure mode schema deeper within said hierarchical arrangement without fully investigating intermediate schemata to thereby locate an appropriate repair procedure schema.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An application shell providing a domain-independent diagnostic problem solver, comprising: knowledge base means including, (a) a plurality of failure mode schemata arranged in a causal hierarchy from observable failure modes to failure modes having a repair procedure; (b) a plurality of rules related to certain of said failure mode schemata; (c) a plurality of datum schemata for gathering data about the system under investigation, said data being used to determine the applicability of said rules; and (d) a plurality of repair procedure schemata each being related to one of said failure mode schemata having a repair procedure; and problem solver means for searching through said failure mode schemata based on said rules and the hierarchical arrangement of said failure mode schemata in such a manner as to be able to refocus on another failure mode schema deeper within said hierarchical arrangement without fully investigating intermediate schemata to thereby locate an appropriate repair procedure schema.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The application shell of claim 1 additionally comprising means for generating beliefs and means for forward chaining based on said beliefs, and wherein said means for searching is capable of refocussing from one schema to another schema deeper within said hierarchical arrangement without fully investigating intermediate schemata in response to said forward chaining.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The application shell of claim 1 additionally comprising means for receiving user input and wherein said means for searching is capable of refocussing from a first schema to a second schema not causally related to said first schema in response to said user input.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The application shell of claim 3 wherein said means for searching is capable of refocussing from one schema to another schema deeper within said hierarchical arrangement without fully investigating intermediate schemata in response to said user input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The application shell of claim 1 wherein said means for searching conducts a left to right depth first search.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The application shell of claim 5 wherein said depth first search is conducted even for failure mode schemata which are unknown.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The application shell of claim 1 wherein said problem solver means includes means for drawing conclusions and wherein said means for generating beliefs generates beliefs based on one of said information and said conclusions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The application shell of claim 1 wherein said failure mode schemata include slots containing values, and wherein said rules are capable of modifying said values such that said knowledge base means can be dynamically modified.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The application shell of claim 8 wherein said rules modify said values by one of reordering said values of said slot, removing said valves from said slot and replacing said values in said slot with new values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The application shell of claim 1 wherein said rules are capable of modifying said knowledge base means so as to accommodate variations in the domain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The application shell of claim 8 wherein certain of said rules fire only when said slot that they modify is accessed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The application shell of claim 8 wherein certain of said rules fire whenever said information needed to determine the applicability of the rules is available.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The application shell of claim 1 wherein certain of said datum schemata are directed to determining if a repair procedure was locally successful.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The application shell of claim 1 additionally comprising means for determining if said repair procedure was globally successful.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The application shell of claim 14 wherein certain of said failure mode schemata, intermediate of observable failure modes and failure modes having a repair procedure, which have more than one cause are identified such that upon determining that a repair procedure was locally but not globally successful, said means for searching returns to said identified failure mode schemata.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The application shell of claim 15 wherein said means for determining if said repair procedure was globally successful also determines if said repair procedure was intermediately successful.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
An application shell providing a domain-independent diagnostic problem solver, comprising: knowledge base means including, (a) a plurality of failure mode schemata arranged in a causal hierarchy from observable failure modes to failure modes having a repair procedure; (b) a plurality of rule schemata related to certain of said failure mode schemata; (c) a plurality of datum schemata for gathering data about the system under investigation, said information being used to determine the applicability of said rule schemata; and (d) a plurality of repair procedure schemata each being related to one of said failure mode schemata having a repair procedure; and problem solver means for forward chaining through said knowledge has means to reach conclusions about said failure mode schemata and for backward chaining through said knowledge base means based on said rules, said conclusions, and the hierarchical arrangement of said failure mode schemata so as to change the focus from one failure mode schema to another failure mode schema deeper within the hierarchical arrangement without focusing upon any intermediate schemata to thereby locate an appropriate repair procedure schema.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
An application shell providing a domain-independent diagnostic problem solver, comprising: knowledge base means including, (a) a plurality of failure mode schemata arranged in a causal hierarchy from observable failure modes to failure modes having a repair procedure; (b) a plurality of rule schemata related to certain of said failure mode schemata; (c) a plurality of datum schemata for gathering data about the system under investigation, said information being used to determine the applicability of said rule schemata; and (d) a plurality of repair procedure schemata each being related to one of said failure mode schemata having a repair procedure; and problem solver means for forward chaining through said knowledge has means to reach conclusions about said failure mode schemata and for backward chaining through said knowledge base means based on said rules, said conclusions, and the hierarchical arrangement of said failure mode schemata so as to change the focus from one failure mode schema to another failure mode schema deeper within the hierarchical arrangement without focusing upon any intermediate schemata to thereby locate an appropriate repair procedure schema.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 17 additionally comprising means for generating beliefs about the system under investigation and wherein said forward chaining is based on said beliefs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said forward chaining is based on said gathered data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said schemata include slots containing values and wherein said plurality of rule schemata are capable of modifying said values in said slots to thereby dynamically alter said knowledge base means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 17 additionally comprising a plurality of decision mode schemata integrated within said hierarchical structure to provide conditional branching.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |