Expert control system for real time management of automated factory equipment

Claim 1

An expert control computer system comprising: knowledge base means for defining at least one rule base tree, said rule base tree including a plurality of logically connected variables which can each take on at least the four mutually exclusive values true (T), false (F), untested (U) and indeterminant (I); and inferencing engine means for evaluating the value of one variable in the rule base tree in response to the value of at least a second variable logically connected thereto; and value altering means for altering the value of a uniquely selected variable within said rule base tree from any one value of said four values to any other value of said four values, wherein the values of higher-placed ones of the logically connected variables in the at least one rule base tree are at least once inferenced from the values of other lower-placed variable, the system further comprising up-chaining means for automatically up-chaining through the at least one tree when the value of a lower-placed variable is altered and for automatically changing the values of the higher-placed variables whose values have been inferenced from the altered lower-placed variable.