System and method for building knowledge-based applications

Claim 2

A computer implemented method for building knowledge-based applications respecting a plurality of entities and combining a plurality of decision aid systems in a unified framework, comprising the steps of: establishing a truth maintenance system; receiving a plurality of declarative relationship statements comprising a statement or relationship among at least two of the entities; establishing within said truth maintenance system a deductive reasoning system, said deductive reasoning system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements; establishing within said truth maintenance system a constraint satisfaction system, said constraint satisfaction system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements; recognizing logical dependencies among said declarative relationship statements within said truth maintenance system; and maintaining said logical dependencies with respect to said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: removing certain of said declarative relationship statements from said truth maintenance system; and recognizing the elimination of logical dependencies among certain of said declarative relationship statements remaining within said truth maintenance system as a result of said step of removing.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of associating a plurality of frame templates within said truth maintenance system, said frame templates comprising a plurality of declarative relationships statements of characteristics of the entities.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a deductive reasoning system further comprises establishing a forward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a deductive reasoning system further comprises establishing a backward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of associating with said truth maintenance system a language for assisting decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system a device for command processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system a device for assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for logical clause processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for "AND"-elimination processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 12

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for modus ponens processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 13

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for constraint clause assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 14

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for command retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 15

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for constraint clause retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 16

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for query retrieval processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 17

The method of claim 6, wherein said decision-making assisting language associating step further comprises the step of associating with said truth maintenance system, a device for logical query processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 20

The system of claim 17, further comprising structure within said truth maintenance system for removing certain of said declarative relationship statements from said truth maintenance system and for recognizing the elimination of logical dependencies among certain of said declarative relationship statements remaining within said truth maintenance system.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of frame templates associated within said truth maintenance system, said frame templates comprising a plurality of declarative relationship statements of characteristics of the entities.

Claim 22

The system of claim 17, wherein said deductive reasoning system comprises a forward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 23

The system of claim 17, wherein said deductive reasoning system comprises a backward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 24

The system of claim 17, further comprising a language structure associated with said deductive reasoning system and said constraint satisfaction system for assisting decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Claim 25

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for command processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 26

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 27

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for logical clause processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 28

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for "AND"-elimination processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 29

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for modus ponens processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 30

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for constraint clause assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 31

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for command retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 32

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for constraint clause retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 33

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for query retrieval processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 34

The system of claim 22, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for logical query processing of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 35

A computer system for building knowledge-based applications respecting a plurality of entities using a plurality of decision aid systems, comprising: a data processor for processing data and commands relating to the entities and storing a plurality of decision aid systems; and a system for building knowledge-based applications using a plurality of decision aid systems, comprising: a truth maintenance system, said truth maintenance system comprising means for receiving a plurality of declarative relationship statements and a truth maintenance means for recognizing and maintaining logical dependencies among said declarative relationship statements, said declarative relationship statements comprising a statement of relationship among at least two of the entities; a deductive reasoning system associated with said truth maintenance system, said deductive reasoning system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements; a constraint satisfaction system associated with said truth maintenance system, said constraint satisfaction system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 36

A computer system for building knowledge-based applications respecting a plurality of entities using a plurality of decision aid systems, comprising: a data processor for processing data and commands relating to the entities and storing a plurality of decision aid systems; and a system for building knowledge-based applications using a plurality of decision aid systems, comprising: a truth maintenance system, said truth maintenance system comprising means for receiving a plurality of declarative relationship statements and a truth maintenance means for recognizing and maintaining logical dependencies among said declarative relationship statements, said declarative relationship statements comprising a statement of relationship among at least two of the entities; a deductive reasoning system associated with said truth maintenance system, said deductive reasoning system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements; a constraint satisfaction system associated with said truth maintenance system, said constraint satisfaction system comprising a certain subset of said declarative relationship statements.

Claim 37

The computer system of claim 33, further comprising structure within said truth maintenance system for removing certain of said declarative relationship statements from said truth maintenance system and for recognizing the elimination of logical dependencies among certain of said declarative relationship statements remaining within said truth maintenance system.

Claim 38

The computer system of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of frame templates associated within said truth maintenance system, said frame templates comprising a plurality of declarative relationships statements of characteristics of the entities.

Claim 39

The computer system of claim 34, wherein said deductive reasoning system comprises a forward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 40

The computer system of claim 34, wherein said deductive reasoning system comprises a backward deductive reasoning system.

Claim 41

The computer system of claim 34, further comprising a language structure associated with said deductive reasoning system and said constraint satisfaction system for assisting decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Claim 42

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for command processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 43

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 44

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for logical clause processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 45

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for "AND"-elimination processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 46

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for modus ponens processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 47

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for constraint clause assertion processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 48

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for command retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 49

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for constraint clause retraction processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 50

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for query retrieval processing of said declarative relationship statements associated with said truth maintenance system.

Claim 51

The computer system of claim 38, wherein said language structure further comprises a device for logical query processing of said declarative relationship statements.