Patent US5581663A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5581663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automated problem formulator and solver
Assignee: Ideation International Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-22
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2014-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A computer implemented apparatus to identify problems that exist in a real-world system and to assist in finding a solution to such problems. The apparatus has an input device for receiving a description of the real-world system as input. A memory device stores a graph being a representation of the description of the real-world system. A processor produces the graph representing the description of the real-world system. The processor also determines if the graph complies with a set of structural rules and parses the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system. The memory also stores a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators. Each operator includes a recommendation for solving a problem, and can also include an example of the application of the recommendation. The links between the operators represent historical routes to solutions to problems. The processor enables a user to traverse the network of operators to locate at least one operator relevant to the problem to be solved.
Inventors
- 👤 Boris Zlotin
- 👤 Dmitry Bushuev
- 👤 Eugene Haimov
- 👤 Sergey Malkin
- 👤 Alla Zusman
- 👤 Alexey Tikhonov
- 👤 Vladimir Pevnev
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N5/00; G06N5/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/919
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A computer-based method to determine and identify problems that exist in a real-world system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system in natural language according to a predetermined syntax; determining if the description complies with the predetermined syntax; producing a graph representing the description; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; and parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-based method to determine and identify problems that exist in a real-world system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system in natural language according to a predetermined syntax; determining if the description complies with the predetermined syntax; producing a graph representing the description; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; and parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising the step of outputing the ordered list of problem statements to a user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer-based method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: enabling the user to select a problem statement from the ordered list of problem statements; and inputing the selected problem statement to a computer-based problem solver to determine a possible solution for the selected problem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the graph comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of directional arcs between nodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The computer-based method of claim 4 wherein the step of parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements further comprises the steps of: (a) selecting a node; (b) for the selected node, classifying each arc entering and leaving the selected node according to a classification scheme wherein a classification code is generated for each arc entering and leaving the selected node; (c) utilizing the generated classification codes to index a table of wordings to locate an entry, wherein the located entry in the table of wordings comprises a skeleton of a problem statement; (d) inserting nodal information in the skeleton of the problem statement; and (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) to produce a list of problem statements until all nodes in the graph are processed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the description of the real-world system in natural language according to the predetermined syntax comprises a set of description statements, each description statement including two functions and a relationship between the two functions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-based method of claim 6 wherein the relationship between the two functions is represented by a useful link word.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-based method of claim 6 wherein the relationship between the two functions is represented by a harmful link word.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-based method of claim 6 wherein the relationship between the two functions is represented by an eliminative link word.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-based method of claim 6 wherein the two functions are each represented by a node in the graph.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-based method of claim 6 wherein the relationship between the two functions is represented by a directional arc in the graph.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the graph on a computer screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: outputing the ordered list of problem statements to a user; enabling the user to select a problem statement from the ordered list of problem statements; determining a solution to the problem represented by the selected problem statement; and modifying the real-world system to overcome the problem.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules includes the step of checking the graph for loops and circles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules includes the step of checking the graph for multi-way dependencies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules includes the step of checking the graph for presence of a problem.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the real-world system is a design system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the real-world system is a manufacturing plant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the real-world system is a product.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer-based method for identifying problems that exist in a real-world system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system; producing a graph representing the description of the real-world system; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; and parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer-based method for identifying problems that exist in a real-world system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system; producing a graph representing the description of the real-world system; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; and parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-based method of claim 20 further comprising the step of outputing the ordered list of problem statements to a user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer-based method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: enabling a user to select a problem statement from the ordered list of problem statements; and inputing the selected problem statement to a computer-based problem solver to determine a possible solution for the selected problem.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
175 words
The computer-based method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: providing a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators, each operator including a complete solution recommendation and at least one example of an application of the complete solution recommendation, wherein the links between operators represent a recommended direction to obtain an alterative complete solution recommendation and wherein the operators in the network of operators include (i) specialized operators having precise and highly directed solution recommendations highly directed to a solution, (ii) general operators having solution recommendations for analogous problems, and (iii) universal operators having generalized solution recommendations; traversing, via a menu structure, the network of operators to locate an operator relevant to the selected problem; and outputing a complete solution recommendation for solving the selected problem as specified in the operator relevant to the selected problem and, if requested by the user, at least one example of an application of the complete solution recommendation as specified in the operator relevant to the selected problem.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer-based method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: providing a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators, each operator including a complete recommendation for solving a problem, wherein the links between the operators represent historical routes to solutions of problems; traversing the network of operators to locate two or more operators relevant to the selected problem; and outputing each recommendation for solving the selected problem as specified in each two or more operators relevant to the selected problem, each recommendation representing an alternative complete solution recommendation relevant to the selected problem.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the operators in the network of operators are grouped by subject area of potential solution and not subject area of technology.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-based method of claim 20 further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the graph on a computer screen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-based method of claim 20 wherein the step of determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules further comprises the step of checking the graph for presence of a problem.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer-based method for identifying a problem that exists in a real-world system and providing a recommendation for a solution to the problem, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system; producing a graph representing the description of the real-world system; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system; enabling a user to select a problem statement from the ordered list of problem statements; and providing a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators, each operator including a problem solving recommendation, wherein the links between the operators represent historical routes to solutions of problems; traversing the network of operators to locate an operator relevant to the selected problem; and outputing the problem solving recommendation for solving the selected problem as represented by the operator relevant to the selected problem.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer-based method for identifying a problem that exists in a real-world system and providing a recommendation for a solution to the problem, the method comprising the steps of: receiving as input a description of the real-world system; producing a graph representing the description of the real-world system; determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules; parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system; enabling a user to select a problem statement from the ordered list of problem statements; and providing a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators, each operator including a problem solving recommendation, wherein the links between the operators represent historical routes to solutions of problems; traversing the network of operators to locate an operator relevant to the selected problem; and outputing the problem solving recommendation for solving the selected problem as represented by the operator relevant to the selected problem.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented apparatus for identifying problems that exist in a real-world system, the apparatus comprising: an input device for receiving as input a description of the real-world system; a memory for storing a graph being a representation of the description of the real-world system; and a processor coupled to both the input device and the memory, the processor including: means for producing the graph representing the description of the real-world system, means for determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules, and means for parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented apparatus for identifying problems that exist in a real-world system, the apparatus comprising: an input device for receiving as input a description of the real-world system; a memory for storing a graph being a representation of the description of the real-world system; and a processor coupled to both the input device and the memory, the processor including: means for producing the graph representing the description of the real-world system, means for determining if the graph complies with a set of predetermined structural rules, and means for parsing the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising an output device coupled to the processor for outputing the ordered list of problem statements to a user.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the processor further comprises means for displaying a representation of the graph on the output device.
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) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |