US5720008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Knowledge base management system with dependency information for procedural tests
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1997-02-27
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Granted: 1998-02-17
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Expires: 2017-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A knowledge representation system which allows a user to generate, maintain and access information in a knowledge base using a description language is disclosed. The knowledge representation system maintains the dependency relationships between the different objects that are stored in the knowledge base so that pieces of information that are related to or dependent upon added or updated information may be properly classified at all times. The knowledge representation system includes a mechanism for processing dependency information that is returned from user-defined test functions in order to accurately maintain the dependency information implicated upon execution of the user-defined procedural test functions. A subsumption function determines if a particular individual in the knowledge base satisfies a concept. The subsumption function evaluates each component of a concept description and maintains the dependency information implicated by the concept component. A test restriction evaluation subroutine determines whether test restriction components of the concept are satisfied and processes the dependency information that is returned from the user-defined procedural test functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Deborah L. McGuinness
- 👤 Peter Patel-Schneider
- 👤 Lori Alperin Resnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N5/00; G06N5/04; G06N5/02; G06N5/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
In a knowledge base system of the type having a description language, having means for maintaining a classification hierarchy based upon stored dependency information which relates pieces of information stored in said knowledge base, the improvement comprising; means for specifying a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction not expressible in the description language; means in the procedural test for returning dependency information implicated upon execution of the procedural test; and means in the classification means responsive to the returned dependency information for updating said stored dependency information as required by the returned dependency information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a knowledge base system of the type having a description language, having means for maintaining a classification hierarchy based upon stored dependency information which relates pieces of information stored in said knowledge base, the improvement comprising; means for specifying a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction not expressible in the description language; means in the procedural test for returning dependency information implicated upon execution of the procedural test; and means in the classification means responsive to the returned dependency information for updating said stored dependency information as required by the returned dependency information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said returned dependency information returned from said procedural test consists of minimal dependency lists.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said dependency information returned from said procedural test consists of positive and negative dependency lists.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: specifying a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction not expressible in the description language; receiving dependency information returned from said user-defined test function; and processing said dependency information returned from said user defined test function in order to update said stored dependency relationships between said pieces of information stored in said knowledge base.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: specifying a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction not expressible in the description language; receiving dependency information returned from said user-defined test function; and processing said dependency information returned from said user defined test function in order to update said stored dependency relationships between said pieces of information stored in said knowledge base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dependency maintenance method of claim 4, wherein said returned dependency information returned from said user-defined test function consists of minimal dependency lists.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dependency maintenance method of claim 4 wherein said dependency information returned from said user-defined test function consists of positive and negative dependency lists.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system having a description language and a classification hierarchy for determining if an object in said knowledge base satisfies a concept in said knowledge base said method comprising the steps of: defining a restriction having at least one component defined by a user-defined test function which allows a user to program a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; determining if said at least one component of said restriction is satisfied by said object; receiving dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; and processing said dependency information returned from said user-defined test function in order to update said stored dependency relationships between said pieces of information stored in said knowledge base.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system having a description language and a classification hierarchy for determining if an object in said knowledge base satisfies a concept in said knowledge base said method comprising the steps of: defining a restriction having at least one component defined by a user-defined test function which allows a user to program a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; determining if said at least one component of said restriction is satisfied by said object; receiving dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; and processing said dependency information returned from said user-defined test function in order to update said stored dependency relationships between said pieces of information stored in said knowledge base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said returned dependency information returned from said user-defined test function consists of minimal dependency lists.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said dependency information returned from said user-defined test function consists of positive and negative dependency lists.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base for individual objects, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: generating a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; executing the user-defined procedural test; maintaining a positive dependency list for each of said individual objects stored in said knowledge base, said positive dependency list indicating those other individual objects is said knowledge base which may have to be reclassified if information is added to said individual object associated with said positive dependency list; receiving positive dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; processing said positive dependency information returned from said user-defined procedural test in order to update said stored positive dependency lists; and determining if said other individual objects indicated in said positive dependency list need to be reclassified if information is added to said individual object associated with said positive dependency list.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base for individual objects, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: generating a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; executing the user-defined procedural test; maintaining a positive dependency list for each of said individual objects stored in said knowledge base, said positive dependency list indicating those other individual objects is said knowledge base which may have to be reclassified if information is added to said individual object associated with said positive dependency list; receiving positive dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; processing said positive dependency information returned from said user-defined procedural test in order to update said stored positive dependency lists; and determining if said other individual objects indicated in said positive dependency list need to be reclassified if information is added to said individual object associated with said positive dependency list.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base for individual objects, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: generating a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; executing the user-defined procedural test; maintaining a negative dependency list for each of said individual objects stored in said knowledge base, said negative dependency list indicating those other individual objects in said knowledge base which may have to be reclassified if information is removed from said individual object associated with said negative dependency list; receiving negative dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; processing said negative dependency information returned from said user-defined procedural test in order to update said stored negative dependency lists; and determining if said other individual objects indicated in said negative dependency list need to be reclassified if information is removed from said individual object associated with said negative dependency list.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for use in a knowledge base system for maintaining dependency relationships between pieces of information stored in said knowledge base for individual objects, said knowledge base system including a description language, said dependency maintenance method comprising the steps of: generating a procedural test by allowing a user to program in a language other than the description language a desired restriction that is not expressible in the description language; executing the user-defined procedural test; maintaining a negative dependency list for each of said individual objects stored in said knowledge base, said negative dependency list indicating those other individual objects in said knowledge base which may have to be reclassified if information is removed from said individual object associated with said negative dependency list; receiving negative dependency information returned upon execution of said user-defined test function; processing said negative dependency information returned from said user-defined procedural test in order to update said stored negative dependency lists; and determining if said other individual objects indicated in said negative dependency list need to be reclassified if information is removed from said individual object associated with said negative dependency list.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-16 | 2001-08-18 | 2002-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-16 | 2005-08-18 | 2006-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-16 | 2009-08-18 | 2010-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |