US5794237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for improving problem source identification in computer systems employing relevance feedback and statistical source ranking
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-03
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2017-11-03
Abstract
Abstract Objects or files are created containing problem source identification information. The database of problem source identification methods is provided to the user through a computer user interface with statistical ranking according to the problem symptom provided by the user. The user provides to the system relevance feedback for the particular problem source identification method, appending the symptom to the method, marking the method for review update and/or deletion. A simple method is provided for searching the solution database once the cause has been identified. Problem source identification methods of the most use and/or most common frequency of occurrence are ranked accordingly, obviating the problem of creating and maintaining cases associated with case-based systems. In addition to the database of problem source identification (PSI) methods for a particular problem domain and a database of solutions to problems in such domains, a search engine order search hits based on statistical ranking. Each PSI method contains hyperlinks into the solution database to create a network of methods and solutions.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Cecil Gore, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2273; G06F11/2268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; executing one of said diagnostic methods; recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods comprising the steps of compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said database; statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording; and wherein said searching is performed with said statistical indexes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; executing one of said diagnostic methods; recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods comprising the steps of compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said database; statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording; and wherein said searching is performed with said statistical indexes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said user-defined problem definition comprises at least one search argument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 further including displaying user-selectable abstracts of said hierarchically ranked diagnostic methods in a graphic user interface window of said computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 further including detecting user input from said window designating one of said abstracts; and displaying in response to said detecting a problem source identification method view corresponding to said designated one of said abstracts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said abstracts are displayed in an order corresponding to said hierarchical ranking of said diagnostic methods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 wherein each of said abstracts has a different said problem source identification method view associated therewith, each said view including descriptive text; and wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is a function of said relevance feedback.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is further a function of said text.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 further including building a defect database; and generating a plurality of hierarchically ranked defect abstracts in response to said searching.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 further including altering said defect database with said relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: means for building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; means for receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; means for searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; means for generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; means for executing one of said diagnostic methods; means for recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods including means for compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; means for periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said method database; means for statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; means for altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: means for building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; means for receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; means for searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; means for generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; means for executing one of said diagnostic methods; means for recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods including means for compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; means for periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said method database; means for statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; means for altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said user-defined problem definition comprises at least one search argument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further including means for displaying user-selectable abstracts of said hierarchically ranked diagnostic methods in a graphic user interface window of said computer system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including means for detecting user input from said window designating one of said abstracts; and means for displaying in response to said detecting a problem source identification method view corresponding to said designated one of said abstracts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said abstracts are displayed in an order corresponding to said hierarchical ranking of said diagnostic methods.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of said abstracts has a different said problem source identification method view associated therewith, each said view including descriptive text; and wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is a function of said relevance feedback.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is further a function of said text.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further including means for building a defect database; and means for generating a plurality of hierarchically ranked defect abstracts in response to said searching.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further including means for altering said defect database with said relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
223 words
A computer program product for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; computer readable program code means for receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; computer readable program code means for searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; computer readable program code means for generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; computer readable program code means for executing one of said diagnostic methods; computer readable program code means for recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods including computer readable program code means for compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; computer readable program code means for periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said method database; computer readable program code means for statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; computer readable program code means for altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
223 words
A computer program product for providing support for problem resolution in a computer system, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for building a problem solution identification (PSI) database of diagnostic methods; computer readable program code means for receiving a user-defined definition of said problem associated with said computer system; computer readable program code means for searching said database with a semantic distance search in response to said received definition; computer readable program code means for generating a plurality of hierarchically-ranked diagnostic methods identifying prospective sources of said problem in response to said searching; computer readable program code means for executing one of said diagnostic methods; computer readable program code means for recording the result of said executing one of said diagnostic methods including computer readable program code means for compiling a relevance feedback file having search texts appended thereto corresponding to different ones of said methods; computer readable program code means for periodically appending said relevance feedback file to said method database; computer readable program code means for statistically analyzing said appended relevance feedback file to generate statistical indexes for weighting said methods; computer readable program code means for altering said database with relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product of claim 19 wherein said user-defined problem definition comprises at least one search argument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer program product of claim 20 further including computer readable program code means for displaying user-selectable abstracts of said hierarchically ranked diagnostic methods in a graphic user interface window of said computer system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 21 further including computer readable program code means for detecting user input from said window designating one of said abstracts; and computer readable program code means for displaying in response to said detecting a problem source identification method view corresponding to said designated one of said abstracts.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said abstracts are displayed in an order corresponding to said hierarchical ranking of said diagnostic methods.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer program product of claim 23 wherein each of said abstracts has a different said problem source identification method view associated therewith, each said view including descriptive text; and wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is a function of said relevance feedback.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 24 wherein said order of said abstracts in said window is further a function of said text.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program product of claim 25 further including computer readable program code means for building a defect database; and computer readable program code means for generating a plurality of hierarchically ranked defect abstracts in response to said searching.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 26 further including computer readable program code means for altering said defect database with said relevance feedback from said user as a function of said recording.
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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) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |