Method for optimizing the design of a product using knowledge-based engineering techniques

Claim 1

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; and testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations.

Claim 2

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; and testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations.

Claim 12

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations; and modifying the reasons for the calculations and communicating them to the user if not understood by the user.

Claim 13

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations; and modifying the reasons for the calculations and communicating them to the user if not understood by the user.

Claim 14

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; determining each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations from a plurality of sets of potential calculations; and testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations.

Claim 15

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; determining each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations from a plurality of sets of potential calculations; and testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations.

Claim 16

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations; and modifying the reasons for the calculations and communicating them to the user if not understood by the user.

Claim 17

A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product; determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason; performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution; communicating the first calculation to the user; communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user; reviewing a set of second calculations; determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason; performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters, the set of instructions and the first solution; communicating the preferred second calculation to the user; communicating the second calculation reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user; performing a plurality of preferred subsequent calculations after the step of communicating the second calculated reason; communicating a separate calculated reason after each of the plurality of preferred subsequent calculations; testing whether the user understands the communicated reasons and calculations; and modifying the reasons for the calculations and communicating them to the user if not understood by the user.