Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external information inputted by a user of the expert system, said processing method comprising the steps of: (a) inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system; and (b) during said processing step (a), non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically structured knowledge base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external information inputted by a user of the expert system, said processing method comprising the steps of: (a) inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system; and (b) during said processing step (a), non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically structured knowledge base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The processing method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying said non-inferentially accessed information of step (b).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The processing method of claim 2, wherein said non-inferentially accessible information of step (b) comprises multimedia displayable information, and wherein said displaying step includes displaying multimedia displayable information in a multimedia format selected by the user of the expert system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The processing method of claim 1, wherein said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a multi-level knowledge base and wherein said processing step (a) comprises inferentially processing information in said multi-level knowledge base interactively, at different levels of the multi-level knowledge base, with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The processing method of claim 4, wherein said processing step (a) comprises inferentially processing information in the multi-level knowledge base interactively at each level with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system such that the user of the expert system influences said inferential processing at each level of the multi-level knowledge base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The processing method of claim 1, wherein said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a multi-level knowledge base, and wherein said processing (a) comprises inferentially processing information in said multi-level knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system, and wherein said external information is inputted by the user of the expert system during said processing step (a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The processing method of claim 1, wherein an uppermost level of said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a behavioral knowledge level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The processing method of claim 1, wherein an intermediate level of said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a structural knowledge level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The processing method of claim 1, wherein a lowermost level of said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises an action level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external information inputted by a user of the expert system, said processing method comprising the steps of: inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system; during said inferentially processing, non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically-structured knowledge base; and wherein said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a hierarchical decomposition having three levels consisting of an uppermost level comprising a behavioral knowledge level, a middle level comprising a structural knowledge level and a lowermost level comprising an action level, and wherein said inferentially processing step includes processing through said hierarchically-structured knowledge base from the behavioral knowledge level through the structural knowledge level to the action level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external information inputted by a user of the expert system, said processing method comprising the steps of: inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system; during said inferentially processing, non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically-structured knowledge base; and wherein said hierarchically-structured knowledge base comprises a hierarchical decomposition having three levels consisting of an uppermost level comprising a behavioral knowledge level, a middle level comprising a structural knowledge level and a lowermost level comprising an action level, and wherein said inferentially processing step includes processing through said hierarchically-structured knowledge base from the behavioral knowledge level through the structural knowledge level to the action level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The processing method of claim 10, further in combination with predefining said hierarchically-structured knowledge base, said predefining employing a Knowledge Editor that implements a plurality of guidelines that force predefining of the hierarchically-structured knowledge base into a hierarchical decomposition having said three distinct levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The processing method of claim 10, further comprising displaying said non-inferentially accessed information from said at least one predefined utility.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The processing method of claim 12, wherein said non-inferentially accessed information of said displaying comprises multimedia displayable information, and wherein said displaying step includes displaying multimedia/hypermedia displayable information in a multimedia/hypermedia format selected by the user of the expert system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The processing method of claim 10, wherein said processing step (a) comprises inferentially processing information in the hierarchically-structured knowledge base interactively with the external information inputted by the user of the expert system such that the user of the expert system interactively influences inferential processing of multiple levels of the hierarchically-structured knowledge base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The processing method of claim 10, wherein said step (b) comprises non-inferentially accessing information in multiple predefined utilities separate from the hierarchically-structured knowledge base, at least some of said multiple predefined utilities being coupled to different levels of said hierarchically-structured knowledge base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external non-inferential information, said processing method comprising the steps of: (a) inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base, said inferentially processing being triggered by said external non-inferential information; and (b) during said processing step (a), non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically-structured knowledge base, said non-inferentially accessed information comprising pertinent information resulting from said inferentially processing (a).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
A processing method for an expert system responsive to external non-inferential information, said processing method comprising the steps of: (a) inferentially processing information in a hierarchically-structured knowledge base, said inferentially processing being triggered by said external non-inferential information; and (b) during said processing step (a), non-inferentially accessing information in at least one predefined utility separate from the hierarchically-structured knowledge base, said non-inferentially accessed information comprising pertinent information resulting from said inferentially processing (a).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The processing method of claim 16, wherein said inferentially processing (a) comprises inferentially processing information in the hierarchically-structured knowledge base cooperatively with the external non-inferential information.