Patent US5983364A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5983364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for diagnosing computer faults
Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
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Filing: 1997-05-12
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2017-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for diagnosing faults that occur on a computer system. An executive unit loads an appropriate file set for a given fault from a database of file sets. An expert system unit analyzes the fault and uses the file set to determine a fact request to be asked or a remedy to be applied to the computer system. The executive unit directs a script management unit to run the fact request or remedy script selected by the expert system unit from the file set. If a response is given by a user or the computer system to the fact request, the executive unit returns the response to the expert system unit. The expert system unit engages in a further analysis based on the initial fault information and response received. The expert system makes additional fact requests if needed until a diagnosis is reached or the current file set is exhausted. File sets are linked in problem domains, and the executive unit can load another file set covering the same domain to continue the diagnostic process. If no local file sets are available, a remote unit determines if an appropriate remote file set is available and then retrieves it to continue the diagnostic process. An object management unit manages the file sets, which are structured into case-structured diagnostic sets, runtime files containing scripts and other information, and auxiliary files used by the scripts.
Inventors
- 👤 Raouf W. Bortcosh
- 👤 Lester S. Briney
- 👤 Steven D. Hastings
- 👤 Timothy J. Hennessey
- 👤 Peter Hoe-Richardson
- 👤 Richard A. Hussong
- 👤 Edward S. Kane
- 👤 George E. Kelley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for diagnosing and remedying at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; and a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal and said at least one diagnostic signal comprises at least one remedy, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and wherein said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and said executive unit invokes said at least one remedy directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for diagnosing and remedying at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; and a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal and said at least one diagnostic signal comprises at least one remedy, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and wherein said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and said executive unit invokes said at least one remedy directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said at least one diagnostic signal comprises at least one question, said executive unit invoking said at least one question directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said at least one diagnostic signal comprises at least one fact and at least one fact request, said executive unit invoking said at least one fact request directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said executive unit receives at least one response to said at least one diagnostic signal from a user of said computer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said database comprises objects; and said executive unit comprises an object management unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said at least one diagnostic signal comprises at least two questions; said expert system determines a selected question from said at least two questions using a cost-benefit analysis; and said executive unit invokes said selected question directed to said computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said database comprises a case structured knowledge base; said at least one diagnostic signal comprises said at least one fault, at least one fact, at least one fact request, and at least one remedy; and said expert system performs a case structured analysis, in response to at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said database comprises at least one file set, said at least one file set comprises at least one diagnostic set comprising fault information for said at least one fault, and at least one runtime database file comprising at least one diagnostic script; and said executive unit invokes said at least one diagnostic script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said at least one runtime database file comprises said at least one fault, at least one fact, at least one fact request script, and at least one remedy script; said at least one diagnostic set comprises at least one fault, at least one reference to said at least one fact request script, and at least one reference to said at least one remedy script; and said executive unit invokes said at least one fact request script or said at least one remedy script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; and a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, a first file set and a second file set, said first file set comprising a first global domain coverage table comprising a first reference to a problem domain, said second file set comprising a second domain coverage table comprising a second reference to said problem domain, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said executive unit loads said second file set in response to said expert system failing to complete a diagnosis based on said first file set, and said expert system uses said second file set to analyze at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; and a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, a first file set and a second file set, said first file set comprising a first global domain coverage table comprising a first reference to a problem domain, said second file set comprising a second domain coverage table comprising a second reference to said problem domain, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said executive unit loads said second file set in response to said expert system failing to complete a diagnosis based on said first file set, and said expert system uses said second file set to analyze at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; and a script management unit, in electrical communication with said executive unit and said database, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal and at least one file set, said at least one file set comprising at least one diagnostic set comprising fault information for said at least one fault, and at least one runtime database file comprising at least one diagnostic script, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and said executive unit invokes said at least one diagnostic script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response, and wherein said script management unit executes said at least one diagnostic script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; and a script management unit, in electrical communication with said executive unit and said database, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal and at least one file set, said at least one file set comprising at least one diagnostic set comprising fault information for said at least one fault, and at least one runtime database file comprising at least one diagnostic script, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and said executive unit invokes said at least one diagnostic script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response, and wherein said script management unit executes said at least one diagnostic script directed to said computer system, in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; a remote database server comprising at least one remote diagnostic signal; and a remote unit in electrical communication with said remote database server and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said remote unit retrieves said at least one remote diagnostic signal from said remote database server and said executive unit invokes said at least one remote diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; a remote database server comprising at least one remote diagnostic signal; and a remote unit in electrical communication with said remote database server and said executive unit, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said remote unit retrieves said at least one remote diagnostic signal from said remote database server and said executive unit invokes said at least one remote diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; a remote database server comprising at least one remote segment comprising at least one remote diagnostic signal; and a remote unit in electrical communication with said remote database server and said executive unit, said remote unit retrieving said at least one remote segment from said remote database server in response to said expert system failing to complete a diagnosis, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said executive unit invokes said at least one remote diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system using said at least one remote segment to analyze at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, said apparatus comprising: an expert system analyzing said at least one fault; an executive unit in electrical communication with said expert system; a database in electrical communication with said expert system and said executive unit; a remote database server comprising at least one remote segment comprising at least one remote diagnostic signal; and a remote unit in electrical communication with said remote database server and said executive unit, said remote unit retrieving said at least one remote segment from said remote database server in response to said expert system failing to complete a diagnosis, wherein said database comprises at least one diagnostic signal, wherein said executive unit invokes a first said at least one diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system analyzing said at least one fault, and said executive unit receives at least one response from said computer system to said first said at least one diagnostic signal, and wherein said executive unit invokes said at least one remote diagnostic signal directed to said computer system in response to said expert system using said at least one remote segment to analyze at least one of said at least one fault and said at least one response.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said database comprises at least one local segment, and said at least one local segment and said at least one remote segment are file sets.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for diagnosing and remedying at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response; (f) completing a diagnosis of said at least one fault by said expert system; (g) selecting at least one remedy by said expert system, in response to receiving said at least one response by said executive unit and completing said diagnosis; and (h) invoking said at least one remedy by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting at least one remedy step.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for diagnosing and remedying at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response; (f) completing a diagnosis of said at least one fault by said expert system; (g) selecting at least one remedy by said expert system, in response to receiving said at least one response by said executive unit and completing said diagnosis; and (h) invoking said at least one remedy by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting at least one remedy step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: receiving at least one response by said executive unit, in response to said at least one first diagnostic signal; selecting at least one second diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said at least one response; and invoking said at least one second diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting said at least one second diagnostic signal step.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response, (f) receiving at least one response by said executive unit in response to said at least one first diagnostic signal; (g) selecting at least one second diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said at least one response; (h) retrieving said at least one second diagnostic signal from a remote database server; and (i) invoking said at least one second diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting said at least one second diagnostic signal step and said retrieving said at least one second diagnostic signal step.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response, (f) receiving at least one response by said executive unit in response to said at least one first diagnostic signal; (g) selecting at least one second diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said at least one response; (h) retrieving said at least one second diagnostic signal from a remote database server; and (i) invoking said at least one second diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting said at least one second diagnostic signal step and said retrieving said at least one second diagnostic signal step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 15, the step of completing a diagnosis of said at least one fault comprising repeating as needed to complete said diagnosis the following substeps: selecting at least one additional diagnostic signal by said expert system; performing steps (c), (d) and (e) using said at least one additional diagnostic signal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response, (f) repeating as needed to complete a diagnosis the following substeps; selecting at least one additional diagnostic signal by said expert system; retrieving said at least one additional diagnostic signal from a remote database server; and performing steps (c), (d) and (e) using said at least one additional diagnostic signal; (g) generating at least one remedy by said expert system, in response to said repeating as needed to complete a diagnosis step; and (h) invoking said at least one remedy by said executive unit directed to said computer system, generated in response to said generating step.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for diagnosing at least one fault associated with a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing said at least one fault by an expert system; (b) selecting at least one first diagnostic signal by said expert system, in response to said analyzing step; (c) invoking said at least one first diagnostic signal by said executive unit directed to said computer system, in response to said selecting step; (d) receiving at least one response by said executive unit from said computer system; (e) attempting to diagnose said at least one fault by said expert system in response to receiving said at least one response, (f) repeating as needed to complete a diagnosis the following substeps; selecting at least one additional diagnostic signal by said expert system; retrieving said at least one additional diagnostic signal from a remote database server; and performing steps (c), (d) and (e) using said at least one additional diagnostic signal; (g) generating at least one remedy by said expert system, in response to said repeating as needed to complete a diagnosis step; and (h) invoking said at least one remedy by said executive unit directed to said computer system, generated in response to said generating step.
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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) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |