State space navigation system, user system and business methods for machine to machine business

• US 20030101154A1
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Otani, Shigeko, Hisano, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/028 using expert systems only
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

The objective of this invention is to provide a system which could make general use of a large set of previously accumulated knowledge data and provide an optimal solution for a problem based on these knowledge data. To achieve the aforesaid objectives, this invention uses state space navigator logic. The fundamental capability of a state space navigator is finding the optimal route in a state space to get from the current state to the target state. A state space is a space whose axes are a number of state variables. The points in this space represent the characteristic states of a system. The actual action from a state space to the next state space is determined according to the knowledge data base which was made based on an actual experience etc..

Claims

1. A knowledge application device to change the current state of a user'"'"'s system to a target state based on a registered knowledge data base using a sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system, wherein said detected sensing signal by said user'"'"'s sensor unit is converted into a universal state variable which is compatible with a reference output data detected by a reference sensor unit used in said registered knowledge data base, and said universal state variable representing said current state is compared with said reference output data detected by said reference sensor unit used in said knowledge data base for changing said current state of said user'"'"'s system to said target state.

2. A knowledge application device according to claim 1, comprising:

1) a recognition unit to receive predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system which is an object to be processed, said recognition unit having a signal conversion means to convert said sensing signal from said user'"'"'s sensor unit representing said current state of said user'"'"'s system for universal state data;

2) a knowledge data base equipped with a dictionary of state variables which is a sensing model memory means to memorize sensing models and to convert said sensing signal to said universal state variables, said sensing models being defined by a combination of a state variable ID and said predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system;

3) a sensing model setting means to select a specific sensing model in said sensing model memory means and set said specific sensing model in said signal conversion means, said selection being processed by said combination of said state variable ID and said predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system; and

4) a current state detecting means to detect said current state of said user'"'"'s system by at least one state variable output from said signal conversion means which said specific sensing model is set.

3. A knowledge application device according to claim 1, comprising:

1) a knowledge data base equipped with a state route map memory means to memorize a state route map which defines how to change a plurality of states between said current state to said target state, each change being indicated by an arc which connects two states between said current state to said target state;

2) a state space navigator, comprising;

an arc estimation means to extract an attribute of each arc in said state route map which defines each change of states, and calculate an estimation value of said extracted attribute of each arc;

a route estimation means to select a plurality of routes starting from a current state zone of said current state to a target state zone of said target state, and calculate each total estimation value of said plurality of routes;

an optimal route search means to compare each total estimation value of said selected plurality of routes selected by said route estimation means, and search an optimal route; and

3) an actor to execute series of actions specified in a series of arcs defined in said optimal route searched by said state space navigator.

4. A knowledge application device according to claim 3, further comprising a means to execute a predetermined service or action in a specific state zone before reaching the said target state zone, or notification of specific information to a user of said user'"'"'s system.

5. A knowledge application device according to claim 3, further comprising a nearby function to execute a predetermined service or action at a neighbor space of said selected optimal route before reaching the said target state zone, or notification of specific information to a user of said user'"'"'s system.

15. A terminal control device which is installed in a user system, and used in a knowledge application device according to claim 1 for installing and adjusting a user'"'"'s sensor unit and an actuator.

17. A rental or lease rate adjusting method to adjust a rental or lease rate of an equipment or device, which calculates said rental or lease rate according to an actual usage data of said equipment or device, said actual usage data being obtained from a sensor signal of a sensor unit installed in said equipment or device, and a knowledge application device according to claim 1 which is connected to said equipment or device via the internet.

18. A remote maintenance method to determine a maintenance of an equipment or device, which determines a necessary maintenance for said equipment or device according to an actual usage data of said equipment or device, said actual usage data being obtained from a sensor signal of a sensor unit installed in said equipment or device, and a knowledge application device according to claim 1 which is connected to said equipment or device via the internet.

19. A verifying method to verify data concerning a condition of used equipment or device, which verifies an actual usage data of said used equipment or device, said actual usage data being obtained from a sensor signal of a sensor unit installed in said equipment or device, and a knowledge application device according to claim 1 which is connected to said equipment or device via the internet.

6. A state space navigator which is an action determination means of a series of actions specified in a series of arcs defined in an optimal route, said series of arcs being directed from a current state zone representing a current state of a user'"'"'s system to a target state zone representing a target state, said state space navigator being used in a knowledge application device to change said current state of said user'"'"'s system to said target state based on a registered knowledge data base using a sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system, said state space navigator, comprising:

1) a state variable reading means to read one or more state variables representing said current state of said user'"'"'s system periodically or on demand;

2) a state zone reading means to read a plurality of state zones in a state space used for said user'"'"'s system, said plurality of state zones being stored in a state zone memory means;

3) a service action reading means to read a service action to be executed in each state zone;

4) a state zone detecting means to detect a current state zone having a current state position identified by said read state variables out of said plurality of read state zones; and

5) a service action control means to control said service action if said service action reading means reads executable service action in said current state zone.

7. A state space navigator which is an action determination means of a series of actions specified in a series of arcs defined in an optimal route, said series of arcs being directed from a current state zone representing a current state of a user'"'"'s system to a target state zone representing a target state, said state space navigator being used in a knowledge application device to change said current state of said user'"'"'s system to said target state based on a registered knowledge data base using a sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system, said state space navigator, comprising:

1) a state variable reading means to read one or more state variables representing said current state of said user'"'"'s system periodically or on demand;

2) a state route map reading means to read a state route map which defines a plurality of state zones, and a state changing means to change one state zone to another located between said current state to said target state;

3) a first state zone detecting means to detect said target state zone having a target position in said state route map which is read by said state route map reading means;

4) a second state zone detecting means to detect said current state zone having a current position defined by one or more state variables, said current state zone being defined in said state route map which is read by said state route map reading means;

5) a route extracting means to extract a series of actions specified in said state route map in order to change said current state zone detected by said second state zone detecting means to a next state zone directing toward said target zone detected by said first state zone detecting means; and

6) a control means to control said state changing means to change one state zone to another located between said current state to said target state.

8. A knowledge application device to change a current state of a user'"'"'s system to a target state based on a registered knowledge data base using a sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system, wherein said detected sensing signal by said user'"'"'s sensor unit is converted into a universal state variable which is compatible with a reference output data detected by a reference sensor unit used in said registered knowledge data base, and said universal state variable representing said current state is compared with said reference output data detected by said reference sensor unit used in said knowledge data base for changing said current state of said user'"'"'s system to said target state, said knowledge application device, comprising:

1) a receiving means to receive a request from said user'"'"'s system, and predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system via a communication network;

2) a state route map memory means to memorize a plurality of state route maps in said registered knowledge data base;

3) a state route map reading means to read a specific state route map based on said received predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system, and store said specific state route map in a buffer area;

4) an access information memory means to memorize address information of said user'"'"'s sensor unit which outputs a state variable, and sensing model identification information to identify a sensing model which modifies said state variable of said detected sensing signal from said user'"'"'s sensor unit, said address information of said user'"'"'s sensor unit and sensing model identification information being defined based on said received predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system;

5) a sensing model memory means to memorize a plurality of sensing models in said registered knowledge data base, said sensing models corresponding to a sensing model identification information;

6) an information reading means to read said sensing model identification information, and said address information of said user'"'"'s sensor unit based on said predetermined information to identify said user'"'"'s system;

7) a sensing model reading means to read said sensing model based on said sensing model identification information;

8) a state variable generating means to read said detected sensing signal by said user'"'"'s sensor unit defined by said address information, and generate said universal state variable which represents said current state of said use'"'"'s system;

9) a state space navigator which determines series of actions according to said request from said user'"'"'s system based on said universal state variable and said state route map stored in said buffer area; and

10) an action output means to output a series of actions which are determined by said state space navigator.

9. A knowledge application device according to claim 8, wherein an actual selection of said user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system and an actuator to perform said series of actions which are determined by said state space navigator, is determined by a Web software installed in said knowledge application device according to input specifications of said sensor and said actuator which are required for said user system.

10. A knowledge application device according to claim 8, wherein an actual installation method of said user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system and an actuator to perform said series of actions which are determined by said state space navigator, is displayed on a display monitor in said user system.

11. A knowledge application device according to claim 10, wherein said device is equipped with a direct communication function to receive an actual installation image of said sensor unit and said actuator in said user system, said image is captured by a camera unit installed in said user system, and said direct communication function is capable of communicating manually with said user system for sending an instruction from said device.

12. A recognition unit to convert a sensing signal detected in a user system into a universal state variable used for a knowledge data base, comprising:

a signal converting means to convert said sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit to a state variable;

a sensing model memory means to memorize a plurality of sensing models which are to be output by a sensor identification information;

a sensor identification information receiving means to receive said sensor identification information;

a sensing model setting means to select a specific sensing model from said plurality of sensing models based on said sensor identification information, and set said specific sensing model in said signal conversion means; and

a current state detecting means to detect a current state of said user system based on one or more universal state variables obtained by said signal converting means.

13. A nearby service initiation unit installed in a knowledge application device, which initiates a service incidental to a state of a user system, comprising:

a signal converting means to convert said sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit to a state variable;

a sensing model memory means to memorize a plurality of sensing models which are to be output by a sensor identification information;

a state zone memory means to memorize a plurality of state zones specified by one or more said state variables, and information of a service incidental to said state zone;

a sensor identification information receiving means to receive said sensor identification information;

a sensing model setting means to select a specific sensing model from said plurality of sensing models based on said sensor identification information, and set said specific sensing model in said signal conversion means;

a current state detecting means to detect a current state of said user system based on one or more universal state variables obtained by said signal converting means; and

a service information initiation means to initiate said service incidental to said state zone if said current state is located within said state zone.

14. An arc control unit to move a state in an original state zone to another state in another state zone, comprising:

a signal converting means to convert said sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit to a state variable;

a sensing model memory means to memorize a plurality of sensing models which are to be output by a sensor identification information;

a state zone memory means to memorize a plurality of state zones specified by one or more said state variables, said state zone having a central point to define an arc to move said state, an arbitrary point in said state zone being able to move to any point within a central zone by feedback control in which said central point exists;

a sensor identification information receiving means to receive said sensor identification information;

a sensing model setting means to select a specific sensing model from said plurality of sensing models based on said sensor identification information, and set said specific sensing model in said signal conversion means;

a current state detecting means to detect a current state of said user system based on one or more universal state variables obtained by said signal converting means; and

an arc generating means to generate a specific arc which moves said state in an original state zone to another state in another state zone, said specific arc being defined by said central points of said original and another state zones.

16. A knowledge application system to change a current state of a user'"'"'s system to a target state based on a registered knowledge data base using a sensing signal detected by a user'"'"'s sensor unit installed in said user'"'"'s system, comprising:

a terminal control device which is installed in a user'"'"'s system for installing and adjusting a user'"'"'s sensor unit and an actuator; and

a knowledge application device in which a detected sensing signal by said user'"'"'s sensor unit transmitted via the internet through said terminal control device is converted into a universal state variable which is compatible with a reference output data detected by a reference sensor unit used in said registered knowledge data base, and said universal state variable representing said current state is compared with said reference output data detected by said reference sensor unit used in said knowledge data base for changing said current state of said user'"'"'s system to said target state.