Method and Apparatus for Creating and Using Situation Transition Graphs in Situation-Based Management

• US 20050222895A1
• Filed: 04/02/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altusys Corp.
• Original Assignee: Altusys Corp.
• Inventors: Jakobson, Gabriel, Lewis, Lundy M., Buford, John F.
• Application Number:
  US10/907,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities

Abstract

Method and apparatus for situation-based management of natural and artificial systems using event correlation and a situation manager. Input is provided from multiple sources in the form of a collection of events. A first level of processing performs event correlation over the collection of events and infers new events and new qualities of events. A second level of processing manages situations based on the collection of events, where situations are recognized, maintained, and given a degree of confidence. Situations are periodically updated based on incoming events. The assertion of a situation may call for information from external sources, provide information for external sources, and provide control instructions to external sources. Given a current situation, past, and possible future situations are inferred. Additionally, a method and apparatus for bi-directional communication between the event correlator and situation manager.

Claims

1. A method of determining situation transitions in situation-based management, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a collection of events;

determining a situation transition; and

creating a situation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes event driven situation transition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes assumption driven situation transition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes statistical correlation driven situation transition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes analogical reasoning driven situation transition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes action driven situation transition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step includes creating of at least one of:

a start-situation;

a target-situation;

a safe situation;

an unsafe situation;

a threat situation;

a possible past situation; and

a possible future situation.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an event correlator;

a resource containing a situation transition graph; and

a situation manager operatively coupled to the event correlator and the resource, having as input a collection of events and a state transition graph, and having as an output a situation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output based on event driven situation transition.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output based on assumption driven situation transition.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output based on statistical correlation driven situation transition.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output based on analogical reasoning driven situation transition.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output based on action driven situation transition.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the situation manager provides an output of at least one of:

a start-situation;

a target-situation;

a safe situation;

an unsafe situation;

a threat situation;

a possible past situation; and

a possible future situation.

15. An apparatus for determining situation transitions, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving events;

means for constructing a situation transition graph;

means for comparing events and a situation transition graph;

means for determining a situation transition based on events and situation transition graph;

means for creating a situation; and

means for qualifying a situation as one of;

a start-situation;

a target-situation;

a safe situation;

an unsafe situation;

a threat situation;

a possible past situation; and

a possible future situation.