Method and apparatus for automatically providing expert analysis-based advice

• US 20060031182A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Look Networks LLC
• Original Assignee: First Look Networks LLC
• Inventors: Birnbaum, Lawrence A., Hammond, Kristian J., Madhavan, Kalyan R., Bergerson, W. Thomas C., Ryan, Patrick G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a computer-based intelligent adviser having particular applicability in industry situations and job positions in which analytical skills are secondary to a position but in which analytical skills are important to achieving the highest level of performance in the business. The present invention contemplates both the process of developing a computer based intelligent adviser as well as a system and process of using a computer-based intelligent adviser.

Claims

1. Computer implemented analytical system comprising:

a source of input data;

an output for rendering analytical results for a user; and

a processor programmed to;

process the input data to calculate a plurality of aggregate values;

process the aggregate values to calculate a plurality of key indicators;

compare the key indicators with predefined thresholds or ranges; and

to output analytical results responsive to the comparisons.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data store for storing the plurality of aggregate values, the plurality of key indicators, and the predefined thresholds or ranges.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data store for storing a plurality of inference rules, wherein the comparisons are performed responsive to the inference rules.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data store stores rules for calculating the aggregate values and key indicators.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is programmed to derive the rules for calculating the aggregate variables and key indicators from the inference rules.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising a rule editor, the rule editor providing a means of creating, editing, and saving the plurality of rules.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the analytical results comprise advisory messages selected responsive to the comparisons.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the advisory messages comprise natural language messages.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein advisory messages are assigned a priority, and the processor is further programmed to prioritize the advisory messages.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to prioritize the advisory messages.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to group the advisory messages into predetermined categories.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the priorities are assigned a priori to each advisory.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the priorities are determined responsive to a determination of the effect of a variation in an aggregate value or key indicator on a predefined metric.

14. A method of analyzing numerical data, comprising:

processing the numerical data to calculate a plurality of aggregate values;

processing the aggregate values to calculate a plurality of key indicators;

comparing the key indicators with predefined thresholds or ranges; and

outputting analytical results responsive to the comparisons.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the plurality of aggregate values, the plurality of key indicators, and the predefined thresholds or ranges in a database.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing a plurality of inference rules in a rule database, wherein the comparisons are performed responsive to the inference rules.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing rules for calculating the aggregate values and key indicators in the rule database.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising deriving the rules for calculating the aggregate variables and key indicators from the inference rules.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a means of creating, editing, and saving the plurality of inference rules.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the analytical results comprise advisory messages and the method further comprises selecting an advisory message responsive to the comparisons.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the advisory messages comprise natural language messages.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein advisory messages have an associated priority, the further comprising prioritizing the advisory messages.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the advisory messages are grouped into predetermined categories.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising prioritizing the advisory messages within each category.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the priorities are assigned a priori to each advisory.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining the priorities responsive to a determination of the effect of a variation in an aggregate value or key indicator on a predefined metric.