MULTI VIRTUAL EXPERT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORK MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. A method of determining an answer to a query, comprising:
- transmitting a query or a series of sub-queries relating thereto to a plurality of sub-expert systems, each sub-expert system comprising an associated inference engine and an associated knowledge database;
receiving, with an expert system comprising an inference engine and a knowledge database, a sub-answer to the query or sub-query from each sub-expert system which has been inferred by the inference engine thereof based upon knowledge in the associated knowledge database thereof;
with the expert system, using the inference engine thereof to infer an answer to the query based upon knowledge in the associated knowledge database and the sub-answers received from the sub-expert systems; and
transmitting the answer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of determining an answer in an expert system having an inference engine and a knowledge database includes transmitting a query or sub-queries to a plurality of sub-expert systems, each comprising an associated inference engine and an associated knowledge database; receiving a sub-answer from each sub-expert system which has been inferred by the inference engine based upon knowledge in the knowledge database; transmitting the sub-answers to the expert system using the inference engine thereof to infer an answer to the query based upon knowledge in the knowledge database and the sub-answers received from the sub-expert systems; and transmitting the answer. A system for managing data includes a computer interface with a database arrangement that stores domain-related information, and which communicates with an inference engine that infers query results based upon the domain-related information and partial answers obtained from knowledge databases.
83 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of determining an answer to a query, comprising:
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transmitting a query or a series of sub-queries relating thereto to a plurality of sub-expert systems, each sub-expert system comprising an associated inference engine and an associated knowledge database; receiving, with an expert system comprising an inference engine and a knowledge database, a sub-answer to the query or sub-query from each sub-expert system which has been inferred by the inference engine thereof based upon knowledge in the associated knowledge database thereof; with the expert system, using the inference engine thereof to infer an answer to the query based upon knowledge in the associated knowledge database and the sub-answers received from the sub-expert systems; and transmitting the answer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An arrangement of components, comprising:
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an interface through which a domain-related question is communicated to an expert component having expertise in the domain; plural sub-experts in communication with the expert component, said one or more sub-experts each having expertise in different aspects of the domain; one or more data storage elements, wherein each of the data storage elements are interfaced with at least one of the plural sub-experts, wherein the plural sub-experts are configured to use knowledge contained in said one or more data storage components to answer one or more subquestions pertaining to the domain-related question, wherein the expert component is configured to evaluate the answers to the one or more subquestions and to answer the domain-related question. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-implemented multi virtual expert system having expertise in a domain, the system comprising:
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a user interface; an expert manager configured to receive a user question related to the domain via the user interface and to identify one or more subquestions relating to the user question; a plurality of experts each capable of receiving and evaluating an answer to at least one of the one or more subquestions and reporting the answer to the expert manager; wherein the expert manager is configured to evaluate answers to the subquestions and reconcile any inconsistencies between the answers to the subquestions to form the answer to the user question. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for determining an answer to a query, comprising:
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inferring a pre-formulated answer to each of a plurality of pre-defined queries using an expert system comprising an inference engine and a knowledge database, the expert system being coupled to a network comprising network nodes and data elements relating to the nodes, wherein the inference engine infers each answer based on knowledge in the knowledge database and one or more data elements relating to the associated queries; storing the pre-formulated answers in a memory; receiving, from a user, a request to provide an answer to one of the pre-defined queries; checking a data freshness parameter for at least one of the data elements relating to the requested query; and (a) if each checked data freshness parameter is acceptable, providing the pre-formulated answer in the memory to the user in response to the request; (b) if any checked data freshness parameter is unacceptable, then (i) inferring a new answer to the requested query using the expert system, wherein the new answer is based on the knowledge in the knowledge database and the one or more data elements relating to the requested query; and (ii) providing the new answer to the user in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer-implemented method of using expert knowledge to provide an answer to a question related to a domain, the method comprising:
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posing the question to a panel of experts; decomposing the question into a plurality of subquestions related to various aspects of the domain; answering each of the subquestions with a partial answer obtained from one or more relevant experts having access to one or more associated knowledge databases; evaluating each of the partial answers; reconciling any inconsistencies or ambiguity between any of the partial answers; and inferring the answer based upon said reconciling. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions therein which, when executed by a processor, cause an expert system to be installed in the processor, said expert system being configured to carry out the functions of:
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receiving a question asked from a list of predefined questions; decomposing the question into subquestions; determining data necessary to answer one or more of the subquestions; using the necessary data to answer the subquestions and to obtain one or more partial results; reconciling any inconsistencies between the one or more partial results; and inferring an answer to the question based upon said reconciling. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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Specification