GRAPH MATCHING SYSTEM FOR COMPARING AND MERGING FAULT MODELS
First Claim
1. A method for comparing and merging fault models, said method comprising:
- providing a first fault model and a second fault model, where the first and second fault models are derived from different data sources and describe failure modes and symptoms of a hardware or software system;
representing the first fault model as a first bipartite weighted graph, and the second fault model as a second bipartite weighted graph;
matching graph nodes between the bipartite weighted graphs to identify common symptoms and failure modes;
employing a graph matching technique to compare the bipartite weighted graphs and the fault models, and produce a common sub-graph and an uncommon section;
applying parameter smoothing techniques and domain knowledge to the common sub-graph and the uncommon section to merge and update the fault models into an integrated fault model; and
using the integrated fault model in connection with the hardware or software system.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for comparing and merging fault models which are derived from different data sources. Two or more fault models are first represented as bipartite weighted graphs, which define correlations between failure modes and symptoms. The nodes of the graphs are compared to find failure modes and symptoms which are the same even though the specific terminology may be different. A graph matching method is then used to compare the graphs and determine which failure mode and symptom correlations are common between them. Finally, smoothing techniques and domain expert knowledge are used to merge and update the fault models, producing an integrated fault model which can be used by onboard vehicle systems, service facilities, and others.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for comparing and merging fault models, said method comprising:
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providing a first fault model and a second fault model, where the first and second fault models are derived from different data sources and describe failure modes and symptoms of a hardware or software system; representing the first fault model as a first bipartite weighted graph, and the second fault model as a second bipartite weighted graph; matching graph nodes between the bipartite weighted graphs to identify common symptoms and failure modes; employing a graph matching technique to compare the bipartite weighted graphs and the fault models, and produce a common sub-graph and an uncommon section; applying parameter smoothing techniques and domain knowledge to the common sub-graph and the uncommon section to merge and update the fault models into an integrated fault model; and using the integrated fault model in connection with the hardware or software system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for comparing and merging fault models, said method comprising:
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providing a first fault model and a second fault model, where the first and second fault models are derived from different data sources and describe failure modes and symptoms of a vehicle or a vehicle sub-system, and the fault models are of types including an engineering data fault model, a service document fault model, a text verbatim fault model, and a warranty data fault model; representing the first fault model as a first bipartite weighted graph, and the second fault model as a second bipartite weighted graph; matching graph nodes between the bipartite weighted graphs to identify common symptoms and failure modes; employing a graph matching technique to compare the bipartite weighted graphs and the fault models, and produce a common sub-graph and an uncommon section; applying parameter smoothing techniques and domain knowledge to the common sub-graph and the uncommon section to merge and update the fault models into an integrated fault model; and using the integrated fault model in connection with the vehicle or the vehicle sub-system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for comparing and merging fault models, said system comprising:
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means for providing a first fault model and a second fault model, where the first and second fault models are derived from different data sources and describe failure modes and symptoms of a vehicle or a vehicle sub-system; means for representing the first fault model as a first bipartite weighted graph, and the second fault model as a second bipartite weighted graph; means for matching graph nodes between the bipartite weighted graphs to identify common symptoms and failure modes; means for employing a graph matching technique to compare the bipartite weighted graphs and the fault models, and produce a common sub-graph and an uncommon section; means for applying parameter smoothing techniques and domain knowledge to the common sub-graph and the uncommon section, to merge and update the fault models into an integrated fault model; and means for using the integrated fault model in connection with the vehicle or the vehicle sub-system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification