Editor for expert system

• US 4,891,766 A
• Filed: 06/15/1989
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Charles A., Derr, Andrew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/368,071
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 364/513, 364/300, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 382/14, 382/15, 382/36-40
• US Class Current: 706/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition

Abstract

The present invention provides a contextual editor for an expert system. The editor leads the operator through a series of screens which designate classes of information, logical nodes, and the interrelation of the nodes. The screens are so arranged that they prevent the operator from providing classes or nodes with logically insufficient information. At the end of each definition the screen automatically shows a logical tree which graphically illustrates the logical interconnection between the nodes.

The editor provided by the present invention provides the knowledge base developer with a guided knowledge entry system that modifies its behavior based on the context of the knowledge structures being entered. This approach not only facilitates the creation of the rules base knowledge, but also frequently prevents the user from entering invalid values or logic structures. Also, the guided editing approach allows the developer to learn and use the system much more quickly, thus becoming productive much sooner.

Claims

1. A context sensitive editor for generating expert systems by an operator comprising:

a plurality of screens, each of said screens having different categories of information entered therein,

a first controlling means presenting a first series of said screens, said first series of said screens having a definition of a class of information entered therein, said first controlling means providing a proper sequence of said screens to completely define, for said expert system, said class of information,

said definition of said class of information including a name, a scope, a designation of a procedure required to obtain said class of information, parameters required by said procedure, and allowable values for said class of information, said scope being local, global, or external,

a second controlling means presenting a second series of screens, said second series of screens having logical nodes and a logical rule structure defining an interrelationship between said logical nodes in a set of said logical nodes entered therein, said logical nodes having individual types, said types having individual sets of attributes, said individual sets of attributes comprised of different combinations of individual attributes, said individual combination of attributes determined by a combination of parameters including said type of logical node and said logical rule structure.

said second controlling means providing a proper sequence of said screens to completely define said interrelationship between said logical nodes in said set of said logical nodes,

a tree structure screen displaying the graphical interrelation of the logical nodes, and

a presentation means for presenting said tree structure screen following said definition of said interrelationship between said logical nodes.

2. A context sensitive editor as in claim 1 wherein:

said first and second controlling means operate independently from said operator, said first and second controlling means leading said operator through said definition of said logical rule structure and said definition of said class of information, and said first and second controlling means preventing erroneous input of information by said operator.

3. A method of editing data to generate expert system by an operator comprising the steps of:

presenting a plurality of screens, each of said screens having different categories of information entered therein,

controlling said presentation of a first series of said screens, said first series of said screens having a definition of a class of information entered therein, said control of said first series providing a proper sequence of said screens to completely define, for said expert system, said class of information,

said definition of said class of information including a name, a scope, a designation of a procedure required to obtain said class of information, parameters required by said procedure, and allowable values for said class of information, said scope being local, global, or external,

controlling said presentation of a second series of screens, said second series of screens having logical nodes and a logical rule structure defining an interrelationship between said logical nodes in a set of said logical nodes entered therein, said logical nodes having individual types, said types having individual sets of attributes, said individual sets of attributes comprised of different combinations of individual attributes, said individual combination of attributes determined by a combination of parameters including said type of logical node and said logical rule structure.

said control of said second series of screens providing a proper sequence of said screens to completely define said interrelationship between said logical nodes in said set of said logical nodes,

presenting a tree structure screen displaying the graphical interrelation of the logical nodes, and

presenting said tree structure screen following said definition of said interrelationship between said logical nodes.

4. A method of editing data as in claim 3 wherein:

said control of said first and second series of screens operating independently from said operator, said control of said first and second series of screens leading said operator through said definition of said logical rule structure and said definition of said class of information, and said control of said first and second series of screens preventing erroneous input of information by said operator.