Interpretative system for systematic learning and support for decision-making

• US 5,274,749 A
• Filed: 10/08/1991
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Health Care Expert Systems Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Evans, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/772,599
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 395/50, 395/51, 395/52, 395/55, 395/63, 395/934
• US Class Current: 706/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/253 Grammatical analysis; Style critique
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/934 Information retrieval or Information management

Abstract

A method of interpreting a problem statement and providing goals for solving the problem includes storing in electronic memory a plurality of goal statements, each indicating the educational purpose of a subject matter area;

forming in electronic memory a semantic network by storing a plurality of key words associated with each of the goal statements; the goal statement address of each of said key words, a list of any synonyms for each of said key words, a list of any terms generic to each of said key words, and a list of any terms which are a species of said key words, each key word being given a specific address location, each of said key words, synonyms, generic and species terms being thereby interlinked to one another and to each goal statement associated therewith and for each goal statement, each key word thereof being linked to the corresponding key word in memory and to its synonyms, generic and species terms. In operation a problem statement is entered from which the key words of said statement are determined. The goal statements linked to each key word and its asssociated synonyms, generic and species terms are then located. A variety of selected information is also located, for each goal, that was linked to that goal or that was linked to key words associated to that goal.

Claims

1. A method for interpreting a problem statement and providing goals for solving a problem in said problem statement comprising the steps of:

storing in electronic memory a plurality of goal statements, each indicating an educational purpose of a subject matter area;

identifying in each goal statement at least one subgoal statement address and/or prerequisite goal statement address;

forming in electronic memory a semantic network by storing a plurality of key words associated with each of said goal statement addresses;

a goal statement address of each of said key words, a list of any synonyms for each of said key words, a list of any terms generic to each of said key words, and a list of any terms which are a species of said key words, each key word being given a specific address location, each of said key words, synonyms, generic and species terms being thereby interlinked to one another and to each goal statement associated therewith and being linked to a corresponding key word in memory and to its synonyms, generic and species terms;

inputting a problem statement;

determining key words of said input problem statement;

comparing said key words with said stored key words; and

searching goal statements having said key words therein wherein said determining the key word step includes the steps of determining if a connector term connects two or more key words in the problem statement; and

searching said goal statements in accordance with said connector terms further comprising the steps of;

applying constraints to said input problem statement to thereby limit the scope of goal statements listed; and

wherein each of said goal statements includes a vector designating the constraint criteria for said goal statement wherein said constraints listed for each of said goal statements includes a designation of the level of complexity, the level of mastery of the subject matter required and the anticipated study time in order to master said subject matter to the degree indicated further comprising the steps of changing each connector to an "in the context of" function; and

performing said search for goal statements containing said key words.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of inserting in said vector for each of said goal statements the intensity level required for mastery of said goal statement and the media from which that goal statement is achieved.