Method and apparatus for selecting among competing facts to achieve the desired calculation

• US 5,778,155 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hepner, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes, Jason W.
• Application Number:
  US08/541,843
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 395/50, 395/51, 395/64, 395/60, 395/61, 395/52
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

A rules-based method and apparatus for discriminating amongst a plurality of facts to arrive at a best result applies at least three primary decision-making rules, ie. (1) it is usually undesirable to use an input in combination with a fact which was based on that particular input; (2) using a fact based on several inputs is usually better than using a fact based on a single input; and (3) using a fact based on a shorter series of relationships is usually better than using a fact based on a longer series of relationships.

Claims

1. A rules-based method for discriminating amongst a plurality of facts to solve a problem and arrive at a best result, said method implemented in a system comprising a processor;

a memory for providing storage for modules that provide said processor with known facts, information necessary as part of a problem solving process, definitions of relationships among information that are applied during said problem solving process, and other facts that are generated during earlier steps of said problem solving process;

a user input module that includes means for user input of user facts, and means for user input of a problem definition, such that said processor is configured to solve a particular problem;

a system input module;

an output module; and

a rules module comprising means for applying decision-making rules in any order to determine how said processor processes said inputs, said method comprising the steps of;

inputting with said user input module user and system facts for application to solution of said problem; and

applying primary decision-making rules in any order to process said inputs, wherein said rules comprise the following;

assigning a lower value to facts based on combining an input and a fact which was based on that particular input;

assigning a lower value to a fact based on a single input and, assigning a higher value to a fact based on more than one input;

assigning a lower value to a fact based on a longer series of relationships and assigning a higher value to a fact based on a shorter series of relationships;

searching all available facts to determine if any facts are available to solve said problem;

saving any facts that are determined to be available to solve said problem in said memory; and

continuing to look for additional facts that may be more appropriate, based upon application of at least one of said above rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, once all of said facts are considered, if one and only one fact is located, then that fact is used, and wherein if two or more facts are available, then a one of said facts having a highest score is selected and applied to s aid problem.

3. A method for selecting among competing facts to achieve a desired calculation, said method implemented in a system comprising a processor:

a memory for providing storage for modules that provide said processor with known facts, information necessary as part of a problem solving process, definitions of relationships among information that are applied during said problem solving process, and other facts that are generated during earlier steps of said problem solving process;

a user input module that includes means for user input of user facts, and means for user input of a problem definition, such that said processor is configured to solve a particular problem;

a system input module;

an output module; and

a rules module comprising means for applying decision-making rules in any order to determine how said processor processes said inputs, said method comprising the steps of;

defining a problem to be solved;

inputting with said user input module any known facts or desired outcomes;

selecting facts from all facts available as input, wherein the facts selected are those that match a desired fact type;

solving said problem if there is not more than one fact available;

applying at least one rule to each fact if more than one fact is available, wherein said rule comprises one or more of the following;

determining if all of said facts are each based on a common input fact;

determining if any of said facts are based upon an input value with which the fact is to be used;

determining if any fact is based upon more than one input; and

determining which facts are based upon a shortest series of relationships;

assigning a score to each fact based upon application of said at least one rule;

solving said problem using those facts having the highest score;

storing new facts generated as a result of said solving step in said memory; and

looking for additional facts that may be more appropriate, based upon application of at least one of said above rules.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of

selecting another fact if any of said facts are derived from an input value that is to be used to solve said problem, unless all facts currently being examined are based upon facts that are to be used during to solve said problem, in which event said problem is solved.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

selecting another fact if a fact is not based upon more than one input.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

selecting only those facts that are based on the greatest number of inputs.

7. A method for selecting among competing facts to achieve a desired calculation, said method implemented in a system comprising a processor:

a memory for providing storage for modules that provide said processor with known facts, information necessary as part of a problem solving process, definitions of relationships among information that are applied during said problem solving process, and other facts that are generated during earlier steps of said problem solving process;

a user input module that includes means for user input of user facts and means for user input of a problem definition such that said processor is configured to solve a particular problem;

a system input module;

an output module; and

a rules module comprising means for applying decision-making rules in any order to determine how said processor processes said inputs, said method comprising the steps of;

defining a problem to be solved;

inputting via said user input module any known facts or desired outcomes;

selecting facts from all facts available as input, wherein the facts selected are those that match a desired fact type;

determining if any of said facts are based upon an input value with which the fact is to be used;

selecting another fact if any of said facts are derived from an input value that is to be used to solve said problem, unless all facts currently being examined are based upon facts that are to be used during to solve said problem, in which event said problem is solved;

determining if any fact is based upon more than one input;

selecting those facts that are based upon a greatest number of inputs;

determining which facts are based upon a shortest series of relationships;

solving said problem if there is not more than one fact available;

storing new facts generated as a result of said solving step in said memory; and

looking for additional facts that may be more appropriate, based upon application of at least one of said above rules.

8. A system for selecting among competing facts to solve a problem, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for providing storage for modules that provide said processor with known facts, information necessary as part of a problem solving process, definitions of relationships among information that are applied during said problem solving process, and other facts that are generated during earlier steps of said problem solving process;

a user input module includes means for user input of user facts, and means for user input of a problem definition, such that said processor is configured to solve a particular problem;

a system input module;

an output module; and

a rules module for examining all facts and for assigning scores to each fact based upon predetermined criteria, wherein said rules module comprises means for applying decision-making rules in any order to determine how said processor processes said inputs, wherein said rules comprise the following;

assigning a lower score to facts produced by combining an input and a fact which was based on that particular input;

assigning a lower score to a fact based on a single input and assigning a higher score to a fact based on more than one input; and

assigning a lower score to a fact based on a longer series of relationships and assigning a higher score to a fact based on a shorter series of relationships.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for using an output from said output module as part of a next stage in said problem solving process.

10. A system for selecting among competing facts to achieve a desired calculation, comprising:

an input module by which a user may define a problem to be solved, and by which said user may input any known facts or desired outcomes;

a processor for selecting facts from all facts available as input, wherein the facts selected are those that match a desired fact type;

a rules module for determining if any of said facts are based upon an input value with which the fact is to be used, said processor selecting another fact if any of said facts are derived from an input value that is to be used to solve said problem, unless all facts currently being examined are based upon facts that are to be used during to solve said problem, in which event said problem is solved by said processor, said rule module determining if any fact is based upon more than one input, said processor selecting those facts that are based upon a greatest number of inputs, said rules module determining which facts are based upon a shortest series of relationships, said processor solving said problem if there is not more than one fact available;

a memory for storing new facts generated as a result of said solving step, wherein said processor looks for additional facts that may be more appropriate, based upon application of at least one of said above rules.