Conditional transition networks and computational processes for use interactive computer-based systems
First Claim
1. A computer-based system for providing a user flexible access to information items stored in an information storage medium associated with said computer-based system, said computer-based system comprising:
- (a) programmed means for producing a data structure for use in representing a knowledge network including a set of questions answerable so as to provide a set of answers associated with said information items, said data structure including a plurality of nodes, each said node having a plurality of data fields including;
a question field for storing data representative of a question in said knowledge network,an answer field for storing data representative of an answer formula evaluatable to produce a value for said answer formula, the value of said answer formula, or an answer to the question in said question field of said node,a qualified answer field for storing data representative of a qualified answer evaluatable to produce a value for said qualified answer,a precondition expression field for storing data representative of a precondition expression evaluatable to produce a value for said precondition expression which expresses a truth condition upon said answer formula, the value of said answer formula, or the answer to said question, stored in the answer field of said node,a contents field for storing data representative of one or more information items associated with said node, anda display field for storing a display label having a display value dependent on the values of one or more of said plurality of data fields at said node, said display label being visually displayable to said user,wherein the value of the precondition expression in the precondition expression field of at least one said node depends on the value of one or more of said plurality of data fields associated with at least one other said node,wherein the value of the qualified answer in the qualified answer field of each said node depends upon the value of the answer in the answer field of said node and the value of the precondition expression in the precondition expression field of said node, andwherein the display label in the display field of each said node depends at least on the value of the precondition expression field of said node;
(b) data storage means operably connected to said programmed means, for storing the data associated with said data structure produced by said programmed means;
(c) visual display means, operably connected to said data storage means, having a display surface for visually displaying data representative of at least a portion of said data structure including said display labels associated with at least one or more nodes in said data structure; and
(d) data entry means operably connected to said data storage means, for entering data into said data structure or modifying data stored in said data structure.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conditional transition network for representing a domain of knowledge in a computer based system and computational procedures for use with the same is here presented. Each node of the network comprises a number of data fields, namely: a Precondition Field which contains an expression that evaluates to either TRUE, POSSIBLE or FALSE; a Question Field consisting of a linguistic string; an Answer Field whose expression can evaluate to any numerical or string domain, a Contents Field from a textual, visual, audio, or multimedia domain; and several other fields including a Delay Field. The edges of the network are induced by the precondition and answer formula and by edges embedded in the contents. If the precondition of node A refers to node B, then there is a precondition edge from B to A. Similarly, if the answer formula of node A refers to node B, then there is an answer edge from node B to node A. Edges from the Contents Field of one node to the Contents Field of another node are called hypermedia edges or links. They also may have predicates attached to them. When the querier of the network answers questions, various nodes change their precondition values among the values TRUE, POSSIBLE and FALSE. TRUE nodes correspond to those the querier should examine further. FALSE ones correspond to those of no further interest. POSSIBLE ones correspond to those that may or may not be of further interest.
153 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A computer-based system for providing a user flexible access to information items stored in an information storage medium associated with said computer-based system, said computer-based system comprising:
-
(a) programmed means for producing a data structure for use in representing a knowledge network including a set of questions answerable so as to provide a set of answers associated with said information items, said data structure including a plurality of nodes, each said node having a plurality of data fields including; a question field for storing data representative of a question in said knowledge network, an answer field for storing data representative of an answer formula evaluatable to produce a value for said answer formula, the value of said answer formula, or an answer to the question in said question field of said node, a qualified answer field for storing data representative of a qualified answer evaluatable to produce a value for said qualified answer, a precondition expression field for storing data representative of a precondition expression evaluatable to produce a value for said precondition expression which expresses a truth condition upon said answer formula, the value of said answer formula, or the answer to said question, stored in the answer field of said node, a contents field for storing data representative of one or more information items associated with said node, and a display field for storing a display label having a display value dependent on the values of one or more of said plurality of data fields at said node, said display label being visually displayable to said user, wherein the value of the precondition expression in the precondition expression field of at least one said node depends on the value of one or more of said plurality of data fields associated with at least one other said node, wherein the value of the qualified answer in the qualified answer field of each said node depends upon the value of the answer in the answer field of said node and the value of the precondition expression in the precondition expression field of said node, and wherein the display label in the display field of each said node depends at least on the value of the precondition expression field of said node; (b) data storage means operably connected to said programmed means, for storing the data associated with said data structure produced by said programmed means; (c) visual display means, operably connected to said data storage means, having a display surface for visually displaying data representative of at least a portion of said data structure including said display labels associated with at least one or more nodes in said data structure; and (d) data entry means operably connected to said data storage means, for entering data into said data structure or modifying data stored in said data structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification