Configuration knowledge as an aid to case retrieval
First Claim
1. A method for matching solved cases to a new problem in a case-based reasoning system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing case data for a plurality of solved cases in a solved case database, the case data comprising a set of attributes and attribute values for each of the solved cases;
(b) storing component data for a plurality of apparatus in a domain database, the component data comprising a plurality of attributes;
(c) storing configuration data for a plurality of identified apparatus in a configuration database, the configuration data comprising indicators for the components that are not part of each of the identified apparatus;
(d) prompting the user to select a problem apparatus from the plurality of identified apparatus stored in the configuration database;
(e) creating a relevant attributes list comprising all of the attributes in the selected problem apparatus; and
(f) creating a subset of solved cases by filtering from the solved case database, any solved case that contains an attribute not in the relevant attributes list.
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Abstract
A method and system for reducing the number of cases in a cased based reasoning system that are considered applicable to a current problem for a specific complex apparatus. In addition to a database of previously solved cases, the system has a domain database containing all components that make up a set of apparatus. The system also has a database containing configuration knowledge which defines the components from the domain that are excluded from a specific apparatus. The configuration information is used to filter any cases from consideration as potential solutions if they reference components not in the configuration of the specific apparatus for which the current problem exists. The configuration knowledge is also used to display to the user only the components that make up the specific apparatus for which the current problem exists. The configuration knowledge also includes information on default values for components within the specific apparatus. The default values being used to avoid prompting the user to answer a question for which the value is already known.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for matching solved cases to a new problem in a case-based reasoning system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing case data for a plurality of solved cases in a solved case database, the case data comprising a set of attributes and attribute values for each of the solved cases; (b) storing component data for a plurality of apparatus in a domain database, the component data comprising a plurality of attributes; (c) storing configuration data for a plurality of identified apparatus in a configuration database, the configuration data comprising indicators for the components that are not part of each of the identified apparatus; (d) prompting the user to select a problem apparatus from the plurality of identified apparatus stored in the configuration database; (e) creating a relevant attributes list comprising all of the attributes in the selected problem apparatus; and (f) creating a subset of solved cases by filtering from the solved case database, any solved case that contains an attribute not in the relevant attributes list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for selecting and displaying to a user the configuration of a specific apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing data for a plurality of components in a domain database, the data comprising a set of components and defining a hierarchical relationship between the components; (b) storing data for a plurality of specific apparatus in a configuration database, the data comprising references to the components that are not part of a specific apparatus; (c) prompting the user to select a specific apparatus from the configuration database; (d) selecting the set of domain components from the domain database that are in the domain of the specific apparatus; (e) creating a specific set of components for the specific apparatus by removing from the set of domain components any components that are excluded from the specific apparatus as defined by the configuration database; and (f) displaying to the user the hierarchy of the specific set of components.
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5. A method for limiting the number of questions asked of a user while solving a problem in a case-based reasoning system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing data for a plurality of components in a domain database, the data comprising and defining a hierarchical relationship between the components, the lowermost level of the hierarchy being the attributes; (b) storing in the domain database a question for each attribute in the domain database; (c) storing data for a plurality of specific apparatus in a configuration database, the data comprising references to the components that are not part of a specific apparatus and a plurality of default values for the attributes for each specific apparatus; (d) prompting the user to select a specific apparatus from the configuration database; (e) prompting the user to select a component from within the specific apparatus; and (f) posing to the user the question for each attribute in the selected component except for the attributes that have default values.
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6. A method for assisting a user in solving a new problem case for a specific apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing data for a plurality of solved cases in a solved case database, the data comprising a set of attributes and values of the attributes for each of the solved cases; (b) storing data for a plurality of components in a domain database, the data defining a hierarchical relationship between the components, the lowermost level of the hierarchy being the attributes; (c) storing data for a plurality of specific apparatus in a configuration database, the data comprising references to the components from the domain database that are not part of a specific apparatus; (d) prompting the user to select a specific apparatus from the configuration database; (e) displaying to the user the hierarchy of the components in the selected apparatus; (f) allowing the user to select a component from the hierarchy of components; (g) prompting the user to provide values for the attributes within the selected component; (h) creating a list of candidate solved cases from the solved case database based upon the attribute values provided by the user; (i) comparing the set of attributes in the selected apparatus to the attributes of each case in the list of candidate solved cases and removing any case from the list of candidate solved cases that contains an attribute not within the set of attributes in the selected apparatus; (j) presenting the list of candidate solved cases to the user; and (k) repeating steps (e) through (j) inclusive until the user is satisfied with the list of candidate solved cases.
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7. A computer system for assisting a user in solving a new problem case relating to a specific apparatus, comprising:
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(a) storage means for storing; (i) a solved case database comprising a plurality of solved cases, each of said solved cases comprising a plurality of attributes and values of the attributes; (ii) a domain database comprising a plurality of components each component comprising a number of attributes, the components being stored in a hierarchical relationship; and (iii) a configuration database defining the composition of a plurality of apparatus by storing references to the components in the domain database that are not part of a specific apparatus; (b) a user interface, comprising output means for outputting to the user the components of a specific apparatus and questions associated with each attribute of the specific apparatus and input means for enabling the user to provide answers to the questions, thereby providing values for each attribute; (c) processing means coupled to the storage means and the user interface for selecting cases relevant to the new problem case, comprising; (i) means for searching the solved case database to obtain a set of solved cases that have attribute values that match the attribute values provided by the user; (ii) means for comparing the set of attributes in the specific apparatus to the attributes of each case in the set of solved cases and removing from the set of solved cases any case that contains an attribute not within the set of attributes in the specific apparatus; and (d) wherein the output means includes means for displaying to the user, the set of solved cases in order of relevance to the new problem.
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Specification