Computer system for interactive help using human-understandable knowledge and computer-understandable knowledge

• US 6,098,061 A
• Filed: 03/13/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Numagami, Hideo, Sasaki, Kouichi, Takebayashi, Yoichi, Gotoh, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Starks, Jr., Wilber L.
• Application Number:
  US08/816,972
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 395/183.02, 705/1, 706/11, 706/45, 706/58, 706/50, 707/50
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

A computer-understandable knowledge base for accumulating computer-understandable task knowledge and a know-how knowledge base for accumulating know-how knowledge understandable for a human being are provided. In accordance with, for example, a result of the process for solving a problem which has been performed by the computer-understandable knowledge base 1, know-how knowledge relating to the problem solution is automatically retrieved and presented. Since know-how knowledge relating to the problem solution is automatically retrieved and presented in accordance with the state of the problem solving process which has been performed by the computer-understandable knowledge base, a user is able to efficiently make a reference to required know-how knowledge without a complicated process for conditions for retrieving the know-how knowledge. Even if a problem cannot be solved by the computer-understandable knowledge base, the know-how knowledge is used to guide the problem solution.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indication of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

said human-understandable knowledge includes at least one of a text, a figure, a sketch, on-line pen input, pointing information, a table, an image, a moving picture, voice, sound and hyper text.

2. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein said computer-understandable knowledge includes at least one of a formula, a logical formula, a rule, a frame and a semantic network.

3. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting, portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result;

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion; and

means for at least one of registering, modifying, and deleting the information representing human-understandable knowledge stored in said first knowledge base at an arbitrary timing by at least one user.

4. A computer system comprising:

first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result;

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion; and

means for simultaneously displaying

a portion of the information representing computer-understandable knowledge which is related to the first problem and which is stored in said second knowledge base, and

a portion of the human-understandable knowledge which is related to the portion of the information representing computer-understandable knowledge for assisting a user to understand the portion of the information representing computer-understandable knowledge.

5. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result;

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated condition generating portion; and

a plurality of knowledge bases, independently provided from the first knowledge base, each one of the plurality of knowledge bases including

a third computer readable medium for storing computer-understandable knowledge and

a second inference device, included in the each one of the plurality of knowledge bases, for generating a second result indicating a second solution of a second problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the third computer readable medium.

6. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieving device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

said retrieval device retrieves information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first knowledge base, when the first result indicates at least one of

failure by the first inference device to generate a first solution of the first problem and

an incomplete first solution of the first problem is generated by the first inference device.

7. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

said retrieval device retrieves, from the first computer readable medium, information representing human-understandable knowledge corresponding to a portion of the information representing computer-understandable knowledge related to the first problem, wherein the portion of the information representing computer-understandable knowledge related to the first problem has been used by the first inference device when an incomplete first solution of the first problem is generated by the first inference device.

8. A method for implementation by a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a solution of a problem in a first knowledge base by using computer-understandable knowledge stored in a first computer readable medium included in the first knowledge base; and

retrieving, beyond knowledge base from a second computer readable medium included in the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge in accordance with the solution of the problem generated by the step of generating, a solution, wherein the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base operate independently, and wherein

said step of retrieving retrieves human-understandable knowledge related to the problem from the second computer readable medium, when one of

the step of generating fails to generate a solution of the problem and

the step of generating generates an incomplete solution of the problem.

9. A method for implementation by a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a solution of a problem in a first knowledge base by using computer-understandable knowledge stored in a first computer readable medium included in the first knowledge base; and

retrieving, by a second knowledge base from a second computer readable medium included in the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge in accordance with the solution of the problem generated by the step of generating a solution, wherein the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base operate independently, a wherein

said step of retrieving comprises,

retrieving, by the second knowledge base from the second knowledge base, a portion of the human-understandable knowledge related to an incomplete solution of the problem when the step of generating generates the incomplete solution of the problem.

10. A computer program product including a computer readable medium embodying a plurality of program instructions for execution on a computer system, which, when executed, cause the computer system to perform the steps of:

generating a solution of a problem in a first knowledge base by using computer-understandable knowledge stored in the first knowledge base;

retrieving, by a second knowledge base from the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge in accordance with the solution of the problem generated by the first knowledge base, wherein the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base operate independently; and

retrieving, by the second knowledge base from the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge related to the problem when one of

the step of generating fails to generate a solution of the problem and

the step of generating generates an incomplete solution of the problem.

11. A computer program product including a computer readable medium embodying a plurality of program instructions for execution on a computer system, which, when executed, cause the computer system to perform the steps of:

generating a solution of a problem in a first knowledge base by using computer-understandable knowledge stored in the first knowledge base; and

retrieving, by a second knowledge base from the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge in accordance with the solution of the problem generated by the first knowledge base, wherein the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base operate independently, and wherein the step of retrieving comprises

retrieving, by the second knowledge base from the second knowledge base, a portion of the human-understandable knowledge related to an incomplete solution of the problem when the step of generating generates the incomplete solution of the problem.

12. A computer system comprising,

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

the first result indicates at least one of a complete first solution of the first problem, a failure to generate a first solution of the first problem, and an incomplete first solution of the first problem.

13. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

the first knowledge base includes a first management portion for managing the information representing human-understandable knowledge, and

the second knowledge base includes a second management portion for managing the information representing computer-understandable knowledge.

14. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

the first knowledge base includes a first user interface, and

the second knowledge base includes a second user interface.

15. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

the second knowledge base includes a management portion for at least one of registering, modifying, and deleting the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium at an arbitrary timing by at least one user.

16. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result; and

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information representing human-understandable knowledge related to the first result from the first computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion, wherein

the control means communicates with the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base through a network.

17. A computer system comprising:

a first knowledge base, including a first computer readable medium for storing information representing human-understandable knowledge;

a second knowledge base, independently provided from the first knowledge base, the second knowledge base including a second computer readable, medium for storing information representing computer-understandable knowledge;

a first inference device, included in the second knowledge base, for generating a first result indicating a first solution of a first problem by using the information representing computer-understandable knowledge stored in the second computer readable medium;

a control device, including

a solution interpreting portion for interpreting the first result generated by the first inference device, and

a retrieving condition generating portion for generating at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria for retrieving the information representing human understandable knowledge related to the first result;

a retrieval device, included in the first knowledge base, for retrieving information computer readable medium in accordance with the at least one of a retrieving condition and criteria generated by the retrieving condition generating portion;

a user interface, included in the second knowledge base, for inputting, from a user, information indicating an identification of the first problem; and

a management portion, included in the second knowledge base, for selecting a task template corresponding to the information indicating the identification of the first problem.

18. A method for implementation by a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a solution of a problem in a first knowledge base by using computer-understandable knowledge stored in a first computer readable medium included in the first knowledge base;

retrieving, by a second knowledge from a second computer readable medium included in the second knowledge base, human-understandable knowledge in accordance with the solution of the problem generated by the step of generating a solution, wherein the first knowledge base and the second knowledge base operate independently;

inputting, by a user interface included in the first knowledge base, from a user, information indicating an identification of the problem; and

selecting, by a management portion included in the first knowledge base, a task template corresponding to the information indicating the identification of the problem.