Device, use, system, and storage medium concerning decision support for, or the control of, the behavior of an entity

• US 7,401,060 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Hagelin, Hans-Ove
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes; Michael B
• Application Number:
  US10/805,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 706/46, 706/47, 706/905, 701/11, 434/35
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/028 using expert systems only
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

The invention concerns a device with a supervising unit arranged to handle a rule system for the behavior of an entity. The supervising unit comprises at least one storage member in which a set of rules for the behavior is stored. The device also has a user interface comprising a presenter for presenting information, preferably concerning decisions which are made and/or recommended, to a user. The device is arranged with a first and a second rule handler which can work in parallel with each other. The presenter can simultaneously present information concerning the rule handling which is carried out by the first rule handler and the rule handling which is carried out by the second rule handler. The invention also concerns a use, a system comprising a device according to the invention as well as storage media with computer programs for implementing the invention.

Claims

1. A device for generating decision support for decisions which determine and/or control the behavior of an apparatus, a tangible system, or a machine comprising:

a supervising unit arranged to handle a rule system for the behavior, wherein the supervising unit comprises at least one storage member in which a set of rules for the behavior is stored,

a user interface including first means for presenting information to a user of the device and second means for inputting instructions to said supervising unit,

the device being operable with a first automatic rule handler automatically executing said rules to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine according to a predetermined program for the rule handling, wherein each rule to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine includes at least one configurable premise having a plurality of states and at least one configurable conclusion that specifies a behavior to be performed when the at least one configurable premise is in a particular state,

the device being operable with a second rule handler which enables a user, by instructions via said second means, to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine as an alternative to a behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine that is to be carried out according to a rule in the set of rules that are automatically executed by the first rule handler, such that the second rule handler is activated and executes the rule in the set of rules with the alternative to the behavior in accordance with said instructions from the user at the same time that the first rule handler continues the automatic execution of the other rules in the set of rules to control other behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine, the device being further operable such that said first means at the same time is able to present information concerning the rule handling which is carried out by the first rule handler and the rule handling which is carried out by the second rule handler.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rule system is divided into a plurality of states for different parts of said behavior, and wherein each state includes at least one of said rules.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the rule system is divided into a plurality of rule blocks, each of which includes at least one rule, wherein each state includes at least one rule block, wherein the rules within a certain rule block relate to a certain aspect of the behavior within the corresponding state.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein names which identify said states, rule blocks and/or rules, automatically or in response to a command entered via said second means, are presented to a user with said first means.

5. A device according to claim 4, further comprising means, associated with said first means, for presenting a plurality of names which concern different states, wherein the name of the state in which said first rule handler exists, is marked with a first kind of marking.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein when the second rule handler is activated by instructions from a user, the name of the state in which said second rule handler exists, is marked with a second, different kind of marking, wherein both the first and second marking markings are capable of being simultaneously presented by said first means.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first means provides a decision support window which includes at least one area which represents a state, wherein the area includes names which identify at least one distinct rule that forms a part of the state.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said area includes at least names of a plurality of rules, wherein the name of the rule or rules which are activated for the moment according to at least one of said first and second rule handler are provided with markings which indicate that the rule or the rules in question are activated.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein when the second rule handler is activated by instructions from a user, the name of the rule or rules which are activated according to said first rule handler is marked with a first kind of marking, while the rule or rules which are activated according to said second rule handler are marked with a second, different kind of marking.

10. A device according to any claim 7, wherein said area also includes the name of at least one rule block which forms part of the state.

11. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means, operable in response to a command via said second means, for deactivating the second rule handler.

12. A device according to claim 7, wherein said second means includes means for naming at least one distinct rule, the names of the rules which have been named by the user, and which form part of a certain state, being automatically shown within said area, when said area which represents the state in question is shown in said decision support window.

13. A device according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of states (30) are organized in at least one of a network and a hierarchy of states, wherein the device further includes means for allowing a user to modify the states by performing at least one of the activities which include naming states, adding states, removing states, and changing the position of the states in the network or hierarchy, wherein when said decision support window is shown, a plurality of states are automatically shown, and wherein the states are automatically shown in accordance with the modifications of the states which the user has carried out.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rule system is divided into at least one of a plurality of states and rule blocks for different parts of said behavior, the device further includes means, operable in response to an advance user command via said second means for defining that, for a certain state or a plurality of states and/or rule blocks, the rules which form part of the state and/or the rule block shall not be activated automatically, whereby the behavior of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine in these states and/or rule blocks is always handled manually.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rules includes at least one predetermined and preprogrammed premise which can either be true or false and at least one predetermined and preprogrammed conclusion, wherein each premise in the rule is assigned an indicator which can indicate three different conditions, including a first condition that the premise shall be true, a second condition that the premise shall be false and a third condition that it does not matter whether the premise is true or false, wherein at least one conclusion is carried out if all of said premises fulfill the conditions set by the assigned indicators.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein each conclusion in the rule is assigned an indicator which can indicate two different cases, a first case which indicates that the conclusion shall be carried out and a second case which indicates that the conclusion shall not be carried out, wherein a conclusion is carried out if all of said premises in the rule fulfill the conditions set by the assigned indicators and the indicator of the conclusion indicates said first case.

17. A device according to claim 15, including means, operable on command from a user, for showing at least one of said rules with said user interface, and further comprising means, operable by a user with the help of said second means of the user interface, for changing the indications of said indicators.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising means for changing said indications, the changing means requiring user operation of at least one depressions of at least one of a key and a button.

19. A device according to claim 15, wherein at least some of said premises and conclusions comprise at least one parameter which can be modified, wherein in response to a command from a user via said user interface the device presents a parameter window which shows at least one premise or conclusions and wherein the user using said user interface can modify the parameter or the parameters in said premises or conclusion.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rule system is divided into a plurality of states, wherein each state comprises a plurality of said rules, which are divided into at least one rule block which concern different aspects of the state, wherein the rule or rules which form part of a certain rule block on command from a user via said user interface is shown as a rule block window.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein in said rule block window are all premises and conclusions which form part of the different rules which form part of the rule block, wherein for each rule in the rule block indications which indicate said conditions and cases are shown as indicators for the respective premises and conclusions.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device includes means, by the execution of said rules, for automatically controlling at least a part of the behavior of said apparatus, tangible system, or machine.

28. A vehicle comprising a device according to claim 1.

29. An unmanned or manned aircraft comprising a device according to claim 1.

22. A storage medium for storing a computer program, wherein the storage medium carries a computer program which is such that when it is implemented in a supervising unit connected to a user interface, the computer program provides

a first automatic rule handler automatically executing rules to control the behavior of an apparatus a tangible system, or a machine according to a predetermined program for the rule handling, wherein each rule to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine includes at least one configurable premise having a plurality of states and at least one configurable conclusion that specifies a behavior to be performed when the at least one configurable premise is in a particular state, and

a second rule handler which enables a user, by instructions via a second means, to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine as an alternative to a behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine that is to be carried out according to a rule in the set of rules that are automatically executed by the first rule handler such that the second rule handler is activated and executes the rule in the set of rules with the alternative to the behavior of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine in accordance with said instructions from the user at the same time that the first rule handler continues the automatic execution of the other rules in the set of rules to control other behavior of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine, wherein a first means at the same time is able to present information concerning the rule handling which is carried out by the first rule handler and the rule handling which is carried out by the second rule handler.

24. A system comprising:

an apparatus, a tangible system, or a machine,

a device for controlling the behavior of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine, the device including

a first automatic rule handler automatically executing rules to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine according to a predetermined program for the rule handling, wherein each rule to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine includes at least one configurable premise having a plurality of states and at least one configurable conclusion that specifies a behavior to be performed when the at least one configurable premise is in a particular state;

a second rule handler which enables a user, by instructions via a second means, to control the behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine as an alternative to a behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine that the second rule handler is activated and executes the rule in the set of rules with the alternative to the behavior in accordance with said instructions from the user at the same time that the first rule handler continues the automatic execution of the other rules in the set of rules to control other behavior of the apparatus, the tangible system, or the machine, a first means at the same time is able to present information concerning the rule handling which is carried out by the first rule handler and the rule handling which is carried out by the second rule handler.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein when said second rule handler is activated, said apparatus, tangible system, or machine is controlled by this second rule handler, wherein when the second rule handler is deactivated, the control of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine returns to the first rule handler.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein said apparatus, tangible system, or machine is a manned or unmanned aircraft.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising a storage medium for storing a computer program, wherein the storage medium carries a computer program which is such that when it is implemented in the supervising unit and the supervising unit is connected to a the user interface the behavior of the apparatus, tangible system, or machine is controlled.