Problem solving system and method

• US 7,885,906 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Gary S., White, Joseph P., Koller, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): STARKS, WILBERT L
• Application Number:
  US11/841,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 706/19, 706/45
• US Class Current: 706/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

Provided is a problem solving system. More specifically, the problem solving system provides an interface operable to receive user supplied input data, the input data having at least one user defined characteristic. The system provides an algorithm pool having a plurality of pre-defined algorithms, each algorithm having at least one associated algorithm characteristic. The system also provides a data source pool having at least one data source, each data source having at least one data characteristic. An algorithm selector is in communication with the interface, algorithm pool and data source pool. The algorithm selector operable to; receive the input data and review the at least one user defined characteristic; select at least one algorithm from the algorithm pool based on the at least one user defined characteristic and selected algorithm'"'"'s algorithm characteristic; select at least one data source from the data source pool based on the at least one user defined characteristic indicating a need for additional data and the selected data source'"'"'s data characteristic; and bundle the input data, the selected algorithm and data source as a job operation for execution by a job operation subsystem to obtain a result, and return the result to a designated party. An associated method of solving a problem with such a system is also provided.

Claims

1. A problem solving system for implementation on a computer, comprising:

an interface operable to receive user supplied input data, the input data having at least one user defined characteristic that includes at least a constraint, an objective or combinations thereof, and a defined output type;

an algorithm pool having a plurality of pre-defined algorithms, each algorithm having at least one associated algorithm characteristic;

a data source pool having at least one data source, each data source having at least one data characteristic, the data source pool being adapted to provide an input and a parameter to the algorithm;

an algorithm selector in communication with the interface, algorithm pool and data source pool, the algorithm selector operable to;

receive the input data and review the at least one user defined characteristic;

select at least one candidate algorithm from the algorithm pool in response to receipt of the input data based on availability of data associated with the candidate algorithm from the data source pool;

evaluate the input data against the candidate algorithm, and

select the algorithm based on identification and evaluation of the candidate algorithm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to the user supplied data being data source information including at least one data characteristic, the algorithm selector being operable to provide the data source information to the data source pool, the data source pool being operable to add and remove a data source during system operation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to the user supplied data being algorithm information including at least one algorithm characteristic, the algorithm selector being operable to provide the algorithm information to the algorithm pool, the algorithm pool being operable to add and remove an algorithm during system operation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user defined characteristic includes one or more elements selected from the group of:

problem data type, result type, party to receive output, objective for algorithm selection, case specific data for use in solving problem, and combinations thereof and wherein the at least one constraint includes a constraint on solving the problem and the objective includes an objective for algorithm selection or consideration in solving the problem.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data characteristic includes a location of the data source and a procedure to retrieve the data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one data source is external to the system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the algorithm characteristic includes a location of the algorithm, an algorithm capability description and a procedure to retrieve the algorithm.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one algorithm is external to the system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one algorithm is an open source algorithm.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the algorithm pool and the data source pool are each respectively established as XML tables.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of an algorithm further includes:

reviewing for each algorithm in the algorithm pool a required data parameter and an output data parameter;

populating a selection group with algorithms having an output data parameter consistent with the user defined characteristic;

reviewing the user defined characteristic and data source pool to determine a job data parameter;

removing from the selection group algorithms having required data parameter not available as the job data parameter;

selecting one or more algorithms from the selection group to provide a final output parameter consistent with user defined job characteristic.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to receive and execute multiple instances of user supplied input data concurrently.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the algorithm selector is operable to string at least two algorithms together, a first algorithm having an output parameter that is received as at least one input parameter of a second algorithm, an output parameter of the last algorithm consistent with user defined job characteristic.

14. A problem solving method comprising:

establishing an algorithm pool having a plurality of pre-defined algorithms, each algorithm having at least one associated algorithm characteristic;

establishing a data source pool having at least one data source, each data source having at least one data characteristic and providing an input and a parameter to the algorithm;

receiving, on a processor, user data as an instruction set including;

an algorithm selection request having the at least one algorithm characteristic, a constraint, an objective or combinations thereof and a defined output type;

in response to a determination of an algorithm selection request, identifying, on the processor, the algorithm from the algorithm pool as a candidate algorithm based on availability of data associated with the algorithm from the data source pool;

evaluating, on the processor, the constraint, the objective, or the combinations thereof against the candidate algorithm; and

selecting, on the processor, the algorithm based on identification of the algorithm as the candidate algorithm and evaluation against the candidate algorithm.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a job request having at least one job characteristic, the selected algorithm and data source are bundled as a job operation for execution by a job operation subsystem, a result of the job operation returned to a party indicated by the job request.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the user defined characteristic includes one or more elements selected from the group of:

problem data type, result type, party to receive output, method to provide output, objective for algorithm selection, case specific data for use in solving problem, constraints on solving the problem, objective for consideration in solving problem, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the data characteristic includes a location of the data source and a procedure to retrieve the data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one data source is external to the system.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the algorithm characteristic includes a location of the algorithm, an algorithm capability description and a procedure to retrieve the algorithm.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one algorithm is external to the system.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one algorithm is an open source algorithm.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is operable to act upon multiple instruction sets concurrently.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the algorithm pool and the data source pool are each respectively established as XML tables.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is stored on a computer readable medium as a computer program, which, when executed in a computer system will perform the method of problem solving when provided with the instruction set.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for solving problems, the computer program comprising:

an input routine operatively associated with an input device for permitting a user to enter user supplied input data, the input data having at least one user defined characteristic that includes a constraint, objective, or combinations thereof and a defined output type;

an algorithm pool routine operative to establish an algorithm pool having a plurality of pre-defined algorithms, each algorithm having at least one associated algorithm characteristic;

a data source pool routine operative to establish a data source pool having at least one data source, each data source having at least one data characteristic and providing an input and a parameter to the algorithm;

an algorithm selection routine operatively associated with the input routine, the algorithm pool routine and the data source pool routine, the algorithm selection routine being operable to;

receive the input data and review the at least one user defined characteristic;

select at least one candidate algorithm from the algorithm pool in response to receipt of the input data based on availability of data associated with the candidate algorithm from the data source pool;

evaluate the input data against the candidate algorithm, and

select the algorithm based on identification and evaluation of the candidate algorithm.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein in response to the user supplied data being data source information including at least one data characteristic, the algorithm selector being operable to provide the data source information to the data source pool, the data source pool being operable to add and remove a data source during system operation.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein in response to the user supplied data being algorithm information including at least one algorithm characteristic, the algorithm selector being operable to provide the algorithm information to the algorithm pool, the algorithm pool being operable to add and remove an algorithm during system operation.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the user defined characteristic includes one or more elements selected from the group of:

problem data type, result type, party to receive output, method to provide output, objective for algorithm selection, case specific data for use in solving problem, constraints on solving the problem, objective for consideration in solving problem, and combinations thereof.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the data characteristic includes a location of the data source and a procedure to retrieve the data.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein at least one data source is external to the system.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the algorithm characteristic includes a location of the algorithm, an algorithm capability description and a procedure to retrieve the algorithm.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein at least one algorithm is external to the system.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein at least one algorithm is an open source algorithm.