A forward chaining expert system is disclosed for use in analyzing categorization problems such as in diagnosing device malfunctions. The expert system is particularly useful in diagnosing malfunctions in a knowledge domain having a hierarchical functional decomposition. In such a knowledge domain, the hierarchical decomposition is used in constructing a collection hierarchically related rule sets which constitute the rule base for the expert system. The novel inferencing engine of the expert system iteratively examines rules within a selected rule set and: (a) determines the veracity of rule premises when compared with data within a fact base and (b) examines any statuses returned from the performance of rule consequents. Thus, upon encountering a rule consequent returning success, the inferencing engine selects a new rule set at a lower level in the rule set hierarchy and applies the new rule set to the data retained in the fact base. By allowing the inferencing engine to iteratively select one or more rule sets from a partially ordered collection of rule sets whereby the partial order is related to the knowledge domain hierarchical decomposition, the inferencing engine is able to provide problem solutions in increasingly greater detail when selecting increasingly more specific rule sets. Thus, the inferencing engine need not backtrack to examine alternative solutions.
Even when a user does not know a structure of a computer readable program, a technique capable of analyzing log information is provided. A log analyzing method for analyzing log information outputted when a program is executed by a computer is comprised of: a step for acquiring log information outputted when a program is executed to thereby read the acquired log information; a step for accepting a user designation condition indicative of log information which is extracted; a step for extracting information from the log information based upon the accepted user designation condition, and for judging as to whether or not each of operations while the program is executed can satisfy an initial condition thereof so as to analyze a cause of an error occurred while the program is executed; and a step for providing a result of the error cause analysis to a user.
An improved expert system is disclosed wherein rules are organized into domains and subdomains, and objects are passed to rules to be operated upon. Prior to operating upon any object, the domain determines if the object is of the type which is to be operated upon by rules within the rule domain. If not, the rules are not applied to the object.
An editing process for an explanatory model includes a step for producing the explanatory model in the form of a set of rules. The rules are represented by logical combinations of elementary premises, each elementary premise including a restriction of the field of the variable. The rules are also represented by a logical combination of elementary conclusions, each elementary conclusion also including a restriction of the field of a variable. The process also includes a step for modifying at least a part of the initial rules, to determine a new explanatory model. The step for modifying the rules includes modifying the restrictions of the field of the variables, and calculating the quality indicators for the rule by applying the modified set of rules to a data source called the examples basis.
A method of monitoring the functioning of a system by checking input signals, output signals, and functions of the system is provided. The system may have lower-level subsystems or may be a component of a higher-level system. The system has hardware components, including sensors, actuators, and/or function computers. A flexible structure, applicable to various systems to be monitored, is provided for the monitoring method. This monitoring method is structured into multiple decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and structured into at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions.
A method and a device for monitoring the functioning of a system by checking input signals, output signals and at least one function unit of the system. The system includes at least one lower-level subsystem and/or is a component of a higher-level system. The system includes components implemented in the form of hardware, including sensors, actuators and/or function computers. An intended function of the system is subdivided hierarchically as a function of the complexity of the function into at least one subsystem function which is in turn subdivided into at least one function unit, and the method is structured hierarchically into multiple monitoring layers.
