초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for monitoring and diagnosing sensor and interactive based process systems. The knowledge base concerning the process system per se is in the form of a list stored in memory, which list includes domain specific rules in evidence-hypothesis form. This domain dependent information

Method and apparatus for monitoring and diagnosing sensor and interactive based process systems. The knowledge base concerning the process system per se is in the form of a list stored in memory, which list includes domain specific rules in evidence-hypothesis form. This domain dependent information is devoid of means for interconnecting the rules to perform diagnostic services. A completely domain independent set of meta-level rules is stored in memory, which, in response to sensor and/or user input, searches the knowledge base and effectively constructs a rule network through which belief is propagated, to detect and report malfunctions, to output control signals for modifying the operation of the monitored system, and to aid users by providing information relative to malfunctions which pinpoints probable causes. The domain independent rules, in addition to the meta-level rules which search the knowledge base and interconnect domain specific rules, includes procedural rules for choosing which of the meta-level rules to apply when there is a choice. The procedural inference rules are independent and distinct from the meta-level rules which manipulate the knowledge base.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of diagnosing faults in a predetermined system, comprising the steps of: providing domain specific rules, including rules in evidence-hypothesis form, to build a knowledge base of assertions relative to the predetermined system, maintaining said knowledge base free of information which make

A method of diagnosing faults in a predetermined system, comprising the steps of: providing domain specific rules, including rules in evidence-hypothesis form, to build a knowledge base of assertions relative to the predetermined system, maintaining said knowledge base free of information which makes inferences relative to the knowledge base, providing data relative to the predetermined system, providing inference rules, independent and distinct from said domain specific rules, which make belief propagating inferences in response to the data, by selecting and applying the domain specific rules, propagating belief in the hypotheses of selected domain specific rules, in response to the data, by the step of interconnecting the domain specific rules, under the control of the inference rules, into a rule network of hypothesis nodes interconnected by evidence, and outputting information in response to the belief propagating step.