Automated problem formulator and solver
US5581663A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S706/919
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer implemented apparatus to identify problems that exist in a real-world system and to assist in finding a solution to such problems. The apparatus has an input device for receiving a description of the real-world system as input. A memory device stores a graph being a representation of the description of the real-world system. A processor produces the graph representing the description of the real-world system. The processor also determines if the graph complies with a set of structural rules and parses the graph to produce an ordered list of problem statements, each problem statement in the ordered list of problem statements identifying a problem that exists in the real-world system. The memory also stores a network of operators, each operator linked to at least one other operator in the network of operators. Each operator includes a recommendation for solving a problem, and can also include an example of the application of the recommendation. The links between the operators represent historical routes to solutions to problems. The processor enables a user to traverse the network of operators to locate at least one operator relevant to the problem to be solved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.