Abstract: A knowledge-based system has one or more repositories with information and knowledge for topics, problems, and solutions to problems. One method to find a solution for a problem by generating a knowledge network in a master knowledge repository includes identifying information residing in a client device that is associated with an expert who is capable of solving a problem. The identifying information involves evaluating a characteristic of the expert. The method includes locating the information associated with the expert based upon the evaluated characteristic, and forming a knowledge network to solve the problem based on the located information. The knowledge network has information for at least one expert who is capable of solving the problem. The method also includes storing the knowledge network in the master knowledge repository, and providing access to the stored knowledge in the knowledge network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having customer relationship management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: A method of executing a diagnosis program including multiple procedures associated with remedy procedures wherein the diagnosis program does not specify an order in which the remedy procedures are executed comprises receiving, in a computer system wherein a plurality of automated diagnostic procedures is performed, priority information specifying an order in which failures of any of the plurality of automated diagnostic procedures are to be addressed. The plurality of automated diagnostic procedures is performed. Upon at least some of the automated diagnostic procedures failing, a plurality of automated remedy procedures is performed in the specified order, the automated remedy procedures being associated with the failed automated diagnostic procedures.

Abstract: A method of performing diagnosis comprises receiving in a computer system executable program instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to perform a first user-developed automated diagnostic procedure that either fails or passes depending on at least one condition in the computer system. The computer system has stored therein a program 1) that, when executed, performs a plurality of preconfigured automated diagnostic procedures and 2) that is configured to accept user-developed automated diagnostic procedures. The program is executed in the computer system and in so doing the plurality of preconfigured automated diagnostic procedures and the first user-developed automated diagnostic procedure are performed.

Abstract: A method of executing a diagnosis program including multiple procedures wherein the diagnosis program does not specify an order in which the procedures are executed comprises receiving priority information specifying an order in which a plurality of automated diagnostic procedures is to be performed in a computer system. The plurality of automated diagnostic procedures is performed in the specified order, wherein each of the plurality of automated diagnostic procedures passes or fails depending on at least one condition in the computer system. The priority information is updated if more than one of the plurality of automated diagnostic procedures fail.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system that allows a user to enter a search query, to explore a knowledge base through a hierarchical model of concepts each of which is mentioned in one or more documents stored in the knowledge base, and to refine the search query based on a displayed portion of the hierarchical model.

Abstract: A method to automatically generate a new knowledge base includes receiving a signal that defines content that is to be included in the new knowledge base. Tables within an existing database are searched to identify at least one candidate table that is associated with data that may be relevant to the defined content that is to be included in the new knowledge base. At least one candidate application programming interface (API) is determined for each candidate table. Combinations of the identified at least one candidate table and the determined at least one candidate API are assessed to select from those combinations a master table and a master API for the new knowledge base. The new knowledge base is accessible by more than one application program within an integrated system. A non-expert user may automatically generate a new knowledge base and associated API with a single mouse click.

Abstract: A method of designing a knowledge repository includes receiving, in a computer system, a first input to form a configuration template for a knowledge repository. The configuration template describes a class of knowledge entities to be included in the knowledge repository. There is received a second input identifying a document template to be used in displaying instances of the class of knowledge entities. The document template is selected from a predefined group of document templates. The document template is associated with the configuration template in the computer system. The thus designed knowledge repository may be provided with knowledge entities accordingly. Moreover, the created knowledge repository may be used to retrieve specific knowledge.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that generates a data source representation using at least one data source. The system includes a set of services that synchronize the data source representation with the data source, or sources, from which the data source representation is generated. The system also includes a set of services that operate on a data source representation to access and manage information stored in a data source, or sources, from which the data source representation is generated.

Abstract: A method relating to rule-regulated configuration of software includes receiving an unsuccessful configuration that a sender computer system sends to a recipient computer system upon software being unsuccessfully configured in the sender computer system. Validation rules for configuring the software allowed the unsuccessful configuration. The validation rules are modified in the recipient computer system using the using the unsuccessful configuration. The modified validation rules are provided to the sender computer system. Several sender systems may routinely report new configurations to the recipient computer system. The rules may be modified upon creating a variation of the configuration and determining whether it successfully configures the software. The variation may involve using a probabilistic distribution.

Abstract: A method relating to configuration of software includes receiving a request sent from a sender computer system to a recipient computer system. The sender computer system including software that has an unsuccessful configuration. The sender computer system is requesting the recipient computer system to provide a new configuration for the software. In the recipient computer system and upon receiving the request, there is identified a previously recorded unsuccessful configuration that was successfully replaced by a successful configuration. The previously recorded unsuccessful configuration is identified using the unsuccessful configuration. The successful configuration is provided from the recipient computer system to the sender computer system. Another method includes receiving several configurations from several sender computer systems. The configurations are stored in the recipient computer system. The stored configurations may be used as a configuration case base for making recommendations.

Abstract: A method of organizing a transmission of repository data includes receiving, in a computer system, a request to transmit data from a data repository to a data recipient. In response to the request, batch jobs for transmitting the data are performed. Each of the batch jobs identifies a data amount that is to be transmitted to the data recipient. Upon detecting during transmission that a performance parameter of the computer system does not meet a predefined standard, the data amount that is identified by at least one of the batch jobs is automatically changed. Changing the data amount may include splitting the batch job into at least two batch jobs, or merging the batch job with another batch job. A predictive model may be created for determining a control parameter that can be assigned to the batch jobs. The control parameter may help the system assume an optimal organization state.

Abstract: A method of organizing a transmission of repository data includes receiving, in a computer system, a request to transmit data from a data repository to a data recipient, the data to be transmitted by executing batch jobs that each identify a data amount to be transmitted to the data recipient. Control parameters are individually assigned to each of the batch jobs. Upon detecting during transmission that a performance parameter of the computer system does not meet a predefined standard, the data amount identified by at least one of the batch jobs is automatically changed in accordance with the control parameter assigned to the at least one of the batch jobs. An optimizer may determine the control parameters by solving a constraint optimization problem. The optimizer may take into account system characteristics such as priorities, transmission constraints or the volume of the data to be transmitted.

Abstract: A knowledge system includes one or more repositories with information for one or more topics, problems, and solutions to problems. A method to gather information for a virtual community of experts to address a problem area includes identifying the problem area, and searching for a virtual community within a master knowledge repository that is relevant to the problem area. The master knowledge repository includes information for one or more virtual communities. If the relevant virtual community is not found, the method includes creating information for the virtual community that is relevant to the problem area by associating information for one or more experts of the problem area to the virtual community, and creating a profile for each of the experts based on the associated information.

Abstract: A knowledge-based system can search for knowledge in one or more repositories with information for various topics, problems, and solutions to problems. One method to find a solution for a problem involves receiving a request to solve a problem and searching for a knowledge network in a server to solve the problem. The server is capable of storing information for one or more knowledge networks, and each knowledge network includes information for a virtual community of experts who are capable of solving the problem. If a knowledge network is located, the method includes searching for information for at least one expert within the virtual community of the knowledge network.

Abstract: A knowledge-based system has one or more repositories with information and knowledge for topics, problems, and solutions to problems. One method to find a solution for a problem by generating a knowledge network in a master knowledge repository includes identifying information residing in a client device that is associated with an expert who is capable of solving a problem. The identifying information involves evaluating a characteristic of the expert. The method includes locating the information associated with the expert based upon the evaluated characteristic, and forming a knowledge network to solve the problem based on the located information. The knowledge network has information for at least one expert who is capable of solving the problem. The method also includes storing the knowledge network in the master knowledge repository, and providing access to the stored knowledge in the knowledge network.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for analyzing the validity of a proposed change to an electronic entity. The method includes receiving the proposed changes to an electronic entity from an external device, and calculating a validity index based on a set of definable rules. The inputs to the calculation include quantified values that represent either contextual information about the proposed change or information about a user proposing the change, or some combination thereof. After the calculation of the validity index, the method includes deciding, based on the calculated validity index, whether to proceed further in applying the proposed change to the electronic entity.

Abstract: Various implementations provide techniques for resolving a conflict in a distributed computing environment. One implementation provides for receiving first and second alteration requests that specify first and second proposed alterations, respectively, to information stored in a database, where the first and second proposed alterations are inconsistent with one another. The first and second alteration requests are analyzed, and a conflict including an inconsistency between the first and second proposed alterations is identified. A request to alter the database that specifies either the first proposed alteration or the second proposed alteration is generated.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to view proposed modifications to a knowledge entity. The method includes displaying to the user a first representation of a first proposed modification to the knowledge entity, and displaying to the user a second representation of a second proposed modification to the knowledge entity, wherein the second representation is positioned in relation to the first representation to indicate whether a conflict exists between the first and second proposed modifications to the knowledge entity. If there is a visual indication of the conflict, the method further includes displaying a modified representation of the knowledge entity by applying either the first or the second proposed modification according to a user-adjustable decision criterion.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to display representations of modifications to a knowledge entity that is stored in a knowledge base. The method includes displaying in a first GUI area a representation of a first modification that was previously applied to the knowledge entity, displaying in the first GUI area a representation of a first version of a second modification that was previously applied to the knowledge entity, and receiving user input specifying a change to the first version of the second modification. The method further includes displaying in the first GUI area a representation of a second version of the second modification that is based upon the specified change, and applying the second version of the second modification to the knowledge entity.