Abstract: In an inference system, an inference mode and a knowledge editing mode can conduct inference with an inherent effect by using knowledge represented by frames in a hierarchical structure, the frames having a relationship of a parent frame being higher in the hierarchical structure than a child frame thereof. Such an inference system includes a mode determining section for selecting the knowledge editing mode or the inference mode, a storage area for storing only information intrinsic to a frame in the hierarchical structure into the frame when the knowledge editing mode is selected by the mode determining section, and a storage area for storing into the frame both information intrinsic to the frame and information inherited by the frame from frames higher in the hierarchical structure than the frame when the inference mode is selected by the mode determining section.

Abstract: An inferential method is disclosed, where fact information and a time tag assigned thereto are matched and stored. A rule group is stored. A pattern match of the fact information and the rule group is executed. A combination of the fact information and the rule group is selected. When a plurality of combinations have been selected, one of them is further selected. The selected rule is executed and new fact information in the working memory is created. When new fact information is created to the working memory by executing the rule, if the time tag assigned to the fact information exceeds the given value, the time tag which has been assigned to the fact information in the working memory is reassigned.