Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a survey database, wherein a user can perform a wide variety of requests to the survey database without having to independently calculate a desired result. In accordance with the present invention, this may be accomplished by using a rules-based expert system for forming and executing requests to a survey database. In a rules-based expert system, a number of rules are provided wherein the rules contain much of the “knowledge” of the experts, thereby allowing “non-expert” users to perform “expert” analysis of client satisfaction data in an accurate and repeatable fashion.

Abstract: A method and system of modular instruction is provided in which a body of knowledge is divided into N cognitive constructs, with instructional materials and post-instruction assessments associated with each of the N cognitive constructs and comprising a learning packet, and in which the N learning packets may be re-ordered by an administrator.

Abstract: An image production method has steps of: a detecting one or more descriptive regions exclusive of a background portion of a manuscript; calculating an image characteristic value of said descriptive region; selecting one from a plurality of previously defined layout patterns based on said determined image characteristic value, the layout pattern including information at least about a position of the descriptive region; and producing an image by laying out an image of said manuscript descriptive region or images of an illustration and said manuscript descriptive region according to the decided layout pattern.

Abstract: A method and device for automatically informing an end user of a message resulting from regular analysis of data on a database. A storage 3 stores result transmission requirements 4 which is prepared for determining whether the message resulting from regular analysis of the data by a database system 1 should be transmitted to an end user 2 or not. A result fetch section 5 fetches analysis results from the database system 1. A mail host 6 transmits an e-mail addressed to the end user 2 when a fetched analysis result satisfies the result transmission requirements 4 in order to inform the end user 2 of the requirement satisfaction. The transmitted e-mail is stored in a mail server 7 via a network 8. The end user 2 obtains the e-mails addressed to him/her from the mail server 7 by operating a mail client 9. The end user 2 notices that the analysis result which satisfies the result transmission requirements 4 has been issued by the database system 1.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for dynamically allocating resources for multiple, different types of events that occur within a microprocessor. Multiple, different unallocated resources are provided. One of these unallocated resources are allocated only in response to a first occurrence of an event that is one of the different types of events. Thus, resources remain unallocated until a first occurrence of events for which resources are then allocated.

Abstract: A Collection Knowledge System provides context-sensitive knowledge delivery services to application programs, thereby enabling application programs to effectively support variant computational processes.

Abstract: Methods of representing knowledge data in a computer which is used for accumulating worker knowledge, an information processing system and a program are disclosed, wherein the knowledge of a worker is represented as at least one of an input information given to the computer and processing information executed by the computer. The information obtained is represented as output information and respective pieces of information are readably accumulated in association with one another by the computer. With the methods, the knowledge data is made easy for the worker to understand, and it is also made easy to prepare, understand and revise the knowledge data.

Abstract: A device that determines conditions under which a web break is more likely to occur in a printing system stores data pertaining to ink temperature or ink temperature gain. The device then implements a correlation analysis, such as a decision-tree induction analysis, using the stored data to determine if there is a correlation between the one or more attributes and the occurrence of a web break. The device has a multiplicity of ink fountains and includes a first temperature sensor that measures a first ink temperature and a second temperature that measures a second ink temperature. A controller compares the first ink temperature to the second ink temperature to determine an ink temperature gain, compares the ink temperature gain to a desired ink temperature gain range and generates an output signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring sell bids. The system and method uses rules and inference engines in order to configure sell bids in view of Request for Quotes (RFQ). The system and method includes a data aggregator that integrates data from two or more enterprise data sources into an aggregated enterprise database and a knowledge base generator that constructs a knowledge base by extracting at least facts and rules from the aggregated enterprise database and stores the facts and rules in a knowledge base database. A bid configurator constructs one or more sell bid candidates for one or more target RFQs by using at least one inference engine and the extracted facts and rules from the knowledge base database.

Abstract: A data processing and analysis system, and a method of using the same, for discovering implicit relationships in data. The method is executed in a computer system capable of receiving input data comprised of expert knowledge, empirical data, and user-defined constraints for any application domain. The system and method provide any pre-processing the input data may require, and perform feature selection and extraction on the input data. Further, the system and method generate a graphical representation of the implicit relationships in the input data, indicating relationships between both class variables and feature variables. Also generated is a classifier that provides a semantic and statistical justification of its classification results which further provides: statistical relevancy of the data set, including an indication of the undersampled regions of the data space; a data analysis specific to a desired level of confidence; and a sound decision theoretical foundation for classification thresholding.

Abstract: A method and system for commissioning industrial plants, in particular in the basic materials industry, having a plant control system which carries out both non-control functions and control functions and whose control system operates with process models, in particular control engineering models, for example in the form of mathematical models, neural network models, expert systems etc., in a control system computing unit. The commissioning is carried out in subdivided fashion into commissioning the non-control functions with extensive initialization of the control functions, by means of personnel located on site, and extensive commissioning of the control functions by means of remotely-transmitted data via data lines from at least one site remote from the plant, preferably from an engineering center.

Abstract: A method of automated proving for unrestricted first-logic to test the satisfiability of clause sets describing an industrial system which applies the instance generation rule ( IG ) ⁢   ⁢ Ψ Ψ ⁢   ⁢ σ where &PSgr; is a term, &sgr; a substitution and &PSgr;&sgr; an instance of &PSgr; yielded by the substitution &sgr;, and is characterized in that, instance subtraction is defined as the substraction of the instance &PSgr;&sgr; from &PSgr; resulting in a generalized term which is a triplet <&PSgr;, &sgr;, &Lgr;> where &Lgr; is a finite set of standard substitutions {&lgr;1, . . . , &lgr;n} and defined by GE(<&PSgr;, &sgr;, &Lgr;>)=GE(&PSgr;&sgr;)−GE({&PSgr;&lgr;1, . . .

Abstract: The invention provides a document management apparatus and method and a recording medium storing a document management program, which can display documents under management without the user having to be conscious of the data structure of the documents generated during the course of transactions. The invention also provides a recording medium storing a decision making program which can display application documents under management without the user having to be conscious of the data structure of the application documents generated during the course of decision making transactions.

Abstract: The use of a goal-understanding abstraction hierarchy in conjunction with Bayesian inference, decision-theoretic analyses of conversational and observational actions is disclosed to provide machinery for incremental refinement of an understanding about a user's goals through conversation with users. A computer-implemented method receives multiple classes of information regarding a user goal including visual and linguistic clues at a specific level of the abstraction hierarchy, to assess the goal. The method then determines a with a value-of-information analysis the utility of acquiring additional information via making additional observations or by explicitly querying the user versus making a decision to change the level of precision of the analysis of a user's goals. Throughout the analysis, a probability distribution is inferred about the goals of a user.

Abstract: A system for individually adapted interactive training, knowledge maintenance and for offering knowledge support, said system including an apparatus (1) comprising means representing a software-based service, said apparatus being arranged in a communications network (2), to which network a user can connect by means of a user terminal (3) in order to utilise said service. A subject database (4), adapted for storage of data relating to said service, can be connected to said apparatus. Said apparatus comprises a processing means (5) functioning to process and convey data from the subject database to the user, whereby a registration means (6) is provided, functioning to register transactions performed by the user within said service, and to store transaction data in a knowledge database (7) comprised in the apparatus. Said processing means is, according to the invention, arranged to adapt said service to said user in dependence of transactions stored in said knowledge database.

Abstract: In an intelligent object oriented agent system, a computer implemented or user assisted method of decision making in at least one situation. The method includes the step of configuring at least one tactical agent implemented by at least one tactical agent object that includes a plurality of resources corresponding to immediate certainties, near certainties, and longer-term possibilities characterizing the at least one situation. The method also includes the steps of processing the at least one situation using the at least one tactical agent, and implementing the decision making, by at least one user or independently by at least one intelligent agent responsive to the processing step. A computer readable tangible medium stores instructions for implementing the user assisted or computer implemented method of decision making, which instructions are executable by a computer. In a preferred embodiment, the situation comprises an aerial combat situation, or other situation with moving resources.

Abstract: A method of processing data such as alarms from a communications network, by alarm correlation, the network comprising entities which offer and receive services to and from each other, the method comprising the step of: adapting a virtual model (87) of the network according to events in the network. The model comprises a plurality of managed units (91,92) corresponding to the network entities, each of said units containing information about the services offered and received by its corresponding entity to and from other entities, and having associated knowledge based reasoning capacity such as rules, for adapting the model by adapting said information. When one of the managed units is notified of an event such as an alarm raised by its corresponding entity, the cause of the alarm is determined using the virtual model. The development and maintenance of rules is easier, and correlation quicker since the rules for each unit need not relate to all the other units.

Abstract: A data analyzing method for generating a rule based on data items in a data base, wherein the rule expresses relational features of the data items. The invention includes a user interface and a rule generation module. The rule generation module, in response to an input from the user via the user interface, selects data items for use in a conditional clause and a conclusion clause of a rule from the data items stored in the data base, converts, when the selected data items have numerical values, the numerical values into symbolic values and creates plural candidate rules each expressing a correlation between selected data items in a rule form having one or plural sets of item names and symbolic values.

Abstract: The stability of a recursive estimator process (e.g., a Kalman filter is assured for long time periods by periodically resetting an error covariance P(tn) of the system to a predetermined reset value Pr. The recursive process is thus repetitively forced to start from a selected covariance and continue for a time period that is short compared to the system's total operational time period. The time period in which the process must maintain its numerical stability is significantly reduced as is the demand on the system's numerical stability. The process stability for an extended operational time period To is verified by performing the resetting step at the end of at least one reset time period Tr whose duration is less than the operational time period To and then confirming stability of the process over the reset time period Tr.

Abstract: A recurrent training method comprising the steps of configuring a computer to provide training-related information on a particular subject to a user of the computer, presenting through a computer training-related information to the user of the computer during a first training session at a first time, and initiating subsequent training sessions at recurrent times thereafter under computer control. Upon initiation of the subsequent training sessions, either by presenting training-related information to the user or by prompting the user for approval to present training-related information, the training method interrupts the user's interaction with other on-going activities on the computer, thereby reminding the computer user, at various times, of the need to perform training and, at the user's discretion, providing the user with recurrent training through recurrent training sessions.

Abstract: A classification apparatus for performing effective learning type automatic classification for realistic problems of classification. The apparatus includes input unit for entering the known case data and the unknown case data, a classification ruled database for storing classification rules including the probabilistic information, a case database for storing the known case data in the form of a network based on the logical relation of conditional parts, a probability value estimating unit for estimating probability values of the results of classification using the conditional parts of the known case data and the unknown case data as entered and the rules of classification and a classification rule generating unit for evaluating the validity of the classification rules by statistic verification for suppressing generation of useless classification rules, and a negative condition searching unit for receiving all or part of the conditional parts of the known case data as entered.

Abstract: A self-optimizing method and machine automatically develop computer software in real-time according a specified performance by computer-generating a knowledge base associated with the computer software, by instantly computer-coding the computer-generated knowledge base into the computer software, and by saving the developed computer software in a software storage device.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and system for assimilating data, applying reasoning mechanisms, and emulating the thought processes of a credit officer for commercial credit analysis. The system aids a credit officer in the risk assessment and completion of a loan package. The system thereby improves loan turnaround time and customer service, improving loan servicing capacity, quality, and consistency of credit decisions, and reducing costs. The system includes: 1) a conventional data base management system subsystem that manages and collects data via electronic access and end-user data entry; and 2) a decision support expert system that applies a knowledge base and inference engine (collectively known as an assessment model) utilizing an evidence tree and a generalized weighting approach to analyze credit requests.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for computer-aided assessment of organizational process or system. Method and apparatus are adapted to display computer displayed questions to an assessor, who then inputs numerical inputs relative to the assessor's perception of the process or system. Filtering techniques inhibit entry of unsupported numerical inputs which may be untrue and/or exaggerated. Sequential questions used in combination provide more accurate assessment of the system or process, thereby enabling focused audits and/or inspections.

Abstract: A Multiple-Agent Hybrid Control Architecture (MAHCA) uses agents to analyze design, and implement intelligent control of distributed processes. A single agent can be configured to control a local process and a network of agents can be configured to control more complex distributed processes. Multiple agents interact through messages and can be either permanent or temporary. The network of agents interact to create an emergent global behavior. The network of agents support construction of closed-loop, autonomous systems which react to comply with two degrees of freedom: (1) a logic degree of freedom (useful for implementing switching between modes of control) and (2) an evolution degree of freedom (useful for implementing particular modes of control). Global behavior is emergent from individual agent behaviors and is achieved without central control through the imposition of global constraints on the network of individual agent behaviors (the logic agent network).

Abstract: Diagnostic systems utilizing a bayesian network model having link weights updated experientially include an algorithm for easily quantifying the strength of links in a Bayesian network, a method for reducing the amount of data needed to automatically update the probability matrices of the network on the basis of experiential knowledge, and methods and algorithms for automatically collecting knowledge from experience and automatically updating the Bayesian network with the collected knowledge. A practical exemplary embodiment provides a trouble ticket fault management system for a communications network. The exemplary embodiment is particularly appropriate for utilizing the automatic learning capabilities of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, a communications network is represented as a Bayesian network where devices and communication links are represented as nodes in the Bayesian network.

Abstract: The inventive system and method incorporates artificial intelligence concepts to create a system that automatically integrates new network elements. The system detects the connection of the new element with the system. The system identifies the new element, either directly or inferentially, by examining the protocol, the inputs, and the outputs of the new element, as compared with stored information. The inventive system then either selects the appropriate rule set from previously written rules, modifies an existing rule set from similar elements, or creates an appropriate rule set to integrate each new element into the network. The rule set produced by the system is then used to manage the new element.

Abstract: A plurality of near-optimum solutions to allocations of resources to demand information are provided by consideration of different combinations of sources of resource information such as inventory and performance/production capacity of a provider and/or other providers by the use of one or more algorithm/agents and a problem formulator which selects algorithms to be applied and provides selected information from selected sources of resource information thereto. The effects of actions or allocations specified in the solutions are presented to a user for comparison, modification and selection for implementation. Effects of modified solutions are also projected for comparison with other solutions or modified solutions.

Abstract: An event composing and monitoring system that allows high-level events to be created from combinations of low-level events. An event specification tool, contained in the system, allows for rapidly developing a general event processor that creates high-level events from combinations of user actions. An event system, in combination with an inference system, monitors and infers, for various purposes, about several classes of events including: current program context; state of key data structures; user input sequences, including actions with a mouse-controlled cursor while interacting with a graphical user interface; words typed in free-text help queries; visual user information, such as gaze and gesture information; and user speech information.

Abstract: A main processing system accesses a data base, which contains data records, each of which is divided into data fields. The system preferably automatically determine the type of data in each field, as well as its range of values. It then preferably determines one or more relational structures of the field data using a corresponding number of relevance measures. For each field, a preferably user-adjustable, software-generated query device is displayed, preferably in the order of the relevance measures of the respective fields. The plot of one or more fields' data relative to that of another field is initially generated using the fields in order of relevance. The relevance measure forming the basis of the field ordering, the order of fields, and the ranges of the plotted, displayed fields may be adjusted interactively by the user by moving and adjusting the various query devices.

Abstract: A device and a method use a decision-tree induction analysis to determine a web tension ratio range for which web breaks are less likely to occur within a printing system based on web tension data collected from a plurality of previous runs of the printing system. The device and method also measure two are more web tensions during operation of the printing system, calculate a web tension ratio and compare that calculated web tension ratio with the determined web tension ratio range. When the calculated web tension ratio falls outside of the determined web tension ratio range, the device and method alert a user to the fact that a condition leading to a web break is present and/or control the measured web tensions to drive the calculated web tension ratio to be within the determined web tension ratio range.

Abstract: A learning method for performing a method of inductively learning rules from machine data, and a method for analyzing an inference process to learn rules useful for increasing efficiency by a common program are provided. Data desired to be classified is converted into a graph and is then input. The course of process by a computer is also converted into a graph and is then input. Then, patterns appearing in the input graph are extracted and patterns having a good evaluation result are output. The patterns are converted into rules for classification and rules for high-speed operation in accordance with a kind of the input graph, and are output.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing decision making apparatus by instrumenting the apparatus and running it on test data which has the characteristics of the data upon which the decision making apparatus is to be used. The information provided by the instruments is then used to reorder the application of the criteria used by the decision making apparatus to the data. The techniques are applied in rule-based system which employs a decision network to evaluate the rules. The decision network is instrumented and the rule-based system is run on the test data. The results returned by the instrumentation are used to determine how to rearrange condition elements in the rules so that the flow of data through the decision network is minimized. The condition elements are then rearranged in that fashion and the modified rule-based system is employed on real data.

Abstract: An administrator interface working with a relational data base management system belonging to a distributed data processing environment including a plurality of folders which reflect the states of the network and objects in the network, relative to the management (120), the processes (121) in the course of running, the events (122) which affect the processes (121), the configuration (123), the files (124), the command scripts (125), and the errors (126), and a software program for allowing access to and/or manipulation of the folders.

Abstract: A delta learning system takes as an initial fault hierarchy (KB.sub.0) and a set of annotated session transcripts, and is given a specified set of revision operators where each operator within a group maps a fault hierarchy (KB) to a slightly different or revised fault hierarchy (.theta..sub.i (KB)). The revised fault hierarchy (.theta..sub.i (KB)) is called a neighbor of the fault hierarchy (KB), and a set of all neighbors (N(KB)) is considered the fault hierarchy neighborhood. The system uses the revision operators to hill climb from the initial fault hierarchy (KB.sub.0), through successive hierarchies (KB.sub.1 . . . KB.sub.m), with successively higher empirical accuracies over the annotated session transcripts. The final hierarchy (KB.sub.m), is a local optimum in the space defined by the revision operators. At each stage, to go from a fault hierarchy (KB.sub.i) to its neighbor (KN.sub.i+1), the accuracy of the fault hierarchy (KB.sub.

Abstract: A Multiple-Agent Hybrid Control Architecture (MAHCA) uses agents to analyze design, and implement intelligent control of distributed processes. A network of agents can be configured to control more complex distributed processes. The network of agents interact to create an emergent global behavior. Global behavior is emergent from individual agent behaviors and is achieved without central control through the imposition of global constraints on the network of individual agent behaviors. Agent synchronization can be achieved by satisfaction of an interagent invariance principle. At each update time, the active plan of each of the agents in the network encodes equivalent behavior modulo a congruence relation determined by the knowledge clauses in each agents's knowledge base. The Control Loop and the Reactive Learning Loop of each agent can be implemented separately. This separation results in an implementation runs faster and with less memory requirements than an unseparated arrangement.

Abstract: Incomplete and fuzzy portions in input information are detected by making a reference to world knowledge and knowledge of a specific field in a knowledge base prior to understanding the input information indicating a concept. The detected incomplete portion is completed and the detected fuzzy portion is resolved. The knowledge base makes a reference to knowledge of other concepts when the value of an instructed attribute of a specific concept is acquired. Moreover, a concept common to and upper than a plurality of concepts can be determined so that another word, concept or meaning is searched for from one word, concept or meaning.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a database join across a first field and a second field that represent a conceptual meaning, wherein the first field represents the conceptual meaning using a first value and the second field represents the conceptual meaning using a second value. The method and system includes mapping the first value and the second value to the conceptual meaning using a code-mapping table. After the code-mapping table is generated, the system receives a request that specifies a join operation between the first and second fields. The method and system further includes joining the first and second fields in response to identifying that the first and second fields map to the conceptual meaning in the code-mapping table.

Abstract: In a state estimating apparatus, an input space quantization section quantizes an input space according to a required precision of output data. A storage section calculates and stores the number of times of occurrence of output data corresponding to each input event in the quantized input space, the mean values of the output data, and the change amounts of the output data. A neighborhood definition section calculates an input space neighborhood satisfying the required precision of the output. A similar case extraction section zooms up the predetermined neighborhood of the input space to the predetermined degree and extracts input case similar to the neighborhood from input case in the input space. A similarity determination section determines the similarity between the new input event and the extracted similar input cases on the basis of the degree of zooming.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting a user in solving a new problem case within a selected domain, such as a complex apparatus.

Abstract: An expert system and processing method employing a three level hierarchical knowledge base that has a plurality of nodes coupled together. An uppermost level comprises a behavioral knowledge level, a middle level comprises a structural knowledge level and a lowermost level is an action level. Inference processing proceeds from the behavioral knowledge level through the structural knowledge level to a leaf node of the action level. One or more non-inferentially assessable utilities may be associated with the inference kernel of the expert system for accessing during inferential processing within the hierarchically structured knowledge base. A knowledge editor implements guidelines that structure received information in the desired hierarchical three level configuration. Further, interactive multimedia/hypermedia systems and methods are presented, which might be expert system based. Training and certification applications of the multimedia/hypermedia system/method are given.

Abstract: A method for designing a product using a set of parameters and a set of instructions provided by a user is disclosed wherein the method includes the steps of receiving the set of parameters and the set of instructions to establish requirements of the product, determining a first calculation based on a calculated reason, performing the first calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions to achieve a first solution, communicating the first calculation to the user, communicating the calculated reason for performing the first calculation to the user, reviewing a set of second calculations, determining a preferred second calculation from the set of second calculations based on a second calculated reason, performing the preferred second calculation using the set of parameters and the set of instructions and the first solution, communicating the preferred second calculation to the user, and communicating the second calculated reason for performing the preferred second calculation to the user.