Matchset-based automatic root cause analysis including determining a first fault scenario is to be subsumed by a second fault scenario

A method, comprising:

• receiving a set of observed symptoms of a physical system;
• matching the set of observed symptoms with a database of fault scenarios to generate a plurality of matched fault scenarios, wherein the database of fault scenarios comprises combinations of symptoms and corresponding root cause identifiers;
• and
• refining the plurality of matched fault scenarios, comprising:
• determining whether a first fault scenario of the plurality of matched fault scenarios is to be subsumed by a second fault scenario;
• and
• in response to a determination that the first fault scenario of the plurality of matched fault scenarios is to be subsumed by the second fault scenario:
• including the second fault scenario in the plurality of matched fault scenarios, deprioritizing the first fault scenario, or both including the second fault scenario in the plurality of matched fault scenarios and deprioritizing the first fault scenario;
• and
• outputting the plurality of matched fault scenarios as potential root causes.

A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• receiving a set of observed symptoms of a physical system;
• matching the set of observed symptoms with a database of fault scenarios to generate a plurality of matched fault scenarios, wherein the database of fault scenarios comprises combinations of symptoms and corresponding root cause identifiers;
• and
• refining the plurality of matched fault scenarios, comprising:
• determining whether a first fault scenario of the plurality of matched fault scenarios is to be subsumed by a second fault scenario;
• and
• in response to a determination that the first fault scenario of the plurality of matched fault scenarios is to be subsumed by the second fault scenario:
• including the second fault scenario in the plurality of matched fault scenarios, deprioritizing the first fault scenario, or both including the second fault scenario in the plurality of matched fault scenarios and deprioritizing the first fault scenario;
• and
• outputting the plurality of matched fault scenarios as potential root causes.