Control process for artificial intelligence software shell

An artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation comprising:

• means for storing objects representing plant elements and concepts;
• at least one knowledge source module including and artificial intelligence operation scheme, in communication with the means for storing, operating on specific predefined objects;
• means, in communication the means for storing and the at least one knowledge source module, for enabling data to be inputted to the shell;
• means, in communication the means for enabling and the at least one knowledge source module, for receiving all input data and controlling operation of the at least one knowledge source module;
• and
• means, in communication with the means for enabling, for determining when the at least one knowledge source module should execute;
• the means for determining including:
• a hash table having entries for each input data source;
• a data point structure including entries for objects and corresponding attributes and values, the entries of the hash table pointing to entries in the data point structure;
• an indirect expression list pointed to by the data point structure;
• an expression list, pointed to by the indirect expression list including entries for knowledge source previous and updated values;
• and
• a message evaluator, receiving messages related to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.

A method of simulating plant operation with an artificial intelligence software shell comprising the steps of:

• storing, in a database, objects representing plant elements and concepts;
• reading input data from an input data source;
• determining, from the input data read, when artificial intelligence knowledge sources should execute in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme;
• and
• executing knowledge sources, in accordance with the determination, on specific predefined objects;
• wherein the step of determining includes the steps of receiving messages relating to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.

A control module for an artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation, the shell including a blackboard module database having objects representing plant elements and concepts, and at least one knowledge source module including an artificial intelligence operation scheme for execution on the blackboard objects, the control module comprising:

• an event detector module, in communication with the blackboard module, receiving all input data and determining when the at least one knowledge source module should execute;
• and
• an activation/agenda manager module, in communication with the at least one knowledge source module and the event detector module, executing the at least one knowledge source module in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme;
• the event detector module including:
• a hash table having entries for each input data source;
• a data point structure including entries for objects and corresponding attributes and values, the entries of the has table pointing to entries in the data point structure;
• an indirect expression list pointed to by the data point structure;
• an expression list, pointed to by the indirect expression list including entries for knowledge source previous and updated values;
• and
• a message evaluator, receiving messages related to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.

An artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation comprising:

• a blackboard module including a database having objects representing plant elements and concepts;
• at least one knowledge source module including an artificial intelligence operation scheme, in communication with the blackboard module, operating on specific predefined blackboard objects;
• an input data module, in communication with the blackboard module and the at least one knowledge source module, enabling data to be inputted to the shell;
• and
• a control module, in communication with the input data module and the at least one knowledge source module, receiving all input data and controlling operation of the at least one knowledge source;
• wherein the control module includes an event detector module, in communication with the input data module, receiving all input data and determining when the at least one knowledge source module should execute;
• and
• the event detector module further including a message evaluator, receiving messages related to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.

A control module for an artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation, the shell including a blackboard module database having objects representing plant elements and concepts, and at least one knowledge source module including an artificial intelligence operation scheme for execution on the blackboard objects, the control module comprising:

• an event detector module, in communication with the blackboard module, receiving all input data and determining when the at least one knowledge source module should execute;
• and
• an activation/agenda manager module, in communication with the at least one knowledge source module and the event detector module, executing the at least one knowledge source module in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme;
• and
• the event detector module including a message evaluator, receiving messages related to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.

A control module for an artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation, the shell including a blackboard module database having objects representing plant elements and concepts, and at least one knowledge source module including an artificial intelligence operation scheme for execution on the blackboard objects, the control module comprising:

• an event detector module, in communication with the blackboard module, receiving all input data and determining when the at least one knowledge source module should execute;
• and
• an activation/agenda manager module, in communication with the at least one knowledge source module and the event detector module, executing the at least one knowledge source module in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme;
• wherein the activation/agenda manager module further includes:
• a priority based algorithm for determining activation of event driven knowledge sources;
• a time-based queue for periodic knowledge sources;
• and
• a knowledge source/precondition expression structure for checking knowledge source execution preconditions;
• and
• wherein the event detector module further includes a message evaluator, receiving messages related to input data, checking the messages for syntax errors and implementing a hash table algorithm if no syntax error is found.