Case-based knowledge source for artificial intelligence software shell

An artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation comprising:

• blackboard means for storing objects representing plant elements and concepts and storing data values corresponding to the objects, each stored data value having an assigned time variable;
• a case-based knowledge source module including a time-magnitude scoring artificial intelligence operation scheme, in communication with the means for storing, operating on new case data points for comparison with stored data values;
• means, in communication with the means for storing and the case-based knowledge source module, for enabling data to be inputted to the shell;
• and
• means, in communication with the means for enabling and the case-based knowledge source module, for receiving all input data and controlling operation of the case-based knowledge source module;
• wherein, in accordance with the time-magnitude scoring artificial intelligence operation scheme of the case-based knowledge source each new case data point is assigned a time window within which a stored data value is selected for scoring the new case data point based on a level of closeness in time and magnitude between the new case data point and the stored data value.

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 and data values corresponding to the objects each data value having an assigned time variable;
• reading input data including data points from an input data source, each data point having an associated time window variable;
• determining, from the input data read, when at least a case-based artificial intelligence knowledge source should execute in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme;
• and
• executing at least the case-based knowledge source, in accordance with the determination;
• wherein the step of executing includes selecting one of said stored data values from within a time window defined by the time window variable for scoring a data point based on a level of closeness between the data point and the data value in time and magnitude closeness to data in a stored case.

A case-based knowledge source 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 a control module for receiving data and controlling operation of the case-based knowledge source module on the blackboard objects, the case-based knowledge source module comprising:

• a table including a plurality of stored cases, each case having a plurality of stored data points and an associated time value for each stored data point;
• and
• a time magnitude scoring scheme, whereupon if a certain level of closeness is found between data received and the stored data points in both magnitude and time, a condition is inferred to be true;
• wherein the data received includes new data points, each new data point having an assigned time window value, and a stored data point is selected from within the time window to score the new data point based on a level of closeness in time and magnitude between the stored data point and the new data point.