Interruptibility/priority control scheme 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;
• and
• 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 in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source interruptibility/priority scheme;
• wherein the means for receiving and controlling includes:
• 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 defined by a chaining algorithm.

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 step of implementing a hash table chaining algorithm.

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 interruptibility/priority scheme;
• wherein the event detector module includes a hash table defined by a chaining algorithm.

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 in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source interruptibility/priority scheme, the control module includes a hash table defined by a chaining algorithm.