US 5,671,326 AGranted

Method and apparatus for facilitating user generation of a set of machine control statements

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorsAdrian Derek Geisow, Andrew David Wells, Roy Stephen Marriott, Adrian Arnold Buriks

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Abstract

Many machines, particularly computers, execute decision processes during their operation. Such decision processes generally involve ascertaining the values of a number of condition factors and then determining the desired outcome in accordance with a predetermined decision function. This decision function may take the form of a number of individual statements relating condition-factor value combinations to particular outcomes. To facilitate end-user generation and modification of a decision function by generation and modification of a set of component statements, a structured representation for the component statements is presented to the user and statements are created and modified within this structured environment. Before a new or modified set of statements is accepted, it is checked for consistency between statements. Even where a conflict exists between statements, this may be permitted provided it is clear which statement is to have precedence, these being statements that form specific exceptions to more general statements.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of facilitating user generation of a set of machine control statements that taken together constitute a decision function relating particular value combinations of a predetermined set of condition factors to corresponding particular outcomes of a set of such outcomes, each individual machine control statement associating a set of one or more condition-factor value combinations, herein CFVCs, with a said outcome;

said method comprising the steps of:
activating a computer system to display to a user a structured representation for said machine control statements in which one of said statements is represented in terms of a visual association between its CFVC set and corresponding outcome;
supplying the computer system with user inputs indicative of at least one new control statement and a modification of at least one existing machine control statement, the computer system responding to the user inputs to create at least one new machine control statement and/or modify at least one existing machine control statement thereby to generate a new said set of machine control statements, said new and/or modified statements being represented in said structured representation;
and
the computer system responding to the user inputs by carrying out a consistency check on said new set of machine control statements by:
(a) identifying any conflicts between statements by identifying any group of at least one CFVC which is common to a plurality of said statements that do not all specify the same outcome,
(b) determining whether any such conflict is resolvable on the basis of a more specific statement having precedence over a more general one, by determining whether the corresponding said group is equal to the set of all the CFVCs encompassed by a said statement of said plurality, the presence of any such latter statement, herein an exception statement, determining said conflict to be resolvable with said exception statement being associated with any other said statement of said plurality such that the exception statement has precedence over said any other statement, and
(c) accepting said new set of statements unless an unresolvable conflict is present.

5 more elements

Apparatus for facilitating user generation of a set of machine control statements that taken together constitute a decision function relating particular value combinations of a predetermined set of condition factors to corresponding particular outcomes of a set of such outcomes, each individual machine control statement associating a set of one or more condition-factor value combinations, herein CFVCs, with a said outcome;

said apparatus comprising:
a memory storing said machine control statements;
display means for displaying to a user a structured representation of said existing machine control statements in which a said statement is represented in terms of a visual association between its CFVC set and corresponding outcome;
input means for receiving user input for creating a new machine control statement and/or for modifying at least one existing machine control statement thereby to generate a new said set of machine control statements, said new and/or modified statements being represented in said structured representation;
and
conflict-checking means for carrying out a consistency check on said new set of machine control statements by:
(a) identifying any conflicts between statements by identifying any group of at least one CFVC which is common to a plurality of said statements that do not all specify the same outcome,
(b) determining whether any such conflict is resolvable on the basis of a more specific statement having precedence over a more general one, by determining whether the corresponding said group is equal to the set of all the CFVCs encompassed by a said statement of said plurality, the presence of any such latter statement, herein an exception statement, determining said conflict to be resolvable with said exception statement being associated with any other said statement of said plurality such that the exception statement has precedence over said any other statement, and
(c) inhibiting acceptance of said new set of statements where an unresolvable conflict is present.

6 more elements

A computer memory for use with a computer system for executing a method of facilitating user generation of a set of machine control statements that taken together constitute a decision function relating particular value combinations of a predetermined set of condition factors to corresponding particular outcomes of a set of such outcomes, each individual machine control statement associating a set of one or more condition-factor value combinations, herein CFVCs, with a said outcome;

said memory storing signals to cause the computer system to be activated to:
display to a user station a structured representation for said machine control statements in which one of said statements is represented in terms of a visual association between its CFVC set and corresponding outcome;
respond to user inputs indicative of at least one new control statement and a modification of at least one existing machine control statement to create at least one new machine control statement and/or modify at least one existing machine control statement thereby to generate a new said set of machine control statements, said new and/or modified statements being represented in said structured representation;
and
respond to the user inputs to carry out a consistency check on said new set of machine control statements by:
(a) identifying any conflicts between statements by identifying any group of at least one CFVC which is common to a plurality of said statements that do not all specify the same outcome,
(b) determining whether any such conflict is resolvable on the basis of a more specific statement having precedence over a more general one, by determining whether the corresponding said group is equal to the set of all the CFVCs encompassed by a said statement of said plurality, the presence of any such latter statement, herein an exception statement, determining said conflict to be resolvable with said exception statement being associated with any other said statement of said plurality such that the exception statement has precedence over said any other statement, and
(c) accept said new set of statements unless an unresolvable conflict is present.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.