HypEs: an architecture for hypermedia-enabled expert systems

Expert systems and hypermedia constitute two important technologies for organizations to create, store, and manage information products. The purpose of our research is to develop an architectural blueprint for the construction of hypermedia-enabled expert systems. We propose an architecture termed HypEs (Hypermedia-enabled Expert System) for the development of media-rich expert systems. The integration of hypermedia technologies and expert systems can provide significant potential benefits by enabling the storage and manipulation of non-textual knowledge, enhancing the effectiveness of both knowledge acquisition from the sources of expertise and knowledge transfer to non-expert users. An experimental analysis that contrasts the hypermedia-enabled and text-restricted expert systems provides results that underscore the usefulness of hypermedia techniques in enhancing the effectiveness of expert systems in practical applications.     

An explanation shell for expert systems

We describe a shell for expert systems written in Prolog. The shell provides a consultation environment and a range of explanation capabilities. The design of the shell is modular, making it very easy to extend the shell with extra features required by a particular expert system. The novelty of the shell is twofold. Firstly, it has a uniform design consisting of an integrated collection of meta-interpreters. Secondly, there is a new approach for explaining 'why not,' when a query to the system fails.     

The SIRIUS-DELTA architecture: A framework for co-operating database systems

SIRIUS-DELTA is a distributed database system which is aimed at co-operation of heterogeneous local database systems. It illustrates how the Open Systems approach has been used in the context of distributed database systems, mainly in its architecture and its Data Manipulation Protocol. It also illustrates that distributed databases is an area where co-operation between ISO/TC97/SC5 Programming Languages and ISO/TC97/SC16 Open Systems Interconnection sub-committees is of a major importance for future developments.     

Four-schema approach: An extended model for database architecture

This paper presents an integrative approach for database design. A four-schema architecture, extending the work of the ANSI/X3/SPARC Committee, is proposed as an overall design framework. The concept of the conceptual schema is analyzed, and its two rather independent components are separated. A database design project is briefly discussed as an example of the proposed four-schema approach.     

An introduction to expert systems

The paper considers the features of expert systems which make them of educational interest, and discusses issues of knowledge representation through rule sets, and how such systems can be used to give explanation and advice. Working systems are outlined in Medicine, Geology and Computing. Some limitations of expert systems are noted and their future potential assessed.     

An investigation of expert systems for die design

This article introduces fuzzy set theory to process the design details of the uncertain portion in die design, and assist the designer to transform those design items with fuzziness into those with definite and reasonable design attributes. For the design parameters of die block thickness, die clearance angle and die sets choice in die design, which possess intermediate features, fuzzy cluster analysis is used to obtain the design attributes. As for single-sided die clearance, stripper pressure and guide bushing-type die design, whose theory or empirical formulas possess uncertainty coefficients or preference design parameters, the fuzzy weighted average method is adopted to obtain the feature parameters that conform with the die design requirement. This study established an expert system prototype to combine the aforementioned uncertainty problems into two kinds of die design, and help the designer obtain a definite design strategy when faced with uncertain design items.     

An expert system for manufacturing systems machine selection

This work presents the development of a prototype expert system (ES) for the machine selection of manufacturing systems. This tool, called ESMRS (Expert System for Manufacturing Resource Selection) is used in a simulation based approach in order to structure the solution search mechanism and to overcome the try and error aspect. In fact, in such an approach a number of ‘simulation—ES optimization’ cycles are run until obtaining non-improvable performance measures. The ES main role is to suggest resource modifications based on due date related performance measures obtained through simulation. So, this paper introduces the ‘ES—simulation approach’ that constitutes the utilization scope of ESMRS and then describes the ES static and dynamic knowledge representation before presenting the basic ES features as well as its development using a commercial ES shell. Finally a simple case study illustrates the validity of the approach and its potential applicability for real cases.     

An integrated knowledge representation scheme for expert systems

Abstract The purpose of knowledge representation for an expert system is to specify functions to be performed by the system. In this paper, a knowledge representation scheme which mutually combines procedures, functions, production rules and Horn clauses is outlined. Its knowledge representation model is an imaginary organisation for performing functions of a target system, where a number of members try to solve given problems systematically. Knowledge is distributed to each of the members with considerable modularity. Functional specification of expert systems would be performed with less difficulty.     

An alternative to expert systems for electrical diagnosis

Although the use of an expert system for the detection and location of faults in the power supply subsystem of the TDFI satellite¹ gives good practical results, there are also a certain number of drawbacks:

• - the rules are application-dependent and therefore useless for the diagnosis of other satellites,

• - the amount of knowledge required is quite large and contains a lot of redundant information,

• - testing and updating of the system are tricky,

• - it is far from sure that all possible faults can be taken into account.

The diagnosis theory based on models of correct behavior of the components introduced more recently by de Kleer and Williams seems more suited to this type of problem. Using our program CATS/DIANA, we have been able to validate this approach for analog electronic circuits. We have also tested the method on the diagnosis of satellite power supply subsystems; the results were similar to those obtained using an expert system, but without the drawbacks. This paper describes the two methods and compares the results.     

An architecture for handwritten text recognition systems

This paper presents an end-to-end system for reading handwritten page images. Five functional modules included in the system are introduced in this paper: (i) pre-processing, which concerns introducing an image representation for easy manipulation of large page images and image handling procedures using the image representation; (ii) line separation, concerning text line detection and extracting images of lines of text from a page image; (iii) word segmentation, which concerns locating word gaps and isolating words from a line of text image obtained efficiently and in an intelligent manner; (iv) word recognition, concerning handwritten word recognition algorithms; and (v) linguistic post-pro- cessing, which concerns the use of linguistic constraints to intelligently parse and recognize text. Key ideas employed in each functional module, which have been developed for dealing with the diversity of handwriting in its various aspects with a goal of system reliability and robustness, are described in this paper. Preliminary experiments show promising results in terms of speed and accuracy. Received October 30, 1998 / Revised January 15, 1999     

The complementary roles of expert systems and database management systems in a design for manufacture environment

Effective product design that satisfies functional requirements and can be manufactured easily requires vast amounts of knowledge on the part of the design engineer. This paper focuses on the complementary roles of expert systems and database management systems as they relate to the Intelligent Design System (IDS) in a Design for Manufacture (DFM) environment. Each technology complements the other in its strengths and abilities. The database management system provides during the design process. The expert system provides a reasoning mechanism for identifying manufacturing violations and generating meaningful recommendations. These components work cooperatively with a CAD interface to form a unified, intelligent design environment.An information flow analysis of the Intelligent Design System resulted in the development of three distinct classifications of information within the database: CAD data, a design catalog, and a knowledge base. The CAD data tables employ an, object oriented approach to store specific information about the physical contains cost, weight, and strength characteristics of the standard parts and fasteners used within the system. The knowledge base contains rules and heuristics concerning design and manufacturing methodologies.The placement of the expert system rules in the database represents an innovation. As a result, the expansion and updating of the materials, fasteners, standard parts, or manufacturing processes used by the Intelligent Design System is facilitated without increased due to the efficient management of the knowledge base by the database management system. This allows the designer to modify the knowledge and help the system to learn without the need for a knowledge engineer.     

Decision support systems: An expert systems approach

This paper provides a conceptual framework for designing decision support systems (DSS) using an expert systems approach. Currently there is a significant trend towards the use of knowledge-based systems techniques in DSS design, but a comprehensive framework is yet to be proposed. Our paper addresses this problem and presents such a framework. Efforts are currently underway to design, implement and test a system based on this framework.     

An overview of magnetic micro-robot systems for biomedical applications

Untethered and wirelessly-controlled micro-robots have been catching substantial attention for a long time due to their great potentials in biomedical areas. Their small sizes and property of wireless magnetic actuation and control make them fit in tiny and closed environments both in vitro and in vivo such as lab-on-a-chip and human blood vessels for micromanipulations, minimum/non-invasive theoretical and diagnostic applications, respectively. In recent years, micro-robots driven by magnetic fields become a hotspot due to their good controllability and motion performance they have shown in both wet and dry environments. And they hardly bring harm under magnetic actuation and control, which qualify them especially for biomedical applications. This paper reviews the state of the art of hjbvmagnetic-micro-robot systems, including the related knowledge and theories, design works of magnetic micro-robots and magnetic navigation systems. For a straightforward understanding, several types of magnetic micro-robot systems are presented. And some applications of magnetic micro-robot systems are introduced at the end to show their great potentials. However, for further developments, many obstacles still need to be solved.     

An expert system for paperwork optimization in production systems

Much like material handling, process paperwork only contributes to overhead cost (not proportionally included in the final product). The very computing technologies that have produced electronic mail systems (and similar paper-less information systems) have also made it quite easy and tempting to generate excessive paperwork in form of memos, reports, charts, lists, files, etc. This paper describes an expert system for minimizing such paperwork activities in various production systems.     

An evaluation of expert systems for software engineering management

The development of four separate, prototype expert systems to aid in software engineering management is described. Given the values for certain metrics, these systems provide interpretations which explain any abnormal patterns of these values during the development of a software project. The four expert systems which solve the same problem, were built using two different approaches to knowledge acquisition, a bottom-up approach and a top-down approach and two different expert system methods, rule-based deduction and frame-based abduction. In a comparison to see which methods might better suit the needs of this field, it was found that the bottom-up approach led to better results that did the top-down approach, and the rule-based deduction systems using simple rules provided more complete and correct solutions than did the frame-based abduction systems     

An effective database formation for decision support systems

Managers' tasks have two aspects: to monitor (control) business activities and to plan the future based upon the monitored results. Thus a decision Support System (DSS) must have two kinds of databases appropriate for its needs.A management database, i.e., one for monitoring activities, is constructed mainly from the existing operational databases. A data cube should be employed for the logical data structure of the management database so that managers can share it and access it in multiple ways.Planning databases, i.e., those for planning activities, are constructed mostly from the management database. A table form should be employed for its logical data structure so that managers will find it easy to use.The management and planning databases should be connected through DSS's system architecture [1]. This makes the operational data (indicating business activities) directly and immediately available for management decision making.We have previously presented the DSS architecture. This paper discusses the management and planning databases from the viewpoint of it.     

An architecture for real-time distributed artificial intelligent systems

This paper introduces a new architecture for a real-time distributed artificial intelligence system: DENIS—a Dynamic Embedded Noticeboard Information System. The fundamental idea underlying the architecture draws heavily upon a distributed human system analogy, as seen, for example, in the workplace. The aim of DENIS is to provide a simple, meaningful means by which autonomous intelligent agents can cooperate and coordinate their actions in order to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of a real-time distributed control system. Based on a human paradigm, the architecture inherently allows for the control of an intelligent agent to be taken over by a human operator, yet still to maintain consistency in the distributed system. The key to the thinking in this new approach is to try to model how humans work together, and to implement this in a distributed architecture. One of the main issues raised is that humans owe much of their flexibility to their ability to reason, not only logically, but also in terms of time.     

An object-oriented architecture for knowledge-based production scheduling systems

This paper describes an object-oriented architecture to support decision making in production scheduling environments. An object-oriented world view is used to integrate concepts from discrete event simulation, conventional scheduling logic and artificial intelligence to produce capacity-feasible schedules. The architecture was implemented as a collection of loosely coupled reusable software objects by extending the functionality of software objects from BLOCS/M (Berkeley Library of Objects for Control and Simulation of Manufacturing). Our experience with an industrial prototype is presented.