JPH0488530A - Concept design job supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the memory capacity of a case data base by performing the standardization of functions with the same name centering a common part for them, storing it as a reference design answer, and storing a distinctive design part in each case in the case data base. CONSTITUTION:A reference function provided with the most significant function name of a functional design answer inputted from a function developing means 11 is searched based on input from a universal function data base 22. When no such function exists, the function provided with the same most significant function name is searched based on the input from the case data base 5. When a correspondent reference function or function exists, the low-order functions of most significal level of them are compared, and the difference of positions of the function name and the function is checked. When different parts are less than the half, the standardization of the different part is performed by interaction with a designer. After the standardization is completely performed, a standardized function is stored in the universal function data base 22 as the reference function, and the different part is stored in the case data base 5 as respective case name.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is directed to an industrial product in which a basic part of the product exists,
A conceptual design work support system that allows a computer and a designer to interactively design a semi-standard product that achieves the required specifications by modifying and reusing design solutions with similar specifications or adding options. In particular, during the function design stage where functions are designed to realize the specifications, we not only reuse functions that have achieved similar specifications in the past, but also emulsify the functions designed after the function design is complete to create other similar This relates to a conceptual design work support device that is able to correlate functions and provide design guidelines based on the emulsified functions when there is no suitable function that realizes the specifications in past functional design examples. .

[Prior art] As a conventional conceptual design work support device, for example,
There is one described in the specification of No.-24635. FIG. 6 shows its configuration. In the figure, (601) is a procedural knowledge storage means for storing experiential knowledge acquired from skilled designers and procedural knowledge during design procedures;
2) is a declarative knowledge storage means for storing legal knowledge, summary knowledge about past design failure cases, declarative knowledge about product constraints, etc., and (603) is a declarative knowledge storage means for storing various information that supports specification human resources. , the declarative knowledge storage means (602
) Specification decision support means provided based on human power from (
604> is a standard specification realization information storage means (
605) is a case database for storing data regarding past design cases (all specifications adopted in the case, and functions and parts for realizing them);
606) is a specification manual means for manually inputting the above specifications by the designer, and (607) is a manual specification means for checking the specifications inputted from the specification manual means (606) based on the human power from the declarative knowledge storage means (602). (608) is a specification correction means for correcting the specifications determined to be inappropriate in the specification check based on the input from the procedural knowledge storage means (601); (609) is a specification check A specification storage means (610) for storing the specifications determined to be appropriate by the means (607) selects a specification that can be supported by the standard design from among the conforming specifications, and stores it from the standard specification realization information storage means (604). An item list creation means (611) that develops an item list based on human power is a declarative knowledge storage means (602) for special specifications that cannot be accommodated by the standard design, and an appropriate method based on human power from the case data database (605). Function deployment means for deploying into functions, (612
) stores the modified functionality in the declarative knowledge storage means (602
); (613) is a function correction means for correcting the developed function based on the human power from the procedural knowledge storage means (601); (614) is a function correction means for checking based on the input from the Function storage means (615) is a declarative knowledge storage means (602)
, and a component deployment means for deploying functions into components based on human power from the case database (605) (616)
stores the expanded parts in the declarative knowledge storage means (602).
(617) is a part checking means for checking based on human power from the procedural knowledge storage means (601) when the part is inappropriate; (618) is a part correction means for correcting the part based on human power from the procedural knowledge storage means (601); This is a component storage means for storing the above-mentioned components.

Note that the expression format of knowledge follows the conventional method (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-56663).

Next, the operation of the conventional conceptual design work support device based on the above configuration will be explained. The designer converts the requirements from the customer into a set of specifications and inputs them manually through the specification input means (606).

A specification checking means (607) checks the suitability of the manually entered specifications based on input from the declarative knowledge storage means (602). If there is a problem, use procedural knowledge memorial methods (
Specification correction means (608) based on human power from 601)
will fix it. Once there are no problems with the specifications, use the specification storage means (
609) stores the specifications.

Next, for the specifications that the specification determination support means (603) has determined can be handled by the standard design, the item list creation means (610)
creates a list of items by associating them with parts. For special specifications, the function expansion means (611) uses the declarative knowledge storage means (
602) and the case database (605), it is associated with the function, and the same or similar functions are searched from past design cases. If there is, data related to lower-level functions that are developed in more detail in the design case is copied as a new pre-design. If necessary, add, delete, or modify lower-level functions. The designed function is checked based on human power from the declarative knowledge storage means (602), and if there is a problem, the function correction means (602) is checked.
13) is modified based on human power from the procedural knowledge storage means (601). If there is no problem, function memory means (61
4) memorize the function.

Further, based on the input from the declarative knowledge storage means (602) and the case data storage means (605), the parts expansion means (605)
15) selects the part corresponding to the function. If there is no suitable part, similar parts are searched from past design departments based on human power from the case database (605). If a part is found, the part checking means (616) checks the part based on the human power from the declarative knowledge storage means (602), and if there is a problem, the part is checked based on the human power from the procedural knowledge storage means (601). A modifying means (617) performs the modification. If there is no problem with the part, the part is stored in the part storage means (618) and the design is completed.

If the function check means (612) or the parts check means (617) determines that there is a problem, in addition to modifying the function or parts, the designer may decide to modify the function or parts at the preceding design stage (in the case of functions, specification design). , or in the case of parts, go back to the specification design or functional design) and redesign.

Incidentally, the expression format of functions in the conventional invention is shown in FIG. Functions have a hierarchical structure based on the level of abstraction, with the highest level corresponding to specifications and the lowest level corresponding to parts. The top-level functions are the operation + 1ffi order, and the unit functions (represented by squares in Figure 7) and the connection functions (represented by arrows in Figure 7) that indicate the signal or power transmission relationship between the unit functions. ). The operating order of unit functions is from left to right.

Each unit function is further comprised of a series of lower unit functions and connection functions. A unit function expresses a specific operation on a specific object in the form [operation name (object name)].

For example, the unit function of controlling a motor is expressed as [control (motor)]. A connection function is expressed by the bareness of two connected unit functions and the content of transmission (signal or power).

The object name and operation name of a unit function and the unit function pair of a connection function are called a unit function name and a connection function name, respectively. The unit function name and connection function name are simply called function names. In particular, the highest level function and its subordinate function sequence are called the highest level.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Since the conventional conceptual design work support device is configured as described above, if a design part (referred to as an approximate solution) that is very similar to a past design part is not found, , the only option was to reuse a slightly similar design part with major modifications, or to create a new design. Making major revisions was costly and easy to make mistakes. In the case of a new design, design guidelines were not available. In addition, even if there are multiple approximate solutions, they are stored as they are, resulting in a large amount of memory to be stored in the case database.This invention aims to solve the above problems. During the functional design stage, which is the core of the design,
Regarding the problem of memory capacity, we can reduce the memory capacity by extracting common parts of functions with the same name and storing them as standard design parts, and storing only the design parts characteristic of the case in the case database. In order to deal with cases where there is no approximate solution, the designed function can be generalized and memorized with other similar functions so that the designer can use it as a general solution when there is no approximate solution. The purpose of this invention is to obtain a conceptual design work support device that can present standardized functions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A conceptual design work support device according to the present invention includes a case data database that stores past design units, and a function that matches a designed function with a similar function in the past based on input from the case data database. Function standardization means for associating functions, function generalization means for generalizing standardized functions, and function memory for storing generalized functions in a generalized function database and storing design parts characteristic of the case in the case data storage. and a function specialization means for specializing the contents of the streamlining function database to support design when there are no suitable past design examples that can be reused.

[Operation] The function generalization means in this invention stores common parts of functions having the same name and standard design parts for different parts as standard design parts, and stores information for each case in the case database. By storing characteristic design parts, the storage amount of the case database can be reduced. In addition, by further generalizing the standard design solution based on semantic memory and storing it in association with other similar standard functions, designers can use the generalized function as a general solution when there is no approximate solution. By presenting this, appropriate design support can be provided even when there is no approximate solution.

Furthermore, since the emulsification function can be learned when a design solution is obtained, it is particularly effective in fields where it is difficult to prepare a rough estimate and emulsification function due to a wide variety of design specifications.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a conceptual design work support device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in the figure, (1) to (18)
6 correspond to (601) to (618) in FIG. 6, respectively, and (19) to (22) are parts introduced for the first time in this invention. (19) is a semantic storage means that stores similarity relationships between various terms describing the object name and operation group of a function, and (20) is a semantic storage means that stores the similarity relationship between various terms describing the object name and operation group of a function. Function standardization means (21) is a function generalization means that generalizes standard functions based on human power from the semantic memory means, (22)
) is a streamlined function data directory that stores standard functions and generalized functions.

Next, the operation of this embodiment based on the above configuration will be explained.

The function standardization method will be explained with reference to FIG. Regarding the top-level function name before function design manually entered by the function development means (11), a standard function having the same top-level function name is searched based on the input from the streamlining function data header (22) (step Sl). If not, a function having the same top-level function name is searched based on the human power from the case data source (5) (step S2). If there is no corresponding function in step S2, the current function is stored as is in the case data field (5) without standardization (step S7). If there is a corresponding standard function or function in step S1 and step S2, the lowermost functions of both are compared at the highest level, and differences in function name and position of the function are checked (step S3). If more than half of the function names and their positions are different (step S4), the current functions are stored as they are in the case database (5) without standardization (step S7). If the difference is less than half, nothing will be done if the comparison target is a standard function, but if the comparison target is a function, the difference part will be standardized through dialogue with the designer (step S5). Methods for standardizing differences include, for example, if the function names are different, use a generalized name for both functions, or adopt one function name. After all standardization is completed, the standardized functions are stored as standard functions in the emulsifying function database (22), and the differences are further stored in the case database (5) along with the respective case names (step S6).
.

Figure 3 shows an example of standardization. Assume that in new case A, a function with the top-level function name ``controlled operation during attendance and departure'' is designed.

The top level function consists of five top level lower functions, including judgment at the time of work. These are further broken down into lower-level functions; for example, the function of determining when to dispatch is comprised of the lower-level function of determining 8 o'clock. Assume that there is no standard function in step S1, and that a function with the same top-level function name was previously designed in case B as a function in step S2. However, Case A and Case B differ in determining when to go to work, setting the waiting floor to the main floor, and setting the waiting floor to the top floor. In this case, after comparing both functions, the common lower level of the highest level and the function below the rubel for determining when to leave work will be adopted as standard functions, and the other functions will be adopted as standard functions. The function of either case A or case B is adopted as a standard function according to the designer's instructions.

Next, a method of generalizing a standard function and relating a plurality of standard functions will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, the function name of the top-level function of the standard functions is stored in a semantic storage means (
19) is generalized based on the human power (step S8). The meaning storage means (19) stores a term representing a function name and a term at a higher abstraction level with respect to the term as a pair. Any term may have multiple terms as higher-level terms, and conversely, any higher-level term may have multiple lower-level terms.

Emulsification of the function name indicates searching for one superordinate term of the term based on the hierarchical relationship of terms. Next, an emulsifying function having the emulsifying function name as the highest function name is searched for in the fluidizing function data field (Step S9), and the standard function and the subordinate functions of the emulsifying function are compared (Step 5IO). If each sub-function name of the standard function is a specialization of each sub-function name of the emulsifying function and their positions are the same (step 5ll), the standard function is determined to be an example of realizing the emulsifying function. The topmost function name of the standard function and the topmost function name of the emulsification function are stored (step 512).

After checking with the designer (step 516), if there is no modification (step 517), the process ends (step 519).

In the determination in step Sll, it may be determined that the function names and their positions are the same even if they are slightly different. Possible criteria include, for example, that the number of different function names is about one, or that the function names are similar.

If it is determined in step S11 that the standard function is not an implementation example of the emulsification function, another emulsification is attempted for the topmost function name (step 513).

If there is another higher-level term (step 514), search for an emulsification function that has that higher-level term as the highest-level function name and repeat steps 89 and subsequent steps.

If there is no other higher-level term in step S14, a new implementation example of the emulsifying function is used, and the lower-level function name of the highest level is emulsified (step 515).

Check the emulsification results with the designer (step S]6), and if there are any problems (step 517), make corrections through dialogue with the designer (step 518), and if there are no problems, send the fluidization function data (22) Then, the emulsified lower function is stored under the top function name searched in step S9 (
step 519).

In step S9, if there is no emulsification function whose top function name is the function name that emulsifies the top function name of the standard functions, it is determined that this is the first emulsification, and the standard function is set based on human power from the generalized function database (22). Among the functions, a standard function having a similar top-level function name as the top-level function name (referred to as a similar standard function) is searched for (step 520). Regarding the similarity of the function names, the meaning storage means (19) determines that there is a standard function whose top function name is a subordinate term of the term emulsified in step S9. If there is no name, emulsify all the lower function names of the top level (step 521), check with the designer (step 816), and then write the top level function emulsified in step S8 in the fluidization function data field (22). Under the name, memorize the emulsified subordinate function (step 5
19).

If there is a corresponding similar standard function in step S20, compare the name and position of each subordinate function of both (step 522).
, if all are the same or similar (step 5)
23), the higher-level term common to the highest-level function names of both is used as the highest-level function name of the emulsification function, the function name is adopted as is for common lower-level functions, and the different parts are emulsified through dialogue with the designer ( Step 525). Similar criteria apply to step Sll. However, the final decision on similarity is made by the designer. After emulsification, check with the designer in step 516), if there are no problems, step 517), and enter the fluidization function data (22) in step S.
The result obtained by adding necessary corrections to the result of step 25 is stored (step S19).

Mark 1! An example of generating an emulsifying function from a function is shown in FIG.

Now, we are thinking about emulsifying the standard function of controlled operation at the time of arrival and departure and relating it to other standard functions.

As a result of emulsifying the name of the highest level function in step S8, the name is ``controlled operation during congestion''. Since there is no emulsification function corresponding to step S9, the meaning storage means (
Assume that when searching for a similar function to 19), a standard function called lunchtime controlled operation was found. When comparing the lower functions of the two, it was determined that the lower function names located at the same position were the same or similar, so the designer determined that they were similar despite the difference in the number of lower functions (step 523 ). In step S25, since the respective lower-level functions are not the same, a common higher-level term is adopted. For example, a common superordinate term, ``judgment when crowded'', was adopted for determining when to go to work and when to judge lunch time.

Determining when to leave work and setting the waiting floor to the top floor: Since this problem is not included in the lunch time control operation, the higher level term was automatically adopted.

The move to the waiting floor was the same for both, so we left it as is. As a result of this generalization work, the two functions of determining when it is crowded and setting a waiting floor to a crowded floor overlapped, so the designer deleted one of them and created the final emulsification function.

A method of using such an emulsifying function will be explained. When specifications are developed into functions, the function development means (11) checks whether similar functions have been designed in the past. If the function deployment means (11) exists, the generalized function database (
22) and human power from the case database (5), and reproduce the design solution of the past case, and use it as is or modify it and use it. To reproduce functions, functions stored in the case database (5) are first searched, and then functions not stored in the case data base (5) are searched from standard functions in the generalized function database (22). If a similar function has not been designed in the past, the function expansion means (11) automatically generalizes the function name, and adds the generalized function name from the emulsification function in the generalized function database (22) to the top level. Search for what you have as a function name and present its contents to the designer. The designer adjusts it as necessary to obtain a design solution.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, functions with the same name are standardized centering on their common parts and stored as standard design solutions, and the case database contains designs characteristic of each case. By memorizing the parts, it is possible to reduce the storage amount of case data, and also to further generalize the standard design solution and store it in association with other similar standard functions, so that when there is no approximate solution, it is possible to generalize the standard design solution. By presenting a generalized function as a practical solution, it is possible to provide appropriate design support even when there is no approximate solution.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire conceptual design work support device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of creating a standard function from a designed function, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing an example of creating a standard function from a designed function, Figure 4 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of creating an emulsifying function from a standard function, and Figure 5 is an example of creating an emulsifying function from a standard function. FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional conceptual design work support device, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an old style of conventional function expression. 1) Procedural knowledge storage means, (2) Declarative knowledge storage means, (3) Specification decision support means, (4
)... Standard specification realization information storage means, (5)... Case data storage, (6)... Specification input means, (7)...
・Specification checking means, (8)...Specification correction means, (9
)...Specification storage means, (10)...Item list creation means, (11)...Function development means, (12)...Function checking means, (13)...Function modification means, ( 14)・
・Function storage means, (I5) ・Component development means, (1
6)... One part checking means, (17)... Part correction means, (18)... Part storage means, (19)... Meaning storage means, (20)... Function standardization means, ( 21)
... Function generalization means, (22) ... Generalization function database. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A specification input means for inputting various specifications, a procedural knowledge storage means for storing procedural knowledge to be used as a reference when finding a design solution from the above various specifications, and a declaration to be used as a reference when finding a design solution from the above various specifications. a declarative knowledge storage means for storing knowledge of the above, and a specification checking means for determining suitability of the various input specifications based on the declarative knowledge storage means;
Specification determination support means for classifying specifications determined to be compatible by the above specification checking means into standard specifications that can be supported by standard design and special specifications that cannot be handled based on the above declarative knowledge storage means, and standards for developing the above standard specifications into parts. a specification realization means, a case database for declaratively storing knowledge about past design cases, a function design means for determining a design solution having an appropriate function based on the special specification based on the case database, and a function design means a part development means for developing a design solution into parts; a standardization means for obtaining a standard design solution based on the design solution of the functional design means based on the declarative knowledge storage means; and a standardization means for generalizing the standard design solution to other standards. a functional generalization means that is associated with the design solution; a generalized functional database that stores the results of the functional standardization means and the functional generalization means;
A conceptual design work support device comprising: function specialization means for determining an appropriate design solution based on the generalized function database when the design of special specifications by the function design means fails.