JPH07105007A - Knowledge base construction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the construction of a knowledge base by providing a user interface which a knowledge possessor himself can operate. CONSTITUTION:The pattern form knowledge of parts is previously defined, and it is registered in the knowledge base by pattern form knowledge registration means 105 and 106. An operator designates the parts related to knowledge from an input device 108 by the display of a knowledge reference means 103. The type of knowledge to be defined, a knowledge definition system and a necessary input information item are sequentially displayed on a screen, and the operator sequentially designates them. Knowledge is defined based on inputted necessary information and it is registered in the knowledge base.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a knowledge base construction apparatus which allows a knowledge owner to operate as a knowledge builder himself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique related to a knowledge base construction apparatus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-220267 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-250
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 258, etc. has already been developed. The technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-222067 relates to a design support system for logic circuit element graphics, and defines the signal relationship between each element graphics. In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-250258, the definition of the geometric dimension value and the relationship between the geometric elements based on the definition of the geometric dimension value are displayed.

[0003]

By the way, in constructing a knowledge base, it is very important for a knowledge base builder to express descriptively detailed knowledge including shape information such as shape knowledge and placement knowledge. Have difficulty.

Further, it is very difficult for a knowledge base builder to accurately grasp all knowledge definition methods when defining knowledge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a knowledge base construction apparatus that allows a knowledge owner to easily construct a knowledge base by providing a user interface that the knowledge owner can operate.

[0006]

A knowledge base construction apparatus according to the present invention is a model shape knowledge registration means for predefining model shape knowledge of a part and registering it in a knowledge base.
A component type display means for displaying a component list screen for allowing the operator to specify a component related to the knowledge to be defined,
Part type input means for allowing the operator to specify parts related to knowledge based on the parts list screen, and knowledge type display for displaying the knowledge type list screen for allowing the operator to specify the type of knowledge to be defined Means, knowledge type input means for allowing the operator to specify the knowledge type based on the knowledge type list screen, knowledge definition method for allowing the operator to specify the knowledge definition method usable for the specified knowledge type Based on the knowledge definition method display means for displaying the candidate list screen, the knowledge definition method input means for allowing the operator to specify the knowledge definition method based on the knowledge definition method candidate screen, according to the specified knowledge type and knowledge definition method Necessary input information item display means for displaying the necessary input information item, and necessary information for causing the operator to input the necessary information based on the displayed necessary input information item. Based on the force means and necessary information input, by defining the knowledge, characterized in that it comprises knowledge defining means to register in the knowledge base.

When the validity of the knowledge defined by the knowledge defining means is determined and it is determined that the validity is lacking, the determination result, the determination reason and the knowledge data related to the determination reason are displayed, and the determination reason is displayed. It is preferable to provide knowledge validity determining means for urging the correction of the knowledge data related to.

Further, the shape element is designated by the operator on the component shape display means for displaying the shape of the component designated by the component type input means and the component shape screen displayed by the component shape display means. It is preferable to provide shape recognition means for recognizing the specified shape element and sending the recognition result to the knowledge defining means.

[0009]

Function: The model shape knowledge of the part is defined in advance and registered in the knowledge base.

A parts list screen is displayed for allowing the operator to specify the parts related to the knowledge to be defined. Based on the parts list screen, the operator specifies parts related to knowledge.

A knowledge type list screen for allowing the operator to specify the type of knowledge to be defined is displayed. The knowledge type is specified by the operator based on the knowledge type list screen.

A knowledge definition method candidate list screen for allowing the operator to specify a knowledge definition method that can be used for the specified knowledge type is displayed. The operator defines the knowledge definition method based on the knowledge definition method candidate list screen.

Necessary input information items are displayed according to the specified knowledge type and knowledge definition method. Necessary information is input by the operator based on the displayed necessary input information items.

Then, based on the input necessary information,
Knowledge is defined and registered in the knowledge base.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the knowledge base construction apparatus 101.

The knowledge base construction apparatus 101 comprises a knowledge base 102, a knowledge definition means 105, a shape definition means 105, a knowledge reference means 103, a knowledge correctness judgment means 104, and a shape recognition means 107. Knowledge base construction device 1
Various data and instruction data are input to 01 from the input device 108.

Various kinds of knowledge are registered in the knowledge base 102. Types of knowledge include, for example:

(1) Shape knowledge about a model shape of a part, which is necessary for the knowledge defining means 105 to use the shape information. (2) Parent-child knowledge that identifies the parent-child relationship of information. (3) Inclusive knowledge that specifies the inclusive relationship of information. (4) Placement knowledge that identifies the placement relationship. (5) Shape attribute related knowledge for specifying the shape attribute. (6) Non-shape attribute related knowledge for specifying the non-shape attribute. (7) Conditional branch knowledge that specifies the state of the conditional branch. (8) Evaluation knowledge for evaluating a condition by a certain standard. (9) Function knowledge. (10) Standard knowledge that has internal and external standard information.

Further, there are the following methods of expressing knowledge.

(1) "Attribute A is twice as large as attribute B"
As such, the master-slave relationship expression in which the dependency (attribute A) is determined only after the main attribute (attribute B) is determined. (2) If any attribute (for example, attribute B) is determined, such as "the sum of attribute A and attribute B is 10,"
A peer relation expression that defines the remaining attributes (attribute A).

The knowledge definition means 105 includes a knowledge base 102.
It is for defining knowledge within. Knowledge definition means 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a knowledge type display means for displaying a list of definable knowledge types on the knowledge type selection screen 401 in the knowledge definition screen 400 of FIG. 3, and a list of knowledge definition methods usable in the selected knowledge type. Definition display means for displaying the selected information on the knowledge definition method selection screen 402 in FIG. 3, and necessary information item display for displaying necessary information items in the selected knowledge definition method on the necessary information item display screen 403 in FIG. Display means such as means is provided.

The knowledge reference means 103 is a knowledge base 102.
It is for searching, browsing, displaying or selecting knowledge defined within. The knowledge reference unit 103 displays a list of parts in which the template part knowledge is registered in the knowledge base 102 as a part selection screen 407 in the knowledge definition screen 400 in FIG.
Type display means for displaying on the component selection screen 40
3 for displaying the shape display command for displaying the detailed shape of the part selected based on 7 and the enlargement / reduction command for enlarging or reducing the displayed figure on the part shape management screen 405 of FIG. When the shape display command is selected on the part shape management screen 405, which is a means for displaying a command regarding the part shape, the shape of the part selected based on the part selection screen 407 is displayed on the shape display screen 40 of FIG.
8. Shape display means for displaying on 8, and component selection screen 407
On the part attribute management screen 405, a means for displaying a command relating to a part attribute for displaying an attribute list display command for displaying a list of the part attributes selected on the basis of the part attribute management screen 405 in FIG. When the attribute list display command is selected, the attribute list of the selected parts based on the part selection screen 407 is displayed on the shape display screen 40 of FIG.
Display means such as an attribute display means for displaying on the display device 8 is provided.

The shape recognition means 107 is the knowledge reference means 10
3 for recognizing each element (shape element) in the shape displayed on the shape display screen 408 of FIG.
As a result, the operator specifies the shape element on the shape display screen 408 so that the information of the specified shape element is displayed.
It's easy to get without writing.

Further, the shape reference specified by the shape element recognized by the shape recognition means 107 can be searched by the knowledge reference means 103 and displayed.
This allows the operator to easily specify the shape element on the shape display screen 408 without describing the shape attribute of the specified shape element.

The knowledge validity determining means 104 responds to the validity of the format of the knowledge defined by the knowledge defining means 105, the validity of the knowledge that restricts the defined knowledge, and the infinite looping of the knowledge group by the defined knowledge. It is to judge the correctness. The knowledge that constrains the defined knowledge is derived by using the knowledge reference means 103 to search and refer to the constrained knowledge in the knowledge base 102 related to the defined knowledge.

When it is determined that the defined knowledge lacks validity, the knowledge validity determining means 104 displays the determination result, the reason for determination, and the knowledge data related to the reason for determination. In this case, using the knowledge definition means 105,
From the displayed knowledge data, the knowledge data to be modified is selected and modified.

Further, the knowledge validity judging means 104 refers to the knowledge registered in the knowledge base 102 by using the knowledge referring means 103, analyzes the relation between the knowledge, and exists in the knowledge base 102. The presence / absence of unspecified information (hereinafter referred to as unspecified information) is also determined. There are two types of patterns in this unspecified information. One is the case where the information is not defined or referenced in any knowledge. In this case, all unspecified information is unspecified information to be specified.

The other one is a case where the information is described in any of the knowledge but is not specified by the knowledge and the knowledge group related thereto, and the information described in the knowledge group is unspecified information. Forming a group. In this case, the unspecified information to be specified can be narrowed down based on the master-slave relationship of the information existing in the unspecified information group.

When the knowledge validity judging means 104 judges that there is unspecified information, a list of unspecified information to be specified is displayed. Therefore, the knowledge defining means 105 is used to define the knowledge for identifying the unspecified information. At this time, a large number of unspecified information may be specified by defining one piece of knowledge.

FIG. 2 shows a knowledge definition processing procedure by the above knowledge base building apparatus.

For example, when constructing a knowledge base related to a certain product design, first, the model shape knowledge of the parts related to the product design is defined and registered in the knowledge base 102 (step 1). The template shape knowledge of a part is shape structure knowledge used when defining knowledge using shape information, and includes information such as a template shape and attribute items for specifying it. In other words, knowledge of the model shape of parts is
It is composed of shape data such as a surface and a line, shape characteristic attributes such as length and angle for specifying the shape data, and a shape characteristic attribute such as a surface center position of the shape data and a surface normal vector.

In step 1 above, the shape defining means 106 is used.
After the shape data of the model of the part related to the product design is defined by, the knowledge defining unit 105 adds the shape characteristic attribute and the shape characteristic attribute to define and define the model shape knowledge of the part. Part template shape knowledge is registered in the knowledge base 102.

Next, the knowledge reference means 103 is used to display a list of components having the predefined component model information on the component selection screen 407 of FIG. Then, the part related to the knowledge to be defined is selected from the parts displayed on the part selection screen 407 (step 2).

Next, the knowledge type display means of the knowledge definition means 105 displays the knowledge type list on the knowledge type selection screen 401 of FIG. Then, the knowledge type selection screen 401
A knowledge type such as placement knowledge or part shape attribute knowledge is selected from the knowledge type list displayed in (step 3).

When the knowledge to be defined is selected, the knowledge definition method display means of the knowledge definition means 105 displays a list of the definition method candidates of the knowledge selected in step 3 on the knowledge definition method selection screen 402 of FIG. Therefore, the knowledge definition method is selected from the list of definition method candidates displayed on the knowledge definition method selection screen 402 (step 4).

When the knowledge definition method is selected, the necessary information item display means of the knowledge definition means 105 displays the necessary information items in the definition method selected in step 4 on the necessary information item display screen 403 of FIG. The necessary information is input based on the necessary information items displayed on the necessary information item display screen 403 (step 5). The knowledge defining means 105 defines knowledge based on the input necessary information (step 6), and defines the defined knowledge in the knowledge base 10
Register within 2.

When a shape element in a part shape is input as necessary information, a shape display command is selected using the part shape information management screen 405 of FIG. 3 to call the detailed shape of the part on the shape display screen 408 of FIG. By designating the shape element on the shape display screen 408, the shape recognition unit 107 may recognize the shape element.

Further, the knowledge registered in the knowledge base 102 is corrected and re-registered by using the knowledge reference means 103, the shape definition means 106, the knowledge definition means 105, and the knowledge correctness determination means 104, if necessary. It is also possible to do so.

When knowledge is defined in the knowledge base 102, the validity of the knowledge is evaluated by the knowledge validity determining means 104 (step 7). When the knowledge lacks legitimacy, a warning is displayed and the grounds are also displayed to prompt correction of the knowledge.

The validity of the knowledge may be evaluated before the defined knowledge is registered in the knowledge base 102.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which placement knowledge is defined by the knowledge base building apparatus 101.

First, on the parts selection screen 407 on the knowledge definition screen 400, parts A and B are selected as parts related to placement knowledge.

Next, on the knowledge type selection screen 401,
The placement knowledge is selected as the knowledge type, and the position knowledge is selected as the sub-knowledge.

Then, as the position knowledge definition method, the face-to-face method is selected on the knowledge definition method selection screen 402. When the face-to-face matching method is selected, information on two faces is required, and therefore two items, face 1 and face 2, are presented in the necessary information item screen 403.

After that, in order to use the shape elements of the parts A and B as the information of the surface 1 and the surface 2, the shape display command is selected on the part shape management screen 405, and the part A is displayed on the shape display screen 408. And the shape of the part B is displayed. Then, as the information of the surface 1 and the surface 2, the surface S1 which is the shape element of the component A and the surface S which is the shape element of the component B
2 is designated on the shape display screen 408. The surfaces S1 and S2, which are the designated shape elements, are recognized by the shape recognition unit 107.
Recognized by the knowledge definition means 105.
Sent to. As a result, knowledge definition is performed.

If necessary, it is possible to select an attribute display command on the component attribute management screen 413 to display a component attribute list on the shape display screen 408 and select the necessary information from the attribute information list. is there.

If it is determined that the defined placement knowledge is valid, the knowledge base 102 displays, for example, "(face matching (component A surface S1) (component B surface S2))". It is registered in the format.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which knowledge base construction apparatus 101 defines shape attribute related knowledge.

The attributes L1 and L2 are displayed on the shape display screen 4
It is specified using the shape attribute information of the parts A and B displayed on the 08. That is, by selecting an attribute display command on the part attribute management screen 406, a list of the attribute information of the parts A and B is called and displayed on the shape display screen 408, and each attribute L1 and L2 is displayed by the attribute information list. Is specified. If it is determined that the defined shape attribute related knowledge is valid, the knowledge base 102 displays, for example, “(part A
L1) = (component B L2) × 2 ″ is registered.

In the above embodiment, the knowledge can be defined without knowing the knowledge definition system accurately.
Knowledge owners themselves can easily build a knowledge base. Further, since knowledge such as shape knowledge and arrangement knowledge can be easily expressed by utilizing the visualized shape element, the knowledge owner can easily construct these knowledge bases.

[0052]

According to the present invention, a knowledge base construction apparatus is realized in which a knowledge owner can easily construct a knowledge base.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a knowledge base construction device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of knowledge definition processing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which placement knowledge is defined.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case where shape attribute related knowledge is defined.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Knowledge Base Construction Device 102 Knowledge Base 103 Knowledge Reference Means 104 Knowledge Validity Determination Means 105 Knowledge Definition Means 106 Shape Definition Means 107 Shape Recognition Means 108 Input Device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A model shape knowledge registration means for predefining model shape knowledge of a part and registering it in a knowledge base, and displaying a part list screen for allowing an operator to specify a part related to the knowledge to be defined. Part type display means, part type input means for allowing the operator to specify parts related to knowledge based on the parts list screen, knowledge type list screen for allowing the operator to specify the type of knowledge to be defined A knowledge type display means for displaying, a knowledge type input means for allowing the operator to specify the knowledge type based on the knowledge type list screen, and a knowledge definition method usable for the specified knowledge type for the operator A knowledge definition method display means for displaying the knowledge definition method candidate list screen for causing the operator to specify the knowledge definition method based on the knowledge definition method candidate list screen Input means of knowledge definition system, required input information item display means for displaying required input information items according to the specified knowledge type and knowledge definition method, necessary information is displayed by the operator based on the displayed required input information items A knowledge base construction apparatus comprising: necessary information inputting means for inputting to a user; and knowledge defining means for defining knowledge based on the input necessary information and registering it in a knowledge base. 2. The validity of the knowledge defined by the knowledge defining means is determined, and when it is determined that the validity is lacking, the determination result, the reason for determination, and the knowledge data related to the determination reason are displayed, 2. The knowledge base building apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a knowledge validity judging means for urging correction of knowledge data related to the judgment reason. 3. A shape element is designated by an operator on a component shape display means for displaying the shape of a component designated by the component type input means, and on a component shape screen displayed by the component shape display means. ,
The knowledge base construction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising shape recognition means for recognizing the designated shape element and transmitting the recognition result to the knowledge defining means.