Applying a library of problem-solving methods on a real-life task

Abstract

This paper describes the application of a library of problem-solving methods (PSMs) for model-based diagnosis (Benjamins, 1993) on a real-life task. PSMs have been proposed as a comprehensive and feasible approach to the construction of conceptual models for knowledge-based systems (KBSs). A number of evaluations of this approach have been reported in the literature. Most of these evaluations have involved toy problems or reverse engineering of existing KBSs. In this paper we have applied Benjamins' library to a real-life task.

In this paper, we discuss how we have applied the PSMs during conceptual knowledge modelling, and how we had to adapt them to suit our task. We have found that the library of PSMs was extremely helpful in our project. Thanks to this reuse, the complete scope and quality of the “prime diagnostic method” was incorporated in our application, ambiguities in the task and domain were brought to light and the functional specifications of the target system were structured transparently. Since the reuse of library components in our real-life application was not trivial, we emphasize on the need for guidelines that support knowledge engineers to apply libraries of PSMs during the development of real-life KBSs.