DIFFERENTIATING PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS

Problem solving methods (PSM's) are important in constructing modular and reusable knowledge-based systems, as they specify the different types of knowledge used in knowledge-based reasoning, as well as under what circumstances what knowledge is to be applied. We argue that the formal modeling of PSM's is a useful means for clarifying, communicating and comparing problem-solving knowledge. This paper shows how such PSM's can be formally defined. We illustrate this by developing a formal model for the Cover-and-Differentiate method for diagnosis, and comparing this to Heuristic Classification.