Patent ID: 6356884
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06E,G06N

Abstract:
An artificial neural network-based system for determining, for a specified knowledge domain in a given field of endeavor as represented in a neural network, desired concepts and relationships within such predefined field of endeavor, comprisinga neural network portion having an output portion at which data outputs are produced, said neural network portion including an artificial neural network that has an input portion and which is operable to effect production of a data output from said output portion of said neural network portion when an input pattern is supplied to said artificial neural network at the input portion thereof, said artificial neural network having been previously trained in accordance with training exemplars in a given predefined field of endeavor to establish a particular knowledge domain therein and being normally operable in accordance with the constraints embodied in its design and the established knowledge domain to produce standard data outputs in response to input patterns supplied to said previously trained artificial neural network at the input portion thereof, a monitor portion associated with said neural network portion to observe data outputs produced at the output portion of neural network portion, and a network perturbation portion for perturbing said neural network portion to effect changes, subject to constraints embodied in the design of the previously trained artificial neural network that remain unperturbed, in the data outputs produced by said neural network portion at the output portion of said neural network portion, said network perturbation portion operable such that production of a data output by said neural network portion thereafter effects a perturbation by said network perturbation portion of said neural network portion, such perturbation driving an operation of said artificial neural network to effect production of a data output from said neural network portion, the data output so produced establishing, based in part upon the particular varied perturbation effected, an input-perturbation-output mapping relationship within said predefined field of endeavor, said monitor portion operable to detect and to identify, from among the data outputs being produced over a period of time at the output portion of said neural network portion when said neural network portion is so perturbed, data outputs which satisfy certain predefined criteria as preselected by a user, identification of a data output that satisfies the predefined criteria determining a desired concept within the predefined field of endeavor, which desired concept is associated with a particular input-perturbation-output mapping relationship established during operation of said system.