Patent ID: 7225176
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for matching at least one solved case to a problem case, the method comprising: (a) storing solved case data correlated to a plurality of solved cases, wherein the solved case data comprises a set of attributes corresponding to each of the solved cases; (b) storing attribute data corresponding to a set of attributes; (c) storing observation cost data corresponding to each attribute in the set of attributes, wherein the observation cost data corresponding to an attribute is correlated to a cost of determining an attribute value corresponding to the attribute; (d) receiving problem attribute values for attributes correlated to the problem case; (e) determining a list of potential solved cases from said solved case data by comparing the problem attribute values to the attribute values of the plurality of solved cases; (f) determining a list of relevant attributes for which at least one potential solved case has an attribute value and for which no corresponding problem attribute value has been input; and (g) ranking said list of relevant attributes based at least in part on the observation cost data.