Knowledge acquisition in expert systems

1. A method of data acquisition for collecting data for entry into a computer entity, said method comprising the processes of:

compiling a set of a plurality of knowledge data statements each knowledge data statement representing an element of a knowledge domain;

creating one or a plurality of lattice data, each said lattice data comprising a plurality of nodes, each said node representing a knowledge data statement, said plurality of nodes arranged as a root node and a plurality of child nodes arranged in an hierarchical structure, leading to said root node;

said lattice data defining belief states resulting from inter relationships between said plurality of knowledge data statements;

creating a consistency matrix, said consistency matrix comprising an array of data entries representing consistency relationships between said plurality of knowledge data statements;

storing said knowledge data statements in a data storage device of said computer entity;

storing said consistency matrix in a data storage device of said computer entity; and

storing said lattice data in said data storage device of said computer entity;

wherein each said knowledge data statement is obtained as a result of a knowledge elicitation process which seeks to overturn a belief statement represented by said set of nodes.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising the processes of:

inputting said plurality of knowledge data statements into said computer entity; and

inputting said lattice data into said computer entity.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said process of creating a said lattice data comprises:

creating an hierarchical structure network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of connections between said nodes, wherein

individual said knowledge data statements comprise a root node, at least one intermediate node, and at least one leaf node of said hierarchical structure; and

said plurality of connections comprise logical connectivity relationships between said plurality of nodes.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step of creating a lattice data comprises:

creating an hierarchical structure network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of connections between said nodes, wherein

individual said knowledge data statements comprise a root node, at least one intermediate node, and at least one leaf node of said hierarchical structure;

said plurality of connections comprise logical connectivity relationships between said plurality of nodes; and

assigning to each said node, a knowledge statement name, and a root value indicator.

5. A method of knowledge acquisition for entering data into a computer database in a readily computable format, said method comprising:

eliciting a set of data statements using a questioning structure determined from an underlying mathematical base, combined with a genuine falsificationist epistemology;

entering elicited data statements into said database wherein said data statements are structured as a plurality of data entries, each data entry comprising a label, a said data statement, and a root value indicator;

storing a relationship between said data entries as a connectivity lattice, said connectivity lattice structured in an hierarchical lattice structure; and

storing consistency data representing a set of consistency relationships between said plurality of knowledge statements, in a matrix format.