Method and apparatus for database induction for creating frame based knowledge tree
View Patent ↗An automated process (and system) for facilitating the creation of a frame based knowledge tree for use with a configuration system is provided. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a database induction module interacts with a user interface and a vendor provided database containing product information in the form of database files. The user sets induction preferences via a graphical user interface, and the induction module accesses product information from the client database file and automatically generates a frame based product knowledge tree in light of the user's preferences, where the frame based product knowledge tree is intended for use with a configuration system for configuring certain desired products, services, or other assemblages.
1. A database processing system comprising:
an induction module configured to:
i.) access specification data for at least one product from one or more vendor databases,
ii) identify attributes of the specification data to be inducted into a frame-based knowledge tree by querying the one or more vendor databases table for the specification data regarding the attributes, and
iii) determine a location within the frame-based knowledge tree to place any inducted attributes of the specification data,
and further configured to present pre-defined questions about the specification data to a user to identify a set of SQL queries to be answered to construct the frame-based knowledge tree;
a processor dimensioned and configured to enable user interaction with the induction module such that a frame-based knowledge tree is automatically constructed with the specification data in response to the user interaction, wherein the interaction comprises receiving input answers from the user in response to the pre-defined questions about the specification data provided to the user.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vendor databases comprise a plurality of tables following a relational schema.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a graphical user interface coupled to the induction module.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a database access module coupled between the vendor database and the induction module, wherein the database access module is configured to enable access to the vendor database.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a product knowledge output module coupled to an output of the induction module, wherein the product knowledge output module is configured to convert the frame-based knowledge tree into product knowledge files, and wherein the product knowledge files are configured for use with a configuration system.
6. A method of automatically constructing a frame-based knowledge tree, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of attributes within a vendor database to be inducted into a frame-based knowledge tree by querying at least one vendor-supplied product knowledge database table for data regarding the attributes;
presenting pre-defined questions about the data to a user to identify a set of SQL queries to be answered to construct the frame-based knowledge tree;
automatically determining respective locations of the plurality of attributes within the frame-based knowledge tree based upon input answers received from a user regarding the data, wherein the input answers are provided in response to the pre-defined questions about the data provided to the user; and
inserting at least one of the attributes into the frame-based knowledge tree based on the determined respective locations, whereby the frame-based knowledge tree is constructed.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein automatically determining the respective locations of the plurality of attributes within the knowledge tree comprises:
identifying user preferences for constructing the knowledge tree; and
determining the respective locations based on the user preferences.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying the user preferences for constructing the knowledge tree comprises:
determining that a user has employed a domain knowledge specification for constructing the knowledge tree.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying the user preferences for constructing the knowledge tree comprises:
determining that a user has employed a distinct attribute values count for constructing the knowledge tree.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
converting the frame-based knowledge tree into at least one product knowledge file for use with a configuration system.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein querying the at least one vendor-supplied product knowledge database table comprises a vendor performing a step selected from the group consisting of: actively providing the database table, and merely making underlying data for the database table available.