Concepts for knowledge-based system design environments

Abstract

The paper sets up a conceptual framework for constructing knowledge-based, computer-aided environments for system design. The framework is based on the formal structures underlying the expert system design methodology being developed by Zeigler [18], namely that of the system entity structure and experimental frame. The system entity formalism is employed to structure the family of design configurations. The rules for design model synthesis are generated by pruning the design entity structure with respect to generic experimental frames [13] that represent the design objectives. This leads to a methodology for design of system design environments which recognizes three primary relationships of the application domain that must be modelled: the decomposition hierarchy (of the system being designed), the taxonomic structure (determining the design alternatives), and the coupling constraints (restricting the combinations in which components can be synthesized into the target system).