Using expert systems components to enhance reliability analysis tools

ABSTRACT

In this paper we discuss the use of expert system components to enhance reliability analysis software tools. The discussion focuses on two expert systems built to enhance STAR and SUPER, reliability analysis tools developed at AT&T Bell Laboratories. STAR is used to select a model to fit life data. SUPER is used to model system reliability. The expert components were developed using AVIEN, an expert system development tool that allows easy integration of expert system components into C based software.

REFERENCES

• 1: Buswell, G.D., et.al., "STAR - Software for the Analysis and Presentation of Reliability Data", American Statistical Association 1985 Proceedings of the Statistical Computing Section, LasVegas, 1985.
• 2: Crocker, S.L., et. al., 1985. "SUPER: System Used for Prediction and Evaluation of Reliability, Paper read at iEEE Conference on Reliability of Computer Controlled Telecommunications Systems," Val David, Canada, 1985.
• 3: W. B. Frakes , C. J. Fox, An approach to integrating expert system components into production software, Proceedings of the 1987 Fall Joint Computer Conference on Exploring technology: today and tomorrow, p.50-56, December 1987, Dallas, Texas, United States
• 4: Anderson, J.R, et. al., "Intelligent Tutoring Systems," Science, 228,456-462.
• 5: Labs Bell , John M. Chambers , Peter J. Bickel , William S. Cleveland , Richard M. Dudley, S an Interactive Environment for Data Analysis and Graphics, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 1984

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.5 Testing and Debugging
          Subjects: Diagnostics

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.8 Metrics
          Subjects: Performance measures

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      I.2.2 Automatic Programming
          Subjects: Program verification
      I.2.4 Knowledge Representation Formalisms and Methods
          Subjects: Representations (procedural and rule-based)
      I.2.5 Programming Languages and Software
          Subjects: Expert system tools and techniques

General Terms:
Measurement, Reliability, Verification