Ontology-based Knowledge Modeling for Using Physical Effects

Su-Field analysis, as one of the inventive problem solving tools, can be used to analyse and improve the efficacy of the technical system. Generally, the process of using Su-Field model to solve a specific inventive problem includes: building a Problem Model, mapping to a Generic Problem Model, finding a Generic Solution Model based on the corresponding inventive standard, and finally establishing and instantiating a Solution Model. As one of the most important phases of Su-Field analysis, the last step is normally implemented manually with the help of physical effects, which link generic technical functions with specific applications and systems. The physical effects compatible with the context of the specific problem should be chosen to assist the users to instantiate the Solution Model. However, the physical effects and the specific problems are built at different levels of abstraction, and it is difficult for the users to choose, that is, given a certain function, too many physical effects are chosen while with the detailed context of the problem, no physical effect is returned. This paper firstly proposes a new way of representing physical effects using the change of two states, that is, the couple of two states before and after applying physical effects. Then, the knowledge about using physical effects is formalized in OWL (Ontology Web Language) - an ontology language for semantic web, and the constraint knowledge, such as the condition to use each kind of physical effect, is formalized in SWRL (Semantic Web Rule Language) - a rule language. Finally, the reasoning process of using physical effects is performed with the support of JESS (Java Expert System Shell) rule engine.