Tuning Numeric Parameters of a Knowledge-Based System for Troubleshooting the Local Loop of the Telephone Network

NYNEX MAX is an expert system used to diagnosis the local loop of the telephone network. This expert system analyzes the result of an automated electric test on a telephone line and, using that and other information, determines the type of problem. The expert system rules have numeric parameters that give bounds on electrical measurements that are indicative of each type of problem. Manually setting these parameter values is a difficult task. The problem is compounded by the fact that NYNEX MAX is used at many different sites, and the peculiarities at each site require that different parameter values be used at each site. We present a system, called Opti-MAX, that automatically sets the parameter values by analyzing the decisions made by experts troubleshooting problems. Opti-MAX can be used to reduce the number of mistakes made by MAX. 1Andrea Danyluk was an employee of NYNEX Science and Technology, Inc. from November 1990 to June 1994.