Knowledge transformation and fusion in diagnostic systems

Each system used for diagnosis problem solving needs a knowledge base specifying the causal, structural or functional interactions among components of the diagnosed objects. A diagnostic specification in a diagnostic system is a semantic interpretation of a knowledge base. We introduce the notion of diagnostic specification morphism and some operations of diagnostic specifications. They can be used to model knowledge transformation and fusion, respectively, in diagnostic systems. The relation between diagnostic methods in the source system and the target system of a specification morphism is examined. Also, some representations of diagnostic method in a composed system modelled by operations of specifications are given in terms of the corresponding diagnostic methods in its component systems.