Ncr Corporation

Robin Mackay

Ramin C Nakisa

Michael Waller

Matthew A Ward

An expert system and a method of providing automated advice are described. The system is regularly updated by advice (or diagnosis, recommendation etc.) given by practitioners in the relevant field. The combination of the underlying facts and the consequent (human) advice is used to update a ruleset that is then used to provide automated advice. An example of financial advice is given. A database contains the details for the customers of a financial institution together with advice and recommendations given previously by the institution's human advisors. This database is used to derive a ruleset which is then applied to a subsequent customer's details in an automated manner, possibly at the user's own PC via the World Wide Web. Frequent updating using data from the human advisors' work means that the database (and hence the ruleset) are kept up to date. Consistent advice can thus be provided with minimum human interaction.

Expert system

Rule based expert system for consumer preference

Apparatus for accessing a displayable information resource and tailoring retrieved information to a user's requirements comprises a tag reader ( ), a decoder ( ) for identifying a coded resource address ( ) carried by a tag ( ), and access means for accessing the identified resource. A display means ( ) displays information loaded from the accessed information resource. The disclosed embodiment employs printed RF tag technology, and the information resource is an Internet, intranet or extranet resource whose address ( ) is a URL. The disclosed apparatus is embodied in an item of furniture, more specifically a table ( ). The tag reader ( ) reads a tag ( ) when a tagged item ( ) is placed onto a support surface ( ), and a display is presented by the support surface ( ). The tagged item can, for example, be a product or its packaging, a ticket or token, or a letter or information sheet.

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London, United Kingdom

Robin Mackay