An `AI in Design' View of Design
System Knowledge

Types of Knowledge

What kind of domain-dependent knowledge does the system have?
Give a general characterization.

e.g., component descriptions, equations, functional knowledge, etc.

Discussion. The domain-dependent knowledge defines the area where the design system operates. It includes all the information specific to the field in which designs are created (e.g., operational amplifiers). Detailed domain knowledge leads to accurate design solutions. However, rich domain descriptions make the search for a design solution more complex and the evaluation process more difficult.

What kind of domain-independent knowledge does the system have?
Give a general characterization.

e.g., control knowledge, negotiation knowledge, communication knowledge, etc.

Discussion. The domain-independent knowledge represents that part of the problem-solving support which is not sensitive to the underlying design domain. The general control information of a knowledge-based design system describes how the search for a solution is conducted and what the system will do when the current decisions violate constraints [Marcus et al. 1992]. Systems which use agents to develop designs, need communication knowledge for information exchange and negotiation knowledge to help solve conflicts between agents [Klein 1991] [Lander 1997] [Lander & Lesser 1992] [Werkman 1992].

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