Conversational Problem Determination based on Bipartite Graph

摘要

A cognitive conversation system that generates effective diagnostic questions is provided. The cognitive conversation system receives a set of currently known symptoms (or currently available answers to diagnostic questions) of a reported problem or fault. The system identifies (i) a set of possible root causes of the reported problem based on the currently known symptoms and (ii) probabilities for the set of possible root causes by using a bipartite graph data structure that links possible symptoms with possible root causes. Upon determining that at least one possible root cause has a probability that is higher than a threshold, the system presents an explanation or solution associated with the at least one possible root cause. Upon determining that none of the possible root causes in the set of possible root causes has a probability higher than the threshold, the system presents a question based on information entropy that is computed based on probabilities of the identified possible root causes.