The Role of Plans in Automated Consultation

Abstract

ConsultAtion is a method widely used in computer centers for helpin& people to use unfamiliar computer •yatema or langungu. Unfortunately, consultants are scarce, expensive, and often unavailable when needed. Thi• paper de•cribes the implementation of an automated consultant for MACSYMA, called the Advisor. The Advisor's implementation is based on the auumption that the MACSYMA novice behavu in accordance with a •tandard heuri,;lic problem solving algorithm, called MUSER. Thia allumption ia aupported by a body or data OD the problem 11olvi ng behavior of M ACSYMA usera. In solvin& his problem, the user implicitly &eneratea a &oal-•ub&oal araph, called a "plan" . The plan is a direct proof that the command• used actually achieve the &oal (in terma of the uaer'• belief•), and the problem solving algorithm constitutea a grammar for auch plana. The key to the consultation process is the analysis of the user'• plan. Firat, the plan ia reconatructed by a combined proceiB of dialo~~:ue and automatic plan recognition, and then the underlyin& belief• are checked for erron. Becau•e of the MUSER model, the Advisor is able to diagnose not only atandard erron but alao more &eneral miaconcept.ion•.