OBJECT ORIENTED CASE-BASED REASONING FRAMEWORK MECHANISM

An object-oriented programming framework for a case-based reasoning (CBR) system shell that permits a user build a case base having Case Structure Definitions (104) and Case Instance Definitions (106). The case-based reasoning system receives user queries (108) and produces a query solution that can be incorporated into the case base. The object-oriented framework includes a Session component that controls processing of the CBR system, a Control Flow component that manages the extension of the categories and classes of the object-oriented framework, a Data Store component that stores persistent case structure definitions, case instances, and a change log, a Presentation component that manages the user interface to the CBR system user, and a Query Engine that evaluates a received query against the case base. The case definitions and case base descriptions comprise a set of object-oriented classes that are organized into an inheritance hierarchy.