Method and system for concept generation and management

The present invention is in two parts. The first part is manual, semi-automatic, and automatic methods and a system for generating concepts. The second part is a method and system for the management of concepts. Such concepts (lower case c) are linguistics-based patterns or set of patterns. Each pattern comprises other patterns, concepts, and linguistic entities of various kinds, and operations on or between those patterns, concepts, and linguistic entities. The present invention improves upon the notion of Concepts as defined within the Concept Specification Language (CSL) of PCT Application No. WO 02/27524 by Fass et al. (2001). CSL Concepts are linguistics-based Patterns or set of Patterns. Each Pattern comprises other Patterns, Concepts, and linguistic entities of various kinds, and Operations on or between those Patterns, Concepts, and linguistic entities. Central to the first part of the invention are notions of a "User concept Description" (UcD), User Concept Description (UCD), "concept wizard," and "Concept wizard." UcDs and UCDs are representations of what is used to generate a concept or Concept, including, but not limited to, knowledge sources used as the basis of generation, the data model used to control generation, and instructions (Directives) governing generation. The concept wizards and Concept wizards are tools for navigating users through concept and Concept generation.