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Domain ontology

C&D is based on the following model ontology;

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• abnormality: see event.

• associated symptoms: The symptoms associated with an explanation.

• cause: An event explaining symptoms for which no further explanatory-connection exists (the end of an explanation chain).

• cover: A set of events that is associated with a set of symptoms (a cover is not strong enough to be a justification).

• differential: The difference between an explanation on one hand, and a set of required symptoms (symptoms + value) and a sub-set of explanations on the other hand.

• event: A state of a process.

• enabling events: Events that are the precondition for the applicability of a explanatory connection or explanatory event.

• explanatory event: An association between a set of symptoms and an event, it explains a set of symptoms.

• explanatory connection: A stored association between an event A and an event B, where A has an `explanatory relation' with B.

• initial symptoms: The initial observations problem solving starts with.

• differentiating symptoms: Symptoms required to distinguish possible explanatory events.

• justification: an explanation chain starting from symptoms leading up to a set of events via explanatory relations. Each of the required symptoms of the events in the chain should be available. The events in the chain should be the most specific events of which conditions can still be satisfied.

• observable: A measurable behaviour of a system.

• required symptoms: The symptoms required by an explanatory event or explanatory connection to be valid (also called `anticipatory knowledge' [Eshelman, 1988][55]).

• symptom: An output produced by deviational behaviour event of a system. Also: an observable event.

• system: A structure that interacts with an environment and produces observables.