Patent attributes
Methods and apparatus for an intelligent human-machine interface comprising an interface shell, system agents, function agents, a dynamic documentation system, and a layering architecture. The system agents include dynamic, knowledge-based software object sub-agents that model and track the state of a work area. The function agents model, track, and facilitate work area functions. The interface shell provides a hardware and software interface between the system agents and the function agents. The layering architecture comprises a tracking layer, an equipment and supply management layer, a coordination layer, and a situational awareness layer, and an oversight layer. The oversight layer combines information from the situational awareness layer with process rule sets contained in the function agents to determine if processes are being performed correctly. The interface processes an integrated collection of facts and relationships and recognizes deviation from or compliance with a predetermined process and communicates the same to a user.