41. A method of comparing the performance of a subject system to the performance of a knowledge system, said knowledge system comprising a computer having a memory, said memory storing a knowledge base encoding knowledge about a particular subject domain, said computer having a knowledge base interpreter for interpreting said knowledge base to solve specified problems pertaining to said subject domain and indicating the methods of solution to a subject system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) operating said computer to scan the knowledge base and determine a set of conditions of interest suitable for interrupting the interpretation of said knowledge base while solving specified problems pertaining to said subject domain, (b) operating said computer to transmit to a human user an indication of said set of conditions of interest, (c) operating said computer to receive from said human user an indication of a subset of said set of conditions, (d) operating said knowledge base interpreter to solve a specified problem pertaining to said subject domain, and while operating said knowledge base interpreter, operating said computer to test for the occurrence of said conditions included in said subset of conditions, and upon the occurrence of a condition included in said subset of conditions, to interrupt the operation of said knowledge base interpreter and to (e) probe the subject system to obtain a response about the status of the solution of said problem by said knowledge base interpreter, and (f) compare said response to the actual status of the solution of said problem by said knowledge base interpreter.
41. A method of comparing the performance of a subject system to the performance of a knowledge system, said knowledge system comprising a computer having a memory, said memory storing a knowledge base encoding knowledge about a particular subject domain, said computer having a knowledge base interpreter for interpreting said knowledge base to solve specified problems pertaining to said subject domain and indicating the methods of solution to a subject system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) operating said computer to scan the knowledge base and determine a set of conditions of interest suitable for interrupting the interpretation of said knowledge base while solving specified problems pertaining to said subject domain, (b) operating said computer to transmit to a human user an indication of said set of conditions of interest, (c) operating said computer to receive from said human user an indication of a subset of said set of conditions, (d) operating said knowledge base interpreter to solve a specified problem pertaining to said subject domain, and while operating said knowledge base interpreter, operating said computer to test for the occurrence of said conditions included in said subset of conditions, and upon the occurrence of a condition included in said subset of conditions, to interrupt the operation of said knowledge base interpreter and to (e) probe the subject system to obtain a response about the status of the solution of said problem by said knowledge base interpreter, and (f) compare said response to the actual status of the solution of said problem by said knowledge base interpreter. 44. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the steps of: (g) recording in memory a file of test cases including data defining specific problems pertaining to said subject domain and subsets of said conditions of interest, said data defining the specific cases being suitable for input to said knowledge base interpreter; and (h) performing steps (c) to (f) using a selected one of said test cases to specify said specified problem and to specify the subset of conditions for interrupting the operation of the knowledge base interpreter.