Automated configuration system and method
First Claim
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1. A configuration system comprising:
- a user interface, wherein said user interface receives input data for a desired configuration; and
a frame engine, receiving data input from said user interface, wherein said frame engine outputs configuration data to said user interface in response to a frame-based inference of the input data.
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Abstract
An automated configuration system (and method) is provided for facilitating the configuration of desired products, services, or other assemblages that require users to gather and assimilate disparate knowledge of makes, models, types, features, codes, and prices of the desired product/service to be configured. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, configuration is facilitated through interaction of a user with a frame engine that performs frame-based inferences to discern stored knowledge of a product (or the like), as supplemented by a rules-based inference system.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A configuration system comprising:
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a user interface, wherein said user interface receives input data for a desired configuration; and
a frame engine, receiving data input from said user interface, wherein said frame engine outputs configuration data to said user interface in response to a frame-based inference of the input data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of configuring a project, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a user interface;
initiating a project for configuration;
configuring the project by entering project selections;
performing a frame-based inference in response to project selections made in said configuring step; and
outputting project configuration data to the user interface based on inferences made in said performing step. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having stored therein indicia of a plurality of machine-executable control program steps, the control program comprising the steps of:
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accessing a user interface;
initiating a project for configuration;
configuring the project by entering project selections;
performing a frame-based inference in response to project selections made in said configuring step; and
outputting project configuration data to the user interface based on inferences made in said performing step. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. In an Internet portal for use by manufacturers, distributors, dealers, retailers, and retail customers as participants in a vertical market, a method of distributing news, product information, advertising, discussion forums, and e-commerce transactions, wherein participants gain access to a configuration system that allows users to configure products and services as projects such that projects so configured are automatically transmitted to selected participants for bid, quote, sales, and ordering of the configured projects.
Specification