Versioning of elements in a configuration model

• US 20050137731A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Steiner, Andreas, Kraemer, Andreas, Haag, Albert, Teltscher, Bernhard, Wanvik, Stein
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a multi-purpose configuration model. A computer program product for defining a configuration model for a configurable product includes instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to receive a first input, and define, based on the first input, a first version of a first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the first version including information that describes the product. The product includes instructions to receive a second input, and define, based on the second input, a second version of the first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the second version including information that describes the product. The product designates one of the first or second versions to be an active version, and designates the other to be an inactive version. The product also includes instructions to define a first component based at least in part on the active version.

Claims

1. A method for defining a configuration model for a configurable product comprising:

receiving a first input;

defining, based on the first input, a first version of a first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the first version including information that describes the product;

receiving a second input;

defining, based on the second input, a second version of the first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the second version including information that describes the product;

designating one of the first or second versions as an active version, and designating the other as an inactive version; and

defining, based at least in part on the active version of the first subcomponent, a first component that describes the product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

including, as a child object of the active version of the first subcomponent, a second component, wherein the second component includes further information that describes the product and is in an active state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the active version of the first subcomponent becomes inactive, then the second component changes to an inactive state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

including, as a child object of the inactive version of the first subcomponent, a third component, wherein the third component includes further information that describes the product and is in an inactive state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the inactive version of the first subcomponent becomes active, then the third component changes to an active state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first version is active during a first promotional period, and the second version is active during a second promotional period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second version is generated by updating the information within the first version.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second version is tested within the configuration model while it is in an inactive state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the description of the product includes one or more of characteristics of the product, characteristic values, constraints describing dependencies of the characteristics, default values, value ranges, prices of the product, costs of the product, classes, and parts of the product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first version and the second version are associated with a business process, the business process comprising one of marketing, product design, production, engineering, and sales.

11. A computer program product, tangibly stored on a machine-readable medium, for defining a configuration model for a configurable product, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

receive a first input;

define, based on the first input, a first version of a first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the first version including information that describes the product;

receive a second input;

define, based on the second input, a second version of the first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the second version including information that describes the product;

designate one of the first or second versions as an active version, and designate the other as an inactive version; and

define, based at least in part on the active version of the first subcomponent, a first component that describes the product.

12. The product of claim 11, further comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

include, as a child object of the active version of the first subcomponent, a second component, wherein the second component includes further information that describes the product and is in an active state.

13. The product of claim 12, wherein if the active version of the first subcomponent becomes inactive, then the second component changes to an inactive state.

14. The product of claim 11, further comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

include, as a child object of the inactive version of the first subcomponent, a third component, wherein the third component includes further information that describes the product and is in an inactive state.

15. The product of claim 14, wherein if the inactive version of the first subcomponent becomes active, then the third component changes to an active state.

16. The product of claim 11, wherein the first version is active during a first promotional period, and the second version is active during a second promotional period.

17. The product of claim 11, wherein the second version is generated by updating the information within the first version.

18. The product of claim 17, wherein the second version is tested within the configuration model while it is in an inactive state.

19. The product of claim 11, wherein the description of the product includes one or more of characteristics of the product, characteristic values, constraints describing dependencies of the characteristics, default values, value ranges, prices of the product, costs of the product, classes, and parts of the product.

20. The product of claim 11, wherein the first version and the second version are associated with a business process, the business process comprising one of marketing, product design, production, engineering, and sales.