×

Generalized configurator using a declaratively constructed two-level bi-partite graph as a knowledge representation

  • US 5,630,025 A
  • Filed: 07/13/1994
  • Issued: 05/13/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An expert system using control logic based on spreading activation and graphs as a knowledge representation for generating a value configuration of connected components, said expert system comprising:

  • a priori net means for storing component definitions declaratively specified by a configurator developer, wherein said component definitions and the implied requirements of their use are represented as first nodes in a first spreading activation bi-partite graph;

    instance net means for storing instances of components defined in said a priori net means interactively selected by a configurator user, wherein said instances and the interconnections between said instances are represented as second nodes in a second bi-partite graph; and

    processing means coupled to said a priori net means and said instance net means for accepting requests from the configurator user to configure selected components, matching said configurator user requests to said component definitions, automatically propagating logical implications of said configurator user requests across as many ones of said first nodes of said first spreading activation bi-partite graph and said second nodes of said second bi-partite graph as are required to build a complete set of connected components fulfilling said configurator user requests by creating and connecting selected instances of said selected components only if creation and connection of said selected instances are valid based on said component definitions in said a priori net means and prior configurator user requests, and reporting the configuration resulting from said configurator user requests to the configurator user.

View all claims
  • 9 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×