Methods and systems for user interfaces and constraint handling configurations software
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of generating a user product configuration program module that executes product configuration computations, the user product configuration program module including user controls that allow user input of information for use in the product configuration computations, the method being carried out in a developer environment on a computer system including a display, a command entry device, a pointing device, and a memory, comprising the steps of:
- displaying a form creation region on the display, the form creation region comprising a configurator screen display template for display of user controls and information in the user product configuration program;
displaying a controls palette comprising a plurality of selectable controls in a palette region on the display, each of the plurality of controls comprising a control object that, when activated by a command, causes placement and display of a user control corresponding to the activated control at a predetermined position on the configurator screen display template;
in response to a developer command in the developer environment with respect to the user control on the configurator screen display template, displaying a parameter selector window, the parameter selector window comprising a plurality of parameters that can be associated with the user control, information associated with the parameters being stored in the memory;
in response to a developer command in the developer environment with respect to a selected one of the plurality of parameters in the parameter selector window, associating the selected parameter with the user control,whereby information stored in memory associated with the selected parameter, as influenced by a user command with respect to the user control as utilized in the user product configuration program, is utilized in product configuration computations.
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Abstract
A computer implemented method of generating a user product configuration program module from a development environment. The user product configuration program module includes user controls that allow user input of information for use in configuration computations. Methods are disclosed for creating and maintaining the logic for a configuration program module in the form of configuration parameters; creating and maintaining the visual controls and user interface; and linking created visual controls with underlying structure represented by the parameters. Parameters assume values and are indicated as valid or invalid through operation of constraints and queries. Further methods include display of parameter creation and selection windows, and query creation and selection windows for creating SQL queries to access data in external tables. Parameters, queries, and constraints can be displayed in expandable and collapsible hierarchies, and quickly utilized in formulas, queries, and logical expressions by clicking in an expanded hierarchical display. Dependencies occurring in the underlying configuration logic are evaluated in both the forward and reverse direction so as to provide for very fast execution of the resultant configuration program module when a user provides new data via a user control.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of generating a user product configuration program module that executes product configuration computations, the user product configuration program module including user controls that allow user input of information for use in the product configuration computations, the method being carried out in a developer environment on a computer system including a display, a command entry device, a pointing device, and a memory, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a form creation region on the display, the form creation region comprising a configurator screen display template for display of user controls and information in the user product configuration program; displaying a controls palette comprising a plurality of selectable controls in a palette region on the display, each of the plurality of controls comprising a control object that, when activated by a command, causes placement and display of a user control corresponding to the activated control at a predetermined position on the configurator screen display template; in response to a developer command in the developer environment with respect to the user control on the configurator screen display template, displaying a parameter selector window, the parameter selector window comprising a plurality of parameters that can be associated with the user control, information associated with the parameters being stored in the memory; in response to a developer command in the developer environment with respect to a selected one of the plurality of parameters in the parameter selector window, associating the selected parameter with the user control, whereby information stored in memory associated with the selected parameter, as influenced by a user command with respect to the user control as utilized in the user product configuration program, is utilized in product configuration computations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method for creating and maintaining configuration logic for a user product configuration program module that executes product configuration computations, the method being carried out in a developer environment on a computer system including a display, a command entry device, a pointing device, and a memory, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a user control in the developer environment, the user control allowing user input of information for use in the configuration computations during execution of the user product configuration program module; in response to a first developer command in the developer environment, displaying a parameter window on the display, the parameter window comprising a developer interface for creating and maintaining a plurality of selectable parameters stored in the memory; in response to a second developer command in the developer environment with respect to a selected parameter in the parameter window, displaying a constraint item in association with the selected parameter, the constraint item being operative for constraining information that can be associated with the selected parameter; and in response to a third developer command in the developer environment, associating a selected parameter with the user control, whereby the user product configuration program module is operative during execution of the user product configuration program module to receive user input via the user control and apply information associated with the parameter associated with the user control in the product configuration computations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of generating a user product configuration program module that executes product configuration computations, the method being carried out in a developer environment on a computer system including a display, a command entry device, a pointing device, and a memory, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a form creation region on the display, the form creation region comprising a configurator screen display template for display of user controls and information in the user product configuration program module; displaying a controls palette comprising a plurality of selectable controls in a palette region on the display, each of the plurality of controls comprising a control object that, when activated by a command by a developer, causes placement and display of a user control corresponding to the activated control on the configurator screen display template; displaying an object inspector region on the display comprising information corresponding to one or more predetermined properties of the user control, the predetermined properties including a parameter property corresponding to information utilized in a product configuration computation; in response to selection of the parameter property of the user control in the object inspector region on the display by the developer, displaying a parameter selector window on the display, the parameter selector window comprising an arrangement of a plurality of selectable parameters; in response to selection of one of the selectable parameters in the parameter selector window by the developer, associating information corresponding to the selected parameter with the user control; in response to a compile command by the developer, compiling program code corresponding to the user control and information corresponding to the selected parameter into an executable configuration program module; and providing the executable configuration program module as an output file, the executable configuration program module, when installed on a computer system, causing display of a user configurator screen display corresponding to the configurator screen display template and including the user control. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of representing a constraint to a configuration parameter in the user interface of a configuration program module that executes product configuration computations, the method being carried out in a developer environment on a computer system including a display, a command entry device, and a memory, comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of selectable parameters in a predetermined arrangement in the memory, each of the parameters comprising information utilized in a product configuration computation; displaying on the display a configurator screen display template for display of user controls and information in the configuration program module; displaying a user control on the screen display template, the user control being operative, in the configuration program module, for receiving user information input; displaying an object inspector region on the display comprising information corresponding to properties of the user control displayed on the screen display template; in response to developer selection of a parameters property of the user control in the object inspector region, displaying a first parameter window on the display for selection of a parameter, the first parameter window comprising a display of the plurality of selectable parameters stored in the memory; in response to developer selection of one of the parameters in the first parameter window, associating the selected parameter with the user control in the memory; in response to a first developer command, displaying a second parameter window on the display, the second parameter window comprising an editable display of the plurality of selectable parameters stored in the memory; in response to a second developer command relating to a selected one of the parameters in the second parameter window, displaying a constraint item on the display in association with the selected parameter; in response to a third developer command relating to the displayed constraint item, receiving developer input regarding the application of the constraint item to the selected parameter; and in response to a developer compile command, providing the configuration program module as an output, the configuration program module being responsive, when run on a computer system, to information input by a user via the user control for determining application of the constraint to the selected parameter. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification