Method and system for generating a normalized configuration model

• US 7,567,922 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc. (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc. (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Michael E., Meeker, David F., Emery, Grant M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISIASZEK, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/924,630
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

Normalized data models are programmatically generated from a combination of product configuration model data, product configuration engine runtime validation, normalized data mappings, and settings files declaring the scope of model content. A master model generation process effectively transforms conventional configuration data into normalized configuration data. The normalized configuration data allows a user to, for example, conduct comparative product configurations. In one embodiment, a normalized model generation process generates normalized data model representing attributes and normalized features of a product. In one embodiment, the normalized configuration data model is then added to in-memory data structures used during runtime contextual configuration analysis, thus reducing the total number of data items preserved as efficiencies result from eliminating duplication and effective use of search structures. In-memory representation of the normalized configuration data model can then be serialized to disk as a file to be loaded for runtime use in a deployment.

Claims

1. A method for generating a normalized configuration model, the method comprising:

utilizing at least portions of a normalized model generation system to perform;

generating product configuration instances from one or more product configuration models that include non-normalized feature references;

identifying non-normalized feature references included in one or more of the product configuration instances;

accessing a mapping file, wherein the mapping file includes a map of specific product feature references to normalized feature references;

locating normalized feature references that correlate with non-normalized feature references included in the generated product configuration instances;

replacing non-normalized feature references with correlating normalized feature references in accordance with the mapping file; and

generating a normalized configuration model corresponding to the generated product configuration instances using the normalized feature references replacements, wherein the normalized configuration model is configured for use with a configuration system which presents the normalized feature references to a user of the configuration system to allow the user to configure a product using the normalized feature references.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the normalized configuration model includes a complete representation of all generated product configuration instances.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein locating normalized feature references further comprises:

iterating over all product configuration instances on a feature-by-feature basis.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing access to the normalized configuration model to a contextual configuration engine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the normalized configuration model in system memory for run-time access.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

optimizing the normalized configuration model for run-time data retrieval.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein optimizing the normalized configuration model comprises:

removing data duplications while maintaining a complete, normalized representation of the generated product configuration instances.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the product is a vehicle.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping specific product feature references to normalized feature references into a mapping file.

9. A data processing system for generating a normalized configuration model comprises:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, the memory having code encoded therein and executable by the processor to;

generate product configuration instances from one or more product configuration models that include non-normalized feature references;

identify non-normalized feature references included in one or more of the product configuration instances;

access a mapping file, wherein the mapping file includes a map of specific product feature references to normalized feature references;

locate normalized feature references that correlate with non-normalized feature references included in the generated product configuration instances;

replace non-normalized feature references with correlating normalized feature references in accordance with the mapping file; and

generate a normalized configuration model corresponding to the generated product configuration instances using the normalized feature references replacements, wherein the normalized configuration model is configured for use with a configuration system which presents the normalized feature references to a user of the configuration system to allow the user to configure a product using the normalized feature references.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the normalized configuration model includes a complete representation of all generated product configuration instances.

11. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the code to locate normalized feature references comprises code to:

iterate over all product configuration instances on a feature-by-feature basis.

12. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the memory further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

provide access to the normalized configuration model to a contextual configuration engine.

13. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the memory further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

store the normalized configuration model in system memory for run-time access.

14. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the memory further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

optimize the normalized configuration model for run-time data retrieval.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the code to optimize the normalized configuration model comprises code to:

remove data duplications while maintaining a complete, normalized representation of the generated product configuration instances.

16. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the product is a vehicle.

27. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the memory includes further code encoded therein and executable by the processor to:

map specific product feature references to normalized feature references into a mapping file.

17. A computer readable medium comprising data encoded therein for generating a normalized configuration model, wherein the data comprises code executable by a processor to:

generate product configuration instances from one or more product configuration models that include non-normalized feature references;

identify non-normalized feature references included in one or more of the product configuration instances;

access a mapping file, wherein the mapping file includes a map of specific product feature references to normalized feature references;

locate normalized feature references that correlate with non-normalized feature references included in the generated product configuration instances;

replace non-normalized feature references with correlating normalized feature references in accordance with the mapping file; and

generate a normalized configuration model corresponding to the generated product configuration instances using the normalized feature references replacements, wherein the normalized configuration model is configured for use with a configuration system which presents the normalized feature references to a user of the configuration system to allow the user to configure a product using the normalized feature references.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the normalized configuration model includes a complete representation of all generated product configuration instances.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the code to locate normalized feature references comprises code to:

iterate over all product configuration instances on a feature-by-feature basis.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

provide access to the normalized configuration model to a contextual configuration engine.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

store the normalized configuration model in system memory for run-time access.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data further comprises code encoded therein to cause the processor to:

optimize the normalized configuration model for run-time data retrieval.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the code to optimize the normalized configuration model comprises code to:

remove data duplications while maintaining a complete, normalized representation of the generated product configuration instances.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the product is a vehicle.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data comprises further code executable by the processor to:

map specific product feature references to normalized feature references into a mapping file.

25. A system for generating a normalized configuration data model comprising:

means for generating product configuration instances from one or more product configuration models that include non-normalized feature references;

means for identifying non-normalized feature references included in one or more of the product configuration instances;

means for accessing a mapping file, wherein the mapping file includes a map of specific product feature references to normalized feature references;

means for locating normalized feature references that correlate with non-normalized feature references included in the generated product configuration instances;

means for replacing non-normalized feature references with correlating normalized feature references in accordance with the mapping file; and

means for generating a normalized configuration model corresponding to the generated product configuration instances using the normalized feature references replacements, wherein the normalized configuration model is configured for use with a configuration system which presents the normalized feature references to a user of the configuration system to allow the user to configure a product using the normalized feature references.

29. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

means for mapping specific product feature references to normalized feature references into a mapping file.