Rule processing method and apparatus providing exclude cover removal to simplify selection and/or conflict advice
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- storing instructions in a memory;
configuring a computing device to execute the instructions to;
obtain at least one Exclude zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule component from a ZDD rule model representing a rule;
identify covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component;
remove identified covers to produce an abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by;
expanding nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule;
identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component;
marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the Exclude ZDD rule component; and
removing identified covers and marked nodes from the Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component;
determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model based on the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; and
generate one or more signals that provide graphical conflict advice to a user based on the satisfiability of the ZDD rule model to guide the user to achieve satisfiability of the rule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improvement in a computer-implemented rule processing method that provides conflict or selection advice to help guide a user achieve satisfiability of a business or engineering rule represented by a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule model. The improvement comprises obtaining at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from the ZDD rule model, identifying covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component, removing covers identified in the identifying step thereby to produce abridged Exclude ZDD rule component, determining satisfiability of the rule model utilizing the abridged Exclude ZDD component, and utilizing results of the determining step during automated decision support to help guide the user to attain satisfiability of the rule. An apparatus that implements the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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storing instructions in a memory; configuring a computing device to execute the instructions to; obtain at least one Exclude zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule component from a ZDD rule model representing a rule; identify covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component; remove identified covers to produce an abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by; expanding nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule; identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component; marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the Exclude ZDD rule component; and removing identified covers and marked nodes from the Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model based on the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; and generate one or more signals that provide graphical conflict advice to a user based on the satisfiability of the ZDD rule model to guide the user to achieve satisfiability of the rule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system, comprising:
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a memory to store executable instructions including at least executable instructions to represent a rule using a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule model; and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to; obtain at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from the ZDD rule model; identify covers in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component; remove the identified covers from the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to generate at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by; expanding nodes in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule; identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component; marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component; and removing identified covers and marked nodes from the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model according to the at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; and provide graphical conflict information based on the determination of satisfiability of the ZDD rule model to achieve satisfiability of the rule represented by the ZDD rule model. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium, comprising executable instructions, the instructions configured to instruct a computing device to:
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obtain at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from a ZDD rule model representing a rule; identify covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component; remove identified covers to produce an abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by; expanding nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule; identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component; marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the Exclude ZDD rule component; and removing identified covers and marked nodes from the Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model based on the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; and provide graphical conflict information based on the satisfiability of the ZDD rule. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification