Consolidation of product data models
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of using a computer system to consolidate multiple configuration models of a product, the method comprising:
- performing with the computer system;
identifying a conflict between at least two of the configuration models, wherein the configuration models are organized in accordance with respective directed acyclic graphs, each configuration model includes at least one ancestor configuration model family space and a child configuration model family space below the ancestor configuration model family space, a first of the conflicting configuration models comprises an ancestor configuration model family space that is different than an ancestor configuration model family space of a second of the conflicting configuration model, and each child configuration model family space constrains the ancestor configuration model family space above the child in accordance with configuration rules of the configuration model to which the child belongs;
extending at least one of the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the conflicting configuration models so that the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the first and second conflicting configuration models represent the same ancestor configuration model family space;
removing from the child configuration model family space any configuration space extended in the ancestor of the child configuration family space; and
combining the first and second configuration models into a single, consolidated model that maintains a non-cyclic chain of dependencies among families and features of families for use in answering configuration questions related to the product.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A model consolidation process combines multiple configuration models into a single unified configuration model that contains the union of the allowable combinations (i.e. combinations that are buildable) from each of the original models. An aspect of at least one embodiment of the model consolidation process is that it allows models to be combined in such a way that any incompatibilities or contradictions between models are detected and automatically resolved where possible. If an incompatibility is detected that cannot be automatically resolved, then the configuration models should not be combined. Instead if this incompatibility case occurs, at least one embodiment of the model consolidation process produces a description of the problem encountered and report the problem along with the necessary information required for a human to resolve it.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of using a computer system to consolidate multiple configuration models of a product, the method comprising:
performing with the computer system; identifying a conflict between at least two of the configuration models, wherein the configuration models are organized in accordance with respective directed acyclic graphs, each configuration model includes at least one ancestor configuration model family space and a child configuration model family space below the ancestor configuration model family space, a first of the conflicting configuration models comprises an ancestor configuration model family space that is different than an ancestor configuration model family space of a second of the conflicting configuration model, and each child configuration model family space constrains the ancestor configuration model family space above the child in accordance with configuration rules of the configuration model to which the child belongs; extending at least one of the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the conflicting configuration models so that the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the first and second conflicting configuration models represent the same ancestor configuration model family space; removing from the child configuration model family space any configuration space extended in the ancestor of the child configuration family space; and combining the first and second configuration models into a single, consolidated model that maintains a non-cyclic chain of dependencies among families and features of families for use in answering configuration questions related to the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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3. A computer system configured for consolidating multiple configuration models of a product, the system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, coupled to the processor, having code stored therein and executable by the processor for; identifying a conflict between at least two of the configuration models, wherein the configuration models are organized in accordance with respective directed acyclic graphs, each configuration model includes at least one ancestor configuration model family space and a child configuration model family space below the ancestor configuration model family space, a first of the conflicting configuration models comprises an ancestor configuration model family space that is different than an ancestor configuration model family space of a second of the conflicting configuration model, and each child configuration model family space constrains the ancestor configuration model family space above the child in accordance with configuration rules of the configuration model to which the child belongs; extending at least one of the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the conflicting configuration models so that the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the first and second conflicting configuration models represent the same ancestor configuration model family space; removing from the child configuration model family space any configuration space extended in the ancestor of the child configuration family space; and combining the first and second configuration models into a single, consolidated model that maintains a non-cyclic chain of dependencies among families and features of families for use in answering configuration questions related to the product. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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4. A tangible, computer readable medium having instructions encoded therein and executable by a processor to consolidate multiple configuration models of a product, the instructions comprising code for:
identifying a conflict between at least two of the configuration models, wherein the configuration models are organized in accordance with respective directed acyclic graphs, each configuration model includes at least one ancestor configuration model family space and a child configuration model family space below the ancestor configuration model family space, a first of the conflicting configuration models comprises an ancestor configuration model family space that is different than an ancestor configuration model family space of a second of the conflicting configuration model, and each child configuration model family space constrains the ancestor configuration model family space above the child in accordance with configuration rules of the configuration model to which the child belongs; extending at least one of the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the conflicting configuration models so that the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the first and second conflicting configuration models represent the same ancestor configuration model family space; removing from the child configuration model family space any configuration space extended in the ancestor of the child configuration family space; and combining the first and second configuration models into a single, consolidated model that maintains a non-cyclic chain of dependencies among families and features of families for use in answering configuration questions related to the product. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer system for performing an automatic consolidation of multiple configuration models of a configurable product, the system comprising:
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means for identifying a conflict between at least two of the configuration models, wherein the configuration models are organized in accordance with respective directed acyclic graphs, each configuration model includes at least one ancestor configuration model family space and a child configuration model family space below the ancestor configuration model family space, a first of the conflicting configuration models comprises an ancestor configuration model family space that is different than an ancestor configuration model family space of a second of the conflicting configuration model, and each child configuration model family space constrains the ancestor configuration model family space above the child in accordance with configuration rules of the configuration model to which the child belongs; means for extending at least one of the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the conflicting configuration models so that the ancestor configuration model family spaces of the first and second conflicting configuration models represent the same ancestor configuration model family space; means for removing from the child configuration model family space any configuration space extended in the ancestor of the child configuration family space; and means for combining the first and second configuration models into a single, consolidated model that maintains a non-cyclic chain of dependencies among families and features of families for use in providing an answer to configuration questions related to the product.
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Specification