Implied analytical reasoning and computation

• US 8,314,793 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Beckman, Brian C., Meijer, Henricus Johannes Maria, Mital, Vijay, Rubin, Darryl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Washburn, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhai, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US12/344,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420
• US Class Current: 345/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

Solving for output variable(s) of a model that includes multiple analytically related model variables. The identity of the output model variables and the analytical relationships between the model variables are separately designated. Regardless of the identity of the output variable(s), a solver framework interprets the analytical relationships and solves for the designated output variable(s). The output model variable(s) may be designated separately than the analytical relationships themselves. By simply changing the designation of the output model variable(s), the analytical relationships are reevaluated, and the output variable(s) are solved for. The solver framework itself stays the same regardless of the identity of the output model variable(s).

Claims

1. A method, implemented at a computer system that includes one or more processors, for solving in the context of a model that includes a plurality of model variables, the method comprising:

an act of the computer system displaying a user interface, the user interface including;

an equation edit area that displays a plurality of equations that represent analytical relationships between a plurality of model variables; and

an output variable edit area that is distinct from and visually distinguished from the equation edit area in the user interface and that is configured to receive user input that specifies a subset of the plurality of model variables as output model variables that are to be solved for within the model using the plurality of equations, wherein the output variable edit area is also configured to allow a user to input different sets of model variables that are to be solved for using the plurality of equations without modifying the plurality of equations in the equation edit area;

an act of the computer system receiving first user input at the output variable edit area that specifies a first subset of one or more of the plurality of model variables as output model variables that are to be solved for using the plurality of equations;

based on receiving the first user input, an act of the computer system formulating an output variable data structure that identifies the first subset of output model variables;

an act of the computer system formulating an equation data structure that represents the analytical relationships between the plurality of model variables of the plurality of equations;

based on receiving the first user input, an act of the computer system automatically solving the plurality of equations for the first subset of output model variables using a solver framework;

subsequent to solving the plurality of equations, an act of the computer system receiving second user input at the output variable edit area that specifies a second subset of one or more of the plurality of model variables as output model variables, wherein the second subset is different than the first subset;

based on receiving the second user input, an act of the computer system modifying the output variable data structure to identify the second subset of output model variables; and

based on receiving the second user input, an act of the computer system using the solver framework to automatically solve the plurality of equations for the second subset of output model variables, without modifying the plurality of equations in the equation edit area, wherein the solver framework does not change depending on the identity of the subset of output model variables identified in the output variable data structure.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output variable data structure follows a schema that does not change depending on which of the plurality of model variables are identified as output model variables in the output variable data structure.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output variable data structure is an in-memory data structure.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output variable data structure is a persisted data structure.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of formulating an output variable data structure further comprises an act of auto-populating the output variable data structure during the act of formulating the equation data structure.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of formulating an equation data structure is performed in response to the user interfacing with the equation edit area.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the equation edit area presents the analytical relationships between the plurality of model variables in other than left-hand form.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of automatically solving for the second subset of one or more output model variables occurs without changing the equations data structure.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of automatically solving for the first subset of output model variables comprises at act of solving for at least one of the one or more output model variables using a symbolic solve.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of automatically solving for the first subset of output model variables comprises at act of solving for at least one of the one or more output model variables using a literal solve.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of automatically solving for the first subset of output model variables comprises at act of solving for the one or more output model variables using a combination of a symbolic solve and a literal solve.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of equations represent the layout of a room and the plurality of model variables include characteristics of furniture for the room and a Feng Shui score for the room, and wherein:

the first subset of the plurality of model variables to be solved for represent the position of a piece of furniture in the room based on a specified Feng Shui score, such that the position of the piece of furniture in the room is solved for based on the specified Feng Shui score, and

the second subset of the plurality of model variables to be solved for represent a Feng Shui score for the room based on the position of the piece of furniture in the room, such that the Feng Shui score is solved for based on the specified position of the piece of furniture in the room.

13. A computer program product comprising one or more physical storage devices storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method for solving in the context of a model that includes a plurality of model variables, the method comprising:

an act of the computer system displaying a user interface, the user interface including;

an equation edit area of the user interface that displays a plurality of equations representing analytical relationships between a plurality of model variables; and

an output variable edit area that is distinct from and visually distinguished from the equation edit area in the user interface and that is configured to receive user input that specifies a subset of the plurality of model variables as output model variables that are to be solved for within the model using the plurality of equations, wherein the output variable edit area is also configured to allow a user to input different sets of model variables that are to be solved for using the plurality of equations without modifying the plurality of equations in the equation edit area;

an act of the computer system receiving first input at the output variable edit area that specifies a first subset of one or more of the plurality of model variables as output model variables that are to be solved for using the plurality of equations;

based on receiving the first user input, an act of the computer system formulating an output variable data structure that identifies the first subset of output model variables;

an act of the computer system formulating an equation data structure that represents the analytical relationships between the plurality of model variables of the plurality of equations;

based on receiving the first user input, an act of the computer system automatically solving the plurality of equations for the first subset of output model variables using a solver framework;

subsequent to solving the plurality of equations, an act of the computer system receiving second user input at the output variable edit area that specifies a second subset of one or more of the plurality of model variables as output model variables, wherein the second subset is different than the first subset;

based on receiving the second user input, an act of the computer system modifying the output variable data structure to identify the second subset of output model variables; and

based on receiving the second user input, an act of the computer system using the solver framework to automatically solve the plurality of equations for the second subset of output model variables, without modifying the plurality of equations in the equation edit area, wherein the solver framework does not change depending on the identity of the subset of output model variables identified in the output variable data structure.

14. The computer program product in accordance with claim 13, wherein the act of solving further comprises, for each of the plurality of equations:

1) attempting to forward solve the equation for the first subset of model variables,

2) attempting to invert the equation if a solver framework fails in forward solving the equation, and

3) solving the equation by numerical methods if the solver framework fails to invert the equation.