Interactive product configurator that allows modification to automated selections
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of operating a product configurator that comprises a constraint based network that comprises a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
- receiving one or more user selections from a user during a configuration session;
generating one or more automatic selections during the configuration session to form a complete configuration when combined with the user selections, wherein the automatic selections are generated by a computer and wherein the automatic selections comprise configuration-defining selections that define the complete configuration, and non-configuration defining selections that support the configuration session;
wherein for at least one of the automatic selections, the at least one automatic selection is propagated throughout the constraint network and the propagation affects one or more constraints;
saving a prior state of a changed node, wherein the changed node corresponds to an affected constraint;
associating the saved prior state with the at least one automatic selection;
receiving a request from the user to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration;
in response to the change request, entering a solution adjustment mode comprising;
for each of the automatic selections, determining by the computer if the automatic selection is a first configuration-defining selection, or a first non-configuration defining selection;
retaining by the computer the determined configuration-defining selections; and
retracting by the computer the determined non-configuration defining selections, wherein the retracting comprises restoring a prior state of all nodes that were affected by each non-configuration defining selection when each non-configuration defining selection was asserted.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A product configurator includes a constraint based network that includes a plurality of nodes. The configurator receives one or more user selections and generates one or more automatic selections to form a complete configuration. The configurator receives a request to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration, and retracts the automatic selections. For each of the retracted automatic selections, the configurator determines if the retracted automatic selection is a configuration-defining selection and reasserts the configuration-defining selections.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of operating a product configurator that comprises a constraint based network that comprises a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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receiving one or more user selections from a user during a configuration session; generating one or more automatic selections during the configuration session to form a complete configuration when combined with the user selections, wherein the automatic selections are generated by a computer and wherein the automatic selections comprise configuration-defining selections that define the complete configuration, and non-configuration defining selections that support the configuration session; wherein for at least one of the automatic selections, the at least one automatic selection is propagated throughout the constraint network and the propagation affects one or more constraints; saving a prior state of a changed node, wherein the changed node corresponds to an affected constraint; associating the saved prior state with the at least one automatic selection; receiving a request from the user to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration; in response to the change request, entering a solution adjustment mode comprising; for each of the automatic selections, determining by the computer if the automatic selection is a first configuration-defining selection, or a first non-configuration defining selection; retaining by the computer the determined configuration-defining selections; and retracting by the computer the determined non-configuration defining selections, wherein the retracting comprises restoring a prior state of all nodes that were affected by each non-configuration defining selection when each non-configuration defining selection was asserted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to function as a constraint based product configurator comprising:
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receiving one or more user selections from a user during a configuration session; generating one or more automatic selections during the configuration session to form a complete configuration when combined with the user selections, wherein the automatic selections comprise configuration-defining selections that define the complete configuration, and non-configuration defining selections that support the configuration session; wherein for at least one of the automatic selections, the at least one automatic selection is propagated throughout the constraint network and the propagation affects one or more constraints; saving a prior state of a changed node, wherein the changed node corresponds to an affected constraint; associating the saved prior state with the at least one automatic selection; receiving a request from the user to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration; in response to the change request, entering a solution adjustment mode comprising; for each of the automatic selections, determining if the automatic selection is a first configuration-defining selection, or a first non-configuration defining selection;
retaining the determined configuration-defining selections; andretracting the determined non-configuration defining selections, wherein the retracting comprises restoring a prior state of all nodes that were affected by each non-configuration defining selection when each non-configuration defining selection was asserted. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. A constraint based product configurator comprising:
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a processor; and a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; receive one or more user selections from a user during a configuration session; generate one or more automatic selections during the configuration session to form a complete configuration when combined with the user selections, wherein the automatic selections comprise configuration-defining selections that define the complete configuration, and non-configuration defining selections that support the configuration session; wherein for at least one of the automatic selections, the at least one automatic selection is propagated throughout the constraint network and the propagation affects one or more constraints; save a prior state of a changed node, wherein the changed node corresponds to an affected constraint; associate the saved prior state with the at least one automatic selection; receive a request from the user to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration; in response to the change request, enter a solution adjustment mode comprising; for each of the automatic selections, determine if the automatic selection is a first configuration-defining selection, or a first non-configuration defining selection; retain the determined configuration-defining selections; and retract the determined non-configuration defining selections, wherein the retracting comprises restoring a prior state of all nodes that were affected by each non-configuration defining selection when each non-configuration defining selection was asserted.
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Specification