Configuration model consistency checking using flexible rule space subsets
View Patent ↗Inconsistencies between configuration rules represent a significant concern when modeling a product using configuration rules. The consistency checking system approaches a configuration model from the perspective of a sets of features and families. The configuration space of a model represents the entire set of all combinations of selections within a configuration model. The consistency checking system operates on subsets of the configuration space by consolidating data within the configuration space into minimized subsets that represent a portion of the configuration space where a particular consistency error can occur. Thus, the contents of each subset vary depending upon which consistency error is being checked, and consistency checking is performed on reduced subsets determined on an error by error basis rather than on the configuration space as a whole.
1. A method of detecting consistency errors for multiple consistency error types between configuration rules, the method comprising:
for each consistency error type, wherein each consistency error type is represented by a ‘set’ equation:
identifying one or more sets of feature combinations in accordance with the set equation of the consistency error type in which a particular type of consistency error can occur;
if a consistency error of the consistency error type exists in the one or more sets of feature combinations, detecting the consistency error using the one or more identified sets of feature combinations and the set equation associated with the consistency error type; and
providing data indicating any detected consistency error.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration rules includes features, optionalities, and constraints, and each set equation includes sets of features grouped by selected optionalities.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein optionalities include mandatory, standard, optional, and restricted.
4. A consistency checking system for detecting consistency errors for multiple consistency error types between configuration rules, the system comprising:
a processor;
a memory, coupled to the processor, having instructions executable by the processor for:
for each consistency error type, wherein each consistency error type is represented by a ‘set’ equation:
identifying one or more sets of feature combinations in accordance with the set equation of the consistency error type in which a particular type of consistency error can occur; and
if a consistency error of the consistency error type exists in the one or more sets of feature combinations, detecting the consistency error using the one or more identified sets of feature combinations and the set equation associated with the consistency error type.
5. The consistency checking system of claim 4 further comprising:
a trie data structure having levels and nodes to represent the feature combinations in the configuration rules, wherein each family is represented in a distinct level of the trie data structure and each respective feature representation is represented by a single node.