Automated custom configuration system and method
View Patent ↗In accordance with preferred embodiments and applications of the invention, an automated custom configuration system (and method) is provided for facilitating the configuration and customization of desired products, services, or other objects that require users to gather and assimilate disparate relevant information (e.g., knowledge of makes, models, types, features, options, limitations, codes, and prices of the desired product/service (or group of the same) to be configured and customized). In accordance with a preferred embodiment, custom configuration may be facilitated through a parametric drawing engine which provides illustrations of configuration data. User modification of an element of an illustrated object may cause the parametric drawing engine to determine and display a corresponding modification in the remaining elements of the illustration such that the connections of the modified element to the remaining elements remains the same and the parameters of the object adhere to the relevant design rules, or other requirements of a given vendor or manufacturer. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a change in an attribute of an element of an illustrated object (e.g., color, material, texture, etc.) causes the engine to determine and display corresponding changes in the attributes of certain other elements.
1. A system for custom configuration of an object comprising:
a user interface;
a parametric drawing engine providing illustrations of configuration data, the illustrations comprising a plurality of elements arranged in a first configuration, wherein in response to a first modification to an attribute of a first element the parametric drawing engine causes a corresponding second modification in an attribute of at least one second element, the attribute of the first element includes at least one non-size and non-shape attribute, the second modification is constrained by a plurality of rules, and the parametric drawing engine will not permit the first modification if it results in a second modification that violates any of the plurality of rules;
a frame engine, receiving input data from the user interface, wherein the frame engine outputs configuration data to the user interface in response to a frame-based inference of the input data; and
a database, coupled to the frame engine, storing configuration data selectively retrieved for output in response to inferences made by the frame engine, wherein the database stores a plurality of questions for selective output to the user interface based on frame-based inferences made by the frame engine in response to answers input through the user interface.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attribute of the first element is selected from the group consisting of color, material, and texture.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame engine subjects configuration data to be output to the user interface to pertinent rules-based inferences before being output to the user interface.
4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a rules engine, coupled to the frame engine, wherein the rules engine subjects selected configuration data to be output to the user interface to pertinent rules-based inferences before being output to the user interface.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame engine represents data concerning configuration in a hierarchical structure, with frames corresponding to configuration categories, wherein the frames act as nodes of the hierarchical structure containing a collection of slots corresponding to configuration features and options.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the database stores data representative of product knowledge pertaining to products that may be configured by the system.
7. A method of configuring an object design, the method comprising the steps of:
accessing a user interface;
initiating an object design for configuration;
configuring the object by entering object selections;
graphically selecting parameters to configure the object based upon graphic representations of variations of characteristics of components to be selected for the object;
manipulating schematically configured illustrations of components to be selected for the object, the components comprising a plurality of elements arranged in a first configuration, wherein a first modification to an attribute of a first element causes at least a corresponding second modification in an attribute of at least a second element, and wherein the attribute of the first element includes at least one non-size and non-shape attribute;
wherein the second modification is constrained by a plurality of rules, and
wherein the parametric drawing engine will not permit the first modification if it results in a second modification that violates any of the plurality of rules;
performing a frame-based inference in response to selections made in the configuring step; and
outputting configuration data to the user interface based on inferences made in the performing step,
wherein the configuring step involves answering a plurality of questions presented, wherein the questions to be presented during the configuring step are stored in a database and selected for presentation based on inferences made in the performing step.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the configuring step further comprises the substep of presenting answers to select questions presented on the user interface.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the performing step further comprises the substep of performing a rules-based inference in response to project selections made in the configuring step.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the object to be configured includes a custom product, the method further comprising the steps of:
accessing a catalog page to display graphical and textual information pertinent to the product to be configured;
accessing a custom shapes editor to size a product upon configuration and to select a customized combination of dimensional parameters for the product;
accessing an accessories module containing product accessory information; and
producing technical specifications containing technical information regarding the project as configured.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the custom product is a grille for a door product.