Computer readable medium and methods for filtering a dynamic comparison model

1. A method for filtering a dynamic comparison model, comprising the steps of:

generating a first comparison model including a plurality of differences between a first model and a second model;

displaying the first comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the first model and the second model to a user via a display;

allowing the user to select at least one difference between the first model and the second model from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model;

receiving at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the user; and

in response to receiving at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the user, and without changing the first model and the second model, removing from the display the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of saving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model in a memory.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the first model;

updating the first model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed first model;

generating a second comparison model including a plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model;

displaying the second comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model to the user via the display;

receiving a user-request to retrieve the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

retrieving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model; and

in response to determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model, and without requiring the user to reselect any of the displayed differences between the first model and the second model, removing from the display each of the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one, user-selected difference from the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model;

removing from the display the at least one, user-selected difference between the changed first model and the second model; and

saving the at least one, user-selected difference between the changed first model and the second model in the memory.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the first model;

updating the first model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed first model;

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the second model;

updating the second model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed second model;

generating a third comparison model including a plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model;

displaying the third comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model to the user via the display;

receiving a user-request to retrieve the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

retrieving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model; and

in response to determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model, and without requiring the user to reselect any of the displayed differences between the first model and the second model, removing from the display each of the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first comparison model provides an indication of a comparison state for each property in the first and second models, the comparison state indicating whether a property in the first model is equal to or not equal to a property in the second model.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

allowing the user to reselect at least one difference from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model that has been previously removed from the display;

receiving at least one, user-reselected difference from the user; and

in response to receiving at least one, user-reselected difference from the user, and without changing the first model and the second model, adding to the display the at least one, user-reselected difference to the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for filtering a dynamic comparison model comprising:

generating a first comparison model including a plurality of differences between a first model and a second model;

displaying the first comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the first model and the second model to a user via a display;

allowing the user to select at least one difference between the first model and the second model from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model;

receiving at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the user; and

in response to receiving at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the user, and without changing the first model and the second model, removing from the display the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises saving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model in a memory.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the first model;

updating the first model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed first model;

generating a second comparison model including a plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model;

displaying the second comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model to the user via the display;

receiving a user-request to retrieve the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

retrieving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model; and

in response to determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model, and without requiring the user to reselect any of the displayed differences between the first model and the second model, removing from the display each of the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one, user-selected difference from the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the second model;

removing from the display the at least one, user-selected difference between the changed first model and the second model; and

saving the at least one, user-selected difference between the changed first model and the second model in the memory.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the first model;

updating the first model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed first model;

receiving at least one, user-designated change to the second model;

updating the second model based on the at least one, user-designated change to generate a changed second model;

generating a third comparison model including a plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model;

displaying the third comparison model with each of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model to the user via the display;

receiving a user-request to retrieve the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

retrieving the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model from the memory;

determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model; and

in response to determining the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model, and without requiring the user to reselect any of the displayed differences between the first model and the second model, removing from the display each of the one or more differences of the plurality of differences between the changed first model and the changed second model that correspond to one or more differences of the at least one, user-selected difference between the first model and the second model.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first comparison model provides an indication of a comparison state for each property in the first and second models, the comparison state indicating whether a property in the first model is equal to or not equal to a property in the second model.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:

allowing the user to reselect at least one difference from the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model that has been previously removed from the display;

receiving at least one, user-reselected difference from the user; and

in response to receiving at least one, user-reselected difference from the user, and without changing the first model and the second model, adding to the display the at least one, user-reselected difference to the displayed plurality of differences between the first model and the second model.