Configuration Knowledge Base Hierarchy for Reusable Product Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing product configuration systems face challenges in efficiently and simply creating a configuration knowledge base for product families, particularly in reusing knowledge packages across different products with shared modules.

Innovation Solution

A method is provided to create a configuration knowledge base by determining a hierarchical structure relationship between modules, associating parent and child modules, and releasing knowledge packages that include input interface algorithms, allowing for reuse across product families.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If knowledge packages are created separately for each module in each product, then the configuration knowledge base can be complete and accurate, but the creation process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of configuration knowledge baseVSAvoidcomplexity of creating configuration knowledge base
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a standardized knowledge package structure that can be reused across multiple products and modules. The hierarchical structure relationship and standardized fields allow the same knowledge package template to serve multiple products in a product family, reducing creation complexity while maintaining completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by organizing modules into hierarchical structures where parent modules contain child modules. This nested organization allows knowledge packages to be structured at different levels of abstraction, enabling reuse of parent module knowledge packages across multiple child modules while maintaining specific details where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If knowledge packages are created separately for each product, then the configuration knowledge base can be accurate for each product, but the creation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of configuration knowledge baseVSAvoidefficiency of creating configuration knowledge base
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining standardized knowledge package structures and hierarchical relationships that can be reused. By establishing the framework in advance with standardized fields and relationships, the actual knowledge package creation for specific products becomes faster while maintaining accuracy through the predefined structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements copying by allowing knowledge packages to be replicated across multiple products and modules. The standardized structure enables copying of knowledge packages from parent modules to child modules or from one product to another, ensuring consistency and accuracy while dramatically improving creation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If hierarchical structure relationships are established between modules, then knowledge packages can be reused across products, but the initial setup becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereusability of knowledge packagesVSAvoidcomplexity of hierarchical structure setup
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the knowledge base into modular hierarchical structures with clear parent-child relationships. This segmentation allows each module to be independently defined and then connected through standardized relationships, making the initial setup structured and manageable despite the complexity of creating reusable hierarchies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4332838B1Method and apparatus for creating configuration knowledge base, and related device
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4332838B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4332838B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4332838B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for creating a configuration knowledge base, and a related device are provided. The method includes: determining a hierarchical structure between a plurality of modules in a product family based on the plurality of modules; determining a knowledge package of each module based on the hierarchical structure; and releasing the knowledge package of each module in the product family to a configuration knowledge base, to obtain a configuration knowledge base of the product family. The hierarchical structure indicates a hierarchical relationship between a parent module and a child module in the plurality of modules. Each parent module includes one or more child modules. A knowledge package of the parent module includes an input interface algorithm of the child module associated with the parent module. The input interface algorithm of the child module is written into the knowledge package of the parent module of the child module, so that another algorithm in a knowledge package of the child module is unrelated to the parent module. When the child module exists in different products, a knowledge package of the child module in another product can reuse the knowledge package of the module in the product. In this way, the configuration knowledge base of the product family can be quickly created, thereby improving efficiency.