Automated Rule Branch Generation for Condition Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for designing rule branches in enterprise software systems are inefficient and error-prone, particularly when dealing with multiple condition expressions, as they require manual creation, copying, and modification of branches for each condition value, leading to increased effort and the risk of oversight in representing all possible condition values.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of itemizable condition expressions allows rule designers to select desired condition values, with the system automatically generating rule branches based on these values, thereby eliminating the need for manual copying and modification, and ensuring all possible values are represented.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rule branches are created manually for each condition value, then completeness of condition coverage can be verified, but the time and effort required increases sharply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of condition coverageVSAvoidtime to create rule branches

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically copies the template rule branch for each condition value from the specified object, eliminating manual creation of multiple branches. The copying process is automated with programmatic generation of branches based on retrieved condition values, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining completeness through systematic iteration over all possible values.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If rule branches are created by copying and modifying one branch, then the overall effort is reduced, but errors may occur in representing all possible condition values

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of rule branch creationVSAvoidaccuracy of condition value representation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically verifying that all possible condition values are represented in the generated rule branches. The programmatic approach retrieves the complete set of condition values from the data model and systematically creates branches for each value, providing built-in verification that no values are omitted or duplicated, thus ensuring accuracy while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple condition expressions are included in each rule branch, then the rule logic becomes more comprehensive, but the effort to create and verify branches increases sharply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensiveness of rule logicVSAvoidcomplexity of branch creation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex task of creating rule branches with multiple condition expressions into manageable automated steps: retrieving condition values from the data model, generating branches programmatically, and verifying completeness. This segmentation transforms a complex manual process into a systematic automated workflow that handles multiple condition expressions efficiently without proportionally increasing the effort required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10956134B2Itemization of rule branch condition expressions

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 SAP SE

AI summary

A system includes determination of a rule branch of a rule, the rule branch comprising a first condition expression including a first condition value, reception of one or more condition values compatible with the first condition expression, and automatic generation of a respective rule branch of the rule for each of the one or more received condition values.