Table-Based Rule Compilation for Product Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex product configuration and pricing processes in industries with distributed sales channels are hindered by inflexible existing systems, leading to slow quote turnaround times, lost sales, and user frustration due to the need for advanced training and manual administrative changes.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising processors, a modeling engine, and a configuration engine that provides a rule definition table for users, compiles rules into executable code, and evaluates models based on user inputs, enabling simplified product configuration and real-time pricing, while a voting mechanism resolves conflicts and assigns attribute values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing configuration systems are used, then product configuration capabilities are provided, but the systems are inflexible and require advanced training, leading to slow quote turnaround times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequote turnaround timeVSAvoiduser training requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables non-technical users to perform configuration tasks independently through an intuitive graphical interface that does not require advanced training. Users can directly interact with product models, modify parameters, and generate configurations without needing specialized knowledge of the underlying system architecture or programming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional command-line or programming-based configuration systems with a visual, graphical user interface. This substitution eliminates the need for users to write or understand complex code, allowing them to configure products through visual elements and drag-and-drop operations, significantly reducing training requirements and accelerating quote generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If existing configuration systems are used, then product configuration is possible, but changes require manual administrative intervention, leading to user frustration and delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of making changesVSAvoidtime for administrative changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system empowers end users to make configuration changes independently without requiring administrative intervention. Users can directly modify product configurations, update parameters, and save changes through the graphical interface, eliminating the need to contact system administrators for routine modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic validation and processing of configuration changes in real-time as users make modifications. This preliminary automatic processing eliminates the need for subsequent manual administrative review and approval steps, allowing changes to be implemented immediately and reducing the overall time required for configuration updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If complex pricing rules and special pricing deals are implemented, then pricing accuracy is improved, but quote turnaround time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepricing accuracyVSAvoidquote turnaround time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual calculation and review processes with automated computational systems that can evaluate complex pricing rules and special deals instantaneously. The system automatically applies multiple pricing layers, discounts, and special conditions through algorithmic processing, achieving both high pricing accuracy and rapid quote generation without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs pricing calculations continuously and dynamically as users modify configuration parameters. Rather than requiring separate calculation steps or manual reviews, the pricing engine continuously updates quotes in real-time based on current configuration state, maintaining accuracy while eliminating delays associated with batch processing or manual recalculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10373066B2Simplified product configuration using table-based rules, rule conflict resolution through voting, and efficient model compilation

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 MODEL N

AI summary

Various implementations for simplified product configuration using table-based rule editing, rule conflict resolution through voting, and efficient model compilation are described. In one example implementation, a rule definition table is provided for presentation to a user. One or inputs defining a rule for a model using the rule definition table are received. The rule is compiled into a compiled rule that is executable during evaluation of the model and the model is evaluated based on the compiled rule. Numerous additional implementations are also described.