Abstract: A rule packaging system and method to define and/or package parameters, attributes, enumerations of a prime rule in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using, for example, zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams. The reduced form of the prime rule is subsequently used by applying a series of user inputs to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide an end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible configuration parameters. The apparatus automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus or computer-readable medium to provide selection advice during rule processing to help a user choose desired specifications of a product, service, or other rule-based system characterized by a ZDD rule model having one or more Include and/or Exclude rules. One aspect includes displaying on a monitor or other I/O device multiple attributes having multiple enumerations that identify possible feature, specifications, or conditions of a product; selecting multiple alternative enumerations of the attributes; determining a selection advice for each enumerations selected combining the selection advice for each numerations in order to produce result; communicating the result to an end user; and then using the result to choose a product having desired compliant specifications or conditions.

Abstract: An improvement in decision automation employing a ZDD rule model indicative of a business or engineering rule to provide decision support to a user. The computer-implemented improvement automatically identifies compliant inputs for the rule processing system according to at least one input initially supplied by a user, and is particularly useful for determining product configuration, engineering designs, various outcome of planning scenarios, etc. Once a user selects an initial value(s), remaining compliant values unique to the user-selected value(s) are automatically identified. The improvement reduces time required to manually select inputs. In one embodiment, the improvement includes an I/O interface to enable the user to choose and observe inputs, an autoselect ZDD constructed from compliant inputs of the rule model, and a ZDD processing module that processes said autoselect ZDD in order to provide for the user a set compliant inputs for the ZDD rule model according to the user input.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.

Abstract: An improvement in decision automation employing a ZDD rule model indicative of a business or engineering rule to provide decision support to a user. The computer-implemented improvement automatically identifies compliant inputs for the rule processing system according to at least one input initially supplied by a user, and is particularly useful for determining product configuration, engineering designs, various outcome of planning scenarios, etc. Once a user selects an initial value(s), remaining compliant values unique to the user-selected value(s) are automatically identified. The improvement reduces time required to manually select inputs. In one embodiment, the improvement includes an I/O interface to enable the user to choose and observe inputs, an autoselect ZDD constructed from compliant inputs of the rule model, and a ZDD processing module that processes said autoselect ZDD in order to provide for the user a set compliant inputs for the ZDD rule model according to the user input.

Abstract: An improvement in a computer-implemented rule processing method that provides conflict or selection advice to help guide a user achieve satisfiability of a business or engineering rule represented by a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule model. The improvement comprises obtaining at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from the ZDD rule model, identifying covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component, removing covers identified in the identifying step thereby to produce abridged Exclude ZDD rule component, determining satisfiability of the rule model utilizing the abridged Exclude ZDD component, and utilizing results of the determining step during automated decision support to help guide the user to attain satisfiability of the rule. An apparatus that implements the aforementioned method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rule packaging system and method to define and/or package parameters, attributes, enumerations of a prime rule in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using, for example, zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams. The reduced form of the prime rule is subsequently used by applying a series of user inputs to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide an end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible configuration parameters. The apparatus automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus therefore, and/or computer-readable medium to provide selection advice during rule processing to help a user choose desired specifications of a product, service or other rule-based system characterized by a ZDD rule model having one or more Include and/or Exclude rules. One aspect includes displaying on a monitor or other I/O device multiple attributes having multiple enumerations that identify possible feature, specifications, or conditions of a product; selecting multiple alternative enumerations of the attributes; determining a selection advice for each enumeration selected; combining the selection advice for each enumerations in order to produce a result; communicating the result to an end user; and then using the result to choose a product having desired compliant specifications or conditions. The product may include a service offering.

Abstract: A rule packaging system and method to define and/or package parameters, attributes, enumerations of a prime rule in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using, for example, zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams. The reduced form of the prime rule is subsequently used by applying a series of user inputs to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide an end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible configuration parameters. The apparatus automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A method of providing, in response to user-selected ones of attributes and/or enumerations thereof, a list of product choices from products whose compatibility is characterized by a ZDD rule model having one or more Include and Exclude ZDDs. The method comprises creating a ZDD sub-tree by scanning the Include ZDDs and keeping paths having the selected enumerations set, determining complete paths through the sub-tree to produce potentially valid combinations, checking the potentially valid combinations against the Exclude ZDDs to exclude invalid combinations, and providing resulting valid combinations. The scanning optionally includes examining nodes of the Include ZDDs or of the sub-tree against Index values of the selected enumerations to create nodes in the sub-tree. Other aspects include an apparatus implementing the method, and a computer-readable medium including program instructions enabling a processing device to perform the method.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus thereof for validating combinations of product features that are compliant with existing business rules relative to a modified business rule, where the modification includes an include and/or an exclude ZDD rule component. The method comprises obtaining combinations of features compliant with the existing business rules, processing the combinations against a representation of the rule components to determine validity against the modified business rule, and providing to a user an indication of validity of the combinations relative to the modification. The processing optionally comprises forming a representation of a record-by-feature array having rows corresponding to the combinations, ordering columns of the array according to one of the rule components, and testing validity of the rows of the array against the rule component. The features or combinations arc optionally read from a database, and optionally include a service.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer-readable medium to provide selection advice during rule processing to guide a user to configure a product or service according to a rule characterized by a ZDD rule model having one or more Include and/or Exclude rules. The method aspect includes displaying on an I/O device multiple attributes having enumerations that identify possible configurations; selecting enumerations of the attributes; determining a selection advice for enumerations selected in said selecting step; combining the selection advice in order to produce a result; communicating the result to a user; and then using the result to configure the product or service. Another aspect includes, based on user selections, removing nonessential information inherent in a relevant rule set and propagating (determining in advance) selection advice based on values of other related rule components.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.

Abstract: A configuration method and apparatus for a complex product or service that uses a reduced form of a prime rule indicative of valid and invalid configurations. The configurator applies user inputs parameters to an execution module that is constructed using directed acyclic graph, e.g., a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram, indicative of the valid or invalid product/service configurations. The results of execution may include conflict and selection advice to help guide the user to achieve a proper configuration. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user when choosing among possible configuration parameters.

Abstract: A method of rule processing includes defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections. The invention automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A method of rule processing includes defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections. The invention automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A rule packaging system and method to define and/or package parameters, attributes, enumerations of a prime rule in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using, for example, zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams. The reduced form of the prime rule is subsequently used by applying a series of user inputs to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide an end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible configuration parameters. The apparatus automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.