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  Product configuration using configuration patternsUSPTO Application #: 20070094641Title: Product configuration using configuration patterns Abstract: In a particular embodiment, configuration patterns are used to provide solutions to configuration problems that repetitively occur. Use of configuration patterns in connection with a configuration model has many benefits. A configuration pattern is a parameterized or otherwise easily extensible solution to that problem, such that the solution is reusable by modifying the parameters of the pattern or extending the pattern in pre-defined ways. Configuration patterns are inherently data-driven and provide improved maintenance for data and logic as well as reduced programming effort. Configuration patterns can be reused within and across different product families and can be specialized from other patterns. Thus, the use of configuration patterns facilitates reduced maintenance cost and reduced programming effort for product configuration data and logic systems. (end of abstract) Agent: Hamilton & Terrile, LLP - Austin, TX, US Inventors: Timothy P. Darr, Raymond L. Beaumont, Nirad P. Sharma USPTO Applicaton #: 20070094641 - Class: 717121000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, And Management, Software Program Development Tool (e.g., Integrated Case Tool Or Stand-alone Development Tool), Managing Software Components, Software Configuration The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070094641. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/343,670, filed Dec. 28, 2001 and entitled "Product Configuration Using Configuration Patterns". [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/343,666, filed Dec. 28, 2001 and entitled "Telecommunications Configuration Model for Product Configuration". [0003] This application relates to "Telecommunications Configuration Model for Product Configuration", application number______(Attorney Docket No. 027-0008), with common assignee and filed on Feb. 28, 2002. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates generally to the field of computer-based product configuration. Background Description [0005] Configuring a product refers to the process of selecting, constructing, and connecting components to satisfy a particular need or request. Configuring a product has been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,524 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Configuring Systems", inventors J. Lynch and D. Franke. If a product is based on a limited number of components, the process of configuring the product can be relatively straightforward. "Component" and "part" are often used interchangeably to denote the elements of a product. [0006] As product specifications become more customized and varied, configuration alternatives increase and the task of configuring a product becomes more complex. An example of a complex product is a telecommunications switching system. The available configuration alternatives of a telecommunications switching system are numerous and varied, including alternatives available when choosing the equipment racks, shelves, communications boards, power supply, consoles, cables, and software. [0007] Configuring a product generally requires compatibility between a selected component and other components in the configured product. For example, a power supply must generally be sufficient to supply power to all of the components of the product receiving power from the power supply. An equipment shelf has only a certain number slots to handle all of the boards installed in that shelf. [0008] To address the problem of configuring complex products, configuration modeling software for automating the configuration process has been developed. Configuration modeling software is particularly applicable to constraint-based configuration systems. In general terms, a constraint-based system places constraints on the use of a component in a configuration. For example, a hard disk drive cannot be added to the configuration unless a compatible storage device controller is available for use by a requested storage device. The requirement of a controller is a "constraint" on the hard disk drive. [0009] While the configuration modeling software can address configurations for complex products, the configuration modeling software itself is generally very complex and requires a high level of skill and effort to maintain and to create new product configurations. In addition, even simple modifications to the configuration modeling software may require significant time and effort to implement, leading to significant cost and expense. [0010] Thus, creating systems for configuration of complex products such as telecommunications systems is a complex task for the following reasons: [0011] 1. The problem itself is difficult given the enormous number of combinations to be considered when searching through the space of configurable solutions; and [0012] 2. Creating a representation of the product (classes, components and configuration logic) that is easy to maintain and extend is very difficult, often requiring advanced programming skill and deep domain knowledge. [0013] The activity of creating a representation of some product to be configured by a configuration engine is generally called "configuration modeling", or more simply "modeling." This activity includes the following tasks: [0014] 1. Identifying the components that make up the product being configured, and representing them in the modeling language. These are physical things such as circuit boards, cables, shelves, racks, etc. [0015] 2. Identifying the logic required to configure the components. Note: "logic" refers to relationships between components which can be, for example, functional or physical such as how the components are connected, e.g. a circuit board is slotted in a particular slot. [0016] 3. Creating abstractions of the components to allow the configuration engine to solve a configuration problem more efficiently and take advantage of inheritance, encapsulation (data hiding) and other object-oriented features provided by most modem programming languages. [0017] 4. Implementing the often-complex configuration conditions in the representation or modeling language of the configuration engine. Configuration conditions can be expressed in a variety of ways including as rules and constraints. [0018] 5. Creating a model that is both maintainable and extensible. It should be easy to add new parts and logic, without invalidating the existing model. [0019] Tasks 1-2 require deep domain knowledge of the type typically held by product managers or engineers (the "product expert") in the company that manufactures or sells the product. Tasks 3-5 require advanced programming skill and a high-degree of domain knowledge, typically held by programmers (the "modeler"). [0020] One of the difficulties and significant source of expense in modeling a product results from the fact that it is rare that one individual possesses the knowledge required for tasks 1-5. SUMMARY [0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, configuration patterns provide solutions to configuration problems that repetitively occurs for some product or family of products. Configuration patterns can be developed for industry and product specific configuration problems such as the difficult problems associated with configuring telecommunications optical switches. In one embodiment, configuration patterns are organized into a hierarchy to achieve programming efficiency. Multiple hierarchies could be created and applied by product configuration elements, such as model classes and components. The pattern hierarchy can be applied at any level of a product hierarchy. [0022] In one embodiment, a configuration model for use with a product configuration software system includes configuration patterns having configuration logic for performing tasks related to a configuration of a product. [0023] In another embodiment, a product configuration system includes a configuration engine and a product model accessible by the configuration engine. The product model includes configuration patterns having configuration logic for performing tasks related to a configuration of a product. [0024] In another embodiment, a software distribution method includes distributing a software system to a first enterprise, distributing the software system to a second enterprise. The software system includes a configuration engine and a product model. The product model includes configuration patterns having configuration logic for performing tasks related to a configuration of a product. [0025] In another embodiment a configuration system includes a model for use with a digital computing device, the model configured to define a configuration model having information about telecommunication industry components and logic available for configuring a product in a telecommunications industry system, the model including configuration patterns. The configuration system also includes a configuration engine having access to the model, the configuration engine configured to select a plurality of the telecommunication industry components of the configuration model for inclusion in the telecommunication industry system in response to configuration requests. [0026] In another embodiment, a configuration apparatus includes a model for use with a digital computing device, the model configured to define a configuration model having information about telecommunication industry components and logic available for configuring a product, the model including configuration patterns. The configuration apparatus further includes a configuration engine having access to the model, the configuration engine configured to use the model to generate a product configuration. Continue reading... Full patent description for Product configuration using configuration patterns Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Product configuration using configuration patterns patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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