| 摘要 |
<p>A computer based method of collecting, structuring, and displaying product configuration information, and using the product configuration information to produce a computer program that validates product option selections and configur es a product, is disclosed. The computer based method is used to create a Knowledge Map that contains product information objects. A product information object can be one of: a product option object, representing a customer option; a product modul e object, representing a collection of product parts, plans, tools, functional tes ts, inspections, or software; a grouping object, grouping product options or modules ; or a relational object representing a relation between product objects. An input de vice is used to select a plurality of product information objects and position the objec ts in a display area. Upon selection of the objects, an operator is prompted to input sp ecific information pertaining to the selected object. Constraints limit the selections that an operator can make, the appearance of the objects, and the configurations that ca n be produced from selected objects. Information pertaining to selected objects and t heir configuration is stored in a database. Changes can be made directly to the information stored in the database, and these changes are reflected in a corresp onding display of the product information. After producing a Knowledge Map, the information is retrieved from a database to produce a set of rules that is input to a rule-based program for validating a set of product option selections and configu ring a final product defined by resulting modules. The information can also be retrieve d to produce object-based information to be used in the creation of an object-based program for validating a set of product options and configuring a product.</p> |
