Interactive product configuration and ordering utilizing reasoning feedback information

A method for providing product configuration and ordering options comprising:

• providing a user with a first choice of a first product component;
• receiving, from the user, a first input representing a selection of the first product component;
• providing the user with a second choice of a second product component;
• receiving, from the user, a second input representing a selection of the second product component;
• determining whether the selection of the first product component and the selection of the second product component result in a permissible combination;
• providing permissibility information to the user, the permissibility information representing the determination of whether the selection of the first product component and the selection of the second product component result in a permissible combination;
• and
• providing the user with reasoning information indicating a reason that the combination of the selected first product component and the selected second product component is or is not permissible.

Computer readable media containing programming code that, when loaded and executed on a computer, causes the computer to:

• provide a user with a first choice of a first product component;
• receive, from the user, a first input representing a selection of the first product component;
• provide the user with a second choice of a second product component;
• cause a computer to receive, from the user, a second input representing a selection of the second product component;
• determine whether the selection of the first product component and the selection of the second product component result in a permissible combination;
• and
• provide permissibility information to the user, the permissibility information representing the determination of whether the selection of the first product component and the selection of the second product component result in a permissible combination.

A system for providing product configuration and ordering options, comprising:

• a server computer operable for delivering to a user a series of product configuration options and for receiving, in response, a series of product configuration selections from the user;
• a database containing permissibility information about the product configuration options;
• and
• the server computer further operable for delivering advice to the user about whether the selected options result in a permissible combination and, if not, about the nature of the impermissibility.

A system for providing product configuration and ordering options, comprising:

• a computer operable for presenting to a user a series of product configuration options and for receiving, in response, a series of product configuration selections from the user;
• a storage medium, operatively connected to the client computer, containing permissibility information about the product configuration options;
• and
• the client computer further operable for presenting advice to the user about whether the selected options result in a permissible combination and, if not, about the nature of the impermissibility.