Method and system for generating a global representation of a product definition

A computer-implemented method for generating a global representation of a product definition from one or more a local, rule-based representations of the product definition, wherein the local, rule-based representation includes a cataloged group structure, the method comprising:

• receiving at one or more computers local representation of a product definition that includes at least one feature family, wherein each feature family includes data defining one or more product features, and the product definition further including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features, and the product definition being stored in a computer storage medium associated with the one or more computers;
• receiving from the one or more computers input selecting one or more feature families of interest;
• identifying the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest;
• converting the identified rules from a logic based operational format to one or more positive logic rule groups;
• and
• generating one or more global representations of the product definition, wherein the one or more global representations are generated by interacting the one or more positive logic rule groups to produce a result that defines the relationship between the interacted positive logic rule groups and storing the results that are determined as being valid.

A computer system for generating a global representation of a product definition from one or more a local, rule-based representations of the product definition, wherein the local, rule-based representation includes a cataloged group structure, the system comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive at one or more computers local representation of a product definition that includes at least one feature family, wherein each feature family includes data defining one or more product features, and the product definition further including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features, and the product definition being stored in a computer storage medium associated with the one or more computers;
• receive from the one or more computers input selecting one or more feature families of interest;
• identify the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest;
• convert the identified rules to one or more positive logic rule groups;
• and
• generate one or more global representations of the product definition, wherein the one or more global representations are generated by interacting the one or more positive logic rule groups to produce a result that defines the relationship between the interacted positive logic rule groups and storing the results that are determined as being valid.