System and method for building and providing a universal product configuration system for arbitrary domains

A system for providing a universal product configuration system operable across multiple product domains, comprising:

• a computing system coupled to a network, the computing system having:
• a first network interface for input of first information from at least one domain expert for generation of at least one first XML schema file set pertaining to a first product domain of commercially offered products and at least one second XML schema file set pertaining to a second product domain of commercially offered products, the first and second XML schema file sets each completely defining respective first and second universes of valid commercially offered products pertaining respectively to the first and second product domains, the first and second XML schema file sets each including a plurality of data types that further includes at least one product attribute constraint or at least one product relationship constraint, with the at least one product attribute constraint or the at least one product relationship constraint ensuring respective derivation of logically valid product configuration selection options;
• a second network interface for input of second information from at least one domain expert knowledge set for each of the first and second product domains based on input from at least one domain expert over the network, the knowledge sets including additional complex domain specific knowledge for the derivation of only valid product configuration selection options;
• a third network interface for user access to a domain framework interface for receiving the at least one first XML schema file set pertaining to a first product domain of commercially offered products and the at least one second XML schema file set pertaining to a second product domain of commercially offered products, and to a domain knowledge interface for receiving the at least one domain expert knowledge set for each of the first and second product domains based on input from at least one domain expert over the network;
• a processing unit configured to derive at least one valid product configuration selection option for each of the product domains based upon the respective received first and second XML schema file sets and the respective received knowledge sets by, in part, introspecting each of the XML schema file sets;
• a first computer terminal having a display device and an input device and coupled to the third network interface via the network;
• and
• wherein the processing unit of the computing system is also configured to construct an on-the-fly visual interface for display on the display device of the first computer terminal and pertaining to the valid product configuration selection options, the visual interface responsive to input received from the input device of the first computer terminal pertaining to a proposed configuration.

A method for generating a report for products across multiple product domains, comprising the steps of:

• receiving and storing a plurality of XML schema file sets pertaining to a plurality of product domains, the XML schema file sets completely defining a universe of commercially offered valid products pertaining to the product domains, the XML schema file sets each including a plurality of data types that further includes at least one product attribute constraint or at least one product relationship constraint pertaining to a product configuration associated with the respective product domains, with the at least one product attribute constraint or the at least one product relationship constraint ensuring respective determination of one or more logically valid product configurations;
• receiving and storing a plurality of domain expert knowledge sets pertaining to the product domains, the knowledge sets each including additional complex domain specific knowledge guaranteeing determination of one or more only valid product configurations;
• receiving a report request for a product configuration involving a commercially offered product or products in two or more product domains;
• determining that the requested product configuration is a valid configuration by, in part, introspecting one or more of the XML schema file sets;
• and
• upon the requested product configuration being determined a valid configuration, providing a report for the requested product configuration.