Method, Apparatus and Computer Program for Reducing Variability Model

A computer program having a program code for reducing a variability model based on a base model, the variability model and a meta model,

• wherein the base model comprises a plurality of objects and a first plurality of relationships between objects of the plurality of objects,
• wherein the variability model comprises a plurality of variation points, wherein a variation point describes an option within an object of the plurality of objects,
• wherein the plurality of variation points are related to the plurality of objects by a second plurality of relationships between the plurality of variation points and the plurality of objects,
• wherein the meta model comprises a plurality of constraints related to the plurality of variation points,
• when the computer program is executable by a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component to reduce the variability model by:
• calculating implicit relationships between the plurality of variation points based on the plurality of constraints of the meta model,
• identifying a subset of variation points of the plurality of variation points implied by other variation points of the plurality of variation points based on the implicit relationships,
• removing variation points of the subset of variation points from the plurality of variation points and the variability model.

An apparatus for reducing a variability model based on a base model, the variability model and a meta model,

• wherein the base model comprises a plurality of objects and a first plurality of relationships between objects of the plurality of objects,
• wherein the variability model comprises a plurality of variation points, wherein a variation point describes an option within an object of the plurality of objects,
• wherein the plurality of variation points are related to the plurality of objects by a second plurality of relationships between the plurality of variation points and the plurality of objects,
• wherein the meta model comprises a plurality of constraints related to the plurality of variation points,
• the apparatus comprising:
• a storage module configured to store the base model, the variability model and the meta model;
• and
• a control module configured to:
• reduce the variability model by:
• calculating implicit relationships between the plurality of variation points based on the plurality of constraints of the meta model,
• identifying a subset of variation points of the plurality of variation points implied by other variation points of the plurality of variation points based on the implicit relationships, and
• removing variation points of the subset of variation points from the plurality of variation points and the variability model.