Rule processing method and apparatus providing exclude cover removal to simplify selection and/or conflict advice

A computer system, comprising:

• a memory to store executable instructions including at least executable instructions to represent a rule using a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule model;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to:
• obtain at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from the ZDD rule model;
• identify covers in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component;
• remove the identified covers from the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to generate at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by:
• expanding nodes in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule;
• identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component;
• marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component;
• and
• removing identified covers and marked nodes from the at least one Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component;
• determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model according to the at least one abridged Exclude ZDD rule component;
• and
• provide graphical conflict information based on the determination of satisfiability of the ZDD rule model to achieve satisfiability of the rule represented by the ZDD rule model.

A computer-readable medium, comprising executable instructions, the instructions configured to instruct a computing device to:

• obtain at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from a ZDD rule model representing a rule;
• identify covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component;
• remove identified covers to produce an abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by:
• expanding nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule;
• identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component;
• marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the Exclude ZDD rule component;
• and
• removing identified covers and marked nodes from the Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component;
• determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model based on the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component;
• and
• provide graphical conflict information based on the satisfiability of the ZDD rule.