Decomposing configuration problems

A method of configuring an artifact whose constituting components and features are selectable via parameters in an interrelated set of parameters, a range of consistent configurations for the artifact being defined by a set of constraints restricting which variable values that are simultaneously selectable, the method comprising:

• storing a problem description in the form of a part-of hierarchy,
• storing a list of step definitions,
• the part-of hierarchy including at least two different parts and each step definition including a pointer to a respective part in the part-of hierarchy,
• creating step instances which are based on the list of step definitions,
• executing the step instances sequentially, the execution of each step instance involving:
• creating a constraint satisfaction problem based on the part to which the pointer of a corresponding step definition points and any descendents to this part,
• presenting a range of variables wherein each variable has at least one selectable value assignable via the parameter settings in the input data, and in response to selected variable values
• solving the constraint satisfaction problem of the step instance based on the selected variable values and any variable values resulting from any preceding step instances of said sequence, and
• presenting the set of resulting variable values, and
• prompting repeatedly a user to enter input data until all the step instances in said sequence of step instances have been executed.

A computer program product for configuring an artifact whose constituting components and features are selectable via parameters in an interrelated set of parameters, a range of consistent configurations for the artifact being defined by a set of constraints restricting which variable values that are simultaneously selectable, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instruction comprising program code instructions for:

• storing a problem description in the form of a part-of hierarchy,
• storing a list of step definitions,
• the part-of hierarchy including at least two different parts and each step definition including a pointer to a respective part in the part-of hierarchy,
• creating step instances which are based on the list of step definitions,
• executing the step instances sequentially, the execution of each step instance involving:
• creating a constraint satisfaction problem based on the part to which the pointer of a corresponding step definition points and any descendents to this part,
• presenting a range of variables wherein each variable has at least one selectable value assignable via the parameter settings in the input data, and in response to selected variable values
• solving the constraint satisfaction problem of the step instance based on the selected variable values and any variable values resulting from any preceding step instances of said sequence, and
• presenting the set of resulting variable values, and
• prompting repeatedly a user to enter input data until all the step instances in said sequence of step instances have been executed.