Constraint Techniques in Interactive Feature Modeling

摘要

This report presents an overview of general constraint satisfaction techniques,both for finite domain and infinite domain Constraint Satisfaction Problems. Specific satisfaction techniques for geometric constraints are also discussed. Furthermore, it presents concepts from constraint programming, concerning the integration of constraint specification and programming languages. It is shown how constraint techniques can be used in feature modeling, by elaborating a concept for a constraint-based feature modeling system. In this system, run-time specification of features and constraints is supported by an interpreted object-oriented specification language. Multiple-level constraint solving can be used for feature model validation, by translating user-defined constraints and other high-level constraints to low-level contraints. The low-level constraints are solved by an embedded constraint solver. In this way, an object-oriented language is obtained for specifying feature models, which supports under-defined constraints on instances of generic features. Interaction should be integrated with constraint maintenance, by considering the available degrees of freedom during direct manipulation, to control the resulting manipulation of the feature model. (Copyright (c) 1994 by Faculty of Technical Mathematics and Informatics, Delft, The Netherlands.)