Interactive conflict resolution for personalised policy-based services

摘要

A method and apparatus are set forth for defining and validating feature policies in an execution system, such as a communication system. The method includes entering user policies described in a straightforward manner (e.g. using a Web browser and user-understandable language) in such a way that they can be translated into a formal executable language. The user policies are then translated into an executable feature language such as the IETF's CPL. The user is then either compelled or provided with an option to validate the overall feature set before it is uploaded to the execution system. If validation is selected, the features are translated from CPL into another format, such as FIAT, from which it is possible to detect common feature specification errors. The FIAT detected errors are then analyzed in a manner that is aware of the expectations and common errors of naïve users, and interpreted to determine possible errors as errors that are common to naïve users. These errors are reported to the user (e.g. via the Web interface) in terms that are understandable to naïve users and compatible with how the policies were originally described. The user is provided with options to either accept the interactions as they are, repair them manually or to accept a recommendation of an automatic correction. Unlike conventional systems, where feature interactions are solved in the same way for all users, the selected resolution is personalized in the present invention to satisfy the end-user's intentions, independently of how others solve similar conflicts. The features are uploaded to the execution system.