Method and apparatus for inference of partial knowledge in interactive configuration

摘要

The invention relates to a method of configuring a set of object values in a computer. At least one object value of the set of object values is user-chosen from a number of object values. Each object has at least one possible object value. Each object value is determined or undetermined. Each of the determined object values is assigned to a value. Some or all of these object values is included in the set of object values. The object values are constrained by a rule base defining a number of relationships between the objects or the object values. The method uses at least one interruptable algorithm adapted to deduce knowledge about the undetermined object values. This knowledge indicates whether a user selection of a part of or all of the individual undetermined object values are possible or not. The algorithm(s) includes at least one readout point. In at least one dynamic representation of object values, the deduced knowledge in each readout point represents partial knowledge about the undetermined objects, the partial knowledge being presented to the user in response to a user interrupt or a time interrupt. Thus, the invention improves the interactive performance of configuration because information of knowledge can be gradually extracted.