Patent ID: 6397383
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for providing a parser for a constraint language in a computer network, comprising the steps of:(a) receiving a constraint string; (b) removing all blank spaces from the constraint string; (c) placing a single blank space before and after each operator; (d) replacing all character strings in the constraint string with an â€œxâ€ , creating an intermediate constraint string; (e) determining if the intermediate constraint string contains the â€œxâ€  or a â€œ:â€ ; (f) continuing with step (g) if the constraint string does not contain the â€œxâ€  or â€œ:â€ ; (g) removing all â€œnotâ€  operators, replacing all valid operators with theâ€œ:â€ , and replacing all valid variables and values with the â€œxâ€ ; (h) replacing all â€œx:xâ€  with the â€œxâ€ , and replacing all â€œ(x)â€  with the â€œxâ€ ; and (i) repeating step (h) until no â€œx:xâ€  or â€œ(x)â€  remain; (j) determining if the parsed constraint string consists of a single â€œxâ€ ; and (k) accepting the constraint string if the parsed constraint string consists of a single â€œxâ€ , otherwise reject the constraint string.