Patent ID: 8219228

Claim:
A parametric configuration system, comprising: a) a parametric configuration language; b) a plurality of type constraints that (i) govern design of a type of product, including a sequence of a plurality of subdesigns, and (ii) are coded in the parametric configuration language; c) a plurality of instance constraints that (i) when combined with the type constraints, govern design, including the subdesigns, of an instance of the product type, and (ii) are coded in the parametric configuration language; and d) a parametric configurator, including a hierarchical solver that: (i) includes instructions in software or hardware, (ii) attempts to sequentially process the subdesigns in order by creating candidate solutions for each subdesign, (iii) uses a first type of solver in processing one of the subdesigns, and a second, distinct type of solver, in processing another of the subdesigns, (iv) when a candidate solution for a subdesign fails to satisfy the constraints, rolls back processing to the previous subdesign in the sequence, and (v) transforms the type and instance constraints into a representation of the design of the product; and e) computer equipment that executes the hierarchical solver.