Patent ID: 8112379

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing the configuration state of a target entity, comprising: receiving a plurality of policy rules applicable to the target entity, wherein each policy rule includes a constraint expression that references zero or more configuration state variables associated with the target entity and a reference to a configuration state variable may comprise a mutable or non-mutable reference; receiving a conflict resolution model; constructing a logical directed graph of the policy rules based on at least priority relationships between the policy rules, wherein priority relationships exist between policy rules that include constraint expressions having mutable references to the same configuration state variable and wherein the relative priority of the policy rules is determined in reference to the conflict resolution model; and determining which policy rules are in effect and which are not in effect in an order specified by the logical directed graph, wherein a policy rule is determined to be in effect if the constraint expression included within the policy rule is deemed mutually satisfiable with respect to each constraint expression included within each in-effect policy rule, and wherein a policy rule is determined not to be in effect if the constraint expression included within the policy rule is deemed not mutually satisfiable with respect to a constraint expression included within at least one in-effect policy rule.