Patent ID: 7188333

Claim:
A method in a computing environment for configuring a product by determining compatibility of parts in a selected product configuration, the method comprising configuring the product by: receiving a selection of a new part; determining whether said new part is compatible with one or more existing parts of the product configuration; and if said selected new part is not compatible with one or more existing parts, a compatible replacement determination for a compatible product configuration selection to be made as follows: if said new part is incompatible with a base part, deselect said new part, and select a compatible replacement for said new part; if said new part is incompatible with an existing selected accessory part, and an alternate accessory part is not available, deselect said new part and select a compatible replacement for said new part; else if said selected new part is incompatible with an existing selected accessory part, and an alternate accessory part is available, deselect said existing accessory part, select said alternate accessory part, and maintain the selection of said new part; and displaying valid product configuration, comprising said compatible product configuration selections.