Patent Document ID: 7734559
Application ID: 11527637
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method, comprising: storing instructions in a memory; configuring a computing device to execute the instructions to: obtain at least one Exclude zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule component from a ZDD rule model representing a rule; identify covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component; remove identified covers to produce an abridged Exclude ZDD rule component by: expanding nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component to include all attributes specified in the rule; identifying covers within the expanded nodes in the Exclude ZDD rule component; marking nodes associated with the identified covers in the Exclude ZDD rule component; and removing identified covers and marked nodes from the Exclude ZDD rule component to produce the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; determine satisfiability of the ZDD rule model based on the abridged Exclude ZDD rule component; and generate one or more signals that provide graphical conflict advice to a user based on the satisfiability of the ZDD rule model to guide the user to achieve satisfiability of the rule.