Patent Document ID: 5446652
Application ID: 08053613

Base Claim:
1. A computer-based method for aiding a user to validate a computer-based simulation model of the kind which simulates a multiple variable system using a suite of equations, comprising storing user-entered constraint knowledge defining (a) possible conditions of variables of the multiple variable system, the constraint knowledge being separate from the suite of equations, and (b) corresponding expected constraints on consequences of variables of the system, automatically applying the possible conditions of variables to the suite of equations to produce test consequences on variables of the system, and automatically analyzing the test consequences with respect to the constraints as an indication of the validity of the simulation model.

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Claim 2:
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a user interface that includes a constraint language for enabling a user to express constraint definitions as part of said constraint knowledge, said constraint language including a condition token for indicating the presence in a constraint definition of a statement about a condition of a variable, and a consequences token for indicating the presence in a constraint definition of a statement about a consequence on a variable of the system.