Configuring computer systems through constraint-based modeling and interactive constraint satisfaction

A major problem in the computer industry, as with many other industries, is ensuring that the products ordered by a customer are viable products and that they can be delivered at the quoted price. The inability of companies to solve this problem results in an enormous expense for a company. In this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inComputers in industry Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 3 - 21
Main Authors Fohn, S.M., Liau, J.S., Greef, A.R., Young, R.E., O'Grady, P.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.1995
Elsevier
Elsevier Sequoia S.A
Subjects
Applied sciences
Computer based modeling
Computer configuration
Computer industry
Computer science; control theory; systems
Computer systems and distributed systems. User interface
Concurrent engineering
Constraint-based reasoning
Customer satisfaction
Exact sciences and technology
Interactive constraint modeling
Personal computers
Product development
Simulation
Software
Software engineering
Studies
Computer configuration
Constraint-based reasoning
Concurrent engineering
Interactive constraint modeling
Computer system
Configuration
Modeling
Interactive mode
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Summary:A major problem in the computer industry, as with many other industries, is ensuring that the products ordered by a customer are viable products and that they can be delivered at the quoted price. The inability of companies to solve this problem results in an enormous expense for a company. In this paper we present an approach to solving this problem in the computer industry through constraint-based modeling and interactive constraint satisfaction. pc/con, a Personal Computer Configuration System, has been built within a computer-based environment called Saturn. The development of pc/con and related work is discussed. Saturn's architecture is presented and an example session with pc/con is demonstrated. We show how Saturn and pc/con have the features and capabilities necessary to support the extremely large variety of products and to support the maintenance of a configuration system for a rapidly and continuously changing product line. This approach would also appear to be applicable to other industries where there is a wide product variety.
ISSN:0166-3615
1872-6194
DOI:10.1016/0166-3615(94)00041-N