Product configuration server for efficiently displaying selectable attribute values for configurable products

Abstract

A computer-implemented system leverages binary decision diagram (BDD) structures to provide selectable attribute values for one or more configurable products. The BDD structures may define offering attribute nodes and non-offering attribute nodes. The offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values selectable by the user based on product configuration rules, and the non-offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values not selectable by the user based on the product configuration rules. The computer-implemented system may further include at least one memory storage device that stores one or more product configuration rules used to define permissible product configurations and attributes of the products. By evaluating the BDD structures and the product configuration rules, the computer-implemented system may prepare a customized set of product records for transmission to a user, wherein the customized set of product records contains product attribute values corresponding to the offering attribute nodes.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented system for determining product attributes for a configurable product, the computer-implemented system comprising:
 a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions; and   one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory, computer-readable medium that, when the computer-executable instructions are executed, the one or more processors are configured to:
 receive customer attribute values relating to customer demographic information; 
 identify a product configuration rule based on a selected configurable product, wherein:
 the product configuration rule is associated with a plurality of versions of the product configuration rule; and 
 at least one version of the product configuration rule evaluates differently depending on at least one customer attribute; 
 
 select a version of the product configuration rule from the plurality of versions of the product configuration rule using at least one of the plurality of customer attribute values, wherein the selection of the version of the product configuration rule is performed prior to evaluation of the selected version of the product configuration rule; and 
 evaluate the selected version of the product configuration rule to provide a configuration of the selected configurable product. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the product configuration rule is associated with a class of product configuration rules, the class of product configuration rules determining when the selected version of the product configuration rule is evaluated. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the class of product configuration rules associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule indicates that the selected version of the product configuration rule is to be evaluated after receiving the customer attribute values. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the class of product configuration rules associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule indicates that the selected version of the product configuration rule is to be transmitted for evaluation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the product configuration rule is assigned a product configuration rule type, the assigned product configuration rule type being selected from a group comprising a non-conditional product configuration rule type, a customer conditional product configuration rule type, a product conditional product configuration rule type, and a product conditional aggregation product configuration rule type. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-conditional product configuration rule type identifies that the product configuration rule includes an action statement not dependent upon a conditional statement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the product conditional product configuration rule type identifies that the product configuration rule includes an action statement dependent upon a conditional statement, wherein the conditional statement includes at least one product attribute value. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the product configuration rule is associated with a binary decision diagram structure, and each version of the plurality of versions of the product configuration rule is associated with a corresponding version of the binary decision diagram structure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each version of the binary decision diagram structure varies depending on the associated version of the product configuration rule. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to evaluate a binary decision diagram structure associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule, wherein the evaluation of the binary decision diagram structure identifies one or more selectable product attribute values for the selected configurable product. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for determining product attributes for a configurable product, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, with one or more processors, customer attribute values relating to customer demographic information;   identifying a product configuration rule in a non-transitory, computer-readable medium in communication with the one or more processors based on a selected configurable product, wherein:
 the product configuration rule is associated with a plurality of versions of the product configuration rule; and 
 each version of the product configuration rule evaluates differently depending on at least one customer attribute; 
   selecting, with the one or more processors, a version of the product configuration rule from the plurality of versions of the product configuration rule using at least one of the plurality of customer attribute values, wherein the selection of the version of the product configuration rule is performed prior to evaluation of the selected version of the product configuration rule; and   evaluating the selected version of the product configuration rule to provide a configuration of the selected configurable product.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the product configuration rule is associated with a class of product configuration rules, the class of product configuration rules determining when the selected version of the product configuration rule is evaluated. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the class of product configuration rules associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule indicates that the selected version of the product configuration rule is to be evaluated after receiving the customer attribute values. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the class of product configuration rules associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule indicates that the selected version of the product configuration rule is to be transmitted for evaluation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the product configuration rule is assigned a product configuration rule type, the assigned product configuration rule type being selected from a group comprising a non-conditional product configuration rule type, a customer conditional product configuration rule type, a product conditional product configuration rule type, and a product conditional aggregation product configuration rule type. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-conditional product configuration rule type identifies that the product configuration rule includes an action statement not dependent upon a conditional statement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the product conditional product configuration rule type identifies that the product configuration rule includes an action statement dependent upon a conditional statement, wherein the conditional statement includes at least one product attribute value. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the product configuration rule is associated with a binary decision diagram structure, and each version of the plurality of versions of the product configuration rule is associated with a corresponding version of the binary decision diagram structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each version of the binary decision diagram structure varies depending on the associated version of the product configuration rule. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further includes:
 evaluating, with the one or more processors, a binary decision diagram structure associated with the selected version of the product configuration rule, wherein the evaluation of the binary decision diagram structure identifies one or more selectable product attribute values for the selected configurable product.