Abstract
In current feature modeling systems, all dimensions in a model have to be
fully specified by the user. It is desirable that systems become more flexible
in this respect, i.e. that non-critical dimensions in a model can be declared as
variant, and that the model can be auto-matically adjusted when this is
appropriate.
A method and an implementation to realize this will be de-scribed. The
underlying feature model definition and validation approach will be introduced.
Validation is done by a collection of constraint solvers. An overview of invalid
situations in which automatic model adjustment can be applied will be given. The
constraint solving scheme and, in particular, the automatic model adjustment
strategies for different types of constraints will be elab-orated. Applications
in the areas of design by features, creating a mem-ber from a family of
products, and feature conversion will be given.
These will illustrate that automatic feature model adjustment is a very useful
concept.
Noort A and Bronsvoort WF (2001), Automatic adjustment of invalid feature models. In: Proceedings of Solid Modeling '01, Sixth ACM Symposium on Solid Modeling and Applications, 4-8 June, Ann Arbor, USA, Anderson DC and Lee K (eds). ACM Press, New York, pp. 267-270.