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`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
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`I.
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`A method for using computer assisted configuration technology to
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`generate one or more attribute prioritized configuration answers to one or more
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`configuration queries, the method comprising:
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`receiving one or more configuration queries from a client system;
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`processing the one or more configuration queries using a combined
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`configuration rules-attributes model to determine valid configuration
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`answers prioritized by one or more predetermined attributes; and
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`providing at least a subset of the valid configuration answers to the client
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`system.
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`2.
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`The method of claim I wherein to determine valid configuration
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`answers prioritized by one or more predetermined attributes comprises:
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`processing valid configuration answers with an attribute based preference
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`algorithm,
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`3.
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`The method of claim I wherein providing at least a subset of the valid
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`configuration answers to the client system comprises providing a predetermined
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`number of attribute-prioritized valid configuration answers to a user.
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`4.
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`The method ofclaim I wherein providing at least a subset of the valid
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`configuration answers to the client system comprises providing a user selected
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`number of attribute-prioritized valid configuration answers to a user.
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`5.
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`The method of claim 1 further comprising:
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`predetermining values of one or more combinations of attributes associated
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`with respective configuration answers;
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`storing the predetermined values; and
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`retrieving the stored predetermined values associated with a particular valid
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`configuration answer if the particular valid configuration is an answer
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`to one or more of the configuration queries.
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`-17-
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`Attorney Docket No.: T00128
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`6.
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`The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more configuration queries
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`comprise configuration queries to configure at least one of the products from the
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`group comprising: vehicles, computers, and financial products.
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`7.
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`A computer system to generate one or more attribute prioritized
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`configuration answers to one or more configuration queries, the system comprising:
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`a processor; and
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`a storage medium having data encoded therein, the data comprising processor
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`executable code for:
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`receiving one or more configuration queries from a client system;
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`processing the one or more configuration queries using a combined
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`configuration rules-attributes model to determine valid
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`configuration answers prioritized by one or more
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`predetermined attributes; and
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`providing at least a subset of the valid configuration answers to the
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`client system.
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`8.
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`The computer system of claim 7 wherein the data further comprises
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`processor executable code for:
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`processing valid configuration answers with an attribute based preference
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`algorithm.
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`9.
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`The computer system of claim 7 wherein the code for providing at least
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`a subset of the valid configuration answers to the client system further comprises code
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`for providing a predetermined number of attribute-prioritized valid configuration
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`answers to a user.
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`10.
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`The computer system of claim 7 wherein the code for providing at least
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`a subset of the valid configuration answers to the client system further comprises code
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`for providing a user selected number of attribute-prioritized valid configuration
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`answers to a user.
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`-18-
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`Attorney Docket No.: TOOl28
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`l 1.
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`The computer system of claim 7 wherein the data further comprises
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`processor executable code for:
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`predetermining values of one or more combinations-of attributes associated-
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`with respective configuration answers;
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`storing the predetermined values; and
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`retrieving the stored predetermined values associated with a particular valid
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`configuration answer if the particular valid configuration is an answer
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`to one or more of the configuration queries.
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`12.
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`The computer system of claim 7 wherein the one or more configuration
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`queries comprise configuration queries to configure at least one of the products from
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`the group comprising: vehicles, computers, and financial products.
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`13.
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`A computer storage medium comprising data embedded therein to
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`cause a computer system to generate one or more attribute prioritized configuration
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`answers to one or more configuration queries, wherein the data comprises processor
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`executable code for:
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`receiving one or more configuration queries from a client system;
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`processing the one or more configuration queries using a combined
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`configuration rules-attributes model to determine valid configuration
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`answers prioritized by one or more predetermined attributes; and
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`providing the valid configuration answers to the client system.
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`14.
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`The computer storage medium of claim 13 wherein the data further
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`comprises processor executable code for:
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`processing valid configuration answers with an attribute based preference
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`algorithm.
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`15.
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`The computer storage medium ofclaim 13 wherein the code for
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`providing at least a subset of the valid configuration answers to the client system
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`further comprises code for providing a predetermined number of attribute-prioritized
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`valid configuration answers to a user.
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`-19-
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`Attorney Docket No.: T00\ 28
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`16.
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`The computer storage medium of claim 13 wherein the code for
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`providing at least a subset of the valid configuration answers to the client system
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`further comprises code for providing a user selected number of attribute-prioritized
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`valid configuration answers to a user.
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`17.
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`The computer storage medium of claim 13 wherein the data further
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`comprises processor executable code for:
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`predetermining values of one or more combinations of attributes associated
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`with respective configuration answers;
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`storing the predetermined values; and
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`retrieving the stored predetermined values associated with a particular valid
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`configuration answer if the particular valid configuration is an answer
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`to one or more of the configuration queries.
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`18.
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`The computer storage medium of claim 13 wherein the one or more
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`configuration queries comprise configuration queries to configure at least one of the
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`products from the group comprising: vehicles, computers, and financial products.
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`19.
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`A computer system to generate one or more attribute prioritized
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`configuration answers to one or more configuration queries, the system comprising:
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`means for receiving one or more configuration queries from a client system;
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`means for processing the one or more configuration queries using a combined
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`configuration rules-attributes model to determine valid configuration
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`answers prioritized by one or more predetermined attributes; and
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`means for providing at least a subset of the valid configuration answers to the
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`client system.
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`20.
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`The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:
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`means for predetermining values ofone or more combinations of attributes
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`associated with respective configuration answers;
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`means for storing the predetermined values; and
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`-20-
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`Attorney Docket No.: TOOl28
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`means for retrieving the stored predetermined values associated with a
`particular valid configuration answer ifthe particular valid
`configuration is an answer to one or more of the configuration queries.
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`-21-
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