US Patent 11188687 Rule compliance checking and design generation with rule access security

A method and apparatus for checking compliance of a design for a product with design rules. An executable rule module comprising the design rules is received. The design rules comprise design checking rules that specify conditions. Design data representing the design is received. The executable rule module is run using the design data to determine compliance of the design with the design rules by determining whether the design satisfies the conditions. A compliance report to indicate the compliance of the design with the design rules is generated. The design data may be used to manufacture the product in response to a determination that the design complies with the design rules.