Rule processing system
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Abstract
A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections. The apparatus automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.
102 Citations
67 Claims
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1-51. -51. (canceled)
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52. A rule model for use in a rule processing system, said rule model comprising a digital representation of a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) formed by manipulatively combining an Include ZDD rule component that indicates inclusive constraints of said rule model, an Exclude ZDD rule component that indicates exclusive constraints of said rule model, and an Attribute Relations ZDD constructed from said Include and Exclude rule components that indicates interrelations between attributes of said Include and Exclude ZDD rule components;
- and a memory that stores said rule model for subsequent access during rule processing, said rule model being operative with a digital processor to provide a user with a result in response to user inputs characterizing desired constraints of said rule model.
- View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A rule model representing a business or engineering rule for use in a rule processing system, said rule model comprising a digital representation of a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) formed by manipulatively combining an Include ZDD rule component that indicates positive constraints of said rule model, an Exclude ZDD rule component that indicates negative constraints of said rule model, and an Attribute Relations ZDD constructed from said Include and Exclude rule components to indicate interrelations of attributes of said Include and Exclude ZDD rule components, and an Elective Events ZDD component that during processing of said rule model invokes an event in response to selection by a user of a predetermined combination of constraints of said rule model, said attributes and enumeration values thereof having an assigned indexed order within said ZDD rule model;
- and a memory for storing said ZDD rule model in a memory in reduced canonical form according to said ordered indices.
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62. A computer-implemented method to enable a rule modeler to convert a business or engineering rule into a ZDD rule model comprising:
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providing a cross-reference table of attributes and enumeration values indicative of rule components of said business or engineering rule, enabling the modeler to define components of said rule by selecting an inclusive or exclusive relation between said attributes and enumeration values in respective rows and columns of said table, forming an Include ZDD rule component from said inclusive relations, forming an Exclude ZDD rule component from exclusive relations, producing an Attribute Relations ZDD rule component based on said Include and Exclude rule components, constructing said ZDD rule model based on said Include, Exclude, and Attribute Relations rule components, and storing said ZDD rule model in a memory for subsequent use in a rule processing system. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification