Defining extensible expression behavior in a rules system
First Claim
1. A method for enabling use of a custom expression in a rules engine, the method comprising:
- providing the custom expression with access to validation context;
validating the custom expression using the validation context; and
if the custom expression passes validation;
determining which variables the custom expression reads from or writes to;
providing the custom expression with access to execution context; and
evaluating the custom expression.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein is technology for, among other things, enabling use of custom expressions in a rules engine. The rules engine may be used in conjunction with a workflow. The technology involves providing a custom expression with access to validation context and execution context of the workflow. The custom expression can then participate in rules engine validation and execution. Furthermore, the technology allows for variables of the custom expression to be analyzed so that the rules engine can discover the variable dependencies of the custom expression and any side effects that drive forward chaining.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for enabling use of a custom expression in a rules engine, the method comprising:
-
providing the custom expression with access to validation context; validating the custom expression using the validation context; and if the custom expression passes validation; determining which variables the custom expression reads from or writes to; providing the custom expression with access to execution context; and evaluating the custom expression. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system comprising:
-
a rules engine for managing rules; a custom expression; a validation interface for interfacing between the custom expression and the rules engine, wherein the validation interface is configurable to access validation context provided by the rules engine, wherein further the validation interface is configurable to validate the custom expression using the validation context; an evaluation interface for interfacing between the custom expression and the rules engine, wherein the validation interface is configurable to access execution context provided by the rules engine, wherein further the evaluation interface is configurable to evaluate the custom expression; and a usage analysis interface for interfacing between the custom expression and the rules engine, wherein the usage analysis interface is configurable to analyze the usage of variables by the custom expression and provide usage information to the rules engine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code stored thereon for causing a computer system to execute a method for enabling use of a custom expression in a rules engine, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving a call associated with a particular expression; (b) determining whether the expression is custom; (c) if the expression is custom; (i) validating the expression; (ii) analyzing the usage of variables by the custom expression; and (iii) evaluating the expression. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification