Approach for re-using business rules

• US 7,152,053 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Inventors: Lerman, Marc, Werner, Chris W., Mellor, David J., Marce, Jean-Luc, Serrano-Morales, Carlos A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US11/059,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 706/47, 706/45, 706/46
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/046 Forward inferencing; Production systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An approach is described for developing software that executes rules, such as business rules. A group of rule templates defines a rule structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine. Separate ruleflow templates define tasks that entail the execution of rules. Each of the ruleflow templates associates a task with the group of rule templates. Because the ruleflow templates define the association between the tasks and the group of rule templates, during execution of the tasks a rules engine executes rules defined by the group of templates. User interfaces are automatically generated based on the group of rule templates. A user may interact with the user interfaces to edit the rules defined by the group of templates. After editing the rules, executing the tasks associated with the group of templates will cause execution of the modified rules.

Claims

1. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template, wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task; and

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task.

2. The method of claim 1 the method further including the steps:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task,

wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the steps of:

generating one or more user interfaces based on said first template; and

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first template is a rule template.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said second template is a ruleflow template describing tasks that entail execution of rules.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first template describes a structure of a business rule.

9. A method for developing software that involves the execution of rules by a rules engine, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating a group of rule templates that define rules structure for rules that may be executed by said rules engine;

generating a first ruleflow template that defines;

a first set of tasks that includes a first task, and an association with said first task and said a group of rule templates;

generating a second ruleflow template that defines;

a second set of tasks that includes a second task, and an association with said second task and said group of rule templates; and

generating a set of rules based on said group of templates,

wherein said association between said first task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task; and

wherein said association between said second task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task.

10. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing rules applications, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template;

wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task; and

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the computer-readable medium further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

generating one or more user interfaces based on said first template; and

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules;

executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said first template is a rule template.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said second template is a ruleflow template describing tasks that entail execution of rules.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said first template describes a structure of a business rule.

18. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing software that involves the execution of rules by a rules engine, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of;

generating a group of rule templates that define rules structure for rules that may be executed by said rules engine;

generating a first ruleflow template that defines;

a first set of tasks that includes a first task, and an association with said first task and said group of rule templates;

generating a second ruleflow template that defines;

a second set of tasks that includes a second task, and an association with said second task and said group of rule templates; and

generating a set of rules based on said group of templates, wherein said association between said first task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task, and wherein said association between said second task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task.

19. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first tern plate, wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task; and

wherein the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said first set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template.

20. The method of claim 19, the method further including the steps:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task and said second task,

wherein executing said first task and said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

21. The method of claim 19, further including the steps of:

generating one or more user interfaces based on said first template; and

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of:

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task and said second task, wherein executing said first task and said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said first template is a rule template.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said second template is a ruleflow template describing tasks that entail execution of rules.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said first template describes a structure of a business rule.

26. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing rules applications, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template;

wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task; and

wherein the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said first set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, the computer-readable medium further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task and said second task, wherein executing said first task and said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

generating one or more user interfaces based on said first template; and

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set ofrules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task and said second task, wherein executing said first task and said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein said first template is a rule template.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein said second template is a ruleflow template describing tasks that entail execution of rules.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein said first template describes a structure of a business rule.

33. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating rule element data that defines a set of choices that a user may choose for a rule element;

receiving user choice data that specify one or more choices made by the user for the rule element; and

generating the rule based upon the user choice data; and

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

generating a set of rules based on said first template, wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task.

36. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

providing a rule structure with one or more rule elements and an editable rule element;

providing an editable rule element type, and a set of choices that a user may choose for the editable rule element;

receiving user choice data that specify one or more choices chosen by the user for the rule element;

generating the rule based upon the user choice data;

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task.

37. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template, wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein the step of generating a second template describing an association with said first task and said first template includes the step of generating a second template that describes an association between said first task and a template group that includes said first template; and

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task.

38. The method of claim 37, the method further including the steps:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

39. A method for developing rules applications, wherein the method comprises the computer implemented steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template, wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein the step of generating a second template describing an association with said first task and said first template includes the step of generating a second template that describes an association between said first task and a template group that includes said first template;

wherein, the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said first set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template;

generating one or more user interfaces based on said first template;

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances;

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

40. A method for developing software that includes the execution of rules by a rules engine, wherein the method comprises the computer implements steps of:

generating a group of rule templates that define rules structure for rules that may be executed by said rules engine;

generating a first ruleflow template that defines a first set of tasks that includes a first task, and an association with said first task and a group of rule templates;

generating a second ruleflow template that defines a second set of tasks that includes a second task, an association with said second task and said group of rule templates;

generating a set of rules based on said group of templates;

wherein said association between said first task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein said association between said second task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein said association between said second task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task;

generating one or more user interfaces based on said group of rule templates;

generating instances of said.group of rule templates in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances;

generating changes to said instances in response to said user interface receiving further input from said user indicating new values for said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said group of rule templates and said changes to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

41. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing rule applications, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template;

wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein the step of generating a second template describing an association with said first task and said first template includes the step of generating a second template that describes an association between said first task and a template group that includes said first template; and

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first templates and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template second task.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, the computer-readable medium further including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:

modifying said set of rules; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

43. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing rule applications, whereih execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a first template that defines a rules structure for rules that may be executed by a rules engine;

generating a second template describing a first set of tasks that includes a first task and an association with said task and said first template;

generating a set of rules based on said first template;

wherein said association between said first task and said first template causes execution said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task;

wherein the step of generating a second template describing an association with said first task and said first template includes the step of generating a second template that describes an association between said first task and a template group that includes said first template;

wherein the step of generating said set of rules includes generating said first set of rules based on said first template and instances of said first template;

generating one or mare user interfaces based on said first template;

generating said instances in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances;

generating a third template describing a second set of tasks that includes a second task and association between said first template and said second task, wherein said association between said second task and said first template causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said second task;

modifying said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said first template and the modifications to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.

44. A computer-readable medium carrying one more sequences of instructions for developing software that involves the execution of rules by a rules engine, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a group of rule templates that define rules structure for rules that may be executed by said rule engine;

generating a first ruleflow template that defines a first set of tasks that includes a first task, and an association with said first task and a group of rule templates;

generating a second ruleflow template that defines a second set of tasks that includes a second task, an association with said second task and said group of rule templates;

generating a set of rules based on said group of templates, wherein said association between said first task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules engine while executing said first task, and wherein said association between said second task and said group of templates causes execution of said set of rules by said rules enginewhile executing said second task;

generating one or more user interfaces based on said group of rule templates;

generating instances of said group of rule templates in response to said user interfaces receiving input from a user indicating values for said instances;

generating changes to said instances in response to said user interface receiving further input from said user indicating new values for said instances;

modifying said set of rules based on said group of rule templates and said changes to said instances; and

after modifying said set of rules, executing said first task or said second task, wherein executing said first task or said second task after modifying said set of rules causes execution of the modified set of rules.