Apparatus for generating software logic rules by flowchart design
First Claim
1. An apparatus implemented on a programmed computer for generating rules in a format acceptable to a rules engine for automating a business process, said business process having functions, variables and project properties, said apparatus comprising:
- a developer interface having plural dialog boxes for defining functions, variables and project properties of a business process to be automated, wherein said project properties have an activity class defined in the project properties which project properties include an executable, a path to said executable, a startup argument, a resource file, a resource file deployment path, a rules file, a rules file deployment path, and a list of excludable modules;
an editing interface for designing a flow diagram using shapes and connectors selected from a pre-selected list of shapes and connectors, said flow diagram being based on said business process, said shapes and connectors being software objects carrying said functions and variables; and
a rules generator that parses said flow diagram and, using said functions and variables carried by said shapes and connectors, generates rules in a form adapted for use by a rules engine for automatically implementing said business process.
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Abstract
A apparatus implemented using a programmable computer that automatically generates the rules required by a software rules engine as a process flow diagram is designed. The apparatus includes a developer interface; an editing interface, and a rules generator. A developer interface enables the user to define functions and variables together with their properties from the business application. An editing interface allows the user to define the logical rules the business would follow in performing the business application by constructing a process flow diagram and associated tables using the functions and variables defined in the developer interface. The rules generator then automatically parses the flow diagrams and tables defined by the business user and, using the functions and variables defined in the developer interface, generates rules for a rules engine. The rules can then be deployed to a controller that implements the process automatically based on the input rules.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus implemented on a programmed computer for generating rules in a format acceptable to a rules engine for automating a business process, said business process having functions, variables and project properties, said apparatus comprising:
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a developer interface having plural dialog boxes for defining functions, variables and project properties of a business process to be automated, wherein said project properties have an activity class defined in the project properties which project properties include an executable, a path to said executable, a startup argument, a resource file, a resource file deployment path, a rules file, a rules file deployment path, and a list of excludable modules; an editing interface for designing a flow diagram using shapes and connectors selected from a pre-selected list of shapes and connectors, said flow diagram being based on said business process, said shapes and connectors being software objects carrying said functions and variables; and a rules generator that parses said flow diagram and, using said functions and variables carried by said shapes and connectors, generates rules in a form adapted for use by a rules engine for automatically implementing said business process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of generating rules for a rules engine to implement a business process, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) defining, using a programmed computer, a business process in terms of functions and variables; (2) storing on said computer metadata for functions and variables used in shapes and connectors; (3) constructing, using said computer, a process flow diagram according to said business process with objects selected using an object-based software programming language, said objects being the shapes and connectors, said objects having project properties wherein each project property has an activity class defined in the project properties including an executable, a path to said executable, a startup argument, a resource file, a resource file deployment path, a rules file, a rules file deployment path, and a list of excludable modules; (4) parsing, using said computer, said process flow diagram and said properties of said shapes and connectors of said process flow diagram for rules regarding said process; (5) generating using said computer said rules in a software language readable by a rules engine; (6) defining, using said computer, the sequence of execution of said rules by using index values associated with the shapes and page numbers of the Start Rule Shapes and End Rule Shapes; (7) generating, using said computer, menus for display at run time based on multiple choice dialog functions and the associated connectors; and (8) defining, using said computer, the sequence of execution of said rules by generating choices for the runtime user based on the connectors leaving the dialog shape.
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Specification