Rules framework for definition and execution of end-user rules logic

• US 20050246686A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Curley, Vincent H., Gerber, Robert H., Knight, Holly, Seshadri, Praveen, Dossick, Stephen E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/046 Forward inferencing; Production systems

Abstract

A rules-based software architecture that provides the infrastructure for the definition and execution of end-user rules logic. This enables end-user automation of data in a unified storage platform using simple IF-THEN rules. The architecture includes a monitoring component that tracks items associated with the data, and a rules component interfaces to the rules component, and employs metadata associated with the tracked items to provide for automated handling of a subset of the items. The system further provides for defining virtual collections and items in the system using content based logic. The system further comprises one or more trigger components that sets items and collections of items dynamically active as a function of trigger logic. Additional components can include a constraint component for imposing constraint logic on items, and a decision component that supports enabling application customization logic at decision points.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates data management, comprising:

a monitoring component that tracks items associated with data; and

a rules component that employs metadata associated with the tracked items to provide for automated handling of a subset of the items.

2. The system of claim 1, further provides for defining virtual collections and items in the system using content based logic.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more trigger components that sets items and collections of items dynamically active as a function of trigger logic.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a constraint component that facilitates imposing constraint logic in the items.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a decision component that facilitates enablement of application customization logic at one or more decision points.

6. The system of claim 1, an end-user provides additional meta.

7. The system of claim 6, the additional metadata is declarative.

8. The system of claim 1, the rules component facilitates output of a rule that automates the data.

9. The system of claim 1, the rules component facilitates output of a rule that includes automatically-derived conditions.

10. The system of claim 1, the rules component facilitates output of a rule that includes explicitly specified conditions.

11. The system of claim 1, the rules component facilitates output of a rule that includes end-user inputs that are arguments.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a resolution component that resolves a conflict between rules.

13. The system of claim 12, the resolution component resolves the rules conflict by at least one of end-user rule prioritization and a predefined resolution policy.

14. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the system of claim 1.

15. A computer that employs the system of claim 1.

16. A server that employs the system of claim 1.

17. A rules-based system that facilitates file system management by an end-user, comprising:

a monitoring component that tracks items associated with file system data; and

a rules component that processes an end-user generated rule associated with the tracked items to provide for automated handling of the data.

18. The system of claim 17, the end-user defines virtual collections and items from other items using the rule.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising one or more trigger components that are synchronous and asynchronous.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a constraint component that facilitates imposing constraint logic in the items, and a decision component that facilitates enablement of application customization logic at one or more decision points.

21. The system of claim 17, the rule includes automatically-derived conditions and explicitly specified conditions.

22. The system of claim 17, the rule includes end-user inputs that are arguments.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising a resolution component that resolves a conflict between a plurality of the rules by employing at least one of end-user rule prioritization and a predefined resolution policy.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of facilitating end-user automation of file system data, the method comprising:

tracking items associated with the data; and

providing metadata associated with the tracked items to facilitate automated handling of a subset of the items.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising defining virtual collections and items in the system using content based logic.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising dynamically activating sets items and collections of items as a function of trigger logic.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the acts of,

imposing constraint logic in the items;

identifying one or more decision points in the data; and

enabling application customization logic at the one or more decision points.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising outputting one or more rules that facilitate automation of the data.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising outputting a rule that includes automatically-derived conditions and explicitly specified conditions.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising outputting a rule that includes end-user inputs that are arguments.

31. A rules-based method of managing a file system, comprising:

tracking items associated with data of the file system using one or more rules created by an end-user; and

processing the rules associated with the tracked items to facilitate automated handling of the data.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising resolving conflicts between the rules by at least one of end-user rule prioritization and a predefined resolution policy.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising defining virtual collections and items using content based logic.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising dynamically activating sets items and collections of items as a function of trigger logic.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the acts of,

imposing constraint logic in the items;

identifying one or more decision points in the data; and

enabling application customization logic at the one or more decision points.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an algebra that includes logic components of the one or more rules, employed to compose an end-user program that facilitates the automated handling of the data.

37. The method of claim 36, the logic components are used to define at least one of queries, complex verbs, and constraints using an IF-THEN rule construct.

38. The method of claim 36, the logic components facilitate a common visual presentation of rule logic across a plurality of applications.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising at least one of the acts of:

defining a value with a rule to generate a property;

combining a rule with an event to create an agent;

filtering a list to generate a new list; and

combining the new list with another list.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing a rule-based algebra that includes logic components which allow the end-user to perform at least one of,

defining a new end-user type that is different from an existing type;

dynamically modifying the existing type;

defining and persisting a query; and

defining a logic that affects specific items.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising persisting rules-based changes made in a first application across to another application.