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.
79 Citations
66 Claims
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1-51. -51. (canceled)
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52. A system comprising:
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means for storing 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 a rule model; an Exclude ZDD rule component that indicates exclusive constraints of the rule model; and an Attribute Relations ZDD constructed from the Include and Exclude rule components to indicate interrelations between the Include and Exclude ZDD rule components; and means for determining a result responsive to an application of inputs to the ZDD, the inputs characterizing desired constraints of the rule model. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a processor to:
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provide a cross-reference table of attributes and enumeration values indicative of rule components of the rule; define components of the rule by selecting an inclusive or exclusive relation between the attributes and enumeration values in respective rows and columns of the table; form an Include ZDD rule component from the inclusive relations; form an Exclude ZDD rule component from exclusive relations; produce an Attribute Relations ZDD rule component based on the Include and Exclude rule components; construct the ZDD rule model based on the Include, Exclude, and Attribute Relations rule components; and store the ZDD rule model in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification