Method and apparatus for using meta-rules to support dynamic rule-based business systems

Abstract

Meta-Rules are a special set of business rules whose purpose is to enable business rules selection and subsequent rule invocation by a business rules manager. Contained within a Meta-Rule are business policy and other information that enables the selection of a business rule used by a business application. Meta-rules allow the system to dynamically select and identify specific business rules to be executed within a given business application. By enabling a higher level of abstraction, and relying on rules to resolve specific business rule selection and invocations, Meta-rules further separate the binding of business knowledge and practice from application programming logic. The application programmer is freed from having specific knowledge of the business rule; all that is required is an assertion that a rule is to be used.

1 . A method of business rule selection based on meta-rules comprising the steps of: 
 integrating business process definition and meta-rules into a unified framework;    automatically selecting executable business rules from meta-rules through an evaluative process; and    seamlessly invoking business rules as specified in the evaluation of meta-rules.    
     
     
         2 . The method of business rule selection recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing capability of updates/changes made to the rules transparent to the underlying system by changing meta-rules.  
     
     
         3 . The method of business rule selection recited in  claim 2 , further comprising the step of providing capability of “hot deployment” of rules, thus helping to build an adaptive system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of business rule selection recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing capability of “hot deployment” is performed without requiring explicit changes to business processes.  
     
     
         5 . The method of business rule selection recited in  claim 3 , further comprising the step of providing an end-to-end rule-based mechanism to enable business solutions.  
     
     
         6 . A computer system for business rule selection based on meta-rules comprising: 
 means for integrating business process definition and meta-rules into a unified framework;    means for automatically selecting executable business rules from meta-rules through an evaluative process;    means for seamlessly invoking business rules as specified in the evaluation of meta-rules.    
     
     
         7 . The computer system for business rule selection recited in  claim 6 , further comprising means for providing capability of updates/changes made to the rules transparent to the underlying system by changing meta-rules.  
     
     
         8 . The computer system for business rule selection recited in  claim 7 , further comprising means for providing capability of “hot deployment” of rules, thus helping to build an adaptive system.  
     
     
         9 . The computer system for business rule selection recited in  claim 8 , wherein the means for providing capability of “hot deployment” does not require explicit changes in business processes.  
     
     
         10 . The computer system for business rule selection recited in  claim 8 , further comprising means for providing an end-to-end rule-based mechanism to enable business solutions.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for using meta-rules to support dynamic rule-based business systems comprising: 
 a definition and structure for meta-rules;    a rules proxy artifact that enables invocation of meta-rules and business rules by an application program;    a rules engine that supports execution of meta-rules and business rules; and    a rules manager that acts as a middle manager between an application program and the rules engine that resolves rule invocations in context.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the meta-rules allows the system to dynamically select and identify specific business rules to be executed within a given application program.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited  claim 12 , wherein there are plurality of rules engines and the rules manager comprises: 
 a rules resolver that manages an overall function of the rules manager, coordinating and directing interactions between an application program and the rules engines;    a meta-rules manager that performs a specialized function of interpreting resultants of meta-rules invocation, leading to selection of business rules and rules engines;    a rule manager state machine which provides additional evaluation of data and control required to resolve and manage meta-rules and business rules; and    a context manager that evaluates a context of information and control for rule invocation.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13 , wherein the rules resolver supports rule invocation by a business application program and extracts reference and rules engines.  
     
     
         15 . A computer program product containing code implementing a method using meta-rules to support dynamic rule-based business systems comprising: 
 code for a definition and structure for meta-rules;    code for a rules proxy artifact that enables invocation of meta-rules and business rules by an application program;    code for a rules engine that supports execution of meta-rules and business rules; and    code for a rules manager that acts as a middle manager between an application program and the rules engine that resolves rule invocations in context.    
     
     
         16 . The computer program product recited in  claim 15 , wherein the meta-rules allows a system to dynamically select and identify specific business rules to be executed within a given application program.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program product recited in  claim 16 , wherein there is code for a plurality of rules engines and the code for the rules manager comprises: 
 code for a rules resolver that manages an overall function of the rules manager, coordinating and directing interactions between an application program and the rules engines;    code for a meta-rules manager that performs a specialized function of interpreting resultants of meta-rules invocation, leading to selection of business rules and rules engines;    code for a rule manager state machine which provides additional evaluation of data and control required to resolve and manage meta-rules and business rules; and    code for a context manager that evaluates a context of information and control for rule invocation.    
     
     
         18 . The computer program product recited in  claim 17 , wherein the code for the rules resolver supports rule invocation by a business application program and extracts reference and rules engines.