Business Rules Manager Table Mapping Inputs to Outputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing business rule frameworks are complex for non-technical users due to reliance on conditional expressions with Boolean operators, requiring precise ordering of rules and time-consuming evaluation processes, making it difficult to create, update, and manage business rules.
Innovation Solution
A business rules management system that represents rules as tables mapping inputs to outputs, allowing automatic generation of unique input combinations and enabling business users to set output values, with features like wildcards and role-based access control, facilitating easy creation, updating, and deletion of rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If business rule frameworks use conditional expressions with Boolean operators, then the system can execute complex business rules, but the system becomes difficult for non-technical users to create and manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual rule builder interface that acts as an intermediary between business users and the underlying complex rule execution engine. This interface translates simple visual configurations into the conditional expressions and Boolean operators needed for complex business rule execution, shielding users from complexity while maintaining full execution capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified visual representation (copy) of the actual business rules that mirrors their structure and logic. This visual copy allows non-technical users to understand, create, and modify rules through intuitive graphical elements rather than requiring knowledge of programming languages or complex conditional expressions
2Reliability
If multiple rules are ordered with later rules overriding earlier ones, then the system can handle rule conflicts, but the process of adding and managing rules becomes time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes a default ordering mechanism and conflict resolution strategy in the system configuration, so that when multiple rules apply, the system automatically determines which rule takes precedence based on pre-defined criteria such as rule priority, creation timestamp, or specific business logic. This eliminates the need for manual ordering during rule creation
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages rule ordering and conflict resolution without requiring user intervention. When rules are added or modified, the system self-adjusts the rule order and determines override relationships based on the rule metadata and configuration, freeing users from manual ordering tasks
3Reliability
If all later rules must be considered in case one overrides a preceding rule, then the system can ensure correct rule evaluation, but the evaluation process becomes complex and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rule evaluation process into distinct phases: first identifying all matching rules, then applying conflict resolution criteria to determine the winning rule, and finally executing only the selected rule. This segmentation breaks down the complex evaluation process into manageable, transparent steps that are easier to understand and debug
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided for creating, updating, and deleting business rules with ease by use of a rule manager. Business rules are represented as tables that map a set of inputs to a set of outputs. Inputs are represented as enumerations with predefined allowable values. All possible unique combinations of values for a given set of inputs are automatically generated, and a business user can then set the outputs for each desired input value combination.