Abstract: A means is provided for specifying, applying, and managing sets of temporary or permanent additions or modifications to the behavior of object-oriented programs without having to change the code of the program, by using externalized rules. The points at which the externalized rules may be applied is determined by the implementation object model, thus making their specification natural to the program developers who are familiar with the program's implementation object model. The concept of dynamic method-based trigger or control points is disclosed for identifying potential rule attachment points in objects and identifying the rules that are applicable to each dynamic control point. At least one control point is flagged on the basis of being active such that the at least one control point and its associated rule is only processed if the at least one control point is flagged as being active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing general integrity checks using rules in an application running on a data processing system. A point is identified at which a unit of work is to complete. The unit of work includes a plurality of participants. Responsive to determining that the unit of work is to complete, rules associated with each participant in the unit of work are obtained. Responsive to obtaining the rules, the rules obtained for each of the participants are run. Responsive to running the rules, the general integrity of the application state with respect to the unit of work is determined. Responsive to determining the general integrity of the application state, the unit of work is completed by committing it or aborting it.

Abstract: A means is provided for specifying, applying, and managing sets of temporary or permanent additions or modifications to the behavior of object-oriented programs without having to change the code of the program, by using externalized rules. The points at which the externalized rules may be applied is determined by the implementation object model, thus making their specification natural to the program developers who are familiar with the program's implementation object model. The concept of dynamic method-based trigger or control points is disclosed for identifying potential rule attachment points in objects and identifying the rules that are applicable to each dynamic control point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for specifying, applying and managing rules used by an application in a data processing system are provided. A set of classification categories are specified, each classification category representing a different purpose of classification. A set of classifications are specified, each classification representing a possible outcome of an act of classifying. A set of control point names are specified, each name being associated with one or more control points in the application. A set of classification rules are specified, each such rule being associated with a classification category and said rule being adapted to analyze the state of the application and classify it by returning one or more classifications. A set of decision rules are specified, each such rule being associated with a classification and a control point name, said rule being adapted to affect the behavior of the application by calculating a value or making a decision.