Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of finding a rule in a rules base that includes a plurality of rule entries, each having a rule and an associated objective and one or more associated circumstances. A rule finder accesses the rules base in response to a request, with a specified objective and with specified circumstances, by searching the rules base for a matching entry. Where the search fails, the rule finder searches one or more translation tables for entries having first circumstances matching those specified in the request that resulted in the failure. If found, the rule finder repeats the search of the rules base with the specified objective and with a second (or “map-to”) circumstances from matching entries in the translation tables. The rule finder can return, e.g., to an application program that issued the request, a rule found during that repeat search of the rules base.

Abstract: The invention provides, in some aspects, a system for implementing a multilingual rules-based user interface including a reference tracker (executing on a digital data processor) that identifies translatable elements—by way of example, static text, enumerated variable text, images and icons—referenced by one or more user interface rules in a rules base and that generates a translation package containing those translatable elements for at least one target locale. A rules engine (which may execute on the same or another digital data processor) retrieves, from one or more transliteration rules based on the translation facilitation package, one or more translated elements that are associated with a locale and with one or more translatable elements referenced by the user interface rules. The rules engine processes those user interface rules using those one or more translated elements and, as a result, generates a user interface with the one or more translated elements.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a user interface method that includes processing one or more BPM or other rules with a rules engine executing on a server digital data processor. The rules engine generates, for presentation on a client device, a user interface having one or more display, input or other elements specified by those rules. Related aspects of the invention provide methods as described above in which the rules engine generates the user interface dynamically, e.g., selecting and/or configuring the elements that make up that interface concurrently with the client-server session during which the interface (e.g., web page or other user interface paradigm) is requested by, transmitted to, and/or presented by the client device. Further aspects of the invention provide such a method, where the rules engine generates the interface, e.g., web page, with embedded BPM or other rules that are executed by the client device and that support automated decision-making, e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of finding a rule in a rules base that includes a plurality of rule entries, each having a rule and an associated objective and one or more associated circumstances. A rule finder accesses the rules base in response to a request, with a specified objective and with specified circumstances, by searching the rules base for a matching entry. Where the search fails, the rule finder searches one or more translation tables for entries having first circumstances matching those specified in the request that resulted in the failure. If found, the rule finder repeats the search of the rules base with the specified objective and with a second (or “map-to”) circumstances from matching entries in the translation tables. The rule finder can return, e.g., to an application program that issued the request, a rule found during that repeat search of the rules base.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a user interface method that includes processing one or more BPM or other rules with a rules engine executing on a server digital data processor. The rules engine generates, for presentation on a client device, a user interface having one or more display, input or other elements specified by those rules. Related aspects of the invention provide methods as described above in which the rules engine generates the user interface dynamically, e.g., selecting and/or configuring the elements that make up that interface concurrently with the client-server session during which the interface (e.g., web page or other user interface paradigm) is requested by, transmitted to, and/or presented by the client device. Further aspects of the invention provide such a method, where the rules engine generates the interface, e.g., web page, with embedded BPM or other rules that are executed by the client device and that support automated decision-making, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for service-level based and/or skills-based assignment of a work item to one (or more) of a plurality of resources based on fitness, for example, of skills required by the former to those provided by the latter. Assignment takes into account the level of stress on the work item and/or resources, such that the number of resources fit for assignment varies as the level of stress varies. Systems according to the invention can be used, by way of example, to route a call or other request made by a customer to a service center. The requirements for processing the call (determined, for example, by an incoming call operator) are matched against the skill sets of available customer service agents, taking call and/or resource stress levels into account. For example, some implementations may match an incoming call having a low stress factor (e.g.

Abstract: A method of automated workflow processing includes transforming an object, A1, which is of class X, into an object which is of class Y. The method includes the steps of separating existing data elements of A1 from the object itself, generating new data elements corresponding to class Y, inserting the new data elements into object A1, and computing values for the new data elements, possibly based on values of the old data elements. Other objects that referred to A1 before the transformation continue to do so afterwards. Values of data elements prior to transformation can be preserved, e.g., to facilitate review, to facilitate further transformation, and/or to facilitate back transformation.

Abstract: A method of automated workflow processing includes transforming an object, A1, which is of class X, into an object which is of class Y. The method includes the steps of separating existing data elements of A1 from the object itself, generating new data elements corresponding to class Y, inserting the new data elements into object A1, and computing values for the new data elements, possibly based on values of the old data elements. Other objects that referred to A1 before the transformation continue to do so afterwards. Values of data elements prior to transformation can be preserved, e.g., to facilitate review, to facilitate further transformation, and/or to facilitate back transformation.

Abstract: A rules base according to the invention comprises multiple entries encoded in a storage medium, e.g., optical disk, magnetic disk, or read-only memory or random access memory. Each entry is encoded to include, or is otherwise associated with, an objective and with a circumstance. Each entry is also marked to reflect its respective status, e.g., via status fields encoded in the records. These statuses include, inter alia, "valid," reflecting that information encoded in, or otherwise associated with, the entry corresponds to a rule for corresponding objective/circumstance; "inheritance," reflecting that the rule for the corresponding objective/circumstance is to be sought elsewhere, e.g., in another entry in the rules base; and "invalid," reflecting that the corresponding combination of objective and circumstance is invalid. The rules base also includes an "inheritance" structure that, too, is encoded in a storage medium.