Abstract: A system for program development and execution consisting of a high level programming language based on a four part rule organization, consisting of a rule definition, a list of conditions, a list of actions which are taken upon satisfaction of a corresponding condition, and a list of exception handlers. The high level language is translated into an internal representation which controls a virtual stack machine. The virtual stack machine performs dynamic binding of rules and data to the current rule. Data access events are supplied through a table access method which provides an interface to the variety of sources of data coupled to the system. These sources of data include screens, import/export mechanisms, a foreign database system, such as IMS, and a local database system known as the table data store. The table data store organizes data in an object oriented, relational system, where each table is ordered on a primary key.

Abstract: A programmable computer which operates by executing rules, each including a rule name, and optionally: input parameters, a set of conditions, a set of actions associated with each condition, and a set of exception handlers. A condition is a logical expression which evaluates to a true or false boolean value, while an action is an executable statement. An exception handler contains executable statements.The computer includes text entry and display means for programming of rules. A rule is displayed with each condition and each action having a row of text. The computer generates a yes/no quadrant into which a programmer may enter sequence numbers, to associate ordered sets of actions with individual conditions. Sequence numbers may be entered not associated with any condition, to define a set of default actions.Upon entering a rule, the computer sequentially evaluates the rule's conditions.

Abstract: An object access system for retrieving objects in response to requests identifying requested objects, the system comprising an access structure consisting of a plurality of tables where each table is identified by a unique table identifier and has a plurality of rows where each row has a plurality of fields and is identified by a unique primary key in one of the fields and where a field may also contain objects; a row index for each table, each row index having entries ordered on the primary key of the rows in the table where each entry points to a row of fields in the table; a table index ordered on the table identifier for the tables, the table index having an entry for each table which point to the row index for that table and access means, responsive to requests for an object having an associated table identifier and primary key, for searching the table index for the requested table identifier and for retrieving from the table index entry for the requested table identifier the pointer to the row index for

Abstract: A method for manipulating a database of data and rules stored in a computer system where the computer operates in accordance with object-coded rules defined by a specified object code grammar. The computer including storage means for storing data and object-coded rules in tables in conformance with a storage architecture, control means for storing, retrieving and deleting data and object-coded rules from the tables, translator means for translating source-coded rules into object-coded rules, detranslator means for translating object-coded rules into source-coded rules and scanner means for determining lexical validity of an object-coded rule according to the grammar.

Abstract: A computer which executes rules which are defined according to a language having a valid grammar.

Abstract: A computer method for executing a GET instruction for retrieving the first record stored in a data base that meets the stated criteria and for issuing an exception when no such record is found.