Abstract: An attribute engine matches incoming data against one or more matching attributes to set one or more target attributes of one or more rules. Each rule is characterized by a rule shape and a matchset. A template is defined for each rule shape and target attribute. Templates associated with a target attribute are sorted according to their matchsets and may be suppressed by one or more rule suppression principles. A rules editor is provided that allows support personnel to edit rules in tabular form instead of directly editing pseudo-code segments.

Abstract: Alternatives for laying out objects and/or virtual function tables (VFTs), sharing a virtual function table pointer with a direct, virtual base, eliminating the need for an early cast by increasing the number of virtual function table entries, and providing a smart virtual dispatch that eliminates late casts where possible. An object model can be constructed by choosing one option from each of several alternatives. Interaction of alternatives include (1) sharing VFT pointers with a direct, virtual base requires that virtual base pointers are not stored in objects and (2) sharing VFT pointers affects the sharing of virtual base pointers with base classes and placement of late cast adjustment arguments and determining virtual function table entries.