METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM FOR DEFINING AND MANAGING COMPLEX CONTINGENT RULES, AND EXCEPTIONS THERETO, IN A RULE-BASED COMPUTER SYSTEM

An apparatus for storage, selective inspection, and execution of complex, contingent rules, comprises a computer having one or more central processing units, a user interface, and magnetic, optical, or other media for data and program storage and retrieval. Rules are defined partly as programs and partly as data. Access procedures are provided for selecting certain appropriate rules under defined conditions. Output procedures are provided for conveying the results of the rule selections to people, to the computer executing the rules, and to other computers.