PROCESS CONTROL WITH EVALUATION OF STORED REFERENTIAL EXPRESSIONS

摘要

A rule-based data processing apparatus includes a processor coupled with at least first and second stores. The first store holds respective defining rule-sets for two or more groups of agents. The second store holds data defining respective objects with associated qualifier terms. The first group, of agents defined as script agents, are arranged as a sequentially enabled chain, with one or more of the script agents including references to respective objects and specified qualifier terms. The second group, of agents defined as object agents, identify objects and specified qualifier terms from the script agents, and identify each instance of that object with a correct associated qualifier in the second store. The object agents handle referential expressions in a script or process specification by standing in for objects referred to. The object agents can be identified by markers in the script agents, but can also autonomously connect themselves to the objects and places that they represent, by pointers to where they are held in the second store as they become available during performance of the script.