System with user specified pattern definitions for matching input messages and associated decisions for conditionally responding to the input messages

摘要

A system for automatically and variably responding to character- based messages is disclosed. With user specified input, a software tool creates a pattern database. The pattern database consists of pattern definitions for matching input messages and response definitions for automatically responding to matching input messages. Pattern definitions define criteria for matching an input message. The response definitions include function definitions and optional function decisions. Functions to be performed in response to a matching message are specified in the function definitions, wherein performance of the specified functions is dependent upon evaluation of the function decisions.