Specifying and applying rules to data

A computing system for applying a rule to data from one or more data sources, the computing system including:

• means for receiving data from a first data source;
• means for processing a plurality of data units derived at least in part from the data received from the first data source in a selected one of at least two different modes of applying the rule, the modes including:
• a first mode in which the plurality of data units are received in a particular order, and processing the plurality of data units includes, for each of at least some of the plurality of data units, writing an updated value to at least one state variable based on a result of applying the rule to the data unit;
• and
• a second mode in which a selection of particular data unit of the plurality of data units is received, and processing the particular data unit includes:
• (1) determining a first set of data units that includes an ordered subset of data units from the plurality of data units, each data unit included in the ordered subset occurring before the particular data unit in the plurality of data units, (2) prior to applying the rule to the particular data unit, updating at least one state variable to a state that would result from processing the first set of data units in the first mode, and (3) applying the rule to the particular data unit including reading the updated value of the state variable.

Software stored in a non-transitory form on a computer-readable medium, for applying a rule to data from one or more data sources, the software including instructions for causing a computing system to:

• receive data from a first data source;
• process a plurality of data units derived at least in part from the data received from the first data source in a selected one of at least two different modes of applying the rule, the modes including:
• a first mode in which the plurality of data units are received in a particular order, and processing the plurality of data units includes, for each of at least some of the plurality of data units, writing an updated value to at least one state variable based on a result of applying the rule to the data unit;
• and
• a second mode in which a selection of particular data unit of the plurality of data units is received, and processing the particular data unit includes:
• (1) determining a first set of data units that includes an ordered subset of data units from the plurality of data units, each data unit included in the ordered subset occurring before the particular data unit in the plurality of data units, (2) prior to applying the rule to the particular data unit, updating at least one state variable to a state that would result from processing the first set of data units in the first mode, and (3) applying the rule to the particular data unit including reading the updated value of the state variable.

A method for applying a rule to data from one or more data sources, the method including:

• receiving data from a first data source;
• processing a plurality of data units derived at least in part from the data received from the first data source in a selected one of at least two different modes of applying the rule, the modes including:
• a first mode in which the plurality of data units are received in a particular order, and processing the plurality of data units includes, for each of at least some of the plurality of data units, writing an updated value to at least one state variable based on a result of applying the rule to the data unit;
• and
• a second mode in which a selection of particular data unit of the plurality of data units is received, and processing the particular data unit includes:
• (1) determining a first set of data units that includes an ordered subset of data units from the plurality of data units, each data unit included in the ordered subset occurring before the particular data unit in the plurality of data units, (2) prior to applying the rule to the particular data unit, updating at least one state variable to a state that would result from processing the first set of data units in the first mode, and (3) applying the rule to the particular data unit including reading the updated value of the state variable.