Assisted free form decision definition using rules vocabulary

A computer-implemented method of decision definition using a rules vocabulary, the method comprising:

• receiving, via at least one input device of a data processing system, at least one rule to be enforced within the data processing system, wherein each of the at least one rule is received as a free form sentence in natural language;
• the data processing system identifying a first term from among one or more terms contained within the at least one rule;
• searching in a rules vocabulary for a term corresponding to the first term, wherein the rules vocabulary is stored within a storage device that is communicatively interconnected with a processor of the data processing system;
• and
• in response to the term being found:
• presenting, on an output device of the data processing system:
• (1) the found corresponding term as a candidate to replace the first term in each of the at least one rule and (2) at least one found attribute that is associated with the found corresponding term within the rules vocabulary, wherein the at least one found attribute includes at least one reference that describes a relationship with the found corresponding term;
• receiving, via the at least one input device, a first input identifying whether to replace the first term with the found corresponding term within the at least one rule;
• in response to the first input indicating the found corresponding term is to replace the first term:
• refactoring each of the at least one rule by replacing the first term with the found corresponding term;
• and
• implementing a policy within the data processing system using the refactored at least one rule, wherein the policy designates a particular course of action of the data processing system;
• and
• in response to the first input indicating the found corresponding term is not to be used, searching the rules vocabulary for other terms having attributes corresponding to the at least one found attribute.