Rule-based system for the provision of complex navigational logic

In a client/server system, including a navigational analysis vehicle (NAV) coupled to a user interface of a client, for processing an application, said application comprising a plurality of events with which are associated a corresponding plurality of messages, wherein said NAV comprises:

• means for linking a set of navigation rules associated with said application;
• means for accessing a set of received messages associated with said plurality of events in said application;
• means for processing each message in said first set of messages, in accordance with said set of navigation rules, whereby a sequence is established, and in accordance with said sequence, selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• and
• means for communicating a second set of messages to said user interface of said application, each message of said second set of messages corresponding to a message in said set of received messages, whereby selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays at said user interface are controlled in accordance with said sequence.

A system for processing an application in a client/server environment and including a controller associated with said application for managing presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client, said controller being coupled to said client and programmed to (1) receive messages from said client, (2) process said messages in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application, (3) establish a sequence by which selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface, and (4) transmit corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence, said system further including a memory storing matrix data structure for modeling the complex logical relationships associated with interaction of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface and other processes associated with the navigation through said multiplicity of screen displays at said user interface associated with said applications by a user at a user interface of a client in a client/server environment, said matrix data structure comprising a plurality of cells configured in a symmetric arrangement of rows and columns, and wherein:

• each cell of said plurality of cells is populated with a unique description characterizing the effect of a respective row on a respective column of said matrix data structure.

In a system, including a presentation manager, for processing an application in a client/server environment, said presentation manager controlling presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client, wherein said presentation manager comprises:

• means for receiving a first set of messages from said client and/or one or more processors associated with said presentation manager;
• means for processing said first set of messages, in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application, to generate a sequence by which selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• and
• means for communicating a second set of corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence, wherein each message included in said second set of messages corresponds to a message in said first set of messages.

In a system for processing an application in a client/server environment, said application comprising a plurality of events with which are associated a corresponding plurality of messages, a processor for managing presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client said processor programmed to:

• receive a first set of messages from said client and/or one or more processors associated with said controller;
• process, in turn, each message in said first set of messages, in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application, to establish a sequence by which selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• and
• communicate a second set of corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence, wherein each message in said second set of messages corresponds to a message in said first set of messages.

A system for processing an application in a client/server environment, said application comprising a plurality of events with which are associated a corresponding plurality of messages, said system comprising:

• means for managing presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client;
• means for receiving at said managing means a first set of messages from said client and/or one or more processors associated with said managing means;
• means for processing, in turn, each message included in said first set of messages, in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application, whereby a sequence is established, and in accordance with said sequence, selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• and
• means for communicating a second set of corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence, wherein each message included in said second set of messages corresponds to a message in said first set of messages.

In a system for processing an application in a client/server environment, a controller associated with said application for managing presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client, said controller coupled to said client and programmed to:

• receive messages from said client;
• process said messages in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application, and including a set of resolve rules and a set of matrix scan rules which establish a sequence by which selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• and
• transmit corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence.

In a system for processing an application in a client/server environment, said application comprising a plurality of events with which are associated with a corresponding plurality of messages, a processor for managing presentation of a multiplicity of screen displays at a user interface of a client, said processor being programmed to:

• receive a first set of messages from said client and/or one or more processors associated with said controller;
• process, in turn, each message in said first set of messages, in accordance with a predetermined set of navigation rules associated with said application to establish a sequence by which selected ones of said multiplicity of screen displays are to be exhibited at said user interface;
• operate on said first set of messages with a predetermined set of resolve rules;
• execute a set of matrix scan rules;
• search for an active element and, if an active element is found, execute said set of resolve rules until no element's data value has changed or until a predetermined number of iterations in executing said resolve rules has been reached;
• and
• communicate a second set of corresponding messages to said client in accordance with said sequence, wherein each message in said second set of messages corresponds to a message in said first set of messages.