Patent ID: 6944604
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: G06N

Abstract:
1. A method for processing transactions, comprising: operating a rules server, wherein said rules server comprises a single rulebase, wherein said rulebase comprises one or more rules; associating at least one rule of said one or more rules with a start time and an end time; receiving a transaction request for a transaction; determining a transaction time for said transaction request, including automatically adjusting said transaction time to reflect a local time of said transaction request; and determining a set of one or more effective rules for said transaction request from said at least one rule of said one or more rules associated with said start time and said end time, wherein said transaction time for said transaction request is after said start time associated with each of said set of one or more effective rules, and said transaction time for said transaction request is before said end time associated with each of said one or more effective rules; wherein said rulebase is configured to store one or more versions of said one or more rules, including outdated rules; wherein said rule server can be tested at any point in time by an administrator specifying a testing time other than a current time, said testing time determining effective rules for testing; and wherein if said one or more effective rules changes before said transaction is complete, then a most recent set of effective rules is used by said rule server.