Patent ID: 8682871

Claim:
A processor-implemented method for object-oriented content based exception handling in a business software application, comprising: providing a business software object with an associated business activity, the associated business activity including at least one business process step in a process chain in the business software application; providing a database including at least one business rule associated with at least one response type, wherein the at least one business rule defines value ranges for at least one of order date, sold to party, ship to party, requested delivery date, valid from date, valid to date, total weight, total amount, currency, payment terms, delivery status, and sales channel; identifying that a business exception occurred in the at least one business process step; and upon identifying the business exception occurred in the at least one business process step, then analyzing the context of the at least one business process step within the process chain and at least one business rule specific to the at least one business process step, wherein the at least one business rule specific to the at least one business process step defines value ranges for at least two of order date, sold to party, ship to party, requested delivery date, valid from date, valid to date, total weight, total amount, currency, payment terms, delivery status, and sales channel, and wherein analyzing the at least one business rule includes: determining whether the at least one business rule specific to the at least one business process step matches the at least one business rule in the database based on whether for each business rule specific to the at least one business process step: at least two columns of the each business rule specific to the at least one business process step fall within a value range specified in each respective column of at least one corresponding business rule in the database, and one of: if only one corresponding business rule exists in the database, identifying the corresponding business rule as a matched business rule, and if a plurality of corresponding business rules exist in the database, identifying a single business rule having a largest number of populated columns from the plurality of corresponding business rules in the database as a matched business rule, and upon determination of a match, executing at least one response type associated with the respective matched at least one business rule in the database.