Patent ID: 8504514

Claim:
A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system, the computer system including data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage, the method comprising: storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, the hit count of each node indicating a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user, the link count of each node indicating a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful, the outcome of each node indicating a desirability of the outcome; creating a qualitative index ordering the plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node; and storing the qualitative index in the data storage, wherein storing the plurality of nodes includes storing a plurality of cases, and wherein storing the plurality of cases includes storing a hit count of each case indicating a number of times a rule associated with the case was presented to the user.