Method and system for constructing business rules in a business software system using intelligent tiles

1. A computer-implemented rule construction method for configuring rules in a computer system having a memory and a display screen, the method comprising:

enabling simultaneous display of multiple windows on the display screen, the multiple windows including a first window configured as a library and a second window configured as a canvas;

enabling custom configuration of tiles in the library, each tile corresponding to a term;

enabling selection of a set of tiles from the library for placement in a region of the canvas,

wherein the placement reflects a logical statement, and further wherein the set of tiles is displayed in accordance with a first view level; and

enabling examination of additional information associated with the set of tiles placed in the region of the canvas by accessing a second view level of the canvas,

wherein the additional information is displayed in the region of the canvas.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing a first selected tile with a second selected tile;

determining if the first selected tile and the second selected tile are compatible; and

providing feedback representing the determination.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the feedback is a visual image in the canvas representing that the first selected tile and the second selected tile are not compatible.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the comparing is performed within a predetermined construction area on the canvas.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the feedback includes repelling the second selected tile from the first selected tile.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tiles include natural language labels.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving terms from a user.

8. A rule construction system for configuring rules, the system comprising:

a memory;

a display screen configured to enable simultaneous display of multiple windows on the display screen, the multiple windows including a first window configured as a library and a second window configured as a canvas;

a library configuration component configured to enable custom configuration of tiles in the library, each tile corresponding to a term; and

a placement component configured to enable selection of a set of tiles from the library for placement in a region of the canvas, wherein the placement reflects a logical statement,

wherein the set of tiles is displayed in accordance with a first view level,

wherein the placement component is further configured to enable examination of additional information associated with the set of tiles placed in the region of the canvas by accessing a second view level of the canvas, and

wherein the additional information is displayed in the region of the canvas.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the placement component is configured to:

compare a first selected tile with a second selected tile;

determine if the first selected tile and the second selected tile are compatible; and

provide feedback representing the determination.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the feedback is a visual image in the canvas representing that the first selected tile and the second selected tile are not compatible.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the feedback includes repelling the second selected tile from the first selected tile.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a receiving component configured to receive terms from a user.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tiles include natural language labels.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a data store including a map of relationships between terms.

15. A computer-implemented rule construction method for configuring a business rule for a customer's bill payment pattern in a computer system having a memory and display, the method comprising:

enabling simultaneous display of multiple windows on the display screen, the multiple windows including a first window configured as a library and a second window configured as a canvas;

enabling custom configuration of tiles in the library, each tile corresponding to a business term;

enabling selection of a first tile and a second tile from the library for placement in a region of the canvas,

wherein the placement reflects a configuration of the business rule for the customer's bill payment pattern, and further wherein the set of tiles is displayed in accordance with a first view level; and

enabling examination of additional information associated with the first tile and the second tile placed in the region of the canvas by accessing a second view level of the canvas,

wherein the additional information is displayed in the region of the canvas.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

comparing the first tile with the second tile;

determining if the first tile and the second tile are compatible based on business terms corresponding to the first tile and the second tile; and

providing feedback representing the determination.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback is a visual image in the canvas representing that the first tile and the second tile are not compatible.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback includes repelling the second selected tile from the first selected tile.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tiles include natural language labels.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a map of relationships between business terms.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the logical statement corresponds to one or more instructions capable of being executed by a computer to perform a business function.