Fastpath mode
Fastpath is a sequential execution mode that also detects semantic relations between rule tests in the same way as RetePlus. However, unlike RetePlus, the Fastpath mode does not support inference.
The Fastpath execution mode improves the sequential compilation and execution of a rule project. Fastpath is a sequential mode of execution that also detects semantic relations between rule tests during the pattern matching process, like RetePlus.
The following diagram shows how the Fastpath algorithm works.
The Fastpath algorithm operates as follows:
The rule engine uses a working memory that references application objects or ruleset parameters. Fastpath performs the pattern matching process, as in RetePlus, by creating a tree based on semantic relations between rule condition tests.
For each match, a rule instance is created and inserted in the agenda.
After the pattern matching process, the rule instances in the agenda are executed.
The rule engine stops after the rule instances have been executed. This behavior also depends on the exit criteria of the rule task. The pattern matching process is not repeated.
Fastpath combines features of the RetePlus mode for pattern matching and features of the sequential mode for rule execution. In this sense, it compares well for correlation types of applications as well as for validation and compliance applications.
Like the sequential mode, the Fastpath mode is stateless. As such, it is dedicated to matching objects against a very large number of rules that individually perform simple discriminations or light join tests. It is best for very large number of rules to be executed in sequence directly without any inference support. In addition to its advantages as a variant of the sequential mode, the Fastpath execution mode is designed to further optimize the execution of the compliance and validation rules, which constitute a substantial part of business rules.