US Patent 7949738 Graphical interface for generating and previewing a rule

A computer-readable medium containing therein instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating or revising a rule that contains a condition and an action to be taken when the condition is satisfied. The GUI includes a rule-editing area along with first and second user-selectable elements. The rule-editing area is configured to accept user input to create or revise the condition of the rule upon user selection of the first element. The rule-editing area is also configured to accept user input to create or revise the action of the rule upon user selection of the second element. The GUI further includes a rule-preview area that is configured to provide a display of a user-understandable representation of both the condition and the action.