Create intelligent location-based business rules and automated workflows for real-time decision support
The Rules Engine Module is a critical component of RTLS-powered Digital Twin systems that enables organizations to create, manage, and execute location-based business rules and automated workflows. By defining conditional logic based on spatial relationships and movement patterns, this module transforms passive location tracking into proactive business intelligence and process automation.
According to the Object Management Group's Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) standards, rules engines serve as decision support systems that evaluate conditions and execute predefined actions. In the context of RTLS, these rules operate on spatial data to automate processes, enforce compliance, and optimize operations based on the real-time location of assets, personnel, and materials.
Create complex if-then-else rules based on spatial conditions and attributes, following standard business rule formats
Define events based on zone entry/exit, proximity, dwell time, and movement patterns using standard event processing models
Incorporate time-based conditions such as duration, sequence, and scheduling aligned with ISO 8601 time standards
Create multi-step processes triggered by location events and conditions following BPMN 2.0 standards
No-code interface for creating and managing complex location-based rules with decision model notation
Process events and execute actions with low latency using complex event processing (CEP) techniques
Research published in the Journal of Enterprise Information Management and IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics highlights several benefits of implementing rules engines in location-aware systems:
↓ Manual Interventions
Reduction in manual process interventions
↑ Response Speed
Faster response to operational exceptions
↑ Process Compliance
Improvement in regulatory compliance
The Business Process Management Institute notes that organizations implementing business rules automation can achieve significant improvements in process standardization and exception handling. The IEEE Complex Event Processing Technical Committee further documents that real-time rules processing enables proactive rather than reactive operational management.
The Business Rules Group, which maintains the Business Rules Manifesto, recommends limiting rule interdependencies and implementing version control for rule sets. Organizations should establish governance processes for rule creation, testing, and deployment following the Decision Model and Notation (DMN) standard.
IEEE research on real-time event processing recommends implementing spatial indexing and event filtering to maintain responsive performance when processing high volumes of location updates. The ACM Special Interest Group on Management of Data provides guidelines for optimizing spatial query performance in real-time systems.
The Open Group's Open Messaging Interface (O-MI) and Open Data Format (O-DF) standards provide frameworks for integrating rules engines with external systems. Event-driven architectures using message queues and webhooks are recommended by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation for flexible system integration.
Healthcare organizations implement location-based rules engines to automate compliance monitoring and improve patient safety. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) documents use cases for RTLS-based workflow automation in healthcare settings.
Logistics providers leverage location-based rules engines to automate warehouse operations. The Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC) publishes best practices for location-aware automation in distribution centers.
Manufacturers use rules engines to enforce process compliance and automate material handling. The Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) International provides frameworks for implementing location-based workflow automation in production environments.
1. Object Management Group. (2014). "Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) Version 2.0.2." OMG Document Number: formal/2013-12-09.
2. IEEE Complex Event Processing Technical Committee. (2020). "Complex Event Processing in Industrial Systems." IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.
3. Business Rules Group. (2003). "The Business Rules Manifesto." Version 2.0.
4. Object Management Group. (2019). "Decision Model and Notation (DMN) Version 1.3." OMG Document Number: formal/2019-11-01.
5. The Open Group. (2016). "Open Messaging Interface (O-MI), an Open Group Internet of Things (IoT) Standard."
6. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. (2018). "RTLS in Healthcare: Applications and Implementation Considerations."
7. Warehouse Education and Research Council. (2019). "WERC DC Measures: Industry Metrics for Warehouse and Distribution Operations."
8. Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association International. (2017). "MESA Model: Business Operations Management Methodology."
Based on research from the Business Process Management Institute:
Any RTLS with consistent update frequency
Edge or cloud processing for rule evaluation
Spatial database with indexing capabilities
API/webhook support for external systems
Visual rule builder and monitoring dashboard
Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN 2.0)
Decision Model and Notation (DMN)
ISO 8601 Date and Time Formats
Open Messaging Interface (O-MI)
Open Data Format (O-DF)
Contact an RTLS expert to discuss how the Rules Engine Module can automate your operations and improve compliance.
Contact an RTLS Expert