Addrichrule

Addrichrule is a concept in addressable rule-based systems that designates a constraint requiring a rule to reference at least two distinct addresses or addressable targets within a data space. The term combines "address" and "rich," signaling an emphasis on address diversity in rule construction. It is used to improve traceability and robustness in distributed knowledge representations and policy engines.

Formal description: In a rule-based engine that operates over multiple address namespaces (for example, data graphs or datasets), an addrichrule constraint enforces that the rule’s body or antecedent mentions at least two addresses from distinct namespaces, and that the rule’s head derives a conclusion tied to a possibly different address. Some formulations also require that the addresses belong to different subgraphs to prevent concentration of inference within a single source.

Rationale and benefits: The main aim is provenance, explainability, and cross-domain inference. By forcing inter-address references, addrichrule makes data provenance clearer and reduces dependence on a single source. It also aids debugging and auditing by ensuring decisions have explicit cross-address context, which supports accountability in multi-source environments.

Examples: In a linked data application, an addrichrule could require that a rule connecting a person to an event also cites the data source for the person and the data source for the event. In access-control policy, a rule authorizing access might require references to both the subject’s address and the resource’s address, ensuring policy evaluation accounts for both parties.

Limitations: The constraint can increase rule complexity and reduce flexibility, and it may be impractical for simple or highly dynamic datasets. Implementations must consider performance costs and ensure consistent handling across multi-graph environments.

See also: rule-based systems, knowledge graphs, data provenance, explainable AI.