1. A method for merging two rulesets provided in rule-based systems associated with originating applications executing at different locations, each ruleset comprising rules in potential conflict with each other, and each ruleset being in a different rule format, said method comprising: a) communicating said rulesets to be merged over a distributed network to an assimilator service device for receiving each said ruleset; b) providing a merge policy to said assimilator device, said merge policy comprising a set of specifications of partially-ordered priorities and/or mutual-exclusion constraints; c) translating said rulesets into a common core representation capable of being implemented in any logic program rule engine provided in a rule-based application at any location; d) assimilating said rulesets to produce a new merged ruleset comprising logic required for resolving potential conflicts among rules in accordance with said merge policy, where said new merged ruleset is in a common core representation capable of being implemented in any logic program rule engine provided in a rule-based application at any location; e) translating said new merged ruleset into one of said originating application's said rule format; and f) communicating said translated new merged ruleset over said distributed network to the one of said originating applications.