17. An apparatus comprising: a computer system comprising a first subsystem comprising a protocol comprising at least one existing rule and a second subsystem configured to: compare an output of said at least one existing rule to an output of a new rule similar to said at least one existing rule; determine whether said outputs are duplicate or are conflicting, wherein determining further comprises passing sample input data through the new rule and the at least one existing rule to determine a respective output of each rule and comparing the output of each rule to determine a duplicate or conflicting output for the same input data; notify a user that said new rule and said at least one existing rule are similar; and prompt the user to resolve the similarity, wherein the user is given an option to cancel said new rule.
17. An apparatus comprising: a computer system comprising a first subsystem comprising a protocol comprising at least one existing rule and a second subsystem configured to: compare an output of said at least one existing rule to an output of a new rule similar to said at least one existing rule; determine whether said outputs are duplicate or are conflicting, wherein determining further comprises passing sample input data through the new rule and the at least one existing rule to determine a respective output of each rule and comparing the output of each rule to determine a duplicate or conflicting output for the same input data; notify a user that said new rule and said at least one existing rule are similar; and prompt the user to resolve the similarity, wherein the user is given an option to cancel said new rule. 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one existing rule is activated by data input into a decision support system.