Cognitive learning workflow execution

• US 10,474,977 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stevens, Molly, McDonald, Kirsten Brunner, Bryant, Charlie, Siconolfi, Philip, Walle, Marna
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Benjamin C
• Application Number:
  US15/795,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20190129762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/08 Learning methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/01 Dynamic search techniques; Heuristics; Dynamic trees; Branch-and-bound
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

Technical solutions are described for interactively executing a workflow that includes multiple workflow steps. An example method includes pulling a preliminary update for the workflow from a data source and modifying the workflow dynamically. The method further includes selecting a workflow step, and pulling updated information from the data source and modifying the workflow step dynamically. Further, the method includes retrieving, from the data source, first results information, indicative of results of executing the updated workflow step by other users, and based on the first results information, executing the updated workflow step. The method further includes accumulating a second results information based on the execution of the workflow step. Further, the execution includes pushing the second results information to the data source upon completion of the workflow step.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

selecting a workflow for interactive execution, the workflow comprising a sequence of workflow steps;

pulling a preliminary update for the workflow from a data source and modifying the workflow dynamically;

selecting a workflow step from the workflow for execution;

pulling updated information for the workflow step from the data source and modifying the workflow step dynamically using the updated information;

retrieving, from the data source, first results information, the first results information indicative of results of executing the updated workflow step by other users;

in response to the first results information indicative of performing an execution, executing the workflow step using the updated workflow step, the execution comprising changing a target system;

accumulating execution information comprising attributes associated with execution of the workflow step, and a second results information based on the execution of the workflow step; and

pushing the execution information to the data source upon completion of the workflow step.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first results information comprises a number of times the updated workflow step has been executed by the other users, and a number of errors reported by the other users for the workflow step.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first results information is identified based on a unique identifier of the workflow step.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the second results information is associated with the unique identifier of the workflow step prior to pushing the second results information to the data source.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data source is a first data source, and the first results information is retrieved from a second data source.

8. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured for machine-assisted workflow execution comprising;

selecting a workflow for interactive execution, the workflow comprising a sequence of workflow steps;

pulling a preliminary update for the workflow from a data source and modifying the workflow dynamically;

selecting a workflow step from the workflow for execution;

pulling updated information for the workflow step from the data source and modifying the workflow step dynamically using the updated information;

retrieving, from the data source, first results information, the first results information indicative of results of executing the updated workflow step by other users;

in response to the first results information indicative of performing an execution, executing the workflow step using the updated workflow step, the execution comprising changing a target system;

accumulating execution information comprising attributes associated with execution of the workflow step, and a second results information based on the execution of the workflow step; and

pushing the execution information to the data source upon completion of the workflow step.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first results information comprises a number of times the updated workflow step has been executed by the other users, and a number of errors reported by the other users for the workflow step.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first results information is identified based on a unique identifier of the workflow step.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second results information is associated with the unique identifier of the workflow step prior to pushing the second results information to the data source.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the data source is a first data source, and the first results information is retrieved from a second data source.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to provide machine-assisted workflow execution comprising:

selecting a workflow for interactive execution, the workflow comprising a sequence of workflow steps;

pulling a preliminary update for the workflow from a data source and modifying the workflow dynamically;

selecting a workflow step from the workflow for execution;

pulling updated information for the workflow step from the data source and modifying the workflow step dynamically using the updated information;

retrieving, from the data source, first results information, the first results information indicative of results of executing the updated workflow step by other users;

in response to the first results information indicative of performing an execution, executing the workflow step using the updated workflow step, the execution comprising changing a target system;

accumulating execution information comprising attributes associated with execution of the workflow step, and a second results information based on the execution of the workflow step; and

pushing the execution information to the data source upon completion of the workflow step.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first results information comprises a success rating of executing the updated workflow step by the other users.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first results information comprises a number of times the updated workflow step has been executed by the other users, and a number of errors reported by the other users for the workflow step.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first results information is identified based on a unique identifier of the workflow step, and wherein the second results information is associated with the unique identifier of the workflow step prior to pushing the second results information to the data source.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the data source is a first data source, and the first results information is retrieved from a second data source.