Methods and systems for improving a workflow based on data mined from plans created from the workflow
First Claim
1. A method in a data processing system having a workflow that models a process and a plan that reflects an instance of the process and that has been created from the workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating execution of the plan such that the instance of the process is at least partially performed;
receiving a characteristic about the at least partial performance of the plan; and
modifying the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an integrated process modeling and project planning tool that allows an enterprise affiliate to improve a workflow that models a process. To improve the workflow, the tool initiates execution of a plan created from the workflow such that an instance of the process is at least partially performed, receives a characteristic about the performance of the plan, and modifies the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method in a data processing system having a workflow that models a process and a plan that reflects an instance of the process and that has been created from the workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating execution of the plan such that the instance of the process is at least partially performed;
receiving a characteristic about the at least partial performance of the plan; and
modifying the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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13. A method in a data processing system with a workflow that models a process and a plurality of plans generated from the workflow that reflects instances of the process, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a modification to a characteristic of at least one of the plans;
determining whether a number of the modified plans exceeds a predefined threshold; and
when it is determined that the number exceeds the predefined threshold, performing the modification on the workflow.
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20. A method in a data processing system with a workflow that models a process and a plurality of plans generated from the workflow that reflect instances of the process, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating execution of each plan such that the instances of the process are at least partially performed;
receiving a characteristic about the performance of at least one of the plans that is inconsistent with the workflow;
determining whether a number of the inconsistent plans exceeds a predefined threshold; and
when it is determined that the number exceeds the predefined threshold, modifying the workflow to reflect the inconsistent characteristic of the at least one of the plans so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the inconsistent characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a workflow that models a process and a plan that reflects an instance of the process and that has been created from the workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating execution of the plan such that the instance of the process is at least partially performed;
receiving a characteristic about the at least partial performance of the plan; and
modifying the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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34. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system having a workflow and a plurality of plans generated from the workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a modification to a characteristic of at least one of the plans;
determining whether a number of the modified plans exceeds a predefined threshold; and
when it is determined that the number exceeds the predefined threshold, performing the modification on the workflow.
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42. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling in a data processing system having a workflow and a plurality of plans generated from the workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating execution of each plan such that instances of the process are at least partially performed;
receiving a characteristic about the performance of at least one of the plans that is inconsistent with the workflow;
determining whether a number of the inconsistent plans exceeds a predefined threshold; and
when it is determined that the number exceeds the predefined threshold, modifying the workflow to reflect the inconsistent characteristic of the at least one of the plans so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the inconsistent characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A data processing system comprising:
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a secondary storage device further comprising a workflow that models a process and a plan that reflects an instance of the process and that has been created from the workflow;
a memory device further comprising a program that activates the plan such that the instance of the process is at least partially performed, that receives a characteristic about the at least partial performance of the plan, and that modifies the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic; and
a processor for running the program. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A system having a workflow that models a process and a plan that reflects an instance of the process and that has been created from the workflow, the system comprising:
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means for initiating execution of the plan such that the instance of the process is at least partially performed;
means for receiving a characteristic about the at least partial performance of the plan; and
means for modifying the workflow to reflect the characteristic so that a subsequent plan created from the modified workflow has the received characteristic.
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Specification