Resource scheduling in workflow management systems

• US 20040078778A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Leymann, Frank, Roller, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

A system for improved scheduling of resources within a Workflow-Management-System or a computer system with comparable functionality (WFMS). Based on a new resource specification comprised within a process model and associated with an activity, the WFMS determines the resources required for execution of said activity. The invention further schedules a request for allocation of said resources on behalf and in advance of starting execution of said activity. This approach reduces the execution time of the activity as all resources required by the activity will be available when execution of the activity begins; the activity does not have to wait for these resources. Moreover, a WFMS knowing the required resources of the activities it is administrating is able to schedule resource requests to avoid resource conflicts between the activities.

Claims

1. A computerized method for resource handling within a Workflow Management System or a computer system with comparable functionality (WFMS),

said WFMS administrating execution of a process-model of a business-process and said process-model comprising at least a first activity and a second activity, and

said method comprising a first step of determining whether said process-model is comprising a first resource-specification associated with said second activity,

said first resource-specification comprising at least one first resource-identification of a first resource required for execution of said second activity, and, in the affirmative case,

said method comprising a second step requesting allocation of said first resource on behalf of and in advance of starting execution of said second activity, and

said method comprising a third step of starting execution of said first activity followed by said second activity.

2. The computerized method for resource handling according to claim 1,

wherein in said third step said second activity is not started before said first resource has been allocated successfully.

3. The computerized method for resource handling according to claim 1,

wherein said first resource-specification is comprising an identification of an execution-environment, which is responsible to administrate said first resource, and

wherein in said second step allocation request of said first resource is requested from said execution-environment.

4. The computerized method for resource handling according to claim 1,

wherein said first resource-specification is comprising an assumed waiting time period specifying the time required after an allocation request until said first resource actually is available, and

wherein in said second step requesting allocation of said first resource at least said assumed waiting time period ahead of starting execution of said second activity.

5. The computerized method for resource handling according to claim 4,

said method monitoring within said second step an actual waiting time period required after said allocation request until said first resource is available, and

said method updating said assumed waiting time period by a new assumed waiting time period in said process-model based on said actual waiting time period.

6. The computerized method for resource handling according to claim 5,

wherein said updating is using one of the following strategies;

using said actual waiting time period as new assumed waiting time period, or

determining a new assumed waiting time period based on a statistical measure exploiting said actual waiting time period.

7. A computer system comprising means adapted for carrying out the steps of the method according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 6.

8. A data processing program for execution in a data processing system comprising software code portions for performing a method according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 6 when said program is run on said data processing system.

9. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 6 when said program is run on said computer.