System and method for composing and constraining automated workflow
First Claim
1. A composition system for generating an automated business process comprising:
- at least one action associated with an initiating actor;
a set of parameters associated with the at least one action; and
a composer that encapsulates the at least one action, and the set of parameters into the automated business process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Workflows can be used, created, modified and saved from within the user'"'"'s working environment. Workflow can be initiated by selecting actions from a menu or workflow can be triggered by actions of users. A workflow, including an in progress workflow, can be dynamically modified, for example, to fix a process that has gone awry, to change the workflow to accommodate a changing situation, or the like. An existing workflow saved as a practice may be reused or modified. A composition system builds workflows by combining workflow units within limitations imposed by a constraint system. A constraint system accesses information stored in a knowledge base to restrict the actions an initiator of an action can initiate within a particular context in the workflow or in the environment in which the workflow operates, the targets the initiator can assign a task to, and the resources with which the initiator can associated a task.
93 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A composition system for generating an automated business process comprising:
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at least one action associated with an initiating actor;
a set of parameters associated with the at least one action; and
a composer that encapsulates the at least one action, and the set of parameters into the automated business process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for generating an automated business process comprising:
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receiving an action from an initiator, the action comprising at least one task;
receiving parameters associated with the at least one task from the initiator;
encapsulating the at least one task, the initiator and the parameters into an automated business process.
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19. A method for generating an automated business process comprising:
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receiving an action from an initiator, the action comprising at least one task;
receiving parameters associated with the at least one task from the initiator;
limiting the at least one task based on information associated with the initiator, the at least one task and the parameters;
encapsulating the limited at least one task, the initiator and the parameters into an automated business process. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-executable instructions for:
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receiving an action from an initiator, the action comprising at least one task;
receiving parameters associated with the at least one task from the initiator;
encapsulating the at least one task, the initiator and the parameters into an automated business process.
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32. A constrained workflow system comprising:
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an automated workflow system; and
a constraint system, the constraint system limiting the automated workflow system, the constrain system comprising;
a knowledge base for storing information concerning the initiating actor, the at least one target actor and the at least one task;
a constrainer that restricts at least one action and the set of parameters according to information stored in the knowledge base.
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33. A method for generating a constrained automated business process comprising:
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receiving an automated business process, the automated business process associated with an initiator and a target participant in the automated business process;
limiting the initiator and the target participant based on information associated with the initiator and the target participant stored in a knowledge base to generate a constrained automated business process.
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Specification