Method and apparatus for an integrated process modeller

• US 20040128001A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Degenhardt, Jon Rexford, Suklikar, Atul, Levin, Issac Stephen, Thorson, Peter A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/31
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric

Abstract

An end-to-end process modeler comprising a vertically integrated process modeler to provide a design aspect for a non-technical user and an implementation aspect for a technical user, the vertically integrated process modeler designed to create a complete executable process.

Claims

1. An end-to-end process modeler comprising:

a vertically integrated process modeler to provide a design aspect for a non-technical user and an implementation aspect for a technical user, the vertically integrated process modeler designed to create a complete executable process.

2. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, wherein the design aspect comprises a first toolset to design a process.

3. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 2, wherein the first tool set displays the executable process in a role-based view.

4. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, wherein the implementation aspect comprises a second toolset to make the process executable.

5. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 4, wherein the second tool set displays the executable process in a system-based view.

6. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pre-designed best practice processes, the best practice processes usable by the non-technical user as a basis for the business process being designed.

7. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, further comprising:

a transfer logic to transfer the business process from the non-technical user to the technical user when the non-technical user is done with the business process.

8. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 7, further comprising:

a detector to identify elements in the business process that require work.

9. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 8, wherein the elements comprise one or more of:

logic blocks and connectors between logic blocks.

10. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, wherein the technical interface permits drilling down to show individual steps, each step being an atomic set of functionality.

11. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 1, wherein the design of the complex executable process involves steps requiring user interaction.

12. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 11, wherein the steps requiring user interaction may be designed by the non-technical user or the technical user.

13. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 11, wherein the design of the complex executable process further involves integration of other software applications.

14. An end-to-end process modeler comprising:

a plurality of predefined best practice processes;

an editor permitting a non-technical user to design a business process by altering a best practices process to match business requirements without understanding underlying code and processes;

an implementation interface designed for a technical user to implement any changes to the underlying code and processes necessitated by the changes made by the non-technical user.

15. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 14, wherein the editor further includes predefined functionalities from the plurality of best practices processes, the predefined functionalities available to the editor for insertion into the business process.

16. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 14, wherein the business process involves steps requiring user interaction.

17. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 16, wherein the steps requiring user interaction may be designed by using the editor or the implementation interface.

18. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 14, wherein the implementation tool further includes an integration tool to integrate the business process with external systems.

19. The end-to-end modeler of claim 18, wherein the external systems are provided by third party providers.

20. The end-to-end modeler of claim 14, further comprising:

a drill-down logic to drill down to sub-process, and to steps of sub-processes for display and editing.

21. The end-to-end modeler of claim 14, further comprising:

a check-in logic to receive a completed business process from the non-technical user, and to pass the competed business process to the technical user for implementation.

22. The end-to-end modeler of claim 21, further comprising:

a transfer and flagging logic to flag elements in the completed business process that require the technical user'"'"'s attention for implementation purposes.

23. The end-to-end modeler of claim 22, wherein the flagging logic flags elements and connectors that require work, and the flag signifies a type of work to be done to implement the element or connector.

24. The end-to-end modeler of claim 21, further comprising:

a collection of processes in progress available to the technical user for editing, completed business processes finished by the non-technical user being checked into the collection.

25. A process modeler comprising:

a first toolset designed for a non-technical user, the first tool set permitting the creation and editing of a business process; and

a second toolset designed for a technical user, the second tool set designed to permit the technical user to implement the business process.

26. The process modeler of claim 25, wherein the first toolset displays the business process in a role-based view, while the second toolset displays the business process in a system-based view.

27. The process modeler of claim 25, further comprising:

a third toolset designed for a manager, the third toolset providing overview capabilities, and the ability to link multiple business processes.

28. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 25, wherein the design of the business process involves steps requiring user interaction.

29. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 28, wherein the steps requiring user interaction may be designed using the first tool set or the second tool set.

30. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 28, wherein the design of the business process further involves integration of other software applications.

31. A process modeler comprising:

design tool to design a business process, the business process including a plurality of elements connected by connectors, an element comprising a plurality of sub-processes; and

a drill-down logic to drill down across categories of processes, the drill-down logic used to show sub-processes.

32. The process modeler of claim 31, wherein the drill-down logic is further to drill down across categories of processes, from high-level process definition to executable atomic steps.

33. The process modeler of claim 31, wherein the design tool comprises a first tool to display the business process using a role-based model, the role-based model separating steps of the business process according to roles.

34. The process modeler of claim 33, wherein the design tool further comprises a second tool to display the business process using a system-based model, the role-based model separating steps of the business process according to a system implementing the step.

35. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 34, wherein the design of the business process involves steps requiring user interaction.

36. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 35, wherein the steps requiring user interaction may be designed by the first tool or the second tool.

37. The end-to-end process modeler of claim 35, wherein the design of complex executable process further involves integration of other software applications.