Automated workflow constraints
First Claim
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1. A method of providing guidance to participant actors of an automated workflow services system, the method comprising:
- instantiating one or more actions in an activity flow representing an automated workflow process involving the participant actors; and
at execution time of the activity flow, constraining options available to the participant actors within the activity flow based at least on stored constraints.
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Abstract
An automated workflow services system can provide guidance to a user via constraints. A wide variety of constraint types are supported, including constraints based on identity, action type, and the like. Relative and negative constraints can be supported. Constraints for transitive actions can also be supported. Constraints can be based on any of a variety of facts, which can be drawn from sources outside the workflow services system.
68 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of providing guidance to participant actors of an automated workflow services system, the method comprising:
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instantiating one or more actions in an activity flow representing an automated workflow process involving the participant actors; and
at execution time of the activity flow, constraining options available to the participant actors within the activity flow based at least on stored constraints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A constraint service system constraining options available for an automated workflow service, the system comprising:
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a plurality of stored constraints representing constraints generically with respect to one or more stored facts; and
a constraint engine operable to limit available composable actions by applying the constraints to the one or more stored facts at execution time of an activity flow. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A constraint service system constraining options available for an automated workflow service, the system comprising:
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means for representing a plurality of constraints generically with respect to facts; and
means for applying the constraints to a current situation at execution time of an activity flow, wherein the current situation comprises the identity of at least one actor.
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Specification