Method and system for debugging business process flow

• US 20050177820A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mei, Xiaochun, Manavalan, Rangarajan S., Gooty, Subramanyam A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/129
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

A method for debugging a collaboration in an interchange server, the method comprises steps of: attaching a running collaboration executing a business process; initiating a debugging session; receiving a set of breakpoints to be inserted into the collaboration at designated points in the process; stopping the running of the collaboration at one or more of the breakpoints; and presenting a user with information relating to where the process has stopped, the status of the process flow, and how to continue the process. The method further includes exposing a set of debugging application programmer interfaces (APIs) to be used in debugging the business process.

Claims

1. A method for debugging a process in a workflow engine, wherein the process comprises a plurality of activity points, the method comprising:

attaching to a running business process being controlled by the workflow engine;

initiating a debugging session;

receiving a set of breakpoints to be inserted into designated points in the process;

stopping the running of the process at one or more of the breakpoints; and

presenting a user with information relating to where the process has stopped and the status of the process flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the workflow engine comprises a collaboration in an interchange server and the process is executed by the collaboration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a step-over command, and resuming the business process, to continue to the next activity node and pause.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receives a step-into command and resuming the paused business process to continue to the first node in response to receiving the step-into command.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a step-out command and resuming the running of the collaboration responsive to receiving the step-out command.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a run-to command comprising a parameter and indicating an activity node to which the collaboration responsive to receiving the run-to command.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a continue command comprising a parameter and indicating an activity node to which the collaboration will proceed in response to receiving the continue command.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a request for data relating to the process from a user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a command to instruct the flow how to proceed.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a user information on how to continue the process.

11. An information processing system comprising:

a debugger for debugging a workflow engine, wherein the workflow engine executes a business process flow, the debugger comprising an interface for receiving one or more breakpoints, each designating a point in the process flow where the process is to be interrupted for presentation of an indication to a user for altering the process.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the workflow engine comprises an interchange server comprising one or more collaborations.

13. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for:

attaching a running collaboration executing a business process;

initiating a debugging session;

receiving a set of breakpoints to be inserted into the collaboration at designated points in the process;

stopping the running of the collaboration at one or more of the breakpoints; and

presenting a user with information relating to where the process has stopped, the status of the process flow, how to continue the process.