Integration of process and workflows into a business application framework

• US 20070061776A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ryan, Sean, Anonsen, Steven, Brookins, Timothy, Noll, Jerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques

Abstract

Process is integrated into a business application framework on which the process is built. The same programming model used by the framework is used for managing data operated on by the process and for interacting with and controlling the process.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a computer-implemented process, comprising:

defining the process in metadata in a metadata store of an application development framework, the application development framework having a data programming model for managing data in applications built on the application development framework and a business logic programming model for interacting with business logic in applications built on the application development framework, wherein defining the process in metadata comprises;

configuring the metadata to define management of data in the process using the data programming model of the application development framework; and

configuring the metadata to define interactions with business logic in the process using the business logic programming model of the application development framework.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the business logic programming model comprises function calls.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the business logic programming model comprises messages with data payloads.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein configuring the metadata to define interactions with business logic in the process comprises:

defining messages that are consumed and generated by the process with the business logic programming model.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein defining messages comprises:

defining an activation message for activating the process using the business logic programming model.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein defining messages comprises:

defining incomes to the process and outcomes from the process using the business logic programming model.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the business logic programming model is realized with operations.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the metadata to define management of data in the process comprises:

representing visible properties of the process using the data programming model.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the metadata to define management of data in the process comprises:

representing identity of an instance of the process using the data programming model.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data programming model is realized using entities.

11. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

interacting with the process using services provided by the application development framework.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein interacting with the process comprises:

storing the process using services of the application development framework; and

querying data associated with the process using services provided by the application development framework.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein interacting with the process comprises:

querying data associated with the process using services provided by the application development framework.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein interacting with the process comprises:

customizing the process using services provided by the application development framework.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein interacting with the process comprises:

performing analytics on the process using services provided by the application development framework.

16. A method of controlling a computer-implemented process, comprising:

receiving a call at an application framework, the call being of a form used in a business logic programming model that is used by the application framework to interact with business logic;

accessing a metadata store in the application framework that stores one or more model definitions to determine whether the received call is associated with an activation to a process;

if so, creating an instance of the associated process, and activating the associated process, at the application framework; and

interacting with the activated process using the business logic programming model and a data programming model used by the application framework to manage data in applications built on the application framework.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein interacting with the activated process comprises:

sending incomes to the process and receiving outcomes from the process using the business logic programming model.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein interacting with the activated process comprises:

managing visible properties of the process using the data programming model.

19. An application development framework, comprising:

a component configured to provide services to applications developed on the application development framework using a set of one or more programming models; and

a metadata store including metadata defining a process, the process being configured to be controlled and accessed using the set of one or more programming models used by the application development framework.

20. The application development framework of claim 19 wherein the set of one or more programming models comprises:

a data management programming model and a business logic programming model.