Object model on workflow

• US 20070156487A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kothari, Nikhil, Hilerio, Israel, Maybee, Paul, Harder, Michael, Sanabria, Andres, Mihai, Constantin
• Application Number:
  US11/321,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

Systems and methods that objectify view of workflows and management behavior via an access component that supplies access to the real workflow instance. The subject innovation enables custom features to be defined for interaction during run time. For example, custom features (e.g., strongly typed workflow) can include, a method(s), an event(s), a proper(ies), an interface and the like. Accordingly, the workflow can be exposed as an object type or class, wherein new members can be added and the workflow extended.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system comprising the following computer executable components:

an access component that provides a host with access to a workflow instance; and

the host that calls custom features during a data exchange with the workflow instance.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, the custom features are at least one of methods, properties and events for strongly typed workflows.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 1, a workflow associated with the workflow instance exposable as an object type or class.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 3, a definition of the workflow extendable via new member additions.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 1, a custom workflow definition associated with the workflow instance suspendable during data exchange with the host.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 5 further comprising a workflow provider that retrieves the workflow instance.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 5, the workflow instance resumable by an action of the host.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 5, a workflow definition with a base class to derive a new workflow definition therefrom.

9. A computer implemented method comprising the following computer executable acts:

accessing a workflow instance via an access component of the workflow system; and

calling custom features during a data exchange between a host and the workflow instance.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 further comprising requesting the workflow instance based on an identification associated therewith.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising verifying existence of the workflow instance.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 9 further comprising employing class members during data exchange between the host and the workflow instance.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 9 further comprising generating a workflow state representation for the workflow instance.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13 further comprising defining custom features during data exchange between the host and workflow instance.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14 further comprising associating custom behaviors with a workflow definition or type associated with the workflow instance.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15 further comprising subscribing to custom events by the host.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising programmatically defining enriched types for the workflow instance.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17 further comprising extending the workflow definition or type by adding new members.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 18 further comprising calling a save method to store the workflow instance.

20. A computer implemented system comprising the following computer executable components:

means for accessing a workflow instance based on custom workflow definition associated therewith; and

means for creating new workflow from a base workflow definition.