Executing business processes using persistent variables
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer implemented method for executing a business process, said method comprising:
- constructing a graphical business process definition, said business process definition including a plurality of activities represented by graphical icons, said plurality of activities being coupled by a set of transitions;
storing the business process definition into a data repository on a computer;
initiating an instance of the business process by executing the business process definition stored in the data repository, the instance having an instance variable associated therewith, wherein the instance variable records state information for the instance of said business process;
executing a first activity of the instance of said business process;
receiving a value corresponding to the instance variable;
recording the instance variable and the value in an object;
storing the object in the data repository;
executing a second activity of the instance of said business process;
retrieving the object from the data repository for use with the second activity;
reading the value and the instance variable from said object by a task of the second activity; and
initiating a polymorphic sub-process depending on a variable embedded in said instance of the business process.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Executing a business process includes initiating an instance of a business process comprising activities, where the instance has an instance variable. A first activity of the business process is executed, and a value corresponding to the instance variable is received. The instance variable and the value is recorded in an object, and the object is stored in a data repository. A second activity of the business process is executed, and the object is retrieved from the data repository for use with the second activity.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer implemented method for executing a business process, said method comprising:
-
constructing a graphical business process definition, said business process definition including a plurality of activities represented by graphical icons, said plurality of activities being coupled by a set of transitions; storing the business process definition into a data repository on a computer; initiating an instance of the business process by executing the business process definition stored in the data repository, the instance having an instance variable associated therewith, wherein the instance variable records state information for the instance of said business process; executing a first activity of the instance of said business process; receiving a value corresponding to the instance variable; recording the instance variable and the value in an object; storing the object in the data repository; executing a second activity of the instance of said business process; retrieving the object from the data repository for use with the second activity; reading the value and the instance variable from said object by a task of the second activity; and initiating a polymorphic sub-process depending on a variable embedded in said instance of the business process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
5. Software for executing a business process, the software embodied in a medium and executed by a computing device and when executed is operable to:
-
construct a graphical business process definition, said business process definition including a plurality of activities represented by graphical icons, said plurality of activities being coupled by a set of transitions; store the business process definition into a data repository on a computer; initiate an instance of the business process by executing the business process definition stored in the data repository, the instance having an instance variable associated therewith, wherein the instance variable records state information for the instance of said business process; execute a first activity of the instance of said business process; receive a value corresponding to the instance variable; record the instance variable and the value in an object; store the object in the data repository; execute a second activity of the instance of said business process; retrieve the object from the data repository for use with the second activity; read the value and the instance variable from said object by a task of the second activity; and initiate a polymorphic sub-process depending on a variable embedded in said instance of the business process. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A computer implemented method for executing a business process, said method comprising:
-
constructing a graphical business process definition, said business process definition including a plurality of activities represented by graphical icons, said plurality of activities being coupled by a set of transitions; storing the business process definition into a data repository on a computer; initiating a first instance of a first business process by executing the business process definition stored in the data repository, said first instance comprising an activity, the activity having an argument variable that is employed to transfer a value between different business process instances; receiving a value corresponding to the argument variable; recording the argument variable and the value in an object; storing the object in the data repository; initiating a second instance of a second business process, the instance having an instance variable; mapping the argument variable to the instance variable; retrieving the object from the data repository for use by the second instance; reading the value and the argument variable from said object by the activity of the second business process; and initiating a polymorphic sub-process depending on a variable embedded in said instance of the business process. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 18)
-
-
12. Software for executing a business process, the software embodied in a medium and executed by a computing device and when executed is operable to:
-
construct a graphical business process definition, said business process definition including a plurality of activities represented by graphical icons, said plurality of activities being coupled by a set of transitions; store the business process definition into a data repository; initiate a first instance of a first business process by executing the business process definition stored in the data repository, said first instance comprising an activity, the activity having an argument variable that is employed to transfer a value between different business process instances; receive a value corresponding to the argument variable; record the argument variable and the value in an object; store the object in the data repository; initiate a second instance of a second business process, the instance having an instance variable; map the argument variable to the instance variable; retrieve the object from the data repository for use by the second instance; reading the value and the argument variable from said object by the activity of the second business process; and initiate a polymorphic sub-process depending on a variable embedded in said instance of the business process. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification