RELATIONAL LOGIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090106063A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Inventors: Minsky, Steven, Forgy, Charles, Tan, Ming
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method to propagate relations between a first rule set and a second rule set wherein the first and second rule sets are invoked by a common workflow model. The method includes tracing paths forward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set. Enumerating relations that extend forward from the first rule set to the second rule set is another step in the method. Additionally, using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects to the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, tracing paths backward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, enumerating relations that extend backward form the second rule set to the first rule set, and using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second rule set to the first rule set are also steps in the method.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method comprising:

tracing paths along a first direction through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the first direction from first the business parameter to the second business parameter;

using multi-valued logic; and

computing the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

tracing paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each business parameter is chosen from a group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

6. A computer-implemented method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method comprising:

tracing paths along a first direction through the workflow model of a business process from the first business parameter to the second business parameter by creating flow graphs in a user interface;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the first direction from first the business parameter to the second business parameter;

using multi-valued logic; and

computing the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising:

tracing paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein each business parameter is chosen from a group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

11. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when loaded in a computing device implements a method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method comprising:

tracing paths along a first direction through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the first direction from first the business parameter to the second business parameter;

using multi-valued logic; and

computing the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter.

12. An article as in claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

tracing paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

13. The article of claim 11 wherein each business parameter is chosen from a group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

14. The article of claim 11 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

15. The article of claim 11 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

16. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when loaded in a computing device implements a method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method comprising:

tracing paths along a first direction through the workflow model of a business process from the first business parameter to the second business parameter by creating flow graphs in a user interface;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the first direction from first the business parameter to the second business parameter;

using multi-valued logic; and

computing the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter.

17. An article as in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

tracing paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

18. The article of claim 16 wherein each business parameter is chosen from a group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

19. The article of claim 16 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

20. The article of claim 16 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

21. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving user-generated input via a user interface capturing at least one sequence of steps and rule sets of a workflow model of a business process;

storing the sequence of steps and rule sets as a single business logic module;

storing relational information computed for each variable used in the sequence within the single business logic module; and

enabling reuse of the single business logic module for another workflow model for a different business process.