Systems and Methods for Generating a Configurable Workflow for Application Packaging Jobs

• US 20090240548A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ratha, Nilakantha, Davey, Gordon, Elliot, Thomas, Porter, Ian, Glennie, Iain, Dwyer, Damian, Mullin, John
• Application Number:
  US12/052,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for generating a configurable workflow for application packaging jobs are disclosed. A method may include receiving input from a user interface by a packaging application configured to manage an application packaging job. The method may also include creating a plurality of workflow states based on at least the received input, each workflow state associated with a particular step in the application packaging job. The method may further include associating at least one action with at least one workflow state based on at least the received input, each action defining a transition from its associated workflow state to a target workflow state. Additionally, the method may include associating an assignee type with at least one action based on at least the received input, the assignee type defining at least one assignee that may assigned to the application packaging job for the particular action.

Claims

1. A method for generating a configurable workflow for application packaging, comprising:

receiving input from a user interface by a packaging application configured to manage an application packaging job;

creating a plurality of workflow states based on at least the received input, each workflow state associated with a particular step in the application packaging job;

associating at least one action with at least one workflow state based on at least the received input, each action defining a transition from its associated workflow state to a target workflow state; and

associating an assignee type with at least one action based on at least the received input, the assignee type defining at least one assignee that may assigned to the application packaging job for the particular action.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing information regarding at least one of the workflow states, the actions associated with each workflow state, the assignee types associated with each workflow state, and the assignees associated with each assignee type are stored on a computer-readable medium.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of workflow states include at least one of a state associated with submission of an application packaging job, a state associated with compatibility determination of an application to be packaged, a state associated with obsolescence determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with relevancy determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with packaging of the application, a state associated with quality assurance of an application package, a state associated with verification of the installation of a packaged application, a state associated with user acceptance testing of the application package, a state associated with deployment of the packaged application, a state associated withdrawal of the submission of the application packaging job, a state associated with abandonment of the application packaging job, a state associated with acceptance of the packaged application, and a state associated with closing of the application packaging job.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising associating a state type associated with each workflow state based on at least the received input, the state type indicating whether the workflow state is a non-terminal workflow state or a terminal workflow state.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the state type indicates whether the application packaging job has been accepted for packaging.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the state type indicates whether the application packaging job has been closed, abandoned, or withdrawn.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a customized user interface to the at least one assignee based on at least the plurality of workflow states created, the at least one action associated with each workflow state, and the assignee type associated with each workflow state, wherein the customized user interface prompts the at least one assignee to select a successive workflow state.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising configuring user interface components to be displayed to the at least one assignee for the at least one action.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein configuring user interface components associated with the at least one action includes at least one of configuring user interface components that the at least one assignee may edit and configuring user components for which data entry is required.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising associating a script with the at least one action, the script operable to, when executed, perform an automated task associated with the application packaging job.

11. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a tangible computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the tangible computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program of instructions operable to, when executed by the processor;

receive input from a user interface;

create a plurality of workflow states based on at least input from a user based on at least the received input, each workflow state associated with a particular step in the application packaging job;

associate at least one action with at least one workflow state based on at least input from the user based on at least the received input, each action defining a transition from its associated workflow state to a target workflow state; and

associate an assignee type with at least one action based on at least input from the user based on at least the received input, the assignee type defining at least one assignee that may assigned to the application packaging job for the particular action.

12. An information handling system according to claim 11, the program of instructions further operable to store information regarding at least one of the workflow states, the actions associated with each workflow state, the assignee types associated with each workflow state, and the assignees associated with each assignee type are stored on the computer-readable medium.

13. An information handling system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of workflow states include at least one of a state associated with submission of an application packaging job, a state associated with compatibility determination of an application to be packaged, a state associated with obsolescence determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with relevancy determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with packaging of the application, a state associated with quality assurance of an application package, a state associated with verification of the installation of a packaged application, a state associated with user acceptance testing of the application package, a state associated with deployment of the packaged application, a state associated withdrawal of the submission of the application packaging job, a state associated with abandonment of the application packaging job, a state associated with acceptance of the packaged application, and a state associated with closing of the application packaging job.

14. An information handling system according to claim 11, the program of instructions further operable to display a customized user interface to the at least one assignee based on at least the plurality of workflow states created, the at least one action associated with each workflow state, and the assignee type associated with each workflow state, wherein the customized user interface prompts the at least one assignee to select a successive workflow state.

15. An information handling system according to claim 14, the program of instructions further operable to configure, based on at least input from the user, user interface components to be displayed to the at least one assignee for the at least one action.

16. An information handling system according to claim 11, the program of instructions further operable to associate, based on at least input from the user, a script with the at least one action, the script operable to, when executed, perform an automated task associated with the application packaging job.

17. A program of instructions embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium, the program of instructions operable to, when executed:

receive input from a user interface;

create a plurality of workflow states based on at least input from a user based on at least the received input, each workflow state associated with a particular step in the application packaging job;

associate at least one action with at least one workflow state based on at least input from the user based on at least the received input, each action defining a transition from its associated workflow state to a target workflow state; and

associate an assignee type with at least one action based on at least input from the user based on at least the received input, the assignee type defining at least one assignee that may assigned to the application packaging job for the particular action.

18. A program of instructions according to claim 17, further operable to store information regarding at least one of the workflow states, the actions associated with each workflow state, the assignee types associated with each workflow state, and the assignees associated with each assignee type are stored on the computer-readable medium.

19. A program of instructions according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of workflow states include at least one of a state associated with submission of an application packaging job, a state associated with compatibility determination of an application to be packaged, a state associated with obsolescence determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with relevancy determination of the application to be packaged, a state associated with packaging of the application, a state associated with quality assurance of an application package, a state associated with verification of the installation of a packaged application, a state associated with user acceptance testing of the application package, a state associated with deployment of the packaged application, a state associated withdrawal of the submission of the application packaging job, a state associated with abandonment of the application packaging job, a state associated with acceptance of the packaged application, and a state associated with closing of the application packaging job.

20. A program of instructions according to claim 17, further operable to display a customized user interface to the at least one assignee based on at least the plurality of workflow states created, the at least one action associated with each workflow state, and the assignee type associated with each workflow state, wherein the customized user interface prompts the at least one assignee to select a successive workflow state.