WORKFLOW ENGINE FOR EXECUTION OF WEB MASHUPS

• US 20100125826A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sterland, Andrew R., Nathan, Adam D., Rice, Timothy S., Wong, Patrick Chi Wai
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A software-implemented workflow engine is described that executes a Web mashup within the context of a Web browser running on a computer. The workflow engine is configured to parse a Web mashup definition obtained from a remote server to identify distinct units of execution within the Web mashup, referred to as components. The workflow engine is further configured to obtain programming logic and metadata associated with each type of component identified in the Web mashup definition from the remote server and to use such information to generate executable versions of the identified components. Finally, the workflow engine is configured to run each of the executable components, thereby executing the Web mashup. The workflow engine is configured to manage the order of execution of each of the executable components so that the Web mashup runs in an optimized and reliable fashion.

Claims

1. A method for executing an application on a computer, comprising:

obtaining an application definition;

parsing the application definition to identify components, wherein each component comprises a distinct unit of execution within the application;

obtaining programming logic and metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition;

generating executable versions of the identified components using at least the programming logic and metadata obtained for the corresponding component type; and

managing execution of each of the executable components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application definition is formatted in accordance with a markup language.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises a Web mashup and wherein at least one of the executable components includes a request to a Web service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition comprises input/output format metadata and wherein generating executable versions of the identified components comprises generating logic that formats data output from one executable component for input to another executable component in accordance with the input/output format metadata.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition is formatted in accordance with a markup language.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming logic associated with each type of component identified in the application definition file comprises Javascript programming logic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein managing execution of each of the executable components comprises:

initiating execution of one or more of the executable components asynchronously.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein initiating execution of one or more of the executable components asynchronously comprises:

identifying one or more executable components that are not dependent on any other executable component for input based on information in the application definition; and

initiating execution of the identified executable component(s).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein managing execution of each of the executable components comprises:

determining that a first executable component is dependent on one or more other executable components for input based on information in the application definition; and

initiating execution of the first executable component only after the one or more other executable components are determined to be in a completed state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein managing execution of each of the executable components comprises:

initiating execution of at least one of the executable components responsive to determining that only a portion of the total input to be provided to the executable component is available.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processing unit to execute an application, the computer program logic comprising:

first means for enabling the processing unit to obtain an application definition;

second means for enabling the processing unit to parse the application definition to identify components, wherein each component comprises a distinct unit of execution within the application;

third means for enabling the processing unit to obtain programming logic and metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition;

fourth means for enabling the processing unit to generate executable versions of the identified components using at least the programming logic and metadata obtained for the corresponding component type; and

fifth means for enabling the processing unit to manage execution of each of the executable components.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the application definition is formatted in accordance with a markup language.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the application comprises a Web mashup and wherein at least one of the executable components includes a request to a Web service.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition comprises input/output format metadata and wherein the fourth means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to generate logic that formats data output from one executable component for input to another executable component in accordance with the input/output format metadata.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the programming logic associated with each type of component identified in the application definition file comprises Javascript programming logic.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the fifth means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to initiate execution of one or more of the executable components asynchronously.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the fifth means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to identify one or more executable components that are not dependent on any other executable component for input based on information in the application definition and to initiate execution of the identified executable component(s).

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the fifth means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to determine that a first executable component is dependent on one or more other executable components for input based on information in the application definition and to initiate execution of the first executable component only after the one or more other executable components are determined to be in a completed state.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the fifth means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to initiate execution of at least one of the executable components responsive to determining that only a portion of the total input to be provided to the executable component is available.

20. A method for executing a Web mashup on a computer, comprising:

generating a plurality of executable components, wherein each component comprises a distinct unit of execution within the Web mashup and wherein at least one executable component includes a request to a Web service; and

managing an order of execution of each of the plurality of executable components at runtime in accordance with identified input/output dependencies between the executable components.