Simplified Approach for Service Composition and Orchestration

• US 20100262451A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Yuan, Jun, Bahrami, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/423,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• 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

The different advantageous embodiments provide a method, apparatus, and computer program product for improved workflow management. A workflow model is executed. The workflow model may include a number of worklets. Each worklet in the number of worklets may have a number of associated assistlets. A determination is made as to whether a number of associated assistelets for a first worklet in the number of worklets execute during execution of the workflow model. In response to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet execute, the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet are executed.

Claims

1. A method for workflow management, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a first workflow model from a number of workflow models, wherein the first workflow model includes a number of worklets, and wherein each worklet in the number of worklets includes a number of services;

identifying a first service in the number of services that does not execute using a processing unit, wherein the first service is capable of performing a first task;

identifying a second service that is capable of performing the first task using the processing unit; and

replacing the first service in the first workflow model with the second service using the processing unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of workflow models are stored in a repository.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the first service with the second service further comprises:

identifying interchangeability rules for each service in the number of services.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the second service in the first workflow model;

receiving a return value associated with the execution of the second service; and

responsive to receiving the return value, determining whether the first workflow model will stay in the current worklet or proceed to a next worklet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the first workflow model; and

displaying output based on the execution of the first workflow model on a display device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

executing a process based on the output displayed on the display device.

7. A method for workflow management, the method comprising:

executing a workflow model, wherein the workflow model includes a number of worklets and each worklet in the number of worklets has a number of associated assistlets;

determining whether a number of associated assistlets for a first worklet in the number of worklets execute during execution of the workflow model;

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet execute, executing the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet do not execute, determining whether to replace the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet or the first worklet.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to a determination to replace the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet, searching a repository for a number of replacement assistlets for the first worklet;

retrieving the number of replacement assistlets from the repository; and

executing the number of replacement assistlets for the first worklet.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to a determination to replace the first worklet, searching a repository for a replacement worklet for the first worklet;

retrieving the replacement worklet from the repository; and

executing the replacement worklet in place of the first worklet.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

performing transition logic, wherein the transition logic represents associations between the number of associated assistlets, and wherein the association may result in at least one of executing all of the number of associated assistlets, partially executing the number of associated assistlets, and executing none of the number of associated assistlets.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether a second worklet needs to be executed; and

responsive to a determination that the second worklet needs to be executed, determining whether a number of associated assistlets for the second worklet execute during execution of the workflow model.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet do not execute, determining whether to replace the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet or the second worklet.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

responsive to a determination to replace the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet, searching a repository for a number of replacement assistlets for the second worklet;

retrieving the number of replacement assistlets from the repository; and

executing the number of replacement assistlets for the second worklet.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responsive to a determination to replace the second worklet, searching a repository for a replacement worklet for the second worklet;

retrieving the replacement worklet from the repository; and

executing the replacement worklet in place of the second worklet.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

performing a task using the workflow model, wherein the task is part of a process.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the process is selected from at least one of aircraft maintenance, aircraft assembly, aircraft service, and aircraft manufacturing.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

a rule engine capable of being executed on the processing unit; and

a workflow engine capable of being executed on the processing unit, wherein the workflow engine executes a workflow system to execute a workflow model, wherein the workflow model includes a number of worklets, and wherein each worklet in the number of worklets has a number of associated assistlets;

determine whether a number of associated assistlets for a first worklet in the number of worklets execute during execution of the workflow model; and

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet execute, execute the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet do not execute, determine whether to replace the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet or the first worklet.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination to replace the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet, search a repository for a number of replacement assistlets for the first worklet;

retrieve the number of replacement assistlets from the repository; and

execute the number of replacement assistlets for the first worklet.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination to replace the first worklet, search a repository for a replacement worklet for the first worklet;

retrieve the replacement worklet from the repository; and

execute the replacement worklet in place of the first worklet.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

perform transition logic, wherein the transition logic represents associations between the number of associated assistlets, and wherein the association may result in at least one of executing all of the number of associated assistlets, partially executing the number of associated assistlets, and executing none of the number of associated assistlets.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

determine whether a second worklet needs to be executed; and

responsive to a determination that the second worklet needs to be executed, determine whether a number of associated assistlets for the second worklet execute during execution of the workflow model.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet do not execute, determine whether to replace the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet or the second worklet.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination to replace the number of associated assistlets for the second worklet, search a repository for a number of replacement assistlets for the second worklet;

retrieve the number of replacement assistlets from the repository; and

execute the number of replacement assistlets for the second worklet.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the workflow engine further executes the workflow system to:

responsive to a determination to replace the second worklet, search a repository for a replacement worklet for the second worklet;

retrieve the replacement worklet from the repository; and

execute the replacement worklet in place of the second worklet.