LINKED DECISION NODES IN A BUSINESS PROCESS MODEL

• US 20130179364A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Benayon, Jay W., Irassar, Pablo D., Szaloky, Vince F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/348
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to decision node processing in a business process model and provide a method, system and computer program product for linked decision nodes in business process models. In an embodiment of the invention, a business process model simulation method can be provided. The method can include loading a business process model for simulation, designating a decision node in the business process model as a master decision node and linking another decision node in the business process model as a slave decision node to the master decision node. The method further can include simulating the master decision node to select an output pin and storing the selected output pin in association with the master decision node, and applying the selected output pin in the slave decision node when arriving at the slave decision node during the simulation without simulating the slave decision node.

Claims

1. A business process model simulation method comprising:

loading a business process model for simulation;

designating a decision node in the business process model as a master decision node and linking another decision node in the business process model as a slave decision node to the master decision node;

simulating the master decision node to select an output pin and storing the selected output pin in association with the master decision node; and

,

applying the selected output pin in the slave decision node when arriving at the slave decision node during the simulation without simulating the slave decision node.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising simulating the slave decision node to select an output pin when the master decision node has not stored a selected output pin.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility, comprises comparing the master decision node to the slave decision node to ensure that input and output pins for the master decision node and the slave decision node match.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility, further comprises comparing the master decision node to the slave decision node to ensure that both a configuration and names for the input and the output pins for the master decision node and the slave decision node match.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility, further comprises comparing the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure that tests for the master decision node and the slave decision node match.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility, further comprises comparing the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure that the master decision node and the slave decision node do not override a current flow mode of simulation.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein validating the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure compatibility, further comprises comparing the master decision node and the slave decision node to ensure that the input and output pins of the master decision node and the slave decision node do not span process boundaries in the business process model.

9. A business process model simulation data processing system comprising:

a simulation engine executing in a host computing platform;

a business process model coupled to the simulation engine for simulation by the simulation engine, the model comprising a plurality of nodes including decision nodes, a selection of the decision nodes being designated master decision nodes and a corresponding selection of the decision nodes each being designated a slave decision node associated with one of the master decision nodes;

a data store of linked nodes storing output pin selections each corresponding to a different one of the master decision nodes; and

,

linked decision node logic comprising program code enabled to apply an output pin selection to a slave decision node corresponding to an output pin selection in the data store corresponding to a master decision node linked to the slave decision node.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the data store is encapsulated by the master decision nodes and the slave decision nodes.

11-18. -18. (canceled)