PROCESS MODELING AND INTERFACE

• US 20140282199A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Tao, Srinivasan, Sridhar, Basu, Arijit, Zhang, Yi, Peng, Sheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,342,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

An instance of an existing data system has one or more processes. Each process has corresponding metadata. Metadata for a given process is accessed and a diagram of the process is automatically generated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a representation of a process, comprising:

accessing metadata corresponding to a process stored in an instance of a data system;

generating a visual diagram of the process based on the metadata; and

displaying the visual diagram on a user interface display.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the data system comprises a business data system, and further comprising:

receiving a user modification input on the user interface display modifying the visual diagram to obtain a modified visual diagram; and

modifying the metadata corresponding to the process based on the modification to the visual diagram.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 and further comprising:

storing the modified metadata in a format that is accessible by multiple different tools.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein receiving the user modification input comprises:

receiving the user modification input through a web interface.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 and further comprising:

identifying work items to be performed on the process based on the modification to the visual diagram so the process operates as indicated by the modified visual diagram; and

storing the work items for viewing or export.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 and further comprising:

automatically generating a fit gap list from the work items.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein receiving a user modification input comprises:

receiving a user drag and drop input modifying the visual diagram to add a task or activity to the visual diagram of the process.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein receiving a user modification input comprises:

receiving a user drag and drop input modifying the visual diagram to reposition a task or activity in the process.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein receiving a user modification input comprises:

receiving a user drag and drop input modifying the visual diagram to reposition a task or activity in the visual diagram; and

wherein modifying the metadata comprises changing a security role assigned to the task or activity based on the repositioning of the task or activity in the visual diagram.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein generating a visual diagram comprises:

generating a hierarchical tree structure having nodes representing tasks and activities in the process.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein generating a visual diagram comprises:

generating a flow diagram showing operational flow of the process, the flow diagram having shapes representing tasks and activities in the process.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 and further comprising:

receiving a user input to begin recording a portion of the process;

displaying user interface displays from the instance of the business data system to receive user inputs to perform the portion of the process; and

recording the user inputs, and corresponding metadata, performing the portion of the process

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein generating the visual diagram comprises:

generating the visual diagram based on the recorded metadata.

14. A solution process mapping system, comprising

a recorder component that obtains metadata corresponding to a process stored in an instance of a data system and generates a diagram representing an ordered set of tasks performed in performing the process;

and

a computer processor being a functional part of the system and activated by the recorder component to facilitate obtaining the metadata and generating the diagram.

15. The solution process mapping system of claim 14 wherein the data system comprises a business data system and further comprising:

a process modifier component that receives a user input modifying the diagram and that automatically modifies the metadata corresponding to the process based on the modification to the diagram.

16. The solution process mapping system of claim 15 wherein the recorder component generates the diagram as a flow diagram with shapes connected by connectors and wherein the process modifier component comprises:

a process navigator component that receives a user input actuating a given portion of the flow diagram and displays additional information about a portion of the process corresponding to the given portion of the flow diagram.

17. The solution process mapping system of claim 16 wherein the process navigator component receives a user input actuating a given connector on the flow diagram and displays classes and methods used by the business data system in performing process steps represented by the given connector.

18. A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform a method, comprising:

accessing metadata corresponding to a process stored in an instance of a data system; and

generating a diagram of the process based on the metadata.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18 wherein the data system comprises a business data system and further comprising:

receiving a user modification input on the diagram modifying the diagram to obtain a modified diagram;

modifying the metadata corresponding to the process based on the modification to the diagram; and

storing the modified metadata in a format that is accessible by multiple different tools.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 19 and further comprising:

identifying work items to be performed on the process based on the modification to the diagram so the process operates as indicated by the modified diagram; and

automatically generating a fit gap list from the work items.