AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM BASED ON PROCESS MODELING OF AN IMPLEMENTED PROCESS

• US 20150006878A1
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Deepak, Swaminathan, Manoj, Desai, Aditya Makarand, Basu, Arijit, Yu, Yen Ping
• Granted Patent: US 9,575,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/355 Round-trip engineering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A configuration architecture automatically links the output of a business process modeler to a business system configuration tool. The output of the business process modeler is translated into a representation of a source business process that is used by the business system configuration tool to automatically generate configuration templates. A user can provide configuration information through the configuration templates. The configuration inputs are applied to an implementation of a business system to obtain a configured, working business system instance with the same functionality as the source business process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining a representation of a source process having process functionality;

translating the representation of the source process to a translated representation;

identifying a configuration tool instance that is to be used; and

generating a configuration template, with the identified configuration tool instance, from the translated representation, with user configuration input mechanisms that receive user configuration inputs to configure a system instance with the process functionality.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the source process comprises a business process and the system instance comprises a business system instance, and wherein obtaining a representation of the source business process comprises:

obtaining a first representation of the source business process at a business process modeler.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein identifying a configuration tool instance, comprises:

receiving a user synchronization input at the business process modeler to send the representation of the source business process to the identified configuration tool instance; and

displaying a selection user input mechanism at the business process modeler that receives user selection of the identified configuration tool instance.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 displaying a selection user input mechanism comprises:

displaying a list of user actuatable input mechanisms, each corresponding to a different configuration tool instance; and

receiving user actuation of a given one of the user actuatable input mechanisms.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein generating a configuration template comprises:

receiving the translated representation at the configuration tool instance corresponding to given user actuatable input mechanism actuated by the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein generating a configuration template comprises:

generating a set of templates and sub-templates with the identified configuration tool instance based on the translated representation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the configuration tool instance comprises an instance of a question-based business system configuration tool, and wherein generating a configuration template comprises:

generating a set of questions that are answered by the user configuration inputs.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein generating a set of questions comprises:

generating the questions in question groups that each comprise a set of questions that are related by subject matter.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein translating comprises:

translating the recorded representation of the source business process into a representation having a schema expected by the configuration tool instance.

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

receiving the user configuration inputs to obtain a configured configuration template; and

applying the configured configuration template to the business system instance to obtain a configured instance of the business system that has the process functionality of the source business process.

11. A configuration system, comprising:

an input component that provides a representation of a process that has process functionality;

a system configuration tool that receives the representation of the process and generates a configuration template with user input mechanisms that receive user configuration inputs and that generates a configured system instance that has the process functionality based on the user configuration inputs to the configuration template; and

a computer processor that is a functional part of the system and is activated by the input component and the system configuration tool to facilitate providing the representation, generating the configuration template and generating the configured system.

12. The configuration system of claim 11 wherein the process comprises a business process, and wherein the configured system instance comprises a configured business system instance.

13. The configuration system of claim 12 wherein the input component comprises:

a translation component that receives a first representation of the business process and translates it into a second representation of the business process according to a schema that is expected by the system configuration tool.

14. The configuration system of claim 13 and further comprising:

a business process modeler that models the business process as the first representation of the business process.

15. The configuration system of claim 14 wherein the system configuration tool generates the configuration template as a hierarchical set of templates, sub-templates, question groups and questions, each having the user input mechanisms to receive the user configuration inputs.

16. The configuration system of claim 13 wherein the input component generates a user interface display with an instance selection user input mechanism that receives a user selection input selecting an instance of the system configuration tool that receives the representation of the business process.

17. A computer readable storage medium that stores computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform steps, comprising:

obtaining a first representation of a source process having process functionality;

translating the first representation of the source process to a second representation;

identifying a configuration tool instance that is to be used;

sending the second representation of the source business process to the identified configuration tool instance; and

generating a configuration template, with the identified configuration tool instance, from the translated representation, with user configuration input mechanisms that receive user configuration inputs to configure a system instance with the process functionality.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the source process comprises a business process and the system instance comprises a business system instance, and wherein identifying a configuration tool instance, comprises:

receiving a user synchronization input to send the second representation of the source business process to the identified configuration tool instance; and

displaying a selection user input mechanism that receives user selection of the identified configuration tool instance.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein generating a configuration template comprises:

generating the configuration template as a hierarchical set of templates, sub-templates, question groups and questions, each having the user input mechanisms to receive the user configuration inputs.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein translating comprises:

translating the first representation into the second representation that has a form expected by the identified configuration tool instance.