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Method and apparatus for distributed workflow building blocks of process definition, initialization and execution

DC
  • US 5,768,506 A
  • Filed: 05/20/1997
  • Issued: 06/16/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A workflow method for distributing and controlling work in a computer system, wherein said work is defined by a procedure having a plurality of nodes with connections defined therebetween, one node for each activity in said procedure, and wherein each of said nodes is defined to be performed by either said computer system or by an agent, said workflow method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) for each time said procedure is to be performed, retrieving said procedure and defining an instance for said procedure, said instance comprising said plurality of nodes and connections defined therebetween, and an information packet comprising initial data for said instance;

    (b) selecting a node of said instance to be performed;

    (c) creating a task for said node;

    (d) when said task is defined to be performed by said computer system, executing said task on said computer system;

    (e) when said task is defined to be performed by an agent, identifying said agent through an organization service, sending said information packet in said instance to said agent through a transport service, and receiving results from said agent, whereby said agent performs all activities of said task defined for said node;

    (f) selecting a next node connected to said node processed in steps (c) through (e) and repeating steps (c) through (e) for said selected next node, wherein a next node selected is a next node defined within said instance after a node just performed in steps (c) through (e), unless said node just performed was a routing node, wherein a next node to be performed was identified by said routing node when said routing node was performed, and(g) repeating step (f) until a last node of said procedure has been performed.

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