Workflow modelling system

• US 5,890,130 A
• Filed: 06/21/1995
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Scherr, Allan Lee, Snyder, Kathleen Marie, Cox, Norman Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/493,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/28, 705/29, 345/440, 345/133, 345/140
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system generates a model of a workflow. The system begins by displaying on a computer screen a first flowgraph between two horizontal time lines representing two respective participants. The first flowgraph comprises a plurality of vertical directional line segments extending between the two horizontal time lines and representing respective communications or other actions between the participants. Next, the computer receives a selection of a second flowgraph for display between one of the two time lines and a third, horizontal time line representing a third participant. The second flowgraph comprises a plurality of vertical directional line segments extending between the one time line and the third horizontal time line and representing respective communications or other actions between the participants represented by the one and third time lines. Then, the computer displays the second flowgraph between the one and third time lines. The computer also generates a verbal description of communications or other actions represented by vertical line segments that lead to or from each time line.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for forming a model of a workflow, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a computer screen a first flowgraph between two horizontal time lines representing two respective participants, said first flowgraph comprising a plurality of vertical directional line segments extending between said two horizontal time lines and representing respective communications or other actions between said participants;

receiving by the computer a selection of a second flowgraph for display between one of said two time lines and a third, horizontal time line representing a third participant, said second flowgraph comprising a plurality of vertical directional line segments extending between said one time line and said third horizontal time line and representing respective communications or other actions between the participants represented by said one and third time lines; and

while displaying said first flowgraph, displaying on said computer screen said second flowgraph between said one and third time lines, whereby said first and second flowgraphs form part of the model.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said flowgraphs comprises two horizontal line segments which are vertically aligned with each other and extend between two of the vertical line segments of the respective flowgraph, and one of said horizontal line segments is bolder or more distinctive than the other horizontal line segment.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the time lines have a different character than the horizontal line segments.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bolder or more distinctive horizontal line segment corresponds to the participant who is obligated to initiate a next communication or next action in the workflow after the communication or other action represented by the previous vertical line segment in the same flowgraph.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said other horizontal line segment in each pair corresponds to the other participant who is awaiting the communication or other action from the participant represented by the bolder or more distinctive horizontal line segment.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said two horizontal line segments are aligned or nearly aligned with said two time lines, respectively, such that it is apparent which participant is represented by said horizontal line segments.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the computer implemented step of horizontally moving at least one vertical line segment of said first flowgraph and shortening or lengthening said horizontal line segments of said first flowgraph to interconnect to said vertical line segment.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said flowgraphs comprises a first vertical arrow pointing in one direction, second and third subsequent vertical arrows pointing in the opposite direction, and a fourth subsequent vertical arrow pointing in said one direction.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first, second, third and fourth vertical arrows represent a request for a product or service, agreement to provide the product or service, performance and acceptance of the product or service, respectively.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented step of generating default labels for each of the vertical line segments of said second flowgraph to describe a nature of the respective communication or other action.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one and third time lines represent a customer participant and a supplier participant and said second flowgraph comprises a first arrow pointing from the customer time line to the supplier time line and representing a request for goods or services, a subsequent arrow pointing from the supplier time line to the customer time line representing agreement to provide the goods or services, a subsequent arrow pointing from the supplier time line to the customer time line representing performance, and a subsequent arrow pointing from the customer time line to the supplier time line representing payment or acceptance of the goods or services.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of said two time lines is interposed between said one time line and said third time line and further comprising the computer implemented step of lengthening a plurality of vertical line segments of said second flowgraph to extend between said one time line and said third time line.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of receiving the selection of said second flowgraph comprises the steps of:

displaying on a computer screen a multiplicity of horizontal time lines for a multiplicity of respective participants in the workflow, and at least one selectable flowgraph comprising a plurality of vertical directional line segments; and

selecting said flowgraph and positioning said flowgraph between said one and third time lines such that each vertical line segment extends between said one and third time lines and represents a communication or other action.

14. A system for forming a model of a workflow, said system comprising:

means for generating and displaying on a computer screen a multiplicity of horizontal time lines for a multiplicity of respective participants in the workflow; and

means for generating and displaying a first set of directional vertical line segments between two of said time lines, and a second set of directional vertical line segments between one of said two time lines and a third line, each vertical line segment representing a communication or other action in the workflow between the two respective participants.

15. A computer implemented method for forming a model of a workflow, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a computer screen a first flowgraph between two parallel time lines representing two respective participants, said first flowgraph comprising a plurality of directional line segments perpendicular to and extending between said two parallel time lines and representing respective communications or other actions between said participants;

receiving by the computer a selection of a second flowgraph for display between one of said two time lines and a third, time line representing a third participant and parallel to said two time lines, said second flowgraph comprising a plurality of directional line segments perpendicular to and extending between said one time line and said third time line and representing respective communications or other actions between the participants represented by said one and third time lines; and

while displaying said first flowgraph, displaying on said computer screen said second flowgraph between said one and third time lines, whereby said first and second flowgraphs form part of the model.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said flowgraphs comprises two line segments which are parallel to said time lines, aligned with each other and extend between two of said directional line segments of the respective flowgraph, and one of said two line segments is bolder or more distinctive than the other of said two line segments.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the time lines have a different character than said two line segments.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said one line segment corresponds to the participant who is obligated to initiate a next communication or next action in the workflow after the communication or other action represented by the previous directional line segment in the same flowgraph.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said other line segment corresponds to the other participant who is awaiting the communication or other action from the participant represented by said one line segment.

20. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said two line segments are aligned or nearly aligned with said two time lines, respectively, such that it is apparent which participant is represented by said parallel line segments.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 further comprising the computer implemented step of moving at least one of said directional line segments of said first flowgraph and shortening or lengthening said two line segments of said first flowgraph to interconnect to said one directional line segment.

22. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the directional lines segments of each of said flowgraphs comprises a first arrow pointing in one direction, second and third subsequent arrows pointing in the opposite direction, and a fourth subsequent arrow pointing in said one direction.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first, second, third and fourth arrows represent a request for a product or service, agreement to provide the product or service, performance and acceptance of the product or service, respectively.

24. A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the computer implemented step of generating default labels for each of said perpendicular vertical line segments of said second flowgraph to describe a nature of the respective communication or other action.

25. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said one and third time lines represent a customer participant and a supplier participant and said second flowgraph comprises a first arrow pointing from the customer time line to the supplier time line and representing a request for goods or services, a subsequent arrow pointing from the supplier time line to the customer time line representing agreement to provide the goods or services, a subsequent arrow pointing from the supplier time line to the customer time line representing performance, and a subsequent arrow pointing from the customer time line to the supplier time line representing payment or acceptance of the goods or services.

26. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said other time line is interposed between said one time line and said third time line and further comprising the computer implemented step of lengthening a plurality of directional line segments of said second flowgraph to extend between said one time line and said third time line.

27. A system for forming a model of a workflow, said system comprising:

means for generating and displaying on a computer screen indications of a multiplicity of parallel time lines for a multiplicity of respective participants in the workflow; and

means for generating and displaying a first set of directional line segments perpendicular to and between two of said time lines, and a second set of directional line segments perpendicular to and between one of said two time lines and a third line, each directional line segment representing a communication or other action in the workflow between the two respective participants.

28. A computer implemented method for forming a model of a workflow, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a computer screen a first flowgraph comprising a first directional line segment representing a first communication or other action from a first participant to a second participant, a second line segment perpendicular to and extending from a front end of said first directional line segment, a third directional line segment extending from said second line segment parallel to said first directional line segment and representing a second, subsequent communication or other action from said second participant to said first participant, a fourth line segment aligned with said second line segment and extending from and perpendicular to a back end of said third directional line segment, a fifth directional line segment extending from said fourth line segment parallel to said first directional line segment and representing a third, subsequent communication or other action from said second participant to said first participant, a sixth line segment parallel with said second and fourth line segments and extending from a front end of said fifth directional line segment, and a seventh directional line segment extending from said sixth line segment parallel to said first directional line segment and representing a fourth, subsequent communication or other action from said first participant to said second participant;

receiving by the computer a selection of a second flowgraph comprising an eighth directional line segment representing a fifth communication or other action from said first participant to a third participant, a ninth line segment perpendicular to and extending from a front end of said eighth directional line segment, a tenth directional line segment extending from said ninth line segment parallel to said eight directional line segment and representing a sixth, subsequent communication or other action from said third participant to said first participant, an eleventh line segment aligned with said ninth line segment and extending from and perpendicular to a back end of said tenth directional line segment, a twelfth directional line segment extending from said eleventh line segment parallel to said eight directional line segment and representing a tenth, subsequent communication or other action from said third participant to said first participant, a thirteenth line segment parallel with said ninth and eleventh line segments and extending from a front end of said twelfth directional line segment, and a fourteenth directional line segment extending from said thirteenth line segment parallel to said eighth directional line segment and representing an eleventh, subsequent communication or other action from said first participant to said third participant; and

while displaying said first flowgraph, displaying on said computer screen said second flowgraph, whereby said first and second flowgraphs form part of the same model.

29. A computer program product for forming a model of a workflow, said program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instruction means for instructing a processor to display on a computer screen a first flowgraph between two parallel time lines representing two respective participants, said first flowgraph comprising a plurality of directional line segments perpendicular to and extending between said two parallel time lines and representing respective communications or other actions between said participants;

second program instruction means for instructing a processor to receive a selection of a second flowgraph for display between one of said two time lines and a third, time line representing a third participant and parallel to said two time lines, said second flowgraph comprising a plurality of directional line segments perpendicular to and extending between said one time line and said third time line and representing respective communications or other actions between the participants represented by said one and third time lines; and

third program instruction means for instructing a processor, while said first flowgraph is being displayed, to display on said computer screen said second flowgraph between said one and third time lines, whereby said first and second flowgraphs form part of the model; and

wherein each of said program instructions means is recorded on said medium in executable form.