Method of generating an implementation of reusable parts from containers of a workflow process-model

• US 6,028,997 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Leymann, Frank, Roller, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAM, TUAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/866,923
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/702, 395/704, 395/710, 705/7, 705/10, 705/11, 705/8, 705/1, 707/100, 707/200, 707/500, 709/305, 709/202, 709/303, 345/348, 345/339, 345/349, 345/967, 345/968, 345/965
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

Method for automatically generating an implementation of input and output container reusable parts for a process model managed and executed by at least one computer system. The method of generating uses the specification of a process model extended by specifications associating the process model to a reusable part environment outside the workflow process environment and generates an implementation of said input and output containers as reusable parts residing within said reusable parts environment. The method of generating comprises an analysis of the specifications of said process model. Based on this analysis the method generates the associated input container reusable parts and associated output container reusable parts as implementations of said input and output containers.

Claims

1. A data processing system implemented method of extending specifications of a process model within a workflow process environment, wherein said process model defines a process activity managed and executed by at least one data processing system and said process activity has associated with it an interface container implemented within a reusable parts environment, said method comprising the steps of:

linking said process model with said reusable parts environment;

associating with said process model, an interface container reusable part, said interface container reusable part implementing said interface container and residing within said reusable parts environment; and

storing an interface container reusable part specification corresponding to said interface container reusable part within said process model such that said specifications of said process model are extended in response to said associating step.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating a name with said interface container reusable part; and

storing a name specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating a description with said interface container reusable part; and

storing a description specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating a header file and an implementation file with said interface container reusable part; and

storing a header file specification and a implementation file specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating a reusable part information file with said interface container reusable part; and

storing a reusable part information file specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating an icon identification and an icon dynamic link library with said interface container reusable part; and

storing an icon identification specification and an icon dynamic link library specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, said associating step further comprising the steps of:

associating an optimization target with said interface container reusable part; and

storing an optimization target specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

8. A data processing system implemented method of generating for a process model residing within a workflow process environment, an implementation of an interface container as a reusable part residing within a reusable parts environment utilizing specifications of said process model, said method comprising the steps of:

analyzing a workflow process activity of an interface container reusable part specification of said process model; and

generating an interface container reusable part by utilizing said analyzed workflow results of said interface container reusable part specification and in response to a detection by said analyzing step, of an interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said generating step further comprises the step of:

generating an interface container reusable part which is optimized in response to the detection, by said analyzing step, of an optimization target specification.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

generating an attribute name for each input parameter detected by said analyzing step; and

generating an associated attribute for each input parameter detected by said analyzing step, each associated attribute having a type and length dependent upon a type and length of its corresponding input parameter.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

generating a get-attribute method for each associated attribute, said get-attribute method enabling a retrieval of a current value of said associated attribute; and

generating a constructor for said interface container reusable part, said constructor enabling each said associated attribute to be set to a current value stored in a corresponding interface container within said workflow process environment.

12. A method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

generating an attribute name for each output parameter detected by said analyzing step; and

generating an associated attribute for each output parameter detected by said analyzing step, each associated attribute having a type and length dependent upon a type and length of its corresponding output parameter.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

generating a set-attribute method for each associated attribute, said set-attribute method enabling a storage of a new value into said associated attribute;

generating a constructor for said interface container reusable part, said constructor enabling each said associated attribute to be set to a current value stored in a corresponding interface container within said workflow process environment; and

generating a destructor for said interface container reusable part, said destructor enabling a transfer of a value of an associated attribute within said interface container reusable part to a corresponding interface container within said workflow process environment.

14. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein in response to a detection by said analyzing step of a reusable part information file specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model, said generating step further comprises the steps of:

writing generation results into a reusable part information file associated with said reusable part information file specification; and

declaring said interface container reusable part within said reusable parts environment in response to said step of writing generation results into a reusable part information file.

15. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein in response to a detection by said analyzing step of a header file specification within said interface container reusable part specification within said process model, said generating step further comprises the steps of:

writing generation results into a header file associated with said header file specification; and

defining said interface container reusable part for a potentially utilizing program in response to said step of writing generation results into a header file.

16. A data processing system for extending specifications of a process model within a workflow process environment, wherein said process model defines a process activity managed and executed by at least one data processing system and said process activity has associated with it an interface container implemented within a reusable parts environment, said data processing system comprising:

means for linking said process model with said reusable parts environment;

means for associating with said process model, an interface container reusable part, said interface container reusable part implementing said interface container and residing within said reusable parts environment; and

means for storing an interface container reusable part specification corresponding to said interface container reusable part within said process model such that said specifications of said process model are extended in response to said means for associating.

17. A data processing system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said interface container reusable part further implements an object structure, and wherein said implementation is enhanced by development accessories which support visual programming in a graphical editing environment.

18. A data processing system for generating for a process model residing within a workflow process environment, an implementation of an interface container as a reusable part residing within a reusable parts environment utilizing specifications of said process model, said data processing system comprising:

means for analyzing a workflow process activity of an interface container reusable part specification of said process model; and

means for generating an interface container reusable part by utilizing said analyzed workflow results of said interface container reusable part specification and in response to a detection by said means for analyzing, of an interface container reusable part specification within said process model.

19. A computer program product, to be utilized within a data processing system, for extending specifications of a process model within a workflow process environment, wherein said process model defines a process activity managed and executed by at least one data processing system and said process activity has associated with it an interface container implemented within a reusable parts environment, said computer program product comprising:

media usable by said data processing system for storing and executing instruction means;

instruction means embodied within said media for linking said process model with said reusable parts environment;

instruction means embodied within said media for associating with said process model, an interface container reusable part, said interface container reusable part implementing said interface container and residing within said reusable parts environment; and

instruction means embodied within said media for storing an interface container reusable part specification corresponding to said interface container reusable part within said process model such that said specifications of said process model are extended in response to said instruction means for associating.

20. A computer program product to be utilized within a data processing system for generating for a process model residing within a workflow process environment, an implementation of an interface container as a reusable part residing within a reusable parts environment utilizing specifications of said process model, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means embodied within said media for analyzing a workflow process activity of an interface container reusable part specification of said process model; and

instruction means embodied within said media for generating an interface container reusable part by utilizing said analyzed workflow results of said interface container reusable part specification and in response to a detection by said instruction means for analyzing, of an interface container reusable part specification within said process model.