State models for monitoring process

• US 6,665,648 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Jai-Jein, Yu, Michael Tsunghsi, Brodersen, Karen Cheung, Mazur, Andrzej P., Groves, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irshadullah, M.
• Application Number:
  US09/579,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/35, 703/8, 707/103, 707/6, 707/102, 709/102, 717/1, 345/433
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/045 using logic state machines, consisting only of a memory or a programmable logic device containing the logic for the controlled machine and in which the state of its outputs is dependent on the state of its inputs or part of its own output states, e.g. binary decision controllers, finite state controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23255 Object oriented programming, OOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23261 Use control template library
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23289 State logic control, finite state, tasks, machine, fsm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32339 Object oriented modeling, design, analysis, implementation, simulation language
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32353 Use elementary control task, finite state machine and loop, inhibit, synchronisation connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

System and method for preparing, using, and displaying a state model of a process, as an industrial or business process, as a sequence of discrete steps. The state model defines the behavior of the logical objects making up a process model of the process as (1) a set of permitted states and (2) a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states. The state model is created by selecting a template for the state model, and selecting industrial or business object components for the state model (for example, by using “OOP” methods or other programming paradigms). The user then selects or defines state transitions for the state model, for example, by defining permitted state transitions from a “from state” to a “to state”. The defined or selected state transition rules are identified to State Transition Rule names. That is, state transitions are associated to specific state transition rules, names, and conditions, and the state transition names and state transition rule names are enumerated. The specific state transition rules corresponding to the names are extracted from a database. The extracted states, transitions, and rules define the state machine execution engine. This state machine execution engine is used to process business models.

Claims

1. A method of using a state model that defines the behavior of logical business objects to monitor current status of corresponding business deals, each business object representing a corresponding business deal that can progress through multiple steps in an associated business process until completion, the state model including a set of permitted states and a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states and corresponding to the business process in such a manner that each of the permitted states represent one of multiple business process steps, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a template for the state model;

defining permitted state transitions for the state model that are each from a permitted “

from state”

of the state model and to a permitted “

to state”

of the state model;

associating state transitions of the state model with state transition rules and conditions;

extracting the state transition rules from a database, wherein the permitted states, the permitted transitions, and the extracted state transition rules comprise a state machine execution engine for the state model;

using the state machine execution engine to determine a current state for each of the business objects, the current state reflecting a current status of the business deal corresponding to the business object in progressing through the multiple steps of the associated business process, the business deals being in multiple distinct states of progression through the steps of the business process;

generating a sales pipeline funnel model with multiple sections that represents the current status of the business deals corresponding to the business objects, each section of the sales pipeline funnel model corresponding to one or more of the steps of the business process such that the business deals currently progressing through those corresponding business process steps are associated with that section of the sales pipeline funnel model; and

displaying a sales pipeline graphic for the sales pipeline funnel model for use in monitoring current status of business deals, the sales pipeline graphic showing the current status of the business deals associated with the multiple sections of the sales pipeline funnel model.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said state transition rules include prerequisites which must be met before the transition is permitted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said state transition rules define authorized users for effecting a state transition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the business deals represented by the business objects are worked in different methodologies, and wherein the pipeline graphic simultaneously displays the current status for the business objects with the different methodologies.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said methodologies are chosen from the group consisting of telesales process deals, strategic deals, and standard process deals.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising grouping business deals by sales methodology.

7. The method of claim 4 comprising classifying deals.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising classifying deals as qualifying deals, working deals, and closing deals.

9. The method of claim 4 comprising creating a sales opportunity.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising creating a sales method.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising breaking the sales method into sales cycles within the sales method.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising breaking the sales cycles down into sales phases for each sales cycle.

13. The method of claim 10 comprising associating a sales method with a sales opportunity.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising advancing the sales opportunity based upon the associated sales method.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising sorting sales opportunities.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising sorting and grouping sales opportunities by at least one of sales methods, cycles, and phases.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising passing the data, grouped by one or more of sales method, sales cycle, and deal phase, to a charting engine, and from the charting engine to the Sales Pipeline Funnel Chart.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the state of at least one of the business objects representing a business deal as it moves from state to state.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the monitoring is performed to determine additional actions with respect to the business deal.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising assigning activity and assessment templates to a deal in process.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an assessment template and providing an assessment based on the assessment template.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the assessment template is associable with a recommendation that is based upon the defined permitted state transitions.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

associating the selected assessment template with at least one state transition of the state model.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an activity template.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

associating the selected activity template with at least one business object components selected for the state model.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

associating the selected activity template with at least one of the permitted state transitions.

49. The system of claim 23, further configured to:

select an activity template.

50. The system of claim 49, further configured to:

associate the selected activity template with at least one business object components selected for the state model.

51. The system of claim 49, further configured to:

associate the selected activity template with at least one of the permitted state transitions.

27. A system running on at least one computer for preparing a state model defining the behavior of logical objects in a process as a set of permitted states and a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states, and said system configured to:

select a template for the state model;

select object components for the state model;

select or define state transitions for the state model;

select an assessment template;

define permitted state transitions from a “

from state’

to a “

to state”

with a State Transition Rule name;

associate state transitions with state transition rules, names, and conditions;

enumerate the state transition names and state transition rule names;

extract the state transition rules from a database;

wherein said states, transitions, and extracted rules comprise a state machine execution engine;

process a model through said state machine execution engine; and

provide an assessment corresponding to the selected assessment template.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein at least one of said state transition rules define authorized users for effecting a state transition.

28. A system running on at least one computer for using a state model that defines behavior of logical business objects, each business object representing a corresponding business deal that can progress through multiple steps in an associated business, the state model including a set of permitted states and a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states and corresponding to the business process in such a manner that each of the permitted states represent one of multiple business process steps, said system configured to:

select a template for the state model;

define permitted state transitions for the state model that are each from a Permitted “

from state’

of the state model and to a permitted “

to state”

of the state model;

associate state transitions of the state model with state transition rules and conditions;

use a state machine execution engine for the state model to determine current states for the business objects, the current state of a business object reflecting a current status of the corresponding business deal in progressing through the steps of the associated business process, the business deals being in multiple distinct states of progression through the steps of the business process, the state machine execution engine based on the permitted states, the Permitted transitions and the state transition rules;

generate a sales pipeline funnel model that represents the business deals, the sales pipeline funnel model having multiple sections that each correspond to one or more of the steps of the business process such that the business deals currently progressing through those corresponding business process steps are associated with that section of the sales pipeline funnel model; and

display a sales pipeline graphic for the sales pipeline funnel model that shows the current status of the business deals associated with the multiple sections of the sales pipeline funnel model.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the business deals are worked in different methodologies, and wherein pipeline graphic simultaneously displays the current status for the business objects with the different methodologies.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said methodologies are chosen from the group consisting of telesales process deals, strategic deals, and standard process deals.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the system is configured to grouping business deals by sales methodology.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the system is configured to classify deals.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the system is configured to classify deals as qualifying deals, working deals, and closing deals.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the system is configured to create a sales opportunity.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the system is configured to create a sales method.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the system is configured to break the sales method into sales cycles within the sales method.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the system is configured to break the sales cycles down into sales phases for each sales cycle.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the system is configured to associate a sales method with a sales opportunity.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the system is configured to advance the sales opportunity based upon the associated sales method.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the system is configured to sort sales opportunities.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the system is configured to sort and group sales opportunities by at least one of sales methods, cycles, and phases.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the system is configured to pass the data, grouped by one or more of sales method, sales cycle, and deal phase, to a charting engine, and from the charting engine to the Sales Pipeline Funnel Chart.

44. The system of claim 28 wherein the system is configured to monitor the state of deal as it moves from state to state.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the monitoring of the state of the deal is to determine additional actions with respect to the deal.

46. The system of claim 28, further configured to:

select an assessment template for using in providing assessments and associate the selected assessment template with at least one business object components selected for the state model.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the assessment template is associable with a recommendation that is based upon defined permitted state transitions.

48. The system of claim 46, further configured to:

associate the selected assessment template with at least one state transition of the state model.