Data processing activity lifecycle control

• US 6,901,578 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Houston, Iain Stuart Caldwell, Robinson, Ian, Chessell, Amanda Elizabeth, Vines, David John, Mulholland, Martin, Beaven, John Anthony, Griffin, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/455,282
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/224, 709/227, 709/315, 709/316, 717/104, 717/1, 717/100, 717/2, 717/103, 717/3, 717/513, 717/5, 717/10, 707/102, 707/100, 707/513
• US Class Current: 717/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Disclosed is apparatus for processing business data processing activities, the apparatus comprising: an activity instance; and a descriptor for the activity instance associated uniquely with the activity instance; wherein the descriptor includes parameters for determining lifecycle behaviors of said activity instance. The descriptor may be programmable to modify the lifecycle behaviors according to a use made of said activity instance. The use of the activity instance may be responsive to a request by a client. It may also be responsive to a request by an activity instance. The descriptor may be programmable to modify the lifecycle behaviors according to a position in a system hierarchy of the activity instance.

Claims

1. Apparatus increasing flexibility for processing business data activities during runtime, said apparatus comprising:

plural activity instances applied for reactive uses at runtime; and

a descriptor for each said activity instance which is customized according to predefined alternatives for runtime processing for each said activity instance;

wherein said descriptor includes parameters which are programmable at runtime for determining lifecycle behaviors of each said activity instance in accordance with the processing of the activity instance occuring at runtime, whereby lifecycle behavior is customized for each activity instance during runtime.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said descriptor is programmable to modify said lifecycle behaviors according to a use made of said activity instance.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by a client.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by an activity instance.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said descriptor is programmable to modify said lifecycle behaviors according to a position in a system hierarchy of said activity instance.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said descriptor enables control of concurrency of activity instances.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said descriptor enables control of re-creation of activity instances.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said descriptor enables control of termination of activity instances.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said descriptor permits creation of an activity instance identifier.

10. A method for customizing the processing of business data, activity instances respective of conditions occurring at runtime, said method comprising the steps of:

defining, in a descriptor, activity lifecycle characteristics that are customized respective of predefined alternatives for processing each respective activity instance at runtime;

associating such a descriptor with said respective activity instance; and

using said descriptor to control a lifecycle of said activity instance according to the processing thereof at runtime, whereby lifecycle characteristics are adjusted to correspond to the actual runtime processing of the activity instance.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor is programmable to enable definition of varying activity lifecycle characteristics according to a use made of said activity instance.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by a client.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by an activity instance.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor is programmable to modify said lifecycle behaviors according to a position in a system hierarchy of said activity instance.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor enables control of concurrency of activity instances.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor enables control of re-creation of activity instances.

17. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor enables control of termination of activity instances.

18. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said descriptor permits creation of an activity instance identifier.

19. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions stored on a computer-readable medium for, when loaded into a computer and executed, causing the computer to carry out the steps of the method as claimed in claim 10.

20. A computer program product as claimed in claim 19, wherein said descriptor is programmable to enable definition of varying activity lifecycle characteristics according to a use made of said activity instance.

21. A computer program product as claimed in claim 20 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by a client.

22. A computer program product as claimed in claim 20 wherein said use of said activity instance is responsive to a request by an activity instance.

23. A computer program product as claimed in claim 19, wherein said descriptor is flexibly programmable to modify said lifecycle behaviors according to a position in a system hierarchy of said activity instance.