Method, system, and program for maintaining information in database tables and performing operations on data in the database tables

• US 6,920,456 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yaung, Alan Tsu-I, Lee, Taejae, Lin, Jy-Jine James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEURANTIN, JEAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/918,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 717/114, 709/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Provided is a method, system, and program for maintaining workflow related information. At least one table is provided in a database storing workflow related data. A plurality of methods are provided, wherein each method specifies an operation to perform on the workflow related data in the at least one table, and wherein each method is associated with one stored procedure call. One stored procedure is provided in the database for each stored procedure call and corresponding method, wherein the stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform the method operation. One stored procedure is executed in the database to perform the corresponding method operation on workflow related data in one table.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining workflow related information, comprising:

providing at least one table in a database storing workflow related data;

providing a plurality of programming interfaces, wherein each programming interface specifies an operation to perform on the workflow related data in the at least one table, wherein each programming interface is associated with one stored procedure call;

providing in the database one stored procedure for each stored procedure call and corresponding method, wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform the programming interface operation; and

executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresponding programming interface operation on workflow related data in one table.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one provided table comprises a workflow file table including entries of workflow files, wherein each workflow file includes code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing one table including information on actions associated with one workflow file in the workflow file table, wherein the associated actions are capable of being performed at the nodes defined in the associated workflow file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving workflow related data from a workflow builder program, wherein the workflow builder program calls the programming interfaces to invoke the associated stored procedure calls and the stored procedures to perform the programming interface operations on the at least one table of workflow related data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one table comprises a workflow file table, wherein each entry of the workflow file table includes a workflow file including code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters, wherein the workflow files in the workflow file tables are generated by the builder program.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

executing one stored procedure to retrieve one workflow file in response to receiving a stored procedure call invoked by a programming interface from the buildtime program to retrieve one workflow file, wherein the build time program exports the retrieved workflow file to a workflow engine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an automatic generation utility is capable of receiving one template for the at least one table corresponding to the one stored procedure and based on the received template is capable of performing:

(i) generating the at least one table in the database storing workflow related data; and

(ii) generating the one stored procedure for each stored procedure call and corresponding method.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one template includes column definition for the at least one table, and wherein the one template is provided via an input from an user.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the workflow files are implemented in the FlowMark Definition Language (FDL).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein there are plurality of tables including workflow related data, wherein a set of programming interfaces are provided for each table including workflow related data, and wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided.

11. A method for maintaining workflow related information, comprising:

providing a plurality of tables including workflow related data;

providing a set of programming interfaces for each table including workflow related data, wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided, wherein each programming interface is associated with one stored procedure call; and

providing stored procedure calls and stored procedures in the database for each set of programming interfaces to implement the programming interface operations in the set, wherein one stored procedure is provided for each stored procedure call and corresponding method, and wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform a programming interface operation; and

executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresonding programming interface operation on workflow related data in one table.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the programming interfaces for each table are members of a table class, wherein there is one table class for each table including workflow related data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the workflow related tables comprise:

a workflow file table, wherein each entry includes one workflow file including code defining a workflow and nodes of the workflow;

a worklist table, wherein each entry includes a worklist associated with a plurality of work items performed at the nodes dcfined in the associated workflow files; and

an action list table, wherein each entry includes a list of actions capable of being performed at the nodes defined within one workflow file in the workflow file table.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the workflow related tables further comprise:

an action table, wherein each entry includes one action name and an address of a program implementing the action, wherein every action listed in the entries of the action list table are defined in the action table.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein each set of programming interfaces includes:

a create programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to create an entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a get programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to retrieve one entry of workflow related data from the table associated with the set;

an update programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to update one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a delete programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to delete one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set; and

a list programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to list a description of all entries of workflow related data in the table associated with the set.

16. A system for maintaining workflow related information, comprising:

a storage device;

a database in the storage device including at least one table storing workflow related data;

a computer readable medium including a plurality of programming interfaces, wherein each programming interface specifies an operation to perform on the workflow related data in the at least one table, wherein each programming interface is associated with one stored procedure call in the computer readable medium;

means for providing one stored procedure in the database for each stored procedure call and corresponding programming interface, wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform the programming interface operation; and

means for executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresponding programming interface operation on workflow related data in one table.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein one provided table comprises a workflow file table includiiig entries of workflow files, wherein each workflow file includes code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

one table in the database including information on actions associated with one workflow file in the workflow file table, wherein the associated actions are capable of being performed at the nodes defined in the associated workflow file.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving workflow related data from a workflow builder program, wherein the workflow builder program calls the programming interfaces to invoke the associated stored procedure calls and the stored procedures to perform the programming interface operations on the at least one table of workflow related data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein one table in the database comprises a workflow file table, wherein each entry of the workflow file table includes a workflow file including code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters, wherein the workflow files in the workflow file tables are generated by the builder program.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for executing one stored procedure to retrieve one workflow file in response to receiving a stored procedure call invoked by a programming interface from the buildtime program to retrieve one workflow file, wherein the build time program exports the retrieved workflow file to a workflow engine.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the workflow files are implemented in the FlowMark Definition Language (FDL).

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an automatic generation utility that is capable of receiving one template for the at least one table corresponding to the one stored procedure and based on the received template is capable of performing;

(i) generating the at least one table in the database storing workflow related data; and

(ii) generating the one stored procedure for each stored procedure call and coiresponding method.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the one template includes column definition for the at least one table, and wherein the one template is provided via an input from an user.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein there are plurality of tables including workflow related data, wherein a set of programming interfaces are provided for each table including workflow related data, and wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided.

26. A system for maintaining workflow related information, comprising:

a storage device;

a database in the storage device including a plurality of tables including workflow related data in the database;

a computer readable medium including a set of programming interfaces for each table including workflow related data, wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided, wherein each programming interface specifies an operation to perform on the workflow related data in the at least one table, wherein each programing interface is associated with one stored procedure call in the computer readable medium;

means for providing stored procedure calls and stored procedures in the database for each set of programming interfaces to implement programming interface operations in the set, wherein one stored procedure is provided for each stored procedure call and corresponding method, and wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform a programming interface operation; and

means for executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresponding programming interface operation on workflow related data in one table.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the programming interfaces for each table are members of a table class, wherein there is one table class for each table including workflow related data.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the workflow related tables in the database comprise:

a workflow file table, wherein each entry includes one workflow file including code defining a workflow and nodes of the workflow;

a worklist table, wherein each entry includes a workflow associated with a plurality of work items performed at the nodes defined in the associated workflow files; and

an action list table, wherein each entry includes a list of actions capable of being performed at the nodes defined within one workflow file in the workflow file table.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the workflow related tables in the database further comprise:

an action table, wherein each entry includes one action name and an address of a program implementing the action, wherein every action listed in the entries of the action list table are defined in the action table.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein each set of programming interfaces in the computer readable medium includes:

a create programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to create an entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a get programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to retrieve one entry of workflow related data from the table associated with the set;

an update programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to update one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a delete programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to delete one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set; and

a list programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to list a description of all entries of workflow related data in the table associated with the set.

31. An article of manufacture including code for maintaining workflow related information by:

providing at least one table in a database storing workflow related data;

providing a pluraiity of programming interfaces, wherein each programming interface specifies an operation to perform on the workflow related data in the at least one table, wherein each programming interface is associated with one stored procedure call;

providing in the database one stored procedure for each stored procedure call and corresponding programming interface, wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform the programming interface operation; and

executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresponding programming interface operation on workflow related dnta in one table.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein one provided table comprises a workflow file table including entries of workflow files, wherein each workflow file includes code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, further comprising one table including information on actions associated with one workflow file in the workflow file table, wherein the associated actions are capable of being performed at the nodes defined in the associated workflow file.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving workflow related data from a workflow builder program, wherein the workflow builder program calls the programming interfaces to invoke the associated stored procedure calls and the stored procedures to perform the programming interface operations on the at least one table of workflow related data.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34, wherein one table comprises a workflow file table, wherein each entry of the workflow file table includes a workflow file including code defining an entire workflow, including nodes and workflow parameters, wherein the workflow files in the workflow file tables are generated by the builder program.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, further comprising:

executing one stored procedure to retrieve one workflow file in response to receiving a stored procedure call invoked by a programming interface from the buildtime program to retrieve one workflow file, wherein the build time program exports the retrieved workflow file to a workflow engine.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the workflow files are implemented in the FlowMark Definition Language (FDL).

38. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein an automatic generation utility is capable of receiving one template for the at least one table corresponding to the one stored procedure and based on the received template is capable of performing:

(i) generating the at least one table in the database storing workflow related data; and

(ii) generating the one stored procedure for each stored procedure call and corresponding method.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein the one template includes column definition for the at least one table, and wherein the one template is provided via an input from an user.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein there are plurality of tables including workflow related data, wherein a set of programming interfaces are provided for each table including workflow related data, and wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided.

41. An article of manufacture including code for maintaining workflow related information by:

providing a plurality of tables including workflow related data;

providing a set of programming interfaces for each table including workflow related data, wherein each set of programming interfaces defines a same set of operations to perform on the table for which the set is provided, wherein each programming interface is associated with one stored procedure call; and

providing stored procedure calls and stored procedures in the database for each set of programming interfaces to implement the programming interface operations in the set, wherein one stored procedure is provided for each stored procedure call and corresponding method, and wherein the one stored procedure includes a plurality of database statements to perform a programming interace operations; and

executing the one stored procedure in the database to perform the corresponding programming interface operation on workflow related data in one table.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 41, wherein the programming interfaces for each table are members of a table class, wherein there is one table class for each table including workflow related data.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 41, wherein the workflow related tables comprise:

a workflow file table, wherein each entry includes one workflow file including code defining a workflow and nodes of the workflow;

a worklist table, wherein each entry includes a worklist associated with a plurality of work items performed at the nodes defined in the associated workflow files; and

an action list table, wherein each entry includes a list of actions capable of being performed at the nodes defined within one workflow file in the workflow file table.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 43, wherein the workflow related tables further comprise:

an action table, wherein each entry includes one action name and an address of a program implementing the action, wherein every action listed in the entries of the action list table are defined in the action table.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 41, wherein each set of programming interfaces includes:

a create programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to create an entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a get programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to retrieve one entry of workflow related data from the table associated with the set;

an update programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to update one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set;

a delete programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to delete one entry of workflow related data in the table associated with the set; and

a list programming interface to invoke one stored procedure to list a description of all entries of workflow related data in the table associated with the set.