Execution of extended activity diagrams by code generation

• US 6,973,638 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mahbod, Haleh, Suresh, Srinivasan, Prabhudesai, Anant Vasant, Wong, William Wei Man, Gangopadhyay, Dipayan, Gupta, Prashant
• Primary Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US09/724,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-107, 717/108, 717/109, 717/110, 717/113, 717/115, 717/125, 717/135, 717/136, 717119-120, 717/156, 715/734, 715/853, 707/100, 345/440, 345/542, 718/106, 712/8, 712/11
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A process modeling tool for graphically representing a process which includes transactions and events, and for generating computer code representing the process. A graphical tool creates a graphical representation of the transactions and events with graphical symbols, where one or more of such transactions and events may be of an asynchronous nature. A code generator generates computer code in response to information contained in the graphical representation. The computer code is executable on a computer system to cause the computer system to perform one or more operations which emulate the process shown in the graphical representation.

Claims

1. A method for modeling a process including an ordered sequence of actions, each associated with one or more triggering events and exit events, the method comprising:

graphically representing the sequence of actions and associated trigger and exit events for the process with graphical elements such that the graphical elements are organized to express the process, where

functions within the process are represented as action nodes having associated therewith entry and exit criteria and an executable function;

entry and exit criteria for functions within the process are represented as event links having associated therewith a conditional expression that must be satisfied if entry or exit from an action node is to commence;

generation of two or more parallel events within the process is represented by split nodes with two or more asynchronous exit conditions;

synchronization of two or more asynchronous events within the process is represented by join nodes with two or more asynchronous entry conditions; and

repetitive functions are represented within the process as repetition nodes characterized by entry and exit criteria and an executable function that includes a repeatable function and repetition factor for controlling a number of repetitions for the repeatable function.

2. An information processing system comprising a processor configured for modeling a process including an ordered sequence of actions, each associated with one or more triggering events and exit events, the system further configured for:

graphically representing the sequence of actions and associated trigger and exit events for the process with graphical elements such that the graphical elements are organized to express the process, where;

functions within the process are represented as action nodes having associated therewith entry and exit criteria and an executable function;

entry and exit criteria for functions within the process are represented as event links having associated therewith a conditional expression that must be satisfied if entry or exit from an action node is to commence;

generation of two or more parallel events within the process is represented by split nodes with two or more asynchronous exit conditions;

synchronization of two or more asynchronous events within the process is represented by join nodes with two or more asynchronous entry conditions; and

repetitive functions are represented within the process as repetition nodes characterized by entry and exit criteria and an executable function that includes a repeatable function and repetition factor for controlling a number of repetitions for the repeatable function.

3. The information processing system of claim 2, further comprising a display subsystem coupled to the processor for displaying the sequence of actions and associated trigger and exit events for the process with graphical elements such that the graphical elements are organized to express the process.

4. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for graphically representing a sequence of actions and associated trigger and exit events for a process with graphical elements such that the graphical elements are organized to express the process, where:

functions within the process are represented as action nodes having associated therewith entry and exit criteria and an executable function;

entry and exit criteria for functions within the process are represented as event links having associated therewith a conditional expression that must be satisfied if entry or exit from an action node is to commence;

generation of two or more parallel events within the process is represented by split nodes with two or more asynchronous exit conditions;

synchronization of two or more asynchronous events within the process is represented by join nodes with two or more asynchronous entry conditions; and

repetitive functions are represented within the process as repetition nodes characterized by entry and exit criteria and an executable function that includes a repeatable function and repetition factor for controlling a number of repetitions for the repeatable function.