Aggregation of private and shared workflows

• US 7,350,188 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schulz, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US10/628,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 717104-109, 717/114, 717/127, 717/131, 717/140, 717/151, 707/101
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A workflow model is described. The workflow model includes a workflow that includes actual tasks, and a workflow view, or virtual workflow, that includes virtual tasks. Each of the virtual tasks is associated with at least one of the actual tasks. The workflow and virtual workflow are compiled into an aggregate workflow. By implementing the aggregate workflow in a workflow engine, the workflow and virtual workflow are executed concurrently and in synchronization with one another.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

modeling a workflow that includes actual tasks as a first matrix, wherein values of vertices of the first matrix are determined based on interdependencies between the actual tasks;

modeling a workflow view representing an abstraction of the workflow, the workflow view including virtual tasks as a second matrix, wherein values of vertices in the second matrix are determined based on interdependencies between the virtual tasks;

compiling the workflow view that includes the virtual tasks and the workflow including actual tasks, each virtual task corresponding to at least one actual task, into an aggregate workflow;

inserting into the aggregated workflow one or more aggregating routing task pairs, each pair configured to bound a virtual task and an associated actual task such that initiation of the virtual task is based on a status of the associated actual task; and

executing the aggregate workflow.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein inserting the one or more aggregation routing task pairs comprises arranging the aggregation routing task pairs in series with one another and with a routing task included within the workflow view for the purpose of executing the workflow view in conjunction with a second workflow view, the second workflow view associated with a second workflow.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein compiling the workflow view and the workflow comprises:

linking a first aggregation routing task to an input of a first view task;

linking a second aggregation routing task to an output of the first view task; and

linking a first task between the first aggregation routing task and the second aggregation routing task, for parallel execution with the first view task.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein linking the first task comprises:

linking the first aggregation routing task to an input of the first task; and

linking an output of a second task to the second aggregation routing task.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising linking the second aggregation routing task to a routing task included within the workflow view, wherein the routing task is in communication with a secondary workflow view associated with a secondary workflow.

6. A system comprising:

a workflow modeler operable to model a workflow, the workflow including actual tasks, wherein values of vertices included in a first matrix are based on interdependencies between the actual tasks;

a view modeler operable to model a virtual workflow as abstraction of the workflow, the virtual workflow including virtual tasks that each correspond to at least one of the actual tasks, wherein values of vertices included in a second matrix are based on interdependencies between the virtual tasks; and

an aggregation engine operable to combine the virtual workflow and the workflow into an aggregated workflow, the aggregated workflow including one or more aggregating routing task pairs, each pair configured to bound a virtual task and an associated actual task such that initiation of the virtual tasks is based on a status of the associated actual task.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a workflow engine operable to enact the aggregated workflow.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the virtual workflow includes a routing task for interacting with a collaborating virtual workflow.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the aggregation routing task pairs are in series with one another and with the routing task.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the aggregated workflow supports concurrent execution of the workflow and the workflow view.