Software business process model

• US 7,730,446 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anonsen, Steven P., Brookins, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kendall; Chuck O
• Application Number:
  US10/389,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,638 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-122
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A business software framework includes an application framework that has a process model. The process model provides desired services to the business components. The process model arranges operations into activities. The process model can also use an agent/service arrangement.

Claims

1. A method of performing a computer implemented business process, comprising:

initiating an application framework to provide services to the business process;

describing the business process in a metadata structure of the application framework by describing business sub-processes, and an order in which the business sub-processes are to be performed to accomplish the business process, in a non-imperative process description language, wherein each business sub-process comprises a series of multiple pre-defined isolated operations, is written in an imperative programming language, and is defined independently of the business process;

modifying metadata via the application framework such that the order of the business process is modified without changing individual business sub-processes;

interpreting the process description language to instantiate the business sub-processes in the described order to instantiate the business process;

storing the instantiated business process in a computer storage medium; and

initiating the instantiated business process via a processor coupled to the computer storage medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the instantiated business process comprises:

receiving a process initiation input; and

initiating the instantiated business process based on the process initiation input.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the process initiation input comprises:

receiving an automated input from an external component.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the process initiation input comprises:

receiving a user input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein describing the business process comprises:

describing the business process in a text file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each business sub-process specifies a plurality of pre-defined isolated operations, wherein each pre-defined isolated operation, when performed by the computer, performs an isolated, granular piece of work.

7. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a business framework module comprising a set of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to enable a user to design components for business applications; and

wherein the business framework module further comprises;

a set of business class libraries that provide a number of common entities which contain properties for the business applications;

a tools subsystem that includes;

a plurality of design subsystems to design the components for the business applications,

a test service to test the components, and

an application packager to package the components into an application; and

a business application framework that provides a programming model and services for writing the business applications, wherein the business applications each comprise a metadata structure describing business sub-processes, and an order in which the business sub-processes are to be performed to accomplish the business process, in a non-imperative process description language, wherein each business sub-process comprises a series of multiple pre-defined isolated operations, is written in an imperative programming language, and is defined independently of the business process.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the components comprise processes, reports, and user interfaces for business applications.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the business class libraries further include data types and patterns.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein each of the operations being executable within an expected time-out period.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 7 wherein the business application framework further comprises a programming model and services for modifying the order of the metadata such that the business process is modified without changing individual business sub-processes.

11. A computer storage medium having instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

initiating a business framework;

designing components for business applications via the business framework; and

producing an application including the components;

wherein the business framework comprises;

a set of business class libraries that provide a number of common entities which contain properties for the business applications;

a tools subsystem that includes;

a plurality of design subsystems to design the components for the business applications,

a test service to test the components, and

an application packager to package the components into an application; and

a business application framework that provides a programming model and services for writing the business applications, wherein the business applications each comprise a metadata structure describing business sub-processes, and an order in which the business sub-processes are to be performed to accomplish the business process, in a non-imperative process description language, wherein each business sub-process comprises a series of multiple pre-defined isolated operations, is written in an imperative programming language, and is defined independently of the business process.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11 further having instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

performing a computer implemented business process based on the metadata; and

modifying the order of the metadata such that the business process is modified without changing individual business sub-processes.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 12 further having instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

arranging stop points within the plurality of business sub-processes, wherein, during execution, the business process waits at the stop points for an external input prior to continuing; and

wherein the stop points are configurable via the metadata.