Extensible action sequences coordinating independently created components
First Claim
1. A computer storage media having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:
- provide a declarative feature that is operable to allow a first plurality of partially ordered steps in an extensible process spanning multiple application components to be defined in a declarative format, the declarative feature allowing at least some of the partially ordered steps to have an associated step action, the first plurality of partially ordered steps including a step having an order specified relative to at least one other step of the first plurality of partially ordered steps;
publish the existence of the first plurality of partially ordered steps to other application components;
receive a second plurality of partially ordered steps from at least one of the other application components as a result of said publishing; and
provide a sequencer that is operable to assemble the first plurality of partially ordered steps and the second plurality of partially ordered steps into a computational sequence having a total ordering, and to execute the computational sequence in the total ordering upon receiving an execution request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for creating and executing extensible processes across multiple application components. A declarative feature is provided to allow partially ordered steps in an extensible process spanning multiple application components to be defined in a declarative format. A developer can define the minimum base steps in a first application component. Other application components can then provide additional partially ordered steps and/or actions to the extensible process. The declarative feature allows the partially ordered steps to have an associated step action. A sequencer is provided that assembles the partially ordered steps together from the multiple application components into a computational sequence having a total ordering. The sequencer executes the computational sequence in that total ordering upon receiving an execution request.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer storage media having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:
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provide a declarative feature that is operable to allow a first plurality of partially ordered steps in an extensible process spanning multiple application components to be defined in a declarative format, the declarative feature allowing at least some of the partially ordered steps to have an associated step action, the first plurality of partially ordered steps including a step having an order specified relative to at least one other step of the first plurality of partially ordered steps; publish the existence of the first plurality of partially ordered steps to other application components; receive a second plurality of partially ordered steps from at least one of the other application components as a result of said publishing; and provide a sequencer that is operable to assemble the first plurality of partially ordered steps and the second plurality of partially ordered steps into a computational sequence having a total ordering, and to execute the computational sequence in the total ordering upon receiving an execution request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for creating an extensible process across application components comprising the steps of:
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receiving input from a developer to define a first plurality of partially ordered steps in an extensible process in a first application component, the partially ordered steps being defined using a declarative format, with at least some of the partially ordered steps having an associated step action, the first plurality of partially ordered steps including a step having an order specified relative to at least one other step of the first plurality of partially ordered steps; publishing the existence of the first plurality of partially ordered steps to other application components; receiving a second plurality of partially ordered steps from at least one of the other application components as a result of said publishing; and assembling the second plurality of partially ordered steps with the first plurality of partially ordered steps in the extensible process to have a total ordering. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for extending a process created by an application component comprising the steps of:
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determining an existence of an extensible process created by an application component, the extensible process having an original set of partially ordered steps; receiving input from a developer to add one or more additional partially ordered steps to the extensible process, the additional partially ordered steps being added using a declarative format, with at least some of the additional partially ordered steps having an associated step action, the additional partially ordered steps including a step having an order specified relative to at least one other step; publishing the existence of the one or more additional partially ordered steps; and receiving a subsequent set of partially ordered steps from at least one other application component as a result of said publishing; wherein the original set of partially ordered steps, the one or more additional partially ordered steps, and the subsequent set of partially ordered steps are assembled in the extensible process to have a total ordering. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification