Modeling of business process data

• US 7,831,453 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Noik, Emanuel Gerald, Yaseen, Rahim, Lim, Peter, Smith, Doug, Liang, John, Das, Manoj
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell; Beth V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleischer; Mark A
• Application Number:
  US11/123,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In one embodiment, a business process meta-model is defined that represents a business process. The business process meta-model includes control flow elements pertaining to a control flow of the business process, and annotation elements providing details for the control flow elements.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system comprising:

defining a business process meta-model, wherein

the defining is performed using a processor of the computer system,

the business process meta-model is a representation of a business process,

the business process meta-model is defined during a business process definition mode,

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a control flow of the business process,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations; and

during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control flow elements identify activities within the business process and transitions between the activities.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the business process meta-model is presented as a graph having vertexes representing the activities and arcs representing the transitions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the annotation elements comprise operation elements identifying operations associated with the control flow elements, event elements identifying events associated with the control flow elements, actor elements identifying actors responsible for the control flow elements, and data object elements identifying data objects associated with the control flow elements.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the associations is characterized by a usage type code, a source element type and a target element type.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

formulating a usage pattern from a subset of meta-model elements and corresponding associations using the processor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the associations is classified by the business process definition mode.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

using the processor, formulating different usage patterns from a single subset of meta-model elements based on different business process definition modes of corresponding associations.

9. A method in a computer system comprising:

receiving business process data using a processor of the computer system;

creating business process objects for the business process data, wherein

the creating the business process objects is performed during a business process definition mode,

the creating the business process objects creates the business process objects based on a business process meta-model,

the business process meta-model is defined during the business process definition mode,

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises a set of meta-model elements,

the set of meta-model elements comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a business process control flow,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations;

creating a model of a business process from the business process objects, wherein

the creating the model of the business process is performed during the business process definition mode; and

during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the control flow elements identify activities within the business process and transitions between the activities.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the annotation elements comprise operation elements identifying operations associated with the control flow elements, event elements identifying events associated with the control flow elements, actor elements identifying actors responsible for the control flow elements, and data object elements identifying data objects associated with the control flow elements.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the model of the business process is created using usage patterns formulated from subsets of meta-model elements and corresponding associations.

13. A machine-readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

defining a business process meta-model, wherein

the business process meta-model is a representation of a business process,

the business process meta-model is defined during a business process definition mode,

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a control flow of the business process,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations; and

during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

14. A machine-readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

receiving business process data;

creating business process objects for the business process data, wherein

the creating the business process objects is performed during a business process definition mode,

the creating the business process objects creates the business process objects based on a business process meta-model,

the business process meta-model is defined during the business process definition mode,

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises a set of meta-model elements,

the set of meta-model elements comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a business process control flow,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classifying, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations;

creating a model of a business process from the business process objects, wherein

the creating the model of the business process is performed during the business process definition mode;

during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium, wherein

a set of instructions is encoded in said computer-readable storage medium,

the at least one processor is configured to execute the set of instructions, and

the set of instructions is configured to cause the at least one processor to define a business process meta-model, wherein

the business process meta-model is a representation of a business process,

the business process meta-model is defined during a business process definition mode,

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a control flow of the business process,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classify, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classify, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations; and

class of users during the business process definition mode, at least one of removing and modifying

during the business process definition mode,

prevent the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to prevent the class of users is further configured to cause the at least one processor to use a classification of the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

prevent the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to prevent the another class of users is further configured to cause the at least one processor to use a classification of the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

16. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium, wherein

a set of instructions is encoded in said computer-readable storage medium, the at least one processor is configured to execute the set of instructions, and

the set of instructions is configured to cause the at least one processor to receive business process data

create business process objects for the business process data, wherein

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to create the business process objects is further configured to create the business process objects during a business process definition mode, wherein

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to create the business process objects is further configured to create the business process objects based on a business process meta-model,

the business process meta-model is defined during the business process definition mode from

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises a set of meta-model elements,

the set of meta-model elements comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a business process control flow,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

classify, as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users,

one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

classify, as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations;

create a model of a business process from the business process objects during the business process definition mode; and

during the business process definition mode,

prevent the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to prevent the class of users is further configured to cause the at least one processor to use a classification of the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

prevent the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the set of instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to prevent the another class of users is further configured to cause the at least one processor to use a classification of the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

17. A computer-implemented apparatus comprising:

means for defining a business process meta-model, wherein

the business process meta-model is a representation of a business process,

the means for defining is configured to define the business process meta-model during a business process definition mode,

the means for defining is configured to define the business process meta-model using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a control flow of the business process,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

means for classifying as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

means for classifying as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations; and

means for, during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the means for preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the means for preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.

18. A computer-implemented apparatus comprising:

means for receiving business process data;

means for creating business process objects for the business process data, wherein

the means for creating is configured to create the business process objects during a business process definition mode,

the means for creating the business process objects and the means for receiving are coupled to one another,

the means for creating is configured to create the business process objects based on a business process meta-model,

the business process meta-model is defined during the business process definition mode from

the business process meta-model is defined using one or more inputs from a plurality of classes of users,

the plurality of classes of users comprises

a class of users, and

another class of users,

the business process meta-model comprises a set of meta-model elements,

the set of meta-model elements comprises

control flow elements,

annotation elements, and

associations,

each of the control flow elements is related to a business process control flow,

each of the annotation elements comprises one or more details regarding one or more of the control flow elements, and

each of the associations identifies a relationship between at least one of the annotation elements and at least one of the control flow elements;

means for classifying as being created from one or more inputs from the class of users, one or more of

one of the control flow elements,

one of the annotation elements, and

one of the associations;

means for classifying as being created from one or more inputs from the another class of users, one or more of

another of the control flow elements,

another of the annotation elements, and

another of the associations; and

means for creating a model of a business process from the business process objects, wherein

the means for creating the model is configured to create the model during the business process definition mode, and

the means for creating the model and the means for creating the business process objects are coupled to one another; and

means for, during the business process definition mode,

preventing the class of users from performing a first alteration operation, wherein

the first alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

the means for preventing the class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the another of the control flow elements, the another of the annotation elements, and the another of the associations, and

preventing the another class of users from performing a second alteration operation, wherein

the second alteration operation comprises at least one of removing and modifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations, and

the means for preventing the another class of users is based at least in part on the classifying the one or more of the one of the control flow elements, the one of the annotation elements, and the one of the associations.