Relational logic management system

• US 7,835,932 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Inventors: Minsky, Steven, Forgy, Charles, Tan, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell; Beth V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santiago; Luis
• Application Number:
  US12/234,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• 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 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method to propagate relations between a first rule set and a second rule set wherein the first and second rule sets are invoked by a common workflow model. The method includes tracing paths forward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set. Enumerating relations that extend forward from the first rule set to the second rule set is another step in the method. Additionally, using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects to the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, tracing paths backward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, enumerating relations that extend backward form the second rule set to the first rule set, and using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second rule set to the first rule set are also steps in the method.

Claims

1. A method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method being implemented by one or more data processors and comprising:

generating a map organized at hierarchical levels and providing a view of relationships between the first business parameter, the second business parameter, and other business parameters;

integrating the first business parameter and the second business parameter using the common workflow model;

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a first direction through the common workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the first direction from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

using, by at least one data processor, multi-valued logic to compute the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter; and

providing visual feedback in a graphical user interface to enable reconciliation of conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter within the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter utilize conflicting terminology or rules and the common workflow model creates a format that allows interoperability between the first business parameter and the second business parameter;

wherein the first business parameter and second business parameter are executed at different stages of a business process defined by the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter are chosen from the group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic to compute the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

5. A method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method being implemented by one or more data processors and comprising:

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a first direction through the workflow model of a business process from the first business parameter to the second business parameter by creating flow graphs in a user interface;

generating a map organized at hierarchical levels and providing a view of relationships between the first business parameter, the second business parameter, and other business parameters;

integrating the first business parameter and the second business parameter using the common workflow model;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the first direction from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

using, by at least one data processor, multi-valued logic to compute the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter; and

providing visual feedback in a graphical user interface to enable reconciliation of conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter within the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter utilize conflicting terminology or rules and the common workflow model creates a format that allows interoperability between the first business parameter and the second business parameter;

wherein the first business parameter and second business parameter are executed at different stages of a business process defined by the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter are chosen from the group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule;

reconciling conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter with the common workflow model.

6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising:

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing, by at least one data processor, the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

9. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when loaded in a computing device implements a method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model, the method comprising:

generating a map organized at hierarchical levels and providing a view of relationships between the first business parameter, the second business parameter, and other business parameters;

integrating the first business parameter and the second business parameter using the common workflow model;

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a first direction through the common workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the first direction from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

using, by at least one data processor, multi-valued logic to compute the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter; and

providing visual feedback in a graphical user interface to enable reconciliation of conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter within the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter utilize conflicting terminology or rules and the common workflow model creates a format that allows interoperability between the first business parameter and the second business parameter;

wherein the first business parameter and second business parameter are executed at different stages of a business process defined by the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter are chosen from the group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

10. An article as in claim 9 wherein the method further comprises:

tracing paths along a second direction through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter;

automatically enumerating relations that extend along the second direction from the second business parameter to the first business parameter; and

using multi-valued logic, computing the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second business parameter to the first business parameter.

11. The article of claim 9 wherein each business parameter is chosen from a group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule.

12. The article of claim 9 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

13. The article of claim 9 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

14. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when loaded in a computing device implements a method for propagating relations between a first business parameter and a second business parameter wherein the first and second business parameters are invoked by a common workflow model the method comprising:

tracing, by at least one data processor, paths along a first direction through the workflow model of a business process from the first business parameter to the second business parameter by creating flow graphs in a user interface;

generating a map organized at hierarchical levels and providing a view of relationships between the first business parameter, the second business parameter, and other business parameters;

integrating the first business parameter and the second business parameter using the common workflow model;

automatically enumerating, by at least one data processor, relations that extend along the first direction from the first business parameter to the second business parameter;

using, by at least one data processor, multi-valued logic to compute the effects on the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first business parameter to the second business parameter; and

providing visual feedback in a graphical user interface to enable reconciliation of conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter within the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter utilize conflicting terminology or rules and the common workflow model creates a format that allows interoperability between the first business parameter and the second business parameter;

wherein the first business parameter and second business parameter are executed at different stages of a business process defined by the common workflow model;

wherein the first business parameter and the second business parameter are chosen from the group consisting of a workflow, a rule set, and a rule;

reconciling conflicts, redundancies and/or overlaps between the first business parameter to the second business parameter with the common workflow model.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein the first direction comprises a forward direction.

16. The article of claim 14 wherein the first direction comprises a backward direction.

17. A method for implementation by one or more data processors comprising:

receiving, by at least one data processor, user-generated input via a user interface capturing at least one sequence of steps and rule sets of a workflow model of a business process;

storing, by at least one data processor, the sequence of steps and rule sets as a single business logic module;

storing, by at least one data processor, relational information computed for each variable used in the sequence within the single business logic module, the relational information remaining accessible to an operator to facilitate sequence reuse; and

enabling, by at least one data processor, reuse of the single business logic module for another workflow model for a different business process.