Object oriented based methodology for modeling business functionality for enabling implementation in a web based environment

• US 8,141,033 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ginegar LLC (K.Mizra LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gupta, Arun K., Uppal, Rajiv K., Parikh, Devang I.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAVIS, JOHN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/179,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 717/105
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• 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 computer method and apparatus defining Business Classes for modeling business activities comprising the steps of representing business activities as the interaction between one or more Business Classes, and entering into a computer and storing in an electronic format the Business Classes and the relationships existing between the Business Classes.

Claims

1. A method for forming a workflow and an application program to implement, at least in part, said workflow, said method comprising the steps of:

recording that a first computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a first business process step, said first business process step being implemented for substantially all instances of a first business process;

recording that a second computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a second business process step, said second business process step being implemented for a first instance of said first business process based on a first decision made in said first business process step;

recording that a third computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a third business process step, said third business process step being implemented for a second instance of said first business process based on a second decision made in said first business process step;

a user, with a graphical user interface of a computer system, forming a graphical representation of said first business process and a second business process and an interconnection between said second and first business processes indicating that said second and first business processes are part of a workflow; and

said computer system displaying representations of said first, second and third business process steps in parent-child format indicating that said first business process step is implemented as a parent for said second and third business process steps and indicating that said second and third business process steps are implemented as children of said first business process step such that said first business process step is implemented for both said first and second instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in one of said first and second instances of said workflow.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

based at least in part on said graphical representation and said record, said computer system forming an application program to perform, at least in part, said workflow, said application program including said first, second and third computer program functions configured such that said first business process step is performed for substantially all instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in either one of said first and second instances of said workflow, said application program enabling an operator to select either one of said second and third business process steps in said either one instance of said workflow, and in response execute the respective one of said second and third computer program functions in said either one instance of said workflow.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the subsequent steps of:

an operator selecting said second business process step from said first business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, invoking said second computer program function; and

an operator entering data for said second business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, said second program function processing said data during implementation of said second business process step; and

wherein

said either one instance of said workflow is successfully completed without invocation of said third program function.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein, in response to said user selecting said first business process step, said computer system displaying said first computer program function, and during said display of said first computer program function said computer system enabling said user to modify said first computer program function for said first business process step such that if said user modifies said first computer program function for said first business process step during said display of said first computer program function, said computer system records that the modified first computer program function is capable of implementing said first business process step.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a graphical modeling program generates said graphical user interface; and

said application program, after being formed, is operable independently of said graphical modeling program.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second and third business process steps are mutually-exclusive implementations of said first business process such that only one of said second and third business process steps is correctly performed for said first business process in an instance of said workflow.

7. A computer program product for forming a workflow and an application program to implement, at least in part, said workflow, said computer program product comprising:

first program instructions to record that a first computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a first business process step, said first business process step being implemented for substantially all instances of a first business process, record that a second computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a second business process step, said second business process step being implemented for a first instance of said first business process based on a first decision made in said first business process step, and record that a third computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a third business process step, said third business process step being implemented for a second instance of said first business process based on a second decision made in said first business process step;

second program instructions to generate a graphical user interface to enable a user to form a graphical representation of said first business process and a second business process and an interconnection between said second and first business processes indicating that said second and first business processes are part of a workflow;

third program instructions to display representations of said first, second and third business process steps in parent-child format indicating that said first business process step is implemented as a parent for said second and third business process steps and indicating that said second and third business process steps are implemented as children of said first business process step such that said first business process step is implemented for both said first and second instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in one of said first and second instances of said workflow; and

a computer readable media which stores said first, second and third program instructions.

8. A computer program product as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

fourth program instructions, based at least in part on said graphical representation and said record, to form an application program to perform, at least in part, said workflow, said application program including said first, second and third computer program functions configured such that said first business process step is performed for substantially all instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in either one of said first and second instances of said workflow, said application program enabling an operator to select either one of said second and third business process steps in said either one instance of said workflow, and in response execute the respective one of said second and third computer program functions in said either one instance of said workflow; and

wherein

said computer readable media stores said fourth program instructions.

9. A computer program product as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

an operator selects said second business process step from said first business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, said application program invokes said second computer program function;

an operator enters data for said second business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, said second program function processes said data during implementation of said second business process step; and

said either one instance of said workflow is successfully completed without invocation of said third program function.

10. A computer program product as set forth in claim 8 wherein said fourth program instructions, is responsive to said user selecting said first business process step, to display said first computer program function, and during said display of said first computer program function enable said user to modify said first computer program function for said first business process step such that if said user modifies said first computer program function for said first business process step during said display of said first computer program function, said fourth program instructions record that the modified first computer program function is capable of implementing said first business process step.

11. A computer program product as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said first, second, third and fourth program instructions are part of a graphical modeling and application generating program; and

said application program, after being formed, is operable independently of said graphical modeling and application generating program.

12. A computer program product as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second and third business process steps are mutually-exclusive implementations of said first business process such that only one of said second and third business process steps is correctly performed for said first business process in an instance of said workflow.

13. A computer system for forming a workflow and an application program to implement, at least in part, said workflow, said computer system comprising:

first program instructions to record that a first computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a first business process step, said first business process step being implemented for substantially all instances of a first business process, record that a second computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a second business process step, said second business process step being implemented for a first instance of said first business process based on a first decision made in said first business process step, and record that a third computer program function is capable of implementing, at least in part, a third business process step, said third business process step being implemented for a second instance of said first business process based on a second decision made in said first business process step;

second program instructions to generate a graphical user interface to enable a user to form a graphical representation of said first business process and a second business process and an interconnection between said second and first business processes indicating that said second and first business processes are part of a workflow;

third program instructions to display representations of said first, second and third business process steps in parent-child format indicating that said first business process step is implemented as a parent for said second and third business process steps and indicating that said second and third business process steps are implemented as children of said first business process step such that said first business process step is implemented for both said first and second instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in one of said first and second instances of said workflow;

a computer readable media which stores said first, second and third program instructions

a central processing unit to execute said first, second and third program instructions.

14. A computer system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

fourth program instructions, based at least in part on said graphical representation and said record, to form an application program to perform, at least in part, said workflow, said application program including said first, second and third computer program functions configured such that said first business process step is performed for substantially all instances of said first business process and only one of said second and third business process steps is implemented for said first business process in either one of said first and second instances of said workflow, said application program enabling an operator to select either one of said second and third business process steps in said either one instance of said workflow, and in response execute the respective one of said second and third computer program functions in said either one instance of said workflow; and

wherein

said computer readable media stores said fourth program instructions; and

said central processing unit to execute said fourth program instructions.

15. A computer system as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

an operator selects said second business process step from said first business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, said application program invokes said second computer program function;

an operator enters data for said second business process step for said either one instance of said workflow, and in response, said second program function processes said data during implementation of said second business process step; and

said either one instance of said workflow is successfully completed without invocation of said third program function.

16. A computer system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fourth program instructions, is responsive to said user selecting said first business process step, to display said first computer program function, and during said display of said first computer program function enable said user to modify said first computer program function for said first business process step such that if said user modifies said first computer program function for said first business process step during said display of said first computer program function, said fourth program instructions record that the modified first computer program function is capable of implementing said first business process step.

17. A computer system product as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said first, second, third and fourth program instructions are part of a graphical modeling and application generating program; and

said application program, after being formed, is operable independently of said graphical modeling and application generating program.

18. A computer system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second and third business process steps are mutually-exclusive implementations of said first business process such that only one of said second and third business process steps is correctly performed for said first

business process in an instance of said workflow.