Dynamic workflow documentation system

• US 8,171,053 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David B., Brooks, Patrick J., Childress, Rhonda L., Spisak, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Hanh
• Application Number:
  US12/777,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-105, 717/166, 707790-792, 707802-803
• US Class Current: 707/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The dynamic workflow documentation system is a computer implemented process comprising the following steps: The dynamic workflow documentation system starts a workflow manager program, a class loader program in a computer memory and creates an instance of a workflow program in the computer memory. The dynamic workflow documentation system extracts metadata properties from the workflow program and records the metadata properties in the memory. The dynamic workflow documentation system notifies the workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created and repeats the steps of creating an instance of a workflow component program, extracting metadata properties, recording the metadata properties and notifying the workflow manager for all workflow components associated with the workflow program. Security and auditing functions of the dynamic workflow documentation system ensure that workflow programs execute according to the workflow requirements.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process for creating dynamic workflow documentation, the computer implemented process comprising the steps of:

starting a workflow manager program and a class loader program in a computer-readable memory;

creating an instance of a workflow program in the computer-readable memory;

extracting metadata properties from the workflow program;

recording the metadata properties in the computer-readable memory;

notifying the workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created; and

repeating the steps of creating an instance of a workflow component program, extracting metadata properties, recording the metadata properties and notifying the workflow manager for all workflow components associated with the workflow program.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the class loader program checks for an approval flag to verify that the workflow program has been approved for enterprise use.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 2 further comprising validating a checksum value to confirm that the workflow program has not been altered or tampered with since receiving approval for enterprise use.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the workflow manager periodically polls the workflow program and associated workflow component programs to retrieve updated metadata properties.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the workflow manager analyzes the metadata properties saved in the computer-readable memory and produces workflow status information.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 5 further comprising publishing workflow status information as a file.

7. An apparatus for creating dynamic workflow documentation, the apparatus comprising:

a processor, a computer-readable memory, a computer-readable tangible storage device, and program instructions stored on the computer-readable tangible storage device for execution by the processor, the program instructions comprising;

first program instructions to create an instance of a workflow program in the computer-readable memory;

second program instructions to extract metadata properties from the workflow program;

third program instructions to record the metadata properties in the computer-readable memory;

fourth program instructions to notify a workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created; and

fifth program instructions to repeat execution of the first through fourth program instructions for all workflow components associated with the workflow program.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to check for an approval flag to verify that the workflow program has been approved for enterprise use.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the program instructions further comprise seventh program instructions to validate a checksum value to confirm that the workflow program has not been altered or tampered with since receiving approval for enterprise use.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to periodically poll the workflow program and associated workflow component programs to retrieve updated metadata properties.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to analyze the metadata properties saved in the computer-readable memory and produce workflow status information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the program instructions further comprise seventh program instructions to publish workflow status information as a file.

13. A computer program product for creating dynamic workflow documentation, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable tangible storage device and program instructions stored on the computer-readable tangible storage device, the program instructions comprising:

first program instructions to start a workflow manager program and a class loader program in a computer-readable memory;

second program instructions to create an instance of a workflow program in the computer-readable memory;

third program instructions to check for an approval flag to verify that the workflow program has been approved for enterprise use;

fourth program instructions to validate a checksum value to confirm that the workflow program has not been altered or tampered with since receiving approval;

fifth program instructions to extract metadata properties from the workflow program;

sixth program instructions to record the metadata properties in the computer-readable memory;

seventh program instructions to notify the workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created;

eighth program instructions to repeat execution of the second, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions for all workflow components associated with the workflow program;

ninth program instructions to periodically poll the workflow program and associated workflow component programs and retrieve updated metadata properties;

tenth program instructions to analyze the metadata properties saved in the computer-readable memory and produce workflow status information; and

eleventh program instructions to publish workflow status information as a file.

14. A computer program product for creating dynamic workflow documentation, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable tangible storage device and program instructions stored on the computer-readable tangible storage device, the program instructions comprising:

first program instructions to create an instance of a workflow program in a computer-readable memory;

second program instructions to extract metadata properties from the workflow program;

third program instructions to record the metadata properties in the computer-readable memory;

fourth program instructions to notify a workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created; and

fifth program instructions to repeat execution of the first through fourth program instructions for all workflow components associated with the workflow program.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to check for an approval flag to verify that the workflow program has been approved for enterprise use.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the program instructions further comprise seventh program instructions to validate a checksum value to confirm that the workflow program has not been altered or tampered with since receiving approval for enterprise use.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to periodically poll the workflow program and associated workflow component programs to retrieve updated metadata properties.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the program instructions further comprise sixth program instructions to analyze the metadata properties saved in the computer-readable memory and produce workflow status information.

19. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the program instructions further comprise seventh program instructions to publish workflow status information as a file.

20. An apparatus for creating dynamic workflow documentation, wherein said apparatus comprises:

means for starting a workflow manager program and a class loader program in a computer-readable memory;

means for creating an instance of a workflow program in the computer-readable memory;

means for extracting metadata properties from the workflow program;

means for recording the metadata properties in the computer-readable memory;

means for notifying the workflow manager that a new instance of the workflow program has been created; and

means for repeating the steps of creating an instance of a workflow component program, extracting metadata properties, recording the metadata properties and notifying the workflow manager for all workflow components associated with the workflow program.