Systems and methods for coordinating computing functions to accomplish a task using a configuration file and standardized executable application modules

• US 8,615,773 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bishop, Douglas L., Vanderzweep, Jeff, Felke, Tim, Bell, Douglas Allen, Aljanabi, Issa
• Primary Examiner(s): Puente, Emerson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Adam
• Application Number:
  US13/077,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20120254876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/548 Queue
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

Systems and Methods are provided for coordinating computing functions to accomplish a task. The system includes a plurality of standardized executable application modules (SEAMs), each of which is configured to execute on a processor to provide a unique function and to generate an event associated with its unique function. The system includes a configuration file that comprises a dynamic data store (DDS) and a static data store (SDS). The DDS includes an event queue and one or more response queues. The SDS includes a persistent software object that is configured to map a specific event from the event queue to a predefined response record and to indicate a response queue into which the predefined response record is to be placed. The system further includes a workflow service module, the work flow service module being configured to direct communication between the SDS, the DDS and each of the plurality of SEAMs.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating functions within a computing device to accomplish a task, comprising:

a plurality of standardized executable application modules (SEAMs), wherein each SEAM is a basic un-modifiable modular software object that is directed to complete specific tasks after being configured by a configuration file, and is configured to execute on a processor to provide a unique function and to generate an event associated with the unique function associated with each SEAM;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the configuration file recorded thereon, the configuration file comprising;

a dynamic data store (DDS) and a static data store (SDS),

wherein the DDS comprises an event queue and one or more response queues and all of the one or more response queues have a lower read priority than the event queue, and

wherein the SDS comprises a persistent software object, the persistent software object configured to map a specific event from the event queue to a pre-defined response record, and to assign a response queue into which the pre-defined response record is to be placed; and

a workflow service module, the workflow service module configured to direct communication among the SDS, the DDS and each of the plurality of SEAMs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more response queues are hierarchical such that one response queue has a higher read priority than another.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customized adapter, wherein the event is received from one of a host application via the customized adapter and from one of the plurality of SEAMs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow service module is configured to store the event to the event queue and read the event from the event queue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein when the workflow service module is configured to read the pre-defined response record in each successive response queue in order of their priority.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow service module is further configured to query the SDS for the pre-defined response record associated with the event and to place the pre-defined response record into the indicated pre-defined response queue.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein when a new event is received into the event queue the workflow service module terminates reading any pre-defined response messages and reads the new event.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein when the workflow service module calls one of the plurality of SEAMs after reading a response record in the highest priority response queue.

9. A method for coordinating functions of a computing device to accomplish a task, comprising:

storing a plurality of standardized executable application modules (SEAMs) within the computing device, wherein each SEAM is a basic un-modifiable modular software object that is directed to complete specific tasks after being configured by a configuration file, and is configured to execute a unique function among the plurality of SEAMs and to generate an event associated with each SEAM'"'"'s unique function;

installing the configuration file into the computing device, the configuration file comprising a dynamic data store (DDS) and a static data store (SDS),

wherein the DDS comprises an event queue and one or more response queues and all of the one or more response queues have a lower read priority than the event queue, and

wherein the SDS comprises a state machine, the state machine configured to map a specific event to a predefined response record and indicating a response queue into which the predefined response record is to be placed, and

storing a workflow service module, the workflow service module configured to direct data communication among the SDS, the DDS and each of the plurality of SEAMs.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more response queues are hierarchical such that one response queue has a higher read priority than another.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the workflow service module reads events serially from the event queue.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the event queue receives events from each of the plurality of SEAMs.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the workflow service module inputs an event read from the event queue as a query to the SDS and receives a response record and an indication of one of the one or more response queues into which to store the response record.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the workflow service module calls one of the plurality of SEAMs based on a content of the response record stored.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the called SEAM performs its unique function on data referred to in the response record and posts a second event into the event queue.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the workflow service module proceeds to read another event on the FIFO basis.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein when the event queue is empty, the workflow service module proceeds to read a first response record from a highest priority response queue containing a response record.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the workflow service module queries the SDS with the first response record and receives a second response record and an indication of one of the one or more response queues into which to store the second response record.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the workflow service module calls one of the plurality of SEAMs based on a content of a second response record stored the response queue.

20. A method for coordinating functions of a single computing device to accomplish a task, comprising:

storing a plurality of standardized executable application modules (SEAMs) within the single computing device, wherein each SEAM is a basic un-modifiable modular software object that is directed to complete specific tasks after being configured by a configuration file, and is configured to execute a unique function among the plurality of SEAMs and to generate an event associated with each SEAM'"'"'s unique function;

determining when an event queue stored on a memory device in the single computing device is empty;

when the event queue is not empty, reading an event from the event queue of the computing device;

requesting a response record from a memory location in the single computing device based on the event;

storing the response record in a response queue within the single computing device;

when the event queue is empty, reading a response record from the response queue; and

making a function call to an application identified in the response record, wherein the response queue has a lower read priority than the event queue.