Three dimensional visual representation for identifying problems in monitored model oriented business processes

• US 8,731,998 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Heidasch, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US11/713,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,637 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.38, 705/7.39, 705/7.27
• US Class Current: 705/7.38
• 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

Abstract

A computer implemented method and system for monitoring a business process of an executing business application. Runtime information of a business process element of the executing business application is received. The runtime information is then associated with design time information of the executing business application by a processor. Next, a representation of the business process associated with the business process element is generated to determine a problem in the business process of the executing business application.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations of monitoring a business process of an executing business application, the operations comprising:

receiving, at a business process monitor, runtime information and design time information of a business process element of the business application executing a business process;

integrating, by a business process management module connected to the business process monitor, the runtime information with the design time information to generate integrated information, the runtime information including a description of an action of the business process element and a business process instance identifier, the design time information including a business process model of the business process, the integrated information being displayed in a three-dimensional structure characterizing data associated with the business process element, the three dimensional structure comprising a three-dimensional visual representation of at least a portion of the integrated information, the three-dimensional visual representation having a first dimension identifying the business process, a second dimension identifying the business process element, and a third dimension characterized by an instance of the business process that is being executed on the business application;

determining, by a business intelligence module connected to the business process monitor and the business process management module, a problem in the business process element of the executing business application, the problem being determined based on the integrated information displayed in the three-dimensional structure; and

selectively monitoring, by the business process monitor, a functionality of the business process element having the problem, the selective monitoring displaying the three-dimensional structure and a representation of the business process model associated with the business process to facilitate a solving of the problem, wherein the representation of the business process model identifies the business process element having the problem.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein:

the business application is currently being executed; and

the business process model is generated using a visual modeling tool executed on a graphical user interface connected to the business intelligence module.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface displays the three-dimensional representation wherein:

the first dimension is characterized by a first identifier identifying the business process; and

the second dimension is characterized by a second identifier identifying the business process element.

4. A method of monitoring a business process of an executing business application comprising:

receiving, at a business process monitor, runtime information and design time information of a business process element of the business application executing the business process;

integrating, by a business process management module that is executed by at least one processor and is connected to the business process monitor, the runtime information with the design time information to generate integrated information, the runtime information including a business process element identifier identifying the business process element, the design time information including a business process model of the business process, the integrated information being displayed in a three-dimensional structure characterizing data associated with the business process element, the three dimensional structure comprising a three-dimensional representation having a first dimension identifying the business process, a second dimension identifying the business process element, and a third dimension characterized by an instance of the business process that is being executed on the business application;

determining, by a business intelligence module connected to the business process monitor and the business process management module, a problem in the business process element of the executing business application, the problem being determined based on the integrated information displayed in the three-dimensional structure; and

selectively monitoring, by the business process monitor, a functionality of the business process element having the problem, the selective monitoring displaying the three-dimensional structure and a representation of the business process model associated with the business process to facilitate a solving of the problem, wherein the representation of the business process model is configured to identify the business process element having the problem.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the business application is currently being executed; and

the business process model is generated using a visual modeling tool executed on the graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface further displays the three-dimensional representation, the three-dimensional representation characterizing at least a portion of the integrated information, wherein:

the first dimension is characterized by a first identifier identifying the business process; and

the second dimension is characterized by a second identifier identifying the business process element.

7. A system for monitoring a business process of an executing business application comprising:

at least one programmable processor; and

a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a business process monitor, runtime information and design time information of a business process element of the business application executing the business process;

integrating, by a business process management module connected to the business process monitor, the runtime information with the design time information to generate integrated information, the runtime information including a description of an action of the business process element, the design time information including a business process model of the business process, the integrated information being displayed in a three-dimensional structure characterizing data associated with the business process element;

determining, by a business intelligence module connected to the business process monitor and the business process management module, a problem in the business process element of the executing business application, the problem being determined based on the integrated information displayed in the three-dimensional structure, the three dimensional structure comprising a three-dimensional representation having a first dimension identifying the business process, a second dimension identifying the business process element, and a third dimension characterized by an instance of the business process that is being executed on the business application; and

selectively monitoring, by the business process monitor, a functionality of the business process element having the problem, the selective monitoring displaying the three-dimensional structure and a representation of the business process model associated with the business process to facilitate a solving of the problem, wherein the representation of the business process model is used to identify the business process element having the problem.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the business application is currently being executed; and

the business process model is generated using a visual modeling tool executed on a graphical user interface connected to the business intelligence module.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface displays the three-dimensional representation wherein:

the first dimension is characterized by a first identifier identifying the business process; and

the second dimension is characterized by a second identifier identifying the business process element.