Modeling user input and interaction in workflow based applications

• US 8,849,691 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sanabria, Andres, Mihai, Constantin, Kothari, Nikhil, Hilerio, Israel, Harder, Michael, Maybee, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOFTIS, JOHNNA RONEE
• Application Number:
  US11/321,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,197 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 705/7.26
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

Systems and methods that implement interactivity as part of a workflow itself. Data is passed in and out of the workflow to form an interactive workflow, via employing an interactive activity component. Such interactive activity component models suspension points within a workflow definition, wherein user input and associated interaction can be supplied to the workflow during various interactivity breaks that request user input. Such an arrangement enables a controlled/synchronous data exchange between the workflow and a host application associated therewith.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory comprising a workflow system, a host application, and an interactive activity component, wherein;

the workflow system includes a workflow runtime, the workflow runtime being configured to execute a workflow that includes a plurality of workflow activities, including at least one user-interactive activity, wherein the workflow system is configured to exchange data with the host application at one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component;

the interactive activity component is configured to model the one or more user-interactive suspension points, the one or more user-interactive suspension points being configured to receive user input through the host application and incorporate the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the host application is configured to exchange the data with the workflow system at the one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component,

wherein exchanging data between the workflow system and the host application at the one or more user-interactive suspension points includes;

the workflow system suspending execution of the workflow when the at least one user-interactive activity is encountered;

the interactive activity component raising a suspension event at the host application;

the interactive activity component facilitating the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended, including incorporating the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the workflow system resuming execution of the workflow subsequent to the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the interactive activity component switches between a plurality of users.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the workflow is loaded based on identification associated therewith.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user-interactive suspension points are associated with a changeable User Interface (UI) appearance of the workflow.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 4, wherein the UI is drivable based on state of the workflow during suspension.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 4, wherein the workflow resumes based upon an activity of the host.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 4, wherein the workflow system includes a workflow provider class for communication with the host application.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein incorporating user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended includes changing the appearance of the workflow based on the current suspension state.

9. The computer implemented system of claim 8, wherein one or more suspending events provide hooks into the execution of the workflow that change the workflow'"'"'s appearance based on information in the event, allowing the user to define one or more custom features that are implemented in the workflow at runtime.

10. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the workflow system is configured to suspend the workflow and store the suspended workflow'"'"'s state upon detecting that the workflow has been inactive for a certain period of time.

11. The computer implemented system of claim 10, wherein suspending the workflow comprises selectively storing workflow state information in accordance with one or more latency considerations including workflow inactivity.

12. At a computer system that includes one or more processors and system memory, a method for enabling user-interactivity in a workflow, the method comprising:

an act of executing a workflow system, an interactive activity component, and a host application at the computer system, wherein;

the workflow runtime is configured to execute a workflow that includes a plurality of workflow activities, including at least one user-interactive activity, the workflow system being configured to exchange data with the host application at one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component;

the interactive activity component is configured to model the one or more user-interactive suspension points, the one or more user-interactive suspension points being configured to receive user input through the host application and incorporate the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the host application is configured to exchange the data with the workflow system at the one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component; and

an act of exchanging data between the workflow system and the host application at the one or more user-interactive suspension points, including;

the workflow system suspending execution of the workflow when the at least one user-interactive activity is encountered;

the interactive activity component raising a suspension event at the host application;

the interactive activity component facilitating the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended, including incorporating the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the workflow system resuming execution of the workflow subsequent to the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising the host application sending an event to the workflow system to resume execution of the workflow.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising the workflow system verifying whether exchanged data includes a resume event.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising raising a suspension event to the host application.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising subscribing the host application to suspending events within a workflow.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising determining a state of the workflow via querying a workflow instance to identify an interaction activity that caused suspension of the workflow.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising changing an appearance of the workflow based on suspension points.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising one of a switching and modifying a UI based on the suspension event.

20. A computer program product comprising one or more physical storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:

execute a workflow system, an interactive activity component, and a host application at the computer system, wherein;

the workflow runtime is configured to execute a workflow that includes a plurality of workflow activities, including at least one user-interactive activity, the workflow system being configured to exchange data with the host application at one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component;

the interactive activity component is configured to model the one or more user-interactive suspension points, the one or more user-interactive suspension points being configured to receive user input through the host application and incorporate the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the host application is configured to exchange the data with the workflow system at the one or more user-interactive suspension points through the interactive activity component; and

exchange data between the workflow system and the host application at the one or more user-interactive suspension points, including;

the workflow system suspending execution of the workflow when the at least one user-interactive activity is encountered;

the interactive activity component raising a suspension event at the host application;

the interactive activity component facilitating the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended, including incorporating the user input into the workflow while the workflow is suspended; and

the workflow system resuming execution of the workflow subsequent to the exchange of data between the host application and the workflow system while the workflow is suspended.