"What if . . . " function for simulating operations within a task workflow management system

• US 5,848,393 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Komichak, Michael J., Goodridge, Gilbert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/573,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 395/670, 395/672, 395/673, 395/674, 395/676, 395/200.33, 395/200.37, 364/578
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• 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 task workflow management system having built-in functions for simulating operations and performing rule syntax checks. A rule editor is provided for editing a plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence. The rule editor includes means for simulating a rule execution without having to create work items to send through a map. The syntax of a rule may be checked and a list of the instance variables in the rule being tested may be provided. A message box may be provided to display a result of the simulation and the successfully firing clause may be highlighted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented task workflow management system for routing items and managing workflow based upon a plurality of rules, comprising:

a rule editor for editing the plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence; and

a simulator, coupled to the rule editor, for simulating execution of the rules by providing values for rule variables and submitting the values to a rule evaluator without creating work items to send through a map.

2. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for checking a syntax of the rule.

3. The task workflow management system of claim 2 further comprising means for selecting a portion of the rule having an incorrect syntax.

4. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein a condition for the rule is indicated under a first heading, and a return state is indicated under a second heading.

5. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor is a client process and the simulator is a server process.

6. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor further comprises test case means for providing a list of instance variables in the rule being simulated.

7. The task workflow management system of claim 1, further comprising means for setting a temporary instance variable in the rule being simulated.

8. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for starting the simulation.

9. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor further comprises message box displays for displaying a result of the simulation.

10. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for highlighting a clause for which the clause was successful.

11. The task workflow management system of claim 1 further comprising rule evaluator means, operatively coupled to the rule editor, for evaluating a plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence such that the workflow management system is rule-based.

12. The task workflow management system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rules are derived from a rule language.

13. The task workflow management system of claim 11, wherein the rule evaluator is invoked by calls from the rule editor.

14. A computer-implemented task workflow management system, comprising:

a workflow engine for routing tasks in a predetermined task execution sequence to a plurality of workers and providing access to data and documents required by each worker to complete a particular task;

rule evaluator, operatively coupled to the workflow engine, for evaluating a plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence such that the workflow management system is rule-based; and

rule editor for editing a plurality of rules describing the predetermined task execution sequence, the rule editor comprising simulation for initiating a simulated running of a rule by providing values for rule variables and submitting the values to without creating work items to send through a map.

15. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for checking a syntax of the rule.

16. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein a condition for the rule is indicated under a first heading, and a return state is indicated under a second heading.

17. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the rule editor further comprises test case for providing a list of instance variables in the rule being tested.

18. The task workflow management system of claim 14, further comprising means for setting a temporary instance variable in the rule being simulated.

19. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for starting the running of the simulation.

20. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the rule editor further comprises a message box display for displaying a result of the simulation.

21. The task workflow management system of claim 20 wherein the rule editor further comprises means for highlighting a clause indicating that the clause was successfully fired.

22. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of rules are derived from a rule language.

23. The task workflow management system of claim 14 wherein the rule evaluator is invoked by calls from the rule editor.

24. A computer-implemented method of rule-based task workflow management, comprising the steps of:

specifying a plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence, the plurality of rules being derived from a rule language; and

simulating the running of a rule by providing values for rule variables and submitting them to a rule evaluator without creating work items.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of editing the plurality of rules describing the predetermined task execution sequence.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of checking a syntax of the rule.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of simulating the running of the rule further comprises the step of indicating a condition for the rule under a first heading, and indicating a return state under a second heading.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of generating a list of instance variables in the rule being tested.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of highlighting a clause to indicate the clause was successfully fired.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of evaluating a plurality of rules describing a predetermined task execution sequence.