Object-oriented system and method using shadowing object for approval control

• US 7,899,787 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hu, Xiao Wei, Zhu, Qing Jiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert; Ella
• Application Number:
  US10/457,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,822 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/103.R, 707/609, 707/639, 707/759, 707/770, 707/802, 707/821, 705/1, 705/7, 705/1.1, 705/28, 717/100, 709/223, 709/224, 709/229
• US Class Current: 707/639
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The present invention describes a technique for using shadowing object for approval control in an object-oriented software environment. The technique calls a business operation and determines whether the business operation needs to be approved. If the business operation needs to be approved, a shadowing business object and a shadowing connector corresponding to the original business object and the connector are created, and the business operation is performed on the shadowing business object and connector, and all results are stored in the shadowing business object, and all messages to be sent are buffered in the connector. If the business operation is approved, the original business object is replaced by the shadowing business object. The technique is flexible, efficient, easy to be modified and supplemented.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for controlling approval of a business operation, said method comprising:

calling, with an execution management unit of a computer system, a business operation responsive to input to said execution management unit;

determining, with said execution management unit and approval setting parameter criteria, that the business operation requires approval;

creating, with an approval management unit of said computer system, a shadowing business object and a shadowing connector corresponding to an original business object and an original connector, respectively, said original business object being stored in memory on said computer system;

performing, with said execution management unit, the business operation on said shadowing business object and said shadowing connector, said original business object and said original connector being unchanged;

storing results from the business operation in said shadowing business object, and buffering all messages to be sent in said shadowing connector; and

replacing, using said approval management unit, said original business object stored in memory on said computer system with said shadowing business object when the results of said business operation are approved using predetermined approval criteria applied by an approval unit of said computer system.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said replacing further comprises sending the messages buffered in said shadowing connector to another system for processing.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising:

creating a corresponding business object and a corresponding connector, and marking them as shadowing business object and shadowing connector when said called business operation includes creation of a new business object, the corresponding original business object and the original connector being null;

wherein said shadowing business object contains all data contained in said original business object before said business operation is performed when said business operation is a modification; and

establishing a null shadowing business object of said original business object as the shadowing business object when said business operation is a deletion, wherein said null shadowing business object contains none of the data contained in the original business object.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

establishing a session object having approval settings so that said shadowing business object, said shadowing connector and said approval management unit communicate with each other through said session object.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

reviewing pending sessions, said shadowing business object, said original business object, and said messages stored in the shadowing connector to determine either approval or rejection of said business operation.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

archiving all interim data and messages and clearing all marks on the business object when said business operation is rejected.