Cloud Flow Timer Action Element for Automated Process Pausing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud-based development platforms lack the ability to easily pause automated processes for a specified duration during execution, limiting flexibility and user interaction in enterprise and organization-related functions.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that allows users to set a specified wait duration for a timer action element in a design-time flow plan, which pauses the flow for a specified period, enabling natural language annotation and human-readable configuration, and is executed on a cloud-based system using a flow designer system and engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a timer action element is added to pause automated processes, then flexibility and user interaction are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow plan is divided into discrete action elements, with the timer being one specific type. This segmentation allows the timer functionality to be added without redesigning the entire system, resolving the contradiction by enabling flexibility through modular addition while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer action element is designed as a universal component that can be integrated into any flow plan regardless of its purpose or complexity. This multi-functionality approach allows the same timer mechanism to serve diverse pausing needs across different automated processes, improving flexibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If advanced scripting knowledge is required to implement wait steps, then automation precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides pre-configured, ready-to-use timer action elements that can be deployed without extensive scripting knowledge. These standardized components eliminate the need for users to create complex scripts from scratch, improving ease of operation while maintaining automation precision through built-in timing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer action element is designed to be self-configuring with default parameters and automatic execution. Once added to the flow plan, it automatically handles timing logic without requiring users to write or debug scripts, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining precision through systematic default configurations.
3Ease of operation
If natural language annotation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
Natural language annotations serve as an intermediary layer between the user and the technical timer configuration. Users can specify timing requirements in plain language while the system automatically translates these annotations into precise timer parameters, improving ease of operation without losing critical timing information through the translation process.
Data Source
AI summary
A wait duration for a timer action element of a design-time flow plan is set. The wait duration being set relative to a specified data point of a table associated with the design-time flow plan. An operation associated with the timer action element executes at run-time to pause a flow for the wait duration prior to execution of an operation associated with an action element that is set to execute subsequent to the timer action element in the design-time flow plan. A specified timeframe for the timer action element of the design-time flow plan is set. The operation associated with the timer action element to pause the flow for the specified wait duration executes at run-time during the set specified timeframe. A natural language annotation associated with the timer action element of the design-time flow plan is displayed. The annotation presents the set duration and timeframe in a human-readable format.