Concentric Ring Workflow Visualization for Real-Time Task Dependency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workflow visualization systems struggle to clearly depict the execution of tasks and workflows in real-time without prior knowledge of all possible execution paths, making it difficult to construct and understand visual representations.
Innovation Solution
A method is employed where nodes representing tasks are placed on concentric rings of a visualization, with ring assignments based on task dependencies, allowing for real-time visualization of workflows by rendering an origin node at the center and adding nodes in order of invocation, with directed edges indicating dependencies between tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If all possible execution paths are registered in advance to generate a graph, then the graph can be generated easily, but the system requires advance knowledge of all execution paths which reduces flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the graph structure template and node placement rules before workflow execution. The concentric ring structure and node positioning algorithms are prepared in advance, allowing the system to quickly instantiate graphs during runtime without needing to register all execution paths beforehand. This enables easy graph generation while maintaining flexibility.
2Loss of time
If nodes are placed on concentric rings based on task dependencies in real-time, then workflow visualization is achieved during execution, but the visualization complexity increases compared to static graphs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the workflow visualization into discrete nodes representing individual tasks or task groups. Each node is placed on concentric rings based on its dependency level, creating a modular structure that can be built incrementally in real-time as tasks are invoked. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex workflows by breaking them into manageable visual units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by placing nodes on concentric rings radiating from a central origin node. This radial arrangement adds a visual dimension that naturally represents task dependency levels and invocation order, making real-time workflow visualization more intuitive and reducing the perceived complexity of dynamic graph construction.
3Loss of information
If independent nodes are added to the first ring in distributed manner in order of invocation, then clear visualization of task execution order is achieved, but the positioning algorithm becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing independent nodes around the first concentric ring according to their invocation order, creating localized visual patterns that preserve execution sequence information. Each node's position on the ring reflects its temporal order in the workflow, with nodes arranged sequentially around the circumference. This local arrangement strategy maintains clarity of execution order while using a relatively simple circular distribution algorithm.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for visualizing a run of a workflow on a GUI. The techniques include: (a) rendering an origin node of the workflow at a central position and an innermost ring therearound; (b) adding to the first ring, independent nodes representing respective tasks invoked by the workflow that are not dependent on any other task in order of invocation in a distributed manner, together with edges drawn from the origin node to respective added independent nodes; (c) rendering one or more outer rings around the innermost ring; and (d) adding to each of the outer rings, dependent nodes representing respective tasks invoked by the workflow that are dependent on another task represented by another node on another ring closer to the origin node in order of invocation in a distributed manner together with edges drawn to each added dependent node from all nodes representing tasks upon which the respective task represented by that dependent node is dependent.