Distributed Workflow Agents for Scalable Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current workflow processing technologies are not scalable and lack the flexibility needed to handle complex workflows, making it difficult to implement efficient and effective workflow management systems.
Innovation Solution
A scalable workflow management system is implemented using stateful workflow agents driven by stateless workflow engines, where workflow agents are documents or file-like entities that can be processed across a distributed network of engines, with each engine interpreting the workflow definition and history to determine the next action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current workflow processing technologies are used, then implementation is simpler, but scalability and flexibility are insufficient to handle complex workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow management system is segmented into independent workflow agents that can be distributed across multiple devices. Each agent represents a discrete workflow instance with its own state, allowing the system to handle complexity through division rather than requiring a monolithic complex structure. This enables scalability while maintaining manageable individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by making workflow agents portable across distributed devices rather than confining workflows to a single system. This spatial distribution across multiple devices provides scalability and flexibility without proportionally increasing the complexity of any single device, as the complexity is distributed across the network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If workflow processing complexity increases, then capability to handle complex workflows improves, but scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Complex workflows are segmented into discrete workflow agents that can be independently processed and distributed. This segmentation allows the system to scale horizontally by adding more devices to handle additional agents, rather than requiring vertical scaling that would increase individual device complexity and limit scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow agent design creates universal, portable entities that can execute on any device in the distributed network. This multi-functionality allows the same workflow agent to be processed by different devices as needed, enabling the system to scale by adding diverse devices without requiring specialized infrastructure for each workflow type.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for a workflow engine that obtains a workflow agent that comprises a workflow definition and a workflow history. The workflow engine determines a next action for the workflow agent based at least upon the workflow definition and the workflow history of the workflow agent. The workflow engine initiates the next action for the workflow agent. Subsequent actions may be initiated by the workflow engine or forwarded to another workflow engine.