Extended Process Model for Internal Information Consumption Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current service, activity, and process modeling languages fail to account for information consumed internally by services and processes, leading to information mismatch issues that are not detectable during downstream assembly, resulting in costly rework and a lack of quantitative and qualitative control mechanisms for information availability.
Innovation Solution
A method to extend process and activity models by specifying information consumed by process and activity implementations, including non-functional annotations and identification of information sources, to automatically generate extended models that verify information consistency and allocate appropriate sources, thereby detecting and correcting information inconsistencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If current service, activity, and process modeling languages are used, then basic service description and activity flow modeling are achieved, but information consumed internally by services and processes cannot be captured, leading to information mismatch issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments information consumption into two distinct categories: process-level information consumption (information accessed, updated, or created by the process implementation) and activity-level information consumption (information accessed, updated, or created by individual activity implementations). This segmentation allows comprehensive tracking of internal information usage without overwhelming complexity, as each level can be modeled independently and then integrated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to traditional process modeling by introducing information consumption specifications as a separate modeling layer. Instead of merely describing process flow and interfaces, the model now includes explicit declarations of information sources accessed, updated, and created at both process and activity levels, creating a multi-dimensional view that captures internal information usage without disrupting existing process definitions.
2Reliability
If information consumption is not modeled, then downstream assembly can proceed without additional verification, but information mismatch issues remain undetected, resulting in costly rework
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary verification of information consistency during the process modeling phase itself. By requiring explicit specification of information consumption at process and activity levels, the system detects information mismatches, missing information sources, and inconsistencies before downstream assembly begins. This early detection prevents costly rework later while the added modeling overhead is incurred only once during design, not during subsequent assembly operations.
3Measurement precision
If quantitative and qualitative control mechanisms for information availability are implemented, then information mismatch can be detected early, but the modeling and validation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms that verify information consistency by comparing declared information consumption against available information sources. The system automatically checks whether required information is available, whether information production matches consumption requirements, and whether information sources are properly allocated. This automated feedback provides precise verification without requiring complex manual validation processes, as the checking logic is embedded in the modeling framework itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for extending a process model with specification of information consumed. A receiving operation receives specification of process information consumed by a process implementation of the process model. Another receiving operation receives specification of activity process information consumed by activities employed by the process implementation of the process model. The information consumed is information that is or needs to be used without being passed through exposed interfaces. A generating operation automatically generates an extended process model using a computer processor. The extended process model includes specification of exposed interfaces, the process information consumed by the process implementation, and the activity information consumed by the activity implementation. Further embodiments includes techniques for identifying information inconsistencies in the extended process model if the information consumed not available as called for by the extended process model.