Graphical Business Process Automation Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of automating business processes is costly, time-consuming, and error-prone due to the need for multiple layers of personnel and different 'languages' or models of interpretation, requiring expertise in computer programming and being difficult for non-experts to use.
Innovation Solution
A graphical interface using icons representing logic blocks that can be selected and connected to define business processes and rules, allowing users to create processes without writing code, with the system automatically converting these graphical representations into computer code using elementary operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional software development methods are used with multiple layers of personnel translating requirements into code, then the process can be completed with existing expertise, but the process becomes expensive, time-consuming, and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate layers of personnel (requirements analysts, software architects, programmers) from the process. By allowing domain experts to directly author executable specifications in their own language, the translation chain is removed, reducing both errors and time while maintaining system complexity handling capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary tool - an executable specification language and authoring environment - that enables domain experts to directly create executable code without needing programming expertise. This intermediary bridges the gap between domain knowledge and software implementation, eliminating the need for multiple human translation layers.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional software development methods are used with multiple layers of personnel, then existing expertise can be utilized, but the process becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables domain experts to self-author executable specifications without requiring external software development expertise. The system provides tools that allow users to directly create, validate, and deploy executable code in their own domain language, eliminating the need for external translators and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of how specifications are authored - from text-based documentation requiring human interpretation to executable code with formal semantics. This parameter change enables direct machine execution while maintaining domain expert authorship, simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If graphical interface with icons is used to define processes, then programming knowledge is not required, but the system must automatically convert graphical representations into computer code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual coding with an automated translation system. The graphical icon-based specification language is automatically converted into executable code by the system, eliminating the need for users to manually write or understand programming syntax while the system handles the complex translation internally.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automating a process includes the following steps: providing a user interface which graphically presents a plurality of icons to a user, wherein each icon represents an operation step having at least one input and at least one output; enabling the user to select one or more of the icons; enabling the user to form connections between the selected icons to represent data flow between the operation steps represented by the icons; and generating computer instructions for executing the operation steps corresponding to the selected icons, and in accordance with the connections, in such a way that each operation step can only be executed when data is present at all of its inputs, and cannot be executed when data is absent at any one of its inputs.