Centralized Process Flow Management for Cloud Application Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information processing systems lack an efficient method to manage and execute sequences of processes across multiple applications and devices, particularly in cloud-based services, leading to complexity in process flow management and execution.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a memory unit for storing program identification, flow, and application information, a registering unit for storing user-defined process flows, and a process executing unit that executes processes based on user requests, allowing for seamless collaboration between devices and external storage systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications and devices are used to execute sequences of processes, then functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and process management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that centralizes the management of process flow information. The server stores and manages the sequences of processes, acting as a mediator between multiple applications and devices. This allows applications to execute complex process sequences without each application needing to independently manage the entire process flow, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides universal process management capabilities that can be accessed by multiple different applications and devices. The process flow information stored on the server can be executed by any application that connects to the server, making the system universally applicable across different software platforms and devices without requiring each application to have specialized process management functionality.
2Ease of operation
If process flow information is stored and managed centrally, then ease of operation and process execution are improved, but information security and access control challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a secure intermediary that manages access to process flow information. Instead of applications directly accessing each other's processes or sharing sensitive information, all process management operations go through the server, which can implement security protocols, authentication, and authorization mechanisms to protect information while enabling easy process execution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications access process flow information from external sources, then adaptability and service integration are improved, but system reliability and data consistency challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as a reliable intermediary that maintains the master copy of process flow information. When applications need to access or update process sequences, they do so through the server, which ensures data consistency by controlling read and write operations. This centralized management allows applications to integrate with external services while relying on the server to maintain reliable and consistent process flow data.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system that includes at least one information processing apparatus and executes programs, each of which performs a predetermined process, the information processing system including a memory unit configured to store, for each of applications performing a sequence of processes using electronic data, program identification information identifying at least one program performing each process of the sequence of processes, flow information defining an execution order of the at least one program, and app identification information identifying each of the applications, while associating the program identification information, the flow information, and the app identification information, a registering unit, and a process executing unit, in receipt of a request including information related to the electronic data and the app identification information from a second apparatus, configured to cause the program identified by the program identification information in accordance with the execution order defined in the flow information.