SAM Schema Validation via Model Checking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing business process management systems face challenges in validating extended status and action management (SAM) schemas, leading to broken action chains that require compensation by extenders, which can disrupt the integrity of business processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a computer-implemented method using an extended finite state machine (FSM) based on the extended SAM schema, processed with a model checking tool to evaluate the validity of action chains and goals, ensuring transparency and adaptability for extenders to maintain schema validity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an extended SAM schema is implemented to allow customization of business processes, then adaptability is improved, but the risk of broken action chains and loss of business process integrity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidbusiness process integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing validation of action chains before the extended SAM schema is deployed. The model checker analyzes the schema in advance to detect broken action chains, unreachable goals, and other validity issues, allowing extenders to fix problems before they affect business process integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using a model checker that automatically analyzes the extended SAM schema and provides validation results about action chain integrity. This feedback mechanism detects issues such as broken action chains and unreachable goals, enabling extenders to maintain both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual validation of action chains is performed by extenders, then adaptability is improved, but the precision and completeness of validation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextender flexibilityVSAvoidvalidation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual validation mechanics with an automated model checking system. Instead of relying on extenders to manually verify action chains, the system uses formal methods and automated analysis to detect validity issues, significantly improving validation precision while preserving extender flexibility in schema design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The extended SAM schema performs self-validation through the model checker, which automatically analyzes the schema structure, action chains, and goals without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach ensures comprehensive and precise validation while allowing extenders to freely customize schemas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If extended SAM schemas are allowed without validation, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to broken action chains

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschema extension easeVSAvoidbroken action chains

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by detecting and preventing harmful effects before they occur. The model checker identifies broken action chains, unreachable goals, and other validity issues in advance, preventing these harmful factors from affecting business process execution while allowing easy schema extension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Manufacturing precision

If formal verification methods are applied to validate extended SAM schemas, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschema validation precisionVSAvoidvalidation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary model checker that bridges the gap between simple schema extension and formal verification. This intermediary tool automates the complex analysis of action chains and goals, providing high validation precision without requiring extenders to directly implement or understand complex verification methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10417594B2Validation of functional correctness of SAM schemas including action chains

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 SAP SE

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for evaluating a validity of an extended status and action management (SAM) schema. In some implementations, actions include receiving the extended SAM schema, the extended SAM schema being an extension of a core SAM schema, providing one or more goals, goals representing an intention of the core SAM schema, receiving one or more action chains, action chains representing one or more actions of the extended SAM schema that are to be automatically executed, the one or more actions being associated with triggerability flags, a triggerability flag indicating whether a respective action is only triggerable using a respective action chain, and processing the one or more goals, the one or more action chains and the triggerability flags using a computer-executable model checking tool for evaluating the validity of the extended SAM schema.