Workflow Process Definitions as Business Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems make it difficult for non-technical users to access and manage business process information in a logical and structured way, requiring significant technical skills, and lack flexibility to add new information sources or fields without complex development processes.
Innovation Solution
The system uses Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) sources and a runtime broker with adapter services to empower both technical and non-technical users to create and manage logical business objects from various data sources, allowing for dynamic definition and manipulation of data and actions without requiring technical resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing EAI systems and development tools are used to develop custom solutions, then data accessibility is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a business object layer as an intermediary between data sources and users. This layer provides standardized interfaces and abstractions, allowing non-technical users to access data without dealing with the underlying system complexity. The business objects act as mediators that translate complex data source operations into simple, intuitive access patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables non-technical users to independently define and modify business objects without requiring developer intervention. Users can add new data sources, create new business objects, and customize data representations through self-service mechanisms, eliminating the need for technical skills while maintaining system flexibility.
2Loss of information
If custom developed applications are used to provide additional information on forms, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to developer dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent empowers end users to independently add and configure additional information fields on forms without developer involvement. Users can dynamically define new data elements, associate them with existing business objects, and customize form presentations according to their specific needs, maintaining full user autonomy while ensuring information completeness.
3Productivity
If workflow automation tools are used to model business processes, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to disconnected tools and limited modeling capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines workflow automation capabilities with business object modeling in a unified environment. By integrating process definition tools with data modeling tools, the system allows users to model both data structures and business processes together, eliminating the need to switch between disconnected tools and simplifying the overall modeling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The business object framework serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a data model, a process model, and an integration point for automation. This multi-functional approach allows the same modeling environment to handle diverse requirements without requiring separate specialized tools, improving ease of operation while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for exposing a workflow processes definition as a business object. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can access a business object representing a workflow process definition from any system using standard database constructs. The data for the business object may be combined from a variety of existing sources and/or new data. Using the methods and apparatus a user may generate reports from the business object.