Workflow Change Description Rules Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software tools lack an effective method to describe changes between workflows or versions of workflows, particularly when comparing differences in documents containing workflow metadata, which can lead to redundant, inaccurate, and inefficient change descriptions.
Innovation Solution
A system that processes rules to generate descriptions of changes by filtering and comparing metadata from different versions of workflows, using a rules engine to identify and apply relevant rules to XML or JSON documents, and aggregating results to provide meaningful change descriptions in a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If software tools compare differences between two text documents to describe workflow changes, then the changes can be displayed, but the descriptions become redundant and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the workflow comparison process into distinct rule types (addition rules, deletion rules, modification rules) that operate on specific metadata elements. Each rule type handles a particular aspect of change detection, preventing redundant descriptions by assigning specific detection responsibilities to each rule segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rules as an intermediary layer between the raw metadata documents and the change descriptions. These rules act as mediators that interpret metadata differences and translate them into meaningful, non-redundant change descriptions, filtering out unnecessary information while preserving accurate change details.
2Measurement precision
If a system processes rules to generate change descriptions by filtering and comparing metadata, then accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rule processing system is segmented into modular rule types (addition, deletion, modification rules) that can be independently developed and maintained. Each rule type focuses on a specific detection task, reducing individual rule complexity while achieving high overall precision through the coordinated operation of multiple specialized rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal rule processing framework that handles multiple types of workflow changes through a common architecture. The same basic rule structure and processing mechanism can detect additions, deletions, and modifications across different metadata elements, reducing system complexity through reuse while maintaining high detection precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses a rules engine to apply relevant rules to XML or JSON documents, then extensibility improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-compiling and organizing rules into type-specific categories (addition, deletion, modification) that can be quickly matched against metadata changes. The system prepares rule sets in advance based on the metadata structure, enabling rapid rule application during actual workflow comparisons without requiring complex real-time analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The rule processing system dynamically selects and applies only the relevant rules based on the specific metadata elements being compared and the type of change detected. Rather than applying all rules uniformly, the system adapts the rule set to the particular comparison task, reducing processing time while maintaining extensibility through the ability to add new rule types as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by an electronic device includes retrieving, from a first computing environment, a first set of structured documents that contains metadata for a first version of a workflow to be performed by a workflow engine, the first version of the workflow including a first set of workflow elements. The method further including retrieving, from a second computing environment, a second set of structured documents. The method determines whether a rule is to be applied, based on one but not both of the first and second sets of structured documents including at least one section for a workflow element having a type to which the rule applies, and generating a description of a change in the second version of the workflow relative to the first version of the workflow.