Workflow Compiler Module for Multi-Language Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workflow management applications lack the ability to efficiently compile and execute workflows defined in multiple flow languages, limiting their adaptability to new or undefined steps and requiring extensive modifications to support additional languages or operations.
Innovation Solution
A workflow management system that compiles workflows into execution plans using a compiler module, which analyzes steps and identifies execution units from a library, allowing for execution by any configured system without the need for additional compilers, and supports multiple flow languages by creating compilers for new languages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a workflow management application uses a graphical user interface to enable users with limited programming skills to define workflows, then ease of operation is improved, but the system cannot efficiently compile and execute workflows defined in multiple flow languages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a compiler module as an intermediary between the graphical workflow definition and the execution engine. This compiler translates workflows defined in various flow languages (XPDL, BPEL4WS, AFL, YAWL, BPMN) into a unified internal representation that the execution engine can process. This mediator layer enables the system to support multiple flow languages without requiring the execution engine to understand each language directly, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a graphical user interface for workflow definition, a compiler module for language translation, and an execution engine for workflow execution. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its specific function, with the compiler handling the complexity of multiple flow languages while the execution engine focuses on efficient workflow execution, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the workflow management application requires extensive modifications to support additional languages or operations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compiler module is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple flow languages through a common translation framework. Instead of requiring separate execution engines for each language, the universal compiler translates all supported languages (XPDL, BPEL4WS, AFL, YAWL, BPMN) into a unified internal representation. This multi-functional approach enables support for additional languages without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the same compiler infrastructure handles all language translations.
3Productivity
If the system compiles workflows into execution plans using a compiler module that analyzes steps and identifies execution units, then productivity is improved, but the system requires extensive resources for compilation and execution
Solution Approach 1:
The compiler module performs preliminary action by translating and compiling workflows into optimized execution plans before they are executed. This pre-compilation process analyzes the workflow definition, identifies execution units, and generates an optimized execution plan that can be efficiently run by the execution engine. By performing this analysis and optimization in advance, the system improves workflow execution productivity while the computational resources are concentrated in the one-time compilation phase rather than during repeated executions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes compiling a workflow that is defined in a high-level flow language to generate a plurality of execution units that are executable so as to execute the workflow.