Workflow Engine Traverses Execution Thread for Child Process Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems and support methods face challenges in efficiently managing and reusing child workflow processes across multiple parent workflow processes, leading to inefficiencies in defining characteristics such as field values and action behaviors during execution.
Innovation Solution
A business process management system with a workflow engine that traverses the thread of execution in reverse to locate and use data from parent workflow processes to define undefined characteristics of child workflow processes, allowing for the reuse of child workflows across multiple parent workflows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If child workflow processes are reused across multiple parent workflow processes, then productivity is improved and support burdens are reduced, but the complexity of managing undefined characteristics (field values and action behaviors) during execution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining characteristics of child workflow processes when they are created or imported, rather than requiring all characteristics to be defined at each execution instance. This allows the child workflow to be reused across multiple parent workflows without requiring complete re-definition of characteristics each time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing characteristics of child workflow processes to be dynamically defined or overridden during execution based on the specific parent workflow context. The system can determine whether to use pre-defined characteristics or define them dynamically at runtime, providing flexibility in managing workflow reuse.
2Adaptability or versatility
If characteristics of child workflow processes are defined during execution, then adaptability to different parent workflows is improved, but the time and resources required for execution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by defining only the necessary characteristics of child workflow processes during execution, rather than requiring all characteristics to be defined. The system determines which characteristics need to be defined based on the specific execution context, reducing unnecessary processing time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the system to dynamically adjust whether characteristics are defined during execution based on the execution context. The workflow engine can switch between using pre-defined characteristics and defining characteristics dynamically, optimizing the balance between adaptability and execution efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A business process management system may include a parent workflow process and a child workflow process. The parent workflow process may include a call to the child workflow process. The business process management system may also include a workflow engine that is configured to execute the parent workflow process and the child workflow process, and that is configured to determine an undefined characteristic of the child workflow process with reference to data that corresponds to the parent workflow process.