Workflow Error Handling via Targeted Query Graphing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying and addressing unsuccessful workflow activities and their associated paths in large-scale workflow executions is challenging due to high computational complexity and resource consumption in existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a server device with a processor and memory to generate queries for a workflow results table, identifying records with unsuccessful status and no child records, and generate a graph of workflow activity records to determine automated remedial actions based on context information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing methods are used to identify unsuccessful workflow activities in large-scale workflow executions, then comprehensive error detection is achieved, but computational complexity and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the workflow execution data into hierarchical components (workflow executions, workflow activities, activity instances) and uses targeted queries on specific segments (unsuccessful activities with no children) rather than processing the entire dataset. This segmentation reduces computational complexity from O(n) to O(1) by focusing only on relevant error records.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates only the critical error information (unsuccessful workflow activities with no child activities) from the complete workflow results table using targeted SQL queries. By extracting only the necessary error records and excluding successful activities and intermediate nodes, the system achieves comprehensive error detection with minimal computational overhead.
2Reliability
If comprehensive workflow path analysis is performed to identify all unsuccessful activities, then complete error identification is achieved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential error indicators (unsuccessful status and no-child condition) from the workflow results table using efficient SQL queries. This extraction approach identifies all erroneous activities without the need to process or analyze successful activities, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining complete error identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified representation of workflow errors by generating a graph that copies only the relevant error information and relationships from the complete workflow results. This copied error graph contains only unsuccessful activities and their paths to root activities, eliminating the need to process the full workflow data and significantly reducing computational resources required for analysis.
3Productivity
If automated remedial actions are implemented based on workflow analysis, then error handling efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated remedial actions that enable the workflow system to self-diagnose and self-correct errors without human intervention. The system automatically identifies unsuccessful activities, analyzes their workflow paths, determines appropriate remedial actions based on pre-defined rules, and executes corrections. This self-service capability improves error handling efficiency while the automation of the analysis process manages the complexity burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where workflow execution results are continuously monitored, unsuccessful activities are automatically detected and analyzed, remedial actions are determined and executed, and the results are fed back into the workflow system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automated error handling that improves productivity while managing system complexity through systematic feedback processing rather than ad-hoc interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can include a processor configured to generate a query for a workflow results table, the query including query criteria to include records not having an associated child in the workflow results table and having a value indicating an unsuccessful status. The processor can be further configured to execute the query against the workflow results table to identify at least one activity record having a value indicating an unsuccessful status for the execution of at least one respective workflow activity. The processor can be further configured to generate a graph of workflow activity records between the at least one activity record and a root workflow activity record using context information associated with the workflow activity records. The processor can be further configured to determine an automated remedial action based on the graph of workflow activity records and to execute the remedial action.