Workflow Error Remediation via Design-Time Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Workflow automation tools have limited ability to validate user inputs, leading to incorrect parameters that cause workflow failures and difficulties in understanding error codes, resulting in inefficient troubleshooting and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that validates user-provided inputs during design time, automatically corrects invalid parameters, and provides remediation instructions for runtime failures, using a combination of service interfaces, machine learning, and historical analysis to identify and fix issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If runtime validation calls are used to validate user inputs, then workflow execution reliability is improved, but processing resources at runtime increase and design time user errors persist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow execution reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing resources at runtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs validation actions before workflow execution by analyzing design time inputs against service interfaces and historical data. This preliminary validation identifies incorrect parameters before runtime, eliminating the need for resource-intensive runtime validation calls while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If runtime validation is used to ensure correct inputs, then workflow reliability improves, but design time user errors caused by incorrect input parameters increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow execution reliabilityVSAvoiddesign time user input accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to users during design time by analyzing their inputs against service interfaces and historical successful workflows. This feedback mechanism guides users toward correct parameter selections before execution, improving both ease of operation and reliability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Validation and correction actions are performed during design time rather than at runtime. The system analyzes inputs against service interfaces and historical data to identify and correct incorrect parameters before workflow execution, ensuring user input accuracy without requiring runtime resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If raw error messages are generated by workflow platform, then error information completeness is improved, but developer understanding of errors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror information completenessVSAvoiddeveloper understanding of errors

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between the workflow execution engine and the developer. This intermediary translates raw, technical error messages into human-readable explanations by analyzing failure information against service interfaces and historical data, maintaining completeness while improving understandability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to developers in the form of translated error explanations and remediation instructions. This feedback mechanism maintains complete error information while presenting it in an understandable format, guiding developers through troubleshooting steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If trial and error methods are used to fix workflows, then developer flexibility is improved, but time to resolve errors increases and system resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeveloper flexibility in fixing errorsVSAvoidtime to resolve errors

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback in the form of translated error messages and automated remediation instructions that guide developers through the correct fixing process. This directed feedback reduces the time needed to resolve errors while maintaining developer flexibility by presenting multiple potential solutions based on the error context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of failure information against service interfaces and historical successful workflows to determine the most likely causes and solutions before the developer needs to act. This preliminary action reduces troubleshooting time while preserving developer flexibility through targeted guidance rather than rigid constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10846204B2Remediation of design time and runtime workflow errors

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for remedying design time and runtime workflow errors. During design time of a workflow, an input parameter provided via the user interface may be validated to determine if the parameter is invalid. Based on the determination, a replacement parameter may be obtained and provided to the user interface control of the workflow user interface to replace the invalid workflow parameter during development of the workflow. During runtime of a workflow, a workflow engine may generate failure information where workflow logic fails to execute successfully. The failure information generated in response to a runtime failure is received by a remediation system and may be analyzed to identify a probable cause of the runtime failure. Remediation instructions to remediate the runtime failure may be determined and transmitted to a contact address associated with the workflow, enabling the workflow to be repaired.