Visual workflow model

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019392617-A1
Application number	US-201916515799-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2019
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Workflows can be refactored using a visual workflow model, such as within a virtual programming environment. A selection of a group of activities in an existing workflow can be received. The group of activities can be duplicated into a new workflow. Thereafter, the group of activities can be parsed to identify at least one input variable used by the activities of the group and at least one output variable resulting from those activities. The input variables and output variables are then duplicated as inputs and outputs to the new workflow. The previously selected group of activities can be replaced in the existing workflow with an activity based on the new workflow. The input variables and output variables are then mapped to the respective inputs and outputs of that activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system configured to provide a user interface of a visual workflow, the system comprising:
a processor; a display operably coupled to the processor; and a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
cause a first plurality of cells to be rendered on the display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the first plurality of cells comprising a respective workflow activity, the first plurality of cells being coupled to one another to define a first workflow; and
cause a second plurality of cells to be rendered on the display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the second plurality of cells comprising a respective workflow activity, the second plurality of cells being coupled to one another to define a second workflow related to the first workflow, wherein the first plurality of cells is not coupled to the second plurality of cells.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a first cell of the first plurality of cells comprises at least one of the following:
a begin block having no input and a single output, wherein a second cell of the first plurality of cells comprises a selectable block having a begin input, a begin output and an indicia that permits a user to select parameters associated with the workflow activity of the second cell, and wherein a third cell of the first plurality of cells comprises a conditional block having a conditional input, a first output associated with a true condition and a second output associated with a false condition; an iterator block having a start input and a continue input, wherein a first iteration enters the start input and wherein subsequent iterations enter the continue input; an event triggering block having a triggering input and no output, the event triggering block being configured to cause the second workflow to begin; or a listening block having no input and a single output, the listening block being configured to begin the second workflow in response to the triggering input being received by the event triggering block, wherein a second cell of the second plurality of cells comprises a script block having a script input and a script output, wherein the script block runs a script, and wherein a third cell of the second plurality of cells comprises a conditional block having a conditional input, a first output associated with a true condition, and a second output associated with a false condition.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of cells comprising the respective workflow activity comprises a visual indication corresponding to the respective workflow activity, such that the first workflow is interpretable by an operator of the display.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective workflow activity comprises an operation that is dependent upon the processor receiving a remote input from a client device disposed separate from the display.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective workflow activity comprises pausing execution of the first or second workflow until a specific time and date, pausing execution of the first or second workflow for a specified duration, creating one or more individual approval records, creating a group approval record, canceling outstanding approvals for a record, creating a database record, adding a task record, sending an email, logging workflow activity, or adding an event to a queue, or any combination thereof.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first workflow is configured to organize information transmitted between client devices of an enterprise by storing variables within one or more cells of the first plurality of cells, and wherein the variables stored within the one or more cells correspond to the information transmitted by at least one of the client devices of the enterprise.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of cells is not depicted as coupled to the second plurality of cells.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the generally horizontal manner is configured as a horizontal lane.

9 . A method of providing a user interface of a visual workflow on an electronic display, the method comprising:
displaying a first plurality of cells on the display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the first plurality of cells comprising a respective workflow activity, the first plurality of cells being coupled to one another to define a first workflow; displaying a second plurality of cells on the display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the second plurality of cells comprising a respective workflow activity, the second plurality of cells being coupled to one another to define a second workflow, wherein the first plurality of cells is not coupled to the second plurality of cells by any lines; receiving a selection of a subset of the first plurality of cells in the first workflow, wherein the subset of the first plurality of cells comprises fewer cells than the first plurality of cells; duplicating the selected subset of the first plurality of cells into a new workflow; replacing the selected subset of the first plurality of cells with a single new cell; and mapping one or more input variables and one or more output variables from the selected subset of the first plurality of cells to one or more inputs and one or more outputs of the single new cell.

10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising copying values of the selected subset of the first plurality of cells into the new workflow.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mapping of the one or more input variables and one or more output variables from the selected subset of the first plurality of cells comprises setting the one or more inputs of the single new cell to reference a same data source of the first plurality of cells.

12 . The method of claim 9 , comprising displaying a third plurality of cells on the display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the third plurality of cells comprising a respective workflow activity, the third plurality of cells being coupled to one another to define a third workflow.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the respective workflow activity comprises pausing execution of the first or second workflow until a specific time and date, pausing execution of the first or second workflow for a specified duration, creating one or more individual approval records, creating a group approval record, cancelling outstanding approvals for a record, creating a database record, adding a task record, sending an email, logging workflow activity, or adding an event to a queue, or any combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:
in response to receiving an indication that a first activity has changed state, render a third workflow; and simultaneously replace the first workflow with the third workflow on the display after the third workflow is rendered, wherein the third workflow is configured to indicate that the first activity originally represented via the first workflow has progressed at least one step.

15 . A system configured to provide a user interface of a visual workflow, the system comprising:
a processor; and a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
cause a first plurality of cells to be rendered on a display in a generally horizontal manner, each of the first plurality of cells comprising a respective of a plurality of workflow activities, the first plurality of cells being coupled to one another by solid lines to define

Assignees

• Servicenow Inc

Inventors

• Laetham Jared
• Thompson Frances Denise
• Nelson Harry Thomas
• Sarbora Russell Samuel
• Greer Benjamin Nicklaus

Classifications

• G06T11/26

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G06F9/451 Primary

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• G06T2200/24

  involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] · CPC title

• G06T11/60

  Creating or editing images; Combining images with text · CPC title

• G06Q10/0633

  Workflow analysis · CPC title