Integrated workflow visualization and editing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9395959-B2
Application number	US-201113316108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2011
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

Integrated workflow visualization and editing is provided using a visual graphic diagramming tool and a web application platform tool to create a workflow. A visual representation of a workflow is created using the visual graphic diagramming tool. A declarative markup language file representing the workflow is provided to a web application platform tool for further modification of the workflow. The workflow is opened in the web application platform tool and desired parameters in the workflow are set. Visualization data from the graphic diagramming tool and the set parameters are bundled in a single declarative markup language file formatted for reading by both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool to allow manipulations and parameterization of the workflow in both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing integrated workflow visualization and editing, comprising:
opening a workflow template in a visual graphic diagramming tool to provide shapes and intelligence used to build a visual representation of a workflow;
creating at least one stage container in the visual graphic diagramming tool, the at least one stage container containing at least one action step, and wherein the at least one stage container is encoded in a declarative markup language file formatted for reading in the visual graphic diagramming tool and a web application platform tool, and wherein the declarative markup language is embedded into at least one of: a state decision shape, an action shape, a condition shape, a terminator shape, and a connector;
setting parameters in the declarative markup language file and switching between the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool whereby manipulations and parameterization of the workflow can be performed in both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool;
exporting the workflow to a web application platform from the visual graphic diagramming tool;
validating the workflow for diagram correctness including:
ensuring all action shapes and condition shapes are inside a stage except for state decision shapes, terminator shapes, and connectors;
ensuring all action steps are inside stages;
ensuring stage shapes are not overlapping in the diagram; and
modifying the declarative markup language file for the workflow in the web application platform tool and creating an executable workflow.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising publishing the workflow on a server using the web application platform tool and validating that the workflow is executable.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the using the visual graphic diagramming tool to create a workflow further comprises dragging and dropping elements for creating the workflow.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein opening the workflow template to provide shapes and intelligence used to build the workflow comprises creating at least one container representing at least one stage of the workflow, generating, in the at least one stage, at least one step to be performed and providing an action tag for providing a drop down list to configure desired parameters to implement an actual working workflow and wherein the opening the workflow in the visual view of the web application platform tool comprises providing drop down boxes for setting the parameters for each action.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating at least one container comprises providing the container within the visual graphic diagramming tool and at a lower level within the web application platform tool.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the publishing the workflow using the web application platform tool comprises creating a declarative markup language file by traversing the workflow to collect all declarative markup language data for the workflow.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validating that the workflow is executable comprises verifying valid arrangement of shapes using predetermined rules and accessing the at least one shape to correct misplacements or connections between the at least one shape.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein validating the workflow for diagram correctness further comprises processing a request to validate the workflow.

9. A system for providing integrated workflow visualization and editing, comprising:
a visual graphic diagramming tool for creating a visual representation of a workflow, wherein: a workflow template is opened in the visual graphic diagramming tool to provide shapes and intelligence used to build a visual representation of the workflow, at least one container representing at least one stage of the workflow is created, and the at least one stage is used to produce the workflow; and
a web application platform tool, operatively coupled to the visual graphic diagramming tool, to modify the workflow created with the visual graphic diagramming tool, wherein the web application platform tool receives the workflow as a declarative markup language file from the visual graphic diagramming tool for further modification of the workflow, and wherein the web application platform tool opens the workflow and sets desired parameters to create an executable workflow, and wherein declarative markup language is embedded into at least one of: a state decision shape, an action shape, a condition shape, a terminator shape, and a connector;
wherein visualization data from the graphic diagramming tool and the set parameters are bundled in a single declarative markup language file formatted for reading by both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool for switching between the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool whereby manipulations and parameterization of the workflow can be performed in both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool; and
wherein manipulations and parameterization of the workflow are validated for diagram correctness, including:
ensuring all action shapes and condition shapes are inside a stage except for state decision shapes, terminators, and connectors;
ensuring all action steps are inside stages; and
ensuring stage shapes are not overlapping in the diagram.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the web application platform tool publishes workflow on a server and validates that the workflow is executable.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool pass the workflow file therebetween to transition between a visual view of the visual graphic diagramming tool and a visual view in the web application platform tool based on the use of the declarative markup language file for representing the workflow.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the visual graphic diagramming tool creates a workflow by providing for the dragging and dropping of elements to a visual workspace for creating the workflow.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one container representing at least one stage of the workflow is provided and in the at least one stage, at least one step to be performed is added, and wherein the web application platform tool provides an action tag for providing a drop down list to configure desired parameters to implement the workflow.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the web application platform tool traverses the workflow to collect all declarative markup language data for the workflow.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the visual graphic diagramming tool validates that the workflow is executable by verifying valid arrangement of shapes using predetermined rules and enabling the at least one shape to be accessed to correct misplacements or connections between the at least one shape.

16. A computer-readable storage medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides integrated workflow visualization and editing, by:
opening a workflow template in a visual graphic diagramming tool to provide shapes and intelligence used to build a visual representation of a workflow;
creating at least one stage container in the visual graphic diagramming tool, the at least one stage container containing at least one action step, and wherein the at least one stage container is encoded in a declarative markup language file formatted for reading in the visual graphic diagramming tool and a web application platform tool, and wherein declarati

Assignees

• Hatfield L Tucker
• Kennedy William Charles
• Wadsworth David Charles
• Chung Samuel
• Morrill Jason Frank
• Cho Soo Youn
• Son Seung Wook
• Kim Hoe Jin
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Hatfield L Tucker
• Kennedy William Charles
• Wadsworth David Charles
• Chung Samuel
• Morrill Jason Frank
• Cho Soo Youn
• Son Seung Wook
• Kim Hoe Jin

Classifications

• G06F8/34 Primary

  Graphical or visual programming · CPC title

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title