Method and apparatus for generating and packaging integration workflow activities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696971-B1
Application number	US-201414562835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2014
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A tool that outputs workflows for target computing devices receives user input selecting one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), a plurality of workflow activities, each of which define actions that are to be performed by the target computing device, and an application framework. Based on these selections, the tool compiles the workflow activities for execution on the target computing device based on the first application framework selected by the user, and generates a workflow activity package to comprise the compiled plurality of workflow activities. If the selected application framework is not compatible with the execution environment at the target device, the tool allows the user to select a different application framework to replace the initially selected application framework, and to re-compile the workflow activities based on the newly selected application framework.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
selecting, responsive to receiving user input at a Graphical User Interface (GUI):
an Application Programming Interface (API);
a first application framework for building a plurality of workflow activities into a workflow activity package, wherein the first application framework comprises a reusable set of software components and is selected by the user from a plurality of application frameworks; and
the plurality of workflow activities that are compliant with the API, and wherein each workflow activity comprises code defining one or more actions to be performed by a target computing device;
compiling the plurality of workflow activities for execution on the target computing device based on the first application framework selected by the user; and
generating the workflow activity package to comprise the compiled plurality of workflow activities.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of workflow activities comprises first and second workflow activities, and wherein the method further comprises, prior to compiling the plurality of workflow activities for execution on the target computing device, binding a value output by the first workflow activity to an output parameter that is accessible to the second workflow activity.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising parsing data associated with the first workflow activity to identify the value output by the first workflow activity.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein parsing data associated with the first workflow activity to identify the value output by the first workflow activity comprises:
executing the first workflow activity in a test environment; and
identifying the value from a result of the execution of the first workflow activity in the test environment.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
selecting a second application framework based on input received from the user, wherein the second application framework is selected from the plurality of application frameworks by the user and comprises a different reusable set of software components for building the workflow activity package;
replacing the first application framework with the second application framework; and
compiling the plurality of workflow activities for execution on the target computing device based on the second application framework.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein selecting an Application Programming Interface (API) comprises selecting first and second different APIs responsive to receiving the user input at the GUI.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein selecting, responsive to the user input, a plurality of workflow activities that are compliant with the API comprises:
selecting a first workflow activity that is compliant with the first API; and
selecting a second workflow activity that is compliant with the second API.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein selecting, responsive to the user input, a plurality of workflow activities that are compliant with the API comprises:
selecting a first workflow activity from the plurality of workflow activities;
generating a new workflow activity from the first workflow activity; and
modifying the new workflow activity based on input received from the user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein generating the workflow activity package to comprise the compiled plurality of workflow activities comprises generating the workflow activity package to further comprise the modified new workflow activity.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising removing a selected workflow activity from the workflow activity package.

11. A computing device comprising:
a display configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for a tool to a user, wherein the tool is configured to generate a workflow activity package for execution on a target computing device based on user input received by the GUI; and
a processing circuit configured to, responsive to receiving user input at GUI:
select an Application Programming Interface (API);
select a first application framework for building a plurality of workflow activities into the workflow activity package, wherein the first application framework comprises a reusable set of software components and is selected by the user from a plurality of application frameworks; and
select the plurality of workflow activities, wherein each workflow activity comprises one or more actions to be performed by the target computing device and is compliant with the API;
compile the workflow activities for execution on the target computing device based on the first application framework selected by the user; and
generate the workflow activity package to comprise the compiled plurality of workflow activities.

12. The computing device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of workflow activities comprises a first workflow activity and a second workflow activity, and wherein, prior to compiling the plurality of workflow activities for execution on the target computing device, the processing circuit is further configured to bind a value output by the first workflow activity to an output parameter that is accessible to the second workflow activity.

13. The computing device of claim 12 wherein to bind a value output by the first workflow activity to an output parameter that is accessible to the second workflow activity, the processing circuit is configured to:
execute the first workflow activity in a test environment;
parse the output of the first workflow activity to identify a value that is output by the first workflow activity executed in the test environment; and
bind the value output by the first workflow activity to the output parameter.

14. The computing device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
select a second application framework based on input received from the user, wherein the second application framework is selected from the plurality of application frameworks by the user and comprises a different reusable set of software components for building the workflow activity package;
replace the first application framework with the second application framework; and
compile the workflow activities for execution on the target computing device based on the second application framework.

15. The computing device of claim 11 wherein to wherein to select an Application Programming Interface (API), the processor circuit is configured to select first and second different APIs responsive to receiving the user input at the GUI.

16. The computing device of claim 15 wherein to select a plurality of workflow activities that are compliant with the API, the processing circuit is configured to:
select a first workflow activity that is compliant with the first API; and
select a second workflow activity that is compliant with the second API.

17. The computing device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to alter contents of the workflow activity package to be executed on the target computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 17 wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
select a first workflow activity from the plurality of workflow activities based on user input received t the GUI;
generate a new workflow activity from the first workflow activity;
modify the new workflow activity based on input received from the user; and
generat

Assignees

• Ca Inc

Inventors

• Wierda Kaj
• Sigler Mark

Classifications

• G06F8/41

  Compilation · CPC title

• G06F8/36 Primary

  Software reuse · CPC title