Mapping data-flows in a workflow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9740538-B1
Application number	US-201314011389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2013
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A method includes determining a service task output definition corresponding to a first property within a first scope of a first service task in a compiled code file, and determining a service task input definition corresponding to a second property within a second scope of a second service task in the compiled code file. The method also includes formatting for display the service task output definition, the service task input definition, and a workflow variable. The method further includes determining a data-flow definition for a workflow process, which includes receiving a first workflow mapping between the service task output definition and the service task input definition, and receiving a second workflow mapping between an output of the second service task and the workflow variable. The method additionally includes determining a value of the workflow variable after execution of the first service task and the second service task.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling data-flow in a workflow process, the method comprising:
determining a first input variable and a first output variable associated with a first service task from a first service task definition in a compiled code file;
determining a second input variable and a second output variable associated with a second service task from a second service task definition in the compiled code file;
defining a workflow variable, wherein the workflow variable is mapped to an input variable or an output variable of a given service task;
formatting for display, via a graphical user interface, at least:
the first service task definition;
the second service task definition;
the workflow variable; and
a data-flow definition;

determining the data-flow definition of the workflow process, wherein determining the data-flow definition comprises:
receiving a first workflow mapping between the first output variable of the first service task and the second input variable of the second service task;
receiving a second workflow mapping between the second output variable of the second service task and the workflow variable; and
receiving a third workflow mapping between a default value and the first input variable of the first service task;

executing the workflow process according to the data-flow definition; and
modifying the second service task definition during the execution of the workflow process to map an output variable of another service task to the second input variable of the second service task, wherein the modifying the second service task definition occurs during execution of the another service task and the second service task, and wherein execution of the first service task comprises:
receiving an override value;
replacing the default value with the override value; and
executing the first service task using the replaced default value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a value of the first service task definition after execution of the first service task;
determining a value of the second service task definition before execution of the second service task; and

determining a value of the workflow variable after execution of the second service task.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the data-flow definition further comprises receiving a fourth workflow mapping between an initialization value and an input of the first service task, wherein execution of the workflow process comprises execution of a first code task using the mapped initialization value.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the data-flow definition further comprises receiving a fifth workflow mapping between the workflow variable and an input of a third service task, wherein the fifth workflow mapping is received during execution of the workflow process.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the data-flow definition of the workflow process in a repository.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first workflow mapping and the second workflow mapping are received from a drag and drop interface.

7. A computer configured to access a storage device for controlling data-flow in a workflow process, the computer comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer to perform:
determining a first input variable and a first output variable associated with a first service task from a first service task definition in a compiled code file;
determining a second input variable and a second output variable associated with a second service task from a second service task definition in the compiled code file;
defining a workflow variable, wherein the workflow variable is mapped to an input variable or an output variable of a given service task;
formatting for display, via a graphical user interface, at least:
the first service task definition;
the second service task definition;
the workflow variable; and
a data-flow definition;

determining the data-flow definition of the workflow process, wherein determining the data-flow definition comprises:
receiving a first workflow mapping between the first output variable of the first service task and the second input variable of the second service task;
receiving a second workflow mapping between the second output variable of the second service task and the workflow variable; and
receiving a third workflow mapping between a default value and the first input variable of the first service task;

executing the workflow process according to the data-flow definition; and
modifying the second service task definition during the execution of the workflow process to map an output variable of another service task to the second input variable of the second service task, wherein the modifying the second service task definition occurs during execution of the another service task and the second service task, and wherein execution of the first service task comprises:
receiving an override value;
replacing the default value with the override value; and
executing the first service task using the replaced default value.

8. The computer of claim 7 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the computer to perform:
determining a value of the first service task definition after execution of the first service task;
determining a value of the second service task definition before execution of the second service task; and

determining a value of the workflow variable after execution of the second service task.

9. The computer of claim 7 , wherein determining the dataflow definition further comprises receiving a fourth workflow mapping between an initialization value and an input of the first service task, wherein execution of the workflow process comprises execution of a first code task using the mapped initialization value.

10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein determining the dataflow definition further comprises receiving a fifth workflow mapping between the workflow variable and an input of a third service task, wherein the fifth workflow mapping is received during execution of the workflow process.

11. The computer of claim 7 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the computer to perform storing the data-flow definition of the workflow process in a repository.

12. The computer of claim 7 , wherein the first workflow mapping and the second workflow mapping are received from a drag and drop interface.

13. A computer program product for controlling data-flow in a workflow process, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code comprising:
computer-readable program code configured to determine a first input variable and a first output variable associated with a first service task from a first service task definition in a compiled code file;
computer-readable program code configured to determine a second input variable and a second output variable associated with a second service task from a second service task definition in the compiled code file;
computer-readable program code configured to define a workflow variable, wherein the workflow variable is mapped to an input variable or an output variable of a given service task;
computer-readable program code configured to format for display, via a graphical user interface, at least:
the first service task definition;
the second service task definition;
the workflow variable; and
a data-flow definition;

computer

Assignees

• Cohen Michael J
• Mcallister William J
• Ca Inc

Inventors

• Cohen Michael J
• Mcallister William J

Classifications

• G06F8/30

  Creation or generation of source code · CPC title

• G06F9/54 Primary

  Interprogram communication · CPC title

• G06Q10/103 Primary

  Workflow collaboration or project management · CPC title