System and method for ad-hoc modification of a process during runtime

A system comprising processing circuitry that includes at least one processor, the system configured to perform ad-hoc modification of a process that is defined by a process definition, the system further comprising:

• a workflow management system (WFMS) configured to execute the process, the process including one or more process instances;
• a workflow client application programming interface (API);
• and
• an ad-hoc modification API separated from the WFMS and configured for use with a plurality of WFMS, the ad-hoc modification API configured to communicate with the WFMS according to the workflow client API, the ad-hoc modification API further configured to:
• a. extract the process definition from the running process in a workflow in the WFMS, the process definition being represented by a process graph;
• b. perform ad-hoc modification, in real-time, of (a) one or more activities and/or (b) process logic in the process definition for the running process in the workflow by (i) collecting all changes to the process graph, without modifying the process graph, during a modification session in a DeltaGraph, the DeltaGraph including the respective modifications to the process graph and representing a smallest number of changes necessary to produce a resulting graph, and (ii) applying the DeltaGraph with the modifications to the process graph to create the resulting graph representing a modified process definition;
• c. evaluate modifications of (a) the one or more activities and/or (b) the process logic in the process definition for the running process for validity;
• and
• d. redeploy the modified process definition as a new process definition by migrating the running process to the new process definition thereby allowing other instances of the running process to remain unmodified and uninterrupted, so that the process in the workflow runs with respect to the new process definition,
• wherein the WFMS further including an ad-hoc modification adapter configured to extend an API of the WFMS with, at least, ad-hoc read/write operation.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program configured to perform ad-hoc modification of a process, the computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented in an information processing apparatus having, at least, (a) a workflow management system (WFMS), (b) a workflow client application programming interface (API), and (c) an ad-hoc modification API, cause the information processing apparatus to:

• extract the process definition from the running process in a workflow in the WFMS, the process definition being represented by a process graph;
• perform ad-hoc modification, in real-time, of (a) one or more activities and/or (b) process logic in the process definition for the running process in the workflow by (i) collecting all changes to the process graph, without modifying the process graph, during a modification session in a DeltaGraph, the DeltaGraph including the respective modifications to the process graph and representing a smallest number of changes necessary to produce a resulting graph, and (ii) applying the DeltaGraph with the modifications to the process graph to create the resulting graph representing a modified process definition;
• evaluate modifications of (a) the one or more activities and/or (b) the process logic in the process definition for the running process for validity;
• and
• redeploy the modified process definition as a new process definition by migrating the running process to the new process definition thereby allowing other instances of the running process to remain unmodified and uninterrupted, so that the process in the workflow runs with respect to the new process definition,
• wherein the WFMS further including an ad-hoc modification adapter configured to extend an API of the WFMS with, at least, ad-hoc read/write operation.