Integration of distributed business process models
AssigneeSap SE
InventorWasim Sadiq
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process modeling tool provides a process designer with the ability to design a plurality of business process models that include tasks for achieving a desired result(s). The process modeling tool allows the process designer to merge the process models into a merged process model by replacing event flow coordinators within the process models with control flow coordinators that dictate a flow of the merged process model. Accordingly, the process designer is allowed to use the merged process model for monitoring of a current status of the tasks, and for re-distributing the tasks in a desired manner for execution by selected entities, while the original process models are maintained and may be executed in their original execution environment.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a design tool that is operable to display a first process model and a second process model, each including a progression of task nodes, coordinator nodes that coordinate the progression of the task nodes, and event-flow activities that transfer control between the first process model and the second process model;
- and
- a control flow assignment system that is operable to merge the first process model and the second process model to obtain a merged process model, and further operable to insert control flow coordinators within the merged process model, based on locations of the event-flow activities within the merged process model.
An apparatus comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions including:
- a first code segment for displaying a first process model and a second process model, each containing a progression of tasks together with control flow activities that control the progression of tasks within the first and second process models, and event-flow activities that coordinate transfer of control between the first process model and the second process model;
- a second code segment for merging the first process model and the second process model into a merged process model, based on the event-flow activities;
- and
- a third code segment for replacing the event-flow activities with additional control flow activities, within the merged process model.
A process modeling tool comprising:
- at least a first display window that is operable to display a first process model and a second process model, the first and second process models including a first progression of tasks and control flow coordinators and a second progression of tasks and control flow coordinators, as well as event flow coordinators that transfer control between the first process model and the second process model;
- a merging tool that is operable to merge the first and second process models into a merged process model by replacing the event flow coordinators with additional control flow coordinators;
- and
- a second display window that is operable to display the merged process model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.