System and Method for Processing Information Via Networked Computers Including Request Handlers, Process Handlers, and Task Handlers

A method for processing information, the method comprising:

• receiving a service request for a processing job, the processing job having an associated process flow, the process flow including (1) a plurality of processing tasks and (2) logic configured to define a relationship between the processing tasks of the process flow;
• and
• executing the processing job in a distributed manner by a plurality of networked computers and in accordance with the received service request, the plurality of networked computers comprising a request handler, a plurality of process handlers, and a plurality of task handlers, the process handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, the task handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, wherein the executing step comprises:
• the request handler storing state information for the processing job;
• the request handler communicating data for the processing job to a process handler;
• the process handler to which the data for the processing job was communicated (1) analyzing the state information for the processing job to determine whether any processing task in the process flow remains to be performed based on the logic for the process flow, (2) in response to the state information analysis indicating that a processing task remains for the process flow, identifying a processing task to be performed, and (3) in response to the state information analysis indicating that no processing task remains for the process flow, determining that the processing job has been completed;
• the task handlers performing the identified processing tasks to generate a plurality of task results;
• and
• updating the stored state information based on the task results.

A method for processing information, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of service requests for a plurality of processing jobs, the processing jobs having a plurality of associated process flows, the process flows including (1) a plurality of processing tasks and (2) logic configured to define a relationship between the processing tasks of the same process flow;
• and
• executing the processing jobs in a distributed manner by a plurality of networked computers and in accordance with the received service requests, the plurality of networked computers comprising a request handler, a plurality of process handlers, and a plurality of task handlers, the process handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, the task handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, wherein the executing step comprises:
• the request handler storing state information for the processing jobs;
• the request handler communicating data relating to the processing jobs to a plurality of the process handlers;
• the process handlers to which the data relating to the processing jobs were communicated (1) analyzing the state information for the processing jobs to determine whether any processing tasks in the process flows remain to be performed based on the logic for the process flows, (2) in response to the state information analysis indicating that a processing task remains for the process flow of a processing job, identifying a processing task to be performed for the process flow having the remaining processing task, and (3) in response to the state information analysis indicating that no processing tasks remain for the process flow of a processing job, determining that the processing job corresponding to the process flow with no remaining processing tasks has been completed;
• the task handlers performing the identified processing tasks to generate a plurality of task results;
• and
• updating the stored state information based on the task results.

A system for processing information, the system comprising:

• a plurality of networked computers for processing a plurality of processing jobs in a distributed manner, the plurality of networked computers comprising a request handler, a plurality of process handlers, and a plurality of task handlers, the process handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, the task handlers being resident on a plurality of different networked computers, the processing jobs having a plurality of associated process flows, the process flows including (1) a plurality of processing tasks and (2) logic configured to define a relationship between the processing tasks of the same process flow;
• wherein the request handler is configured to (1) receive a plurality of service requests for the processing jobs, and (2) store state information for the processing jobs;
• wherein the process handlers are configured to volunteer for servicing the processing jobs based on their availabilities;
• wherein the request handler is further configured to communicate data relating to the processing jobs to a plurality of the process handlers that volunteered;
• wherein the process handlers to which the data relating to the processing jobs were communicated are configured to (1) analyze the state information for the processing jobs to determine whether any processing tasks in the process flows remain to be performed based on the logic for the process flows, (2) in response to the state information analysis indicating that a processing task remains for the process flow of a processing job, identify a processing task to be performed for the process flow having the remaining processing task, and (3) in response to the state information analysis indicating that no processing tasks remain for the process flow of a processing job, determine that the processing job corresponding to the process flow with no remaining processing tasks has been completed;
• wherein the task handlers are configured to volunteer for performing tasks based on their availabilities;
• wherein a plurality of the task handlers that volunteered are configured to perform the identified processing tasks to generate a plurality of task results;
• and
• wherein the request handler is further configured to store updated state information for the processing jobs, the updated stored state information being based on the task results.