Back to results
US 2021/0279656 A1Published application
Workflow management via block chains
AssigneeIntuit Inc.
InventorGlenn C. SCOTT
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for managing workflows using block chains. An entire workflow may be stored as a finite state machine on a block chain. Each data block of the block chain may correspond to a state and related operation of a workflow. Each data block of the block chain may be used as an input to a subsequent state of the workflow. Thus, any input may be used to compute the workflow even if the input is not designed to be used by a workflow. Nested block chains, each corresponding to a different workflow or different part of a workflow may be used to increase performance of computing the workflows.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for managing workflows comprising:
- obtaining, by a processor, a workflow specification, the workflow specification comprising one or more states and one or more operations, each operation of the one or more operations corresponding to at least one of the one or more states, wherein a given output for each given state of the one or more states depends on the given state and a given input;
- generating, by the processor, a block chain for the workflow specification, wherein the block chain comprises an electronic data structure in which blocks are cryptographically linked;
- and
- for a respective state of the one or more states in the workflow specification:
- identifying, by the processor, an operation of the one or more operations corresponding to the respective state of the workflow;
- receiving, by the processor, an attestation that a separate workflow corresponding to a separate block chain was completed successfully;
- providing, by the processor, as an input to the operation, the attestation that the separate workflow corresponding to the separate block chain was completed successfully;
- determining, by the processor, an output for the respective state, wherein the output comprises an attestation that the operation was completed successfully;
- appending, by the processor, a respective data block to the block chain, the respective data block including a reference to the separate block chain, wherein the respective data block comprises the output for the respective state;
- and
- transitioning, by the processor, from the respective state to a next state of the one or more states in the workflow specification.
8 more elements
A system for managing workflows, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
- obtain a workflow specification, the workflow specification comprising one or more states and one or more operations, each operation of the one or more operations corresponding to at least one of the one or more states, wherein a given output for each given state of the one or more states depends on the given state and a given input;
- generate a block chain for the workflow specification comprising at least a first data block, wherein the block chain comprises an electronic data structure in which blocks are cryptographically linked;
- store the workflow specification in the first data block;
- and
- for a respective state of the one or more states in the workflow specification:
- identify an operation of the one or more operations corresponding to the respective state of the workflow;
- receive an attestation that a separate workflow corresponding to a separate block chain was completed successfully;
- provide as an input to the operation, the attestation that the separate workflow corresponding to the separate block chain was completed successfully;
- determine an output for the respective state, wherein the output comprises an attestation that the operation was completed successfully;
- append a respective data block to the block chain, the respective data block including a reference to the separate block chain, wherein the respective data block comprises the output for the respective state;
- and
- transition from the respective state to a next state of the one or more states in the workflow specification.
12 more elements
The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the respective data block appended to the block chain includes a reference to a universally unique identifier (UUID) of the separate block chain.
A computer-implemented method for managing workflows comprising:
- obtaining, by a processor, a workflow specification, the workflow specification comprising one or more states and one or more operations, each operation of the one or more operations corresponding to at least one of the one or more states, wherein a given output for each given state of the one or more states depends on the given state and a given input;
- generating, by the processor, a block chain for the workflow specification comprising at least a first data block, wherein the block chain comprises an electronic data structure in which blocks are cryptographically linked;
- storing, by the processor, the workflow specification in the first data block;
- and
- for a respective state of the one or more states in the workflow specification:
- identifying, by the processor, an operation of the one or more operations corresponding to the respective state of the workflow;
- receiving, by the processor, an attestation that a separate workflow corresponding to a separate block chain was completed successfully;
- providing, by the processor, as an input to the operation, the attestation that the separate workflow corresponding to the separate block chain was completed successfully;
- determining, by the processor, an output for the respective state, wherein the output comprises an attestation that the operation was completed successfully;
- appending, by the processor, a respective data block to the block chain, the respective data block including a reference to the separate block chain, wherein the respective data block comprises the output for the respective state;
- and
- transitioning, by the processor, from the respective state to a next state of the one or more states in the workflow specification.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.