US 5,826,239 AGranted

Distributed workflow resource management system and method

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorsWeimin Du, Graham Eddy, Ming-Chien Shan

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Abstract

A system and method for distributed resource management in a computer network operating under control of workflow management software system (WFMS) to manage plural resources to perform a workflow process that includes multiple process activities, uses two-step resource assignment to manage resources at two levels. The resources are grouped by capabilities into resource groups controlled by a local resource manager (LRM), which maintains dynamic status of each resource, such as availability and load, as well as their roles and addresses. A global resource manager (GRM) stores resource data only about the groups: capabilities and status. The WFMS invokes the GRM, requesting a specified resource activity. The GRM checks the stored capabilities and status among the resource groups, selects the resource group capable of the specified activity and available, and forwards the request to the LRM for the selected group. The LRM selects one of the resources in the group to perform the specified activity and assigns the activity to that resource.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for distributed resource management in a computer network including multiple computers operating under control of a workflow management software system (WFMS) to manage a plurality of resources to carry out a workflow process that includes multiple process activities, the computers comprising a processor, memory and input/output facilities, the method comprising:

grouping the resources according to a shared set of capabilities into resource groups including at least one resource;
storing in a first of said computers a global resource manager (GRM) and data defining a resource capability of one or more of said groups and a resource status for each group;
storing in a second of said computers a local resource manager (LRM) for at least one of the groups and data defining a capability and status of each resource in each group coupled to the second computer;
operating the WFMS to invoke the global resource manager with a request for a specified activity by one of the resources in the system;
and
the GRM responding to the request by checking the stored capabilities and status the resource groups, selecting one of the resource groups having the capability to perform the specified activity and a status that enables the group to do so, and forwarding the request to the LRM of the second computer for the selected resource group.

3 more elements

A process flow management system with distributed resource management, comprising:

computer network including a plurality of computers having a processor, memory and input/output facilities;
a workflow process management software system (WFMS) operating on one or more of the computers to control of the network for managing a workflow process comprising a logical sequence of multiple process activities;
a plurality of resources coupled to respective ones of the computers to carry out various process activities, the resources being assigned to distinct groups, each including at least one resource, according to a common set of capabilities;
in a first of said computers, a global resource manager (GRM) and stored data defining a resource capability of one or more of said groups and a resource status for each group;
in a second of said computers a local resource manager (LRM) for the resources of at least one of the groups and stored data including at least a capability and status of each resource in each group coupled to the second computer;
the WFMS including means for invoking the global resource manager with a request for a specified process activity by one of the resources in the system;
and
the GRM including:
means responsive to the request for checking the stored capabilities and status of the resource groups,
means for selecting one of the resource groups having the capability to perform the specified activity and a status that enables the group to do so, and
means for forwarding the request to the LRM of the second computer for the selected resource group.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/768,261Filed 17 Dec 1996
Granted: 20 Oct 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06Q 10/06
Administration; Management: resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation…
G06Q 10/06316
Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations: sequencing of tasks or work
G06Q 10/103
Office automation; Time management: workflow collaboration or project management
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial