Method and apparatus for compiling transaction processing workflows

A method for compiling a work flow used by an interaction system, wherein the method uses a digital computer having a visual display, the method comprising:

• accessing a plurality of routing instructions from the interaction system, the plurality of routing instructions specifying routing operations that comprise the work flow within the interaction system;
• compiling the plurality of routing instructions into a plurality of visual primitives representing the routing operations that comprise the work flow within the interaction system;
• automatically displaying the plurality of visual primitives, representing the routing operations that comprise the work flow, on the visual display;
• and
• facilitating edits by a user to the work flow by manipulating the plurality of visual primitives.

An apparatus for compiling a plurality of visual primitives that represent routing operations of a work flow used by an interaction system, the apparatus comprising:

• a display device to display the plurality of visual primitives, each of the plurality of visual primitives representing a routing operation and being arranged by a user to represent the work flow by manipulating the plurality of visual primitives;
• a digital computer coupled to the display device;
• a data storage device coupled to the digital computer to store the work flow;
• a compiler operated by the digital computer and coupled to the data storage device, the compiler to access the work flow from the data storage device and compile the plurality of visual primitives that represent the routing operations of the work flow into a plurality of routing instructions, the plurality of routing instructions specifying the routing operations of the work flow with respect to an interaction within the interaction system;
• and
• a data transfer mechanism coupled to the compiler to provide the plurality of routing instructions to the interaction system.

An apparatus for compiling a plurality of visual primitives that provide a visual representation of routing operations of a work flow used by an interaction system, the apparatus comprising:

• displaying means for displaying the plurality of visual primitives, each of the plurality of visual primitives representing a routing operation and being arranged by a user to represent the work flow by manipulating the plurality of visual primitives;
• computing means coupled to the displaying means;
• data storage means coupled to the computing means for storing the work flow;
• compiler means operated by the computing means and coupled to the data storage means, the compiler means for accessing the work flow from the data storage means and compiling the plurality of visual primitives that provide the visual representation of the routing operations of the work flow into a plurality of routing instructions, the plurality of routing instructions specifying the routing operations of the work flow with respect to an interaction within the interaction system;
• and
• data transfer means coupled to the compiler means for providing the plurality of routing instructions to the interaction system.

A computer software product including a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

• display a plurality of visual primitives on a display device, each of the plurality of visual primitives representing a routing operation and being arranged by a user to represent the work flow by manipulating the plurality of visual primitives;
• compile the plurality of visual primitives representing routing operations of a work flow into a plurality of routing instructions, the plurality of routing instructions specifying the routing operations of the work flow with respect to an interaction within a interaction system;
• and
• provide the plurality of routing instructions to the interaction system.