Computer-implemented method and system to support in developing a process specification for a collaborative process

A computer-implemented method to support in developing a process specification for a collaborative process involving distributed computer-based participant systems exchanging messages through an asynchronous messaging network, the method embodied by a computer program product executable by a computer system and causing, when executed, said computer system to carry out the steps of:

• retrieving from a third storage location, local state information on local states and local state transitions in relation to each participant system, said local state information specifying in relation to each local state transition, starting and target local states of the corresponding participant system and events triggering, and resulting from, the respective local state transition;
• processing said retrieved local state information to generate, and store in a second storage location, information on collaboration states and collaboration state transitions of said process, said collaboration states defined by a local state for each participant system and a communication status of each message exchangeable between said participant systems, said step of processing said local state information including the steps of identifying an initial local state from said local states of each participant system and generating said collaboration state information by:
• determining an initial collaboration state, said initial collaboration state being defined by said initial local state of each participant system and a non-presence communication status of each message;
• determining subsequent collaboration states by applying said local state transitions to said initial collaboration state;
• and
• reiterating applying said local state transitions to collaboration states identified in a previous iteration until no further collaboration states are found;
• upon generation and storage of said collaboration state information, retrieving said collaboration state information from said second storage location;
• processing said retrieved collaboration state information to generate information on incompletely specified terminal collaboration states among said collaboration states, an incompletely specified terminal collaboration state being a terminal collaboration state in which at least one message is underway between said participant systems;
• and
• generating a result data object containing information on every incompletely specified terminal collaboration state found.

A computer system to support in developing a process specification for a collaborative process involving distributed computer-based participant systems exchanging messages through an asynchronous messaging network, said computer system provided with a computer program product that, when executed, causes said computer system to carry out the steps of:

• retrieving from a first storage location, sub-system state information on sub-system states and sub-system state transitions in relation to a plurality of software sub-systems of each participant system, said sub-system state information specifying in relation to each sub-system state transition, starting and target sub-system states of the corresponding software sub-system and events triggering, and resulting from, the respective sub-system state transition;
• processing said retrieved sub-system state information to generate, and store in a second storage location, collaboration state information on collaboration states and collaboration state transitions of said process, said collaboration states being defined by a sub-system state for each software sub-system of each participant system and a communication status of each message exchangeable between said participant systems, said collaboration state transitions being determined based on said sub-system state transitions;
• upon generation and storage of said collaboration state information, retrieving said collaboration state information from said second storage location;
• processing said retrieved collaboration state information to generate information on incompletely specified terminal collaboration states among said collaboration states, an incompletely specified terminal collaboration state being a terminal collaboration state in which at least one message is underway between said participant systems;
• and
• generating a result data object containing information on every incompletely specified terminal collaboration state found.

A computer system to support in developing a process specification for a collaborative process involving distributed computer-based participant systems exchanging messages through an asynchronous messaging network, said computer system provided with a computer program product that, when executed, causes said computer system to carry out the steps of:

• retrieving from a third storage location, local state information on local states and local state transitions in relation to each participant system, said local state information specifying in relation to each local state transition, starting and target local states of the corresponding participant system and events triggering, and resulting from, the respective local state transition;
• processing said retrieved local state information to generate, and store in a second storage location, information on collaboration states and collaboration state transitions of said process, said collaboration states defined by a local state for each participant system and a communication status of each message exchangeable between said participant systems, said step of processing said local state information including the steps of identifying an initial local state from said local states of each participant system and generating said collaboration state information by:
• determining an initial collaboration state, said initial collaboration state being defined by said initial local state of each participant system and a non-presence communication status of each message;
• determining subsequent collaboration states by applying said local state transitions to said initial collaboration state;
• and
• reiterating applying said local state transitions to collaboration states identified in a previous iteration until no further collaboration states are found;
• upon generation and storage of said collaboration state information, retrieving said collaboration state information from said second storage location;
• processing said retrieved collaboration state information to generate information on incompletely specified terminal collaboration states among said collaboration states, an incompletely specified terminal collaboration state being a terminal collaboration state in which at least one message is underway between said participant systems;
• and
• generating a result data object containing information on every incompletely specified terminal collaboration state found.