Reusing intermediate workflow results in successive workflow runs

A computer-implemented method of managing execution of a workflow that is repeatedly executed on data of a database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the method comprising:

• receiving current input for execution of a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database;
• identifying the step as deterministic, in that the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data;
• upon determining that the step has been previously executed using input identical to the current input:
• returning output obtained in the previous execution of the step using input identical to the current input without executing the step using the received current input;
• and
• upon determining that the step has not been previously executed using input identical to the current input:
• executing the step for the current input on the relevant data to obtain a result;
• and
• storing the result to enable managing a next invocation of the step in which the step is passed input identical to the current input, in which case the stored result is returned as output for the step without re-executing the step.

A computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs an operation of managing execution of a multi-step workflow that is repeatedly executed on data of a database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the operation comprising:

• receiving current input to a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database, wherein the step has been previously executed on the relevant data using previous input identical to the current input and wherein the previous execution of the step produced previous output;
• determining whether the step is deterministic, in that the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data;
• and
• if the step is deterministic, returning the previous output produced during the previous execution of the step without re-executing the step.

A computer system, comprising:

• a database having data;
• and
• a workflow execution manager residing in memory for managing execution of a multi-step workflow that is repeatedly executed on the data of the database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the workflow execution manager being configured for:
• receiving current input to a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database, wherein the step has been previously executed on the relevant data using previous input identical to the current input and wherein the previous execution of the step produced previous output;
• determining whether the step is deterministic, in that the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data;
• and
• if the step is deterministic, returning the previous output produced during the previous execution of the step without re-executing the step.

A computer system, comprising:

• a database having data;
• and
• a workflow execution manager residing in memory for managing execution of a workflow that is repeatedly executed on the data of the database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the workflow execution manager being configured for:
• receiving current input to a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database, wherein the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data;
• and
• without executing the step using the current input, returning output obtained in a previous execution of the step using input identical to the current input.

A computer-implemented method of automatically executing a plurality of functional modules from within an application, comprising:

• providing an interface for specifying a single multi-analysis functional module used to execute the plurality of functional modules, whereby user selection of the single multi-analysis functional module is an implicit selection of the plurality of functional modules, and wherein each of the plurality of functional modules is an executable function that operates on input from a previous functional module and produces output for a subsequent functional module and each functional module having a defined input format and output format;
• receiving current input to at least one of the functional modules, wherein the at least one functional module has been previously executed using previous input identical to the current input;
• determining whether the at least one functional module is deterministic, in that the at least one functional module generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the at least one functional module;
• and
• if the at least one functional module is deterministic, returning previous output produced during the previous execution without re-executing the at least one functional module.

A computer-implemented method of managing execution of a workflow that is repeatedly executed on data of a database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the method comprising:

• receiving current input for execution of a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database;
• identifying the step as deterministic, in that the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data;
• upon determining that the step has been previously executed using input identical to the current input, determining whether the relevant data has been changed since the previous execution of the step using the input identical to the current input;
• if the relevant data has been changed since the previous execution of the step using the input identical to the current input:
• executing the step for the current input on the relevant data to obtain a result;
• and
• storing the result to enable managing a next invocation of the step in which the step is passed input identical to the current input, in which case the stored result is returned as output for the step without re-executing the step;
• and
• if the relevant data has not been changed since the previous execution of the step using the input identical to the current input:
• returning output obtained in the previous execution of the step using the input identical to the current input without executing the step using the received current input.