Systems, methods and computer program products for implementing a workflow engine in database management system

US5960420A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Frank Leymann · Aidlingen, DE
• Dieter Roller · Schenefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 2, 1997
• Grant date: Sep 28, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 2, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99945
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Workflow management systems (WFMS) execute a multitude of process models including a network of potentially distributed activities. WFMS store WFMS state information on the process models, the process model instances currently executed by the WFMS, together with the instances's state and the state of the WFMS themselves, in Database Management Systems (DBMS). The WFMS engines encompassing a set of control functions are implemented directly within the DBMS. Only stubs corresponding to these control functions need be implemented within the WFMS. The stubs exploit the services of the control function cores within the DBMS. Such implementation architectures can increase performance of WFMS significantly as the control functions can operate on and within those computer systems which store the data on the WFMS state.