System and method utilizing a graphical user interface of a business process workflow scheduling program

US7184967B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Amit Mital · Bellevue, US
• Lucius Gregory Meredith · Seattle, US
• Marc Levy · Woodinville, US
• Brian C. Beckman · Newcastle, US
• Anthony D. Andrews · Redmond, US
• Terry J. Myerson · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 6, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2007
• Expiry date: Aug 8, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/36025
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) scheduler program is provided for modeling business workflow processes. The GUI scheduler program includes tools to allow a user to create a schedule for business workflow processes based on a set of rules defined by the GUI scheduler program. The rules facilitate deadlock not occurring within the schedule. The program provides tools for creating and defining message flows between entities. Additionally, the program provides tools that allow a user to define a binding between the schedule and components, such as COM components, script components, message queues and other workflow schedules. The scheduler program allows a user to define actions and group actions into transactions using simple GUI scheduling tools. The schedule can then be converted to executable code in a variety of forms such as XML, C, C+ and C++. The executable code can then be converted or interpreted for running the schedule.