Patent · US Expired

Method for creating a workflow

US7234140B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 2002
Grant dateJun 19, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99934
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for creating a workflow including at least one structured process with interdependent tasks, and a composite object involved in the process is provided. The method includes defining a model of the object, describing the composite object as an aggregate of constituent elements, wherein each element is an instance of an element type; creating a general workflow by modelling the process as a structured graph comprising tasks with an associated element type, connected according to their dependencies; and associating tasks with elements according to their type to create a specific workflow. The method comprises rearranging the tasks on the basis of the associated element type to increase the number of parallel task-element combinations in the specific workflow. A programmable processing device comprises a mechanism for automatically generating a workflow and a mechanism for operation by one or more users. The device uses the above-described method. A computer program product can be run on a computer to execute the method and automatically create a workflow.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.