Programming interface for a componentized and extensible workflow model

US7464366B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Dharma Shukla · Bellevue, US
• Mayank Mehta · Keyano, CA
• Aditya Bhandarkar · Bellevue, US
• Abhay Parasnis · Sammamish, US
• Akash J. Sagar · Redmond, US
• Kumarswamy Valegerepura · Bellevue, US
• Robert B. Schmidt · Carlsbad, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 23, 2005
• Grant date: Dec 9, 2008
• Expiry date: Aug 22, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/0633
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Building a componentized workflow model via an application programming interface. Each step of the workflow is modeled as an activity that has metadata to describe design time aspects, compile time aspects, and runtime aspects of the workflow step. A user selects and arranges the activities to create the workflow via the application programming interfaces. The metadata associated with each of the activities in the workflow is collected to create a persistent representation of the workflow. Users extend the workflow model by authoring custom activities. Users also compile the workflow via the application programming interface.