Workflows or processes with dynamic reference activity

US8667461B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gonzalo Ruiz · Montréal, CA
• Nirav Shah · Seattle, US
• Steven H. Kaplan · Acton, US
• Mesganaw Anteneh · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 2011
• Grant date: Mar 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 21, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A placeholder activity is employed in a workflow or process definition, which may be loaded in a workflow design application even if the type of activity referred by the placeholder activity cannot be loaded. The “reference activity” enables a workflow or a process to bind to an actual activity type at runtime such that the workflow or process can dynamically use a latest version of the activity without a need to modify the workflow/process definition.