Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Structural design
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-05-15
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Structural design
C703S006000, C705S007380, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to workflow and process modeling systems for business planning, more specifically, visually oriented modeling.
2. Related Art
Modeling languages for describing process or information flow are known in the art. One example is Unified Modeling Language (UML) used in computer-aided software engineering (CASE). Visual BML is specifically designed to model business logic, not program logic.
Furthermore, modeling systems in the prior art typically require a computer system to represent the process modeled and to show dependencies and information flows. These models are large, complex, and not often adaptable to changes. For example, a small change in one part of the flow chart often throws off the time sequence of events and data dependencies elsewhere.
Prior art models are also presented in a time sequence, as in a flow chart, with a defined “beginning” and a certain “end.” Actual business processes, such as a response to a phone call from a customer requesting information or a service, do not effectively operate in a strict time sequence because the request (or “input” from the customer) is not readily predictable as to what it will be or when it will come in. Such business processes are commonly known as event-driven processes; the processing in response to an event is referred to as “event-driven processing.”
What is needed, and contemplated herein, is a method of representing a concrete business process in terms usable and understandable without a computer. Furthermore, such a method must model multiple potential branches based on unpredictable, non-time-sequenced inputs. This modeling must also be readily adjustable to tailor individual planned responses without disturbing the overall model.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modeling system for the visual presentation of event-driven business processes, composed of multiple plan elements, is provided. The modeling system consists of a modeling language using a small set of defined pictograms (symbols) capable of representing elements of the process in progressively finer levels of detail. Each element primitive, be it a connection element, control element, business information element, or business process element, is independently adjustable. Each element can be modified or enhanced without damage to the overall process because each element represents a delegation of a task primitive (including data storage) and the abstraction models are loosely coupled. All of the other connected primitives are aware simply of what is passed into or taken out of a neighbor primitive, not how that primitive accomplishes its task.
Visual BML is different from ordinary flowcharting and data modeling in the following ways:
Visual BML is modular. Each Visual BML diagram, referred to as a “plan,” describes the attributes and relationships of a single planned process. Each symbol can be deployed (reused) within the plans for other symbols as appropriate.
Visual BML describes business processes and business information, not just one or the other. It models both the nouns and verbs of the process description. The information model is independent of the process model. A set of related business process plans and business information plans is referred to as a “Business Model.”
Visual BML Business Models do not show the logic of business process flow through simple branching. Instead, sequences of steps are planned in advance (subject to the passage of business rules) and each step in turn describes the details of a lower-order business process.
Visual BML is expressive and robust. It describes business processes and business information in enough detail to construct a software implementation of a business model, if desired.
Visual BML is simple. The notation consists of the minimum number of simple symbols necessary to fully describe a business model. Business information is described hierarchically instead of relationally, although it is designed to be able to map onto a relational database where desired. This makes an understanding of the process intuitive.
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Clements Michael R.
Gryphon Robert L.
Makagon Kira R.
Broda Samuel
E.piphany, Inc.
Lewkowicz Paul E.
Marino Fabio E.
Skjerven Morrill MacPherson LLP.
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