JP2001092666A - Method for describing process and method for retrieving process description and storage medium stored with process execution program and storage medium stored with process description retrieval program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reusability by making process description available in different kinds of environments by describing related data as not actual data but a type. SOLUTION: A process describer describes data to be operated in a process as a data type, and makes the data type correspond to actual data based on the profile information of a process executer at the time of process execution. Also, the process describer describers the purpose or expected result of the process as a goal, and registers the corresponding goal and process in a repository, and describes a similar goal as similar goal information, and retrieves the process description by using the goal as a retrieval key, and when any suitable process is not retrieved, the similar goal similar to the goal is obtained, and the process description is presented to a user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a process description method, a process description search method, a process description device, a process description search device, a storage medium storing a process execution program, and a storage medium storing a process description search program. In particular, in the distribution of know-how relating to business procedures using processes, a process description method for searching for a process description and a process description, a process description search method, a storage medium storing a process execution program, and a process description search program are stored. Related to a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, WfMC (Worc
kflow Management Coalition)
A process description language such as low process definition language is used. As shown in FIG. 13, the elements constituting the process description include an activity, transition information, related data, and a role.

[0003] An activity represents one unit of work, such as a service or application to be used. The information transition represents a condition for selecting the next activity after the activity ends and an option of the activity.
The related data represents data to be operated or input in the activity.

[0004] A role represents a role of executing an activity, and a user who plays the role executes the activity. The above process description is called an existing process description. Conventionally, service search and mediation methods include O
MG (Object Mangement Group) CORBA (Common Ob
ject Request Broker Architecture), a system is used to organize services using service types and search for services.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
Consists of an interface name and a service property. The service type writer describes the interface name, the service property type name, and the service property name, and determines the service type. The service registrant selects a service type corresponding to the service, describes the value of each service property of the service type, and registers the service. The service user searches for a service satisfying the request using the service type and the value of the service property of the service as a search key. This service type is called an existing service type.

[0006]

However, if the process description is limited to a specific application area, there is no problem even if the related data is specified and described. If you want to use the process in various environments, the related data points to a specific actual data,
There is a problem that related data must be rewritten for each environment.

[0007] In the case of a trading service based on an existing service type, it is possible to search for a service that completely satisfies the request. However, when trading processes, if a process that completely satisfies the user's requirements is not found, some of the process descriptions, such as those that fulfill some of the requirements and those that correspond to similar goals, are not considered. There is a problem that there is no means for mediating a process description that may satisfy the request only by the change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and describes a method of describing related data in a type, rather than actual data, so that a process description can be used in a heterogeneous environment, and a goal has similar goal information. A process description method, a process description search method, a storage medium storing a process execution program, and a storage medium storing a process description search program, which make it possible to search for a process similar to the process satisfying the request and improve the reuse of the process description The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the principle of the present invention. According to the present invention (claim 1), in a process description method for describing a use procedure of a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system, a process writer describes data to be operated in a process as a data type (step 1). At the time of executing the process, the data type is associated with the actual data based on the profile information of the process executor prepared in advance (step 2), and the process is executed using the actual data (step 3).

FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 2) provides a process description search method for searching for a process description in which a use procedure of a plurality of services and applications is described by a process writer on a distributed system. A goal or an expected result is described as a goal (step 10), and a goal corresponding to the process is selected or a process is newly registered and registered with the corresponding goal in the repository (step 1).
1) A similar goal is described as similar goal information (step 12), and a process description is searched using the goal as a search key (step 13). If a suitable process is not found, similar goal information of the goal is found. To obtain a similar goal (step 14), and present a process description corresponding to the similar goal to the user (step 15).

[0011] The present invention (claim 3) is a storage medium storing a process execution program for describing a use procedure of a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system, wherein a process executor prepared in advance at the time of process execution is provided. Based on the profile information, the data to be operated in the process described by the process writer is associated with the data type of the actual data, and the process is executed using the actual data.

[0012] The present invention (claim 4) is a storage medium storing a process description search program for searching for a process description in which a procedure for using a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system is described by a process writer.
The process of registering the selected or newly described goal to be satisfied by the process or the goal corresponding to the process described as the expected result as a goal with the process in the repository, and the goal as a search key Retrieving a process description, obtaining a similar goal based on the similar goal information of the goal if a matching process is not found, and presenting a process description corresponding to the similar goal to a user. .

As described above, according to the present invention, when the process description is applied to different areas, the actual data is specified at the execution stage of the process using the data type of the operation target and the profile information of the user. It is possible to improve the reusability of the process description. Further, when there is no process description completely applied to the user's request, by presenting a similar process description using similar goal information, it is possible to improve the search efficiency of the process description.

Further, the user edits the searched similar process description, so that the description amount of the new process description can be reduced.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a conceptual model relating to the execution of a process using a related data type will be described. FIG. 3 shows a conceptual model relating to the process execution of the present invention. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 includes a process execution management unit 101, a process description 102, and an execution environment 110.

The process description 102 has a role 103, an associated data type 106, and an activity 109,
The execution environment 110 has a role-user correspondence table 104, a profile 107, and actual data 108.
Hereinafter, the operation of executing the process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the execution of the process of the present invention.

Step 101) Process execution management unit 1
01 is the role description 1 described in the process description 102
03. Step 102) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the role-user correspondence table 104 and determines whether the user 105 to be assigned to the role 103 is uniquely determined. If uniquely determined, the process execution management unit 101
Automatically assigns the user 105 to the role 103.
On the other hand, when it is not determined uniquely, the user 105 is presented with options of users who can be assigned to the role, and the user determines one user to be assigned to the role.

Step 103) Process execution management unit 1
01 notifies the user 105 that the user 105 has been assigned to process execution. Step 104) The process execution management unit 101 reads the related data type 106 in the process description 102. Step 105) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the profile 107 of the user 105 and searches for a correspondence between the related data type 106 and the actual data 108.

Step 106) As a result of the search, if there is a correspondence, the process execution management unit 101 automatically determines the actual data 108 corresponding to the related data type 106. 105, the related data type 106 is presented, and the user 105
The actual data 108 corresponding to 06 is determined. Step 107) The user 105 selects the activity 10
In step 9, the actual data 108 is operated.

Next, a conceptual model relating to a process search using similar goal information will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conceptual model relating to a process search using similar goal information according to the present invention. The configuration shown in the figure includes a goal description 202 described by a goal writer 201, a goal 205 including similar goal information 207, a process description 204 described by a process writer 203, a repository 209, and a process user 208. It comprises a process search management unit 206 to be operated.

The search of the process description in the above configuration will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process description search using a similar goal according to the present invention. Step 201) Goal description 201 is goal description 1
02 is created. Step 202) The process writer 203 creates a process description 204.

Step 203) Process description 204
And the goal 205. Step 204) The process search management unit 206 requests the repository 209 to search for a similar goal of the goal 205. Step 205) The repository 209 returns the search result. Step 206) When there is a similar goal, the process search management unit 206 registers the similar goal in the similar goal information 107 of the goal 205.

Step 207) The goal 205 is registered in the repository 209. Step 208) The process user 208 requests the process search management unit 206 to search for a process using the goal as a search key. Step 209) The process search management unit 206 requests the repository 209 for a process description corresponding to the goal as the search key.

Step 210) The repository 209 returns the search result. Step 211) If there is a process description, the search is terminated; otherwise, the process search management unit 206
Requests the repository 209 for a process description corresponding to the similar goal, based on the similar goal information of the goal as the search key.

Step 212) The repository 209 returns the search result. Step 213) If the process description does not exist, the search is determined to have failed. If the process description exists, the process search management unit 206 returns a process similar to the user's request.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an example of reusing a process description will be described. FIG.
Shows an example of reusing the process description of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 (A) shows that after the transferee describes the transfer record,
FIG. 7 (B) shows a “transfer procedure process” in which an accountant transfers a transfer allowance to a bank account, and FIG. Means "process."

First, an example of a process description in a heterogeneous environment will be described. FIG. 8 shows an example of an execution environment in a heterogeneous environment of a process description according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for using the activity “company house selection” in the execution environment E1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a process corresponding to the execution environment E1 in FIG. FIG.
0 is a flowchart showing a procedure for using the activity "company house selection" in the execution environment E2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows processing corresponding to the execution environment E2 in FIG.

In the following procedure, an example in which a process description is applied to two types of execution environments using related data types will be described.
First, a description will be given based on FIG. Step 301) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the role description described in the company house application process.

Step 302) Process execution management unit 1
01 refers to the role-user correspondence table 307 and determines whether the user assigned to the role “company manager” is uniquely determined. Step 303) If unique, the process execution manager 101 automatically assigns the user 304 to the role “company manager”. If not unique, FIG.
As in the operation shown in (1), it is assumed that options of users who can be assigned to roles are presented to the user 304, and the user 304 decides one user to be assigned to the role.

Step 304) Process execution management section 1
01 notifies the user 304 that it has been assigned to process execution. Step 305) The process execution management unit 101 reads the related data type “company house database” in the company house application process. Step 306) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the profile 306 of the user 303 and searches for a correspondence between the related data type “company house database” and the actual data.

Step 307) As a result of the search, if there is a correspondence between the related data type and the actual data, the process execution management unit 101 automatically saves the real data “Kansai district company house database 302” corresponding to the related data type. If there is no correspondence, it is assumed that the relevant data type is presented to the user 204 and the user 204 determines the actual data corresponding to the relevant data type, as in FIG.

Step 308) The user 204 operates the actual data 302 in the activity "select a company house". Next, using the execution environment E2 of FIG.
0 will be described. Step 401) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the role description described in the company house application process.

Step 402) Process execution management unit 1
01 refers to the role-user correspondence table 407 and determines whether the user assigned to the role “company manager” is uniquely determined. Step 403) If uniquely determined, the process execution manager 101 assigns the user “40” to the role “company manager”.
4 is automatically assigned. If it is not determined uniquely,
It is assumed that options of users to whom roles can be assigned are presented, and that the users determine one user to assign to roles.

Step 404) Process execution management unit 1
01 notifies the user 404 of the assignment to the process execution. Step 405) The process execution management unit 101 reads the related data type “company house database” in the company house application process. Step 406) The process execution management unit 101 refers to the profile 406 of the user 404 and searches for a correspondence between the related data type “company house database” and the actual data.

Step 407) If there is a correspondence, the process execution management unit 101 automatically determines the actual data “Fukuoka district company house database” 402 corresponding to the related data type. If there is no correspondence, the relevant data type is presented to the user, and the user determines the actual data corresponding to the relevant data type. Step 408) The user 404 operates the actual data 402 in the activity “select a company house”.

Next, a process description search using a similar goal will be described. FIG. 11 shows a description example of a goal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process description search using a similar goal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the goal writer describes the goal shown in FIG. 11 using the procedure shown in FIG. 12, and shows the goal similarity search in FIG. 11 based on the similarity of roles used in the process description corresponding to the goal description. An example in which similar goal information is determined, and a similar process description is searched using the similar goal information will be described. However, goal 5 shown in FIG.
02 is already described and is registered in the repository 209 in association with the company house application process. The process user searches for a process description that performs a transfer procedure involving relocation, but a goal that indicates relocation is not registered as a goal that indicates a relocation procedure, and a similar goal “company application” obtained from similar goal information is retrieved. Can be searched.

Step 501) Goal writer 201
Creates a goal description 503. Step 502) The process writer 203 creates a transfer procedure process. Step 503) Transfer process and goal 50
1 is associated. Step 504) The process search management unit 206 requests the repository 209 to search for a goal similar to the goal 501. At this time, a goal associated with a process using the same role is defined as a similar goal.

Step 505) The repository 209 returns the search result. Step 506) If there is a similar goal, the process search management unit 206 retrieves the similar goal information 505 of the goal 401 because the company house application process associated with the process description having the role “transfer” has been searched.
Register the similar goal in.

Step 507) The goal 501 is registered in the repository 209. Step 508) The process user 208 requests the process search management unit 206 to search for a process using the goal “transfer procedure, relocation: yes” as a search key. Step 509) The process search management unit 206 requests the process description corresponding to the goal as the search key from the repository 209.

Step 510) The repository 209 returns the search result. Step 511) If there is a process description corresponding to the goal, the process search management unit 206 requests the process description corresponding to the similar goal from the repository 209 based on the similar goal information of the goal as the search key. Step 512) The repository 209 returns the search result.

Step 513) The repository 209 returns the company house application process corresponding to the similar goal 502. Step 514) The process search management unit 206 returns the company house application process to the process user. By the above processing, a process description using a similar goal can be searched.

Further, FIGS. 4, 6, 9,
10 and 12 are constructed as a program, and stored in a portable storage medium such as a disk device, a floppy disk, or a CD-ROM, which is connected to a computer used for executing a process or performing a process description search. In addition, when implementing the present invention, the present invention can be easily realized by installing it in the computer. However, since the process description process by the process writer and the goal description process by the goal writer are performed manually, the described processes and goals are:
It is assumed to be processed as a process input by the input means.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, reusability of a process description in a heterogeneous environment is improved by describing related data not by actual data but by a type. By providing goal information and making it possible to search for a process similar to the process that satisfies the request, a process description close to the user's request can be provided, and the reusability of the process description can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the principle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the principle of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conceptual model relating to process execution using a related data type of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the execution of the process of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conceptual model relating to a process search using similar goal information according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process search using a similar goal according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of reusing a process description according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a heterogeneous environment of a process description according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a procedure for using the activity “select a company house” in the execution environment E1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a procedure for using an activity “select a company house” in the execution environment E2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a goal description example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process description search using a similar goal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing components of a conventional process description.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing service types.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Process Execution Management Unit 102 Process Description 103 Role 104 Role-User Correspondence Table 105 User 106 Related Data 107 Profile 108 Actual Data 201 Goal Writer 202 Goal Description 203 Process Writer 204 Process Description 205 Goal 206 Process Search Management Unit 207 Similar goal information 208 Process user 209 Repository 301 Actual data: Transfer report 302 Actual data: Kansai area company housing database 303 User 304 User 305 Profile 306 Profile 401 Actual data: Transfer job 402 Actual data: Fukuoka area company house database 403 User 404 user 405 profile 406 profile 407 role-user correspondence table 501 goal 502 goal 503 goal description 50 The goal description

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Atsushi Nakano 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shozo Takeuchi 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a process description method for describing a procedure for using a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system, a process writer describes data to be operated in a process as a data type. A process description method, wherein the data type is associated with real data based on profile information of a process executor prepared in advance, and a process is executed using the real data. 2. A process description retrieval method for retrieving a process description in which a use procedure of a plurality of services and applications is described by a process writer on a distributed system, wherein:
Or, describe an expected result as a goal, select a goal corresponding to the process, or register the process together with a newly described goal in a repository, describe similar goals as similar goal information, Searching the process description using the goal as a search key,
A process description search method comprising: acquiring a similar goal based on similar goal information of the goal when a matching process is not searched; and presenting a process description corresponding to the similar goal to the user. . 3. A storage medium storing a process execution program for describing a use procedure of a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system, wherein a process execution program is prepared based on profile information of a process executor prepared in advance when executing a process. A storage for storing a process execution program, characterized by having a process for associating data to be operated in the process described by the process writer with a data type and real data and executing the process using the real data Medium. 4. A storage medium storing a process description search program for searching for a process description described by a process writer in a procedure for using a plurality of services and applications on a distributed system, wherein the program is selected or newly described. In addition, a process of registering a goal corresponding to the process described as a goal with an objective to be satisfied by the process or an expected result as a goal together with the process in a repository, and searching for a process description using the goal as a search key. ,
Acquiring a similar goal based on the similar goal information of the goal, and causing the user to present a process description corresponding to the similar goal if the matching process is not found. A storage medium that stores a process description search program.