Systems and methods for executing business processes over a network

Abstract

Systems and methods for executing business processes over a network. In an exemplary embodiment of a method of executing business processes via a computer network, the method comprises the steps of creating and installing software resources available over a network, browsing a database of software resources using a process model builder to identify software resource definitions, loading the software resource definitions identified by the process model builder to create a business process model comprising the software resources from the database of software resources, mapping inputs and outputs of the database of software resources to allow the business process model to be executed, saving the business process model on a storage medium accessible by the network, and initiating a collaborative business process by loading the business process model into a process interpreter and executing the software resources defined within the business process model.

1 . A method of executing business processes via a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating and installing software resources available over a network, the software resources comprising software resource definitions available through a database of software resources;   browsing the database of software resources using a process model builder to identify the software resource definitions;   loading the software resource definitions identified by the process model builder to create a business process model comprising the software resources from the database of software resources;   mapping inputs and outputs of the database of software resources to allow the business process model to be executed;   saving the business process model on a storage medium accessible by the network; and   initiating a collaborative business process by loading the business process model into a process interpreter and executing the software resources defined within the business process model.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process model builder comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) business process model builder. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collaborative business process comprises internal and external collaborative business processes. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein no programming, coding or scripting is required to create the business process model or to initiate the collaborative business process. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of executing the software resources within the step of initiating a collaborative business process further comprises mapping the outputs from a first software resource to the inputs of a second software resource. 
   
   
       6 . A method for dynamically generating software resources, the method comprising the steps of:
 operating a process model builder to load a process definition;   defining grammar rules to create an activity; and   using the grammar rules in a process workflow model to dynamically generate software resources without generating programming code.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 using a grammar engine to execute the generated software resources.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the process definition comprises:
 data attributes;   activities referencing the data attributes;   processes formed using the activities;   business rules applicable to the data attributes, the activities, and the processes; and   location references selected from the group consisting of a universal resource locator and a network address.   
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable medium storing a software program thereon, the software program operable to:
 define an organization calendar for an organization, the organization calendar comprising attributes applicable to the organization;   define business rules and processes followed by the organization, such business rules and processes consistent with the organization calendar;   define a data attribute library comprising one or more data attributes for use by the organization; and   define activities performed for the organization using the one or more data attributes and at least one of the business rules.   
   
   
       10 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the attributes of the organization calendar comprise time zones, working hours, holidays, and events applicable to the organization. 
   
   
       11 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the defined activities are constrained by the business rules. 
   
   
       12 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the defined activities are represented graphically on a display operably coupled to the medium as activity icons. 
   
   
       13 . A method for generating results of a business workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) operating a process interpreter to determine an input data structure required for a software resource to be executed;   (b) identifying attributes available at run time from an organization using the process interpreter;   (c) mapping the available attributes to input attributes as defined by a business process model using the process interpreter to create an input data structure;   (d) forwarding the input data structure to a software resource using the process interpreter;   (e) executing the software resource using the process interpreter to produce an output data structure;   (f) providing the output data structure to the process interpreter for use by the process interpreter to complete a process workflow model; and   (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) until a final output data structure has been created;   (h) returning the final output data structure from the process interpreter as results of a business workflow.   
   
   
       14 . A computer readable medium storing a sequence of instructions thereon, the sequence of instructions executable to perform a method, the method comprising the steps of:
 operating a network browser interface to obtain a specification of an application from a network, the application comprising a process model; and   dynamically executing the application using the specification without generating programming code.   
   
   
       15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the specification comprises:
 data attributes;   activities referencing the data attributes;   processes formed using the activities;   business rules applicable to the data attributes, the activities, and the processes; and   location references selected from the group consisting of a universal resource locator and a network address.   
   
   
       16 . A system comprising:
 a network;   at least one processor in bidirectional communication with the network;   a database of software resources stored on a storage medium operably connected to the network, the database of software resources comprising at least one software resource; and   at least one process model builder available over the network, the at least one process model builder operable to generate a business process model using the at least one software resource from the database of software resources.   
   
   
       17 . A system comprising:
 a network;   at least one processor in bidirectional communication with the network;   a database of software resources stored on a storage medium operably connected to the network, the database of software resources comprising at least one software resource;   at least one business process model available over the network, the at least one business process model comprising at least one software resources from the database of software resources and   at least one process interpreter available over the network, the at least one process interpreter operable to determine a data structure for at least one software resource.   
   
   
       18 . A method of executing business processes via a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
 accessing at least two software resources available over a network with a network browser;   instructing the network browser to interweave the at least two software resources by operating a business process model builder;   within a runtime environment, allowing a business process model to be dynamically generated in real-time by the business process model builder;   generating the business process model using the business process model builder by incorporating the at least two software resources interwoven by the network browser into the business process model; and   initiating business process activities from the business process model to complete collaborative business processes and transactions.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the runtime environment comprises a process interpreter and a grammar engine and wherein the runtime environment is network based;
 wherein the runtime environment encapsulates the at least two software resources necessary to complete a business process;   wherein a workflow determines the order in which business processes are undertaken; and   wherein business process activities forming the collaborative business processes are linked together according to the workflow.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the runtime environment comprises a process interpreter and a grammar engine and wherein the runtime environment is network based;
 wherein the process interpreter and the grammar engine encapsulated within the network based, runtime environment encapsulates the at least two software resources necessary to complete a business process;   wherein a workflow determines the order in which business processes are undertaken;   wherein the collaborative business processes and transactions comprise internal and external collaborative business processes and transactions; and   wherein business process activities forming the internal and external collaborative business processes are linked together according to the workflow.