Systems and Methods for Development and Deployment of Software Platforms Having Advanced Workflow and Event Processing Components

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an improved software development platform that enables the dynamic generation and deployment of advanced electronic forms. The platform includes graphical user interfaces that enable users to drag-and-drop or otherwise insert components into a development window to define the content, functionality, workflow, background processes, and other criteria for the electronic forms. The components may correspond to pre-defined or pre-packaged software bundles that can be integrated into the electronic forms to define input fields, design layouts, application functions, preconfigured templates, and background processes. After electronic forms are completed, options can be selected to deploy the forms in a cloud-based environment or in other ways.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 one or more computing devices comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage devices for storing instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors causes the one or more computing devices to:
 provide access to a software development platform that includes one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) configured to create or modify an electronic form; 
 present, via the one or more GUIs, a development window that is configured to define the electronic form; 
 detect form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window, the dragged-and dropped form components comprising one or more drag-and drop content components to incorporate visible content into the electronic form being created or modified to define, at least in part, an interface layer of the electronic form for interacting with users, and one or more drag-and-drop control components that cause automatic display of control customization interfaces to receive customization input for configuring non-visible functionality, background processes, and/or event handling operations that define a logic layer for the electronic form being created or modified, wherein the logic layer controls the execution of the electronic form when deployed; 
 receive, from form customization interfaces associated with the form components, selections to customize parameters for each of the form components added to the electronic form being created or modified; and 
 generate or update the electronic form based on the selection received from the customization interfaces for the form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more drag-and-drop control components include at least a decision component that enables code to be inserted into the electronic form for defining the background processes, and wherein the background processes enable the electronic form to be dynamically updated in real-time based on inputs received via the electronic form. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the decision component is configured to identify one or more operations performed on one or more first data fields of a first content component in response to resultant processing performed by a decision logic section implementing decision logic for the decision component defined via respective one or more of the control customization interfaces, and performed on data in one or more second data fields of a second content component different from the first content component. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a customization interface associated with the decision component includes:
 an input section that is configured to receive selections for identifying a first set of form components to be monitored in real-time when the electronic form is deployed;   an output section that is configured to receive selections for one or more actions to be executed in connection with a second set of form components; and   a logic section that specifies conditions under which the one or more actions are executed in connection with the second set of form components based on inputs received via the first set of form components.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more actions include one or more of:
 modifying field values associated with the second set of form components;   modifying visibility parameters associated with the second set of form components;   outputting one or more messages to user who is filling out the electronic form;   generating one or more error messages; or   automatically navigating to a different section or page of the electronic form.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions to generate or update the electronic form include one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors to cause the one or more computing devices to generate or update an application programming interface (API) corresponding to the electronic form. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the one or more drag-and-drop control components comprises a workflow component identifying one or more operations performed on one or more first data fields of a first content component using resultant data produced by a logic section implementing workflow logic for the workflow component defined via respective one or more of the control customization interfaces, and applied to data in one or more second data fields of a second content component different from the first content component. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more drag-and-drop control components include a workflow component that enables a customized background process for the electronic form to be defined using a node diagram. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the node diagram is defined using:
 one or more input nodes that identify one or more of the form components that are to be monitored in real-time;   one or more processing nodes that are configured to receive data from the input nodes and to perform one or more functions associated with manipulating the data; and   one or more output nodes that identify one or more of the form components that are configured to output the data processed by the one or more processing nodes.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the node diagram is created using a customization interface associated with the workflow component which allows the one or more input nodes, the one or more processing nodes, and the one or more output nodes to be dragged-and-dropped into a window for creating the node diagram. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic form defines rules, parameters, and other features, and wherein the one or more processors further cause the one or more computing devices to:
 perform an analysis by a machine learning component, implemented by the one or more computing devices, using the rules, parameters, and other features relating to the electronic form and any data collected by the electronic form, wherein the analysis further identifies recommendations and statistical data related to the analysis; and   automatically modify portions of the electronic form using the recommendations identified by the rules, parameters, and other features relating to the electronic form and the any data collected by the electronic form.   
     
     
         32 . A method comprising:
 providing access to a software development platform that includes one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) configured to create or modify an electronic form;   presenting, via the one or more GUIs, a development window that is configured to define the electronic form;   detecting form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window, the dragged-and dropped form components comprising one or more drag-and drop content components to incorporate visible content into the electronic form being created or modified to define, at least in part, an interface layer of the electronic form for interacting with users, and one or more drag-and-drop control components that cause automatic display of control customization interfaces to receive customization input for configuring non-visible functionality, background processes, and/or event handling operations that define a logic layer for the electronic form being created or modified, wherein the logic layer controls execution of the electronic form when deployed;   receiving, from customization interfaces associated with the form components, selections to customize parameters for each of the form components added to the electronic form being created or modified; and   generating or updating the electronic form based on the selections received from the customization interface for the form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more drag-and-drop control components include at least a decision component that enables code to be inserted into the electronic form for defining the background processes, and wherein the background processes enable the electronic form to be dynamically updated in real-time based on inputs received via the electronic form. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the decision component is configured to identify one or more operations performed on one or more first data fields of a first content component in response to resultant processing performed by a decision logic section implementing decision logic for the decision component defined via respective one or more of the control customization interfaces, and performed on data in one or more second data fields of a second content component different from the first content component. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the one or more drag-and-drop control components comprises a workflow component identifying one or more operations performed on one or more first data fields of a first content component using resultant data produced by a logic section implementing workflow logic for the workflow component defined via respective one or more of the control customization interfaces, and applied to data in one or more second data fields of a second content component different from the first content component. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more control components include a workflow component that enables a customized background process for the electronic form to be defined using a node diagram. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the node diagram is defined using:
 one or more input nodes that identify one or more of the form components that are to be monitored in real-time;   one or more processing nodes that are configured to receive data from the input nodes and to perform one or more functions associated with manipulating the data; and   one or more output nodes that identify one or more of the form components that are configured to output the data processed by the one or more processing nodes.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the node diagram is created using a customization interface associated with the workflow component which allows the one or more input nodes, the one or more processing nodes, and the one or more output nodes to be dragged-and-dropped into a window for creating the node diagram. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the electronic form defines rules, parameters, and other features, and wherein the method further includes:
 performing an analysis by a machine learning component, implemented by one or more computing devices, using the rules, parameters, and other features relating to the electronic form and any data collected by the electronic form, wherein the analysis further identifies recommendations and statistical data related to the analysis; and   automatically modifying portions of the electronic form using the recommendations and statistical data identified by the analysis using the rules, parameters, and other features relating to the electronic form and the any data collected by the electronic form.   
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer readable media programmed with instructions, executable on one or more processors of a computing system, to:
 provide access to a software development platform that includes one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) configured to create or modify an electronic form;   present, via the one or more GUIs, a development window that is configured to define the electronic form;   detect form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window, the dragged-and dropped form components comprising one or more drag-and drop content components to incorporate visible content into the electronic form being created or modified to define, at least in part, an interface layer of the electronic form for interacting with users, and one or more drag-and-drop control components that cause automatic display of control customization interfaces to receive customization input for configuring non-visible functionality, background processes, and/or event handling operations that define a logic layer for the electronic form being created or modified, wherein the logic layer controls the execution electronic form when deployed;   receive, from form customization interfaces associated with the form components, selections to customize parameters for each of the form components added to the electronic form being created or modified; and   generate or update the electronic form based on the selections received from the customization interfaces for the form components that are dragged-and-dropped into the development window.