Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for managing a workflow for an oilfield operation. In one implementation, the method may include receiving a request for approval of one or more tasks of the task workflow. The method may also include generating the request for approval, where the request for approval includes a hyperlink to a most current status of the one or more tasks of the task workflow.

Abstract: Executing a business process can include providing a context data object including a payload data structure for storing a payload data and automatically splitting an annotated context data object into one or more utility data objects. Responsive to creating a second utility data object, a pre-processing task can be injected into the business process, the pre-processing task using a copy of a first mapping to read data from the predefined data structure instance and to store the read data as payload data in the payload data structure of the first utility data object. Responsive to creating a third utility object, a post-processing task can be injected into the business process. The post-processing task can use a copy of the second mapping to write the payload data of the first utility data object to elements of a predefined data structure instance.

Abstract: A system for anonymously receiving information relating to suspected dishonest or illegal activity relating to an organization includes several interfaces that facilitate the anonymity. An automated analyzer analyses the received information to identify relevant governing documents (e.g., laws, regulations, etc.) and relevant personnel. A remediation workflow may then be generated based on the identified relevant information to address the report of suspected dishonest or illegal activity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for compiling workflows into instructions for a state correlation engine. In general, data characterizing a workflow of a process is received and a network representation of event-condition-action rules representing the workflow is generated. The workflow of the process may be modeled in accordance with a notation similar to the Business Process Modeling Notation. The network representation of event-condition-action rules may include a combination of source nodes representing events, operator nodes representing conditions, and action nodes representing transactions. Events of the source nodes may be represented types of objects of a type language, where a correlation engine is to execute an event-condition-action rule based on an existence of a combination of types of a rule.

Abstract: The invention proposes a computer system for creating at least one machine-readable file for a medical treatment apparatus, with a database for providing at least one parameter set, an input device for inputting data regarding the flow behavior of the medical treatment apparatus as parameter set; an output device for creating and outputting a flow definition output file taking into account the input data; and a converting device for creating at least one machine-readable file or machine-readable data in a storage medium utilizing at least the parameter set. Further, a corresponding method, a data medium and a medical apparatus are specified.

Abstract: Work item rules for a work item tracking system are provided. Work item rules may be accessible, usable and subject to interpretation by multiple software entities. Further, work item rules may be configured to be subject to creation and change by users, for example, by exposure to users through a user interface. A work item rule may specify an identifier by which the abstraction can be identified and/or a name, and may specify, or be indicative of, a condition and an action to be taken if the condition is satisfied. In response to a first user action affecting a first work item rule, one or more work item rules corresponding to the first user and/or the first work item may be determined. The one or more work item rules then may be interpreted, and the user action responded to based on the interpretation.

Abstract: A software-based system for changing structural feature designations within a production environment includes a menu page component adapted to support a menu page; an information document component interfacing with the menu page component and adapted to support at least one information document having structural feature designations of structural features; and an edit component interfacing with the information document component and adapted to view and edit the structural feature designations to expedite flow of materials in the production environment.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for recalling execution of an approval process on a data object. These mechanisms and methods for recalling execution of an approval process on a data object can enable actions to be automatically performed in association with the recall of the execution of the approval process on the data object. Thus, manual initiation of actions associated with a recall may be avoided.

Abstract: A method of improving a traffic pattern through web page nodes of a website is provided, including selecting web page nodes. The traffic pattern includes a sequence of nodes. Each node represents a first page having a link to a second page in a subsequent node. A visitor to a node prior to a conversion node either navigates to a subsequent node or fails to progress to a subsequent node. The method also includes, for each web page, identifying display elements on the web page node that are associated with a decreased probability that the user progresses through the traffic pattern to a subsequent web page node in the predetermined traffic pattern, determining a metric representing an impact on a conversion attributable to the display elements, ranking the plurality of web page nodes based on the metrics for each web page node.

Abstract: A change management system may use a phased status indicator that may illustrate several phases of a change request and a current status for each phase of a change management lifecycle. Additionally, a group of change requests may be displayed in a linked manner showing various relationships between change requests. The status indicator and linked display may be used together or separately to illustrate the status of various change requests and within interactive displays of change request data.

Abstract: A system and method for targeting, processing, and managing project leads and reports for target marketing products and services through the use of analytics, data mining, and the application of numerical weights to data criteria to determine the projects with the highest probability of requiring a company's products and/or services, with the highest return, and to prioritize and sequence the projects accordingly while enabling real-time analysis, metrics, and workflow management. A user form component provides access to project leads, segregating information through various project stages and allowing the user to launch and access project management forms.

Abstract: A business process catalog is built using pattern analysis of historical data of a database and deploying the built business process catalog to perform database recovery, A first set of statements are logged for transactions of a first business process batch and compared with a second set of statements. The second set of statements is included in a second business batch process stored in the business process catalog. The business process catalog is updated based on the comparison of the first and second sets of statements. The built business process catalog is deployed to identify and present business process batches to a database system user to select a business process batch used to perform the database system recovery.

Abstract: A system and method for executing and managing a business process in a unified business process environment is provided. The methodology of the invention describes steps to execute a business process and thereafter monitor the executed business process in a unified business process environment. A business process is received in a unified business process environment. The business process comprises at least one workflow. The methodology further ascertains execution details of the at least one workflow based on a predefined attribute of the at least one workflow. Thereafter, the methodology processes the at least one workflow at a location selected from at least one of a grid processing environment and a local processing environment, based on the ascertained execution details of the at least one workflow. After which, the methodology monitors the at least one workflow, executed for processing at the grid processing environment and the local processing environment.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a workflow integration subsystem communicatively coupled to a backend workflow subsystem maintaining a set of backend workflow tasks native to the backend workflow subsystem, the workflow integration subsystem configured to maintain a set of integrated workflow tasks representative of the set of backend workflow tasks. The system also includes a portal subsystem configured to communicate with the workflow integration subsystem and the backend workflow subsystem. The portal subsystem is further configured to provide a frontend portal for access by a user, receive a request provided by the user through the frontend portal, and provide access to workflow functionality through the frontend portal in response to the request, wherein the portal subsystem is configured to select whether the workflow functionality is subject to control by the backend workflow subsystem or the portal subsystem. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a business process meta-model is defined that represents a business process. The business process meta-model includes control flow elements pertaining to a control flow of the business process, and annotation elements providing details for the control flow elements.

Abstract: A method of improving the operational efficiency of segments of a data pipeline of a cloud based transactional processing system with multiple cloud based resources. The Method having a first step to virtually determine an approximation of a processing runtime of computations computing a value from transactions using potentially available resources of said cloud based transactional processing system for processing segments of a pipeline of data wherein said data comprising compensation and payment type data. A second step to determine an actual processing runtime of computations computing a value from actual transactions using actual available resources using available resources for processing segments of a pipeline of data wherein said data comprising compensation and payment type data.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product of managing an executable process application based on a BPMN process model, including: Receiving a BPMN process model; Parsing the process model to an process model object graph; Validating the process model dependent on a predetermined set of validation rules; Identifying start events in the process model; Providing an event handler for each start event based on a start event trigger comprised in the process model; Generating an executable process application based on the process model object graph.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for solving supply chain planning problems. The system includes a database that stores data representing a planning problem of a supply chain network and a computer that accesses the planning problem of the supply chain network stored in the database and models the planning problem as a network of nodes and edges. The computer further generates a hierarchical linear programming solution of the planning problem and applies advanced heuristics to the generated hierarchical linear programming solution. The computer still further formulates a mixed integer program to generate an optimized global hierarchical solution and stores the generated optimized global hierarchical solution in the database.

Abstract: A method for deriving data provenance information corresponding to a workflow process having lower-level workflow processes includes deriving internal provenance information for data pertaining to at least one of the lower-level workflow processes, identifying data objects that are shared between at least a pair of lower-level workflow processes to derive external provenance information for the identified data objects, in response to a user-submitted query, using the internal and external provenance information to retrieve the data provenance information for the workflow process, and outputting the derived data provenance to a user.

Abstract: Meta-models are made available to clinical trial protocol designers. A meta-model includes a list of preliminary patient eligibility attributes appropriate for a particular disease category. The protocol designer chooses the appropriate meta-model, and encodes the clinical trial protocol, including eligibility and patient workflow, within the selected meta-model in a protocol database. The resulting protocol database is stored together with databases of other protocols in a library of protocol databases. Sponsors and individual clinical sites have controlled access to the protocols. Study sites make reference to the protocol database in order to perform patient eligibility screening. Once a patient is enrolled into a study, the protocol database indicates to the clinician what workflow tasks are to be performed at each patient visit.

Abstract: To efficiently maintain consistency between deliverables in business analysis design, a computer performs processing of searching concatenation of predetermined words defined in each business use case description among the business use case descriptions, specifying relation among the business use cases to associate the business use cases with each other, and generating a business use case flow according to the association, processing of specifying a business function which is a higher-level of each business use case included in the business use case flow with information on business function hierarchy in a business function hierarchy storage unit, specifying concatenation of the business use cases extending across different business functions in the business use case flow, and associating the business functions with each other according to the concatenation to generate a business flow; and processing of displaying the business use case flow or the business flow generated on a display device.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to determine which aspects of a project are under control and whether the trend is toward increasing or decreasing control. The degree of control is measured within and across projects for different drivers of project performance. This gives the project organization a holistic view of whether specific project enablers are driving projects out of control or contributing to bringing projects under control. This also enables organizations to use project control trends to implement corrective actions proactively. Effective project control also increases the probability that each project activity and the overall project will be completed as planned. In addition, effective project control leads to more predictable project timelines and a greater willingness for suppliers to provide fixed priced project services.

Abstract: A process modeling tool provides a process designer with the ability to design a plurality of business process models that include tasks for achieving a desired result(s). The process modeling tool allows the process designer to merge the process models into a merged process model by replacing event flow coordinators within the process models with control flow coordinators that dictate a flow of the merged process model. Accordingly, the process designer is allowed to use the merged process model for monitoring of a current status of the tasks, and for re-distributing the tasks in a desired manner for execution by selected entities, while the original process models are maintained and may be executed in their original execution environment.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing a closed loop supply chain in a paper packaging business sector. A closed loop supply chain, as provided by a paper packaging company, includes collecting paper packaging waste from a retailer, producing paper material from the paper packaging waste, converting the paper material into packaging material, providing the packaging material to a product manufacturing company, and assisting the product manufacturing company in packaging a manufactured product. The paper packaging company may transport the manufactured product from the product manufacturing company to the retailer, obtain timber harvest, and produce paper material from the timber harvest and the paper packaging waste. Paper-packaging material is monitored as the paper-packaging material moves with a closed-loop supply chain.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, a computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to construct at least one change plan useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, a partial order of two or more changes is determined from at least one component interaction and is automatically transformed into at least one ordered task, wherein the at least one ordered task is linked by at least one temporal ordering constraint, and is used to generate at least one change plan useable for managing the distributed computing system, wherein the change plan is based on at least one requested change.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a set of use cases of a software application and selecting, from the set of use cases, a subset of use cases that has a goodness-to-cost ratio that satisfies a predetermined requirement. Computing the goodness-to-cost ratio for the subset of use cases includes: for each use case from the subset of use cases, computing a second cost as a sum of the first costs associated with the user actions of the use case; computing a third cost as a sum of the second costs; for each user-interface component that is acted upon by at least one of the user actions of at least one of the use cases from the subset of use cases, computing a first goodness measure that indicates a level of user-action coverage that the subset of use cases provides on the user-interface component; computing a second goodness measure as a sum of the first goodness measures; and computing the goodness-to-cost ratio as a ratio between the second goodness measure and the third cost.

Abstract: A workflow server can receive requests, each for a business process workflow conforming to a business process model. Each business process workflow can include a set of interdependent tasks. The workflow server can satisfy received requests by assigning tasks to different service providers that provide software services. Each of the tasks can be assigned to corresponding ones of the software services. For each task, the workflow server can also defines an allocated cost per software service, and a time allocation per software service for completing the corresponding one of the tasks. Different service providers, including those assigned to tasks, can receive information for ones of the tasks not directly assigned to them by the workflow server. The different service providers can then bid on these tasks. Wherein when bids are won, tasks for a business process flow can be reassigned based on winning bids.

Abstract: A system may receive a request to process an address. The system may insert, in a job queue, a first description of a first job for creating a first address when the request is to create a new address. The system may perform subtasks of the first job for creating the first address in a database in accordance with the first description and remove the first job description from the job queue.

Abstract: A critical date management system includes a critical date management module (CDM), project management system, and flow management system in which the CDM dynamically and automatically links activities and tasks in an overall project. Once a project plan is submitted to the CDM, the individual tasks are dynamically assembled together along with all dependencies and temporal data to create a complete end-to-end process flow containing all of the interdependent tasks. The assembled flow is then submitted to the flow management system for execution. The modular approach allows for the dynamic creation of a complete end-to-end delivery flow for different projects and project changes without the need for complex contingency logic. The result is a service delivery process that is customized for each new project. Additionally, when changes are made to an active project plan, manual recalculating of coordinated activities will be performed by the critical date management system.

Abstract: A method and information processing system manage workflow instance migration. An initial workflow process model is compared with a new workflow process model. A set of differences between the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model are determined. At least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model that is migrateable to the new workflow process model is identified based on the set of differences. A migration plan associated with the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model is generated. The migration plan includes the at least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model. The migration plan is then used to evaluate a set of workflow instances associated with the initial workflow process model and migrate one or more of these workflow instances to the new workflow process model based thereon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cost-based fulfillment tie breaking are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving an indication of an order for an item stocked in a plurality of fulfillment centers, where a difference between a cost of fulfilling the order with one of the plurality of fulfillment centers and a cost of fulfilling the order with another one of the plurality of fulfillment centers is within a specified amount. The method may also include selecting a given one of the plurality of fulfillment centers to fulfill the order based, at least in part, upon expected costs corresponding to inventory positions that would result from fulfilling the order with each of the plurality of fulfillment centers.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable media for managing a project over a computer network is disclosed. A project selection is received. Data associated with the project is retrieved in response to the selection. Data associated with a user profile is also retrieved, and compared to the data associated with the project to detect inconsistencies between the project and the user profile. In an embodiment, substitutions are determined based on the inconsistencies and automatically incorporated into the project. Data associated with the project including the substitutions is then delivered to the user over a computer network. In another embodiment, data associated with the project and the inconsistencies is delivered to the user over a computer network. In some embodiments, data associated with alternative project inputs and/or project actions consistent with the user profile is delivered to the user for substitution into the project.

Abstract: A machine-implemented method receives job specifications for a plurality of direct mail printing jobs from a user and automatically groups the multiple direct mail printing jobs into at least one campaign, using a computerized or processor-based machine. The machine automatically creates a plurality of workflows related to direct mail printing jobs within a campaign and transmits requests for bids on these job activities to entities (e.g., supply vendors) to allow the entities to bid on performing the job activities. The machine automatically selects winning bids on an individual job activity-by job activity basis from the bids received from the entities and combines the bids to provide cost and completion estimates for each of the workflows. The machine automatically combines estimates for the workflows to produce an overall estimate for the campaign. The overall estimate for the campaign is output to the user for review and approval.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system for selecting a workflow path of a project is provided. The system includes an initial phase, an evaluation phase, a completion phase, and a criteria engine. The evaluation phase of the project includes a plurality of workflow paths for the project based on criteria of the project. Each of the plurality of paths include one or more steps of the evaluation phase. The criteria engine is operable to evaluate project criteria of the project at one or more steps in the evaluation phase and route the project to at least another step in the evaluation phase based on the project criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically and/or systematically include more data sources and/or more detailed data in the analysis, prediction, and model building. Process data may be employed to pinpoint the process parameter excursions and domain knowledge and/or expert systems may be automatically and/or systematically incorporated into the root cause analysis, the prediction and/or the model building to improve results and/or to reduce the reliance on inconsistent and expensive human experts.

Abstract: One automatically accesses (101) a hierarchical task model as corresponds to a particular task to be executed by a given end user to thereby identify one or more presently un-executed agenda elements. One also automatically accesses (102) characterizing information for that given end user. (By one approach, for example, this characterizing information can comprise information regarding the given end user's knowledge.) This information regarding the un-executed agenda elements and the characterizing information are then used (103) to identify a highest hierarchical level within the hierarchical task model as corresponds to the given end user's wherewithal to successfully execute without also needing lower hierarchical level content within the hierarchical task model. The identified highest hierarchical level within the hierarchical task model is then used (104) to generate a presentation to present to the given end user to thereby facilitate execution of the particular task by the given end user.

Abstract: A business application development environment and a corresponding business application execution environment is disclosed. A graphical user interface based Workflow Designer allows a user to easily create business applications graphically. The business applications are converted into the Business Process Modeling Language (BPML). Existing BPML applications may also be edited with the graphical user interface BMPL designer of the present invention. Created business applications (that are represented in BPML) can then be hosted on any XML based web services server system. Business applications generally operate on business objects. The objects allow for fields to include functions that combine other fields. Once an application has been designed, the BPML code may be executed using a BPML execution engine. The BPML execution engine executes the BPML based applications. One embodiment interprets BPML applications with an interpreter in the execution engine.

Abstract: A tangible computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable program instructions that generate a user interface for displaying workflow information associated with a tissue specimen in a pathology laboratory. The program instructions may be configured to perform a method including displaying a virtual laboratory component representing a physical pathology laboratory having one or more laboratory stations for processing the tissue specimen, wherein the tissue specimen is processed by the one or more laboratory stations according to a workflow, and displaying a specimen indicator that indicates a current specimen state based on a current relationship of the tissue specimen to the workflow.

Abstract: A selection by a user of a first business process feature defining a starting point and a second business process feature defining an end point of a requested key performance indicator calculation can be received and a set of business objects related to a plurality of business process features that impact calculation of the requested key performance indicator can be determined based on the start point and the end point and on a meta-model of each of the related business process features. An algorithm for making the requested key performance indicator calculation can be generated based on metadata from retrieved from the meta-models, and transaction data can be retrieved from instances of business objects matching limiting criteria. A value for the requested key performance indicator calculation can be calculated based on the algorithm and the retrieved transaction data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for analyzing an affiliation network based on workflow. The system for analyzing an affiliation network based on workflow in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a workflow management unit configured to generate and manage a workflow network constituted with a plurality of activities; an affiliation network conversion unit configured to convert the workflow network to an affiliation network indicating a relation between an actor and the activity; an affiliation matrix computation unit configured to generate an affiliation matrix based on the affiliation network; and an analysis unit configured to analyze the affiliation network based on the affiliation matrix.

Abstract: An example system defines a carbon footprint restriction type in a manufacturing process. The system may comprise a carbon equivalent computation module and a carbon footprint computation module. The carbon equivalent computation module may define a carbon equivalent base attribute for each component unit of the manufacturing process and a carbon equivalent production attribute for the manufacturing process. The carbon footprint computation module may compute a carbon footprint value of an assembled product produced from the manufacturing process of the component units based on the carbon equivalent base attribute of each component unit and the carbon equivalent production attribute of the manufacturing process. An indicator associated with the carbon footprint value of the assembled product is displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a project plan from project description information for a project comprising a plurality of tasks. The project description information may include information describing precedence relationships between the tasks, information indicating durations of the tasks, and information indicating variability in the durations of the tasks. A simulation model is generated for the project using the project description information. The simulation model is run for a plurality of runs to identify a subset of tasks forming a critical path and to generate simulation results data. A project network presentation is generated from the simulation results data. The project network presentation includes the identified subset of the tasks forming the critical path.

Abstract: A new technique to analyze the control-flow, i.e., the workflow graph of a business process model, which is called symbolic execution, is provided. Acyclic workflow graphs that may contain inclusive OR-gateways are considered; a symbolic execution for them is defined, which runs in quadratic time. In particular, this symbolic execution essentially comprises labeling edges of nodes of the graph such that a label assigned to a first edge comprises a set of one or more edge identifiers, each identifying a second edge that is an outgoing edge of an XOR-split or an IOR-split node in the graph, whereby executing the second edge ensures that the first edge will be executed. Such a scheme may permit a decision for any pair of control-flow edges or tasks of the workflow graph whether they are sometimes, never, or always reached concurrently. This has different applications in finding control- and data-flow errors.

Abstract: A middleware system, method and program product for managing workflows among computer applications. The middleware system includes: a common construct unit and a workflow export unit. The common construct unit (i) retrieves a mapping between a component of a macro workflow of the middleware system and a micro workflow component of a first computer application and (ii) executes the macro workflow which orchestrates micro workflows of the first computer application and a second computer application. The workflow export unit generates an output that enables the second computer application to execute a workflow that corresponds to the workflow of the first computer application.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for optimizing business processes. One process includes identifying a set of information technology (IT) characteristics associated with execution of a process model, identifying at least one optimization goal associated with the process model, identifying a set of at least one optimization technique based on the identified set of IT characteristics and identified optimization goals associated with the process model, and compiling the process model, where compiling the process model includes applying the set of the at least one optimization technique during compiling operations. The set of IT characteristics associated with the execution of the process model can include a landscape type of a target system in which the process model is to be deployed, a probable deployment option of the process model, a probable usage type associated with the process model, and performance factors associated with the target system.

Abstract: In methods for managing congestion points of a plant lifecycle, access can be provided to a project database, as well as a congestion engine coupled with the project database. The congestion engine can be used to analyze project designs, resources, and activities. At least one congestion object can be generated based at least in part upon the analysis of the congestion engine. A project interface can be configured to present the at least one congestion object.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of multi-objective workflow optimization. Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention are applicable in cases where workflow descriptions contain choice variables relating for instance to the selection of a specific service provider out of several service providers that provide similar services, to the selection of human workers, or to the selection between alternative subworkflows. A binding represents a combination of choices, binding the choice variables to specific values. Bindings induce specific cost and/or quality properties to the workflow, a binding being Pareto-optimal if no other binding exists that is at least as good for every cost and/or quality property and better for at least one property.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a software forecasting system includes a software forecasting tool coupled to a user interface and a software cost estimation tool. The software forecasting tool generates a software development metric according to attributes derived from one or more previous software development projects. The software forecasting tool receives a similar software development metric from the software cost estimation tool and calculates a difference between the received metric and that of its own and displays the result on the user interface.

Abstract: A system and method configured for determining optimal mail sorting of a mailing is disclosed. The method may comprise determining a number of mail pieces to be sent in the mailing, selecting an initial scheme for sorting the mailing based on the number of mail pieces, and simulating a mail sorting based on the initial scheme and obtaining efficiency statistics of the simulated mail sorting. After the selected initial scheme is simulated, the method may further comprise generating an updated scheme, in response to the efficiency statistics being less than optimal, by revising the initial scheme. The method includes simulating a mail sorting based on the updated scheme, revising and simulating schemes until efficiency statistics are optimal. The initial scheme may be based on historical schemes for mailings of similar number of mail pieces, selected by an operator from historical schemes for mailings, or a customized scheme for the mailing.

Abstract: A system and method of modeling and evaluating workflows that provides workflow auto generation and Hierarchical Dependence Graphs for workflows. Modeling and evaluation of workflows is accomplished by accessing a knowledge database containing service descriptions, generating valid workflows models, simulating workflow and obtaining customer requirements through a Graphical User Interface. This system and method generate and display workflows that satisfy a users requirements. In addition, Hierarchical Dependence Graphs provide abstract views that provide additional analysis and control of workflow.