Abstract: A guided process framework includes a process engine, one or more data stores, and one or more user interfaces configured to communicate with the process engine. A user can access a given process instance through any appropriately configured user interface, which contacts the process engine, and which in turn contacts/consults definitions for one or more guided processes at a data store. If the user finishes only part of a given process instance, the process engine can save state corresponding to the progress in the data store. A user can continue work on the process instance through a different user interface (or at a different computer system) by contacting the process engine through the different user interface, and receiving rendering information configured for the different user interface. Thus, the user can stop and start work on a process however desired, and with whatever tools are available at any given time.

Abstract: One or more users can execute tasks in a guided process involving dependent and independent steps modeled with parallel processing techniques. For example, a user can open one or more parent pages in a guided process through a user interface, where each of the one or more parent pages lists several items (e.g., child pages) to be completed. Each listed item (i.e., child page) may or may not depend on processing of another child page, or of another task on the parent page itself. As the user (or multiple users) completes the various items on each given parent page according to page-specific definitions, each parent page is rendered anew to show what has been completed and what remains to be completed. Thus, the parallel execution of tasks can be combined with the sequential execution of other steps to provided an integrated experience to the end user.

Abstract: Providing data bound workflow activities to model messaging between a workflow instance and a workflow host. The workflow author associates a data source with each data bound activity in a workflow without specifying details of the underlying messaging technology. The data bound activity in the workflow instance communicates with a data source service in the workflow host to exchange data.

Abstract: A communication system provides an exchange service between multiple companies. Messages between companies are routed through the exchange. These messages may represent any data or functionality desired by the companies. These messages may be requests, quotes, replies, and similar messages. Certain types of messages are designated as events to the exchange system. A portion of the exchange handles these events with rules, producing actions and additional events in response to occurrences consistent with the rules.

Abstract: Systems and methods that dynamically reset a workflow state by employing a dynamic state manager that is external to the workflow, and enables interaction of a host with a workflow instance. An event driven workflow or state machine workflow can be supplied, wherein ad hoc events are employed to reset and manipulate the workflow to states that have not been modeled as part of the workflow itself, to dynamically create relation ships at runtime.

Abstract: Systems and methods that objectify view of workflows and management behavior via an access component that supplies access to the real workflow instance. The subject innovation enables custom features to be defined for interaction during run time. For example, custom features (e.g., strongly typed workflow) can include, a method(s), an event(s), a proper(ies), an interface and the like. Accordingly, the workflow can be exposed as an object type or class, wherein new members can be added and the workflow extended.

Abstract: Systems and methods that supply workflow management and workflow interaction with a plurality of persistence stores via employing a routing persistence service and an association lookup component. The routing persistence service routes and/or assigns each workflow instance to a corresponding persistence store, and the association lookup component manages caching associations between the workflow instance(s) and the plurality of persistence services. Accordingly, the subject innovation facilitates an extensible and/or pluggable mechanism for concurrent usage of multiple concrete implementations of a generic abstract workflow provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods that implement interactivity as part of a workflow itself. Data is passed in and out of the workflow to form an interactive workflow, via employing an interactive activity component. Such interactive activity component models suspension points within a workflow definition, wherein user input and associated interaction can be supplied to the workflow during various interactivity breaks that request user input. Such an arrangement enables a controlled/synchronous data exchange between the workflow and a host application associated therewith.

Abstract: Providing data bound workflow activities to model messaging between a workflow instance and a workflow host. The workflow author associates a data source with each data bound activity in a workflow without specifying details of the underlying messaging technology. The data bound activity in the workflow instance communicates with a data source service in the workflow host to exchange data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to associate incoming emails to a customer relationship management (CRM) object is disclosed. The method may include creating a user configurable tracking token that relates an email to a CRM object, attaching the tracking token to an outgoing email, sending the outgoing email to recipients, receiving an incoming email, determining whether the incoming email has a tracking token and if the incoming email has a tracking token, associating the incoming email with the matching CRM object.

Abstract: A method for enabling an existing business workflow tool to extend application functionality through the use of external components and for providing a business abstraction layer that lowers a user design barrier.

Abstract: A method for organizing task data used in customer relationship management systems in which task data is decomposed into a set of business activity classes including a set of business task classes, where the business task classes are combined through association or multiple inheritance to create the business activity class. Each task class can be further decomposed into a base task class and a set of task characteristic classes where task definitions may be modified by associating additional task characteristic classes to the base task class.

Abstract: A system for service transaction brokering among distributed marketplaces includes a first marketplace (102) that provides at least a first service and a second marketplace (102) that provides at least a second service. The system also includes a service transaction broker (104) that is coupled to the first and second marketplaces (102) and that provides at least the second service of the second marketplace (102) to a user (200) that is coupled to the first marketplace (102) in response to the user (200) communicating a service request.

Abstract: A computer implemented system enables a global user interface. The system includes a plurality of application engines (110, 114) and a user interface process (124). The system also includes a visual information broker (118) that has dynamically loadable adapters (120, 122) where each adapter (120, 122) is appropriate for accessing one of a plurality of types of engines. The visual information broker (118) can thereby interface between an engine interface (112, 116) of an application engine (110, 114) and the user interface process (124) by dynamically loading an adapter (120, 122) appropriate for that type of engine. The computer system also can enable a global messaging bus. The system includes native messaging supported by a network messaging layer (180). A plurality of message bus manager processes (176) each include a dynamically loadable message bus adapter (178) and a message bus application program interface (174).

Abstract: A computer implemented system and process enables inter-domain interaction. The system includes a native plane (292) that has a first native source (294) associated with a first domain and a second native source (296) associated with a second domain. The first and second native sources (294, 296) include domain related data and applications. The system also includes an inter-domain connectivity plane (298) that has a first domain engine (300) associated with the first domain, and a second domain engine (302) associated with the second domain. The first and second domain engines (300, 302) operate to perform domain analysis functions. The system further includes adapters associated with the first and second native sources (294, 296) where the adapters operate to abstract data and information from the first and second native sources (294, 296) onto the inter-domain connectivity plane (298).