Abstract: Automating processes in an automation platform. Specifying a program that when executed by the platform implements the process. The program including process description, process components. The description including component initialization instructions having input parameter(s) and initialized component execution instructions having an execution state. Components having an initialization interface, an execution interface, and at least one of simulation instructions and operation instructions. Components characterized by output parameters, and operative upon receiving input parameters via the initialization interface to initialize the component. Initialized components operative upon receiving an execution state via the execution interface to execute the initialized component in accordance with the execution state, and in absence of operation instructions, to return a simulated output in the format of the output parameters in accordance with the simulation instructions.

Abstract: Establishing an external agent interface on an external agent interface platform. Defining, on an executing platform, a prepared element hierarchy on an executing platform as a function of at least an execution state of the executing platform. Transforming, on an executing platform, the defined prepared element hierarchy into an external agent interface element hierarchy as a function of at least the execution state. Exporting, from the executing platform, the external agent interface element hierarchy to an external agent interface platform.

Abstract: Implementing a process in an automation platform. Representing conceptual entities of the process as a nodes in a conceptual graph. Representing process relationships between the conceptual entities as edges between the nodes of the conceptual graph. Transforming the conceptual graph into a structural graph representing an automation design of the process. Transforming the structural graph into implementation artifacts executable on the automation platform. Entities can represent a feature, a constraint, a project phase, a screen, a data item, and a process description. Relationships can include a dependency relationship, a temporal relation-ship, and a parent-child relationship. The transformation into a structural graph being traceable between elements of the conceptual graph and the structural graph. The transformation into a structural graph controlled by a first configuration information. The transformation into a implementation artifacts controlled by a second configuration information.

Abstract: Automating processes in an automation platform. Specifying a program that when executed by the platform implements the process. The program including process description, process components. The description including component initialization instructions having input parameter(s) and initialized component execution instructions having an execution state. Components having an initialization interface, an execution interface, and at least one of simulation instructions and operation instructions. Components characterized by output parameters, and operative upon receiving input parameters via the initialization interface to initialize the component. Initialized components operative upon receiving an execution state via the execution interface to execute the initialized component in accordance with the execution state, and in absence of operation instructions, to return a simulated output in the format of the output parameters in accordance with the simulation instructions.

Abstract: Establishing an external agent interface on an external agent interface platform. Defining, on an executing platform, a prepared element hierarchy on an executing platform as a function of at least an execution state of the executing platform. Transforming, on an executing platform, the defined prepared element hierarchy into an external agent interface element hierarchy as a function of at least the execution state. Exporting, from the executing platform, the external agent interface element hierarchy to an external agent interface platform.