Abstract: Certain example embodiments described herein relate to techniques for matching business requirements with available services in service-oriented business process systems. An n-to-m relationship between process steps and services may be established. In certain example embodiments, both future design and dynamic runtime changes become possible by elaborating on possible resolution techniques before process execution and by identifying/resolving configurational dependencies. The addition of a service-oriented process configuration layer is made possible in certain example embodiments by enhancing the way that business processes are modeled visually or notationally, and through the implementation of a metamodel. The model linking process steps and services may be extended so as to support logical operators, rules or constraints for matching process steps and services, dependencies and relationships, etc.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for improving business processes. A model object repository stores aspects, modeled as respective objects, of the business processes.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for creating/updating a computerized model usable with an enterprise modeling platform. The computerized model is defined with a first modeling language. An image of a hand-drawn model existing on a physical substrate and following rules of a second modeling language is acquired. Multi-level image processing is performed on the image, the different levels corresponding to recognitions of (a) structures in the image corresponding to objects in the hand-drawn model, (b) object types for the identified structures, (c) text associated with the identified structures, and (d) connections between at least some of the identified structures. A digitized, iteratively-reviewed version of the hand-drawn model is generated and transformed into the computerized model using rules defining relationships between elements in the different modeling languages.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to algorithmic and/or programmatic approaches to identifying service candidates from among business process functions. In certain example embodiments, a method of analyzing functions of a business process model for possible exposure as service capabilities in a service-oriented business process system (SO-BPS) is provided. A business process model defined by a plurality of objects is received, with each said object having metadata attributes associated therewith. Business process analysis intelligence is obtained at design time for each said object. Process performance intelligence at run time is obtained for each said object. Indicators corresponding to the design time and run time gathered intelligence are stored together with the metadata attributes for the corresponding object.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to algorithmic and/or programmatic approaches to identifying service candidates from among business process functions. In certain example embodiments, a method of analyzing functions of a business process model for possible exposure as service capabilities in a service-oriented business process system (SO-BPS) is provided. A business process model defined by a plurality of objects is received, with each said object having metadata attributes associated therewith. Business process analysis intelligence is obtained at design time for each said object. Process performance intelligence at run time is obtained for each said object. Indicators corresponding to the design time and run time gathered intelligence are stored together with the metadata attributes for the corresponding object.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments described herein relate to techniques for matching business requirements with available services in service-oriented business process systems. An n-to-m relationship between process steps and services may be established. In certain example embodiments, both future design and dynamic runtime changes become possible by elaborating on possible resolution techniques before process execution and by identifying/resolving configurational dependencies. The addition of a service-oriented process configuration layer is made possible in certain example embodiments by enhancing the way that business processes are modeled visually or notationally, and through the implementation of a metamodel. The model linking process steps and services may be extended so as to support logical operators, rules or constraints for matching process steps and services, dependencies and relationships, etc.