Workflow Decision Management Including Identifying User Reaction To Workflows

1 . A method for workflow decision management, the method comprising:

maintaining a device state history;

identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history;

identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern;

wherein the derived scenario has a tolerance;

identifying a workflow in dependence upon the derived scenario;

executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance; and

identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow further comprises:

recording in a device state history a device attribute value set by executing the workflow;

reading a current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow; and

comparing the device attribute value set by executing the workflow and the current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising recording an indication of a negative user reaction in a user reaction log.

4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

presenting the user reaction log to a user;

receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

editing a derived scenario in dependence upon the editing instruction.

5 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

presenting the user reaction log to a user;

receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

editing a tolerance in dependence upon the editing instruction.

6 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

presenting the user reaction log to a user;

receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

editing a workflow in dependence upon the editing instruction.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining a device state history further comprises recording a plurality of attribute values for a device.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history further comprises comparing the device state history with a plurality of device usage patterns records.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern further comprises retrieving a derived scenario ID from a derived scenario table.

10 . A system for workflow decision management, the system comprising:

means for maintaining a device state history;

means for identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history;

means for identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern;

wherein the derived scenario has a tolerance;

means for identifying a workflow in dependence upon the derived scenario;

means for executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance; and

means for identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein means for identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow further comprises:

means for recording in a device state history a device attribute value set by executing the workflow;

means for reading a current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow; and

means for comparing the device attribute value set by executing the workflow and the current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow.

12 . The system of claim 10 further comprising means for recording an indication of a negative user reaction in a user reaction log.

13 . The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means for editing a derived scenario in dependence upon the editing instruction.

14 . The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means for editing a tolerance in dependence upon the editing instruction.

15 . The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means for editing a workflow in dependence upon the editing instruction.

16 . The system of claim 10 wherein means for maintaining a device state history further comprises means for recording a plurality of attribute values for a device.

17 . The system of claim 10 wherein means for identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history further comprises means for comparing the device state history with a plurality of device usage patterns records.

18 . The system of claim 10 wherein means for identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern further comprises means for retrieving a derived scenario ID from a derived scenario table.

19 . A computer program product for workflow decision management, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for maintaining a device state history;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern;

wherein the derived scenario has a tolerance;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a workflow in dependence upon the derived scenario;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow.

20 . The computer program product of claim 19 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow further comprises:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for recording in a device state history a device attribute value set by executing the workflow;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for reading a current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing the device attribute value set by executing the workflow and the current value of the device attribute a predetermined period of time after executing the workflow.

21 . The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising means, recorded on the recording medium, for recording an indication of a negative user reaction in a user reaction log.

22 . The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for editing a derived scenario in dependence upon the editing instruction.

23 . The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for editing a tolerance in dependence upon the editing instruction.

24 . The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for presenting the user reaction log to a user;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving an editing instruction from the user; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for editing a workflow in dependence upon the editing instruction.

25 . The computer program product of claim 19 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for maintaining a device state history further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for recording a plurality of attribute values for a device.

26 . The computer program product of claim 19 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing the device state history with a plurality of device usage patterns records.

27 . The computer program product of claim 19 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving a derived scenario ID from a derived scenario table.