Methods and apparatus for exposing workflow process definitions as business objects
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for exposing a workflow processes definition as a business object. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can access a business object representing a workflow process definition from any system using standard database constructs. The data for the business object may be combined from a variety of existing sources and/or new data. Using the methods and apparatus a user may generate reports from the business object.
1. A method for exposing a workflow process definition as a business object, the method comprising:
receiving, via a processor from a client device, a request to create a business object;
after receiving the request, receiving, via the processor, data source information from broker services corresponding to available data sources, the data sources being configured on one or more memory devices for storing workflow data related to a business system, the data source information identifying data properties and methods associated with each of the data sources, each of the data properties and methods being individually selectable;
receiving, via the processor, information for creating a custom data source for storage of custom workflow data that is incompatible for storage with the workflow data that is stored in the data sources, the custom data source having custom data source information identifying a method that includes a method for performing an operation on the custom workflow data;
creating and storing, via the processor, the custom data source to a memory device;
creating, via the processor, a first graphical representation for specification of the business object and graphical representations for the data sources, each data source graphical representation including a list that displays the data properties and methods associated with the respective data source;
receiving, at the processor after creation of the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, a selection from the client device of a first data source and the custom data source, the selection made by
a first connection line drawn from a selected data property of the selected first data source, among available data properties of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the first connection line providing an indication that the selected data property is to be used with workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed,
a second connection line drawn from a selected method of the selected first data source, among available methods of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the second connection line providing an indication that the selected method is to be used with the workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed, and
a third connection line drawn from the method of the selected custom data source to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the third connection line providing an indication that the selected method of the custom data source is to be used with the custom workflow data provided by the custom data source for processing when the business object is executed;
after the first, second, and third connection lines are drawn, configuring, via the processor, the business object with the selected data property and the selected method of the selected first data source, and the selected method of the custom data source such that the unselected available data properties and methods of the selected first data source are absent in the business object;
instructing, via the processor, a first selected broker service corresponding to the selected first data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected first data source for the selected data property and the selected method;
instructing, via the processor, a second selected broker service corresponding to the selected custom data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected custom data source for the associated method; and
displaying, via the processor, the business object as a workflow process available for execution by at least one of the client device or the selected data source.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected method includes at least one of a Read, a Write, an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method.
4. The method of claim 1 , including creating a report on the business object.
5. The method of claim 1 , including retrieving the workflow data and an associated workflow process event from the business object.
6. The method of claim 1 , including creating custom methods associated with the business object.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method of the custom data source creates new data when the business object is executed such that the new data is stored in the custom data source,
wherein the new data is associated with a new data field created in the business object.
8. A system for exposing a workflow process definition as a business object, the system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive from a client device, a request to create a business object;
after receiving the request, receive data source information from broker services corresponding to available data sources, the data sources being configured on one or more memory devices for storing workflow data related to a business system, the data source information identifying data properties and methods associated with each of the data sources, each of the data properties and methods being individually selectable;
receive information for creating a custom data source for storage of custom workflow data that is incompatible for storage with the workflow data that is stored in the data sources, the custom data source having custom data source information identifying a method for performing an operation on the custom workflow data;
create and store the custom data source to a memory device;
create a first graphical representation for specification of the business object and graphical representations for the data sources, each data source graphical representation including a list that displays the data properties and methods associated with the respective data source;
receive, after creation of the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, a selection from the client device of a first data source and the custom data source, the selection made by
a first connection line drawn from a selected data property of the selected first data source, among available data properties of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the first connection line providing an indication that the selected data property is to be used with workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed,
a second connection line drawn from a selected method of the selected first data source, among available methods of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the second connection line providing an indication that the selected method is to be used with the workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed,
a third connection line drawn from the method of the selected custom data source to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the third connection line providing an indication that the selected method of the custom data source is to be used with the custom workflow data provided by the custom data source for processing when the business object is executed;
configure the business object with the selected data property and the selected method of the selected first data source, and the selected method of the custom data source such that the unselected available data properties and methods of the selected first data source are absent in the business object;
cause a first selected broker service corresponding to the selected first data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected first data source for the selected data property and the selected method; and
cause a second selected broker service corresponding to the selected custom data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected custom data source for the associated method; and
an interface configured to display the business object as a workflow process.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the selected method includes at least one of a Read, a Write, an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method.
11. The system of claim 8 , including creating a report on the business object.
12. The system of claim 8 , including retrieving the workflow data and an associated workflow process event from the business object.
13. The system of claim 8 , including creating a custom method associated with the business object.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the method of the custom data source creates new data when the business object is executed such that the new data is stored in the custom data source, wherein the new data is associated with a new data field created in the first business object.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer system to:
receive a request from a client device to create a business object;
after receiving the request, receive data source information from broker services corresponding to available data sources, the data sources being configured on one or more memory devices for storing workflow data related to a business system, the data source information identifying data properties and methods associated with each of the data sources, each of the data properties and methods being individually selectable;
receive information for creating a custom data source for storage of custom workflow data that is incompatible for storage with the workflow data that is stored in the data sources, the custom data source having custom data source information identifying a method for performing an operation on the custom workflow data;
create and store the custom data source to a memory device;
create a first graphical representation for specification of the business object and graphical representations for the data sources, each data source graphical representation including a list that displays the data properties and methods associated with the respective data source;
receive, after creation of the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, a selection from the client device of a first data source and the custom data source, the selection made by
a first connection line drawn from a selected data property of the selected first data source, among available data properties of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the first connection line providing an indication that the selected data property is to be used with workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed,
a second connection line drawn from a selected method of the selected first data source, among available methods of the selected first data source, to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the second connection line providing an indication that the selected method is to be used with the workflow data received from the selected first data source for processing when the business object is executed, and
a third connection line drawn from the method of the selected custom data source to the first graphical representation for specification of the business object, the third connection line providing an indication that the selected method of the custom data source is to be used with the custom workflow data provided by the custom data source for processing when the business object is executed;
configure the business object with the selected data property and the selected method of the selected first data source, and the selected method of the custom data source such that the unselected available data properties and methods of the selected first data source are absent in the business object;
instruct a first selected broker service corresponding to the selected first data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected first data source for the selected data property and the selected method;
instruct a second selected broker service corresponding to the selected custom data source to create at least one logical connection between the business object and the selected custom data source for the associated method; and
display the business object as a workflow process.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the selected method includes at least one of a Read, a Write, an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , including creating a report on the business object.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , including retrieving the workflow data and an associated workflow process event from the business object.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , including creating a custom method associated with the business object.
21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method of the custom data source creates new data when the business object is executed such that the new data is stored in the custom data source,
wherein the new data is associated with a new data field created in the first business object.