Workflow Tracking System

摘要

A method of operating a data processing system to monitor conforming events generated by an event generating system is disclosed. The method includes storing lists of workflow definitions and active workflow instances. Each workflow definition includes a plurality of phase definitions, each phase definition includes a list of event types that start and terminate that phase. Each active workflow instance conforms to one of the workflow definitions and includes a list of active phase instances for that active workflow instance. Conforming events are processed by terminating an active phase instance if the conforming event corresponds to an event that terminates that active phase instance, by starting a new active phase instance if the conforming event corresponds to an event that starts a phase corresponding to one of the workflow instances, and by recording the conforming event and all active phase instances that were started or terminated by the conforming event.

主权项

1. A method of operating a data processing system to monitor conforming events generated by an event generating system, said method comprising:
storing a list of workflow definitions, each workflow definition comprising a plurality of phase definitions, each phase definition comprising a list of event types that start and terminate that phase; storing a list of active workflow instances, each active workflow instance conforming to one of said workflow definitions and comprising a list of active phase instances for that active workflow instance; and for each conforming event received by said data processing system, causing said data processing system to process said conforming event, said processing comprising: terminating an active phase instance if said conforming event if said conforming event corresponds to an event that terminates that active phase instance; starting a new active phase instance if said conforming event corresponds to an event that starts a phase corresponding to one of said workflow instances; and recording said conforming event and all active phase instances that were started or terminated by said conforming event.