International Business Machines Corporation

Pablo Daniel Irassar

Jay William Benayon

Vincent F Szaloky

Koi Chong Wong

Bala Ramachandran

Humie Leung

Raymond Lee-Man Kong

William G O'Farrell

Kui Yan Lau

Tammam Al-Hamwy

Vince F Szaloky

Raymong L Kong

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to decision node processing in a business process model and provide a method, system and computer program product for linked decision nodes in business process models. In an embodiment of the invention, a business process model simulation method can be provided. The method can include loading a business process model for simulation, designating a decision node in the business process model as a master decision node and linking another decision node in the business process model as a slave decision node to the master decision node. The method further can include simulating the master decision node to select an output pin and storing the selected output pin in association with the master decision node, and applying the selected output pin in the slave decision node when arriving at the slave decision node during the simulation without simulating the slave decision node.

Linked decision nodes in a business process model

The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing a flow model simulation. In an illustrative embodiment, annotated simulation settings are associated with a source model in response to receiving the source model. The annotated simulation settings are derived from at least one of a set of user-defined simulation settings and default simulation settings. The annotated source model is transformed into an internal domain model using a set of links that are generated using a set of link rules. The set of links maps a set of source model elements to a set of internal domain model elements of the internal domain model. Results from a simulation of the internal domain model are mapped back to the source model to identify a context for the results. Thereafter, a target view model is generated from the internal domain model. The target view model includes the results presented in the context of the source model.

Transparent flow model simulation implementing bi-directional links

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art with respect to modeling a process having a visual representation and provide a method, system and computer program product for importing a visual representation of a process for use in an application. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented visual process model importation method can include identifying an arrangement of one or more visual objects in a visual process model, selecting associations between the visual objects and corresponding representative elements for a target process model, mapping the visual objects in the source model into the selected corresponding representative elements for the target process model, and producing the target process model for the visual process model using the mapping. The method subsequently can include providing the target process model as input to an application such as a simulation engine, a workflow engine or a visual collaboration and documentation system.

Visual model importation

An apparatus, method, and computer program product to simulate a business process model wherein a decision node may be modeled using a fair selection process or a random selection process, as selected by an end user. The fair selection process may provide a distribution of invocations among the outgoing paths of a decision node that substantially matches the probabilities assigned to those paths. A fair selection process may do this independent of the number of invocations of the decision node. A random selection process may provide random invocations among the outgoing paths of a decision node according the probabilities assigned to those paths.

Fair path selection during simulation of decision nodes

A method, system and product is provided for the implementation of business to business event handling mechanisms for use in coarse grain components allowing communication of event information among providers and interested subscribers across a network. Provision of a flexible method for resolution of business event model dependencies allows a business component to define its own business event model independently and further may also allow changes to that model. This provision may be used to allow a client without an event handling server to place a dependency on another business component for the provision of event handling services. Further, using a web services architecture network implementation for communications, provides the capability of a business event handling system as a web service.

Business to business event communications

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to event driven simulation and provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for mapping a process model for use in a generic simulation engine. In an embodiment of the invention, a generic model simulation method can include mapping a specifically formatted process representation into a generic process model, and providing the generic process model to a simulation engine. The method further can include executing a simulation on the generic process model in lieu of executing the simulation on the specifically formatted process representation.

Model independent simulation

A business process simulation system for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation is provided. The system includes a frequency module for receiving user input defining a frequency of token arrival; a duration module for receiving user input defining at least one repeatable valid duration of availability to receive tokens; an exemption module for receiving user input defining an exemption duration within the availability duration; and a timer module for receiving user input defining a recurring timer calendar for the business process simulation. The system also includes a token scheduling controller, wherein the token scheduling controller is adapted to process instructions corresponding to the user inputs and sending token scheduling instructions corresponding to the user-defined parameters to the business process simulation.

System and method for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation

A method for the implementation of business to business event handling mechanisms for use in coarse grain components allowing communication of event information among providers and interested subscribers across a network. Provision of a flexible method for resolution of business event model dependencies allows a business component to define its own business event model independently and further may also allow changes to that model. This provision may be used to allow a client without an event handling server to place a dependency on another business component for the provision of event handling services. Further, using a web services architecture network implementation for communications, provides the capability of a business event handling system as a web service.

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art with respect to event driven simulation and provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for mapping a process model for use in a generic simulation engine. In an embodiment of the invention, a generic model simulation method can include mapping a specifically formatted process representation into a generic process model, and providing the generic process model to a simulation engine. The method further can include executing a simulation on the generic process model in lieu of executing the simulation on the specifically formatted process representation.

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Markham, Canada

Pablo Daniel Irassar