The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1996
Stephen James Harris, Ottawa, CA;
John Philip Brule, Spencerville, CA;
Hassan Mohamed Janoowalla, Ottawa, CA;
Jorge Fernando Cuervo-Carrillo, Dunrobin, CA;
Caroline Dawn Bachynski, Nepean, CA;
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing a process having at least one process step, and for transferring data between process steps. The apparatus includes a processor and a processor-readable memory for storing first and second sets of instructions. The first set of processor-readable instructions is operable to provide at least one process module operable to implement at least one process step. The process module has at least one functional option and is operable to receive an input message including at least one input variable to be acted upon by the process module, and an identification of which of the functional options is to be rendered active during execution of the process module. The process module is further operable to provide an output message including at least one output variable produced by the process module and at least one status variable for providing a status indicator produced by the process module. The second set of processor-readable instructions is operable to cause the processor to define in the memory a form structure having a data definition portion defining input and output variables associated with the process, a data map portion defining message contents for use in the input message, and a step definition portion for associating the message contents with at least one process step.