Method and apparatus to present an integrated process modeler

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an integrated process modeler is described. The modeler comprises a non-technical interface to permit design of a business process by a non-technical use and a technical interface to implement substeps of the process to automate technical aspects of the process by a technical user, using the same process modeler. The resulting process designed to be used by non-technical employees, to automatically lead the non-technical employees through the business process.

1 . A method in a computer system comprising:
 generating, using one or more processors of the computer system, a first user interface, wherein
 the first user interface is configured to facilitate design of a process, 
 the first user interface is configured to display the process in the first user interface to facilitate design of the process by a first user in a first role, 
 the first role is a non-technical role, and 
 the first user interface permits integration of one or more other software applications in the design of the process; and 
   transferring access to the process from the first user to a second user in a second role, wherein
 the transferring comprises
 generating an executable process from the process, and 
 displaying the executable process in a second user interface, 
 
 the second user interface facilitates implementation of the process by the second user, and 
 the second role is a technical role. 
   
     
     
         2 . A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to:
 generate a process modeler, wherein
 the process modeler comprises:
 a non-technical toolset, wherein
 the non-technical toolset is configured to facilitate design of a process, 
 the non-technical toolset is configured to display the process in a first user interface to facilitate design of the process by a first user in a first role, 
 the first role is a non-technical role, and 
 the design toolset provides integration of one or more other software applications in the design of the process, and 
 
 a technical toolset, wherein
 the technical toolset is configured to generate an executable process from the process, 
 the technical toolset is configured to display the executable process in a second user interface, 
 the second user interface facilitates implementation of the process by a second user in a second role, and 
 the second role is a technical role; and 
 
 
   store the process modeler in the computer-readable storage medium.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the second user interface facilitates integration of the one or more software applications by the second user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transferring further comprises:
 transferring responsibility for the process from the first user to the second user in the second role.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the integration of the one or more other software applications in the design of the process further comprises:
 procuring data from at least one of a plurality of external data sources, and 
 implementing the procured data within the process to facilitate design of the process. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 implementing the procured data within the process to facilitate design of the process further comprises:
 providing the first user interface access to use but not integrate data from at least one of a plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the at least one of the plurality of external services is a web service.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 enabling an integration sequence, wherein
 the integration sequence permits a connection between a software application running the process and the plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the first user is provided a business analyst toolset by the first user interface, and   the second user is provided a developer toolset by the second user interface, wherein
 the developer toolset comprises a plurality of integration tools not available to the first user in the business analyst toolset, and 
 the plurality of integration tools not available to the first user permit the second user to integrate the process with at least one of the plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether an integration server is needed to filter and synchronize data inputted by the first user into the first user interface before the process is transferred from the first user to the second user in the second role.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 the technical toolset facilitates integration of the one or more software applications by the second user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the process modeler transfers responsibility for to generate the process modeler from the first user to the second user in the second role.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 the integration of the one or more other software applications in the design of the process further comprises:
 procuring data from at least one of a plurality of external data sources, and 
 implementing the procured data within the process to facilitate design of the process. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 implementing the procured data within the process to facilitate design of the process further comprises:
 providing a first user interface used by the first user in the first role access to use but not integrate data from at least one of a plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein
 the at least one of the plurality of external services is a web service.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 enabling an integration sequence, wherein
 the integration sequence permits a connection between a software application running the process and the plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein
 the first user is provided the non-technical toolset by the first user interface, and   the second user is provided the technical toolset by a second user interface, wherein
 the technical toolset comprises a plurality of integration tools not available to the first user in the non-technical toolset, and 
 the plurality of integration tools not available to the first user permit the second user to integrate the process with at least one of the plurality of external services. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining whether an integration server is needed to filter and synchronize data inputted by the first user into the first user interface before the process is transferred from the first user to the second user in the second role.