Workflow Processing System and Method with Database System Support

Abstract

Automatic workflow processing in a workflow processing computer system. A data management system support module receives a data management activity (DMA) description. A set of set references associated with the DMA is determined. Using the set of set references, a set of data sources associated with the set references is determined. The data sources is provided within a data management system. Using the set references and the data sources, it is determined whether the data management system includes infrastructure for accessing the set references and for accessing the data sources. If not, the infrastructure is automatically created from information in a metadata repository coupled to the data management system. References to set references and references to data sources in the data management activity description are replaced by references to the infrastructure. The data management activity description is delivered for execution by the data management system.

1 . A method for automatic workflow processing in a workflow processing computer system, comprising:
 receiving, by a data management system support module in the workflow processing computer system, a data management activity description;   determining, by the data management system support module, a set of set references associated with the data management activity;   determining, by the data management system support module and using the set of set references, a set of data sources associated with the set of set references, the set of data sources being provided within a data management system;   determining automatically, by the data management system support module using the set of set references and the set of data sources, whether the data management system includes infrastructure for accessing the set of set references and for accessing the set of data sources;   in response to determining that the infrastructure is not included, automatically creating, by the data management system support module, the infrastructure from information in a metadata repository coupled to the data management system;   replacing in the data management activity description, by the data management system support module, references to set references and references to data sources by references to the infrastructure in the data management system; and   delivering, by the data management system support module, the data management activity description for execution by the data management system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure is created by at least one of the steps of:
 creating a wrapper artefact for each different type of data source in the set of data sources;   creating a server artefact for each different data source in the set of data sources;   creating a nickname artefact for each different table to be accessed; and   wherein the created infrastructure is added to the system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the data management system supports the operations defined in the data management activity description; and   in response to determining that the operations are not supported, creating additional infrastructure to support the operations.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein creating additional infrastructure comprises:
 creating a user mapping artefact; and   creating function mapping artefacts and type mapping artefacts.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the number of data sources in the set of data sources; and   in response to determining that there is a single data source, delivering the original data management activity description unmodified for execution.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a group of activities is included in a workflow, the group of activities including at least one data management activity, is optimized by the following steps performed by the workflow management system:
 determining the at least one data management activity;   determining at least one data level statement for each of the at least one data management activities;   determining the group of activities;   determining a process graph model from the group of activities, wherein the process graph model includes each of the at least one data level statements, and wherein the semantics of the process graph model is identical to the semantics of the group of activities;   determining an optimized process graph model from the process graph model;   determining an optimized group of activities from the optimized process graph model, whereby the semantics of the optimized group of activities is identical to the semantics of the optimized process group model;   replacing, in the workflow, the group of activities by the optimized group of activities,   wherein the process graph model includes a pattern, the optimized pattern is determined from the process graph model by optimizing the pattern, and wherein further the pattern refers to directing a database statement to a particular data source, and the pattern is optimized by transforming the pattern to a corresponding statement being directed to the data management system.   
     
     
         7 . A workflow processing computer system, coupled to a data management system, at least one data store, and a metadata management system, the workflow processing computer system comprising:
 a data management system support module configured to:   receive a data management activity description;   determine a set of set references associated with the data management activity;   determine, using the set of set references, a set of data sources associated with the set of set references, the set of data sources being provided within a data management system;   determine automatically, using the set of set references and the set of data sources, whether the data management system includes infrastructure for accessing the set of set references and for accessing the set of data sources;   in response to determining that the infrastructure is not included, automatically create the infrastructure from information in a metadata repository coupled to the data management system;   replace in the data management activity description references to set references and references to data sources by references to the infrastructure in the data management system; and   deliver the data management activity description for execution by the data management system.   
     
     
         8 . The workflow processing computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the infrastructure is created by at least one of the steps of:
 creating a wrapper artefact for each different type of data source in the set of data sources;   creating a server artefact for each different data source in the set of data sources;   creating a nickname artefact for each different table to be accessed; and   wherein the created infrastructure is added to the system.   
     
     
         9 . The workflow processing computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the data management system support module further is configured to:
 determine whether the data management system supports the operations defined in the data management activity description; and   in response to determining that the operations are not supported, create additional infrastructure to support the operations.   
     
     
         10 . The workflow processing computer system of  claim 9 , wherein creating additional infrastructure comprises:
 creating a user mapping artefact; and   creating function mapping artefacts and type mapping artefacts.   
     
     
         11 . The workflow processing computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the data management system support module further is configured to:
 determine the number of data sources in the set of data sources; and   in response to determining that there is a single data source, deliver the original data management activity description unmodified for execution.   
     
     
         12 . The workflow processing computer system of  claim 7 , wherein a group of activities is included in a workflow, the group of activities including at least one data management activity, is optimized by the following steps performed by the workflow processing computer system:
 determining the at least one data management activity;   determining at least one data level statement for each of the at least one data management activities;   determining the group of activities;   determining a process graph model from the group of activities, wherein the process graph model includes each of the at least one data level statements, and wherein the semantics of the process graph model is identical to the semantics of the group of activities;   determining an optimized process graph model from the process graph model;   determining an optimized group of activities from the optimized process graph model, whereby the semantics of the optimized group of activities is identical to the semantics of the optimized process group model;   replacing, in the workflow, the group of activities by the optimized group of activities,   wherein the process graph model includes a pattern, the optimized pattern is determined from the process graph model by optimizing the pattern, and wherein further the pattern refers to directing a database statement to a particular data source, and the pattern is optimized by transforming the pattern to a corresponding statement being directed to the data management system.   
     
     
         13 . A computer program product for automatic workflow processing in a workflow processing computer system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory tangible computer useable storage medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 receive, by a data management system support module in the workflow processing computer system, a data management activity description;   determine, by the data management system support module, a set of set references associated with the data management activity;   determine, by the data management system support module and using the set of set references, a set of data sources associated with the set of set references, the set of data sources being provided within a data management system;   determine automatically, by the data management system support module using the set of set references and the set of data sources, whether the data management system includes infrastructure for accessing the set of set references and for accessing the set of data sources;   in response to determining that the infrastructure is not included, automatically create, by the data management system support module, the infrastructure from information in a metadata repository coupled to the data management system;   replace in the data management activity description, by the data management system support module, references to set references and references to data sources by references to the infrastructure in the data management system; and   deliver, by the data management system support module, the data management activity description for execution by the data management system.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the infrastructure is created by at least one of the steps of:
 creating a wrapper artefact for each different type of data source in the set of data sources;   creating a server artefact for each different data source in the set of data sources;   creating a nickname artefact for each different table to be accessed; and   wherein the created infrastructure is added to the system.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer further causes the computer to:
 determine whether the data management system supports the operations defined in the data management activity description; and   in response to determining that the operations are not supported, create additional infrastructure to support the operations.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein creating additional infrastructure comprises:
 creating a user mapping artefact; and   creating function mapping artefacts and type mapping artefacts.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer further causes the computer to:
 determine the number of data sources in the set of data sources; and   in response to determining that there is a single data source, deliver the original data management activity description unmodified for execution.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein a group of activities is included in a workflow, the group of activities including at least one data management activity, is optimized by the following steps performed by the workflow management system:
 determining the at least one data management activity;   determining at least one data level statement for each of the at least one data management activities;   determining the group of activities;   determining a process graph model from the group of activities, wherein the process graph model includes each of the at least one data level statements, and wherein the semantics of the process graph model is identical to the semantics of the group of activities;   determining an optimized process graph model from the process graph model;   determining an optimized group of activities from the optimized process graph model, whereby the semantics of the optimized group of activities is identical to the semantics of the optimized process group model;   replacing, in the workflow, the group of activities by the optimized group of activities,   wherein the process graph model includes a pattern, the optimized pattern is determined from the process graph model by optimizing the pattern, and wherein further the pattern refers to directing a database statement to a particular data source, and the pattern is optimized by transforming the pattern to a corresponding statement being directed to the data management system.