Methods and apparatus for exposing workflow process definitions as business objects

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for exposing a workflow processes definition as a business object. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can access a business object representing a workflow process definition from any system using standard database constructs. The data for the business object may be combined from a variety of existing sources and/or new data. Using the methods and apparatus a user may generate reports from the business object.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for exposing a workflow process definition as a business object, the method comprising:
 creating a workflow process, wherein the workflow process includes workflow data;   executing the workflow process; and   creating a business object based on the workflow process, wherein the business object includes a database interface for accessing the workflow data and wherein the business object includes data from a first source in a first format and data from a second source in second format.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database interface includes an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including creating a report on the business object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including retrieving the workflow process data and an associated workflow process step from the business object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including creating custom methods associated with the business object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , including creating a new data store for storing new data, wherein the new data is associated with a new data field created in the business object and the new data field is not located in an existing data store. 
     
     
         8 . A system for exposing a workflow process definition as a business object, the system comprising:
 a processor:
 creating a workflow process, wherein the workflow process includes workflow data; 
 executing the workflow process; and 
 creating a business object based on the workflow process, wherein the business object includes a database interface for accessing the workflow data and wherein the business object includes data from a first source in a first format and data from a second source in second format. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the database interface includes an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , including creating a report on the business object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , including retrieving the workflow process data and an associated workflow process step from the business object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , including creating a custom method associated with the business object. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , including creating a new data store for storing new data, wherein the new data is associated with a new data field created in the business object and the new data field is not located in an existing data store. 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium storing a program to causing a computer system to:
 create a workflow process, wherein the workflow process includes workflow data;   execute the workflow process; and   create a business object based on the workflow process, wherein the business object includes a database interface for accessing the workflow data and wherein the business object includes data from a first source in a first format and data from a second source in second format.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the workflow data includes a first data from a first back end system and a second data from a second back end system. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the database interface includes an Insert, an Update, a Select, and a Delete method. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , including creating a report on the business object. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , including retrieving the workflow process data and an associated workflow process step from the business object. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , including creating a custom method associated with the business object.