Distributed workflow resource management system and method

Claim 3

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the LRM in the second computer responds to the request by selecting one of the resources in the selected one of the resource groups to perform the specified activity and assigning the activity to the selected resource.

Claim 4

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the LRM in the second computer updates the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer.

Claim 5

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 3 in which the LRM in the second computer forwards a status update to the GRM of the first computer when a predetermined threshold condition is crossed for one of the groups, and the GRM updates the stored status data for that group in the first computer.

Claim 6

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer includes availability of each resource in the group.

Claim 7

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer includes work load of each resource in the group.

Claim 8

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the resource status data of each group stored in the first computer includes availability of the resources of that group.

Claim 9

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the GRM stored data for a resource group G has a name, is characterized by a set of member resources and has three attributes including capabilities common to the group, status of the group, and history including activities previously assigned to the group, based on which the GRM assigns resource groups to process activities.

Claim 10

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which the LRM stored data for resource R which is a member of resource group G includes six attributes: name, address and manager of each resource, and the capabilities, status, and history of each resource, based on which the LRM assigns a resource to a process activity assigned by the GRM to resource group G.

Claim 11

A method of distributed resource management according to claim 1 in which each computer in the computer network includes said workflow management software system (WFMS) and an associated GRM, the method further comprising: associating a workflow event with each resource group; a first WFMS adding a resource group to its GRM by registering an interest in the workflow event which is propagated to other WFMSs in the network; and a second WFMS generating a workflow event for a particular resource group which is broadcast over the network to the first WFMS.

Claim 12

A process flow management system with distributed resource management, comprising: computer network including a plurality of computers having a processor, memory and input/output facilities; a workflow process management software system (WFMS) operating on one or more of the computers to control of the network for managing a workflow process comprising a logical sequence of multiple process activities; a plurality of resources coupled to respective ones of the computers to carry out various process activities, the resources being assigned to distinct groups, each including at least one resource, according to a common set of capabilities; in a first of said computers, a global resource manager (GRM) and stored data defining a resource capability of one or more of said groups and a resource status for each group; in a second of said computers a local resource manager (LRM) for the resources of at least one of the groups and stored data including at least a capability and status of each resource in each group coupled to the second computer; the WFMS including means for invoking the global resource manager with a request for a specified process activity by one of the resources in the system; and the GRM including: means responsive to the request for checking the stored capabilities and status of the resource groups, means for selecting one of the resource groups having the capability to perform the specified activity and a status that enables the group to do so, and means for forwarding the request to the LRM of the second computer for the selected resource group.

Claim 13

A process flow management system with distributed resource management, comprising: computer network including a plurality of computers having a processor, memory and input/output facilities; a workflow process management software system (WFMS) operating on one or more of the computers to control of the network for managing a workflow process comprising a logical sequence of multiple process activities; a plurality of resources coupled to respective ones of the computers to carry out various process activities, the resources being assigned to distinct groups, each including at least one resource, according to a common set of capabilities; in a first of said computers, a global resource manager (GRM) and stored data defining a resource capability of one or more of said groups and a resource status for each group; in a second of said computers a local resource manager (LRM) for the resources of at least one of the groups and stored data including at least a capability and status of each resource in each group coupled to the second computer; the WFMS including means for invoking the global resource manager with a request for a specified process activity by one of the resources in the system; and the GRM including: means responsive to the request for checking the stored capabilities and status of the resource groups, means for selecting one of the resource groups having the capability to perform the specified activity and a status that enables the group to do so, and means for forwarding the request to the LRM of the second computer for the selected resource group.

Claim 14

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the LRM in the second computer includes means responsive to the request forwarded to the LRM for selecting one of the resources in the selected one of the resource groups to perform the specified activity.

Claim 15

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the LRM in the second computer includes means for updating the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer.

Claim 16

A process flow management system according to claim 13 in which the LRM in the second computer includes means for determining when a predetermined threshold condition is crossed for one of the groups, and means for forwarding a status update to the GRM of the first computer for use by the GRM to update the stored status data for that group in the first computer.

Claim 17

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer includes current availability of each resource in the group.

Claim 18

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the stored status data of the resources of each group coupled to the second computer includes work load of each resource in the group.

Claim 19

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the status data of the resources of each group stored in the first computer includes current availability of the resources of that group.

Claim 20

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the GRM stored data for a resource group G has a name, is characterized by a set of member resources and has three attributes including capabilities common to the group, status of the group, and history including activities previously assigned to the group, based on which the GRM assigns resource groups to process activities.

Claim 21

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which the LRM stored data for resource R which is a member of resource group G includes six attributes: name, address and manager of each resource, and the capabilities, status, and history of each resource, based on which the LRM assigns a resource to a process activity assigned by the GRM to resource group G.

Claim 22

A process flow management system according to claim 11 in which each computer in the computer network includes said workflow management software system (WFMS) and a resource manager (RM) which manages status changes at local resources and has information about groups of remote resources that are managed by other resource managers and that are needed for process execution by the WFMS.