US20090132309A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20090132309A1
Application number: US11/943,734
Authority: US
Inventors: Mike A. MARIN
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 2007-11-21
Filing date: 2007-11-21
Publication date: 2009-05-21
Also published as: US9886682B2; US20120116953A1

Abstract

A method and computer program product for generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model in a computer system are provided. The method includes analyzing a business process model to identify a plurality of activities and at least one transition criterion between the plurality of activities, where the business process model is unbounded to a physical implementation. The method also includes transforming the business process model into a three-dimensional virtual reality environment with virtual physical constraints, including a plurality of virtual rooms representing the plurality of activities and one or more virtual access points to the virtual rooms representing the at least one transition criterion. The method further includes outputting the three-dimensional virtual reality environment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to computer-based generation of a three-dimensional virtual reality environment, and particularly to generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model.

2. Description of Background

Business processes can be modeled using several techniques, including formal techniques like Business Process Management Notation (BPMN) or activity diagrams in Unified Modeling Language (UML), and informal techniques using graphical drawing programs. Business processes are typically represented using nodes and arcs connecting the nodes. In most cases, nodes represent activities of the business process and arcs represent transitions used to describe the flow of the process by linking the activities in the order they should be executed. However, in some cases arcs are used to represent work that needs to be done, and nodes provide the order in which the work needs to be done to accomplish the business process. The business process model may require human participation for some of its activities to be completed, or may not require any human participation because the activities are fully automated by either computer applications or other types of machines. In most cases, a combination of automatic and human activities is used. Other business process modeling concepts like condition nodes and events can always be mapped to activities and arcs, so for the purpose of this application only activities and arcs will be used.

Virtual Reality (VR) describes a computer technology that allows humans to interact with a computer via a simulated environment. Most VR environments provide sensorial information such as sounds and visual experiences via computer interfaces (e.g., speakers, headphones, computer screen, stereoscopic technology, etc.), typically in three dimensions (3-D). VR environments are interactive through a variety of inputs, such as a keyboard, mouse, or glove.

Business processes are often difficult for humans to visualize, particularly when the business processes do not map directly to a physical implementation, such as a production line. Using a 3-D VR environment to visualize a business process that is unbounded to a physical implementation would be beneficial to simplify validation, simulation, execution, and monitoring of the business process. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method to generate a 3-D VR environment from a business process model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method for generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model in a computer system. The method includes analyzing a business process model to identify a plurality of activities and at least one transition criterion between the plurality of activities, where the business process model is unbounded to a physical implementation. The method also includes transforming the business process model into a three-dimensional virtual reality environment with virtual physical constraints, including a plurality of virtual rooms representing the plurality of activities and one or more virtual access points to the virtual rooms representing the at least one transition criterion. The method further includes outputting the three-dimensional virtual reality environment.

A computer program product corresponding to the above-summarized method is also described and claimed herein.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings.

TECHNICAL EFFECT

As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have achieved a solution which generates a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a computer system for generating a 3-D VR environment from a business process model;

FIG. 2 depicts an example of a 2-D business process model transformed into a 3-D VR environment; and

FIG. 3 depicts a process for generating a 3-D VR environment from a business process model in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments, as shown and described by the various figures and the accompanying text, provide a method and computer program product for generating a three-dimensional (3-D) virtual reality (VR) environment from a business process model. VR technology can be used to validate, simulate, execute, and monitor a business process. A variety of VR environments may be generated from a business process model. In these VR environments an activity can be represented by a virtual room, and transitions between activities can be represented by virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows connecting the virtual rooms. A transformation algorithm can be used to generate the 3-D VR environment from a graph representing the business process model. The graph can be a BPMN graph, an UML activity diagram, or any other business process model graph. The graph can include multiple nodes connected by one or more arcs. In the case that nodes represent activities, then those nodes are represented as virtual rooms, and the arcs connecting the nodes are represented as virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows connecting the virtual rooms. In the case in which arcs represent activities, then the arcs become virtual rooms and the nodes become the virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows connecting the rooms. In exemplary embodiments, the virtual corridors provide a virtual pathway to connect virtual rooms, while the virtual doors serve as virtual access barriers in response to satisfying one or more transition criterion to enter or exit a virtual room. The virtual windows can also serve as virtual access barriers in response to satisfying one or more transition criterion to enter or exit a virtual room via the virtual windows.

A mapping algorithm can be used to transform a 2-D business process model to a 3-D VR environment. Activities become virtual rooms, independent of their representation as nodes or arcs. Transitions become virtual access points to the virtual rooms, independent of their representation as arcs or nodes. Virtual access points can be embodied as virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows connecting the virtual rooms, while maintaining the activity and transition criteria constraints of the 2-D business process model. Thus, the 3-D VR environment establishes virtual physical constraints on movement in a virtual world from the physically unbounded 2-D business process model.

A user can annotate the 2-D business process model to describe some of the VR characteristics of the activities and transitions. For example, the user may designate a particular transition to generate a virtual corridor, and some other transition to be a virtual door. In addition, the way a process starts or finish may be designated using other VR objects. For example, a trash bin can be used to represent rejecting an application (e.g., in a loan approval process).

Executing a business process as used herein is a generic term that has two meanings. It can refer to a particular instantiation of a business process, for example, in a loan approval process, referring to loan application number 132785. However, it can also refer to all the executing instances of the business process, for example, all loan applications. The present invention is applicable to both meanings. In the VR environment a process instance may be represented by an object. The object can be a piece of paper, a person, or any other suitable object to represent a single process instance. Further details regarding generation of a 3-D VR environment from a business process model are provided herein.

Turning now to the drawings, it will be seen that inFIG. 1 there is a block diagram of asystem100 for generating a 3-D VR environment from a business process model that is implemented in accordance with exemplary embodiments. Thesystem100 ofFIG. 1 includes ahost system102 in communication with auser interface104 and adata storage device106. Thehost system102 may be any type of computer system known in the art. For example, thehost system102 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a general-purpose computer, a mainframe computer, or an embedded computer (e.g., a computer within a wireless device). In exemplary embodiments, thehost system102 executes computer readable program code. While only asingle host system102 is shown inFIG. 1, it will be understood that multiple host systems can be implemented, each in communication with one another via direct coupling or via one or more networks. For example,multiple host systems102 may be interconnected through a distributed network architecture. Thesingle host system102 may also represent a server in a client-server architecture.

In exemplary embodiments, thehost system102 includes at least one processing circuit (e.g., CPU108) and volatile memory (e.g., RAM110). TheCPU108 may be any processing circuit technology known in the art, including for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a multi-core/chip module (MCM). TheRAM110 represents any volatile memory or register technology that does not retain its contents through a power/depower cycle, which can be used for holding dynamically loaded application programs and data structures. TheRAM110 may comprise multiple memory banks partitioned for different purposes, such as data cache, program instruction cache, and temporary storage for various data structures and executable instructions. It will be understood that thehost system102 also includes other computer system resources known in the art, and not depicted, such as one of more power supplies, clocks, interfacing circuitry, communication links, and peripheral components or subsystems.

Theuser interface104 includes a combination of input and output devices for interfacing with thehost system102. For example,user interface104 inputs can include a keyboard, a keypad, a touch sensitive screen for inputting alphanumerical information, a VR glove, a motion-sensing device, a camera, a microphone, or any other device capable of producing input to thehost system102. Similarly, theuser interface104 outputs can include a monitor, a terminal, a liquid crystal display (LCD), stereoscopic technology, speakers, headphones, or any other device capable of outputting visual and/or audio information from thehost system102.

Thedata storage device106 refers to any type of storage and may comprise a secondary storage element, e.g., hard disk drive, tape, or a storage subsystem that is internal or external to thehost system102. In alternate exemplary embodiments, thedata storage device106 includes one or more solid-state devices, such as ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, NOVRAM or any other electric, magnetic, optical or combination memory device capable of storing data (i.e., a storage medium), some of which represent executable instructions for theCPU108. It will be understood that thedata storage device106 shown inFIG. 1 is provided for purposes of simplification and ease of explanation and is not to be construed as limiting in scope. To the contrary, there may be multipledata storage devices106 utilized by thehost system102.

In exemplary embodiments, thehost system102 executes a business process model transformation tool (BPMTT)112. Thehost system102 may also execute other applications, operating systems, and the like. TheBPMTT112 accesses thedata storage device106 to analyze a 2-Dbusiness process model114. The 2-Dbusiness process model114 may include multiple nodes interconnected by arcs to model a business process that is unbounded to a physical implementation. TheBPMTT112 analyzes activities and transitions in the 2-Dbusiness process model114 and transforms each activity and transition into virtual physical structures in a 3-D VR environment116. The 3-D VR environment116 is stored on thedata storage device106, and can be output to theuser interface104. In alternate exemplary embodiments, the 3-D VR environment116 is not stored on thedata storage device106, but directly executed on thehost system102.

A graphical example of generating a 3-D VR environment from a 2-D business process model is depicted inFIG. 2. Graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 represents a process for loan application processing, which is not limited to a particular physical implementation. The graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 includes aprocess start node202, e.g., an e-mail request initiating the process. Anarc204 transitions unconditionally to a review application forcompleteness node206. Upon completion of the activity in the review application forcompleteness node206, anarc208 transitions unconditionally to a checkcredit report node210. The activity in the checkcredit report node210 can result in multiple outcomes. If the credit report is bad, abad credit arc212 transitions to amanagement review node214. If the credit report is good, agood credit arc216 may transition to anapproval decision node218. Alternatively, the checkcredit report node210 can transition via a good andpre-approved customer arc220 to a createaccount node222, bypassing theapproval decision node218. Returning to themanagement review node214, arejection arc224 transitions to atermination node226. If the management review is successful in themanagement review node214, anOK arc228 transitions to theapproval decision node218. At theapproval decision node218, arejection arc230 transitions to thetermination node226. Conversely, if the approval occurs, then theapproval decision node218 transitions via an approvearc232 to the createaccount node222. The createaccount node222 transitions unconditionally viaarc234 to aprocess finish node236, which may generate a confirmation e-mail.

In an exemplary embodiment, the graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 represents a graphical version of the 2-Dbusiness process model114 ofFIG. 1 upon which theBPMTT112 may perform a transformation to the 3-D VR environment116. A top view of a resulting graphical 3-D VR environment250 is depicted inFIG. 2, as generated from the graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 using theBPMTT112 ofFIG. 1. In an exemplary embodiment, theBPMTT112 converts each node and arc element in the graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 into virtual rooms and virtual access points to the virtual rooms in the graphical 3-D VR environment250. For example, theprocess start node202 andarc204 transitioning unconditionally to the review application forcompleteness node206 are condensed into a virtualstart process door252 to enter a review application for completenessvirtual room254. A user maneuvering through the graphical 3-D VR environment250 is constrained byvirtual walls253, acting as virtual physical constraints, and must therefore satisfy any transition criteria to advance through a virtual access point into or out of a virtual room.

Once activity in the review application for completenessvirtual room254 is complete, the user can advance through avirtual door256 to a check credit reportvirtual room258, which maps to thearc208 transitioning unconditionally to the checkcredit report node210. Similarly, thebad credit arc212 transitioning to themanagement review node214 maps to a bad creditvirtual door260 providing access to a management reviewvirtual room262. Thegood credit arc216 transitioning to theapproval decision node218 maps to a good creditvirtual door264 connecting via avirtual corridor266 to an approval decisionvirtual room268. Thevirtual corridor266 may be used as a buffer area to increase separation between virtual rooms and support complex pathways as additional virtual rooms are added. The good andpre-approved customer arc220 transitioning to the createaccount node222 maps to a good and pre-approved customer virtual door270 for accessing a create accountvirtual room272.

Returning to the management reviewvirtual room262,rejection arc224 transitioning to thetermination node226 can be represented as avirtual reject bin274. TheOK arc228 transitioning to theapproval decision node218 maps to an OKvirtual door276 connecting via avirtual corridor278 to the approval decisionvirtual room268. Therejection arc230 transitioning to thetermination node226 maps to avirtual reject bin280 in the approval decisionvirtual room268. Upon approval, the approvearc232 transitioning to the createaccount node222 maps to an approvevirtual door282 connecting via avirtual corridor284 to the create accountvirtual room272. The createaccount node222 transitioning unconditionally via thearc234 to theprocess finish node236 maps to a process finishvirtual door286 to exit the create accountvirtual room272. Although no virtual windows are depicted in the graphical 3-D VR environment250, virtual windows can be added or theBPMTT112 configured to convert one or more of the virtual access points to a virtual window.

A generated 3-D VR environment, such as the 3-D VR environment116 ofFIG. 1, can be used in several ways, such as business process validation, simulation, execution, and monitoring. In business process validation, a user can navigate (walk, fly, etc.) the 3-D VR environment visiting the different activities (virtual rooms) and looking at VR representations of the type of work that must be done at that activity. By navigating the 3-D VR environment, the user may discover how easy or hard it will be to execute the business process. The user can apply this knowledge to redesign the business process model.

In business process simulation, the user can see a simulation of the business process executing by having virtual humans or machines in each virtual room simulating the work needs to be completed in that activity. The user observing the simulation can observe the simulation from a distance or navigate the generated 3-D VR environment while the simulation is executing to see how the business process will be performed. The user can apply this knowledge to redesign the business process model.

Although a business process does not need to be executed in a 3-D VR environment to tale advantage of the present invention, users may enter the 3-D VR environment to execute the business process, or assign a particular virtual room to perform work for an activity of the business process. There are several VR interaction and collaboration technologies known in the art that can be used to complete the work for an activity in a virtual room. Some virtual rooms may include more than one user participating in the activity. Any VR work and collaboration techniques known in the art can be used to allow users to do their work for the specific activity in each virtual room.

While a business process is being executed (in a 3-D VR environment or otherwise) a VR environment representing the business process can be updated to show the current state of the business process. This allows a user to observe in real time or near real time the progress of the business process. This is similar to simulating a business process in a VR environment; however, the presented data comes from real activities instead of simulated activities.

Any VR technique used to represent data, manipulate data, and interact with a 3-D VR environment known in the art can be used in conjunction with the present invention. In the cases in which the business process does not contain any human activities, and so, no human collaboration is required in the 3-D VR environment, business process validation, simulation, and monitoring may still be performed.

Turning now toFIG. 3, aprocess300 for generating a 3-D VR environment from a business process model will now be described in accordance with exemplary embodiments, and in reference to thesystem100 ofFIG. 1. A user can initiate theBPMTT112 to perform theprocess300 on thehost system102 via theuser interface104 ofFIG. 1. Atblock302, theBPMTT112 analyzes the 2-Dbusiness process model114 to identify multiple activities and at least one transition criterion between the activities, where the 2-Dbusiness process model114 is unbounded to a physical implementation. The 2-Dbusiness process model114 can be constructed of graphical elements, such as nodes and arcs, as depicted in the graphical 2-Dbusiness process model200 ofFIG. 2. The activities in the 2-Dbusiness process model114 may be represented as nodes, while the one or more transition criteria are represented as arcs, or vice versa.

Atblock304, theBPMTT112 transforms the 2-Dbusiness process model114 into the 3-D VR environment116 with virtual physical constraints, including multiple virtual rooms to representing the activities and one or more virtual access points to the virtual rooms representing the transition criteria. The virtual access points can include one or more virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows. For example, the transformation can be as depicted graphically inFIG. 2 to generate the graphical 3-D VR environment250, of which a top view is depicted.

Atblock306, theBPMTT112 outputs the 3-D VR environment116. The output may be to thedata storage device106 and/or to theuser interface104, enabling a user to interact with the 3-D VR environment116.

The transformation of a business process model into one or more 3-D VR environments by using virtual rooms for activities in which one or more users may interact to accomplish a task, and virtual corridors, virtual doors, or virtual windows for transitions connecting the activities can make it is easier for a user to understand, validate, simulate, execute, and monitor the business process. In addition, it is easier for the user to describe the business process to other users by navigating (e.g., walking or flying) through the 3-D VR environment. While other conversion tools may convert a 2-D physical model by simply adding a third dimension (e.g., a production line in a factory building), the present invention generates a 3-D VR environment from a 2-D business process model that is not physically constrained to a particular location (e.g., new account creation). Thus, a more concrete and tangible appearance is given to a business process that is otherwise unconstrained by physical boundaries.

The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof.

As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately.

Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided.

The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention.

While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.

Claims

1. A method for generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model in a computer system, the method comprising:

analyzing a business process model to identify a plurality of activities and at least one transition criterion between the plurality of activities, wherein the business process model is unbounded to a physical implementation;

transforming the business process model into a three-dimensional virtual reality environment with virtual physical constraints, including a plurality of virtual rooms representing the plurality of activities and one or more virtual access points to the virtual rooms representing the at least one transition criterion; and

outputting the three-dimensional virtual reality environment.

2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more virtual access points include one or more of: a virtual corridor, a virtual door, and a virtual window.

3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the virtual corridor provides a virtual pathway to connect two or more of the virtual rooms, and the virtual door or the virtual window provides a virtual access barrier to enter or exit one or more of the virtual rooms in response to the at least one transition criterion.

4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the business process model is a two-dimensional business process model including a plurality of nodes connected by at least one arc, the nodes representing the activities and the at least one arc representing the at least one transition criterion.

5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the business process model is a two-dimensional business process model including a plurality of arcs connected to at least one node, the arcs representing the activities and the at least one node representing the at least one transition criterion.

6. A computer program product for generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for implementing a method, the method comprising:

outputting the three-dimensional virtual reality environment.