Patent ID: 6308163
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
An automated method of managing distributed resources for a workflow process of executing a coordinated set of process activities requiring said distributed resources, said automated method comprising steps of:forming a hierarchy of resource managers that are operatively associated to provide multi-level control of said resources, at least one level of said hierarchy having more than one resource manager; andenabling communication among said resource managers in response to requests for said resources, said communication that is responsive to a specific request for said resources including:(1) sending a Delegate message to a resource manager at a lower level of said hierarchy if a resource manager that receives said request is authoritative with regard to a lower level resource manager that can invoke a requested resource, said Delegate message being specific to and including said request;(2) sending a Refer message to a resource manager at a same level if said resource manager that receives said request is not authoritative and is configured to include an identification of a same level resource manager that is authoritative with regard to said request, said Refer message being specific to and including said request; and(3) sending a Plead message to a resource manager at a higher level if said resource manager that receives said request is not authoritative and is not configured to send said Refer message to said same level resource manager, said Plead message being specific to and including said request.