Patent ID: 7610263
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of execution of a multi-step workflow that is repeatedly executed on data of a database, wherein the workflow is defined by a plurality of steps, each step being an executable function that operates on input from a previous step and produces output for a subsequent step and each step having a defined input format and output format, the method comprising: receiving current input to a step of the workflow on relevant data of the database, wherein the step has been previously executed on the relevant data using previous input identical to the current input and wherein the previous execution of the step produced previous output; determining whether the step is deterministic, in that the step generates identical output for given input in repeated executions of the step on the relevant data; and if the step is deterministic, returning the previous output produced during the previous execution of the step without re-executing the step.