Patent ID: 7272614

Claim:
A computer-implemented method to support in developing a process specification for a collaborative process involving distributed computer-based participant systems exchanging messages through an asynchronous messaging network, the method embodied by a computer program product executable by a computer system and causing, when executed, said computer system to carry out the steps of: retrieving from a first storage location, information on local states and local state transitions in relation to each participant system, said information specifying in relation to each local state transition, starting and target local states of the corresponding participant system and events triggering, and resulting from, the respective local state transition; processing said information retrieved from said first storage location to generate, and store in a second storage location, information on collaboration states and collaboration state transitions of said process, said collaboration states defined by a local state for each participant system and a communication status of each message exchangeable between said participant systems, said collaboration state transitions being determined by applying said local state transitions to said collaboration states; upon generation and storage of said information on said collaboration states and collaboration state transitions, retrieving that information from said second storage location; processing said information retrieved from said second storage location to generate information on incompletely specified terminal collaboration states among said collaboration states, an incompletely specified terminal collaboration state being a terminal collaboration state in which at least one message is underway between said participant systems; and generating a result data object containing information on every incompletely specified terminal collaboration state found.