Patent ID: 7100147

Claim:
A method for generating a workflow, comprising: displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) panels through which a user is capable of defining nodes of a workflow and associating at least one action and user with each node, wherein the defined associated user performs the associated action at the node when executing the workflow, and wherein multiple nodes define actions that process at least one object that is routed through multiple nodes of the workflow; generating from information entered into the GUI panels a workflow model including the nodes and workflow defined by the user through the GUI panels that process the at least one object; transferring the workflow model into a workflow definition language (WDL) file; transferring the WDL file to a workflow server, wherein the workflow server interacts with a database to implement the workflow model defined in the WDL file in the database; receiving a request by one user associated with one node, when executing the implementation of the workflow model, to access the node when no other user is accessing the node; granting the user requesting access to the node access to the node to perform the action associated with the node; locking the node to prevent other users associated with the node from accessing the node; and releasing the lock on the node when the user granted access to the node completes the action associated with the node, wherein other users can access the node after the lock is released.