Patent ID: 7543292

Claim:
A computer system for controlling a workflow process, comprising: a process modelling unit configured to define a process model with at least a first task and a second task, wherein the second task needs to comply with a control aspect and depends on the first task, and further configured to insert into the process model a control task between the first and the second task, wherein the control task at design time is a generic task included in anticipation of a control aspect specific function being required during runtime to support a control decision with respect to the control aspect, and thereby enforce the control aspect on the second task by using a control service of a subsystem from among a plurality of control services; and a process execution unit having access to a generic control context that includes generic control metadata relevant to selection and implementation of the plurality of control services, the process execution unit configured to generate a process model instance from the process model and to instantiate the control context to obtain a control context instance that includes current values of the generic control metadata existing in conjunction with execution of the process model instance, thereby representing a current state of the process model instance, the process execution unit being further configured to execute the process model instance at runtime, including executing the control task instance by using the control context instance to determine the control aspect specific function needed to support the control decision, and to thereby invoke the control service according to the control aspect.