Patent ID: 7240324

Claim:
A method for event-based synchronization in a workflow having at least one event node comprising: executing a current workflow having a plurality of work nodes; encountering plural event nodes including an event node that specifies an event; suspending execution of the workflow and waiting for the occurrence of the event; and proceeding to a next work node only when the event occurs, wherein the event nodes includes a request node and a send node, the request node blocks execution of the workflow and specifies a point where execution is suspended until a specified event is delivered, and the send node specifies a point where events are produced, providing automatic cooperation between the current workflow and an external process by employing a publish and subscribe event notification, whereby a workflow designer does not need to specify a specific process instance involved in cooperation, enabling workflows to interact with other workflows or other applications to automatically synchronize activity execution, enabling workflows to interact with other workflows or other applications to automatically data exchange.