Nikolaos Anerousis, Hani Jamjoom, Debanjan Saha, Ramendra K. Sahoo and Zon-Yin Shae
US Patent 8,036,865
Oct 2011, (Granted)
Abstract. A plurality of equivalent representations of a process are
identified. The process has a plurality of
tasks. Each of the representations specifies a
different order of the tasks. The plurality of
equivalent representations are consolidated into a
single representation. The single representation
captures, in at least one flexible order grouping,
at least two of the tasks that may be performed in
more than one order. At least one constraint is
specified for the at least one flexible order
grouping. Techniques for merging two or more
flexible representations are also provided.