Dynamically configurable workflow in a mobile environment

• US 10,102,012 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Record360 LLC
• Original Assignee: Record360, Inc. (Alpine SG LLC)
• Inventors: Harrison, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Dascomb, Jacob D
• Application Number:
  US14/937,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/427 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a mobile application that enables a completely and dynamically configurable workflow. Once installed on a mobile computer, the application is completely configurable without re-compiling the application. A user may configure the “look & feel,” as well as the workflow of a particular instance of the application, via configuration templates. Once the application is downloaded and installed in an executable form, the user may configure and/or reconfigure the workflow and the “look and feel” of the application without a re-compiling operation and/or generating new machine-code to enable the configuration. To configure and/or reconfigure the application, the user need only to edit and/or receive additional configuration templates. The execution of the configured workflow is not dependent upon the mobile computer being in communication with another network computer. The mobile application may be a native application. Accordingly, the completely customizable mobile application may be executed in an “offline” mode.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically configuring a workflow for employing a mobile computer to document a condition of tangible property, wherein the mobile computer includes a processor, the method comprising:

providing a mobile application to the mobile computer, wherein the mobile application includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules; and

providing one or more configuration templates to the mobile computer, wherein the one or more configuration templates are stored in a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format and include a workflow definition that indicates a configuration for each module for at least a subset of the plurality of executable modules, and wherein

when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the workflow for employing the mobile computer to document the condition of the tangible property is dynamically re-configured at a run-time of the mobile application and provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions at the run-time of the mobile application that dynamically configures each module of the subset of the plurality of executable modules based on the workflow definition included in the one or more configuration templates, the first set of actions comprising;

parsing, at the run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates;

determining, at the run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the configuration for each module of the subset of the plurality of executable modules indicated by the workflow definition, wherein determining the configuration for each module is based on parsing the one or more configuration templates, wherein the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes at least a first module, a second module, a third module, and a signature decision module that is enabled to execute a logic branch; and

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules in a particular sequence based on the determined configuration for the corresponding module, wherein executing the first module includes automatically determining a number that identifies the tangible property based on image data generated by a camera of the mobile computer, and in response to determining that a record for the number does not exist, generating the record for the number, executing the second module includes generating, by the camera of the mobile computer, additional image data documenting the condition of the tangible property, executing the third module includes generating metadata that annotates the condition of the tangible property, and executing the logic branch of the signature decision module includes completing a transaction of documenting the condition of the property based on whether execution of the signature decision module captures a signature of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second configuration template to the mobile computer, wherein the second configuration template includes a second workflow definition that is separate from the workflow definition and indicates a configuration for each module of at least a second subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein

when the portion of the machine-code instructions are subsequently executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, a second workflow that is separate from the first workflow is configured at a second run-time of the mobile application and provided to the user of the mobile computer by performing a second set actions that are separate from the first set of actions and comprising;

parsing, at the second run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the second configuration template;

determining, at the second run-time and on the mobile computer, the configuration for each module of the second subset of the plurality of modules included in the second workflow definition, wherein determining the configuration for each module is based on parsing the second configuration template; and

executing, at the mobile computer, each of modules included in the second subset of the plurality of executable modules based on the determined configuration for the corresponding module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein

executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein

executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile application is a compiled mobile application that provides each of the workflow and the second workflow to the user without re-compiling the mobile application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode.

8. A system for configuring a workflow for employing a mobile computer that includes a processor to document a condition of tangible property, comprising:

a network; and

a network computer that performs a third set of actions comprising;

providing a compiled mobile application over the network, from the network computer to the mobile computer, wherein the compiled mobile application includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules; and

providing one or more configuration templates over the network to the mobile computer, wherein the one or more configuration templates are stored in a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format and include a workflow definition that indicates a configuration for each module of at least a subset of the plurality of executable modules, and wherein

when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the workflow for employing the mobile computer to document the condition for the tangible property is dynamically re-configured at a run-time of the mobile application and provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions at the run-time of the mobile application that dynamically configures each module of the subset of the plurality of executable modules based on the workflow definition included in the one or more configuration templates, the first set of actions comprising;

parsing, at the run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates;

determining, at the run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the configuration for each module of the subset of the plurality of executable modules indicated by the workflow definition, wherein determining the configuration for each module is based on parsing the one or more configuration templates and the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes at least a reference number module and a signature decision module that is enabled to execute a logic branch; and

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules in a particular sequence based on the determined configuration for the corresponding module and executing the reference number module includes automatically determining a number that identifies the tangible property based on image data generated by a camera of the mobile computer, and in response to determining that a record for the number does not exist, generating the record for the number, and executing the logic branch of the signature decision module includes completing a transaction of documenting the condition of the property based on whether execution of the signature decision module captures a signature of the user.

9. The system of claim 8, the third set of actions further comprising:

providing a second configuration template to the mobile computer, wherein the second configuration template includes a second workflow definition that is separate from the workflow definitions and indicates a configuration for each module of at least a second subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein

when, without re-compiling the mobile application, the portion of the machine-code instructions are subsequently executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, a second workflow that is separate from the first workflow is configured at a second run-time of the mobile application and provided to the user of the mobile computer by performing a second set actions that are separate from the first set of actions and comprising;

parsing, at the second run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the second configuration template;

determining, at the second run-time and on the mobile computer, the configuration for each module of the second subset of the plurality of modules included in the second workflow definition, wherein determining the configuration for each module is based on parsing the second configuration template; and

executing, at the mobile computer, each of modules included in the second subset of the plurality of executable modules based on the determined configuration for the corresponding module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein

executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein

executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein executing each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules enabling the user to document the condition of the tangible property.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode.

15. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that stores a mobile application that includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules for dynamically re-configuring a workflow for employing a mobile computer to document a condition of tangible property, wherein the mobile computer includes a processor, when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor, the workflow is dynamically re-configured and provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions comprising:

receiving, at the mobile computer, one or more configuration templates, wherein the one or more configuration templates are stored in a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format and include a workflow definition that indicates a configuration for each module of at least a subset of the plurality of executable modules;

parsing, at a run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates;

determining, at the run-time of the mobile application and on the mobile computer, the configuration for each module of the subset of the plurality of executable modules indicated by the workflow definition, wherein determining the configuration for each module is based on parsing the one or more configuration templates and the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes at least a reference number module and a signature decision module that is enabled to execute a logic branch; and

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules in a particular sequence based on the determined configuration for the corresponding module and executing the reference number module includes automatically determining a number that identifies the tangible property based on image data generated by a camera of the mobile computer, and in response to determining that a record for the number does not exist, generating the record for the number, and executing the logic branch of the signature decision module includes completing a transaction of documenting the condition of the property based on whether execution of the signature decision module captures a signature of the user.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:

executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.

17. The media of claim 15, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein

executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.

18. The media of claim 15, wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein

executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.

19. The media of claim 15, wherein executing each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules enabling a determination of a number that identifies tangible property, employing a camera device included in the mobile computer to generate image data of a a condition of the tangible property, and generating metadata that annotates the condition of the tangible property.

20. The media of claim 15, wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode.