Method, system, storage medium and server apparatus for controlling workflow

• US 20010027477A1
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Neyama, Ryoh, Kajitani, Kohichi, Nakamura, Yuhichi, Seki, Naishin
• Granted Patent: US 6,952,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Flow control for a workflow controlling system is achieved wherein a business document flows among a plurality of participants by, at a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and terminal apparatus connecting to the server apparatus via a network, generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from one of the terminal apparatus and storing it in the storage device, receiving an update request on the document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether the update request is appropriate or not, and if the update request is appropriate then executing the update on the document, and determining whether the workflow/process was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

Claims

1. At a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and a plurality of terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, a method for controlling a workflow which is executed by said server, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from one of said terminal apparatus and storing it in said storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document; and

(c) determining whether said workflow/process was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

2. The method according to

claim 1

wherein said steps (b) and (c) are implemented on said server apparatus, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

3. The method according to

claim 1

wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field of said document related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

4. The method according to

claim 1

wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

5. The method according to

claim 1

wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

6. The method according to

claim 1

wherein said step (c) further comprises a step of, if it is determined that the process ended abnormally, notifying the terminal apparatus.

7. At a system which includes a server apparatus and terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, a method for controlling a workflow which is executed by said server, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a storage medium; and

(c) determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

8. The method according to

claim 7

wherein said method is implemented on said server apparatus, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

9. The method according to

claim 7

wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

10. The method according to

claim 7

wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

11. At a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section and terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, said flow control section executing the workflow controlling functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether processing of said document was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

12. The system according to

claim 11

wherein said functions of the flow control section are implemented in said flow control section, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

13. The system according to

claim 11

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field of said document related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

14. The system according to

claim 11

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

15. The system according to

claim 11

wherein, in said (c), said flow control section further has a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

16. The system according to

claim 11

wherein, in said (c), said flow control section further has a function of, if it is determined that the process ended abnormally, notifying the terminal apparatus.

17. At a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section and terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, said flow control section having the workflow controlling functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

18. The system according to

claim 17

wherein said functions of the flow control section are implemented in said flow control section, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

19. The system according to

claim 17

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

20. The system according to

claim 17

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

21. At a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, a computer readable storage medium storing a program used on said server for controlling a workflow, said program having said server execute the functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether processing of said document was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

22. The storage medium according to

claim 21

wherein said functions are implemented when said document is converted into a logic program by said program, by executing such a logic program.

23. The storage medium according to

claim 21

wherein, in said (b), said program further has said server execute a function of determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field of said document related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

24. The storage medium according to

claim 21

wherein, in said (b), said program further has said server execute a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

25. The storage medium according to

claim 21

wherein, in said (b), said program further has said server execute a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

26. The storage medium according to

claim 21

wherein, in said (c), said program further has said server execute a function of, if it is determined that the process ended abnormally, notifying the terminal apparatus.

27. At a system which includes a server apparatus including a storage device and terminal apparatus connecting to said server apparatus via a network, a computer readable storage medium storing a program used on said server for controlling a workflow, said program having said server execute the functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

28. The storage medium according to

claim 27

wherein said functions are implemented when said document is converted into a logic program by said program, by executing such a logic program.

29. The storage medium according to

claim 27

wherein, in said (b), said program further has said server execute a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

30. The storage medium according to

claim 27

wherein, in said (b), said program further has said server execute a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

31. A server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section connecting to terminal apparatus via a network, said flow control section executing the workflow controlling functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether processing of said document was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

32. The server apparatus according to

claim 31

wherein said functions of the flow control section are implemented in said flow control section, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

33. The server apparatus according to

claim 31

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field of said document related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

34. The server apparatus according to

claim 31

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

35. The server apparatus according to

claim 31

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

36. The server apparatus according to

claim 31

wherein, in said (c), said flow control section further has a function of, if it is determined that the process ended abnormally, notifying the terminal apparatus.

37. A server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section connecting to terminal apparatus via a network, said flow control section executing the workflow controlling functions of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.

38. The server apparatus according to

claim 37

wherein said functions of the flow control section are implemented in said flow control section, when said document is converted into a logic program, by executing such a logic program.

39. The server apparatus according to

claim 37

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of, if the update request is not appropriate, notifying the first terminal apparatus.

40. The server apparatus according to

claim 37

wherein, in said (b), said flow control section further has a function of registering the time determined to be time out when executing the update request, and if time out occurs, giving predetermined notice to related terminal apparatus.

41. A server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section connecting to terminal apparatus via a network, said flow control section having the means of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether processing of said document was completed or not, and if not completed then identifying the second terminal apparatus which can update next and notifying it.

42. A server apparatus including a storage device and a flow control section connecting to terminal apparatus via a network, said flow control section having the means of:

(a) generating a document which includes data and rules responding to a request from said terminal apparatus and storing it in a storage device;

(b) receiving an update request on said document from the first terminal apparatus, determining whether said update request is appropriate or not, and if said update request is appropriate then executing the update on said document on a database; and

(c) determining whether or not said update request is a cancellation request, and if it is, resetting any field related to the cancellation request, and identifying a terminal apparatus related to the reset field to notify it.