Automated workflow

• US 20030195762A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nobilis Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nobilis Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Farrington, Stephen, Clifton, Michael, Maniscalco, James F., Gleason, David
• Application Number:
  US10/271,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195762A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An automatic workflow architecture provides a design and execution environment for computer-automating business processes, where a user knowledgeable only in the business process itself can create and run the automation of the process without assistance from programmers. An automated workflow method including loading a blank document, selecting activities from a menu to reflect a flow of a business process, inserting the selected activities into the document, assigning variables to the selected activities, and assigning the variables to fields within a desktop application.

Claims

1. A workflow method comprising:

specifying data sources and participants for a business process;

integrating input and output forms for the business process;

invoking a decision-tree based map using icons that represent elements of business rules that can be dragged and dropped into graphical user interface work space; and

linking input from the input and output forms to dynamic variables within the decision-tree based map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing and evaluating the business rules in a server-based engine;

sending data to external systems; and

executing the business process.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the server-based engine communicates with external systems using a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

4. The method of claim 1 in which specifying comprises receiving a user input through a desktop application.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the desktop application is a spreadsheet application.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the desktop application is a word processing application.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising managing communications using electronic mail.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising managing communications using a web portal.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising tracking a status of the business process.

10. An automated workflow method comprising:

loading a graphical user interface workspace;

selecting activities from a menu to reflect a flow of a business process;

inserting the selected activities into the workspace;

assigning variables to the selected activities; and

assigning the variables to fields within a desktop application.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the workspace is a spreadsheet.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the workspace is a spreadsheet program.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the workspace is a word processing document.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the desktop application is a word processing program.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising executing the selected activities.

16. A network comprising:

a client system linked to an application server through a web server, the client system including a desktop application, an Add-In using COM objects to host application server functions and variable mapping logging, and MS SOAP client;

the web server including an Apache SOAP servlet that hosts SOAP services; and

the application server including a process engine for executing an automated work flow process.

17. The network of claim 16 further comprising a link between the client system and the web server for passing SOAP/HTTP requests and responses.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising a link between the web server and the application server for handling remote method invocation (RMI) functions.

19. A graphical user interface (GUI) comprising:

a map representing a business process flow with input and output;

a start and end activity destination;

activity assignments; and

a rule set linked to each of the activity assignments.

20. The interface of claim 19 in which the rule set comprises a set of user customizable parameters and variables.

21. The interface of claim 20 further comprising a link to a desktop application.

22. The interface of claim 21 in which the desktop application is a spreadsheet.

23. The interface of claim 21 in which the desktop application is a document.