Content management system and method of employing extensible workflow entities with user-defined attributes in an object-oriented framework
First Claim
1. A workflow system enabling a user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow for various applications comprising:
- a processor to perform said workflow in accordance with workflow entities, wherein said processor includes;
an attribute module to enable said user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow, said attribute module including;
an attribute definition module to define at least one attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;
an attribute association module to associate each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;
an attribute value assignment module to assign a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and
an attribute access module to access said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object-oriented framework is provided for managing the definition of user-defined attributes for workflow entities and storing and retrieving the values of those attributes. A set of APIs are introduced to manage the creation, deletion, and retrieval of user specified attribute definitions. In addition, extension objects are introduced to accommodate the storing and retrieving of values of user-defined attributes. This mechanism for allowing a user to extend the attributes of workflow entities enables customization of a workflow system to particular applications.
52 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A workflow system enabling a user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow for various applications comprising:
a processor to perform said workflow in accordance with workflow entities, wherein said processor includes;
an attribute module to enable said user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow, said attribute module including;
an attribute definition module to define at least one attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;
an attribute association module to associate each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;
an attribute value assignment module to assign a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and
an attribute access module to access said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
7. A method of enabling a user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity in a workflow system including a processor to customize said workflow for various applications comprising the steps of:
-
(a) defining at least one attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;
(b) associating each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;
(c) assigning a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and
(d) performing said workflow, via said processor, in accordance with workflow entities and accessing said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A program product apparatus including a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity in a workflow system including a processor to customize said workflow for various applications comprising:
an attribute module to enable said user to define at least one attribute for at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow, said attribute module including;
an attribute definition module to define at least one attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;
an attribute association module to associate each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;
an attribute value assignment module to assign a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and
an attribute access module to access said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification