Computer-implemented process management system
First Claim
1. An automated method for assigning, routing and monitoring a plurality of tasks to be performed to complete a desired process, said method comprising the acts of:
- defining a plurality of tasks that may be performed to complete a process, at least one of said plurality of tasks having a condition precedent;
selecting certain tasks from the plurality of defined tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the desired process;
automatically sequencing the selected certain tasks in an order in which the tasks need to be completed;
automatically identifying the certain tasks that have a condition precedent;
assigning a deadline date on each selected and sequenced task to be completed;
automatically assigning each of the tasks to a task fulfiller;
initiating a first task in said sequenced order;
automatically monitoring the completion of said first and subsequent sequenced tasks by an automated task fulfiller;
automatically ascertaining that a condition precedent in one selected sequenced task has been completed before a subsequent selected sequenced task is initiated;
determining, by said automated task fulfiller, a preselected number of days before said deadline date that an assigned and sequenced task is outstanding; and
automatically issuing a notification, by said automated task fulfiller, if the task fulfiller has not been able to complete the assigned task by the deadline date.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A task management system including a task server linking a plurality of system users, including at least one task definer, at least one task requestor and at least one task fulfiller all linked over a communications link. The task server includes a task processor for processing tasks, a task memory for storing task definitions and one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for interfacing the system users to the task server to facilitate operation of said task processing system. The GUIs include task view interfaces, task fulfiller interfaces, which are used by task requesters and task fulfillers to request and fulfill tasks, respectively. The GUIs also include a plurality of administrative editor interfaces, which are used by task definers to define, group and sequence tasks.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An automated method for assigning, routing and monitoring a plurality of tasks to be performed to complete a desired process, said method comprising the acts of:
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defining a plurality of tasks that may be performed to complete a process, at least one of said plurality of tasks having a condition precedent;
selecting certain tasks from the plurality of defined tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the desired process;
automatically sequencing the selected certain tasks in an order in which the tasks need to be completed;
automatically identifying the certain tasks that have a condition precedent;
assigning a deadline date on each selected and sequenced task to be completed;
automatically assigning each of the tasks to a task fulfiller;
initiating a first task in said sequenced order;
automatically monitoring the completion of said first and subsequent sequenced tasks by an automated task fulfiller;
automatically ascertaining that a condition precedent in one selected sequenced task has been completed before a subsequent selected sequenced task is initiated;
determining, by said automated task fulfiller, a preselected number of days before said deadline date that an assigned and sequenced task is outstanding; and
automatically issuing a notification, by said automated task fulfiller, if the task fulfiller has not been able to complete the assigned task by the deadline date. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated method for assigning, routing and monitoring a plurality of tasks to be performed to complete a desired process, said method comprising the acts of:
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defining a plurality of tasks that may be performed to complete a process;
selecting certain tasks from the plurality of defined tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the desired process;
automatically sequencing the selected certain tasks in an order in which the tasks need to be completed;
defining at least one task group, said at least one defined task group including a plurality of sequenced tasks related to the completion of a predetermined process;
automatically identifying the certain tasks that have a condition precedent;
assigning a deadline date on each selected and sequenced task to be completed;
automatically assigning each of the tasks to a task fulfiller;
initiating a first task in said sequenced order;
automatically monitoring the completion of said first and subsequent sequenced tasks by an automated task fulfiller;
automatically ascertaining that a condition precedent in one selected sequenced task has been completed before a subsequent selected sequenced task is initiated;
determining, by said automated task fulfiller, a preselected number of days before said deadline date that an assigned and sequenced task is outstanding; and
automatically issuing a notification by said automated task fulfiller if the task fulfiller has not been able to complete the assigned task by the deadline date.
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10. An automated method for assigning, routing and monitoring a plurality of tasks to be performed to complete a desired process, said method comprising the acts of:
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defining a plurality of tasks that may be performed to complete a process;
selecting certain tasks from the plurality of defined tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the desired process;
automatically sequencing the selected certain tasks in an order in which the tasks need to be completed;
assigning a deadline date on each selected and sequenced task to be completed;
automatically assigning each of the tasks to a task fulfiller;
initiating a first task in said sequenced order;
automatically monitoring the completion of said first and subsequent sequenced tasks by an automated task fulfiller;
determining, by said automated task fulfiller, a preselected number of days before said deadline date that an assigned and sequenced task is outstanding; and
automatically issuing a notification, by said automated task fulfiller, if the task fulfiller has not been able to complete the assigned task by the deadline date.
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11. An automated method for assigning, routing and monitoring a plurality of tasks to be performed to complete a desired process, said method comprising the acts of:
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defining a plurality of tasks that may be performed to complete a process, each of said plurality of tasks including at least one task field, each of said tasks further including a plurality of action items which must be undertaken to complete the task;
selecting certain tasks from the plurality of defined tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the desired process;
automatically sequencing the selected certain tasks in an order in which the tasks need to be completed;
assigning a deadline date on each selected and sequenced task to be completed;
automatically assigning each of the tasks to a task fulfiller; and
initiating a first task in said sequenced order;
automatically monitoring the completion of said first and subsequent sequenced tasks by an automated task fulfiller;
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Specification