Systems and methods for managing workflow based on search escalation for worker procurement

• US 20050195429A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthurium Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anthurium Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Archbold, Janice K.
• Application Number:
  US11/002,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes one or more “HOME”s where there is a (1) “DAD”computer and software system for human User interaction to initiate Jobs (Transcription, Translation, Data Entry, and Transaction Creation) and to utilize voice-mail through real-time voice and tone signal input and (2) “HIS” computer and software system for keeping the databases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical records of jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing. In addition the system includes one or more “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of a global communication network (e.g. Internet) that (1) receives Job packets from its HOMEs, (2) selects Scribes for work (e.g. transcription), (3) generates messages in the form of E-Mail and Voice-Mail to specified users for information or action, (4) updates the status of the Job Record and transferring that updated Record to a SUPERMOM, (5) implements all the details of job processing steps and logic that has been controlled by Human Supervisors. The system may further include a “SUPERMOM” where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of the global computer network (e.g. Internet) that receives Job Packets from MOMs where portions of the job are spread over two or more MOMs; SUPERMOM directs and transfers that job data; receives Job Record updates and maintains a Site for on-line internet job tracking inquiries; SUPERMOM selects Scribes for Jobs that are not able to find an available Scribe within their own MOM'"'"'s HOMEs, collects the statistical and financial data from all the HOMEs, and provides general top level management decision making information.

Claims

1. A system for automatically managing workflow, comprising:

a first computer that maintains first scribe data for each of a first plurality of scribes, said first scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the first plurality of scribes;

wherein the first computer receives a job record containing a set of computer-readable job processing requirements, determines from the first scribe data that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform a job step associated with the job processing requirements, and notifies a second computer that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and

wherein the second computer determines, based on second scribe data associated with a second plurality of scribes associated with a third computer, that no scribe in the second plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step and notifies an fourth computer that no scribe in the second plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and

wherein the fourth computer determines, based on third scribe data associated with a third plurality of scribes, whether a selected scribe is available and qualified to perform the job step and, if the selected scribe is available and qualified to perform the job step, forwards a job packet to a scribe computer associated with the selected scribe.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains respective third scribe data for each of the third plurality of scribes, said third scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the third plurality of scribes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, if no scribe in the third plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, the fourth computer initiates a Internet-based bidding process via which a fourth plurality of scribes can bid to perform the job step.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer identifies a qualified bidder from the bidding process and forwards the job packet to the qualified bidder.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the qualified bidder is identified based on qualifications to perform the job step and a price for which the qualified bidder will perform the job step.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains a list of qualified scribes that may bid on specified activities of job steps.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains respective quality analysis data associated with each of the fourth plurality of scribes.

8. A system for automatically managing workflow, comprising:

a first computer that maintains first scribe data for each of a first plurality of scribes, said first scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the first plurality of scribes;

wherein the first computer receives a job record containing a set of computer-readable job processing requirements, determines from the first scribe data that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform a job step associated with the job processing requirements, and notifies a second computer that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and

wherein the second computer selects, based on scribe data associated with a second plurality of scribes associated with a third computer, a scribe that is available and qualified to perform the job step and forwards a job packet to a scribe computer associated with the selected scribe.