E-mail notification support for workflows
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- an e-mail server; and
a workflow server comprising;
a repository storing a workflow having a plurality of stages, each stage defining a task to be performed, an operator for the task, and a next task, the workflow identifying one of the tasks as a current task, and a workflow engine to manage operation of the workflow, wherein responsive to a notification that the current task is completed, workflow server is to identify a next open task and cause the email server to notify the next task owner that the next task has become active.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention provides a collaboration system and method that includes automatic notifications for tasks as they become active in a workflow. When a first task of the workflow is completed, the computer system receives a notification from a first operator indicating that the first task is done. The computer system then identifies a person, who is responsible for performing a next task in the workflow sequence, and automatically generates a new e-mail notification. The computer system may then send the new notification for the next task to the identified operator of the next task. In one embodiment, the next task may be e-mailed to the recipient and get integrated into the recipient'"'"'s backend system when a send button is pressed. In other instances, the next task may be attached to an e-mail and further may be integrated into the recipient'"'"'s backend system if the next task is scanned by a groupware server when the user is online. When the next task is marked as completed, a notification, which records completion of the task, may be returned to the computer system. This process may continue recursively until the workflow reaches its conclusion.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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an e-mail server; and
a workflow server comprising;
a repository storing a workflow having a plurality of stages, each stage defining a task to be performed, an operator for the task, and a next task, the workflow identifying one of the tasks as a current task, and a workflow engine to manage operation of the workflow, wherein responsive to a notification that the current task is completed, workflow server is to identify a next open task and cause the email server to notify the next task owner that the next task has become active. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A workflow manager, comprising:
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a storage having defined therein a workflow, the workflow having a plurality of stages, each stage defining a current task to be performed, a task owner, and a next task;
a workflow engine to manage operation of the workflow; and
an e-mail service for exchanging emails with user terminals if called for by the workflow engine;
wherein, upon receipt of a task completion notification, the workflow engine is to identify the next task from the workflow and send a new e-mail notification to an owner of the next task indicating that the next task has become active. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A workflow management method, comprising:
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responsive to a task completion notification, opening a workflow corresponding to the notification, the workflow defining tasks to be performed and task owners;
determining a next task to be performed from the workflow;
identifying a task owner of the next task from the workflow; and
calling an e-mail service with a task request for the next task. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A workflow management method, comprising:
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surveying active workflow stages of a workflow, the workflow having a plurality of workflow stages, each workflow stage defining a task to be performed, a due date, and a supervisor;
determining if any of the active workflow stages is overdue;
if an active workflow stage is overdue, identifying the supervisor of the workflow stage from the workflow; and
calling an e-mail service to send an e-mail notification to the identified supervisor of the workflow stage. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification