Method and system for re-authorizing workflow objects

• US 20060047555A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Jenny, Chao, Pei, Kang, Chih-Chiang
• Application Number:
  US10/928,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system for re-authorizing workflow objects are disclosed. The system includes a system agent that determines if a received workflow object, such as a document which requires approvals, is impacted by changes in an organizational hierarchy. If a particular received workgroup object is so impacted, the system agent forwards the impacted workflow object to a re-authorization engine. The re-authorization engine then applies re-authorization rules to determine a new and correct routing path for the impacted workflow object.

Claims

1. A method of controlling workflow comprising:

receiving workflow objects from original processors;

determining, by a system agent, if an organization change has occurred which impacts a particular received workflow object; and

re-authorizing, by a re-authorization engine, an impacted received workflow object to be processed according to a new routing path.

2. The method of claim 1 including storing impact rules in an impact rule storage.

3. The method of claim 2 including accessing impact rules by the system agent.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining, by the system agent, an impacted workflow object in response to applying the impact rules.

5. The method of claim 1 including storing re-authorization rules in a re-authorization rule storage.

6. The method of claim 5 including accessing re-authorization rules by the system agent.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising re-authorizing, by the re-authorization engine, impacted received workflow objects in response to the re-authorization rules.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the workflow object is a document.

9. The method of claim 1 including forwarding a re-authorized impacted received workflow object to a new processor.

10. The method of claim 1 including forwarding a re-authorized impacted workflow object to a new reader.

11. A method of controlling workflow comprising:

receiving, by an authorization engine, workflow objects from original processors, the received workflow objects having respective routing paths associated therewith by the authorization engine;

determining, by a system agent, if an organization change has occurred which impacts a particular workflow object; and

re-authorizing, by a re-authorization engine, an impacted workflow object to be processed according to a new routing path.

12. The method of claim 11 including storing impact rules in an impact rule storage.

13. The method of claim 12 including accessing impact rules by the system agent.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining, by the system agent, an impacted workflow object in response to applying the impact rules.

15. The method of claim 11 including storing re-authorization rules in a re-authorization rule storage.

16. The method of claim 15 including accessing re-authorization rules by the system agent.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising re-authorizing, by the re-authorization engine, impacted received workflow objects in response to the re-authorization rules.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the workflow object is a document.

19. The method of claim 11 including forwarding a re-authorized impacted received workflow object to a new processor.

20. The method of claim 11 including forwarding a re-authorized impacted workflow object to a new reader.

21. A workflow system comprising:

an input at which workflow objects are received;

a system agent, coupled to the input, that determines if an organization change has occurred which impacts a particular received workflow object; and

a re-authorization engine, coupled to the system agent, that re-authorizes an impacted received workflow object to be processed according to a new routing path.

22. The workflow system of claim 21 further comprising impact rule storage, coupled to the system agent, that stores impact rules.

23. The workflow system of claim 21 further comprising re-authorization rule storage, coupled to the re-authorization engine, that store re-authorization rules.

24. The workflow system of claim 21 wherein the system agent is a software application.

25. The workflow system of claim 21 wherein the re-authorization engine is a software application.

26. The workflow system of claim 21 wherein the workflow object is a document.

27. A workflow system comprising:

an authorization engine at which workgroup objects from original processors are associated with respective routing paths;

a system agent, coupled to the authorization engine, that determines if an organization change has occurred which impacts a particular received workflow object; and

a re-authorization engine, coupled to the system agent, that re-authorizes an impacted received workflow object to be processed according to a new routing path.

28. The workflow system of claim 27 further comprising impact rule storage, coupled to the system agent, that stores impact rules.

29. The workflow system of claim 27 further comprising re-authorization rule storage, coupled to the re-authorization engine, that store re-authorization rules.

30. The workflow system of claim 27 wherein the system agent is a software application.

31. The workflow system of claim 27 wherein the re-authorization engine is a software application.

32. The workflow system of claim 27 wherein the workflow object is a document.