Workflow association in a collaborative application

• US 20060069605A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hatoun, George
• Application Number:
  US11/087,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• 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 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

A method for developing and managing workflows is disclosed. The method enables the development of workflows from workflow templates and/or preprogrammed components; associating a workflow with a schedule; modeling a workflow as a plurality of tasks and a plurality of human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction points; and persistently storing the internal state of a workflow. The method employs computer-implemented forms to control the development, packaging, installation, deployment, enablement, association, instantiation, and termination of workflows.

Claims

1. A method of creating a software program for supporting how work flows through a business process (i.e., a workflow), comprising:

(a) in response to user input, defining a workflow and designing forms to support the workflow using previously developed templates;

(b) installing the workflow on a server;

(c) associating participants with the workflow;

(d) enabling the workflow; and

(e) associating the workflow with a document library.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein defining a workflow and designing forms to support the workflow using previously developed templates includes designing forms that support the schedule and metadata of the workflow.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein defining a workflow and designing forms to support the workflow using previously developed templates includes defining how the workflow is to be tracked.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein defining a workflow and designing forms to support the workflow using previously developed templates includes packaging the workflow.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein packaging the workflow includes:

(a) inserting a workflow schedule into a package;

(b) inserting task types into the package;

(c) inserting forms into the package;

(d) inserting resources into the package; and

(e) adding metadata to the package manifest.

6. The method of claim 1 also including, in response to user input, starting the workflow.

7. The method of claim 1, including terminating the workflow.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the workflow with a document library includes creating a document library, creating a content type and associating a workflow to the content type, adding that content type to the list or document library, and adding documents of the appropriate content type to the list or document library.

9. The computer-implemented method for managing workflows, said method comprising:

(a) developing a workflow;

(b) packaging the workflow;

(c) installing the workflow on a server;

(d) deploying the workflow;

(e) enabling the workflow;

(f) associating the workflow with a schedule;

(g) instantiating the workflow; and

(h) terminating the workflow.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein developing the workflow comprises:

(a) designing workflow forms using workflow templates, said workflow forms including parameters; and

(b) assigning values to the parameters of said workflow forms.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said workflow includes a plurality of tasks to be performed by participants.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said workflow has a structure and, wherein said structure is described by a declarative language.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein said workflow structure is stored for use in the creation of other workflows.

14. A computer-implemented method for managing workflows, said method comprising:

(a) creating a workflow from preprogrammed components, said preprogrammed components including templates suitable for creating forms, said templates including parameters;

(b) assigning values to the parameters of said workflow forms;

(c) installing said workflow forms on a server; and

(d) associating participants with said workflow.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, including enabling the workflow forms for use by participants.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, including associating the workflow forms with a document library.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the workflow includes a plurality of tasks, said tasks being associated with said participants.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein said workflow includes a schedule and wherein said tasks are associated with said participants according to said schedule.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein said workflow creates a report of the status of the accomplishment of said tasks.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein said workflow has a structure and, wherein said structure is described by a declarative language.