Workflow interaction

• US 20060074969A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Jane T., Barac, Dragos, Cupala, Shiraz J., Pavlicic, Miladin
• Application Number:
  US10/977,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074969A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Systems and methods enabling interaction with a workflow governing an electronic file are described. One of these systems or methods presents a dynamically updatable user interface for interacting with a workflow of an electronic file along with the data of the electronic file.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed, are capable of performing acts comprising:

presenting a workflow state for an electronic file in conjunction with a presentation of data of the electronic file; and

updating the presentation of the workflow state.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the act of updating is performed without user interaction.

3. The media of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that the workflow state has been altered and wherein the act of updating is responsive to receiving the indication.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the act of presenting comprises presenting the workflow state as part of a graphical user interface associated with the electronic file.

5. The media of claim 4, wherein the act of presenting further comprises enabling selection of workflow tasks in the graphical user interface.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein the act of presenting comprises presenting the workflow state in a form tailored to a user.

7. The media of claim 6, further comprising determining the form based on workflow tasks associated with the user.

8. A system embodying the computer-readable media of claim 1.

9. One or more computer-readable media having computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed, are capable of performing acts comprising:

presenting a workflow state for an electronic file in conjunction with a presentation of data of the electronic file;

enabling selection of a workflow task for the electronic file;

receiving the selection; and

updating the presentation of the workflow state without further user interaction.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the act of presenting comprises presenting the workflow state as part of a graphical user interface associated with the electronic file.

11. The media of claim 9, wherein the act of presenting comprises presenting the workflow state in a form tailored to a user.

12. The media of claim 9, further comprising determining the workflow state for the electronic file.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the act of determining the workflow state comprises tailoring the workflow state to a user and the act of presenting comprises presenting the tailored workflow state.

14. The media of claim 9, further comprising altering the workflow state responsive to receiving the selection and wherein the act of updating the presentation comprises presenting the now-altered workflow state.

15. A system embodying the computer-readable media of claim 9.

16. One or more computer-readable media having computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed, are capable of performing acts comprising:

presenting an electronic file having a user interface;

enabling selection through the user interface of a workflow state for the electronic file; and

presenting, responsive to the selection, the workflow state for the electronic file.

17. The media of claim 16, further comprising enabling selection of a workflow task capable of altering the workflow state.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein the act of presenting comprises presenting, responsive to selection of the workflow task, an update to the workflow state.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the act of presenting the update is performed without user interface other than the selection of the workflow task.

20. A system embodying the computer-readable media of claim 16.