Review mechanism for controlling the delegation of tasks in a workflow system

• US 20060136495A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schaad, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,978 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

A method for creating a review task includes receiving task data, the task data including information on a main task to be performed. Delegation data is received, the delegation data including information identifying a first delegator of the main task and a first delegatee to perform the main task. A review task is created, with the review task having as its object at least aspects of the main task. The review task is assigned to the first delegator of the main task, and review task data is stored based on the completed main task.

Claims

1. A method for creating a review task, the method comprising:

receiving task data, the task data including information regarding a main task to be performed;

receiving delegation data, the delegation data including information identifying a first delegator of the main task and a first delegates to perform the main task;

creating a review task, with the review task having as its object at least aspects of the main task;

assigning the review task to the first delegator of the main task, and

storing review task data based on the main task when completed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation data is received from a user input device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation data is received from a delegation module.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating evidence indicating that the main task has been completed, the evidence being associated with the review task and being stored as part of the review task data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving subsequent delegation data, the subsequent delegation data including information identifying the first delegatee as a subsequent delegator of the main task and a subsequent delegatee to perform the main task.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the subsequent delegation data to a set of rules, thereby to determine whether the subsequent delegation is allowable.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of rules limits a number of subsequent delegations.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of rules disqualify the first delegator or subsequent delegators from being subsequent delegatees.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

creating a subsequent review task having the main task as an object to be reviewed;

assigning the subsequent review task to the subsequent delegator of the main task, and

storing further review task data based on the subsequent review task.

10. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method for creating a review task, the method comprising:

receiving task data, the task data including information on a main task to be performed;

receiving delegation data, the delegation data including information identifying a first delegator of the main task and a first delegatee to perform the main task;

creating a review task, with the review task having as its object at least aspects of the main task;

assigning the review task to the first delegator of the main task; and

storing review task data based on the main task when completed.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises creating evidence indicating that the main task has been completed, the evidence being associated with the review task and stored as part of the review data.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises receiving subsequent delegation data, the subsequent delegation data including information identifying the first delegatee as a subsequent delegator of the main task and a subsequent delegates to perform the main task.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises comparing the subsequent delegation data to a set of rules, thereby to determine whether the subsequent delegation is allowable.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

creating a subsequent review task having the main task as an object to be reviewed;

assigning the subsequent review task to the subsequent delegator of the main task; and

storing further review task data based on the subsequent review task.

15. A system for creating a review task, the system comprising:

an interface to receive

task data including information on a main task to be performed;

a review module to

create a review task with at least aspects of the main task being

the object of review task, and to

assign the review task to the first delegator of the main task; and

a database to store the main task data, delegation data and review task data.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the user interface is further to receive delegation data including information identifying a first delegator and a first delegates to perform the main task.

17. The system of claim 15 further including a task delegation module to receive delegation data stored in the database, including information identifying a first delegator and a first delegates to perform the main task.

18. The system of claim 15 further including a task creation module to create a main task based on the received task data.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a program interface to

link at least the user interface, review module and database to a

second application or system.

21. The system of claim 19 further including sixth means for creating a main task based on the received task data.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the first means is a user interface.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the second means is a user interface or a task delegation module.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the third and fourth means is a review module.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the fifth means is a database.

20. A system for creating a review task, the system comprising:

first means for receiving

task data including information on a main task to be performed;

second means for receiving

delegation data including information identifying a first delegator

and a first delegatee to perform the main task;

third means for creating a review task with at least aspects of the main task being the object of review task;

fourth means for assigning the review task to the first delegator of the main task; and

fifth means for storing the main task data, delegation data and review task data.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the sixth means is a task creation module.