Business process extensions to enable alerts and reports within the context of groupware

• US 20060277554A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Nayar, Narayan, Vogler-Ivashchanka, Iryna, Moore, Dennis Brian, Samson, Frederic E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/315
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A backend enterprise server includes an application that sends metadata to a groupware client. The metadata enables an enterprise user to modify a function of the backend application from within the context of the groupware client. The groupware client sends metadata describing the modification back to the backend application where the modification is applied.

Claims

1. A backend enterprise interface, comprising:

an outbound module that sends metadata from an application of a backend enterprise server to a groupware client enabling modification of a function of the backend application from within the context of the groupware client;

an inbound module that receives metadata from the groupware client, wherein the metadata indicates modification of the function of the application; and

an application interface module coupled to the outbound module and the inbound module that supplies the modification to the application.

2. The backend enterprise interface of claim 1, further comprising:

an alerts module coupled to the application interface, the inbound module, and the outbound module that routes metadata from the application to the groupware client via the outbound module, wherein the metadata enable one or more conditions associated with a business process rule for the application to be defined from within the context of the groupware client.

3. The backend enterprise interface of claim 1, further comprising a reports module coupled to the application interface, the inbound module, and the outbound module that receives from the groupware client via the inbound module a request to forward a copy of a report and routes metadata to the groupware client to create a groupware object that includes the report copy to be forwarded.

4. A method for modifying a business process, comprising:

sending metadata from an application of a backend enterprise server to a groupware client to enable one or more conditions associated with a business process rule of the application to be defined from within the context of the groupware client;

receiving response metadata from the groupware client, wherein the response metadata indicates the defined conditions associated with the business process rule; and

applying the defined conditions for the business process rule to the backend application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein applying the defined conditions further comprises:

triggering the business process rule in the backend application when one or more of the conditions are met; and

sending metadata to the groupware client to create a workflow object from within the context of the groupware client in response to the triggered business process rule.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sending the metadata to create a workflow object further comprises:

sending metadata that enables an action to be selected for the workflow object.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending metadata to the groupware client to generate a workflow task from within the context of the groupware client in response to selecting the action.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving metadata from the groupware client to apply the task to a workflow of the backend application.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising automatically assigning the task to an enterprise user.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the task includes a fillable form.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically marking the task complete when the fillable form has been submitted.

12. An article of manufacturing comprising a machine readable medium having content stored thereon to provide instructions to cause a machine to perform operations, including:

sending metadata from an application of a backend enterprise server to a groupware client to enable one or more conditions associated with a business process rule to be defined from within the context of the groupware client;

receiving response metadata from the groupware client, wherein the second set of metadata indicates the defined conditions associated with the business process rule; and

applying the defined conditions from the response metadata to the backend application.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12 comprising further content to provide instructions to cause a machine to perform operations, including:

triggering the business process rule in the backend application when one or more of the conditions are met; and

sending metadata to the groupware client to create a workflow object from within the context of the groupware client in response to the triggered business process rule.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein sending the metadata to create a workflow object further comprises:

sending metadata that enables an action to be selected for the workflow object.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, further comprising:

sending metadata to the groupware client to generate a task from within the context of the groupware client in response to selecting the action.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising receiving metadata from the groupware client to apply the task to a workflow of the backend application.

17. A method, comprising:

presenting a report from an application of a backend enterprise server within the context of a groupware client at a first location;

receiving a request to forward a copy of the report to a second location; and

sending metadata to the groupware client to create a groupware object that includes the report copy to be forwarded to the second location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving a request to forward a copy of the report further comprises:

receiving a request to forward a static copy of the report, wherein information included in the static copy of the report is identical to the report.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the report copy includes report data that is dynamically updated by the backend application.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving metadata from the groupware client, wherein the metadata indicates requested changes to a format for presenting the report within the context of the groupware client.

21. An article of manufacturing comprising a machine readable medium having content stored thereon to provide instructions to cause a machine to perform operations, including:

presenting a report from an application of a backend enterprise server within the context of a groupware client at a first location;

receiving a request to forward a copy of the report to a second location; and

sending metadata to the groupware client to create a groupware object that includes the report copy to be forwarded to the second location.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the report copy includes static report data.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the report copy includes report data that is dynamically updated by the backend application.