Method for enforcing group oriented workflow requirements for multi-layered documents

• US 20070067728A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Paul, Lo, Wenphing
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods for enforcing group oriented workflow requirements for multi-layered documents. Embodiments allow results of multi-layered operations to dictate the flow of tasks that occur on a multi-layered document. Flow is directed to roles and may be directed by the data values operated on in addition to multi-layered operation results. The system enables the workflow enabled creation and maintenance of multi-layered documents that minimize repeated data to ensure the highest possible data integrity when targeting a publication at multiple audiences. When a publication is changed and requires maintenance, use of a defined workflow for updating the publication ensures consistency in each publication. Embodiments may comprise performance metrics for monitoring and benchmarking publication processes.

Claims

1. A method for enforcing group oriented workflow requirements for multi-layered documents comprising:

accepting data entry for a multi-layered document;

applying a multi-layered operation on a multi-layered document;

communicating a result of said multi-layered operation to a workflow engine; and

,

sending a message via said workflow engine to a role based on said result.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating said result based on a validation based on a function that uses a first value of a first data item in a first layer and a second value of a second data item in a second layer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating said result based on a group of validations based on a function that uses a first value of a first data item in a first layer and a second value of a second data item in a second layer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing a first data item in a first layer to determine if said first data item is NULL;

accessing a second data item in a second layer to determine if said second data item is NULL; and

,

generating said result based on a logic function that uses a first result obtained from said accessing said first data item and a second result obtained from said accessing said second data item.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on a data in said data item.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on said result.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on a data in said data item and said result.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on a family associated with said first data item and said second data item.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on a audience name.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

saving said result for process analysis.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

laying out said multi-layered document for a target audience; and

,

generating said result after completion of said laying out.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pivoting a table for a family in said multi-layered document for a target audience; and

,

generating said result after completion of said pivoting.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

publishing said multi-layered document for a target media type; and

,

generating said result after completion of said publishing.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said role to send said message to based on an media type.

15. A system for enforcing group oriented workflow requirements for multi-layered documents comprising:

means for accepting data entry for a multi-layered document;

means for applying a multi-layered operation on a multi-layered document;

means for communicating a result of said multi-layered operation to a workflow engine;

and,

means for sending a message via said workflow engine to a role based on said result.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for generating said result based on a validation based on a function that uses a first value of a first data item in a first layer and a second value of a second data item in a second layer.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for accessing a first data item in a first layer to determine if said first data item is NULL;

means for accessing a second data item in a second layer to determine if said second data item is NULL; and

,

means for generating said result based on a logic function that uses a first result obtained from said accessing said first data item and a second result obtained from said accessing said second data item.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for laying out said multi-layered document for a target audience; and

,

means for generating said result after completion of said laying out.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for pivoting a table for a family in said multi-layered document for a target audience; and

,

means for generating said result after completion of said pivoting.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for publishing said multi-layered document for a target media type; and

,

means for generating said result after completion of said publishing.