METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING REMOTE WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT

• US 20070127667A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rachamadugu, Sreenivas
• Granted Patent: US 9,076,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19613 Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An approach is provided for remote workflow management. The workflow repository, management and monitoring is performed from a remote facility while the resources that are required to execute the workflow may be in a completely different network. The resources of a subscriber network are identified. The identified resources are registered within a repository, wherein the repository is maintained by a service provider. The repository is configured to store rules for allocating the identified resources according to the defined business process flow. The allocated resources are applied to a workflow.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying resources of a subscriber network;

registering the identified resources within a repository, wherein the repository is maintained by a service provider and is configured to store rules for allocating the identified resources; and

applying the allocated resources to a workflow.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a secure connection to the network for registering the identified resources.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the resources; and

updating the repository based on the monitoring step.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

instructing a first one of the resources to transfer a task specified by the workflow to a second one of the resources based on the identified resources.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing a workflow definition in the repository.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining the steps of identifying, registering and applying as a service;

tracking usage of the service; and

generating billing information based on the tracked usage.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the resource information includes location, access parameters, programs, resource parameters, and availability schedules.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with a portal that is configured to receive user input relating to the workflow.

9. A system comprising:

a repository maintained by a service provider; and

a workflow system configured to identify resources of a subscriber network, and to register the identified resources with the repository, wherein the repository is configured to store rules for allocating the identified resources, the workflow system being further configured to apply the allocated resources to a workflow.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein a secure connection is established with the network for registering the identified resources.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the workflow system is further configured to monitor the resources, and to update the repository based on the monitoring of the resources.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the workflow system is further configured to instruct a first one of the resources to transfer a task specified by the workflow to a second one of the resources based on the identified resources.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein the repository is further configured to store a workflow definition.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein usage of the workflow system is tracked, and billing information is generated based on the tracked usage.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein the resource information includes location, access parameters, programs, resource parameters, and availability schedules.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein the workflow system is further configured to communicate with a portal that is configured to receive user input relating to the workflow.

17. A method comprising:

monitoring resources of a plurality of networks corresponding to different subscribers;

storing information about the resources within a repository maintained by a service provider;

managing resources of corresponding ones of the subscriber networks using business rules associated with a plurality of workflows, wherein the workflows specify activities relating to video processing; and

charging the subscribers on a per-usage basis for management of the resources.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

establishing secure connections to the subscriber networks to obtain the information about the resources.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the resource information includes location, access parameters, programs, resource parameters, and availability schedules.

20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

communicating with a portal that is configured to receive user input relating to the workflow.