Method and system for managing data in a workflow process

• US 20070214162A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QuickBase Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Rice, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2308 Concurrency control transaction processing G06F9/466

Abstract

In general, in one aspect the invention relates to a method and system for managing data. The method and system involves identifying for a first user at least one record of a plurality of records, generating a user interface which displays a data field associated with the at least one record in a grid format, receiving from a second user, subsequent to generating the first user interface, a first desired modification of the data field, receiving from the first user a second desired modification of the data field, triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process involves choosing a chosen modification from the first desired modification and the second desired modification, and saving the chosen modification in the data field.

Claims

1. A method for managing data comprising:

identifying for a first user at least one record of a plurality of records;

generating a user interface which displays a data field associated with the at least one record in a grid format;

receiving from a second user, subsequent to generating the user interface, a first desired modification of the data field;

receiving from the first user a second desired modification of the data field;

triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing a chosen modification from the first desired modification and the second desired modification; and

saving the chosen modification in the data field.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing a data integrity test on at least one of the first desired modification and second desired modification.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data integrity test comprises ensuring that at least one selected from the group consisting of the first desired modification and the second desired modification meet at least one data integrity requirement associated with the data field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing the chosen modification.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving from a third user a third desired modification of the data field prior to the second user choosing the chosen modification; and

triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing between the chosen modification and the third desired modification.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing the chosen modification using a priority based on the status of the first user in an organizational hierarchy as compared to the status of the second user in the organizational hierarchy.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data field displayed within the grid format is associated with at least one embedded object selected from the group consisting of a calendar interface, a data entry field interface, and a drop down menu.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the at least one record occurs within a workflow process based on predefined criteria,

wherein the at least one record is identified as requiring review by the first user before being further processed, and

wherein the predefined criteria comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a predefined time interval, the number of records awaiting processing by the first user, and the importance associated with the at least one record.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid format comprises a row and column format wherein the at least one record is displayed in rows and the data field is displayed in columns.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid format comprises a row and column format wherein the at least one record is displayed in columns and the data field is displayed in rows.

11. A workflow process system comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to display a data field associated with at least one record in a grid format, wherein the at least one record is identified for a first user from a plurality of records;

a processor configured to execute instructions to;

receive from a second user, subsequent to display of the data field, a first desired modification of the data field,

receive from the first user a second desired modification of the data field, and

trigger a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing a chosen modification from the first desired modification and the second desired modification; and

a storage device configured to store the chosen modification in the data field.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a processing station comprising a display device configured to display the graphical user interface.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform a data integrity test on at least one of the first desired modification and second desired modification.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the data integrity test comprises ensuring that at least one selected from the group consisting of the first desired modification and the second desired modification meet at least one data integrity requirement associated with the data field.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing the chosen modification.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive from a third user a third desired modification of the data field prior to the second user choosing the chosen modification; and

trigger a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing between the chosen modification and the third desired modification.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing the chosen modification using a priority based on the status of the first user in an organizational hierarchy as compared to the status of the second user in the organizational hierarchy.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the data field displayed within the grid format is associated with at least one embedded object selected from the group consisting of a calendar interface, a data fill interface, and a drop down menu.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the grid format comprises a row and column format wherein the at least one record is displayed in rows and the data field is displayed in columns.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the grid format comprises a row and column format wherein the at least one record is displayed in columns and the data field is displayed in rows.

21. A machine readable medium comprising executable instructions stored thereon for:

identifying for a first user at least one record of a plurality of records;

generating a user interface which displays a data field associated with the at least one record in a grid format;

receiving from a second user, subsequent to generating the user interface, a first desired modification of the data field;

receiving from the first user a second desired modification of the data field;

triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing a chosen modification from the first desired modification and the second desired modification; and

saving the chosen modification in the data field.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 21 further comprising executable instructions stored thereon for:

performing a data integrity test on at least one of the first desired modification and second desired modification.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 22 wherein the data integrity test comprises ensuring that at least one selected from the group consisting of the first desired modification and the second desired modification meet at least one data integrity requirement associated with the data field.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing the chosen modification.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 24 further comprising executable instructions stored thereon for:

receiving from a third user a third desired modification of the data field prior to the second user choosing the chosen modification; and

triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process comprises the second user choosing between the chosen modification and the third desired modification.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein the conflict resolution process comprises choosing the chosen modification using a priority based on the status of the first user in an organizational hierarchy as compared to the status of the second user in the organizational hierarchy.