System and Method for Automated Customization of a Workflow Management System

• US 20080243930A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michelle M. Browning, Robert P. Welch
• Original Assignee: Michelle M. Browning, Robert P. Welch
• Inventors: Welch, Robert P., Browning, Michelle M.
• Application Number:
  US12/055,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method providing an efficient automated customization of an existing workflow management system. Agent software may be utilized to operate autonomously to instruct a generic workflow tool provided by the existing workflow management system to accomplish the customization process without direct human supervision. Thus, a non-developer user who does not have knowledge of the process definition language provided by the workflow management system may accomplish a successful customization. Further, the present invention reduces costs and resources to customize an existing workflow management system.

Claims

1. A method of an automated customization of a workflow management system, comprising:

storing a template database containing a plurality of process steps for said work flow system;

forming a configuration profile document having a table, said table having a corresponding element for each of said plurality of process steps in said template database;

receiving a selection of desired process steps from a user;

storing said selection of desired steps with said configuration profile document; and

operating said workflow management system according to said configuration profile document.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said workflow management system includes a LOTUS NOTES™

database system.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein a user can view a processing step in a database of said LOTUS NOTES™

database system if a role for the processing step is enabled.

4. The method as described in claim 3, said operating step further comprising:

requesting a workflow tool to build a customized database having each of the desired steps included,

wherein the workflow tool disables a role for an undesired step and alters a workflow based on said configuration profile document.

5. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising:

enabling a role for each of the users based on said configuration profile document.

6. The method as described in claim 2, wherein said configuration profile document is utilized to perform a migration process of LOTUS NOTES™

Email system.

7. The method as described in claim 1, said receiving a selection of desired steps step further comprising:

displaying a graphic user interface comprising said table, said table providing a user selectable flag for each of said plurality of process steps,

wherein the user marks said user selectable flag of each desired step.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said customizing step is transparent from said user.

9. A agent software including computer program instructions for an automated customization of a workflow management system, comprising:

means for storing a template database containing a plurality of process steps for said work flow system;

means for forming a configuration profile document having a table, said table having a corresponding element for each of said plurality of process steps in said template database;

means for receiving a selection of desired process steps from a user;

means for storing said selection of desired process steps with said configuration profile document; and

means for operating said workflow management system according to said configuration document file.

10. The agent software as described in claim 9, further comprising:

means for retrieving role information; and

means for building a customized database of a workflow management system based upon said configuration profile document and said retrieved role information,

wherein the role information includes a view permission of each of said plurality of process steps.

11. The agent software as described in claim 9, wherein said workflow management system includes a LOTUS NOTES™

database system.

12. The agent software as described in claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of process steps is represented by a view in a database of said LOTUS NOTES™

database system.

13. The agent software as described in claim 11, further comprising:

means for instructing said workflow management system to build a customized database having each of the desired steps included,

wherein the workflow tool disables a view of an undesired step, enables a view of each of the desired steps and alters a workflow on said customized database.

14. The agent software as described in claim 13, further comprising:

enabling a role for each of the users based on said retrieved role information.

15. The agent software as described in claim 11, wherein said profile document is utilized to perform a migration process of LOTUS NOTES™

Email system.

16. The agent software as described in claim 9, said means for receiving a selection of desired process steps further comprising:

means for displaying a graphic user interface comprising said table, said table providing a user selectable flag for each of said plurality of process steps,

wherein the user selects desired steps by marking said user selectable flag.

17. The agent software as described in claim 10, wherein the role information is retrieved from said configuration profile document.

18. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for providing an automated customization of a LOTUS NOTES™

workflow database system, the program instructions comprising;

storing a template database containing a plurality of process steps for said LOTUS NOTES™

workflow database system;

forming a configuration profile document having a table, said table having a corresponding element for each of said plurality of process steps in said template database;

providing a graphic user interface suitable to receive a selection of desired process steps from a user;

storing said selection of desired process steps with said configuration profile document;

operating said LOTUS NOTES™

workflow database system according to said configuration profile document; and

initiating a plurality of program codes capable to enable views of said desired steps.

19. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, wherein each said plurality of process steps is represented by a view in a database of said LOTUS NOTES™

database system.

20. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, wherein said user includes a non-developer user.

21. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, said operating step further comprising:

instructing said LOTUS NOTES™

workflow database system to initiate said plurality of program codes.

22. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, further comprising:

enabling a role for each of the users based on said retrieved role information.

23. The computer readable medium as described in claim 22, wherein each of the users can view the plurality of desired steps after the automated customization of a LOTUS NOTES™

workflow database system.

24. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, wherein said configuration profile document is utilized to perform a migration process of LOTUS NOTES™

Email system.

25. The computer readable medium as described in claim 18, wherein said graphic user interface comprises a table, said table providing a user a selectable flag for each of said plurality of process steps.

26. The computer readable medium as described in claim 25, wherein said user selects said plurality of desired steps marking said selectable flag.