Workflow management and control system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for defining, executing, monitoring and controlling the flow of business operations, the apparatus comprising:
- a. at least one interface means for receiving information from a user;
b. storage means, coupled to the interface means, for electronically storing user-provided data representative of a work item;
c. instruction storage means for electronically storing a plurality of execution modules, each containing instructions that facilitate performance of a specified goal representing a business operation;
d. database storage means, coupled to the interface means, for storing a list of the execution modules that includes, with respect to each module, data specifying execution parameters associated with each module and an importance level associated with each parameter, said execution parameters related to at least one of (i) previous execution of at least one other specified module, (ii) specified place of module execution, (iii) specified duration of module processing, (iv) a specified time during which module execution may take place, and (v) a priority value associated with the module, wherein such execution parameters may be modified by a user via an interface means without disturbing the execution parameters associated with other modules;
e. at least one processor means capable of executing the stored instructions; and
f. control means, coupled to the processor means and the storage means, for analyzing the execution parameters associated with the execution modules and, based on the importance levels, deriving therefrom an execution sequence for the modules, and directing the processor to sequentially execute the instructions contained in each module in the order specified by the execution sequence and on the work-item data.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for defining, executing, monitoring and controlling the flow of business operations. A designer first defines a workflow by providing a template of business activities that expresses the manner in which these activities relate to one another. The system orchestrates performance of the tasks in accordance with the template; in so doing, it integrates various types of application software, and partitions tasks among various users and computers.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for defining, executing, monitoring and controlling the flow of business operations, the apparatus comprising:
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a. at least one interface means for receiving information from a user; b. storage means, coupled to the interface means, for electronically storing user-provided data representative of a work item; c. instruction storage means for electronically storing a plurality of execution modules, each containing instructions that facilitate performance of a specified goal representing a business operation; d. database storage means, coupled to the interface means, for storing a list of the execution modules that includes, with respect to each module, data specifying execution parameters associated with each module and an importance level associated with each parameter, said execution parameters related to at least one of (i) previous execution of at least one other specified module, (ii) specified place of module execution, (iii) specified duration of module processing, (iv) a specified time during which module execution may take place, and (v) a priority value associated with the module, wherein such execution parameters may be modified by a user via an interface means without disturbing the execution parameters associated with other modules; e. at least one processor means capable of executing the stored instructions; and f. control means, coupled to the processor means and the storage means, for analyzing the execution parameters associated with the execution modules and, based on the importance levels, deriving therefrom an execution sequence for the modules, and directing the processor to sequentially execute the instructions contained in each module in the order specified by the execution sequence and on the work-item data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for defining, executing, monitoring and controlling the flow of business operations represented by a plurality of electronically stored execution modules, each of which facilitates the performance of a specified goal representing a business operation, the method comprising:
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a. receiving, via an interface means, electronically encoded data, representative of a work item, from a user; b. electronically storing the work-item data in a first computer memory; c. creating and electronically storing, in a second computer memory, a list of the execution modules that includes, with respect to each module, data specifying execution parameters associated with each module and importance level associated with each parameter, said execution parameters relating to at least one of (i) previous execution of at least one other specified module, (ii) specified place of module execution, (iii) specified duration of module processing, (iv) a specified time during which module execution may take place, and (v) a priority value associated with the module, wherein such execution parameters may be modified by a user via an interface means without disturbing the execution parameters associated with other modules; d. analyzing the execution parameters associated with the execution modules and, based on the importance levels, deriving therefrom an execution sequence for the modules; and e. electronically executing, by means of a computer processor, the instructions contained in each module in the order specified by the execution sequence on the work-item data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification