Task workflow management system and method including an external program execution feature

• US 5,799,297 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teradata US, Inc. (Teradata Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Komichak, Michael J., Goodridge, Gilbert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US08/572,928
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 395/601, 395/611, 395/650, 395/207, 395/182.14, 364/401, 364/488, 707/1, 707/100, 707/10, 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A computer-implemented task workflow management system is provided which includes a workflow engine. The workflow engine routes tasks in a predetermined task execution sequence to one or more workers. In addition, the workflow engine provides access to data and documents required by each worker to complete a particular task. A rule evaluator mechanism is operatively coupled to the workflow engine to evaluate a plurality of rules describing the predetermined task execution sequence such that the workflow management system is rule-based. An external program execution mechanism is operatively coupled to the rule evaluator mechanism to execute a program instruction external to the workflow management system such that functionality of the workflow management system can be extended beyond a core workflow management feature set in the workflow engine.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented task workflow management system, comprising:

(a) a workflow engine executed by a first computer based system for routing tasks in a predetermined task execution sequence to a plurality of workers and providing access to data and documents required by each worker to complete a particular task;

(b) a rule evaluator, operatively coupled to the workflow engine, for evaluating a plurality of rules describing the predetermined task execution sequence such that the workflow management system is rule-based;

(c) external program execution means, executed by a second computer based system, operatively coupled to the rule evaluator, for executing a program instruction external to the workflow management system, such that functionality of the workflow management system can be extended beyond a core workflow management feature set in the workflow engine; and

(d) wherein the plurality of rules are derived from a rule language which includes a function comprising means for causing the external program execution means to execute the external program instruction and return data generated by execution of the external program instruction to the rule evaluator means as a result string such that the rule evaluator means can evaluate current and subsequent clauses in the rules based on the returned result string.

2. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the workflow engine comprises means for tracking aspects of worker performance of the tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence.

3. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the program instruction comprises a database query function.

4. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the second computer based system comprises an operating system process that is isolated from the first computer based system that comprises an operating system process associated with the workflow engine.

5. The task workflow management system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rules are derived from a rule language which includes a "Run" function, wherein the "Run" function comprises means for causing the external program execution means to execute the external program instruction and return data generated by execution of the external program instruction to the rule evaluator means as a result string such that the rule evaluator means can evaluate current and subsequent clauses in the rules based on the returned result string.

6. The task workflow management system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of rules comprise "if" clauses having an antecedent portion and a consequent portion, the "Run" function being located in one of the portions.

7. The task workflow management system of claim 1 further comprising a rule editor means, operatively coupled to the workflow engine, for editing the plurality of rules.

8. A computer-implemented method of rule-based task workflow management, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules being derived from a rule language which includes a "Run" function, the "Run" function executing a program instruction external to a workflow management system, wherein the workflow management system is executed by a first computer based system and the program instruction is executed in a second computer based system, and returning data generated by execution of the external program instruction as a result string such that current and subsequent clauses of the rules can be evaluated based on the returned result string;

(b) evaluating the plurality of rules and routing tasks in a predetermined task execution sequence to a plurality of workers according to the plurality of rules;

(c) providing access to data and documents required by each worker to complete a particular task; and

(d) tracking aspects of worker performance of the tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of evaluating the plurality of rules and routing tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence comprises executing rules including the "Run" function in an operating system process isolated from an operating system process associated with the routing tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of rules comprise "if" clauses having an antecedent and a consequent portion, the "Run" function being located in one of the "if" clause portions.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of editing the plurality of rules.

12. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for performing rule-based task workflow management in a computer having a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules being derived from a rule language which includes a "Run" function, the "Run" function executing a program instruction external to a workflow management system, wherein the workflow management system is executed in a first computer based system and the program instruction is executed in a second computer based system, and returning data generated by execution of the external program instruction as a result string such that current and subsequent clauses of the rules can be evaluated based on the returned result string;

(b) evaluating the plurality of rules and routing tasks in a predetermined task execution sequence to a plurality of workers according to the plurality of rules;

(c) providing access to data and documents required by each worker to complete a particular task; and

(d) tracking aspects of worker performance of the tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence.

13. The program storage device of claim 12 wherein the step of evaluating the plurality of rules and routing tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence comprises executing rules including the "Run" function in an operating system process isolated from an operating system process associated with the routing tasks in the predetermined task execution sequence.

14. The program storage device of claim 12 wherein the plurality of rules comprise "if" clauses having an antecedent and a consequent portion, the "Run" function being located in one of the "if" clause portions.

15. The program storage device of claim 12 further comprising the step of editing the plurality of rules.