Process and apparatus for controlling the work flow in a multi-user computing system

• US 5,848,271 A
• Filed: 03/14/1994
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infor Global Solutions Michigan Incorporated (Infor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DUN & Bradstreet Software Services Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caruso, David J., Quinn, Heidi S., Arnett, Kenneth Dale, Lowe, Russell M., Wilson, Chauncey E., Eddy, Jonathan H., McAllister, Sandra B., Chang, S. Jay, Ellis, Steven Clark, Conte, Leonard J., Kleinfelter, Kevin P., Diebboll, Robert S., Anglin, David M., Walker, Julia C., Adams, Vernon J., Nugent, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banankhah, Majid A.
• Application Number:
  US08/213,022
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 395/650, 395/670, 395/672, 395/680, 364/552
• US Class Current: 712/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A new computerized information flow technology is provided where information in an organization may be logically and automatically routed through a predefined sequence of activities to users who need the information. A user selects an activity from a list of available activities revealed by the computer system of the present invention. Upon the user completing the activity, the computer system selects an event associated with the activity. The event then performs a decision making process to determine which next steps are to be logically selected based upon predefined conditions set in the computer system and the information input by the user. The next steps determine the subsequent user or users responsible for performing a next activity (task) in the predefined sequence of activities. The computer system of the present invention then adds a message, representative of the next activity, to a subsequent user'"'"'s or users'"'"' To Do List. The subsequent user or users may then perform the next activity by accessing the next activity from their To Do List. Upon completion of the next activity by the subsequent user or users, the process, as described above, is repeated until each piece of information is pushed entirely through the organization'"'"'s predefined information flow path.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of the computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed by the plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer system having a data storage device;

b) structuring a work process as a plurality of work steps for performance of the work steps by the plurality of users and by the computer system;

c) associating an activity data object of a plurality of activity data objects with each work step of the plurality of work steps to define a relationship between the activity data object and a respective work step, wherein an activity data object comprises a data processing tool enabling performance by the computer system of a work step of the work process;

d) associating at least one event data object of a plurality of event data objects with each activity data object of the plurality of activity data objects to define a relationship between the event data object and a respective activity data object, wherein an event data object comprises a data processing tool enabling detection of a condition occurring during operation of an activity data object on the computer system;

e) associating at least one work step of the plurality of work steps with each event data object to define a relationship between the work step and a respective event data object, wherein the work step so associated is enabled for performance by the computer system upon detection of a condition by the respective event data object;

f) storing in the data storage device of the computer system the activity data objects and the event data objects;

g) storing in the data storage device of the computer system the relationships between activity data objects and work steps;

h) storing in the data storage device of the computer system the relationships between event data objects and activity data objects;

i) storing in the data storage device of the computer system the relationships between work steps and event data objects;

j) in response to selection of an activity data object by a user of the computer system, activating the selected activity data object and accepting data relevant to the work process from the user as part of the work step associated with the selected activity data object by a relationship stored in the data storage device of the computer system;

k) detecting a condition in an event data object associated with the selected activity data object by a relationship stored in the data storage device of the computer system;

l) in response to detecting a condition in step (k) and based at least in part on a relationship stored in the data storage device between the event data object of step (k) and a subsequent work step of the work process, enabling performance of the related subsequent work step by a subsequent user of the computer system;

m) in response to an input received by the computer system from the subsequent user which identifies selection of the related subsequent work step, performing the related subsequent work step on the computer system by activating the activity data object associated with the subsequent work step through a relationship stored in the data storage device of the computer system; and

,

n) performing steps (k), (l), and (m) until the work process is complete and as directed by the relationships between event data objects and activity data objects, the relationships between event data objects and subsequent work steps, and the relationships between activity data objects and subsequent work steps stored in the data storage device of the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to step (j), a step of accepting an initial input from the user, said initial input corresponding to a selection of a first activity data object from a list of activity data objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (j) further comprises a step of displaying a visual indicator to the user, the visual indicator corresponding to a type of data to be input by the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying the visual indicator in a language of preference to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein performance of a work step is enabled in step (l) only if a user has appropriate security clearance to perform the work step.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (j) comprises a step of accepting data relevant to the scheduling of a job, the job comprising an executable program adapted to operate independently of the performance of the selected activity data object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (j) further comprises a step of running the job in accordance with the accepted data.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the job comprises an executable program selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a DOS Batch file, (ii) a DOS Command file, and (iii) a Unix Script file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (j) comprises a step of accepting data relevant to scheduling an agent, the agent comprising an executable program which operates in response to the satisfaction of a condition selected by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the agent comprises an executable program adapted to perform a function selected from the group consisting of:

(i) processing electronic mail, (ii) executing computer application programs, and (iii) processing reports corresponding to data accepted from the plurality of users.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the work process comprises financial data processing and the step of accepting data includes accepting financial data relevant to the financial data processing.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the work process comprises manufacturing of a product and the step of accepting data includes accepting manufacturing data relevant to the manufacturing of the product.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the work process comprises distribution of an article and the step of accepting data includes accepting data relevant to the distribution of the article.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the work process comprises a human resources process and the step of accepting data includes accepting data relevant to the human resources process.

15. A method of operating a computer system for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of the computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed by the plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer system having a data storage device;

b) structuring a work process as first and second work steps for performance of the work steps by respective first and second users of the plurality of users through interaction with the computer system;

c) storing in the data storage device an association between a first activity data object and the first work step of the work process, wherein the first activity data object comprises a data processing tool enabling performance by the computer system of the first work step of the work process;

d) storing in the data storage device an association between a second activity data object and the second work step of the work process, wherein the second activity data object comprises a data processing tool enabling performance by the computer system of the second work step of the work process;

e) storing in the data storage device an association between the first activity data object and a condition potentially occurring during operation of the first activity data object on the computer system;

f) storing in the data storage device an association between the condition of step (e) and data including;

(i) an identifier identifying the second activity data object, (ii) a description describing the second work step requiring performance upon detection of the condition, and (iii) an identifier identifying the second user of the computer system as the user selected to perform the second work step through use of the computer system;

g) accepting a set of input data from the first user during operation of the first activity data object, acceptance of the set of input data at least partially establishing completion of the first work step;

h) detecting the condition of step (e) during operation of the first activity data object on the computer system;

i) in response to detecting the condition of step (e) enabling invocation of the second activity data object by the second user;

j) in response to input from the second user, invoking operation of the second activity data object;

k) displaying to the second user during operation of the second activity data object a portion of the set of input data from the first user; and

,

l) accepting a set of input data from the second user during operation of the second activity data object, acceptance of the set of input data from the second user at least partially establishing completion of the second work step and the work process.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises, prior to the step of accepting a set of input data from the first user, a step of invoking operation of the first activity data object from a list of activity data objects available for invocation by the first user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of enabling invocation of the second activity data object by the second user comprises a step of maintaining by the computer system a list including (i) descriptions of work steps requiring performance by the second user and (ii) identifiers of activity data objects associated with respective descriptions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of enabling invocation of the second activity data object by the second user further comprises a step of presenting to the the user selected to perform the second work step through use of the computer system, and

inserting into the list the description of the second work step and the identifier of the second activity data object.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of enabling invocation of the second activity data object by the second user comprises the steps of:

accessingthedata storage device to retrieve the association between the condition of step (e) and (i) the identifier identifying the second activity data object, (ii) the description descriving the second work step requiring performance upon detection of the condition, and (iii) the identifier identifying the second user of the computer system as the user selected to perform the second work step through use ofthe computer system, and

inserting into the list the description of thesecond work step and the identifier of the second activity data object.

20. A method of operating a computer system for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of the computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed by the plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer system having a data storage device;

b) structuring a work process as a plurality of work steps for performance of the work steps by respective users of the plurality of users through interaction with the computer system;

c) storing in the data storage device a plurality of associations between the plurality of activity data objects and respective work steps of the plurality of work steps of the work process, wherein the activity data objects of the plurality of activity data objects comprise windows and programs enabling performance by the computer system of the work steps of the plurality of work steps;

d) storing in the data storage device a list of work steps for each user comprising work steps and corresponding activity data objects, each entry in the list of work steps being representative of the work steps requiring completion by a particular user;

e) accepting data of a first data type from a first user of the plurality of users during operation of a first activity data object of the plurality of activity data objects to accomplish a first work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process;

f) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the first activity data object, removing the first work step from the first user'"'"'s list of work steps and inserting an entry corresponding to a second work step in a second user'"'"'s list of work steps;

g) in response to invocation by the second user of a second activity data object associated with the second work step, accepting data of a second data type from the second user during operation of the second activity data object to accomplish the second work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process;

h) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the second activity data object, removing the second work step from the second user'"'"'s list of work steps and inserting an entry corresponding to a third work step in a third user'"'"'s list of work steps;

i) in response to invocation by the third user of a third activity data object associated with the third work step, displaying to the third user a portion of the data of the first data type input by the first user, displaying to the third user a portion of the data of the second data type input by the second user, accepting data of a third data type from the third user during operation of the third activity data object to accomplish the third work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process; and

,

i) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the third activity data object, removing the third work step from the third user'"'"'s list of work steps.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises an initial step of accepting an initial signal from the first user, said initial signal corresponding to a selection of said first activity data object from a list of first user activity data objects.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein step (e) further comprises an initial step of prompting the first user to input data of the first data type.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein step (e) further comprises an initial step of displaying a visual indicator to the first user, said visual indicator identifying to the first user the first data type to be input by the first user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying the visual indicator in a language preferable to the first user.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of inserting an entry corresponding to a second work step in a second user'"'"'s list of work steps is performed only if the second user has security clearance to invoke the second activity data object.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the work steps comprise a sequential sequence of work steps necessary for the completion of the work process.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein data of the first data type represents information processed by a workgroup of which the first user is a member, data of the second data type represents information processed by a workgroup of which the second user is a member, data of the third data type represents information processed by a workgroup of which the third user is a member, the first data type being different from the second and third data types.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first user has no access to data of the second data type input by the second user and the second user has no access to data of the first data type input by the first user.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the portions of the data of the first data type and of the second data type input respectively by the first and second users include only data necessary for the third user to complete the third work step.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of accepting data of a third data type comprises a step of accepting data associated with scheduling an agent, said agent comprising an executable program which operates in response to the satisfaction of a condition selected by the third user.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said agent comprises an executable program adapted to perform a function selected from the group consisting of:

(i) processing electronic mail, (ii) executing computer application programs, and (iii) processing reports corresponding to data between the plurality of users.

32. A data processing apparatus for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of a computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed in concert by the plurality of users, said data processing apparatus comprising:

(a) means for accepting a first signal corresponding to a plurality of entries, wherein each of said plurality of entries associates a first activity data object with a second activity data object which may be performed in response to the performance of said first activity data object by a first user, and wherein said second activity data object is further associated with a second user;

(b) means for accepting a second signal from the first user, said second signal corresponding to a first set of data elements inputted by the first user in performing said first activity data object;

(c) means for locating said second activity data object and the second user associated with said first activity data object in said plurality of entries;

(d) means for transmitting a third signal corresponding to a second set of data elements comprised of a selected portion of said first set of data elements to the second user, wherein said second set of data elements is associated with the performance of said second activity data object; and

(e) means for accepting a fourth signal from the second user, said fourth signal corresponding to a third set of data elements inputted by the second user in performing said second activity data object;

(f) wherein activity data objects are associated with discrete work steps of the work process, performance of an activity data object being necessary to complete a respective work step.