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Work flow management system

  • US 5,940,829 A
  • Filed: 09/21/1995
  • Issued: 08/17/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A work flow management system as a server, comprising:

  • a first database storing management data and second database storing objects to be circulated as electronic documents;

    work flow definition means for making work flow definition data which includes a flow of electronic documents including a circulation route thereof; and

    work flow control means for controlling the flow of the electronic documents between nodes to send and/or receive the electronic documents,wherein said first database comprises;

    a plurality of first management tables, each of said first management tables corresponding to each circulation object and storing link information for linking the circulation object with management data,a send request queue for storing send request data from one sender, said send request data including said link information in response to an entry from the sender,a work flow definition data area for storing said work flow definition data from said work flow definition means therein under control of said work flow control means, anda circulation tray provided for each sender/receiver for indicating the status of the circulation object as to whether the circulation object is present or absent; and

    wherein said work flow control means comprises;

    means for searching said send request queue to derive send request data, and searching the first management tables linked with respect to link information attached to the derived send request data to retrieve a relevant first management table,next destination determining means for making a match between node information of said retrieved first management table and said work flow definition data to determine a next destination,means for writing into said circulation tray link information pointing to the relevant first management table in response to the next circulation node determined by said determining means to allow sending of the circulation object to the next destination, andmeans, responsive to completion of said sending to the next destination, for updating the node information of the relevant first management table and deleting said send request data from said request que for processing of the next send request data.

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