Work flow system for task allocation and reallocation

• US 5,974,392 A
• Filed: 02/13/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshiei
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRECCA, MICHELE S
• Application Number:
  US08/600,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 705/6, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A work flow system is disclosed in which, when a manager server unit of a work flow system divides a work effort into a plurality of tasks and execute the tasks, the manager server unit allocates tasks to client units of task execution persons fitted for the tasks. The work flow system includes a personal data file that stores personal data of each task execution person and an ability to perform each executable task, and a function for allocating tasks to client units of task execution persons. The function for allocating tasks to client units of task execution persons. The function for allocating tasks to client units of task execution persons allocates tasks based on the personal data file. The personal data file is renewed based on results of completed tasks.

Claims

1. A work flow system, comprising:

task dividing means for dividing a work effort into a plurality of tasks;

a personal data file for storing personal data of each task execution person including executable tasks and an ability to perform each said executable task;

allocating means for allocating said tasks to client units of the task execution person based on said personal data;

task execution means for instructing each task execution person to execute at least one of said tasks allocated by said allocating means;

task execution evaluating means for evaluating an ability of said task execution person to perform at least one of said tasks allocated by said allocating means in accordance with results of completed tasks; and

personal data modifying means for modifying said personal data based on said results of the completed tasks.

2. The work flow system according to claim 1, wherein said personal data includes at least one item of data relating to adaptability, speediness, accuracy, knowledge of said execution persons, and number of tasks to be completed by the task execution person.

3. The work flow system according to claim 1, wherein said results of said completed tasks include an accuracy based on a processing time and a number of errors.

4. A work flow system, comprising:

task dividing means for dividing a work effort into a plurality of tasks;

a personal data file for storing personal data of each task execution person including executable tasks and an ability to perform each said executable task;

allocating means for allocating said tasks to client units of the task execution persons based on said personal data; and

a task flow file for storing a task flow including an execution sequence among said tasks allocated by said allocating means, the task execution person allocated for each said task, and status of each said task;

task executing means for instructing each task execution person to execute at least one of said tasks allocated by said allocating means;

status determining means for determining a status of each said task stored in said task flow file; and

task execution person modifying means for judging whether said task allocated by said allocating means is completed within a permitted time, and for reassigning said task to another task execution person based on said personal data in accordance with said status of tasks allocated by said allocating means when said task allocated by allocating means is not completed within the permitted time.

5. The work flow system according to claim 4, wherein said task execution person modifying means controls execution of said work effort so as to commence a next one of said tasks in said work flow when a current of one of said tasks is not completed within the permitted time.

6. The work flow system according to claim 4, wherein said tasks divided by the task dividing means have a plurality of checkpoints for determining the status.

7. The work flow system according to claim 4, further comprising:

execution re-instructing means for re-instructing the task execution person of said task modified by said task execution person modifying means to execute said modified task.

8. A work flow system comprising:

task dividing means for dividing a work effort into a plurality of tasks;

a personal data file for storing personal data of each task execution person including executable tasks and an ability to perform each said executable task;

allocating means for allocating said tasks to client units of the task execution persons based on said personal data;

priority data extracting means for extracting priority data assigned to ones of said tasks allocated by said allocating means, by a manager sever unit; and

arranging means for arranging said allocated tasks by said allocating means to form a task queue in accordance with said priority data, a separate task queue being formed for said tasks allocated to each said client unit; and

reallocating means for reallocating at least one of said tasks from one of said task queues having more than a predetermined number of tasks to another one of said task queues having less than the predetermined number of tasks.

9. The work flow system according to claim 8, wherein said data for deciding a priority includes a key word representing a degree of importance.