Workflow system for rearrangement of a workflow according to the progress of a work and its workflow management method

• US 6,115,640 A
• Filed: 01/16/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tarumi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US09/008,474
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/97, 700/99-101, 700/103, 700/108, 700/111, 705/7-9, 705/11, 707/1-5, 707/103, 707/104
• US Class Current: 700/99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A workflow system comprises a workflow definition unit, a workflow operation/control unit, and a workflow estimation/prediction unit, the workflow definition unit further includes, as the definition items, rearrangement definition description that is a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms, the workflow estimation/prediction unit further includes a task finish time inquiry unit for examining the finish prediction time of each task, a completion time prediction unit for predicting the completion time of the workflow operation, a definition analytical unit for analyzing the rearrangement definition description, so to supply the analyzed description of rearrangement definition, a rearrangement algorithm library for providing rearrangement algorithms, and a rearrangement unit for, according to the analyzed description of rearrangement definition, taking out a necessary rearrangement algorithm from the rearrangement algorithm library to execute the same.

Claims

1. A workflow system for defining, operating, and controlling the procedure of business works and the flow of information on the business works, and further rearranging a workflow according to a progress of the work, for a workflow operation realized by a connection of a series of tasks to which a plurality of workers are charged with, comprising:

workflow definition means for generating a workflow definition based on various conditions including at least one of the content of the workflow operation, its order, the deadline of each task, the name of a worker in charge, and the priority;

workflow operation/control means for controlling the progress of the workflow operation according to the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means and pressing each worker for the execution of the task; and

workflow estimation/prediction means for, upon receipt of the workflow definition and the progress, predicting the future progress of the workflow operation,

wherein the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means includes a rearrangement definition description having a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when it is predicted that the deadline of a task assigned to a worker is not kept, and

wherein said workflow estimation/prediction means further includes;

task finish time inquiry means for examining a finish prediction time of each task;

completion time prediction means for predicting a completion time of the workflow operation by the use of examination results from said task finish time inquiry means;

definition analytical means for analyzing the rearrangement definition description defined by said workflow definition means and supplying an analyzed description of the rearrangement definition;

a rearrangement algorithm library for providing a plurality of rearrangement algorithms to be listed by said rearrangement definition description; and

rearrangement means for, upon receipt of the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, taking out a rearrangement algorithm specified in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition from said rearrangement algorithm library and executing the rearrangement algorithm when said completion time prediction means predicts that the deadline is not kept in some task within the workflow operation.

2. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said workflow operation/control means, upon detecting a delay in a task, specifies the task and transfers to the operation by said rearrangement means.

3. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

organization state store/control means for holding achievement goals relative to the workflow operation/control means, receiving information on the progress from said workflow operation/control means, making a comparison between information on the progress and the achievement goals, and controlling an achievement condition of the workflow operation,

wherein said rearrangement definition description includes a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when the achievement goals are not achieved,

said organization state store/control means, when predicting that it is difficult to accomplish achievement goals, passing the goal name to said rearrangement means, then transferring to the operation by said rearrangement means, said rearrangement means taking out and executing a rearrangement algorithm specified in said rearrangement definition description from said rearrangement algorithm library.

4. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

when a plurality of rearrangement algorithms are specified together with their application order in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, said rearrangement means applies the plurality of rearrangement algorithms one after another in the specified order and finishes the operation at the success in one of the algorithms.

5. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, changing an executor of the task to a substitute.

6. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, extending the deadline of the task within a given range.

7. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, raising the priority of the task.

8. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, advancing the request time of the task within a given range so as to keep the deadline and, with respect to tasks prior to the task, rearranging to finish them by the request time of the task advanced so as to keep the deadline.

10. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, informing the occurrence of a problem to a workflow management person.

12. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said workflow definition means provides an interface capable of specifying each rearrangement algorithm, with the key words of natural languages to express its characteristic over the workflow operation, as means for specifying each rearrangement algorithm provided by said rearrangement algorithm library.

13. A workflow system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said workflow definition means provides an interface capable of specifying a plurality of rearrangement algorithms together with the application order as means for specifying each rearrangement algorithm provided by said rearrangement algorithm library.

9. A workflow system for defining, operating, and controlling the procedure of business works and the flow of information on the business works, and further rearranging a workflow according to a progress of the work, for a workflow operation realized by a connection of a series of tasks to which a plurality of workers are charged with, comprising:

workflow definition means for generating a workflow definition based on various conditions including at least one of the content of the workflow operation, its order the deadline of each task, the name of a worker in charge and the priority;

workflow operation/control means for controlling the progress of the workflow operation according to the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means and pressing each worker for the execution of the task; and

workflow estimation/prediction means for, upon receipt of the workflow definition and the progress, predicting the future progress of the workflow operation,

wherein the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means includes a rearrangement definition description having a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when it is predicted that the deadline of task assigned to a worker is not kept, and

wherein said workflow estimation/prediction means further includes;

task finish time inquiry means for examining a finish prediction time of each task;

completion time prediction means for predicting a completion time of the workflow operation by the use of examination results from said task finish time inquiry means;

definition analytical means for analyzing the rearrangement definition description defined by said workflow definition means and supplying an analyzed description of the rearrangement definition;

a rearrangement algorithm library for providing a plurality of rearrangement algorithms to be listed by said rearrangement definition description; and

rearrangement means for, upon receipt of the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, taking out a rearrangement algorithm specified in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition from said rearrangement algorithm library and executing the rearrangement algorithm when said completion time prediction means predicts that the deadline is not kept in some task within the workflow operation, and

wherein rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for, with respect to a task for which it is impossible to keep the deadline, advancing the request time of the task within a given range so as to keep the deadline and, with respect to tasks prior to the task, applying geometric reduction to the working period so as to finish them by the request time of the task advanced so as to keep the deadline.

11. A workflow system for defining, operating, and controlling the procedure of business works and the flow of information on the business works, and further rearranging a workflow according to a progress of the work, for a workflow operation realized by a connection of a series of tasks to which a plurality of workers are charged with, comprising:

workflow definition means for generating a workflow definition based on various conditions including at least one of the content of the workflow operation, its order the deadline of each task, the name of a worker in charge, and the priority;

workflow operation/control means for controlling the progress of the workflow operation according to the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means and pressing each worker for the execution of the task; and

workflow estimation/prediction means for, upon receipt of the workflow definition and the progress, predicting the future progress of the workflow operation,

wherein the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition means includes a rearrangement definition description having a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when it is predicted that the deadline of task assigned to a worker is not kept, and

wherein said workflow estimation/prediction means further includes;

task finish time inquiry means for examining a finish prediction time of each task;

completion time prediction means for predicting a completion time of the workflow operation by the use of examination results from said task finish time inquiry means;

definition analytical means for analyzing the rearrangement definition description defined by said workflow definition means and supplying an analyzed description of the rearrangement definition;

a rearrangement algorithm library for providing a plurality of rearrangement algorithms to be listed by said rearrangement definition description; and

rearrangement means for, upon receipt of the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, taking out a rearrangement algorithm specified in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition from said rearrangement algorithm library and executing the rearrangement algorithm when said completion time prediction means predicts that the deadline is not kept in some task within the workflow operation, and

wherein rearrangement algorithms provided by said rearrangement algorithm library include a rearrangement algorithm for setting the deadline of the last task of the workflow operation at a specified time and applying geometric reduction to the working period of a series of tasks from the task currently operating to the last task.

14. A workflow management method for defining, operating, and controlling the procedure of business works and the flow of information on the business works, and further rearranging a workflow according to a progress of the work, for a workflow operation realized by a connection of a series of tasks to which a plurality of workers are charged with, comprising the steps of:

a) a step of generating a workflow definition based on various conditions including at least one of the content of the workflow operation, its order, the deadline of each task, the name of a worker in charge, and the priority;

b) a step of controlling the progress of the workflow operation according to the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition step and pressing each worker for the execution of the task; and

c) a step of, upon receipt of the workflow definition and the progress, predicting the future progress of the workflow operation,

wherein the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition step a) includes a rearrangement definition description having a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when it is predicted that the deadline of a task assigned to a worker is not kept, and

wherein said step c) further includes;

a step of examining a finish prediction time of each task;

a step of predicting a completion time of the workflow operation by the use of examination results from said task finish time inquiry step;

a step of analyzing the rearrangement definition description defined by said workflow definition step and supplying an analyzed description of the rearrangement definition; and

a step of, upon receipt of the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, taking out a rearrangement algorithm specified in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition from a rearrangement algorithm library for providing a plurality of rearrangement algorithms to be listed by said rearrangement definition description, and executing the rearrangement algorithm when it is predicted in said completion time prediction step that the deadline is not kept in some task within the workflow operation.

15. A workflow management method as set forth in claim 14, wherein

said step b), upon detecting a delay in a task, specifies the task and transfers to the operation by said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm.

16. A workflow management method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising

d) a step of holding achievement goals relative to the workflow operation, receiving information on the progress from said step b), making a comparison between the information on the progress and the achievement goals, and controlling an achievement condition of the workflow operation,

wherein said rearrangement definition description includes a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when the achievement goals are not achieved,

said step d), when predicting that it is difficult to accomplish achievement goals, passing the goal name to said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm, then transferring to the operation by said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm,

said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm taking out and executing a rearrangement algorithm specified in said rearrangement definition description from said rearrangement algorithm library.

17. A workflow management method as set forth in claim 14, wherein

when a plurality of rearrangement algorithms are specified together with their application order in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm applies the plurality of rearrangement algorithms one after another in the specified order and finishes the operation at the success in one of the algorithms.

18. A computer readable memory having a computer program for controlling a workflow system for defining, operating, and controlling the procedure of business works and the flow of information on the business works, and further rearranging a workflow according to a progress of the work, for a workflow operation realized by a connection of a series of tasks to which a plurality of workers are charged with, said computer program comprising the steps of:

a) a step of generating a workflow definition based on various conditions including at least one of the content of the workflow operation, its order, the deadline of each task, the name of a worker in charge, and the priority;

b) a step of controlling the progress of the workflow operation according to the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition step and pressing each worker for the execution of the task; and

c) a step of, upon receipt of the workflow definition and the progress, predicting the future progress of the workflow operation,

wherein the workflow definition generated by said workflow definition step a) includes a rearrangement definition description having a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when it is predicted that the deadline of a task assigned to a worker is not kept, and

wherein said step c) further includes;

a step of examining a finish prediction time of each task;

a step of predicting a completion time of the workflow operation by the use of examination results from said task finish time inquiry step;

a step of analyzing the rearrangement definition description defined by said workflow definition step and supplying an analyzed description of the rearrangement definition; and

a step of, upon receipt of the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, taking out a rearrangement algorithm specified in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition from a rearrangement algorithm library for providing a plurality of rearrangement algorithms to be listed by said rearrangement definition description, and executing the rearrangement algorithm when it is predicted in said completion time prediction step that the deadline is not kept in some task within the workflow operation.

19. A computer readable memory as set forth in claim 18, wherein said step b), upon detecting a delay in a task, specifies the task and transfers to the operation by said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm.

20. A computer readable memory as set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

d) a step of holding achievement goals relative to the workflow operation, receiving information on the progress from said step b), making a comparison between the information on the progress and the achievement goals, and controlling an achievement condition of the workflow operation,

wherein said rearrangement definition description includes a list of workflow rearrangement algorithms to be executed when the achievement goals are not achieved,

said step d), when predicting that it is difficult to accomplish achievement goals, passing the goal name to said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm, then transferring to the operation by said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm,

said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm taking out and executing a rearrangement algorithm specified in said rearrangement definition description from said rearrangement algorithm library.

21. A computer readable memory as set forth in claim 18, wherein

when a plurality of rearrangement algorithms are specified together with their application order in the analyzed description of the rearrangement definition, said executing step of the rearrangement algorithm applies the plurality of rearrangement algorithms one after another in the specified order and finishes the operation at the success in one of the algorithms.