Method and system for managing workflow

• US 6,401,073 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Mase, Hisao, Tokuda, Tamayo, Tsuji, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Kyle J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US09/523,755
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/8, 705/9, 709/206, 709/207, 709/238
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A workflow managing system includes a workflow server for automatically extracting a next workflow entrance location from an electronic document for management of the next workflow entrance location. The workflow server analyzes the entered electronic document to extract a document type candidate from the electronic document, classifies the electronic document in accordance with the document type, refers to a table showing a relationship between the document types and in-charge departments or in-charge users associated therewith at the time of circulating the classified electronic document, automatically extracts next workflow entrance location candidate information for circulation of the sorted document type candidates, sends the sorted electronic document to the user terminal of the next workflow entrance location candidate, receives a signal indicative of acquisition or remand of the document circulated from the document-circulated user terminal, judges accuracy or inaccuracy of the next workflow entrance location candidate information, and confirms the accuracy or inaccuracy of the circulation.

Claims

1. A workflow server for controlling a forwarding destination of an electronic document externally inputted, comprising:

a network connector which connects to a network a plurality of user units which may become forwarding destinations of said electronic document;

a memory which stores a program for performing a process in said workflow server; and

a central processing unit which is connected to said network connector and said memory and operates on a basis of said program stored in said memory to classify said input electronic document in accordance with contents of said input electronic document and to decide a destination, based on results of classifiying, from among said plurality of user units,

wherein said workflow server forwards said input electronic document from said network connector to the forwarding destination decided through said network.

2. A workflow server according to claim 1, wherein said central processing unit classifies said electronic document into document types.

3. A workflow server according to claim 2,

wherein said memory further stores a table for correlating document types with groups performing processes corresponding to said document types, and

wherein said central processing unit decides said forwarding destination in accordance with said table.

4. A workflow server according to claim 1,

wherein when the forwarding destination of an input electronic document is not determinable by a pre-defined forwarding destination definition, said central processing unit classifies the input electronic document in accordance with contents of said input electronic document, and determines a forwarding destination associated with the classifying results.

5. A workflow server according to claim 1,

wherein said central processing unit decides a plurality of candidates for the forwarding destinations, and multicasts said input electronic document to said plurality of forwarding destinations thus decided on.

6. A workflow server according to claim 1,

wherein said central processing unit decides the forwarding destination on the basis of a business process which defines a workflow process of said electronic document.

7. A computer-implemented program for implementing, in an electronic document workflow system having a plurality of workflow groups each having a pre-defined business process, an electronic document workflow method for controlling an electronic document forwarding destination, using a processor, comprising the steps of:

(a) when the forwarding destination of an input electronic document is not determinable by a pre-defined business process, classifying the input electronic document into document types in accordance with contents of said input electronic document;

(b) determining the destination among said plurality of workflow groups of where said input electronic document is to be forwarded on a basis of said document type; and

(c) forwarding said input electronic document to the destination determined in step (b).

8. A computer-implemented program for implementing, in an electronic document workflow system having a plurality of workflow groups each having a pre-defined business process, an electronic document workflow method for controlling an electronic document forwarding destination, using a processor, comprising the steps of:

(a) classifying an input electronic document into document types in accordance with contents of said input electronic document;

(b) deciding, by at least one candidate, the destination among said plurality of workflow groups of where said input electronic document is to be forwarded on a basis of said document type; and

(c) multicasting said input electronic document to candidates of destination thus decided on.

9. A computer-implemented program for implementing, in an electronic document workflow system having a plurality of workflow groups each having a pre-defined business process, an electronic document workflow method for controlling an electronic document forwarding destination, using a processor, comprising the steps of:

(a) classifying an input electronic document into document types in accordance with contents of said input electronic document;

(b) deciding the destination among said plurality of workflow groups of where said input electronic document is to be forwarded on a basis of said document type; and

(c) forwarding said input electronic document to the destination thus decided,

wherein said input electronic document is forwarded according to step (c) on a basis of a business process definition in which a workflow process of said input electronic document in said destination is pre-defined.