Automatic workflow monitoring/control method and apparatus

• US 6,651,033 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagayama, Mitsuharu, Ichikawa, Kazuyuki, Nemoto, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CRAIG S
• Application Number:
  US09/987,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 700/90, 700/91, 700/95, 700/108, 700/111, 702/182, 702/187
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

In a workflow system performing works by circulating data to a plurality of staffs via a network, a processing history of a workflow case is recorded and processing histories are collected. A processing situation in the workflow system is checked by using he processing histories collected. In case the situation check decides that a delay is present, case entry is suppressed so as to control a case amount and a work amount.

Claims

1. An automatic workflow monitoring/control method in a workflow system performing works by circulating data to a plurality of staffs via a network, the method comprising steps of:

performing works by circulating data to the staffs via the network based on a plurality of business process definitions which predefine a flow of the works in the workflow system including;

recording a processing history of the works according to the business process definitions;

collecting processing histories recorded,

checking a processing situation in the workflow system by using the processing histories collected, and

controlling case amount and work amount of the works by suppressing case entry in the workflow system when the checking step determines that a delay is present.

2. An automatic workflow monitoring/control apparatus in a workflow system performing works by circulating data to a plurality of staffs via a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for performing works by circulating data to the staffs via the network based on a plurality of business process definitions which predefine a flow of the works in the workflow system including;

means for recording a processing history of the workflow according to the business process definitions,

means for collecting processing histories recorded,

means for checking a processing situation in the workflow system by using the processing histories collected, and

means for controlling case amount and work amount of the works by suppressing case entry in the workflow system when said means for checking determines that a delay is present.

3. An automatic workflow monitoring/control program in a workflow system for performing works by circulating data to a plurality of staffs via a network, said automatic workflow monitoring/control program, when executed, causes the workflow system to perform the steps of:

performing works by circulating data to the staffs via the network based on a plurality of business process definitions which predefine a flow of the works in the workflow system including;

recording a processing history of the works according to the business process definitions,

collecting processing histories recorded,

checking a processing situation in the workflow system by using the processing histories collected, and

controlling case amount and work amount of the works by suppressing case entry in the workflow system when the checking step determines that a delay is present.