Method of and system for assigning documents in a workflow system

• US 6,721,782 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Grim, Clifton E. III, Wilson, John D., Stevens, Mark B., Weisskopf, Michael J., Fariborz, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/603,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/212, 709/213, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/229, 709/204, 709/205, 707/1, 707/2, 707/6, 707/7, 707/9, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of and system for assigning documents to users in a workflow system initially assigns a document to a specified role, rather than to a specified individual for review, further processing, and/or approval. The system determines the users signed on to the system in the specified role, and assigns the unassigned document to one of the signed on users. The system determines the users signed on to the system in the specified role by maintaining a role document for the specified role. The role document includes a list of the users assigned to the specified role and the signon/signoff status of each assigned user. The system assigns the document to a user on the role document whose signon/signoff status is signed on according to an assignment algorithm. The system updates the signon/signoff status of the role document whenever a user signs on to or off of the system.

Claims

1. A method of assigning documents created by disconnected users to reviewers in a workflow system, which comprises the steps of:

receiving into said workflow system at a disconnected field workstation, an initial document created by a disconnected user;

receiving at said disconnected field workstation, an assignment by said disconnected user of said initial document to a specified role;

storing at said disconnected field workstation, in a deferred submitted status, said initial document and said assignment of said initial document;

replicating said initial document and said assignment of said initial document to a database of said workflow system when said field workstation is connected to a network of said workflow system;

maintaining a plurality of role documents in said workflow system, one of said role documents including a list of reviewers assigned to said specified role and a signon/signoff status of each assigned reviewer;

updating said signon/signoff status whenever a reviewer signs on to or off of said workflow system;

assigning, according to an assignment algorithm, said document to an assigned reviewer listed on said one of said role documents whose signon/signoff status is signed on;

replicating said initial document to a reviewer workstation of said assigned reviewer while said reviewer workstation is connected to said network of said workflow system;

allowing said reviewer to become disconnected by signing off of said network of said workflow system, in order to control how many documents are assigned to said reviewer at said reviewer workstation;

when said disconnected reviewer modifies said initial document, storing said modified document locally in a deferred submitted status;

replicating said modified document to said database of said workflow system when said disconnected reviewer connects to said network of said workflow system.