Workflow distributing apparatus and method

• US 6,728,947 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Media Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: RR Donnelley & Sons Company
• Inventors: Bengston, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): INGBERG, TODD D
• Application Number:
  US09/092,377
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/223, 709/224, 709/228, 705/11, 345/326, 345/329, 345/330, 345/334, 345/335, 717/100
• US Class Current: 717/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

A system and apparatus for automatically executing process steps by processing devices transmitted, over a communication channel, using a workflow file to specify the process steps. Devices are used to edit, initiate, and observe workflow execution. Editing comprises selecting process steps, executing parameter selection software supplied by the processing device, and drawing links between icons. Once workflow execution is initiated, workflow data is passed from one processing device to the next. Each processing device performs the process step specified by the workflow file with the selected parameters and optionally sends status information to observing devices. This sequence continues until all process steps are executed or an error occurs.

Claims

1. A method of executing a portion of a workflow among a first processing device, a second processing device and a third processing device, wherein the first processing device, the second processing device and the third processing device are nodes in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:

receiving a workflow file at the second processing device from the first processing device, the workflow file including (i) information identifying the first processing device, (ii) information identifying a first process step which was previously executed by the first processing device, (iii) information identifying the second processing device, the information identifying the second processing device being different than the information identifying the first processing device, (iv) information identifying a second process step to be executed by the second processing device, (v) information identifying the third processing device, the information identifying the third processing device being different than the information identifying the first processing device, the information identifying the third processing device being different than the information identifying the second processing device and (vi) information identifying a third process step to be executed by the third processing device;

executing the second process step at the second processing device in response to receiving the workflow file from the first processing device;

writing status information to the workflow file at the second processing device; and

transmitting the workflow file from the second processing device to the third processing device after executing the second process step.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

executing the first process step at the first processing device; and

transmitting the workflow file from the first processing device to the second processing device after executing the first process step.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

executing the third process step at the third processing device; and

receiving the workflow file at the third processing device from the second processing device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein receiving a workflow file at a second processing device comprises receiving a workflow file which includes process data used during executing of the second process step.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein receiving a workflow file at a second processing device comprises receiving a workflow file which includes a process data location used during executing of the second process step.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein receiving a workflow file at a second processing device comprises receiving a workflow file which includes an authorization code.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising updating an observing device by transmitting an indication that the second process step has been executed.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the status information includes a start time and a stop time associated with executing the second process step.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein writing status information to the workflow file at the second processing device includes writing an error message to the workflow file if the second process step is not completely executed.

10. An apparatus for executing a portion of a workflow, the apparatus comprising:

a first processing device, a second processing device and a third processing device, wherein the first processing device, the second processing device and the third processing device are nodes in a peer-to-peer network; and

a software program, the software program being structured to cause the second processing device to;

receive a workflow file from the first processing device, the workflow file including (i) information identifying the first processing device, (ii) information identifying a first process step which was previously executed by the first processing device, (iii) information identifying the second processing device, the information identifying the second processing device being different than the information identifying the first processing device, (iv) information identifying a second process step to be executed by the second processing device, (v) information identifying the third processing device, the information identifying the third processing device being different than the information identifying the first processing device, the information identifying the third processing device being different than the information identifying the second processing device and (vi) information identifying a third process step to be executed by the third processing device;

execute the second process step in response to receiving the workflow file from the first processing device;

write status information to the workflow file; and

transmit the workflow file to the third processing device after executing the second process step.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the software program is further structured to cause the second processing device to retrieve process data used during executing of the second process step from the workflow file.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the software program is further structured to cause the second processing device to retrieve process data used during executing of the second process step from a network location.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the software program is further structured to cause the second processing device to update an observing device by transmitting an indication that the second process step has been executed.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the status information includes a start time and a stop time associated with executing the second process step.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the software program is further structured to cause the second processing device to write an error message to the workflow file if the second process step is not completely executed.