Workflow distribution process granting to operators with assigned activities access to needed computer resources and withdrawing such access upon the completion of the assigned activity

• US 6,823,513 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sweitzer, John William, McNally, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Courtenay, III, St. John
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/561,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/104, 713/200, 713/201, 713/150, 713/151, 704/101, 704/104, 704/203, 700/101, 705/8, 705/9
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method for limiting access of each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution, to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface. A workflow distribution process with a plurality of users or participants at a plurality of computer controlled display stations. At the workflow management source, an implementation for respectively assigning activities to each of a plurality of operators and for designating for each of the activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of the activities. A set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to a user to carry out an assigned activity is displayed. An implementation for determining the completion of each of the assigned activities, and for removing from the display the elements representing the designated computer resources when an activity is completed.

Claims

1. A system for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution, limited access to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

means for displaying to each of a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

means for respectively assigning activities to each of a said plurality of operators;

means for designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of said activities;

means for displaying to each of said operators, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

means for determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

means responsive to said determining means for removing from the display means only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity as completed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for displaying, display said designated set of elements as menu elements, interactively selectable to thereby access the resources respectively represented by said elements.

3. The system of claim 2 further including:

display means permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

means for designating said additional access by adding an element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.

4. A system for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution over a network, limited access to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

means for displaying to each of a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

means for respectively assigning activities to each of said plurality of operators;

means for designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of said activities;

means for displaying to each of said operators on computer controlled display interfaces at receiving display stations on said network, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

means for determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

means responsive to said determining means for removing from the display means only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity is completed.

5. The system of claim 4 further including:

display means permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

means for designating sold additional access by adding element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.

6. A method for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution process, limited access to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

displaying to each of a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

respectively assigning activities to each of said plurality of operators;

designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of said activities;

displaying to each or said operators, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

removing from the display means only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity is completed.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said designated set of elements are displayed as menu elements, interactively selectable to thereby access the resources respectively represented by said elements.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of;

permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

designating said additional access by adding an element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.

9. A method for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution over a network, limited access to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

displaying to each a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

respectively assigning activities to each of a said plurality of operators;

designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of said activities;

displaying to each of said operators on computer controlled display interfaces at receiving display stations on the network, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

removing from the display, only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity is completed.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the steps of:

permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

designating said additional access by adding an element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.

11. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium operable in a process for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution, limited access to computer resources heeded to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

means for displaying to each of a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

means for respectively assigning activities to each of plurality of operators;

means for designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete, each of said activities;

means for displaying to each of said operators, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

means for determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

means responsive to said determining means for removing from the display means only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity is completed.

12. The computer program of claim 11 wherein said means for displaying display said designated set of elements as menu elements, interactively selectable to thereby access the resources respectively represented by said elements.

13. The computer program of claim 12 further including:

display means permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

means for designating said additional access by adding an element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.

14. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium operable in a process for providing to each of a plurality of operators having assigned activities in an overall workflow distribution over a network, limited access to computer resources needed to respectively complete each activity through a computer controlled interactive display interface comprising:

means for displaying to each of a plurality of operators, a general set of elements, each representing a computer resource accessible to all of said operators;

means for respectively assigning activities to each of said plurality of operators;

means for designating for each of said activities, at least one computer resource necessary to respectively complete each of said activities;

means for displaying to each of said operators on computer controlled display interfaces at receiving display stations on said network, a designated set of elements, each representing a designated computer resource accessible to said operator to carry out said assigned activity;

means for determining the completion of each of said assigned activities; and

means responsive to said determining means for removing from the display means only the elements representing the designated computer resources for each respective activity responsive to a determination that said respective activity completed.

15. The computer program of claim 14, further including:

display means permitting the operator to request access to an additional computer resource prior to the completion of an assigned activity, and

means for designating said additional access by adding an element representative of said additional resource to said designated set of elements.