Enterprise workflow screen based navigational process tool system and method
First Claim
1. An enterprise computing system, comprising:
- a process server configured to control process flow and maintain process state for a plurality of client processes;
a process database coupled to said process server, wherein said process database is configured to store process data defining one or more processes, wherein for each process, the process data defines the content and order of steps to perform that process;
a plurality of clients coupled to said process server, wherein each client is configured to display a client interface for performing steps of a respective client process, wherein each client process is one of the one or more processes defined in said processes database, wherein each client is further configured to transmit a request to said process server for each step of its respective client process; and
a plurality of back-end systems coupled to said process server, wherein each back-end system is configured to store or manipulate data used in performing one or more steps of the one or more processes defined in the process database;
wherein for each request for a process step from one of said clients, said process server is configured to;
access the process data defining the respective client process;
generate a next step in the respective client process according to the state of the respective client process and the process data defining the respective client process; and
transmit the next step to the requesting client, wherein said process server comprises a rules engine configured determine a next process step in response to client requests, wherein said rules engine is configured to determine the next process step according to the process data defining the process and the current state of the respective client process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer processes for carrying out almost any process may be defined as a series of steps using a plurality of standardized user-interface screens. These standardized interface screens may be linked together in predetermined orders to implement on a client computer activities for which the standardized screens are appropriate to accomplish a pre-defined process. Any number of computer processes may be developed and deployed using the standard interfaces. The computer process automatically takes a user from screen to screen, prompting the user to review or provide information or take appropriate action. Processes may be represented using metadata. Metadata may provide data to a screen rendering process running on a user'"'"'s workstation with details on how to render one of a plurality of standard screens in a manner which is specific to a particular process. Metadata may be provided to define the steps of the process for enabling navigational capabilities. Metadata may stored in a database and communicated by a process server to a client computer, which acts as a user'"'"'s workstation. This client-server system architecture allows maintenance of the computer processes in a central location and remote management of their use within a network. Furthermore, any number of application-specific computer processes may be made available and distributed to users without detailed programs for those processes having to be stored at each user workstation. Furthermore, basic interface functions with legacy databases and back-end systems may be provided to each user workstation in a network through the server system.
152 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An enterprise computing system, comprising:
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a process server configured to control process flow and maintain process state for a plurality of client processes; a process database coupled to said process server, wherein said process database is configured to store process data defining one or more processes, wherein for each process, the process data defines the content and order of steps to perform that process; a plurality of clients coupled to said process server, wherein each client is configured to display a client interface for performing steps of a respective client process, wherein each client process is one of the one or more processes defined in said processes database, wherein each client is further configured to transmit a request to said process server for each step of its respective client process; and a plurality of back-end systems coupled to said process server, wherein each back-end system is configured to store or manipulate data used in performing one or more steps of the one or more processes defined in the process database; wherein for each request for a process step from one of said clients, said process server is configured to; access the process data defining the respective client process; generate a next step in the respective client process according to the state of the respective client process and the process data defining the respective client process; and transmit the next step to the requesting client, wherein said process server comprises a rules engine configured determine a next process step in response to client requests, wherein said rules engine is configured to determine the next process step according to the process data defining the process and the current state of the respective client process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An enterprise computing system, comprising:
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a process server configured to control process flow and maintain process state for a plurality of client processes; a process database coupled to said process server, wherein said process database is configured to store process data defining one or more processes, wherein for each process, the process data defines the content and order of steps to perform that process; a plurality of clients coupled to said process server, wherein each client is configured to display a client interface for performing steps of a respective client process, wherein each client process is one of the one or more processes defined in said processes database, wherein each client is further configured to transmit a request to said process server for each step of its respective client process; and a plurality of back-end systems coupled to said process server, wherein each back-end system is configured to store or manipulate data used in performing one or more steps of the one or more processes defined in the process database; wherein for each request for a process step from one of said clients, said process server is configured to; access the process data defining the respective client process; generate a next step in the respective client process according to the state of the respective client process and the process data defining the respective client process; and transmit the next step to the requesting client, wherein the process data for one of said processes indicates one or more business objects for accessing data in one or more of said back-end systems, wherein each business object provides an interface to one of said back-end systems. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An enterprise computing system, comprising:
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a process server configured to control process flow and maintain process state for a plurality of client processes; a process database coupled to said process server, wherein said process database is configured to store process data defining one or more processes, wherein for each process, the process data defines the content and order of steps to perform that process; a plurality of clients coupled to said process server, wherein each client is configured to display a client interface for performing steps of a respective client process, wherein each client process is one of the one or more processes defined in said processes database, wherein each client is further configured to transmit a request to said process server for each step of its respective client process; and a plurality of back-end systems coupled to said process server, wherein each back-end system is configured to store or manipulate data used in performing one or more steps of the one or more processes defined in the process database; wherein for each request for a process step from one of said clients, said process server is configured to; access the process data defining the respective client process; generate a next step in the respective client process according to the state of the respective client process and the process data defining the respective client process; and transmit the next step to the requesting client, wherein each client is configured to dynamically render the client interface for performing steps of its respective client process according to step information received from said process server, wherein said client dynamically renders a screen indicated by the step information received from said process server within a common navigational framework.
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Specification