Method and system for monitoring a workflow for an object

• US 7,434,226 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scenera Mobile Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Singh, Mona
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, QING YUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/012,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 719/320, 719/313, 705/1, 705/7, 705/28, 235/462.01, 235/462.41, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a workflow for an object are described. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention include sending workflow information to at least one mobile device operated by a recipient of the object. The workflow information associates the object with the at least one mobile device and includes sender-generated metadata identifying a sender of the object. The present invention also includes detecting the object using the at least one mobile device when the object is delivered to the recipient. The present invention also includes receiving from the at least one mobile device user-generated metadata associated with the object, wherein the sender-generated and user-generated metadata facilitate in monitoring the object in the workflow. As a result, the object is accurately and reliably monitored in the workflow.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a workflow for an object, the method comprising:

receiving workflow information on at least one mobile device operated by a recipient of an object, wherein the workflow information associates the object with the at least one mobile device and includes sender-generated metadata identifying the object and identifying a sender of the object;

detecting the object using the at least one mobile device by receiving information identifying the object and comparing the received information identifying the object with the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the object is not received on the at least one mobile device; and

sending from the at least one mobile device user-generated metadata associated with the object to a workflow service responsive to determining the received information identifying the object matches the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the user-generated metadata includes a notification for the sender of the object that the object has been received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sender-generated metadata associated with the object includes at least one of an identification of the recipient, a delivery location, and messages or instructions regarding the object.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising identifying which mobile device to send workflow information to by querying a user device database with the identification of the recipient to retrieve a corresponding device ID.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting the workflow information to the recipient.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising downloading existing metadata to the at least one mobile device, wherein the existing metadata comprises the sender-generated metadata, prior user-generated metadata, and prior actions taken with respect to the object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing user-generated metadata regarding the execution of the workflow when prompted by a workflow application running on the at least one mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising updating existing metadata at a server to include the captured user-generated metadata.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether there is an expected delivery time workflow constraint for the object.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining whether the delivery of the object is early, late, or on time.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying a message to at least one of the recipient and the sender of the object indicating whether the object was delivered early, late, or on time.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if all required objects associated with the object in the workflow have been received.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a reminder to a server or a party from whom the required objects are expected to be received, if all of the required objects have not been received.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising ensuring that the object is processed in a specified sequence or by specified staff.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating the object and workflow events with specific mobile devices.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile device detects the object utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile device detects the object by capturing an image of a barcode associated with the object.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile device detects the object by scanning a barcode associated with the object.

18. A computer readable storage medium containing program instructions for monitoring a workflow for an object, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

receiving workflow information on at least one mobile device operated by a recipient of an object, wherein the workflow information associates the object with the at least one mobile device and includes sender-generated metadata identifying the object and identifying a sender of the object;

detecting the object using the at least one mobile device by receiving information identifying the object and comparing the received information identifying the object with the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the object is not received on the at least one mobile device; and

sending from the at least one mobile device user-generated metadata associated with the object to a workflow service responsive to determining the received information identifying the object matches the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the user-generated metadata includes a notification for the sender of the object that the object has been received.

19. A system for monitoring a workflow of an object, the system comprising:

a server connected to a network for providing workflow information; and

a mobile device operated by a recipient of a object and connected to the network, the mobile device configured to receive the workflow information that includes sender-generated metadata identifying the object from the server, to detect the object by receiving information identifying the object and compare the received information identifying the object with the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, and transmit user-generated metadata associated with the object to the server responsive to determining the received information identifying the object matches the sender-generated metadata identifying the object;

wherein the object is not received on the mobile device, the user-generated metadata includes a notification that the object has been received for the sender of the object, and the workflow information associates the object with the mobile device and includes sender-generated metadata identifying a sender of the object.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the sender-generated metadata associated with the object includes at least one of an identification of the recipient, a delivery location, and messages or instructions regarding the object.

21. A mobile device for monitoring a workflow of an object, the mobile device comprising:

a receiver for receiving workflow information that associates an object with the mobile device and includes sender-generated metadata identifying the object and identifying a sender of the object;

a detector for detecting the object by receiving information identifying the object and comparing the received information identifying the object with the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the object is not received on the mobile device; and

a transmitter for sending user-generated metadata associated with the object responsive to determining the received information identifying the object matches the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the user-generated metadata includes a notification for the sender of the object that the object has been received.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the detector comprises:

radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry configured to detect the object using an RFID tag included with the object;

wherein the mobile device is configured to include in the user-generated metadata information associated with the RFID tag as a notification that the object has been received.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the detector comprises:

an image capture device configured to capture an image of the object;

wherein the mobile device is configured to include the image in the user-generated metadata information as a notification that the object has been received.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the image includes a barcode associated with the object.

25. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the detector comprises:

a scanner configured to detect a barcode associated with the object;

wherein the mobile device is configured to include in the user-generated metadata information associated with the barcode as a notification that the object has been received.

26. A method for monitoring a workflow for a physical object, the method comprising:

receiving workflow information on at least one cell phone operated by a recipient, wherein the at least one cell phone has at least one voice function, and wherein the workflow information associates a physical object with the at least one cell phone and includes sender-generated metadata identifying the object and identifying a sender of the object;

detecting the physical object using the cell phone by receiving information identifying the object and comparing the received information identifying the object with the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the object is not received on the cell phone; and

sending from the at least one cell phone user-generated metadata associated with the physical object to a workflow service responsive to determining the received information identifying the object matches the sender-generated metadata identifying the object, wherein the user-generated metadata includes a notification for the sender of the object that the object has been received.