System and method for process automation and enforcement

• US 7,640,225 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Aid Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Computer Aid Incorporated
• Inventors: Clater, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSS, BENJAMIN J
• Application Number:
  US11/249,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 706/11, 706/45, 706/48, 706/50
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

In process automation, processes are entered and enforced on team members through a Web interface. Processes are selected from a process library and can be updated as needed. Governance algorithms guide team members in carrying out the processes. The Web interface comprises a dashboard indicating an expected status and an actual status of each task.

Claims

1. A method for automation of a process, the method comprising:

(a) storing a library of processes on a computer system, each of the processes in the library comprising an indication of tasks to be carried out in the process, wherein step (a) comprises storing the processes as locked down processes and disallowing any modifications to the locked down processes;

(b) receiving a command from a user to select one of the processes from the library stored in step (a) to launch as an event;

(c) assigning at least one person to the event launched in step (b);

(d) determining the tasks needed to be carried out by the at least one person assigned in step (c) in accordance with the tasks in the process selected in step (b);

(e) providing an interface to said at least one person, the interface comprising an indication of the tasks determined in step (d), an expected status of each task, and an actual status of each task;

(f) receiving, through the interface, an indication that a person has completed one of the tasks;

(g) determining a next one of the tasks to be carried out by the person;

(h) displaying the next one of the tasks to the person as determined in step (g);

(i) storing an amount of time in which the person has completed each of the tasks as well as remaining time estimates;

(j) developing and reporting metric reports, including productivity metrics;

(k) issue/problem tracking and reporting; and

(l) revising at least one of the processes stored in step (a) by;

unlocking the at least one process, modifying the at least one process in accordance with the metric reports generated in step (j), and re-locking down the process to disallow all modifications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of steps (b) and (e) is performed over the Internet or an intranet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (e) comprises implementing the interface as a Web page.

4. The method of claim 1, comprises receiving a modification for at least one of the processes stored in the library, unlocking the at least one process, making the received modification to the at least one process, and re-locking down the at least one process for which the modification has been received.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, when a modification is made to the process selected in step (b), steps (d) and (e) are modified in real time in accordance with the modification to the process.

6. A system for automation of a process, the system comprising:

an electronic storage medium; and

a processor in electronic communication with the electronic storage medium;

the storage medium storing code to control the processor to;

(a) store a library of processes on the electronic storage medium, each of the processes in the library comprising an indication of tasks to be carried out in the process, wherein step (a) comprises storing the processes as locked down processes and disallowing any modifications to the locked down processes;

(b) receive a command from a user to select one of the processes from the library stored in step (a) to launch as an event;

(c) assign at least one person to the event launched in step (b);

(d) determine the tasks needed to be carried out by the at least one person assigned in step (c) in accordance with the tasks in the process selected in step (b);

(e) provide an interface to said at least one person, the interface comprising an indication of the tasks determined in step (d), an expected status of each task, and an actual status of each task;

(f) receive, through the interface, an indication that a person has completed one of the tasks;

(g) determine a next one of the tasks to be carried out by the person;

(h) display the next one of the tasks to the person as determined in step (g);

(i) store an amount of time in which the person has completed each of the tasks as well as remaining time estimates;

(j) develop and report metric reports, including productivity metrics;

(k) track and report issues/problems; and

(l) revising at least one of the processes stored in step (a) by;

unlocking the at least one process, modifying the at least one process in accordance with the metric reports generated in step (j), and re-locking down the process to disallow all modifications.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the code comprises code for performing at least one of steps (b) and (e) over the Internet or an intranet.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the code comprises code for implementing the interface as a Web page.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the code comprises code for receiving a modification for at least one of the processes stored in the library, unlocking the at least one process, making the received modification to the at least one process, and re-locking down the at least one process for which the modification has been received.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the code comprises code for controlling the processor such that, when a modification is made to the process selected in step (b), steps (d) and (e) are modified in real time in accordance with the modification to the process.

11. An article of manufacture for use in automating a process, the article of manufacture comprising:

an electronic storage medium; and

code, stored in the electronic storage medium, the code being code for executing on a computer system to;

(a) store a library of processes in the computer system, each of the processes in the library comprising an indication of tasks to be carried out in the process, wherein step (a) comprises storing the processes as locked down processes and disallowing any modifications to the locked down processes;

(b) receive a command from a user to select one of the processes from the library stored in step (a) to launch as an event;

(c) assign at least one person to the event launched in step (b);

(d) determine the tasks needed to be carried out by the at least one person assigned in step (c) in accordance with the tasks in the process selected in step (b);

(e) provide an interface to said at least one person, the interface comprising an indication of the tasks determined in step (d), an expected status of each task, and an actual status of each task;

(f) receive, through the interface, an indication that a person has completed one of the tasks;

(g) determine a next one of the tasks to be carried out by the person;

(h) display the next one of the tasks to the person as determined in step (g);

(i) store an amount of time in which the person has completed each of the tasks as well as remaining time estimates;

(j) develop and report metric reports, including productivity metrics;

(k) track and report issues/problems; and

(l) revise at least one of the processes stored in step (a) by;

unlocking the at least one process, modifying the at least one process in accordance with the metric reports generated in step (j), and re-locking down the process to disallow all modifications.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the code comprises code for performing at least one of steps (b) and (e) over the Internet or an intranet.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the code comprises code for implementing the interface as a Web page.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the code comprises code for receiving a modification for at least one of the processes stored in the library, unlocking the at least one process, making the received modification to the at least one process, and re-locking down the at least one process for which the modification has been received.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the code comprises code for controlling the computer system such that, when a modification is made to the process selected in step (b), steps (d) and (e) are modified in real time in accordance with the modification to the process.