User interface for processing requests for approval

• US 7,672,853 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuo, Richard, Walcott, Wister, Gune, Prasad, Deighton, Anthony, Chen, Mingte
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig; Naresh
• Application Number:
  US10/112,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,895 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A facility for presenting approval requests is described. The facility simultaneously displays information describing both a first approval request and a second approval request, where the first approval request is generated using a first application program, and the second approval request is generated using a second application program that is distinct from the first application program.

Claims

1. A method in a computing system, the method comprising:

receiving a first approval request among a plurality of approval requests from a first application program;

in response to receiving a query from at least one approver for additional information regarding the first approval request, invoking the first application program to retrieve the additional information regarding the first approval request;

receiving a second approval request among said plurality of approval requests from a second application program, wherein

the second application program is distinct from the first application program, and

the second approval request is of a different type of approval request from the first approval request;

in response to receiving a query from said at least one approver for additional information regarding the second approval request, invoking the second application program to retrieve the additional information regarding the second approval request;

presenting the first approval request and the second approval request to said at least one approver within a single user interface for reviewing and acting on the plurality of approval requests; and

allowing said at least one approver to apply a common action to multiple approval requests from said plurality of approval requests via a single interaction with said single user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the at least one approver has not reviewed the first approval request within a predetermined period of time, redirecting the first approval request to at least one alternate approver.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an approval history of a pending approval request within the single user interface.