Workflow systems and methods for project management and information management

• US 7,702,736 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Ouchi, Norman Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): NEURAUTER, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US12/022,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention relates to workflow systems and methods. In one embodiment, the invention relates to integration of a calendar system with a workflow system where a calendar event can initiate a workflow by sending a message to a form route manager. The completion of a workflow or step in the workflow can result in sending a message to a calendar system to generate an event. In another embodiment, the invention relates to the integration of workflow with a project management system that includes project segments, which are processes that can be defined and controlled by workflow routes. The project management system sends a message to the workflow system to initiate workflow and the workflow system sends a message to the project management system, for example, at the completion of the workflow route. The relationship between the workflow routes can maintain the relationship between the project segments. If the relationships between project segments change, the relationship between the workflow routes changes without added effort.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory;

a form route manager configured to access a Web page, the Web page being associated with an initial travel reimbursement document configured to be populated by a user to produce a submitted travel reimbursement document, at least a portion of the form route manager including at least a portion of the memory,

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail including a Web address associated with the submitted travel reimbursement document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with approval of submitted travel reimbursement document,

the form route manager configured to receive an e-mail approval from the first destination address, the form route manager configured to send an e-mail containing the Web address associated with the submitted travel reimbursement document to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when the e-mail to the first destination address is sent.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an e-mail response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when the e-mail to the first destination address is sent and when an e-mail response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an e-mail rejection is received from an address from the plurality of destination addresses.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager is configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an approval is received from a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of destination addresses includes at least one of an address of a manager of the user, an address of a finance department member and an address of an accounting department member.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory;

a form route manager configured to receive an e-mail from a user, the e-mail including a travel reimbursement document having an approval request, at least a portion of the form route manager including at least a portion of the memory,

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail including the travel reimbursement document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with approval of the travel reimbursement document, the form route manager configured to receive an e-mail approval from the first destination address, and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail including at least one of the travel reimbursement document or a modified version of the travel reimbursement document to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when the e-mail to the first destination address is sent.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an e-mail response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when the e-mail to the first destination address is sent and when an e-mail response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an e-mail rejection is received from an address from the plurality of destination addresses.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the user is associated with a notification address; and

the form route manager is configured to send an e-mail to the notification address when an approval is received from a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of destination addresses includes at least one of an address of a manager of the user, an address of a finance department member and an address of an accounting department member.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a message from a user, the message including information associated with a travel reimbursement document;

sending an e-mail including information associated with the travel reimbursement document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with approval of the travel reimbursement document;

receiving an e-mail approval from the first destination address; and

sending an e-mail including information associated with the travel reimbursement document to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the message from the user is based on a Web page associated with an initial travel reimbursement document.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the e-mail sent to the first destination address includes a Web address to a submitted travel reimbursement document; and

the e-mail sent to the next destination address includes the Web address to the submitted travel reimbursement document.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the message from the user is an e-mail including an initial travel reimbursement document having an approval request.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending an e-mail to a notification address associated with the user after the sending the e-mail to the first destination address.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending an e-mail to a notification address associated with the user when an e-mail response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the sending an e-mail to a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses includes at least one of an address of a manager of the user, an address of a finance department member and an address of an accounting department member.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the receiving the message from the user, the sending the e-mail to the first destination address, the receiving the e-mail from the first destination address and the sending the e-mail to the next destination address is from a computer within a network.