Workflow systems and methods for project management and information management

• US 7,702,737 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:
  US12/022,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140793A1
• 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 document configured to be populated via the Web page by a user to produce a submitted 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 a message containing a Web address associated with the submitted document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with the submitted document, the form route manager configured to receive a response from the first destination address, the form route manager configured to send a message containing the Web address to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses; and

the form route manager configured to send a message to a notification address associated with the user when the message to the first destination address is sent or when a response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send a message to the notification address when a rejection is received from a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send the message to the notification address when the response received from the last destination address is an approval.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send the message to the notification address via at least one of an e-mail, a phone page, a voicemail or a facsimile.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory;

a form route manager configured to receive a message from a user, the message including a document having a response 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 a message including the document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with the document, the form route manager configured to receive a response from the first destination address, the form route manager configured to send a message containing the document to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses; and

the form route manager configured to send a message to a notification address associated with the user when the message to the first destination address is sent or when a response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send a message to the notification address when a rejection is received from a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send the message to the notification address when the response received from the last destination address is an approval.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the form route manager is configured to send the message to the notification address via at least one of an e-mail, a phone page, a voicemail or a facsimile.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a message from a user, the message including a document having a response request;

sending a message containing the document to a first destination address from a plurality of destination addresses associated with the document;

receiving a response from the first destination address;

sending a message including the document to a next destination address from the plurality of destination addresses; and

sending a message to a notification address associated with the user when the message to the first destination address is sent or when a response is received from a last destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message from the user is based on a Web page associated with an initial document.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

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

the e-mail sent to the next destination address includes the Web address to the document

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the message from the user is an e-mail including an initial document having a response request.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a message to the notification address when a rejection is received from a destination address from the plurality of destination addresses.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

The response received from the last destination address is an approval.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending the message to the notification address via at least one of an e-mail, a phone page, a voicemail or a facsimile.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

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