Workflow administration tools and user interfaces

• US 7,840,526 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association, USAA (United Services Automobile Association)
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Massie, Robert Andrew, Bureau, Scott, McChesney, Kelly Suzanne, Baltazar, Tina De Hoyos
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital; Pierre M
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US11/321,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Various embodiments include systems, methods, and user interfaces that provide abilities to administer data in a workflow system. In some embodiments, the workflow system is a portion of a larger system, such as a document management system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions;

a storage device;

a memory device holding data including instructions operable on the processor to manage one or more databases with data stored in the storage device, the instructions operable to manage;

a package database defining a document package in a document workflow, the package database including a package record relating the document package to one or more documents and to a workflow template record, and data identifying queues that have processed the document package;

a workflow template database defining template workflows, the workflow template database including the workflow template record relating a document type to a template of workflow actions, and data identifying deadlines by which certain actions need to be performed;

a queue database including queue records, wherein queue records include;

an identifier of a work unit that performs tasks in response to the document of the package within the document workflow, and

a queue identifier;

one or more work unit databases including work unit records, wherein a work unit record includes a work unit identifier;

a queue-work unit database including queue-work unit records including the queue identifier associated with one or more work unit identifiers, one or more work units assigned to a queue are identified by the one or more work unit identifiers associated with a unique queue identifier;

a workflow process management module operable to;

identify queues that have processed document packages,

identify a next queue to receive a given document package, and

route the given document package to the identified next queue; and

a queue-work unit management user interface including queue-work unit record fields including the queue identifier and one or more work-unit identifiers, wherein the queue-work unit management user interface is operable to;

receive input into the queue-work unit record fields,

generate a script, the execution of which causes input received in the queue-work unit record fields to be stored as the queue-work unit record in the queue-work unit database, and

submit the script to the queue-work unit database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the document workflow includes a task to perform actions to the document.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the document workflow includes a task to perform actions with the document.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each queue record includes a queue description, and

the queue-work unit user interface includes a queue description field with data retrieved from and stored to the queue description of a queue record.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the work unit of a queue record is a group of system users.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a document database, wherein each document in the document database includes a document identifier;

a workflow process management module, wherein the workflow process management module process includes;

monitoring packages in the package database to identify queues that have processed packages based on the data identifying queues that have processed packages,

identifying a next queue to receive a given package as a function of queues defined in a workflow route of a workflow template record referenced by a given package template record identifier; and

routing the given package to the identified next queue

wherein a given workflow template record defines a workflow process for one or more document types in a document management system, wherein the given workflow template record includes;

a form code to associate the given workflow template record with a document type, and

one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the document type; and

wherein the package record includes;

one or more document identifiers, and

the template record identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more possible values for one or more of the queue-work unit record fields are provided for user selection by the queue-work unit management user interface.

8. A method comprising:

maintaining a package database defining a document package in a document workflow, the package database including a package record relating the document package to one or more documents and to a workflow template record, and data identifying queues that have processed the document package;

maintaining a workflow template database defining template workflows, the workflow template database including the workflow template record relating a document type to a template of workflow actions, and data identifying deadlines by which certain actions need to be performed;

maintaining a queue database including queue records, wherein queue records include;

an identifier of a work unit that performs tasks in response to a document of the package within the document workflow, and

a queue identifier;

maintaining one or more work unit databases including work unit records, wherein a work unit record includes a work unit identifier;

maintaining a queue-work unit database including queue-work unit records including the queue identifier associated with one or more work unit identifiers, one or more work units assigned to a queue are identified by the one or more work unit identifiers associated with a unique queue identifier; and

providing a workflow process management module operable to;

identify queues that have processed document packages,

identify a next queue to receive a given document package, and

route the given document package to the identified next queue; and

providing a queue-work unit management user interface including queue-work unit record fields including the queue identifier and one or more work-unit identifiers, wherein the queue-work unit management user interface is operable to;

receive input into the queue-work unit record fields,

generate a script, the execution of which causes input received in the queue-work unit record fields to be stored as the queue-work unit record in the queue-work unit database, and

submit the script to the queue-work unit database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the document workflow includes a task to perform actions to the document.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the document workflow includes a task to perform actions with the document.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

each queue record includes a queue description, and

the queue-work unit user interface includes a queue description field with data retrieved from and stored to the queue description of a queue record.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the work unit of a queue record is a group of system users.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

maintaining the workflow template database, wherein a given workflow template record defines a workflow process for one or more document types in a document management system, wherein the given workflow template record includes;

a form code to associate the given template record with a document type;

maintaining a document database, wherein each document in the document database includes a document identifier;

executing a workflow process management module, wherein the workflow process management module includes;

monitoring packages in the package database to identify queues that have processed packages based on the data identifying queues that have processed packages, and

identifying a next queue to receive a given package as a function of queues defined in a workflow route of a template record referenced by the given package template record identifier,

wherein the package record includes one or more document identifiers, and a workflow template record identifier.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more possible values for one or more of the queue-work unit record fields are provided for user selection by the queue-work unit management user interface.

15. A machine-readable medium, with instructions thereon that when processed, result in a machine:

maintaining a package database defining a document package in a document workflow, the package database including a package record relating the document package to one or more documents and to a workflow template record, and data identifying queues that have processed the document package;

maintaining a workflow template database defining template workflows, the workflow template database including the workflow template record relating a document type to a template of workflow actions, and data identifying deadlines by which certain actions need to be performed;

maintaining a queue database including queue records, wherein queue records include;

an identifier of a work unit that performs tasks in response to a document of the package within a document workflow, and

a queue identifier;

maintaining one or more work unit databases including work unit records, wherein a work unit record includes a work unit identifier;

maintaining a queue-work unit database including queue-work unit records including the queue identifier associated with one or more work unit identifiers, one or more work units assigned to a queue are identified by the one or more work unit identifiers associated with a unique queue identifier; and

providing a workflow process management module operable to;

identify queues that have processed document packages,

identify a next queue to receive a given document package, and

route the given document package to the identified next queue; and

providing a queue-work unit management user interface including queue-work unit record fields including the queue identifier and one or more work-unit identifiers, wherein the queue-work unit management user interface is operable to;

receive input into the queue-work unit record fields,

generate a script, the execution of which causes input received in the queue-work unit record fields to be stored as the queue-work unit record in the queue-work unit database, and

submit the script to the queue-work unit database.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the document workflow includes a task to perform actions to the document.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein document workflow a task to perform actions with the document.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the work unit of a queue record is a group of system users.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions when processed, further result in the machine:

maintaining the workflow template database including template records, wherein a given workflow template record defines a workflow process for one or more document types in a document management system, wherein the given workflow template record includes;

a form code to associate the given template record with a document type;

maintaining a document database, wherein each document in the document database includes a document identifier;

maintaining the package database, wherein the package includes;

one or more document identifiers, and

a template record identifier;

executing a workflow process management module, wherein the workflow process management module includes;

monitoring packages in the package database to identify queues that have processed packages based on the data identifying queues that have processed packages, and

identifying a next queue to receive a given document package as a function of queues defined in a workflow route of a template record referenced by the given document package template record identifier.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein one or more possible values for one or more of the queue-work unit record fields are provided for user selection by the queue-work unit management user interface.