Computer-implemented workflow replayer system and method

• US 8,032,831 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyland Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hyland Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Zubizarreta, Miguel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tank; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/952,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 715/704, 715/703, 715853-855, 715/705, 715/730, 715/715, 715/716, 715/720, 715/744, 715/745
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods for replaying historical workflow information. Workflow information is collected while tasks and documents are being processed. The collected workflow information is stored in a database so that at a later point in time, the historical workflow information may be retrieved and provided to a user. Through computer-human interfaces, the user can move forwards and/or backwards while replaying the collected historical workflow information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for a user to view historical workflow data, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user historical workflow criteria that comprises a start time and end time for a specific time frame of interest for workflow data;

retrieving historical workflow data collected during processing of a workflow item whose processing was completed in the past from a group of databases based upon the received criteria;

providing data based upon the retrieved historical workflow data that has a temporal profile that allow a generated user interface to visually replay the historical workflow data as it existed at a plurality of points in time in the past;

wherein the generated user interface includes simultaneously displaying the visually replayed historical workflow data with multiple different levels of detail;

wherein the generated user interface includes numerical statistical measures associated with at least one of the multiple different levels of detail;

wherein the provided data is used to progress in time the replaying of the historical workflow data; and

providing replayer controls that allow a user to select the point in time at which the user would like to begin replaying the historical workflow data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a workflow search interface is provided to the user, wherein the user interacts with the workflow search interface to identify a time period for use in retrieving historical workflow data from the database;

wherein the multiple levels of detail include a task level, a station level, and a department level;

wherein the statistical measures include a task completion statistical measure and are updated to match a changing time frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a workflow search interface is provided to the user, wherein the user interacts with the workflow search interface to identify a workflow item for use in retrieving historical workflow data from the database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the workflow item is a workflow task.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the workflow item is a workflow document.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the workflow item is a workflow workstation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is configured to store workflow data related to the processing of the workflow item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the stored workflow data includes how tasks are structured for processing the workflow item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stored workflow data includes who performs the tasks.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored workflow data includes how the tasks are synchronized.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored workflow data includes how information flows to support the tasks.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored workflow data includes how tasks are being tracked.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored workflow data includes financial information related to the workflow item.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of a workflow item includes processing of a workflow task.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of a workflow item includes processing of a workflow document.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the workflow item is processed by personnel at different workstations.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface allows the user to visually analyze the workflow data that had been collected over a period of time.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data includes workflow replay data that indicates how the historical workflow data is to be displayed on the user interface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the workflow replay data is generated based upon the retrieved historical workflow data.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the replayer controls are provided such that the user can proceed forwards and backwards through the retrieved historical workflow data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls allow the user to manipulate the display on the user interface workflow by being configured to rewind the historical workflow data backwards in time.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls allow the user to manipulate the display on the user interface workflow by being configured to play the historical workflow data backwards in time.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls allow the user to manipulate the display on the user interface workflow by being configured to fast forward through the historical workflow data.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls allow the user to manipulate the display on the user interface workflow by being configured to pause the replaying of the historical workflow data.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls operable by the user resemble controls used on a tape cassette device.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the replayer controls operable by the user allow the user to select a level of workflow-related detail for viewing the replayed historical workstation data.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data allows a user to view the retrieved historical workflow data against a live database, without disturbing actual location of those documents involved in the historical workflow data replaying.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data allows a user to compare different workflow items contained in the retrieved historical workflow data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the workflow item comparison displayed on the user interface shows interrelationships among the different workflow items.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the workflow item comparison displayed on the user interface shows temporal interrelationships among the different workflow items.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein real-time workflow data is retrieved from the database so that the retrieved workflow data can be compared on the user interface with the displayed historical workflow data.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data allows a user to view the retrieved historical workflow data against a live database, without disturbing current real-time processing of workflow items by workstations.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the replaying of the historical workflow data is displayed on the user interface in a textual format.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the replaying of the historical workflow data is displayed on the user interface in a graphical format.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the graphical format includes presenting a graphical layout of workstations which is updated while the historical workflow data is replayed to show which workstations are working on a task at different points in time.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the time increment at which the workflow historical data is replayed is changed by the user.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the time increment is changed so as to allow greater detail of the historical workflow data that is displayed to the user.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the time increment is changed so as to allow less detail of the historical workflow data that is displayed to the user.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple users are provided with historical workflow data for replay upon their respective user interfaces.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein a network is used to provide multiple users with historical workflow data for replay upon their respective user interfaces.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein a server has a connection to the network, wherein the server includes computer instructions for retrieving historical workflow data from the database.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the databases is an archival database for storing the historical workflow data.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the databases stores workflow data being collected in real-time.

44. A computer-implemented apparatus for a user to view historical workflow data, comprising:

means for receiving from a user historical workflow criteria that comprises a start time and end time for a specific time frame of interest for workflow data;

means for retrieving historical workflow data collected during processing of a workflow item whose processing was completed in the past from a group of databases based upon the received criteria;

means for providing data based upon the retrieved historical workflow data that has a temporal profile that allow a generated user interface to visually replay the historical workflow data as it existed at a plurality of points in time in the past;

wherein the generated user interface includes simultaneously displaying the visually replayed historical workflow data with multiple different levels of detail;

wherein the generated user interface includes numerical statistical measures associated with at least one of the multiple different levels of detail;

wherein the provided data allows the user interface to advance in time the replaying of the historical workflow data; and

means for providing replayer controls that allow a user to select the point in time at which the user would like to begin replaying the historical workflow data.