Groupware-integrated business document management

• US 8,645,483 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Odenheimer, Jens, Eberlein, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mundur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US13/296,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/204, 709/205, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system may include generation of a markup language representation of a business document based on a business object model, and generation of a first multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprising a first part and a second part, the first part associated with a text content-type and the second part associated with an attachment content-disposition, and the second part comprising the markup language representation of the business document. The first electronic mail message may be transmitted to a business application platform associated with the business document and implementing the business object model.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computing system in response to execution of program code by a processor of the computing system, the method comprising:

creating, by a device operated by a first party, a business document, the business document comprising an instance of a software model representing a real world entity involved in a business transaction;

generating a markup language representation of the business document based on a business object model implemented by a business application platform;

generating a first multi-part Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) electronic mail message comprising a first part and a second part, the first part associated with a text content-type and the second part associated with an attachment content-disposition, and the second part comprising the markup language representation of the business document;

transmitting the first electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a second party and (ii) the business application platform associated with the business document and implementing the business object model, wherein the business application platform is to extract the markup language representation of the business document, instantiate a business object instance of the business document based on the markup language representation of the business document, and store the business object instance instantiated based on the markup language representation of the business document;

receiving, by a device, a request for a modification to the business document;

editing, by a device, the business document;

generating a second markup language representation of the edited business document based on the business object model;

generating a second multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprising a third part, a fourth part, a second Content-ID identifying a sender of the second multi-part MIME electronic mail message, the filename of the business document and a second timestamp, the third part associated with the text content-type and the fourth part associated with the attachment content-disposition, and the fourth part comprising the second markup language representation;

transmitting the second electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a third party and (ii) the business application platform, wherein the business application platform is to edit a business object instance of the business document based on the second markup language representation; and

receiving, from the business application platform, verification that the third party has approved the business document.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the first electronic mail message comprises:

transmitting the first electronic mail message to a recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprises a Content-ID identifying a sender of the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message, a filename of the business document and a first timestamp.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein transmitting the first electronic mail message comprises:

transmitting the first electronic mail message to a first recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message, and

wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises;

transmitting the second electronic mail message to a second recipient associated with a To;

header field of the second electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the second electronic mail message.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first party is an employee of an entity, the second party is a customer of the entity and the third party is a manager of the employee of the entity.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving, by a device, a request for a modification to the business document comprises:

receiving, by the device operated by the first party, the request for the modification to the business document; and

wherein the editing, by a device, the business document comprises;

editing, by the device operated by the first party, the business document.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the first party is an employee of an entity, the second party is a customer of the entity and the third party is a manager of the employee of the entity.

5. A non-transitory medium storing processor-executable program code, the program code executable by a device to:

create a business document, the business document comprising an instance of a software model representing a real world entity involved in a business transaction;

generate a markup language representation of the business document based on a business object model implemented by a business application platform;

generate a first multi-part Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) electronic mail message comprising a first part and a second part, the first part associated with a text content-type and the second part associated with an attachment content-disposition, and the second part comprising the markup language representation of the business document;

transmit the first electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a second party and (ii) the business application platform associated with the business document and implementing the business object model, wherein the business application platform is to extract the markup language representation of the business document, instantiate a business object instance of the business document based on the markup language representation of the business document, and store the business object instance instantiated based on the markup language representation of the business document;

receive a request for a modification to the business document;

edit the business document;

generate a second markup language representation of the edited business document based on the business object model;

generate a second multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprising a third part, a fourth part, a second Content-ID identifying a sender of the second multi-part MIME electronic mail message, the filename of the business document and a second timestamp, the third part associated with the text content-type and the fourth part associated with the attachment content-disposition, and the fourth part comprising the second markup language representation;

transmit the second electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a third party and (ii) the business application platform, wherein the business application platform is to edit a business object instance of the business document based on the second markup language representation; and

receive, from the business application platform, verification that the third party has approved the business document.

6. A non-transitory medium according to claim 5, wherein the program code executable by a device to transmit the first electronic mail message comprises program code executable by a device to:

transmit the first electronic mail message to a recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message.

7. A non-transitory medium according to claim 5, wherein the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprises a Content-ID identifying a sender of the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message, a filename of the business document and a first timestamp.

8. A non-transitory medium according to claim 5, wherein the program code executable by a device to transmit the first electronic mail message comprises program code executable by a device to:

transmit the first electronic mail message to a first recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message, and

wherein the program code executable by a device to transmit the first electronic mail message comprises program code executable by a device to;

transmit the second electronic mail message to a second recipient associated with a To;

header field of the second electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the second electronic mail message.

16. A non-transitory medium according to claim 5, wherein the program code executable by a device comprises program code executable by an employee of an entity;

and

wherein the second party is a customer of the entity and the third party is a manager of the employee of the entity.

9. A system comprising:

a computing device operated by a first party and comprising;

a memory system storing processor-executable program code; and

a processor to execute the processor-executable program code in order to cause the computing device to;

create a business document, the business document comprising an instance of a software model representing a real world entity involved in a business transaction;

generate a markup language representation of the business document based on a business object model implemented by a business application platform;

generate a first multi-part Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) electronic mail message comprising a first part and a second part, the first part associated with a text content-type and the second part associated with an attachment content-disposition, and the second part comprising the markup language representation of the business document;

transmit the first electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a second party and (ii) the business application platform associated with the business document and implementing the business object model, wherein the business application platform is to extract the markup language representation of the business document, instantiate a business object instance of the business document based on the markup language representation of the business document, and store the business object instance instantiated based on the markup language representation of the business document;

receive a request for a modification to the business document;

edit the business document;

generate a second markup language representation of the edited business document based on the business object model;

generate a second multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprising a third part, a fourth part, a second Content-ID identifying a sender of the second multi-part MIME electronic mail message, the filename of the business document and a second timestamp, the third part associated with the text content-type and the fourth part associated with the attachment content-disposition, and the fourth part comprising the second markup language representation;

transmit the second electronic mail message to;

(i) a device associated with a third party and (ii) the business application platform, wherein the business application platform is to edit a business object instance of the business document based on the second markup language representation; and

receive, from the business application platform, verification that the third party has approved the business document.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein transmission of the first electronic mail message comprises:

transmission of the first electronic mail message to a recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message comprises a Content-ID identifying a sender of the first multi-part MIME electronic mail message, a filename of the business document and a first timestamp.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein transmission of the first electronic mail message comprises:

transmission of the first electronic mail message to a first recipient associated with a To;

header field of the first electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the first electronic mail message, and

wherein transmission of the first electronic mail message comprises;

transmission of the second electronic mail message to a second recipient associated with a To;

header field of the second electronic mail message, wherein the business application platform is associated with a Cc;

header field of the second electronic mail message.

17. A system according to claim 9, wherein the computing device comprises a computing device operated by an employee of an entity;

and

Wherein the second party is a customer of the entity and the third party is a manager of the employee of the entity.