Task decomposition with data availability

• US 8,972,868 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schubert, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAPANESE, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US12/330,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,276 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.15, 715/771
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for task decomposition of a task of a workflow. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include selecting, for decomposition, a task from a workflow including a plurality of tasks; indicating whether one or more portions of information associated with the decomposed task are restricted; and providing, to another user interface, the decomposed task including the one or more restricted portions. The received command is executed at the database. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium non-transitorily storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a server from a first machine, a request for decomposition of a task, the task comprising completion of an application form comprising a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields comprising a restricted field for which one or more invitees lack access permission, a second field for which information from the one or more invitees is required to complete the task, and a message field for which a message provided by the first machine is displayed to the one or more invitees, the request comprising identifications of the task for which the one or more invitees are allowed to assist with completion of the application form, an invitee of the one or more invitees, and the second field;

decomposing, by the server, the task into a plurality of subtasks, the decomposing comprising verifying that the first machine has permission to decompose the task and identifying at least one restricted field of the plurality of fields for which the invitee lacks an access permission, the decomposing further comprising generating a restricted version of the application form, the restricted version of the application form comprising at least one restricted portion of the application form, the restricted portion having an access control restricting access by the invitee to the at least one restricted field, the access control comprising a hidden field restriction that hides the at least one restricted field from being viewable by the invitee, the decomposing further including providing, by the first machine in the message field, the message viewable by the invitee, the message providing information for assisting with completion of the application form;

inviting the invitee to assist with completion of the at least one second field, the inviting comprising retaining responsibility by the first machine for completion of the task and completion of the subtask;

providing, by the server to a second machine and accessible by the invitee in response to detecting that the invitee has the restricted version of the application form, the at least one second field; and

notifying, by the server to the first machine upon detection by the server, that the invitee has completed the at least one second field.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, at a user management and security system, whether an identity of an invitee of the plurality of invitees is authorized to receive the subtask to which the invitee is invited.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, at the server, visibility rights of the plurality of fields of the application form, the visibility rights defining whether the invitee is authorized to view, read, and/or write the at least one field of the plurality of fields.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the inviting further comprises adding each subtask to a worklist displayed in a second user interface of the second machine.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the inviting further comprises sending an e-mail notification to the invitee, the e-mail notification containing the restricted version of the application form.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a server from a first machine, a request for decomposition of a task, the task comprising completion of an application form comprising a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields comprising a restricted field for which one or more invitees lack access permission, a second field for which information from the one or more invitees is required to complete the task, and a message field for which a message provided by the first machine is displayed to the one or more invitees, the request comprising identifications of the task for which the one or more invitees are allowed to assist with completion of the application form, an invitee of the one or more invitees, and the second field;

decomposing, by the server, the task into a plurality of subtasks, the decomposing comprising verifying that the first machine has permission to decompose the task and identifying at least one restricted field of the plurality of fields for which the invitee lacks an access permission, the decomposing further comprising generating a restricted version of the application form, the restricted version of the application form comprising at least one restricted portion of the application form, the restricted portion having an access control restricting access by the invitee to the at least one restricted field, the access control comprising a hidden field restriction that hides the at least one restricted field from being viewable by the invitee, the decomposing further including providing, by the first machine in the message field, the message viewable by the invitee, the message providing information for assisting with completion of the application form;

inviting the invitee to assist with completion of the at least one second field, the inviting comprising retaining responsibility by the first machine for completion of the task and completion of the subtask;

providing, by the server to a second machine and accessible by the invitee in response to detecting that the invitee has the restricted version of the application form, the at least one second field; and

notifying, by the server to the first machine upon detection by the server, that the invitee has completed the at least one second field.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining, at a user management and security system, whether an identity of an invitee of the plurality of invitees is authorized to receive the subtask to which the invitee is invited.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving, at the server, visibility rights of the plurality of fields of the application form, the visibility rights defining whether the invitee is authorized to view, read, and/or write the at least one field of the plurality of fields.

9. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a

memory, wherein the processor and memory are configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a server from a first machine, a request for decomposition of a task, the task comprising completion of an application form comprising a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields comprising a restricted field for which one or more invitees lack access permission, a second field for which information from the one or more invitees is required to complete the task, and a message field for which a message provided by the first machine is displayed to the one or more invitees, the request comprising identifications of the task for which the one or more invitees are allowed to assist with completion of the application form, an invitee of the one or more invitees, and the second field;

decomposing, by the server, the task into a plurality of subtasks, the decomposing comprising verifying that the first machine has permission to decompose the task and identifying at least one restricted field of the plurality of fields for which the invitee lacks an access permission, the decomposing further comprising generating a restricted version of the application form, the restricted version of the application form comprising at least one restricted portion of the application form, the restricted portion having an access control restricting access by the invitee to the at least one restricted field, the access control comprising a hidden field restriction that hides the at least one restricted field from being viewable by the invitee, the decomposing further including providing, by the first machine in the message field, the message viewable by the invitee, the message providing information for assisting with completion of the application form;

inviting the invitee to assist with completion of the at least one second field, the inviting comprising retaining responsibility by the first machine for completion of the task and completion of the subtask;

providing, by the server to a second machine and accessible by the invitee in response to detecting that the invitee has the restricted version of the application form, the at least one second field; and

notifying, by the server to the first machine upon detection by the server, that the invitee has completed the at least one second field.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

determining, at a user management and security system, whether an identity of an invitee of the plurality of invitees is authorized to receive the subtask to which the invitee is invited.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving, at the server, visibility rights of the plurality of fields of the application form, the visibility rights defining whether the invitee is authorized to view, read, and/or write the at least one field of the plurality of fields.