Mobile trigger web workflow

• US 9,552,598 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Glasgow, Dane
• Primary Examiner(s): Parry, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): STILTNER, WEIWEI YE
• Application Number:
  US13/650,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In an example embodiment, actions taken on a web site using one device initiate a workflow on a different device. A main process, including a series of steps, is executed on one user device. When a particular step in the main process is reached, a secondary process is then initiated on another device, such as a mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for initiating from a first user device a secondary process on a second user device, comprising:

prompting a server for a main process;

receiving the main process from the server, the main process embedded in a web page;

running the main process on the first user device by executing the web page in a web browser operating on the first user device, the main process comprising a plurality of steps;

upon reaching a particular step of the plurality of steps in the main process, issuing a command directly, from the first user device without going through the server, to the second user device requesting that a secondary process be loaded in a stand-alone application on the second user device, the issuing of the command causing launching of the secondary process on the second user device in response to the second user device receiving the command, and passing control to the second user device, the second user device being a mobile device, the secondary process causing the second user device to send output directly to the server, bypassing the first user device and the main process;

wherein in response to passing the control to the second user device, the main process on the first device is prevented from continuing while the secondary process is in progress;

receiving control back from the second user device, permitting the main process on the first device to continue;

completing the main process; and

sending output of the main process directly to the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary process is a subprocess.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary process is a second part of the main process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user device is a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary process includes steps to take a photograph using a camera on the second user device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the secondary process includes uploading a photograph to a server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the secondary process includes sending a photograph to the main process on the first user device.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary process includes steps undertaken to scan a barcode using a camera on the second user device.

9. A method for initiating a secondary process at a server, in a system comprising the server, a first user device, and a second user device, comprising:

receiving output generated by a main process operating on the first user device;

receiving an indication from the first user device that the main process has reached a particular step;

receiving an indication that control has been passed to the second user device directly from the first user device without going through the server by the first user device issuing a command directly, without going through the server, to the second user device requesting that a secondary process be loaded in a stand-alone application on the second user device, wherein in response to passing the control to the second user device, the main process on the first device is prevented from continuing while the secondary process is in progress;

in response to the receipt of the indication, initiating a secondary process on the second user device;

receiving output of the secondary process directly from the second user device;

receiving an indication that control has been passed from the second user device to the first user device, permitting the main process on the first device to continue;

notifying the first user device that control has been passed from the second user device to the first user device; and

receiving output from the main process directly from the first user device.

10. A computer-implemented system comprising:

a first user device including;

at least one processor coupled to a memory;

an application configured to

prompt a server for a main process;

receive the main process from the server, the main process embedded in a web page;

run the main process on the first user device by executing the web page in a web browser operating on the first user device, the main process comprising a plurality of steps;

upon reaching a particular step of the plurality of steps in the main process, issue a command directly, from the first user device without going through the server, to the second user device requesting that a secondary process be loaded in a stand-alone application on the second user device, the issuing of the command causing launching of the secondary process on the second user device in response to the second user device receiving the command, and passing control to the second user device, the second user device being a mobile device, the secondary process causing the second user device to send output directly to the server, bypassing the first user device and the main process;

wherein in response to passing the control to the second user device, the main process on the first device is prevented from continuing while the secondary process is in progress;

receive control back from the second user device, permitting the main process on the first device to continue;

complete the main process; and

send output of the main process directly to the server.

11. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium having instruction data to cause a machine to execute operations for initiating from a first user device secondary process on a second user device, the operations comprising:

prompting a server for a main process;

receiving the main process from the server, the main process embedded in a web page;

running the main process on the first user device by executing the web page in a web browser operating on the first user device, the main process comprising a plurality of steps;

upon reaching a particular step of the plurality of steps in the main process, issuing a command directly, from the first user device without going through the server, to the second user device requesting that a secondary process be loaded in a stand-alone application on the second user device, the issuing of the command causing launching of the secondary process on the second user device in response to the second user device receiving the command, and passing control to the second user device, the second user device being a mobile device, the secondary process causing the second user device to send output directly to the server, bypassing the first user device and the main process;

wherein in response to passing the control to the second user device, the main process on the first device is prevented from continuing while the secondary process is in progress;

receiving control back from the second user device, permitting the main process on the first device to continue;

completing the main process; and

sending output of the main process directly to the server.

12. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium having instruction data to cause a machine to execute operations for initiating a secondary process at a server, in a system comprising the server, a first user device, and a second user device, the operations comprising:

receiving output generated by a main process operating on the first user device;

receiving an indication from the first user device that the main process has reached a particular step;

receiving an indication that control has been passed to the second user device directly from the first user device without going through the server by the first user device issuing a command directly, without going through the server, to the second user device requesting that a secondary process be loaded in a stand-alone application on the second user device, wherein in response to passing the control to the second user device, the main process on the first device is prevented from continuing while the secondary process is in progress;

in response to the receipt of the indication, initiating a secondary process on the second user device;

receiving output of the secondary process directly from the second user device;

receiving an indication that control has been passed from the second user device to the first user device, permitting the main process on the first device to continue;

notifying the first user device that control has been passed from the second user device to the first user device; and

receiving output from the main process directly from the first user device.