Object-oriented framework for document routing service in a content management system

• US 20030204646A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yaung, Alan Tsu-I, Wang, Fang-Yi
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An object-oriented framework for document routing service in a content management system directly provides the server API set for document routing to the application programmers, without an intermediate interface layer. This framework provides document routing functions and system administration support for document routing. In addition, the system defines the document routing process as a series of steps provided by an administrator through which a document is routed, where a work node is a step within the process. A work list is provided that is a filter of one or more work nodes; a user may obtain a list of work or the “next” work item from the work list. Work packages can be suspended pending the satisfaction of criteria such as delay time or collection of a specified group of documents. The process can be resumed at any time. Suspension and resumption of the process are defined by the resume list in the work package and the work node. The object-oriented framework defines the object model of the document routing service that includes a set of classes and associated methods to support the model.

Claims

1. A method for providing an object oriented framework for document routing, comprising:

defining a document routing process with a finite number of predefined stages;

executing the document routing process based on the stages to create a work package; and

querying the work package; and

presenting the work package in the object oriented framework to an application without an intermediate interface layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the work package in the object oriented framework comprises presenting the work package in a plurality of classes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes comprises defining a first class that provides document routing functions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein defining the first class comprises providing a basic document routing service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the basic document routing service comprising performing any one or more of the following tasks:

starting, terminating, continuing, suspending, or resuming a process.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a second class that provides system administration support for document routing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a third class that provides an object oriented representation of a process in document routing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a fourth class that provides an object oriented representation of a work node in document routing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a fifth class that provides an object oriented representation of a work list in document routing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a sixth class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of a route list in a process in document routing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a seventh class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of a resume list in a work node.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining an eight class that provides an object oriented representation of the work package in document routing and that routes the work package between work nodes in a process.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting the work package in a plurality of classes further comprises defining a ninth class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of the resume list in the work package.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the document routing process with a finite number of predefined stages comprises:

retrieving an instance;

defining a number of work nodes required to complete the document routing process; and

defining work lists.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein executing the document routing process based on the stages to create the work package comprises:

creating an instance;

determining a number of processes that are available; and

creating the work package.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein querying the work package comprises:

creating an instance; and

querying a work list resulting in any of the work package or the work list.

17. A system for providing an object oriented framework for document routing, comprising:

a first set of instructions for defining a document routing process with a finite number of predefined stages;

a second set of instructions for executing the document routing process based on the stages to create a work package; and

a third set of instructions for querying the work package; and

a fourth set of instructions for presenting the work package in the object oriented framework to an application without an intermediate interface layer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the fourth set of instructions for presenting the work package in the object oriented framework comprises a plurality of classes.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a first class that provides document routing functions.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a second class that provides system administration support for document routing.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a third class that provides an object oriented representation of a process in document routing.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a fourth class that provides an object oriented representation of a work node in document routing.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a fifth class that provides an object oriented representation of a work list in document routing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a sixth class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of a route list in a process in document routing.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a seventh class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of a resume list in a work node.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of classes comprise an eight class that provides an object oriented representation of the work package in document routing and that routes the work package between work nodes in a process.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of classes comprise a ninth class that provides an object oriented representation of an entry of the resume list in the work package.