Systems and methods for managing workflow based on dynamic modification of job processing requirements

• US 20050195427A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthurium Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anthurium Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Archbold, Janice K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes one or more “HOME”s where there is a (1) “DAD” computer and software system for human User interaction to initiate Jobs (Transcription, Translation, Data Entry, and Transaction Creation) and to utilize voice-mail through real-time voice and tone signal input and (2) “HIS” computer and software system for keeping the databases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical records of jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing. In addition the system includes one or more “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of a global communication network (e.g. Internet) that (1) receives Job packets from its HOMEs, (2) selects Scribes for work (e.g. transcription), (3) generates messages in the form of E-Mail and Voice-Mail to specified users for information or action, (4) updates the status of the Job Record and transferring that updated Record to a SUPERMOM, (5) implements all the details of job processing steps and logic that has been controlled by Human Supervisors. The system may further include a “SUPERMOM” where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of the global computer network (e.g. Internet) that receives Job Packets from MOMs where portions of the job are spread over two or more MOMs; SUPERMOM directs and transfers that job data; receives Job Record updates and maintains a Site for on-line internet job tracking inquiries; SUPERMOM selects Scribes for Jobs that are not able to find an available Scribe within their own MOM'"'"'s HOMEs, collects the statistical and financial data from all the HOMEs, and provides general top level management decision making information.

Claims

1. A method for automatically managing workflow, the method comprising:

receiving an intercept request that includes a request to modify job processing requirements associated with a previously requested job;

determining whether a set of job steps associated with the previously requested job can be modified in accordance with the intercept request; and

if the set of job steps can be modified in accordance with the intercept request, modifying the set of job steps in accordance with the intercept request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the set of job steps by adding a new job step into the set of job steps.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the set of job steps by modifying a job step in the set of job steps.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the set of job steps by deleting a job step from the set of job steps.