Method and apparatus for providing communication tasks in a workflow

• US 20060067252A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Klemm, Reinhard P., John, Ajita, Seligmann, Doree D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for developing and processing workflows that include communication tasks. A workflow is generated according to the present invention by inserting at least one communication node in the workflow. The communication node associated is with a communication task having at least one property that is resolved at run time. For example, the media type, recipient list, or timing of a communication may be resolved at run-time. A workflow generation tool is provided that generates a workflow based on (i) a user selection of at least one communication node to insert in a workflow, and (ii) a user specification of one or more properties of the communication task, wherein at least one property of the communication task is resolved at run time. At run-time, a workflow engine parses at least communication node in a workflow associated with a communication task and having at least one property that is resolved at run time.

Claims

1. A method for developing a workflow, comprising:

generating said workflow comprising at least one business node associated with a business task; and

inserting at least one communication node in said workflow, said at least one communication node associated with a communication task, wherein at least one property of said communication task is resolved at run time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said property of said communication task is a media type for a communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said property of said communication task is one or more recipients for a communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said property of said communication task is whether one or more recipients for a communication is present at one or more communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said property of said communication task is a time when said communication should be sent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication task is the establishment of a conference call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inserting at least one communication node in said workflow further comprises the step of configuring one or more properties of said communication task.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inserting at least one communication node in said workflow further comprises the step of selecting an icon from a graphical menu of options.

9. A workflow generation tool, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive a user selection of at least one communication node to insert in a workflow, said at least one communication node associated with a communication task; and

receive a user specification of one or more properties of said communication task, wherein at least one property of said communication task is resolved at run time.

10. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said property of said communication task is a media type for a communication.

11. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said property of said communication task is one or more recipients for a communication.

12. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said property of said communication task is whether one or more recipients for a communication is present at one or more communication devices.

13. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said communication task is the establishment of a conference call.

14. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to configure one or more properties of said communication task.

15. The workflow generation tool of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to present a graphical menu of options.

16. A workflow engine, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

parse a workflow comprising at least one business node associated with a business task; and

parse at least one communication node in said workflow, said at least one communication node associated with a communication task, wherein at least one property of said communication task is resolved at run time.

17. The workflow engine of claim 16, wherein said property of said communication task is a media type for a communication.

18. The workflow engine of claim 16, wherein said property of said communication task is one or more recipients for a communication.

19. The workflow engine of claim 16, wherein said property of said communication task is whether one or more recipients for a communication is present at one or more communication devices.

20. The workflow engine of claim 16, wherein said property of said communication task is a time when said communication should be sent.

21. The workflow engine of claim 16, wherein said communication task is the establishment of a conference call.