Workflow tasks in a collaborative application

• US 20060069599A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kamath, Rajesh, Matousek, Jon F., Hatoun, George F.
• Application Number:
  US11/212,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis

Abstract

Workflows designed to take advantage of the capabilities of workflow-enabled application programs are disclosed. Examples of workflow-enabled application programs are word processing application programs and e-mail application programs. In response to determining that an incomplete workflow task exists, forms data is sent to a workflow-enabled application program. In response to the receipt of forms data, the workflow-enabled application program presents a workflow task form to the user of the workflow-enabled application program. Embodiments may determine whether a workflow task change or completion by a particular user at a particular time is authorized by the workflow. If a workflow task change or completion is not authorized the workflow rolls back the workflow task to a previous version of the task. Embodiments may determine if an incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group, and, if so assigned, function to prevent duplication of effort by participants in the group.

Claims

1. A method of providing workflow task capabilities comprising:

determining if an incomplete workflow task exists;

if an incomplete workflow task exists, sending forms data to a workflow-enabled application program; and

in response to the receipt of forms data, said workflow-enabled application program presenting a workflow task form to the user of the workflow-enabled application program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if an incomplete workflow task exists occurs when a document is opened by the user of said workflow-enabled application program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining if an incomplete workflow task exists comprises:

querying a server to determine if the opened document is in a workflow; and

if the document is in a workflow, determining if an incomplete workflow task exists.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, prior to sending forms data to the workflow-enabled application program, determining if the user of the workflow-enabled application program is assigned to the incomplete workflow task.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

determining the period set for execution of the incomplete workflow task;

determining if the period for execution of the incomplete workflow task has begun;

determining if the period for execution of the incomplete workflow task has ended; and

sending said forms data to said workflow-enabled application program only if said period for execution of the incomplete workflow task has begun and not ended.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

determining if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group;

if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group, determining if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task;

if the incomplete workflow task is not assigned to a group, or if the incomplete workflow task has been assigned to a group, but not accepted by a participant of the group, prior to sending forms data to the workflow-enabled application program, determining if the user of the workflow-enabled application program is a participant of the group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to sending forms data to said workflow-enabled application program:

determining the identity of any documents associated with said incomplete workflow task;

determining the identity of any forms associated with said incomplete workflow task; and

assembling a message that includes any identified documents and forms data associated with any identified forms.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

determining if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group;

if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group, determining if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task;

if a participant of the group has not accepted the incomplete workflow task, broadcasting a message regarding the incomplete workflow task to the participants of the group;

if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task, determining if a task acceptance message has been broadcast; and

if a task acceptance message has not been broadcast, broadcasting a task acceptance message.

9. An application program stored in a computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed, provide workflow task capabilities to the application program, said computer executable instructions:

determining if an incomplete workflow task exists;

if an incomplete workflow task exists, sending forms data to said application program; and

in response to the receipt of forms data, said application program presenting a workflow task form to the user of the application program.

10. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein determining if an incomplete workflow task exists occurs when a document is opened by the user of said workflow-enabled application program.

11. The application program claimed in claim 10, wherein determining if an incomplete workflow task exists comprises the computer executable instructions:

querying a server to determine if the opened document is in a workflow; and

if the document is in a workflow, determining if an incomplete workflow task exists.

12. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein, prior to sending forms data to the application program, the computer-executable instructions determine if the user of the application program is assigned to the incomplete workflow task.

13. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein the application program is a word processing program.

14. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein the application program is an e-mail program.

15. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein said computer-executable instructions also:

determine the period set for execution of the incomplete workflow task;

determine if the period for execution of the incomplete workflow task has begun;

determine if the period for execution of the incomplete workflow task has ended; and

send said forms data to said application program only if said period for completion of the incomplete workflow task has begun and not ended.

16. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein said computer-executable instructions also:

determine if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group;

if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group, determine if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task;

if the incomplete workflow task is not assigned to a group, or if the incomplete workflow task has been assigned to a group, but not accepted by a participant of the group, prior to sending forms data to the application program, determine if the user of the application program is a participant of the group.

17. The application program claimed in claim 16, wherein the application program is a word processing program.

18. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein, prior to sending forms data to said workflow-enabled application program, said computer executable instructions:

determine the identity of any documents associated with said incomplete workflow task;

determine the identity of any forms associated with said incomplete workflow task; and

assemble a message that includes any identified documents and forms data associated with any identified forms.

19. The application program claimed in claim 9, wherein said computer-executable instructions also:

determine if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group;

if the incomplete workflow task is assigned to a group, determine if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task;

if a participant of the group has not accepted the incomplete workflow task, broadcast a message regarding the incomplete workflow task to the participants of the group;

if a participant of the group has accepted the incomplete workflow task, determine if a task acceptance message has been broadcast; and

if a task acceptance message has not been broadcast, broadcast a task acceptance message.

20. The application program claimed in claim 19, wherein the application program is an e-mail program.