METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATING TASKS

• US 20080306806A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SourceCode Technology Holdings, Inc. (Nintex Global Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SourceCode Technology Holdings, Inc. (Nintex Global Ltd.)
• Inventors: du Toit, Wynand, Van Wyk, Adriaan, du Preez, Jacobus
• Application Number:
  US12/054,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for dynamically allocating tasks. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can dynamically assign tasks to roles within a workflow process. This allows business process designers to easily create tasks and define roles for those tasks.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically allocating tasks, the method comprising:

creating a role, wherein the role contains a member;

creating a workflow activity;

creating a task, wherein the task is associated with the workflow activity;

assigning the task to the role;

executing the workflow;

creating a context grid based on the task and the role;

using the context grid to allocate the task to the role;

resolving the member to the role;

receiving a task completion from the member; and

removing the task from the role.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein resolving the member of the role includes interval based resolution and real-time resolution.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the member is a first member and the role excludes a second member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the role includes receiving a member search result from an external system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the workflow includes dynamically determining a role membership.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the member is a first member and including receiving a task reassignment from the first member to a third member and allocating the task to the third member.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein allocating the task to the third member includes removing a right to the task from the first member.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the role is a first role and wherein the first role includes a second role.

9. A system for dynamically allocating tasks, the system comprising:

a processor for;

creating a role, wherein the role contains a member;

creating a workflow activity;

creating a task, wherein the task is associated with the workflow activity;

assigning the task to the role;

executing the workflow;

creating a context grid based on the task and the role;

using the context grid to allocate the task to the role;

resolving the member to the role;

receiving a task completion from the member; and

removing the task from the role.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein resolving the member of the role includes interval based resolution and real-time resolution.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the member is a first member and the role excludes a second member.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein creating the role includes receiving a member search result from an external system.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein executing the workflow includes dynamically determining a role membership.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the member is a first member and including receiving a task reassignment from the first member to a third member and allocating the task to the third member.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein allocating the task to the third member includes removing a right to the task from the first member.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the role is a first role and wherein the first role includes a second role.

17. A computer readable medium storing instructions to cause a computing device to:

create a role, wherein the role contains a member;

create a workflow activity;

create a task, wherein the task is associated with the workflow activity;

assign the task to the role;

execute the workflow;

create a context grid based on the task and the role;

use the context grid to allocate the task to the role;

resolve the member to the role;

receive a task completion from the member; and

remove the task from the role.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein resolving the member of the role includes interval based resolution and real-time resolution.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the member is a first member and the role excludes a second member.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein creating the role includes receiving a member search result from an external system.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein executing the workflow includes dynamically determining a role membership.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the member is a first member and the computer readable medium includes instructions to cause the computing device to receive a task reassignment from the first member to a third member and allocate the task to the third member.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein allocating the task to the third member includes removing a right to the task from the first member.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the role is a first role and wherein the first role includes a second role.