Workflow management system for an automated credit application system

• US 6,505,176 B2
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Credit Management Solutions, Inc. (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First American Credit Management Solutions, Inc. (CoreLogic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Terpening, Steven, Freiman, Scott, Rusk, Geoffrey, Fingerhuth, Amy, DeFrancesco, James R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELISCA, PIERRE E
• Application Number:
  US09/097,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 705/38, 705/35, 705/4, 705/8, 705/9, 705/11, 705/7, 705/40, 705/16, 705/17, 705/39, 707/10.A
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A workflow management system for an automated credit application processing system. The workflow management system automatically coordinates the workflow among various workgroups and entities involved in the credit application process. The steps and rule tests that define an organization'"'"'s workflow are customized according to the workflow requirements and process steps for each organization. The workflow manager allows application steps to be processed simultaneously by various entities involved in the loan application process. Workgroups are defined for each pre-configured workflow definition. Each workgroup is associated with a particular set of functions. A workgroup queue is provided for each workgroup. Workgroup queues contain active or pending steps associated with the workgroup. In operation, users can obtain status information by viewing data from the various workgroup queues. A relational database management system is used to link a plurality of tests with each workflow process step that is defined for particular workflow. The tests are linked to rule elements which are linked to database elements that are linked to functions that alter the database elements. Accordingly, when a function is executed, the workflow management system automatically determines which particular workflow process steps are potentially affected by the executed function. Then, the workflow management system evaluates those steps to determine their status and to further determine the process steps to be activated next.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically managing workflow for an automated credit application system in response to functions executed by a user or by the automated credit application system, comprising the steps of:

configuring a workflow for a credit application, comprising the steps of;

defining a plurality of workflow process steps, each said workflow process steps having an associated status, wherein said status can be complete or incomplete;

associating one or more tests with each of said workflow process steps;

relating one or more database elements with each of said tests; and

linking one or more functions with each of said database elements; and

processing a workflow for the credit application, comprising the steps of;

identifying an executed function, wherein said executed function can be executed by the user or by the automated credit application system;

finding a set of potentially affected workflow process steps comprising all workflow process steps associated with said executed function;

calculating the status of each workflow process step in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps;

dynamically determining, in response to said identifying step, said finding step and said calculating step, a next step for each said workflow process step

in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps, in which said status changes from incomplete to complete according to said calculating step; and

associating a level of security with each of said functions and the user and wherein a particular function can only be executed by the user if the user is associated with the same or higher level of security as said particular function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuring step further comprises the step of creating a function list associated with each said workflow process steps, each said function list comprising a list of functions associated with the corresponding workflow process step, wherein said function list is created by examining relationships between said workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking steps.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said processing step further comprises the step of:

creating a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active; and

said finding step is accomplished by evaluating each said function list associated with each said workflow processing step that is currently active according to said process list.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said finding step is accomplished by evaluating each said function list associated with each said workflow processing step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said finding step is accomplished by examining relationships between said workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking steps.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing step further comprises the step of creating a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing step further comprises the step of:

creating a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active; and

said finding step is accomplished by examining relationships between said currently active workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking steps.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating step comprises the step of evaluating said at least one said tests associated with each of said workflow process steps in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step comprises the step of associating one or more rule elements to one or more of said database elements, wherein each of said rule elements is associated with one or more of said tests.

10. A system to dynamically manage workflow for an automated credit application system in response to functions executed by a user or by the automated credit application system, comprising:

a function module comprising a plurality of functions, each of said functions can be executed by the user or by the automated credit application system;

a test module comprising a plurality of tests, each of said tests associated with at least one of said functions;

a data module comprising a plurality of workflow process steps for an credit application, each of said workflow process steps associated with at least one of said tests;

a notice module responsive to an executed function in said function module, wherein said notice module is used to identify which said workflow process steps for the credit application are associated with said executed function; and

a security feature coupled with said function module, wherein each of said functions and the user are associated with a level of security and wherein a particular function can only be executed by the user if the user is associated with the same or higher level of security as said particular function.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a database element module, comprising a plurality of database elements, each of said database elements associated with at least one of said functions; and

a rules module comprising a plurality of rule elements, each of said rule elements associated with one or more of said database elements, and each of said rule elements associated with one or more of said tests.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said test module comprises completion tests, skip tests and exception tests.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said workflow process steps include an associated status, wherein said associated status can be incomplete, non-applicable, complete or waived.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of workflow process steps are organized in specified order.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of workflow process steps are organized in a hierarchy, wherein each said workflow process step can have a parent and a child.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a calculate status module for calculating the status of each of said workflow process steps associated with said executed function; and

a dynamic module, responsive to said calculate status module, for dynamically determining the next process step of said workflow process steps to be executed.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for dynamically managing workflow for an automated credit application system in response to functions executed by a user or by the automated credit application system, wherein said computer program logic comprises:

configuring means for enabling the computer to configure a workflow for a credit application, comprising;

defining means for enabling the computer to accept from a user a definition for a plurality of workflow process steps, each said workflow process steps having an associated status, wherein said status can be complete or incomplete;

associating means for enabling the computer to associate one or more tests with each of said workflow process steps;

relating means for enabling the computer to relate one or more database elements with each of said tests; and

linking means for enabling the computer to link one or more functions with each of said database elements; and

processing means for enabling the computer to process a workflow for the credit application, comprising;

identifying means for enabling the computer to identify an executed function, wherein said executed function can be executed by the user or by the automated credit application system;

finding means for enabling the computer to find a set of potentially affected workflow process steps comprising all workflow process steps associated with said executed function;

calculating means for enabling the computer to calculate the status of each workflow process step in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps;

dynamic determining means, responsive to said identifying means, said finding means and said calculating means, for enabling the computer to determine a next step for each said workflow process step in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps, in which said status changes from incomplete to complete according to said calculating means; and

security means for associating a level of security with each of said functions and the user and wherein a particular function can only be executed by the user if the user is associated with the same or higher level of security as said particular function.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said configuring means further comprises means for enabling the computer to create a function list associated with each said workflow process steps, each said function list comprising a list of functions associated with the corresponding workflow process step, wherein said function list is created by examining relationships between said workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking means.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said processing means further comprises:

means for enabling the computer to create a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active; and

said finding means is accomplished by evaluating each said function list associated with each said workflow processing step that is currently active according to said process list.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said finding means is accomplished by evaluating each said function list associated with each said workflow processing step.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said finding means is accomplished by examining relationships between said workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking means.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said processing means further comprises means for enabling the computer to create a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said processing means further comprises:

means for enabling the computer to create a process list comprising a list of workflow process steps that are currently active; and

said finding means is accomplished by examining relationships between said currently active workflow process steps, said tests, said database elements and said functions, according to relationships established by said associating, relating and linking means.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said calculating means comprises means for enabling the computer to evaluate said at least one of said tests associated with each of said workflow process steps in said set of potentially affected workflow process steps.

25. A method for dynamically managing one or more workflow process steps for an automated credit application system in response to functions executed by a user or by the automated credit application system, comprising the steps of:

linking at least one rule test with each of the workflow process steps for a credit application;

linking at least one rule element with each of said rule tests;

linking each of said rule tests with at least one database element;

linking each of said database elements to at least one of the functions;

executing, by the user or by the automated credit application system, one of the functions, wherein the executed function alters said database elements,

determining which of the workflow process steps for the credit application is next activated; and

associating a level of security with each of said functions and the user and wherein a particular function can only be executed by the user if the user is associated with the same or higher level of security as said particular function.