Form route manager for workflow systems and methods

• US 6,553,407 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solectron Corporation (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ouchi, Norman Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US10/020,689
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/219, 709/217, 709/245, 709/239
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The invention relates to a form route manager in a computer network. In one embodiment, the form route manager includes a sequenced list of e-mail addresses, means for determining if an e-mail received in the e-mail system originates from the last e-mail address in the sequenced list, and if so, deleting the e-mail, and if not, sending the e-mail to the next e-mail address in the sequenced list. In another, the form route manager includes a sequenced list of e-mail addresses, means for receiving a web page, including the document and a step indicator, means for determining from the step indicator and the route, whether it is the first step, the next step, and the next e-mail address, means for updating the step indicator to the next step, the e-mail address to the next e-mail address, and if it is the first step, assigning a second URL to the document, and means for sending the e-mail with the second URL, the updated step indicator and the document to the next e-mail address. In still another, the form route manager includes a sequenced list of IP addresses, means for sending the document as a web page to a first IP address in the sequenced list, means for receiving the web page, including the document and a step indicator, after the document is processed at the first IP address in the sequenced list, means for determining from the route and the step indicator, whether it is the first step, the next step, and the next IP address in the sequenced list, and if it is the first step, assigning a URL to the document, means for updating the step indicator to the second step and the IP address to a second IP address in the sequenced list, means for sending the web page with the updated step indicator and the document to the second IP address in the sequenced list, and means for receiving the web page, including the document and the updated indicator, after the document is processed at the second IP address in the sequenced list.

Claims

1. A form route manager in a computer network for performing workflow among users at e-mail addresses in a computer network, comprising:

a sequenced list of e-mail addresses;

means for receiving e-mail including the document and a step indicator;

means for determining from the step indicator and the sequenced list, a next step and a next e-mail address;

means for updating the step indicator to the next step and the e-mail address to the next e-mail address; and

means for sending the e-mail with the updated step indicator and the document to the next e-mail address.

2. A form route manager assigned a first URL for performing workflow among users at e-mail addresses in a computer network, comprising:

a sequenced list of e-mail addresses;

means for receiving a web page, including the document and a step indicator;

means for determining from the step indicator and the route, whether it is the first step, the next step, and the next e-mail address;

means for updating the step indicator to the next step, the e-mail address to the next e-mail address, and if it is the first step, assigning a second URL to the document; and

means for sending the e-mail with the second URL, the updated step indicator and the document to the next e-mail address.

3. A form route manager assigned an IP address for performing workflow among user at IP addresses in a computer network, comprising:

a sequenced list of IP addresses;

means for sending the document as a web page to a first IP address in the sequenced list;

means for receiving the web page, including the document and a step indicator, after the document is processed at the first IP address in the sequenced list;

means for determining from the route and the step indicator, whether it is the first step, the next step, and the next IP address in the sequenced list, and if it is the first step, assigning a URL to the document;

means for updating the step indicator to the second step and the IP address to a second IP address in the sequenced list;

means for sending the web page with the updated step indicator and the document to the second IP address in the sequenced list; and

means for receiving the web page, including the document and the updated indicator, after the document is processed at the second IP address in the sequenced list.