Content management system and method of employing extensible workflow entities with user-defined attributes in an object-oriented framework

• US 7,171,664 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yaung, Alan Tsu-I, Wang, Fang-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): SURYAWANSHI, SURESH
• Application Number:
  US10/319,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/102, 718/106, 715733-738, 705/1, 705 7- 11
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An object-oriented framework is provided for managing the definition of user-defined attributes for workflow entities and storing and retrieving the values of those attributes. A set of APIs are introduced to manage the creation, deletion, and retrieval of user specified attribute definitions. In addition, extension objects are introduced to accommodate the storing and retrieving of values of user-defined attributes. This mechanism for allowing a user to extend the attributes of workflow entities enables customization of a workflow system to particular applications.

Claims

1. A workflow system including a plurality of workflow entities each including a set of fixed and predefined workflow system attributes and enabling a user to define at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for at least one workflow entity to store custom data and customize said workflow for various applications, said system comprising:

a processor to perform said workflow in accordance with said workflow entities said predefined workflow system attributes and said at least one user-defined attribute, wherein said processor includes;

an attribute module to enable said user to define said at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for at least one workflow entity to store custom data and customize said workflow, said attribute module including;

an attribute definition module to define said at least one additional attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;

an attribute association module to associate each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;

an attribute value assignment module to assign a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and

an attribute access module to access said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said workflow system is a document routing service of a content management system, and said at least one workflow entity indicates a routing of documents for performance of said workflow.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one workflow entity includes a process entity indicating said workflow, a work node entity indicating a step in said workflow and a route list entry entity indicating routing of a document through said work nodes to perform said workflow.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said attribute module includes a series of application programming interfaces (API) to enable said user to define said at least one additional attribute for said at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said attribute module is implemented in an object-oriented framework.

6. In a workflow system including a processor and a plurality of workflow entities each including a set of fixed and predefined workflow system attributes, a method of enabling a user to define at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for at least one workflow entity to store custom data and customize said workflow for various applications comprising:

(a) defining said at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification to store custom data and customize said workflow;

(b) associating each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;

(c) assigning a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and

(d) performing said workflow, via said processor, in accordance with said workflow entities, said predefined workflow system attributes and said at least one user-defined attribute and accessing said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said workflow system is a document routing service of a content management system, and said at least one workflow entity indicates a routing of documents for performance of said workflow.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one workflow entity includes a process entity indicating said workflow, a work node entity indicating a step in said workflow and a route list entry entity indicating routing of a document through said work nodes to perform said workflow.

9. A program product apparatus including a computer recorded medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a user to define at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for at least one workflow entity in a workflow system including a processor to store custom data and customize said workflow for various applications, wherein said workflow system includes a plurality of workflow entities each including a set of fixed and predefined workflow system attributes, and performs said workflow in accordance with said workflow entities, said predefined workflow system attributes and said at least one user-defined attribute, said apparatus comprising:

an attribute module to enable said user to define said at least one additional attribute other than a predefined workflow system attribute for at least one workflow entity to store custom data and customize said workflow, said attribute module including;

an attribute definition module to define said at least one additional attribute for said at least one workflow entity in accordance with a user specification;

an attribute association module to associate each user-defined attribute with a corresponding workflow entity;

an attribute value assignment module to assign a value indicated by said user to a corresponding user-defined attribute; and

an attribute access module to access said value of said at least one user-defined attribute from said corresponding workflow entity for performance of said workflow.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said workflow system is a document routing service of a content management system, and said at least one workflow entity indicates a routing of documents for performance of said workflow.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one workflow entity includes a process entity indicating said workflow, a work node entity indicating a step in said workflow and a route list entry entity indicating routing of a document through said work nodes to perform said workflow.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said attribute module includes a series of application programming interfaces (API) to enable said user to define said at least one additional attribute for said at least one workflow entity to customize said workflow.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said attribute module is implemented in an object-oriented framework.