Workflow administration tools and user interfaces

• US 8,244,668 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Bureau, Scott, Baltazar, Tina D., McChesney, Kelly S., Massie, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital, Pierre
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US12/951,589
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Various embodiments include systems, methods, and user interfaces that provide abilities to administer data in a workflow system. In some embodiments, the workflow system is a portion of a larger system, such as a document management system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions;

a storage device; and

a memory device holding data including instructions operable on the processor to manage one or more databases with data stored in the storage device, the instructions operable to manage;

a user database having user records, each user record having a user identifier;

a document database having document records, each document record associates a document and a document identifier;

a group database having work group records, wherein a group record associates one or more user identifiers with a group identifier;

a queue database having one or more queue records, wherein a queue record associates the group and/or user identifiers with a queue identifier;

a template-queue database having template-queue records, wherein a template-queue record associates the queue identifier with a workflow template identifier;

a workflow template database having workflow template records, wherein a workflow template record defines a workflow process for multiple document types, includes one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the document type by individuals, groups, or entities assigned to a respective queue, and associates the workflow template identifier with a form code; and

a package database having package records, wherein a package record associates the workflow template identifier with one or more document identifiers,

wherein the form code indicates a particular document type and the one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the particular document type.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the template-queue record includes workflow order information defining a routing order of queues for a package.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the routing order of queues for a package includes simultaneous routing to two or more queues.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the queue database and the group database are tables within a single database.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the group record includes a group description.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further operable to manage a document index having metadata for a document associated with the document identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the package record include actions previously performed on a package of documents, actions yet to be performed on the package, and deadlines for the actions yet to be performed on the package.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow template record identifies a queue to process a document type associated with the form code.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a queue record associates the group and/or user identifiers with a queue identifier corresponding to a queue to which a package can be routed.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the queue record includes rules for assignment to a specific user and/or a group member.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the queue record identifies a next queue to receive a particular package as a function of queues defined in a workflow route of a template-queue record referenced by the workflow template record of the particular package.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow template record associates a document type to a template of workflow actions.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each queue record includes a queue description.

14. A method comprising:

maintaining a user database having user records, each user record having a user identifier;

maintaining a document database having document records, each document record associates a document and a document identifier;

maintaining a group database having work group records, wherein a group record associates one or more user identifiers with a group identifier;

maintaining a queue database having one or more queue records, wherein a queue record associates the group and/or user identifiers with a queue identifier;

maintaining a template-queue database having template-queue records, wherein a template-queue record associates the queue identifier with a workflow template identifier;

maintaining a workflow template database having workflow template records, wherein a workflow template record defines a workflow process for multiple document types, includes one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the document type by individuals, groups, or entities assigned to a respective queue, and associates the workflow template identifier with a form code; and

maintaining a package database having package records, wherein a package record associates the workflow template identifier with one or more document identifiers,

wherein the form code indicates a particular document type and the one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the particular document type.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a document index having metadata for a document associated with the document identifier.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising simultaneously routing a package having one or more document identifiers to two or more queues.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the queue record identifies the two or more queues.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, with instructions thereon that when processed, result in a machine:

maintaining a user database having user records, each user record having a user identifier;

maintaining a document database having document records, each document record associates a document and a document identifier;

maintaining a group database having work group records, wherein a group record associates one or more user identifiers with a group identifier;

maintaining a queue database having one or more queue records, wherein a queue record associates the group and/or user identifiers with a queue identifier;

maintaining a template-queue database having template-queue records, wherein a template-queue record associates the queue identifier with a workflow template identifier;

maintaining a workflow template database having workflow template records, wherein a workflow template record defines a workflow process for multiple document types, includes one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the document type by individuals, groups, or entities assigned to a respective queue, and associates the workflow template identifier with a form code; and

maintaining a package database having package records, wherein a package record associates the workflow template identifier with one or more document identifiers,

wherein the form code indicates a particular document type and the one or more queues involved in the workflow processing of the particular document type.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18, with further instructions thereon that when processed, result in a machine maintaining a document index having metadata for a document associated with the document identifier.