Method and system for flexible workflow management

US7454466B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Xerox Corporation · US

Inventors

• Victoria C. Bellotti · San Francisco, US
• Ian E. Smith · San Francisco, US
• Mark Anthony Howard · Worlington, GB
• Nicolas B. Ducheneaut · Mountain View, US
• Christine M. Neuwirth · Pittsburgh, US
• Richard R. Burton · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 16, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 18, 2008
• Expiry date: May 29, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/109
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for providing emergent and flexible workflow management to a user. The user communicates with other users, using a message-based system having embedded information management resources. The message-based system has a viewer. A message is generated at the message-based system. The message has metadata. The metadata of the message is updated using the embedded information management resources. The metadata include at least one of the group of a deadline, a reminder, a deferral and an obligation. The message is sent to the other users. Some of the metadata of the message are displayed on the viewer of the message-based system. Some of the metadata of the message are tracked at the message-based system.