Business process extension for productivity suite application

US7853959B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SAP AG · DE

Inventors

• Shai Agassi · Palo Alto, US
• Frederick E. Samson · Lake Quivira, US
• Dirk Wodtke · Capitola, US
• Nir Kol · Sunnyvale, US
• Iryna Vogler-Ivashchanka · Los Altos, US
• Dennis Moore · Burlingame, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 2006
• Grant date: Dec 14, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 13, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/10
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to provide extension to a groupware client to enable the groupware client to access a workflow of a business process from the context of the groupware client. An enterprise server that manages the workflow can interface with the groupware client to provide action on the workflow from within the context of the groupware client. The enterprise server passes the action to the enterprise backend to implement the action on the workflow. Thus, action on the workflow from the groupware client affects the workflow on the enterprise level. Status information about the workflow may be persisted in the groupware client to enable continued interaction with the workflow from within the groupware client.