System and method of flexible workflow management
US7885840B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/0633
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A flexible workflow is described that includes a pocket of flexibility. The pocket of flexibility may include workflow fragments that may be joined together, subject to pre-defined constraints. In implementing the flexible workflow, a user may encounter the pocket of flexibility, and select from the fragments to construct a workflow that is consistent with the user's current needs. The fragments may be incrementally presented to the user on a user interface, such that only those fragments determined to be combinable in a valid way may be selected by the user. In this way, a user who may have little experience with workflow languages or terminology may be able to use the flexible workflow, and be confident that the result is valid. Thus, difficulties in dealing with change in workflow systems may be mitigated, and this mitigation may be achieved without compromising the simplicity and generic nature of a workflow language.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.