Workflow management system, method and device for managing a workflow including plural hierarchically-classified tasks

US8219431B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• RICOH COMPANY, LTD. · JP

Inventors

• Kaoru Maeda · Yokohama, JP
• Takeshi Suzuki · Fujioka, JP
• Harald Holz · Kaiserslautern, DE
• Oleg Rostanin · Kaiserslautern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 29, 2006
• Grant date: Jul 10, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 9, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/06311
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A workflow management system is disclosed that is suitable to manage a workflow including plural hierarchically-classified tasks and especially for cooperative work spread over different organizations. The workflow management system includes a task receiving unit to receive designation of a task to be delegated, a delegatee receiving unit to receive designation of a delegatee, an acceptance receiving unit to receive acceptance of a delegation from the delegatee, a first processor that allows a delegator to hide a delegated task and a subordinate task, and allows the delegator to confirm status of the designated task, and a second processor that allows the delegator and the delegatee to refer to other tasks relevant to the delegated task.