196 results about "Workflow management system" patented technology

The present invention relates to the area of workflow management systems (WFMS). More particularly the invention is related to a methodology of automatically deriving and steadily improving a process model executed by the WFMS. The current invention dramatically simplifies and automates the process of model a business model of a business process. The invention allows to start just with set of unrelated activities and discover the real world relations between them at a later point in time; data mining and OLAP technologies are exploited for this discovery. The current invention thus proposes a posteriori methodology. For that purpose the precise underlying process model is derived at a later point in time based on audit data collected by the WFMS during the early deployment of a process model.

A Workflow Management System is integrated with a Healthcare Information System and uses location tracking of patients, providers and resources in addition to relevant patient data in managing tasks of clinicians associated with care of a patient. A personnel and device location sensitive system for managing healthcare worker tasks includes a tracking processor. The tracking processor monitors healthcare worker, patient and equipment location, to provide device and personnel location data by detection of wirelessly communicating tag devices attached to healthcare workers, patients and equipment. A display processor uses the location data for initiating generation of data representing at least one display image associating a work task, comprising providing a treatment related service to a patient, for performance by a healthcare worker, with a current location of a patient and equipment to be used in providing the treatment related service. A workflow engine uses the location data for updating a task list of a healthcare worker to indicate tasks ranked in response to a plurality of different factors including one or more of, (a) task urgency, (b) location of particular equipment used in a particular task and (c) worker skill level.

Aspects of the invention relate to workflow management devices, workflow management systems, workflow management methods, workflow assignment methods, and data processing methods. In one aspect, a workflow management device includes a communications interface configured to receive a user request having one or more user-desired product properties to achieve a user-desired product. The communications interface is further configured to communicate with one or more devices located external of the workflow management device. The management device also includes a storage device configured to store data for processing the user request, and processing circuitry configured to process the user request using the data to produce a transformed user request. The transformed user request includes information for automatically organizing workflow to process the one or more user-desired product properties to achieve the user-desired product.

A task management system uses patient tags (e.g., wireless RFID, Infrared tracking, GPS etc.) for patient location tracking, together with an integrated workflow system to automatically, track patient location how long they have been there and how many patients are at the same location (e.g., waiting room) and manages waiting time and an overall waiting queue, supporting automated adjustment of healthcare staffing, patient flows, and team coordination. A task management system for use in providing healthcare to a patient includes a patient tracking processor and a workflow processor. The patient tracking processor automatically acquires data derived by wireless communication from patient attached tag devices for use in identifying a location of multiple patients in a healthcare enterprise and identifying a first number of patients at a particular location and a second number of patients awaiting receiving a particular type of treatment. The workflow processor automatically initiates a patient load balancing activity to improve a match between a healthcare resource and a patient load by communicating a message to update a healthcare worker task schedule with a task in response to a determination the identified first or second number of patients exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

A computerized workflow management method and system to provide operational support for complex multi-step processes, having particular utility in supporting operations involving securitizations for which periodic valuation and distribution computations, disbursements and reporting must be set up and executed. The invention permits unification of manual operations and operations performed by legacy software, even if implemented with database structures different from the workflow management system, automated quality control, workflow status display and automatic updating of workflow status records. The method of workflow management involves creating an underlying database structure for recording the processing steps and other information required for each transaction, entering the necessary setup information by selection from lists of pre-stored information about processing functions, associated workflow events and milestones for the queues, mapping the data structures of the subsystem databases and the workflow management database to provide transparent interfacing and convenient manual entry of data were necessary, displaying for the user the workflow status of all transactions for which he or she is responsible, permitting menu driven initiation of required actions and automatically updating the database records for the universe of deals being managed by the system.

The present invention relates to the area of workflow management systems (WFMS). More particularly the inventions extends WFMS by subscription means. The subscription means operate on an audit trail stored within a database. The subscription means may encompass a multitude of subscription monitors. Subscription monitors allow to subscribe to the audit trail, i.e. to formulate certain interests as subscription selectors on information entered into the audit trail. A subscription monitor autonomously checks the audit trail for subscribed audit records. If such audit records have been determined the subscription monitor executes a subscription actuator, i.e. a pre-defined program. The subscription actuator may inform the subscriber on the subscribed audit record or may start any type of program. The current invention teaches to implement the subscription monitors as database triggers of the database storing the audit trail. The subscription selectors are realized as search conditions of the database trigger. Finally the subscription actuator can be implemented according the current teaching as user-defined functions of the database.

A method of distributing workload in a workflow management system includes the step of calculating a load index for each engine of the workflow management system. The load index is calculated as an average activity execution delay attributable to the associated engine. The load indices indicate average execution latency between the start of consecutive activity nodes of a process due to engine loading exclusive of resource execution time. Workload is distributed across the plurality of engines in a load sensitive mode. In one embodiment, distribution switches from a load insensitive mode to a load sensitive mode for distributing processes when a maximum differential load index exceeds a first pre-determined threshold. Distribution switches from the load sensitive mode back to the load insensitive workload distribution mode for distributing processes when the maximum differential load index is less than a second pre-determined threshold.

A computer-driven, web-based system and method that facilitates the creation and transaction of carbon credits and, more particularly, to a web-enabled software system that facilitates the analysis, calculation, preparation, documentation, data management, workflow management, trading and storage of certified emissions and energy credits or offsets (green credits).

A method of providing workload-management in a Workflow-Management-System (WFMS) includes a first method of automatically determining at least one enclave-graph within a process-model of a Workflow-Management-System (WFM), and a second method of executing the enclave-graphs. The method comprises an enclave-creation-step wherein if control-flow enters the enclave graph a first time, the WFMS creates a workload-management-enclave in the WLM on behalf of activities which are part of the enclave-graph. The method can comprise an enclave-join-step wherein the WFMS joins an activity of the enclave-graph to the workload-management-enclave in the WLM on behalf of the activity. Moreover the method can comprise an enclave-deletion-step for deleting the workload-management-enclave on behalf of the activities.

A medical user interface and workflow management system for use in X-ray imaging related procedures includes at least one repository. The at least one repository stores data indicating X-ray imaging related characteristics of a current medical procedure being performed including data identifying a type of procedure, comprising at least one of, (a) a current medical procedure is a cardiac related procedure and (b) a current medical procedure is an Angiography procedure. A workflow processor manages and tracks tasks being performed in a current medical procedure and adaptively selects a next task for performance following completion of a current task by selecting the next task based on the current task and in response to the X-ray imaging related characteristics. A user interface generates data representing at least one display image for presentation to a user. The at least one display image includes image elements associated with the selected next task enabling performance of the selected next task.

A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for workflow management of a supply chain. During use, businesses are permitted to engage in activities utilizing a network. Such activities each include a plurality of steps. As the activities are being carried out, at least one document is updated for each activity upon completion of each of the steps. Further, services are executed to acquire information from users utilizing the network. Still yet, tasks are performed to populate the document with the information gathered by the execution of the services.

A communication and workflow management system and method is provided for integrating a wide range of health care organization workflow management functions, generated by automated systems, manual and automated events associated with patients and staff interactions, through input-output devices such that requests and dispatch requests can be handled locally or over a widely distributed network, and can be tracked and escalated as required. The invention features a rules engine and database that identifies and defines resources, patients, tasks, and task handling. The invention uses extensive logic for the assignment of tasks and communication with resources that can execute tasks, tracking, completion of task, and escalation of tasks. The communication system can be integrated with staff and equipment tracking for automated closure of tasks.

An improved consistency is provided between systems management systems (SMS) and workflow management systems (WFMS) by a linkage between the two. A tight, integrative linkage is provided which is managed and maintained automatically by the application, particular by the WFMS, or alternatively by the SMS. This provides a consistent business process oriented view of the SMS monitored resources, including information technology resources, such as programs, and WFMS monitored resources, including organization resources such as people. This is achieved by either of: enhancing the application's monitor to include the functionality of the enterprise console; or enhancing the enterprise console to include the functionality of the WFMS's process monitor; and profiting from the merged information of both the SMS and the WFMS.

A workflow management system (WMS) coordinates, controls, and monitors item picking assets, item retrieval assets, and order packaging assets in performance of different workflows. The WMS optimizes the different workflows by assigning tasks to the different assets in a manner that minimizes overall execution time, cost, and resource utilization. Some optimizations include maximizing or prioritizing item pick rate, item packaging rate, or both. Assets integrated with the WMS and under WMS control include human workers, autonomous robots, and resources used in performance of the workflows.

Methods and computer systems are provided for workflow management. A workflow engine may be provided that creates workflow items. Each workflow item may include a self descriptive part that specifies details for generating a device independent representations of a corresponding workflow item. Further, a workflow manager may be provided that generates the device independent representation based on the self descriptive part.

The present invention is directed to a system and method providing an efficient ted customization of an existing workflow management system. Agent software utilized to operate autonomously to instruct a generic workflow tool provided by sting workflow management system to accomplish the customization process direct human supervision. Thus, a non-developer user who does not have dge of the process definition language provided by the workflow management may accomplish a successful customization. Further, the present invention costs and resources to customize an existing workflow management system.

The present invention provides an integrated time reporting and billing solution that facilitates billing and payment for time-related activities and manages contract workflow from end to end. The present invention can be employed in any industry for any employment relationship where in-house or supplemental contract labor is tracked by time. In one embodiment, the invention includes a contractor submission and tracking system (CSTS) and back office workflow management system (BOSS) to track and report vendor activity and contractor spend. The present invention can be used by employer-clients, contractors and contractor suppliers to facilitate contractor requisition, contract creation and modification, document tracking, business rule implementation, reporting, communications, timesheet entry, timesheet approval, and billing presentment, payment and other aspects of contract workflow management

A disclosed workflow management system includes a first database for holding a task model created by generalizing a past task instance of a workflow; a second database for holding a task instance that is a specific past task instance of a workflow; a task model reusing unit configured to reuse the task model by searching the first database according to user-specified input information and copying information from the task model found; and a task instance reusing unit configured to reuse the task instance by searching the second database according to user-specified input information and copying information from the task instance found.

A method for optimizing request shipping within a plurality of distributed networked computer systems holding a distributed application the usage of which realizes a process model underlying said application is proposed in which said process model comprises a business process consisting of a plurality of activities to be performed on said application systems by a plurality of users, including shipping of activity requests between a local application system owning said business process and a plurality of remote application systems performing said activities with the help of a plurality of users.The basic idea is to optimize the assignment of the users to the appropriate application system in such a way that the number of remote work item requests is optimized. The inventional method can be advantageously applied to workflow management systems. The optimization process involved comprises applying a so-called 'optimization function' reflecting the overall costs for request shipping and additional costs for performing the business process.

A workflow management system with continuous status management includes an apparatus for detecting fuzzy process definitions, an apparatus which controls activity stages in a workflow for the purpose of processing the process definitions, and a device for evaluating the process definitions for each process instance. A method is for implementing a workflow with continuous status management through fuzzy process definitions using continuous instructions and states and logic combinations or continuous mapping operations operating thereon.

A computer system is provided for managing one or more workflow associated with negotiating and concluding transaction documents, including (a) a plurality of computer terminals linked to a computer network, including computer terminals that are mobile devices, each computer terminal associated with an individual; and (b) one or more computers executing a computerized transaction workflow management system that provides a computer network that when executed enables: (i) interaction of users with transaction documents based on their permissions, based on their role in a transaction; (ii) negotiation of transaction documents between parties to the transaction by enforcing a series of negotiation rules associated with the transaction, while allowing the parties to view and sign transaction documents related to the transaction securely using the computer service; and (iii) tracking actions in relation to the negotiation and conclusion of transaction documents for the purposes of automatically generating information regarding the current status of negotiation and optionally also to generate audit information.

A temperature monitoring device that can automatically collect temperature data and wirelessly interface with a workflow management system. The device is provided in a portable housing and incorporates one or more temperature sensors, such as a physical probe, infrared sensor, or RFID transceiver, along with an interface for wirelessly communicating with a host personal device that has been programmed with temperature management tasks. The device may be used to automatically collect temperatures and provide wirelessly provide the data to the host for monitoring and tracking as part of a comprehensive workflow management system that includes food safety monitoring and compliance programs.

A method and means for automatically deriving from a process model of a workflow management system (WFMS) or a computer system with comparable functionality a set of underlying application services and providing a means to locate these application services by creating entries in appropriate taxonomies. The computerized method provides access to an application service by the following steps: a first step of analyzing a process model, defining an execution path through said process model as an application service, and creating an application service description document for the path by retrieving and aggregating for elements of the execution path associated element specifications from the process model; a second step of calculating for the application service description document a highest matching degree with a category in a taxonomy scheme; and a third step of assigning an access reference to the application service to said category with said highest matching degree for enabling a user to navigate within said taxonomy scheme and to provide access to said application service by selecting said application services access reference. The invention be used to enhance an existing taxonomy scheme with new access references to application services or used by itself to create a taxonomy scheme.

Methods and systems for managing and analyzing multi-dimensional data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Meta-Object Data Management System “MODMS,” which enables users to arrange and to rearrange the hierarchical relationships of the data on an ad-hoc basis and allows the data to be analyzed using any set of attributes (dimensions) while the system is running. The MODMS represents heterogeneous data in a normalized (standardized) fashion using an object type management system that allows the coercion of one type of object into another different type of object and automatically resolves attribute dependencies. The MODMS supports object transitions for transforming an object from one type to another based upon meeting a defined set of criteria and subject to approval by designated entities. In one embodiment, the MODMS is used to implement an enterprise portfolio management system.

The invention relates to a knowledge-based workflow management system. The system comprises a process definition file, a system component library, a flow controller, an event processor, a task controller, a database interaction layer and a knowledge library reasoning machine, wherein the process definition file is defined according to the actual operation flow of a user and can be explained by a workflow engine; the workflow engine assembles a workflow instance according to the contents of the file; the system component library comprises the definitions of various components which are needed in a process definition; the components are mainly divided into marks, activities and routes; the flow controller provides various functions of initiating a flow, starting the flow, finishing the flow and terminating the flow in system flow control; and the event processor provides the definitions and system defaults of various events which are probably generated by the workflow engine in the process of executing the workflow. The process definition file can be automatically modified according to flow organization knowledge which is stored in the knowledge library in the process of constructing application, and the flow can be operated again. Therefore, the working load of system maintenance is reduced, and the cost of the user is lowered.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for targeted messaging, workflow management, and digital rights management for geofeeds, including content that is related to geographically definable locations and aggregated from a plurality of social media or other content providers. The system may facilitate targeted messaging to users who create content. The targeted messaging may be based on the content (or location related to the content) such as a request for additional information or a promotional message. The system may generate workflows that allow management of the content with respect to operational processes of an entity that wishes to use the content and facilitates the management of usage rights related to the content as well as payments related to such usage rights. For example, the system may store whether content requires permission to use the content and / or whether such permission was obtained and facilitates payment.

Method and system for providing results for task list queries to Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs) and Human Task Management Systems (HTMSs). In one aspect, a method for providing the result of a task list query to a human task database includes caching data from the database in a plurality of materialized views. A new request for a list of tasks from the database is received, and a new query is created when the new request applies to the data in a particular materialized view. When the particular materialized view includes data that requires updating from more recent data in the database, the materialized view is so updated. The new query is executed against the data in the materialized view instead of executing the new query against the data in the database.

The invention discloses a service-oriented distributed work flow management system, which comprises a service container for supporting operational environment when service example exists, a client end interface module, a distributed work flow engine module and a service dynamic selective agent module, wherein the client end interface module supplies interactive interfaces based on Web pages for users, the distributed work flow engine module processes various requests from the client end interface module, takes charge of executing work flow work, and dispatches sub tasks on physical services to execute according to flow processes, the dynamic service selective agent module belongs to the physical service of the same virtual service, and selects the physical service with optimum service quality to execute work. The distributed work flow management system supports virtual service as atom services to participate in service composite, selects physical service with optimal service quality to execute work, and supports WS / WSRF service, dynamic service selection based on QoS achieves the optimization of service dynamic selection, and operational dynamic load balance is achieved through adopting the distributed work flow engine.

The present invention relates to a Workflow Management System or a computer system with comparable functionality (WFMS). More particularly the invention relates to a method or means for generating a runtime compliant partner process for a given original process, wherein both processes are dedicated to interact with each other. In order to provide a method for generating a runtime compliant partner process for a given original process, which is easier understandable for a process developer, it is proposed to perform the steps of:Step 1: Identifying all activities of the original process interacting with the partner process,Step 2: Determining if an activity is able to be mirrored by a mechanism supported by the business process language, e.g. BPEL,Step 2.1: If yes, generating the mirrored activity and creating a respective activity name,Step 2.1: If not, using a predetermined mathematical method for dissecting such an activity that into a set of sub-activities, which can be mirrored,Step 2.2.1: Generating a respective mirrored sub-activity and creating a respective activity name for each sub-activity,Step 2.2.2: Arranging the mirrored sub-activities according to the outcome of the predetermined mathematical method.

A workflow management system is presented. The workflow management system can include a tasking module and rules engine. Users can interface with the tasking module to define tasks having rule-based task criteria. The rules engine monitors data associated with running a business, including data classified across business segments, to determine if an exception to the task criteria has occurred. If so, the tasking module can automatically generate an exception task to handle the exception and present exception tasks to one or more users.