Graphical Rule Workflow Interfaces for Real-Time Compliance Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphical user interfaces fail to effectively communicate critical information related to operational rules and workflows across multiple organizational entities, leading to complex compliance management and lack of real-time status updates and automated follow-ups.
Innovation Solution
A client-server architecture with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that enable users to assign, track, and manage rules and workflows across departments, providing real-time status updates and automated reminders, and allowing stakeholders to approve, implement, or review rules through a system that integrates with a database for data storage and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional spreadsheets are used to track compliance with rules and workflows, then data can be stored and accessed, but real-time status updates are not provided and automated follow-ups are not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual spreadsheet tracking with an automated computer-based system that automatically updates workflow status and sends notifications. The system substitutes manual monitoring with automated processes including database updates, status change detection, and automatic notification generation to stakeholders.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically tracking workflow status and sending notifications without requiring manual intervention. The automated system monitors compliance status, detects changes, and initiates follow-up actions independently, reducing the operational burden on users.
2Reliability
If multiple department heads need to review and approve rules, then comprehensive compliance review is achieved, but the complexity of tracking and managing approvals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the approval workflow into distinct stages and assigns specific roles (drafting department, reviewing departments, approving department). Each department head receives targeted notifications for their specific approval stage, breaking down the complex multi-department process into manageable, sequential tasks with clear responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by automatically notifying stakeholders of approval status changes and routing rules back to drafting departments for updates. This creates a closed-loop system where approval status is continuously communicated back to relevant parties, enabling transparent tracking without increasing manual complexity.
3Loss of information
If graphical user interfaces are designed to display detailed rule and workflow information, then complete information is provided, but the interfaces become difficult to understand and use
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface segments information display by showing only relevant workflow status information to each user role. Department heads see approval status and actionable items, while drafting departments see compliance status and update requirements. This segmented display provides complete necessary information without overwhelming users with unrelated details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by customizing the information display based on user role and context. Each stakeholder receives tailored information relevant to their specific responsibilities - approving departments see approval-related data, while drafting departments see compliance and update-related data. This ensures complete relevant information is provided without general complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The present specification discloses methods and systems for automatically processing an electronic data structure by receiving the electronic data structure that has categories associated therewith, determining, for a first subset of the categories, to automatically update a first set of states associated with the electronic data structure without routing the electronic data structure to a stakeholder, and determining, for a second subset of the categories, to route the electronic data structure to at least one stakeholder. After routing a portion of the electronic data structure to at least one stakeholder and receiving input from that stakeholder, a second set of states is updated based upon the received input and data is generated that is visually representative of each of the first set of states and second set of states.