RPA Workflow Suspension for Document Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incorporating manual validation into robotic process automation (RPA) workflows for document processing is labor-intensive due to the need for synchronizing multiple workflows and waiting for document processing and post-processing workflows to complete, making it difficult to efficiently validate results.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a first robot executes document processing activities, suspends execution for user validation, generates a user request for validation, and resumes execution based on user input from a second robot, allowing for side-by-side presentation of input and processed data for validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple distinct workflows are synchronized for manual validation, then validation accuracy is improved, but workflow complexity and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the document processing workflow and user validation workflow into a single integrated workflow. The robot executes document processing activities, then automatically transitions to a user validation activity within the same workflow context, eliminating the need to synchronize multiple distinct workflows. This reduces workflow complexity while maintaining validation accuracy through seamless integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is designed to perform multiple functions: executing document processing activities, managing workflow suspension, generating user requests, and resuming execution based on validation results. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized workflows for each task, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable validation through unified control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If one large complex workflow is generated for document processing and validation, then workflow integration is improved, but user waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large complex workflow into distinct executable activities: document processing activities executed by the robot, a suspension point for user validation, and a resumption point based on validation results. This segmentation allows the robot to execute processing tasks, then pause for user input without requiring the user to wait for entire post-processing workflows to complete, reducing waiting time while maintaining integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow is designed to be dynamic, allowing the robot to suspend execution at appropriate points and resume based on user validation input. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt to user availability and validation needs, reducing unnecessary waiting time while maintaining workflow integration through flexible execution control.
3Speed
If robot continuously monitors for user validation input, then validation responsiveness is improved, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the robot implements periodic action by suspending execution at specific points and waiting for user validation input. The robot executes document processing activities, then pauses to allow user validation without continuous active monitoring. This periodic suspension approach maintains validation responsiveness at the critical decision point while improving resource allocation efficiency by allowing the robot to be released for other tasks during validation waiting periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for executing a robotic process automation (RPA) workflow for document processing are provided. An input document is processed by a first robot executing one or more document processing activities of the RPA workflow. The document processing activities may include optical character recognition, digitization, classification, or data extraction. Execution of the RPA workflow is suspended by the first robot in response to a user validation activity of the RPA workflow. The user validation activity provides for user validation of the results of the one or more document processing activities. A user request that requests validation of the results from an end user is generated and the user request is transmitted to the end user. The execution of the RPA workflow is resumed by a second robot based on the validation received from the end user.