Device-Agnostic Workflow Management for Cross-Channel Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems fail to allow seamless continuation of work flows across different devices and channels due to device and channel-specific configurations, leading to inconsistent user experiences and increased development costs for multi-channel support.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables a single work flow process to be defined and reused across multiple devices and channels, tracking progress and inputs to allow users to continue processes without losing data, and utilizing device-specific capabilities for enhanced user experience, without requiring tailored software applications for each device or channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If device-specific processes are implemented for each channel, then the user experience is optimized for that specific device, but the system complexity increases and seamless continuation across devices becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal work flow management system where a single work flow definition can be executed across multiple device types and channels. The system uses device-agnostic work flow definitions that can be instantiated on any device, allowing the same business process to run on mobile devices, desktops, tablets, and other platforms without requiring separate device-specific implementations. This enables seamless continuation of work flows across devices while maintaining optimized user experiences through device-appropriate interface adaptations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate software applications are developed for each device and channel, then device-specific functionality is optimized, but development costs increase and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core work flow logic from device-specific implementations and places it in a centralized, device-agnostic work flow definition repository. The device-specific aspects are separated into thin adaptation layers that handle only device-specific interface requirements. This extraction allows the core business logic to be developed once and reused across all devices, significantly reducing development costs while maintaining adaptability to different device capabilities through the separate adaptation layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal work flow engine that can execute the same work flow definition on any device type. Instead of developing separate applications for each device, the system uses a single unified platform that adapts the work flow presentation to device-specific characteristics. This universal approach reduces development and maintenance costs while preserving device-specific functionality through adaptive interface rendering.
3Speed
If work flow data is stored locally on each device, then access speed is improved, but data consistency across devices deteriorates and seamless continuation becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized work flow management server as an intermediary between devices and work flow data. The server maintains the authoritative copy of work flow definitions and instance state, while devices access data through this intermediary. This architecture enables fast local access through caching mechanisms while ensuring data consistency through centralized control and synchronization. The intermediary coordinates data access across multiple devices, enabling seamless continuation of work flows by maintaining a single source of truth for work flow state.
4Ease of operation
If device-specific configurations are used for each channel, then channel optimization is achieved, but the ability to continue processes across channels is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the work flow system into three distinct layers: (1) device-agnostic work flow definitions that contain the core business logic, (2) device-specific adaptation layers that handle channel optimization, and (3) a centralized management server that coordinates cross-device continuation. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function independently - the definitions remain consistent for cross-channel continuation while the adaptation layers provide channel-specific optimization without interfering with the underlying work flow state.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to systems and methods for managing work flow data collection for users across a wide area network comprising a diverse set of devices and processes and unifying the work process to be device agnostic. Embodiments disclosed herein may allow a single process having multiple steps to be retrieved and continued across multiple channels and devices with apparent continuity to the end-user. The status of each process step is tracked and the inputs are stored, providing the system with the requisite information when users continue processes on a different channel or device from the original channel or device. The system may host and execute processes that may be presented and manipulated across the various channels and devices, but without requiring engineers and developers to write or otherwise tailor software applications and network configurations to facilitate or allow multi-channel interactions.