Workflow Package Exchange for Cross-System Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing workflows across multiple organizations is inefficient due to incompatible software, business rules, and data formats, leading to inadequate information transfer and delays in workflow processes.
Innovation Solution
A workflow management system that includes a drop-box application program with a workflow engine to generate and send workflow packages containing input objects and predetermined rules, allowing for efficient execution of tasks across computing systems without requiring extensive user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple organizations use different software programs and data formats for workflow tasks, then each organization can maintain its own operational standards and preferences, but information transfer between organizations becomes inadequate and requires reworking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized workflow package format as an intermediary that mediates between different organizations' software systems. This package contains standardized data elements, metadata, and instructions that enable seamless information exchange without loss or corruption, resolving the incompatibility between diverse software programs while maintaining information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow management system implements a universal package structure that can accommodate data from various source systems while maintaining consistent formatting. The standardized package format serves multiple functions: it preserves organizational-specific data formats during creation, enables universal processing across different organizations, and ensures accurate information transfer throughout the workflow lifecycle.
2Productivity
If communication tools are used to transfer information between organizations, then tasks can be coordinated across multiple entities, but the communication tools are inadequate leading to workflow delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining workflow rules, task sequences, and data validation criteria within the standardized package before execution. This preliminary configuration enables automatic routing, validation, and task assignment, eliminating delays caused by manual coordination and inadequate communication tools while maintaining efficient multi-organization workflow management.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow management system implements automated feedback mechanisms that track package status, validate data integrity, and notify relevant parties of workflow progress. This feedback loop ensures immediate detection and correction of issues, preventing workflow delays and maintaining high productivity across multiple organizations without relying on inadequate communication tools.
3Reliability
If manual reworking is performed to correct insufficient or inaccurate information, then information quality can be improved, but the workflow process is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation and quality checks automatically during package creation and transmission, ensuring information accuracy before it reaches receiving organizations. This preliminary action prevents insufficient or inaccurate information from entering the workflow, eliminating the need for manual reworking while maintaining high information quality standards.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated feedback mechanisms continuously monitor information quality throughout the workflow process, validating data against predefined criteria and immediately flagging or correcting issues. This real-time feedback ensures high information reliability without requiring manual rework, as problems are detected and resolved automatically during transmission and processing.
4Reliability
If extensive user interaction is required to manage workflow tasks across organizations, then task accuracy can be maintained, but system complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow management system implements self-service capabilities where the standardized packages automatically contain all necessary instructions, validation rules, and routing information. The system autonomously validates data, routes packages to appropriate recipients, and tracks execution status without requiring extensive user interaction, while maintaining high task execution accuracy through automated controls.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated feedback mechanisms provide real-time status information and validation results to users, enabling them to monitor workflow progress and intervene only when necessary. This feedback-driven approach maintains task accuracy through automated validation while minimizing user interaction requirements, as the system self-corrects and self-manages most workflow operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A workflow management system for managing workflow within one or more entities is provided. The workflow management system may include a first drop-box application program executed on a first computing system including a first input object directory configured to receive an input object electronically outputted from an application program. The first drop-box application program may further include a first workflow engine configured to generate and send a workflow package to a second drop-box application program executed on a second computing system, the workflow package including the input object, a plurality of workflow tasks, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by a user via the first drop-box application program. In some examples at least one workflow task may be implemented via the second drop-box application program based on the set workflow rules.