System and method for modeling, analyzing and executing work process plans

Claim 1

The method of, utilizing a computer for, modelling a work process to form a work process model, comprising a plurality of stages that may either be activated or deactivated, that allows dynamic modification of the work process model comprising the step of: creating representations defining a plurality of said stages, comprising the steps of: for each of said stages, creating representations defining a set of expected courses of action that may be performed in completing the stage; for each of said expected courses of action, creating representations associating one or more obligations that must be fulfilled upon the performance of such expected course of action; and creating representations relating each of said obligations with one or said stages that is to be activated when said obligation is so fulfilled; tracking the activation and deactivation of said stages; and after the step of tracking has begun, modifying one or more of said representations defining a plurality of stages, representations defining sets of expected courses of action or said representations associating one or more obligations.

Claim 2

The method of, utilizing a computer for, modelling a work process to form a work process model, comprising a plurality of stages that may either be activated or deactivated, that allows dynamic modification of the work process model comprising the step of: creating representations defining a plurality of said stages, comprising the steps of: for each of said stages, creating representations defining a set of expected courses of action that may be performed in completing the stage; for each of said expected courses of action, creating representations associating one or more obligations that must be fulfilled upon the performance of such expected course of action; and creating representations relating each of said obligations with one or said stages that is to be activated when said obligation is so fulfilled; tracking the activation and deactivation of said stages; and after the step of tracking has begun, modifying one or more of said representations defining a plurality of stages, representations defining sets of expected courses of action or said representations associating one or more obligations.

Claim 13

The method of any one of claims 1-7 or 11 wherein said step of creating representations defining a plurality of said stages comprises the step of: creating representations defining a plurality of said stages utilizing a programmed computer system comprising a server workstation and a plurality of viewer workstations, said server workstation and said viewer workstations communicating via a bus.

Claim 14

The method of tracking the execution of a work process model, said work process model comprising a plurality of stages that may either be activated or deactivated, that allows dynamic modification of the work process model and said work process model further comprising representations defining a plurality of said stages, for each of said stages, representations defining a set of expected courses of action that may be performed in completing the stage, for each of said expected courses of action representations associating one or more obligations that must be fulfilled upon the performance of such expected course of action and representations relating each of said obligations with one of said stages that is to be activated when said obligation is so fulfilled, comprising the steps of: activating a predefined set of one or more of said stages upon activation of the work process model; accepting input signifying that one of said expected courses of action defined for an active one of said stages has been performed; deactivating said active one of said stages for which said one of said expected courses of action is defined; activating the stages to be activated associated with the obligations associated with said one of said expected courses of action; and modifying said work process model after activation of the work process model has occurred.

Claim 15

The method of tracking the execution of a work process model, said work process model comprising a plurality of stages that may either be activated or deactivated, that allows dynamic modification of the work process model and said work process model further comprising representations defining a plurality of said stages, for each of said stages, representations defining a set of expected courses of action that may be performed in completing the stage, for each of said expected courses of action representations associating one or more obligations that must be fulfilled upon the performance of such expected course of action and representations relating each of said obligations with one of said stages that is to be activated when said obligation is so fulfilled, comprising the steps of: activating a predefined set of one or more of said stages upon activation of the work process model; accepting input signifying that one of said expected courses of action defined for an active one of said stages has been performed; deactivating said active one of said stages for which said one of said expected courses of action is defined; activating the stages to be activated associated with the obligations associated with said one of said expected courses of action; and modifying said work process model after activation of the work process model has occurred.