Computer executable workflow control system

Claim 1

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling processing of a work item stored in a database of work items for execution by an operator, the database being used by organizations, the operator belonging to one of the organizations, the method comprising: storing in a memory organization identifiers each associated with a corresponding one of the organizations; storing in the memory definitional data items, each associated with one of the organization identifiers, the definitional data items defining rules for processing work items; determining whether to store a new definitional data item based on an associated organizational identifier; and processing a work item according to a rule specified by the definitional data item.

Claim 2

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling processing of a work item stored in a database of work items for execution by an operator, the database being used by organizations, the operator belonging to one of the organizations, the method comprising: storing in a memory organization identifiers each associated with a corresponding one of the organizations; storing in the memory definitional data items, each associated with one of the organization identifiers, the definitional data items defining rules for processing work items; determining whether to store a new definitional data item based on an associated organizational identifier; and processing a work item according to a rule specified by the definitional data item.

Claim 15

The system of claim wherein the method further comprises receiving a request to score a new definitional data item associated with one of the organizational identifiers.

Claim 17

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling processing of work items stored in a database for execution by operators belonging to an organization, the method comprising: storing in a memory information defining nodes available for use in processing the work items, each node associated with a set of rules; storing in the memory a programmable data structure defining organizational relationship between selected nodes to control the processing of the work item; providing the organizational relationship between the nodes to control alteration of processing of one of the work items by one of the operators; and executing a process, the process controlling the flow of the work items between at least two nodes of the process according to the set of rules associated with each corresponding node of the process, the process being compatible with the organizational relationship between the nodes.

Claim 18

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling processing of work items stored in a database for execution by operators belonging to an organization, the method comprising: storing in a memory information defining nodes available for use in processing the work items, each node associated with a set of rules; storing in the memory a programmable data structure defining organizational relationship between selected nodes to control the processing of the work item; providing the organizational relationship between the nodes to control alteration of processing of one of the work items by one of the operators; and executing a process, the process controlling the flow of the work items between at least two nodes of the process according to the set of rules associated with each corresponding node of the process, the process being compatible with the organizational relationship between the nodes.

Claim 34

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling access to a work item stored in a database of work items for execution by an operator in accordance with definitional data, the method comprising: storing in a first memory a networked data structure having networked entries, the networked data structure corresponding to an organization having nodes for manipulation of work items, the organization organized hierarchally, each networked entry corresponding to one of the nodes; storing in a second memory a process table specifying a sequence of steps for manipulating the work item; storing in a third memory a first definitional data item associated with a first node, the first node corresponding to a first networked entry, the first networked entry defining a subset of the networked entries in the networked data structure, the subset consisting of the first networked entry and all networked entries dependent from the first networked entry; receiving a request to store in a fourth memory a second definitional data item associated with a second node, the second item relying on the first item, the second node corresponding to one of the steps in the sequence, the second node corresponding to a second networked entry in the networked data structure; determining whether the second networked entry belongs to the subset of networked entries defined by the first networked entry; and based on the outcome of the determination, storing in the fourth memory the second definitional data item and controlling access to a work item in accordance with the second definitional data item.

Claim 35

A system having a computer-readable medium on which are recorded computer programs and data structures for effecting a method for controlling access to a work item stored in a database of work items for execution by an operator in accordance with definitional data, the method comprising: storing in a first memory a networked data structure having networked entries, the networked data structure corresponding to an organization having nodes for manipulation of work items, the organization organized hierarchally, each networked entry corresponding to one of the nodes; storing in a second memory a process table specifying a sequence of steps for manipulating the work item; storing in a third memory a first definitional data item associated with a first node, the first node corresponding to a first networked entry, the first networked entry defining a subset of the networked entries in the networked data structure, the subset consisting of the first networked entry and all networked entries dependent from the first networked entry; receiving a request to store in a fourth memory a second definitional data item associated with a second node, the second item relying on the first item, the second node corresponding to one of the steps in the sequence, the second node corresponding to a second networked entry in the networked data structure; determining whether the second networked entry belongs to the subset of networked entries defined by the first networked entry; and based on the outcome of the determination, storing in the fourth memory the second definitional data item and controlling access to a work item in accordance with the second definitional data item.