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US6405215B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Workflow agent for a multimedia database system

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-08-19
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Granted: 2002-06-11
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Expires: 2019-08-19
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Abstract

Abstract A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented workflow agent. Items stored in a data store connected to a computer are tracked in the computer. Initially, a workflow agent is invoked Under control of the workflow agent, an item in the multi-media data store is monitored to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions. When the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, under control of the workflow agent, whether an action is to be performed is determined. When it is determined that an action is to be performed, the action is performed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alan Tsu-I Yaung

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 09:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of tracking items in a computer, the items being stored in a multi-media data store connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: invoking a workflow agent; and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions; when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed; and when it is determined that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of tracking items in a computer, the items being stored in a multi-media data store connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: invoking a workflow agent; and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions; when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed; and when it is determined that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring further comprises the step of comparing a condition pattern to a result pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the condition pattern identifies a document and conditions to be monitored for the identified document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the result pattern is derived by checking the item for conditions indicated in the condition pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of determining that the item meets the one or more specified conditions by comparing the condition pattern and the result pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring the item at intervals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the workflow agent is invoked from an application, further comprising the step of providing event notification to the application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the event notification is implicit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the event notification is explicit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is started.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is completed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 102 words
An apparatus for tracking items in a computer, comprising: a computer having a multi-media data store connected thereto, wherein the data store stores the items; one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for invoking a workflow agent and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions, when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed, and when it is determined that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 102 words
An apparatus for tracking items in a computer, comprising: a computer having a multi-media data store connected thereto, wherein the data store stores the items; one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for invoking a workflow agent and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions, when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed, and when it is determined that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for monitoring further comprises the means for comparing a condition pattern to a result pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the condition pattern identifies a document and conditions to be monitored for the identified document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the result pattern is derived by checking the item for conditions indicated in the condition pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising means for determining that the item meets the one or more specified conditions by comparing the condition pattern and the result pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of monitoring the item at intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the workflow agent is invoked from an application, further comprising the step of providing event notification to the application.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the event notification is implicit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the event notification is explicit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is started.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is completed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 121 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a client computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the client computer to perform method steps for tracking items in a computer, the items being stored in a multi-media data store connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: invoking a workflow agent; and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions; when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed; and when it is determining that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 121 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a client computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the client computer to perform method steps for tracking items in a computer, the items being stored in a multi-media data store connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: invoking a workflow agent; and under control of the workflow agent, monitoring an item in the multi-media data store to determine whether the item meets one or more specified conditions; when the monitoring indicates that the item meets the one or more specified conditions, determining whether an action is to be performed; and when it is determining that an action is to be performed, performing the action.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 26 words
The article of manufacture of claim 23 , wherein the step of monitoring further comprises the step of comparing a condition pattern to a result pattern.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 24 words
The article of manufacture of claim 24 , wherein the condition pattern identifies a document and conditions to be monitored for the identified document.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 25 words
The article of manufacture of claim 25 , wherein the result pattern is derived by checking the item for conditions indicated in the condition pattern.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 33 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising the step of determining that the item meets the one or more specified conditions by comparing the condition pattern and the result pattern.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 23 , further comprising the step of monitoring the item at intervals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 28 words
The article of manufacture of claim 23 , wherein the workflow agent is invoked from an application, further comprising the step of providing event notification to the application.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 14 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the event notification is implicit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 14 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the event notification is explicit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 19 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is started.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 19 words
The article of manufacture of claim 29 , wherein the event notification is provided after the action is completed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-06-10 2005-12-10 2006-06-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-06-10 2009-12-10 2010-06-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-06-10 2013-12-10 2014-06-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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