Abstract: A business process management/workflow automation system includes a network of computers equipped with software that permits a business process that includes a plurality of tasks to proceed across the network based upon stored rules. Upon the completion of a task, the network looks for a subsequent rule until process completion or a condition of unruliness, at which event a process owner is prompted to add a rule. A rules repository stores previously made rules and rules made by a process owner as the process proceeds, for reuse when the process with the refined rule runs again.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring software usage on a network having a network of computers capable of running at least portions of a computer program. One of the computers in the network acts as a node that monitors the usage by users on the network. The monitoring node is programmed to determine active usage of the computer program by the users on various incidents involving the software, ascertain the total number of unique users using the software at a given time, compare the ascertained total number with an authorized number and issue a signal if the ascertained total number exceeds the authorized number. The present invention further includes a method of determining software license fees for software used intermittently by a plurality of users using the software on a network.