Abstract: A method for controlling a document processing apparatus which registers input document data in a document management server includes acquiring, from the document management server, information about input items necessary for registration of the document data into the document management server, determining whether each of the input items necessary for the registration of the document data are input, based on the acquired information, and performing control to complete the registration of the document data into the document management server when it is determined that the input items are input, while to temporarily register the document data into the document management server when it is determined that at least one of the input items is not input.

Abstract: A workflow server is connected with operating computer terminals through a network to manage workflow. The workflow server consolidates information necessary for processing multiple consecutive nodes to be processed by one participant operating one of the operating computer terminals, and sends the consolidated information to the operating computer terminal concerned.

Abstract: An approach for authorizing access to computing resources (e.g., electronic files) based on calendar events (e.g., meetings of a user) in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) is provided. A portion/segment (e.g., private cloud) of the networked computing environment may be designated for storing at least one electronic file to be shared (e.g., as stored in a computer storage device associated with the portion). The portion of the networked computing environment may then be associated (e.g., graphically) with an electronic calendar entry (e.g., a meeting having a set of attendees). Based on the calendar entry, a set of users (e.g., the meeting attendees) authorized to access the at least one electronic file may be determined based on the electronic calendar entry. Thereafter, access (e.g., a related permissions) to the at least one electronic file may be authorized for the set of users.

Abstract: System for automating a business process, the system comprising at least one processing unit, a data storage unit and a memory unit, the processing unit executing a set of computer-readable instructions implementing a method comprising: receiving data associated with the business process from an agent or by means of a data upload and storing the received data; determining whether a process instance corresponding to the input data has already been run, and, if not, initiating a business process instance; executing the business process instance according to a visual definition specified by the user; determining whether the business process requires a voice communication with a customer and, if so, initiating a voice communication connection between an agent and the customer; and determining whether the business process requires a message to be sent to the customer and, if so, automatically generating the message and sending the generated message to the customer.

Abstract: A document tracking module is associated with a physical document utilized within a business organization. Physical movement of the document is monitored through different departments of the business organization using information derived from the document tracking module. A business process flow within the business organization is discovered from the monitored physical movement of the document through the different departments of the business organization. A business process model, including details of the discovered business process flow within the business organization, is generated.

Abstract: A workflow management system provides a GUI configuration tool that allows end users to configure the states and state properties of workflows and workers without rewriting the program. The application also provides an interface that allows the use of extensible code to perform custom functions at particular states and at particular state transitions of a workflow.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for creating a business service flow using automated business function implementation analysis and adaptive transaction integration are provided. An implementation of a business service is analyzed to identify a set of transactions used. A set of relationships between transactions is identified, a relationship relates a subset of transactions according to a condition. A set of generic flows is created using a subset of transactions from the set of transactions. A set of adaptive flows is created using a subset of the set of generic flows and a subset of relationships from the set of relationships, an adaptive flow in the set of adaptive flows provides the business service as was provided by the implementation, and the adaptive flow includes program code for responding to the condition by invoking a related transaction based on a relationship used in the adaptive flow.

Abstract: A method for leveraging location-based information to influence business workflows includes initiating a workflow, performing at least one operation within the workflow using a processor of a mobile device; receiving location information pertaining to the workflow; and influencing at least a portion of the workflow based on the location information. The workflow is configured to facilitate a business process. In some embodiments, the method includes determining location information corresponding to the mobile device, prompting a user to capture and image of a document, associating the location information with the captured image as location metadata, and storing the location metadata and captured image to a memory of the mobile device. Exemplary systems and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure identifies and/or delivers tailored content based upon a service dialog. For example, the systems may receive a request for tailored content, facilitate a service dialog to obtain information related to the request, and communicate a plurality of tailored content based upon the information related to the request. Further, the systems may identify tailored content based upon a consumer profile, communicate the tailored content to a web client, and/or receive a selection of the tailored content. Further still, the systems may modify a magazine (e.g., content that is presented electronically) based upon tailored content.

Abstract: Data flow analysis and routing processes include monitoring a process of a workflow, intercepting data traffic for data entered for the process, and identifying a communication path of a destination location for the data traffic. The method also includes verifying compliance of the process by applying business rules to the data, and notifying an entity of any non-compliance identified from the verification.

Abstract: Computer system configured to generate an engineering workflow, said system comprising a first database which stores a library of engineering patterns and a second database which stores a library of engineering tool functions of an engineering tool, wherein a sequence of automatically concatenated workflow steps forming said engineering workflow is generated by mapping for each workflow step a selected engineering pattern to a selected tool function of said engineering tool.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of recommending a production plan includes calculating a similarity score between an incoming order and each historical order in a historical order database, providing a list of most similar historical orders and corresponding historical production plans ranked according to highest similarity scores, receiving an election indicating a historical production plan as a selected production plan, and admitting the selected historical production plan to fulfill the incoming order.

Abstract: A control unit of a workflow control apparatus identifies, among tasks included in a plurality of workflows, tasks using the same resource based on workflow definition information, and determines the execution sequence of the identified tasks based on the content of each of the identified tasks defined in the workflow definition information. The control unit identifies, among the identified tasks, one or more tasks whose execution is omissible based on the content of each of the identified tasks and the execution sequence of the identified tasks.

Abstract: A system and method of performing customer onboarding may include accessing business data derived from compliance documents of a potential customer in a NoSQL database. Grouped assertions in a computer-executable format may be caused to be applied to the business data in a sequence. A determination as to whether the business data complies with the grouped assertions may be made, and a report inclusive of whether the business data complies with the grouped assertions may be generated.

Abstract: A method for creating and distributing a workflow for performing a task in a financial application involves receiving an instruction from a workflow creator to begin recording the workflow, where the workflow comprises a chronological ordering of steps which include the task; at the behest of the workflow creator, a step within the workflow is generated; an action performed within the financial application is detected, where the action is an atomic portion of the task, and added to the step; input from the workflow creator to the financial application is detected and a prompt is added to the step; after the cessation of recording, a preview of the workflow is displayed to the workflow creator for approval; if the user approves, a workflow file including the workflow is created and uploaded to a server, which notifies financial applications that the workflow for performing the task is available on the server.

Abstract: A first executing unit executes, among tasks included in a first workflow, a first task group including one or more tasks using a resource. When a task included in the first task group is stopped, a rollback processing unit restores the resource to its former state prior to the execution of the first task group. After the resource is restored to the former state prior to the execution of the first task group, a second executing unit starts executing, among tasks included in a second workflow, a second task group including one or more tasks using the resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods that implement interactivity as part of a workflow itself. Data is passed in and out of the workflow to form an interactive workflow, via employing an interactive activity component. Such interactive activity component models suspension points within a workflow definition, wherein user input and associated interaction can be supplied to the workflow during various interactivity breaks that request user input. Such an arrangement enables a controlled/synchronous data exchange between the workflow and a host application associated therewith.

Abstract: Cross-domain integration within product lifecycle management can include providing a plurality of finite state machines (FSMs), wherein each FSM is associated with one business object of an integration flow between a first enterprise information system and a second enterprise information system. Each FSM defines a plurality of lifecycle states of the associated business object. A business rule can be associated with each lifecycle state of each FSM. For each FSM, the associated business rules are independent of the FSM. For a selected lifecycle state of each FSM, the associated business rule defines a condition causing a transition from the selected lifecycle state to a next lifecycle state of the FSM. A network of the plurality of FSMs is established by providing communication links among individual ones of the plurality of FSMs according to the business rules. The communication links define the integration flow.

Abstract: Systems and method for sharing workflows are provided. In the various embodiments, trading partners make connections at an entity level associated with transaction flows. In particular, trading partners can share one or more segments of their respect workflows to allow another trading partner to share in visibility and management of a transaction through these states. In some embodiments, these workflows can be shared in a hub/spoke or hierarchical relationship, where a hub or parent entity can adjust and propagate changes in shared portions of a workflow as needed. In other embodiments, the workflows can be shared in a peer-to-peer basis, where different peers can gain access, as needed or allowed, to portions of another peer's workflow.

Abstract: A set of to-do items may be obtained. A specified window of time may be received. A subset of the to-do items may be automatically prioritized as candidate tasks to be performed during the specified window of time. A prioritized subset of the to-do items may be presented. Based on one or more criteria, the mode of interaction with a user with respect to the to-do items may be in virtual universe.

Abstract: A method for estimating a time required to complete an atomic task, where the atomic task is one of a plurality of atomic tasks that collectively forms a molecular task, includes obtaining, for each of a plurality of molecular tasks including the molecular task, data including: a known time required to complete each of the plurality of molecular tasks and a known list of constituent atomic tasks forming each of the plurality of molecular tasks, and estimating the time required to complete the atomic task based on the data.

Abstract: Estimating a time required to complete an atomic task, where the atomic task is one of a plurality of atomic tasks that collectively forms a molecular task, includes obtaining, for each of a plurality of molecular tasks including the molecular task, data including: a known time required to complete each of the plurality of molecular tasks and a known list of constituent atomic tasks forming each of the plurality of molecular tasks, and estimating the time required to complete the atomic task based on the data.

Abstract: A method for collecting data includes receiving a request for a workflow from a remote device. The request includes information indicative of a goal for the workflow and an object associated with the workflow. The method also includes selecting the workflow. The workflow includes instructions for conducting a plurality of activities. The method also includes transmitting the workflow to the remote device, and receiving a workflow report comprising inputs received in response to plurality of activities of the workflow, from the remote device. The method further includes selecting one or more entities based on the workflow report, the goal, the object, or a combination thereof, and transmitting data based on the workflow report to the one or more potentially-interested entities that are selected. The method also includes receiving one or more responsive actions from at least one of the entities.

Abstract: A workflow generation supporting apparatus includes a unit extracting difference information between old and new work rules documents; a unit obtaining association information between configuration information of the old work rules document and steps of a workflow of the old work rules document; and a supporting unit supporting generation of a workflow of the new work rules document by presenting a step to be changed in the workflow of the old work rules document based on the difference information and the association information. When the difference information includes an added configuration, the supporting unit compares the layers in terms of the logical configuration of the added configuration and an immediately previous step, and, when the layer of the added configuration is lower than the layer of the immediately previous step, presents the immediately previous step as a step to be changed in the workflow of the old work rules document.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a flexible order fulfillment management system that utilizes predefined fulfillment workflows including common business processes. By utilizing predefined workflows including common business processes, the order fulfillment management system is able to drive store-based fulfillment programs efficiently as multiple fulfillment workflows may utilize the same common business processes and a single fulfillment management system may operate workflows in parallel. In addition, such an order fulfillment management system may also be more easily adapted for different retail store environments as the system allows a designer to easily create or modify a fulfillment workflow by selecting predefined common business processes or creating any additional custom business processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a software based system implemented on a standalone computer of over a network using computers for collecting global optimization related data, processing the country specific data, to objectively qualify, prioritize, and manage the information to formulate and implement a global optimization strategy for goods or services and the associated method of use therefore. The system operates by interfacing four modules with a database manager, a catalog (data storage and retrieval) module, an analytical (opportunity qualifier) module, a priority ranking module, and a reporting and mapping module. The software can be applied to geographically optimize existing or new products, product-lines, or services. For existing products or services the result may be to correct the priority generally obtained and ranked using non opportunity-based evaluations and rankings, or expand into additional countries.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a method of fulfilling a redemption request. The method includes creating an offer for an entity. The offer is configured to incentivize a purchase of a good or a service of the entity. The method includes distributing the offer to customers via at least one e-commerce channel. The method includes collecting payment for a purchase of the good or the service from a customer. In response to collection of the payment, the method includes generating a redemption request. The method further includes tracking the redemption request according to a customized workflow process of the entity. The customized workflow process includes subroutines selected by the entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of an event-driven process management and automation system are disclosed. Such system may be particularly appropriate for a multi-tenant environment so that a single process handling flow may be generated for a given process. Because in a multi-tenant environment many different entities may desire to customize or optimize this process handling flow for their particular usage, modifications to the process flow may be easily handled by a non-technical user to realize process modification without incurring additional development costs. Using a multi-level hierarchical inheritance model in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a process may be standardized, with focused customization available on a macro and/or micro level.

Abstract: A workflow management apparatus including a workflow table in which tasks are associated with respective users and a task list that is a list of tasks corresponding to a user. The apparatus identifies the user in charge of a target task that is the target of processing in the workflow and determines whether or not the processing of the target task has been completed. If the apparatus has determined that the processing has not been completed, the apparatus determines whether or not the target task meets a predetermined condition. If the apparatus has determined that the predetermined condition is met, the target task is registered in the task list corresponding to the user in charge of the target task, and when the target task has been registered and is thus considered to have been processed, the apparatus advances to the processing of the next task in the workflow.

Abstract: A system configured to receive a request to perform an electronic transaction associated with merchant equipment, where the request identifies one or more value-added services that are to be provided when the transaction is performed; retrieve workflow information, associated with a workflow that corresponds to the transaction, where the workflow information identifies how the transaction is to be performed and how the value-added services are to be provided; obtain information associated with one or more second server devices that provide the value-added services; instruct the second server devices to provide the value-added services, in a manner that conforms to the workflow information, based on the information associated with the one or more second server devices; perform the transaction in a manner that conforms to the workflow information; and transmit, to the merchant equipment, a notification that the transaction has been performed or that the value-added services have been provided.

Abstract: A system for aggregating data from a plurality of operational databases, and a method for providing the same, are provided. The system includes a data store storing a collection of pre-defined extraction scripts. The extraction scripts identify data available for extraction from a plurality of operational database products, and including parameters for specifying which of the data to extract. A data warehouse server executes the extraction scripts to extract, merge, transform and load the specified data from the plurality of operational databases into a multidimensional database.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for accounting for contract formation and fulfillment activities by combination event chaining and multidimensional measurement chaining, with event and measurement matching rules that apply variance and tolerance policies during evaluation. Building on chaining basis and derived measurements that participate in an equality relationship, chaining measurements may participate in a matching rule that applies tolerance policies. Furthermore, measurement chaining may be updated when the documented consequence of events are corrected or changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a location automation system via computing device having access to a calendar database is provided. Calendar data, from the calendar database, is processed to determine that at least one location automation event controlled by the location automation system is affected by the calendar data. The location automation setting data is updated, based on the calendar data, such that the at least one location automation event occurs according to the calendar data.

Abstract: Non-pending tasks having no pending due dates (e.g., past due tasks) are scheduled with pending tasks having pending due dates by first generating a hypothetical schedule and then an actual schedule. The hypothetical schedule is generated by distributing hours to complete pending tasks as evenly as possible over as many days as possible up to respective due dates; then scheduling non-pending tasks during hours normally available for work and which are not distributed to pending tasks; and then recording as quasi due dates for respective non-pending tasks the dates that the respective non-pending tasks would be completed on the hypothetical schedule. The actual schedule is then generated by scheduling non-pending tasks with pending tasks in chronological order, according to pending due dates for pending tasks, and quasi due dates for non-pending tasks.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a control unit configured to be disposed on-board at least one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle. The control unit also is configured to receive an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle traveling in a transportation network. The control unit also is configured to change a speed of said at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated time to arrive at the event. A method is provided that includes, at one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle, receiving an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a transportation network. The method also includes changing a speed of said one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated tune to arrive at the event.

Abstract: A dynamic approval system, capable of integration with enterprise software systems, where approval requests are generated from within application programs and processed using one or more dynamic approval rules comprising discrete rule steps and step criteria. For each approval request, only those rule steps applicable to the requestor and type of request are processed. Individual rule steps may be reordered, added or skipped, as appropriate, during an approval process. Typical rule steps include at least one request for approval or review. The party receiving the request may be a specific individual, a person holding a specific position, or a person having a relative relationship, such as supervisor, with the requestor.

Abstract: A dynamic approval system, capable of integration with enterprise software systems, where approval requests are generated from within application programs and processed using one or more dynamic approval rules comprising discrete rule steps and step criteria. For each approval request, only those rule steps applicable to the requestor and type of request are processed. Individual rule steps may be reordered, added or skipped, as appropriate, during an approval process. Typical rule steps include at least one request for approval or review. The party receiving the request may be a specific individual, a person holding a specific position, or a person having a relative relationship, such as supervisor, with the requestor.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes receiving process-related information describing a process for production of a product, including a logical sequence of tasks to produce respective internal products of the process. The method also includes constructing a schedule for the process based on the process-related information, with the process schedule being for execution of at least some of the tasks each of which utilizes or requires inputs including temporally a last input. Construction of the process schedule includes separating each of at least some of the respective tasks into a closure portion that requires availability of the last input of its task before being initiated, and a distinct precursor portion capable of being initiated before the respective last input is available. The closure portions of the respective tasks may be temporally sequenced without intervening precursor portions, and the precursor portions may be prepended to respective, temporally-sequenced closure portions.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium storing instructions for managing workflows including a business logic layer including (a) a workflow creator configured to define a unified workflow by combining steps of at least two workflows, the unified workflow having associated workflow data including (i) step data associated with each of the steps, the step data including track data that associates each of the steps with a track, and (ii) a business rule, the workflow data having been imported from a non-uniform data format and converted to a uniform data format, (b) a business rules engine configured to select and apply the business rule to the workflow data, and (c) a workflow manager configured to manage the unified workflow based on the selected and applied business rules; and a presentation layer configured to output information regarding the managed unified workflow to a display medium.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for assigning prioritized jobs at multiple locations to workers with the objective of maximizing the number of higher priority jobs assigned, with secondary objectives of minimizing worker travel time between locations and of balancing workload across workers. In doing so, the system, method and computer program product consider job data including job location, skills required, time required and additional job constraints, as well as resource data including worker location, worker skills, worker time constraints and additional worker constraints. The system, method and computer program product also consider travel time between various pairs of job locations and worker locations in order to optimize work assignments while minimizing travel time.

Abstract: An example process for data initialization for a drilling operation may include generating a pre-well job packet for the drilling operation. The pre-well job packet may include at least one of formatted well planning data, contractual data, and equipment data; and may be generated at a first information handling system located remotely from a site of the drilling operation. The pre-well job packet may be received at a second information handling system located at the site of the drilling operation. Data from the pre-well job packet may be automatically imported into a software application of the second information handling system.

Abstract: A method provides identification information configured to identify a particular step or portion of an inspection process. Supplemental data relating to the particular step or portion is received based at least in part upon the identification information. This supplemental data is presented to an inspector or other operator.

Abstract: A first change request is generated in a work flow process to implement a first change to a portion of content within the benefits content system. A first status indicator, indicating whether the first change has passed a quality check, is associated with the first change request. A second status indicator, indicating whether the first status indicator should be overridden, is associated with the first change request. The first change request is moved to a next step in the work flow process if the associated first status indicator indicates the first change has passed the quality check. The first change request is moved to the next step in the work flow process if the associated first status indicator indicates the first change has failed the quality check and the associated second status indicator indicates that the first status indicator should be overridden.

Abstract: An automated interactive method dynamically identifies an unplanned maintenance task during execution of a planned maintenance task on equipment. A user device displays a maintenance menu system for data entry and access and provides an input relating to unplanned maintenance task discovered on the equipment. The unplanned maintenance task is associated with the planned maintenance task at least with respect to a location. The automated interactive method sequentially processes unplanned maintenance task information based on the input from the user device. The automated interactive method establishes and stores an unplanned maintenance task data record including a selected geographical location, a selected item, a selected work category, a selected task type, a selected task description, and selected component data of the unplanned maintenance task.

Abstract: A data processing network for processing work items according to a business process has one or more processing boundaries having connection to a data transfer network, one or more communication brokers distributed among and executable on the one or more processing boundaries, and a plurality of electronic queues distributed among the one or more processing boundaries, the queues managed by the one or more communications brokers.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for dynamically ordering tasks in a task list based on the user's indications of importance. Tasks are ordered in the task list based on identifying “indicators of importance” related to the particular task in question. These “indicators of importance” (e.g., topics, people) are derived from the task (e.g., call Mary Brown) and/or from external sources. A score or value is then assigned to these indicators of importance based on the user's deemed importance to such an indicator of importance, where such deemed importance may be determined by monitoring the user's interactions with data items (e.g., e-mails, reports), such as involving the indicator of importance. A composite score for each task may then be compiled based on the scores assigned to the indicators of importance associated with the task. The tasks will then be ordered based on these composite scores.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing cloud services to multiple customers in a cloud. One embodiment includes receiving a number of requests for the cloud services from the multiple customers simultaneously or substantially simultaneously; prioritizing the requests based on a probability distribution of actually deploying a service, a budget of the customers, and an expected demand of the requested service based on the probability distribution; generating a number of cloud configurations along with a number of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the customers based on prioritization of the requests, a class & past behavior of the customers, and a current demand of the cloud services, the SLAs of the customers include differentiated price offering; recommending the cloud configurations and the SLAs to the customers; allowing the customers to negotiate terms of the SLAs; and providing the cloud services based on the negotiated SLAs to the customers.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for dynamically ordering tasks in a task list based on the user's indications of importance. Tasks are ordered in the task list based on identifying “indicators of importance” related to the particular task in question. These “indicators of importance” (e.g., topics, people) are derived from the task (e.g., call Mary Brown) and/or from external sources. A score or value is then assigned to these indicators of importance based on the user's deemed importance to such an indicator of importance, where such deemed importance may be determined by monitoring the user's interactions with data items (e.g., e-mails, reports), such as involving the indicator of importance. A composite score for each task may then be compiled based on the scores assigned to the indicators of importance associated with the task. The tasks will then be ordered based on these composite scores.

Abstract: Process studies are performed to determine improvements to processes, such as manufacturing or service related processes. One or more instances of a process may be captured (e.g., recorded) and annotated. A user is enabled to interact with a recording included in the process instance of a process being performed. The user is enabled to apply a process step tag selected from a plurality of process steps to a section of the recording. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply an attribute value selected from a list of attribute values to the process instance. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply discovery information to the process instance. Annotation information associated with the process instance is generated that includes the process step tag, any applied attribute values, and any applied discovery information.

Abstract: A storage device procurement system for managing storage failure and full warnings and conditions to minimize a need for storage device inventory. Such a system minimizes a need for storage system administrators to be knowledgeable with procurement options and procedures. Such a system provides for an end-to-end automated storage device procurement system by combining elements of a direct order model with elements of storage array monitoring.