Method for managing workflow based on electronic mail system

A workflow management method using a processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• deriving a mail flow from stored mail transmission audit data or from contents of mails;
• selecting workflow definitions from storage means and checking whether the workflow definitions have a split condition;
• if there is a split condition, reading the split condition selected by the mail flow and setting workflow relevant data of an instance satisfying the split condition;
• setting a state of the instance corresponding to a last activity of the mail flow and a definition identifier of the selected workflow definitions;
• and
• registering the selected mail flow as an instance of the selected workflow definitions.

A storage medium storing a program for a processing apparatus to execute a workflow management method for managing mail transmission/reception and a flow of works in accordance with workflow definition information for defining a flow of works, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) storing mail transmission audit data;
• b) comparing pattern information of a mail flow derived from the mail transmission audit data with preloaded workflow definition information, to obtain an extended workflow or an intersectional workflow of the mail flow;
• and
• c) registering the mail flow pattern information including the extended workflow or the intersectional workflow in the workflow definition information as new workflow definition information.

A workflow management system for managing mail transmission/reception and a flow of works in accordance with workflow definition information for defining a flow of works, comprising:

• a) means for storing mail transmission audit data;
• b) means for comparing pattern information of a mail flow derived from the mail transmission audit data with preloaded workflow definition information, to obtain an extended workflow or an intersectional workflow of the mail flow;
• and
• c) means for registering the mail flow pattern information including the extended workflow or the, intersectional workflow in the workflow definition information as new workflow definition information.

A workflow management method for managing mail transmission/reception and a flow of works in accordance with workflow definition information for defining a flow of works, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a mail flow of a selected mail;
• deriving at least one of intersectional workflow definitions and extended workflow definitions matching the mail flow, of predefined workflow definitions, and displaying the derived flow definitions;
• selecting one of the displayed flow definitions;
• and
• registering the mail flow as flow definitions based upon the selected flow definition.

A workflow management method for managing mail transmission/reception and a flow of works in accordance with workflow definition information for defining a flow of works, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a mail flow;
• displaying extended workflow definitions and intersectional workflow definitions of the displayed mail flow in accordance with preloaded workflow definitions;
• and
• recreating a workflow instance as an instance of the workflow definitions containing the displayed flow definitions.