# US 2007/0033080 A1 · Method and apparatus for process discovery related applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0033080 A1 - Document ID: US20070033080A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/369,675 - Filed: 2006-03-07 - Published: 2007-02-08 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-07 - Assignees: Prolify Ltd. - Inventors: Alon Hochberg; Vladimir Morgenstern - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070033080A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 10/06313: {Resource planning in a project environment} - G06Q 10/0637: Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals - G06Q 10/06375: {Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change} - G06Q 50/188: {Electronic negotiation} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method for discovering activities or processes within an organization, to be used in a process management and control system, the method comprising the steps of importing one or more actions associated with one or more planned or active projects within the organization, identifying one or more activities from the actions, and updating a pattern library based on the activity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for discovering an at least one activity or an at least one process within an organization, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an at least one process map, the process map comprising an at least one action associated with an at least one active project or with an at least one planned project; and identifying an at least one activity or an at least one process from the at least one process map. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of updating an at least one pattern library based on the at least one activity or the at least one process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of updating the at least one process map. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is created from an e-mail message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is created from a user reporting of the at least one action. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is created from an operation performed in a quality center, or in a requirements management system, or in an update in a spreadsheet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one activity is presented as an at least one pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one activity is a basic activity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the at least one activity or the at least one process comprises the steps of: generating a task list comprising an at least one task, the at least one task having a task type and representing an activity; grouping the at least one task according to the task type into an at least one group, said group representing the activity; and selecting an at least one group by a user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one activity is a composite activity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of identifying an at least one key deliverable, or an at least one milestone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of identifying an at least one activity group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of splitting an at least one activity group into at least two activities. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of selecting an at least one activity by a user from a list of activities. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of adding a standard activity library. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining a metrics for associating a cost with an at least one practice; and identifying an at least one practice having an optimal cost within the organization. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising an on-going stage for constructing, controlling or managing an at least one process based on the at least one process map. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1, 17) The method of claim 1 when used simultaneously with or after the on-going stage of claim 17. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the on-going stage uses the process map. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for discovering an at least one activity or an at least one process within an organization, the apparatus comprising: an at least one interface component; an at least one activity identification component; an at least one management component; and an activity data structure construction component. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a metrics determination component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a task identification and grouping component. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the interface component is an organizational interface component. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the organizational interface component captures information from an at least one e-mail message. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the data structure is a process map. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the process map comprises an at least one pattern. ### Claim 27 A computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions comprising: receiving an at least one process map, the process map comprising an at least one action associated with an at least one active project or with an at least one planned project; and identifying an at least one activity or an at least one process from the at least one process map.