Process and apparatus for controlling the work flow in a multi-user computing system

A method of operating a computer system for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of the computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed by the plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a computer system having a data storage device;
• b) structuring a work process as first and second work steps for performance of the work steps by respective first and second users of the plurality of users through interaction with the computer system;
• c) storing in the data storage device an association between a first activity data object and the first work step of the work process, wherein the first activity data object comprises a data processing tool enabling performance by the computer system of the first work step of the work process;
• d) storing in the data storage device an association between a second activity data object and the second work step of the work process, wherein the second activity data object comprises a data processing tool enabling performance by the computer system of the second work step of the work process;
• e) storing in the data storage device an association between the first activity data object and a condition potentially occurring during operation of the first activity data object on the computer system;
• f) storing in the data storage device an association between the condition of step (e) and data including:
• (i) an identifier identifying the second activity data object, (ii) a description describing the second work step requiring performance upon detection of the condition, and (iii) an identifier identifying the second user of the computer system as the user selected to perform the second work step through use of the computer system;
• g) accepting a set of input data from the first user during operation of the first activity data object, acceptance of the set of input data at least partially establishing completion of the first work step;
• h) detecting the condition of step (e) during operation of the first activity data object on the computer system;
• i) in response to detecting the condition of step (e) enabling invocation of the second activity data object by the second user;
• j) in response to input from the second user, invoking operation of the second activity data object;
• k) displaying to the second user during operation of the second activity data object a portion of the set of input data from the first user;
• and,
• l) accepting a set of input data from the second user during operation of the second activity data object, acceptance of the set of input data from the second user at least partially establishing completion of the second work step and the work process.

A method of operating a computer system for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of the computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed by the plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a computer system having a data storage device;
• b) structuring a work process as a plurality of work steps for performance of the work steps by respective users of the plurality of users through interaction with the computer system;
• c) storing in the data storage device a plurality of associations between the plurality of activity data objects and respective work steps of the plurality of work steps of the work process, wherein the activity data objects of the plurality of activity data objects comprise windows and programs enabling performance by the computer system of the work steps of the plurality of work steps;
• d) storing in the data storage device a list of work steps for each user comprising work steps and corresponding activity data objects, each entry in the list of work steps being representative of the work steps requiring completion by a particular user;
• e) accepting data of a first data type from a first user of the plurality of users during operation of a first activity data object of the plurality of activity data objects to accomplish a first work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process;
• f) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the first activity data object, removing the first work step from the first user's list of work steps and inserting an entry corresponding to a second work step in a second user's list of work steps;
• g) in response to invocation by the second user of a second activity data object associated with the second work step, accepting data of a second data type from the second user during operation of the second activity data object to accomplish the second work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process;
• h) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the second activity data object, removing the second work step from the second user's list of work steps and inserting an entry corresponding to a third work step in a third user's list of work steps;
• i) in response to invocation by the third user of a third activity data object associated with the third work step, displaying to the third user a portion of the data of the first data type input by the first user, displaying to the third user a portion of the data of the second data type input by the second user, accepting data of a third data type from the third user during operation of the third activity data object to accomplish the third work step of the plurality of work steps of the work process;
• and,
• i) in response to detecting a condition occurring in the third activity data object, removing the third work step from the third user's list of work steps.

A data processing apparatus for controlling the flow of work and the flow of data associated with that work between a plurality of users of a computer system in order to accomplish a work process performed in concert by the plurality of users, said data processing apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for accepting a first signal corresponding to a plurality of entries, wherein each of said plurality of entries associates a first activity data object with a second activity data object which may be performed in response to the performance of said first activity data object by a first user, and wherein said second activity data object is further associated with a second user;
• (b) means for accepting a second signal from the first user, said second signal corresponding to a first set of data elements inputted by the first user in performing said first activity data object;
• (c) means for locating said second activity data object and the second user associated with said first activity data object in said plurality of entries;
• (d) means for transmitting a third signal corresponding to a second set of data elements comprised of a selected portion of said first set of data elements to the second user, wherein said second set of data elements is associated with the performance of said second activity data object;
• and
• (e) means for accepting a fourth signal from the second user, said fourth signal corresponding to a third set of data elements inputted by the second user in performing said second activity data object;
• (f) wherein activity data objects are associated with discrete work steps of the work process, performance of an activity data object being necessary to complete a respective work step.