The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1996
John M Ackroff, Highland Park, NJ (US);
Michael M Cruzcosa, Irving, TX (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A system for managing workflow of specific types of activities includes a database and at least one computer workstation connected to an integrated activities management system. The integrated activities management system strictly controls the entry, routing and processing of attribute information associated with each of the activities to manage the execution of the activity. The integrated activities management system utilizes an information organization system to maintain attribute information concerning each activity in the form of data records consisting of linked data objects in the database. Each type of data object has associated control rules which govern the entry, routing and processing of its attribute information. The data objects in each data record are arranged in a hierarchical manner and including data objects from at least a first hierarchical level and an activity level. The first hierarchical level data object contains information common to activities of all types. The activity level data object contains attribute information common to only that type of activity. The use of the hierarchial arrangement and first hierarchical level data objects facilitates changes to the managing and tracking routines in an existing system, as well as modification of the system to manage new activities of similar or dissimilar types.