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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 21, 1999
Toshiaki Sakaguchi, Kawasaki, JP;
Shunsuke Akifuji, Wako, JP;
Hiroshi Tsuji, Itami, JP;
Atsushi Aoki, Yokohama, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a workflow management system, a mail instance can be easily registered as a workflow instance and workflow definitions, and a workflow instance can be replaced at any process stage by other workflow definitions including present workflow definitions. A mail flow pattern is extracted from a mail transmission audit data storage unit, and a flow definition comparison part compares the mail flow pattern with the flow definitions stored in a workflow definition storage unit. A definition registration part and an instance registration part register the mail flow pattern information as instance information of designated workflow definitions and as new workflow definitions. In accordance with predefined workflow definitions, intersectional workflow definitions and extended workflow definitions corresponding to a mail flow are selected and displayed. The mail flow pattern is registered in the workflow definition storage unit as flow definitions based upon the flow definitions selected from among the displayed workflow definitions.