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:
May. 01, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2008
Bradley J. Rhodes, Alameda, CA (US);
Sergey Chemishkian, Cupertino, CA (US);
Edward Schwartz, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Max E. Mcfarland, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Daja Phillips, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Andrea Mariotti, San Carlos, CA (US);
Haixia Yu, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Michael G. E. Griffin, Redwood City, CA (US);
Stephen R. Savitzky, San Jose, CA (US);
Gregory J. Wolff, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Patty Case, Saratoga, CA (US);
Bradley J. Rhodes, Alameda, CA (US);
Sergey Chemishkian, Cupertino, CA (US);
Edward Schwartz, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Max E. McFarland, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Daja Phillips, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Andrea Mariotti, San Carlos, CA (US);
Haixia Yu, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Michael G. E. Griffin, Redwood City, CA (US);
Stephen R. Savitzky, San Jose, CA (US);
Gregory J. Wolff, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Patty Case, Saratoga, CA (US);
Ricoh Co. Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A workflow manager handles the communication between a workflow-enabled provider and a workflow-enabled client. The workflow manager maintains a directory of clients, translates a transaction from a provider into multiple transactions suitable for the client, and handles security. In one embodiment, the workflow manager connects with the workflow-enabled client by registration and with the workflow-enabled provider by advertising and activation. Subsequent communications between the workflow manager and the workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client are with a request/response protocol. The workflow manager also comprises data storage for storing data for transmission to the workflow-enabled client or the workflow-enabled provider, and workflow storage for storing information related to registered clients. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for a method for registering a client and a method for activating a provider.