Patent ID: 8880418
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A workflow system comprising: computer terminals executing a workflow; and a workflow server comprising at least one processor and a memory, the workflow server connected with said computer terminals in a network to manage the workflow, wherein said workflow server includes a workflow definition managing program comprising program code executing in the memory of the server enabled to manage the workflow, a workflow process executing program comprising program code executing in the memory of the server enabled to execute the workflow process including performing consolidation processing, a workflow instance managing program comprising program code executing in the memory of the server enabled to hold a status of instances, a client request processing program comprising program code executing in the memory of the server enabled to accept requests from a participant using one of the computer terminals, and a user management program comprising program code executing in the memory of the server enabled to define the participant capable of participating in the workflow system, to define information related to the participant, and also to register information related to the participant, the workflow server via the program code of each of the workflow definition managing program, the workflow process executing program, the workflow instance managing program, the client request processing program, and the user management program determines, for the participant, that the participant is required to complete a first node in the workflow and then subsequently complete a second node in the workflow, the first node and the second node being in consecutive order in a route in the workflow, consolidates information, in a new form for processing multiple consecutive nodes by the participant operating one of said operating computer terminals by determining first access permissions for each field in a first form at the first node, by determining second access permissions for each field in a second form at the second node, creating the new form consolidating each field in the first form and each field in the second form based upon determining a highest-level access permission between each field of the first form and each field of the second form based upon the first access permission and the second access permission, and send the new form with the consolidated information to the operating computer terminal for use by the participant in making the participant's determination.