Patent ID: 6816902
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for improving workflow in workflow management systems controlling business processes in a distributed application across a networked computer system comprising at least one server holding application data for use by a plurality of user assigned workstations, in which workflow management system each user has to perform activities as a part of the workflow,said method comprising the steps of analyzing (110) workflow related information at the server for detecting islands (17) in the workflow, said islands (17) being a part of the workflow formed by an aggregation of activities (43,44,45) (i) associated with the same logical location attribute (18), or a pair of specified logical and physical location attributes (18,20) and (ii) the same user-id attribute (22), recognizing (120) islands automatically by using a list of criteria being at least partly derivable from a workflow graph, wherein each of the islands has sufficient information to allow the workstations to perform all of the activities of the island, while the workstations are disconnected from the server, encapsulating (130) said recognized islands including the step of creating control ports and data ports, for each island, for control connectors and data connectors to and from the island, said ports serving as information buffers between the island and the rest of the workflow to facilitate performing the activities of the island by a workstation that is disconnected from the server, and performing (140) activities in the encapsulated islands (43,44,45) in an encapsulated form.