Patent ID: 7657590
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An automated method for processing a workflow among a plurality of activity servers, the method comprising, at each activity server among the plurality of activity servers, the steps of: obtaining workflow transition information from a common database, the workflow transition information defining a sequence of a plurality of activities for a workflow; retrieving a workflow packet from a workflow queue maintained in the common database, the workflow packet corresponding to an activity defined in the sequence of activities for the workflow; performing the activity corresponding to the retrieved workflow packet; determining a next activity in the sequence of activities for the workflow from the workflow transition information; wherein the next activity is capable of being performed by the activity server, performing the next activity without requesting a next workflow packet from the workflow queue; and wherein the next activity is incapable of being performed by the activity server, forming the next workflow packet corresponding to the next activity and forwarding the next workflow packet to the workflow queue for retrieval by another activity server capable of performing the next activity.