Patent ID: 6721782
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method of assigning documents created by disconnected users to reviewers in a workflow system, which comprises the steps of:receiving into said workflow system at a disconnected field workstation, an initial document created by a disconnected user; receiving at said disconnected field workstation, an assignment by said disconnected user of said initial document to a specified role; storing at said disconnected field workstation, in a deferred submitted status, said initial document and said assignment of said initial document; replicating said initial document and said assignment of said initial document to a database of said workflow system when said field workstation is connected to a network of said workflow system; maintaining a plurality of role documents in said workflow system, one of said role documents including a list of reviewers assigned to said specified role and a signon/signoff status of each assigned reviewer; updating said signon/signoff status whenever a reviewer signs on to or off of said workflow system; assigning, according to an assignment algorithm, said document to an assigned reviewer listed on said one of said role documents whose signon/signoff status is signed on; replicating said initial document to a reviewer workstation of said assigned reviewer while said reviewer workstation is connected to said network of said workflow system; allowing said reviewer to become disconnected by signing off of said network of said workflow system, in order to control how many documents are assigned to said reviewer at said reviewer workstation; when said disconnected reviewer modifies said initial document, storing said modified document locally in a deferred submitted status; replicating said modified document to said database of said workflow system when said disconnected reviewer connects to said network of said workflow system.