Patent ID: 6144955
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A workflow management system, comprising:means for storing, in a predefined computer, a workflow definition, said workflow definition being information indicating a flow of electronic documents including routes for integrating electronic documents, sent from a plurality of senders, at a circulation destination, said flow of electronic documents being information identifying electronic documents to be circulated and routes connecting senders, circulation originators and circulation destinations on which said electronic documents are to be circulated, said circulation originators and said circulation destinations each being a process included in said workflow definition; andmeans for distributing electronic documents to a next circulation destination by referring to said workflow definition stored in said predefined computer in response to a request from a sender or a circulation originator for sending said electronic documents and, when a circulation originator has been assigned to integrate electronic documents according to said workflow definition, for waiting for arrival of other late electronic documents and distributing all of said electronic documents from the assigned circulation originator to said next circulation destination at a point in time when all of said electronic documents to be integrated together have arrived.