Patent ID: 7865867
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: G05B,G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: storing, by a computer system, a plurality of workflow steps in a database, each workflow step including an exit criterion representing a condition that must be satisfied before the workflow step can be exited and processing can proceed to a subsequent workflow step; receiving, by the computer system, information specifying an attribute and a global modification to be made to all workflow steps associated with the attribute; storing, by the computer system, a library of reusable exit criteria, wherein the reusable exit criteria are applicable to a plurality of distinct workflows, and wherein the global modification indicates that the exit criteria for workflow steps associated with the attribute should be replaced by a reusable exit criterion in the library; identifying, by the computer system, a first workflow step and a second workflow step in the database that is associated with the attribute, wherein the first workflow step is part of a first workflow, wherein the second workflow step is part of a second workflow, and wherein the first workflow and the second workflow are distinct; determining, by the computer system, if the first workflow step and the second workflow step are associated with a global administration privilege indicating that they can be modified by the global modification, or with a local administration privilege indicating that they can only be modified by a local modification that solely affects their respective workflows; if the first workflow step and the second workflow step are associated with the global administration privilege, modifying, by the computer system, the exit criterion included in the first workflow step and the exit criterion included in the second workflow step based on the global modification; and if the first workflow step and the second workflow step are associated with the local administration privilege, preventing, by the computer system, any modification of the first workflow step or the second workflow step based on the global modification.