Patent ID: 7907299

Claim:
A method for processing an electronic workflow for implementation by at least one machine, the method comprising: processing by a workflow server having a tangible processor executing software instructions an electronic workflow having at least one machine readable job request requesting respective machines of the at least one machine to perform at least one job, wherein the job request includes at least one instruction for producing a printout of data and performance of the at least one job includes producing a printout of the data in accordance with the instructions; recognizing by the workflow server when a machine of the at least one machine requested to perform a job of the at least one job requires human intervention to perform the requested job; reformatting by the workflow server the machine readable job request into a human readable format for communicating the determined human intervention needed, including converting the machine readable job request including the at least one instruction into a printer ready formatted job request including human readable characters; providing by the workflow server the printer ready reformatted job request to a printing device for printing it; receiving by the workflow server a digital version of the printed and reformatted job request after the printed and reformatted job request was modified by a user independently of the at least one machine; recognizing by the workflow server the modification to the printed and reformatted job request; and integrating by the workflow server the modification to the printed and reformatted job request into the electronic workflow.