Patent ID: 7069536

Claim:
A computer implemented method for executing a workflow, comprising: providing a workflow class implementing methods and objects to provide information on and control of workflows; providing a work list class implementing methods and objects to provide information on and manipulate work items assigned to the workflows; providing a work item class implementing methods and objects to provide information on and manipulate work items when executing one workflow; providing a container class implementing methods and objects to provide information and control containers provided for the workflows, wherein a container comprises an object that is used to transfer information among nodes by enabling users to read and write data to the container; calling one method in the work list class to determine nodes and associated work items in the workflow to process; calling one method in the work item class to lock a work item when providing a user access to workflow actions and documents associated with the work item; and calling one method in the work item class to unlock the work item after the user has completed all actions associated with the work item.