Patent ID: 7908311

Claim:
A computer implemented distributed workflow system including: a. a central server having provided thereon a management module and a datastore configured to store a plurality of tasks collectively defining a workflow, individual ones of the plurality of tasks being allocatable for execution by one or more remote users, each of the remote users having an associated handheld device, the management module being configured to define the workflow in which completion of a first identifiable, allocatable task is required prior to the instigation of a second identifiable, allocatable task, the management module being further configured to manage creation and distribution of one or more of the identifiable allocated tasks of the workflow to the associated handheld device of the respective users, b. a locally stored application executable on the handheld device of the remote user and configured to enable execution by the remote user of the identifiable allocated task in response to a task initiation communication from the central server, wherein the central server and the plurality of remote handheld devices are operative for communicating over a communications network; and c. a tracking module having components provided on each of the central server and the local handheld device, the tracking module component on the local handheld device being configured to track user interaction with the handheld device regarding completion of the identifiable allocated task by the remote user or completion of one or more steps of the identifiable allocated task by the remote user and to periodically provide that information to the corresponding tracking module component on the central server, wherein the information provided by the tracking component on the handheld device to the tracking component on the central server effects a triggering for the transmission of a further task over the wireless communication network to one or more of the handheld devices associated with the respective users.