Workflow method and system therefor

Abstract

A workflow system comprising a plurality of workflow subsystems connected to a LAN (Local Area Network), these workflow subsystems being composed of servers and clients, and provides a workflow system which permits an integrated management of the definitions of the business processes placed under decentralized management, through the server managing shipping documents, BPs (Business Processes) describing shipping routes of shipping documents in the subsystem, and business process connection data to connect the BPs.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A workflow method in a system to deliver electronic documents to a plurality of terminals inside the server connected with a plurality of said terminals, comprising the steps of: 
 (1) generating at least one business process definition describing the entrance and exit of a shipping route of said electronic documents, and a shipping route for the terminals from said entrance to said exit; and    (2) changing the shipping route, based on business process connection data showing the connection relationship from the exit of at least one business process definition generated above to the entrance of one of the local and remote business process definitions.    
     
     
         2 . A workflow method according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of said generated business process definitions, said method further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) setting inside the shipping route of the first business process definition a return port to which the data returns after being delivered according to the remote business process definition;    (2) moving along the shipping route, from a specified call-out port inside the shipping route based on said first business process definition, and to the shipping route based on the second business process definition;    (3) moving along the shipping route, from the shipping route based on said second business process definition to the return port of said first business process definition.    
     
     
         3 . A workflow method according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of said generated business process definitions, said method further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) maintaining the security information for connection between delivery based on at least one business process definition (first business process definition) and that based on another business process definition receiving it; and    (2) determining, based on said connection security information, whether the delivery of electronic documents according to another business process definition is to be accepted or not, with respect to said first business process definition.    
     
     
         4 . A workflow method according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of said generated business process definitions, said method further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) generating the first business process definition defining the entire business process; and    (2) generating at least one second business process definition to accept the delivery of electronic documents based on said first business process definition based on said first business process definition.    
     
     
         5 . A workflow method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) creating a template of the connectable business process definition comprising said entrance and terminals, based on said generated business process definition; and    (2) generating a business process definition for delivery of a new electronic document, based on the template of business process definition.    
     
     
         6 . A workflow method in a system delivering electronic documents to a plurality of subsystems connected with a plurality of terminals, a transmission line connected with said subsystem and a plurality of terminals inside a plurality of said subsystems comprising in each of at least two of first and second subsystems the steps of: 
 (1) generating at least one business process definition describing the entrance and exit of the shipping route of said electronic documents; and the shipping route for the terminals between said entrance and said exit; and    (2) storing inside said first subsystem the business process connection data to link among the business process definitions inside said first and second subsystems; and    (3) delivering the electronic documents from said first subsystem to the terminals inside said second subsystem, based on said business process connection data.    
     
     
         7 . A workflow method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) setting inside the shipping route based on the business process definition inside said first subsystem a return port to which the data returns after being delivered to the remote business process definition;    (2) shifting the delivery of the electronic document inside said first subsystem from the specified terminal to the shipping route inside said second subsystem; and    (3) shifting the delivery to the return port terminal inside said first subsystem after delivery inside said second subsystem.    
     
     
         8 . A workflow method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) storing inside said first subsystem the connection security information on the delivery of said second subsystem received by said first subsystem; and    (2) determining, based on said connection security information, whether or not said first subsystem should accept the delivery of electronic documents from said second subsystem.    
     
     
         9 . A workflow method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) generating in said first subsystem the first business process definition defining the entire business process; and    (2) generating at least in said second subsystem, based on said first business process definition, a plurality of second business process definitions connected to each other, said second business process definitions being delivered from said first business process definition.    
     
     
         10 . A workflow method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (1) creating in said first subsystem, based on said generated at least one business process definition, a template of the connectable business process definition comprising said entrance and exit terminals; and    (2) generating in said second subsystem a new business process definition for delivery of electronic documents based on said template.    
     
     
         11 . A workflow system for delivery of electronic documents to a plurality of said terminals inside the subsystem connected with a plurality of terminals comprising: 
 (1) means of generating at least one business process definition describing the terminal serving as an entrance of said electronic document shipping route, the terminal serving as an exit thereof, and the shipping route for the terminals from said entrance and exit; and    (2) a means for delivering said electronic document from said entrance terminal to said exit terminal based on said generated business process definition.    
     
     
         12 . A workflow system for delivery of electronic documents to a plurality of terminals comprising; 
 (1) a plurality of subsystems connected with a plurality of terminals; and    (2) a transmission line connected with said subsystem;    further comprising in each of at least two of first and second subsystems:    (1) means for generating at least one business process definition describing the terminal serving as an entrance of said electronic document shipping route, the terminal serving as an exit thereof, and the shipping route for the terminals from said entrance terminal and exit terminal; and    (2) means for storing inside said first subsystem the business process connection data to link among the business process definitions inside said first and second subsystems; and    (3) a means for delivering the electronic document from said first subsystem to the terminals inside said second subsystem based on said business process connection data.