User connectivity process management system

Abstract

A system is disclosed according to the present invention that manages the process of providing a client access to a secured service. In the exemplary embodiment, the secured service is a computer system that allows the client to trade financial instruments. Management of this process includes managing execution of tasks that can be automatically executed and delegating tasks that require manual execution; communicating with entities outside of the process management system; and handling “demands,” or unexpected problems that arise in the middle of the client connectivity process.

1 . A system for providing access to a secured service, the system comprising:
 a computer-readable memory storing a process flow comprising a plurality of tasks associated with providing access to the secured service, the plurality of tasks comprising automatic tasks and at least one manual task;   a manual task computer associated with an individual responsible for executing the manual task;   a process management system communicatively connected to the computer-readable memory and the manual task computer, the process management system advancing through the plurality of tasks in the process flow by performing actions comprising:
 (i) instructing automatic execution of a first automatic task when due for execution, 
 (ii) transmitting, after the execution of the first automatic task, a message to the manual task computer indicating that the manual task is due for execution, and 
 (iii) receiving, prior to advancing to a second automatic task, an indication from the manual task computer that the manual task is complete; and 
   a demand creation computer that transmits a demand to the process management system while the process management system is advancing through the plurality of tasks in the process flow, the demand indicating a problem encountered while creating a connection with the secured service that must be rectified to provide access to the secured service, wherein the process management system performs actions further comprising:
 (i) receiving the demand from the demand creation computer, and 
 (ii) inserting a new task into the process flow, the new task associated with rectifying the problem. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the secured service is provided by a computer system that allows trading of financial instruments. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the new task is a new manual task, and the system further comprises:
 a second manual task computer associated with an individual responsible for executing the new manual task, the second manual task computer communicatively connected to the process management system, wherein the process management system is programmed to perform actions further comprising:
 transmitting, when the new manual task is due for execution, a message to the second manual task computer indicating that the new manual task is due for execution; and 
 receiving, prior to advancing the process flow, an indication from the second manual task computer that the new manual task is complete. 
   
   
   
       4 . A computer-implemented method for providing access to a secured service, comprising:
 retrieving, from a computer-readable memory, a process flow comprising a plurality of tasks associated with providing access to the secured service, the plurality of tasks comprising automatic tasks and at least one manual task;   advancing, by a computer, through the plurality of tasks in the process flow by performing actions comprising:
 instructing automatic execution of a first automatic task when due for execution, 
 transmitting, after the execution of the first automatic task, a message to a manual task computer associated with an individual responsible for executing the manual task indicating that the manual task is due for execution, 
 receiving prior to advancing to a second automatic task, an indication from the manual task computer that the manual task is complete, 
 receiving a demand indicating a problem encountered while creating a connection with the secured service that must be rectified to provide access to the secured service, and 
 inserting into the process flow, a new task associated with rectifying the problem. 
   
   
   
       5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4  wherein the secured service is provided by a computer system that allows trading of financial instruments. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein the new task is a new manual task, further comprising:
 transmitting, when the new manual task is due for execution, a message to a second manual task computer indicating that the new manual task is due for execution; and   receiving, prior to advancing the process flow, an indication from the second manual task computer that the new manual task is complete.   
   
   
       7 . A method for providing a client access to a secured service, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first message from a computer system to instruct the secured service to configure a firewall associated with the secured service, wherein the firewall allows a connection to be established between the secured service and the client;   receiving, with the computer system, notification that the firewall has been configured;   requesting a connection be established between the secured service and the client by transmitting a second message from the computer system to the client, wherein the second message contains client connection information;   receiving, with the computer system, an indication that the connection has been established between the secured service and the client;   requesting that the connection be tested by transmitting a third message to the client from the computer system;   receiving, with the computer system, an indication that the connection has been manually tested by the client; and   transmitting a notification indicating that client access to the secured service has been established.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the secured service is provided by a computer system that allows the client to trade financial instruments. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 requesting protocol information by transmitting a fourth message from the computer system; and   receiving, with the computer system, the protocol information.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the protocol information pertains to the FIX protocol.