Systems and Methods for Performing Workflow

Abstract

The systems and methods of the invention provide a workflow system for processing a financial application in an automated manner. The workflow system may include an interface portion, the interface portion inputting application information into the workflow system for processing by the workflow system and a workflow looping portion. The workflow looping portion may include performing underwriting processing to effect underwriting of the application based on the application information, performing issue processing to effect issue of the application, and performing settlement processing to effect settlement of the application. A rules logic portion may be provided to control the implementation of rules applied to the processing of the application as the application passes through the automated processing. The performing underwriting processing, performing issue processing and performing settlement processing are each performed in an automated manner to constitute automated processing of the application, such that the automated processing includes the performing underwriting processing, performing issue processing and performing settlement processing.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A workflow system for processing an insurance application in an automated manner, the workflow system in the form of a non-transitory tangibly embodied processing machine, the workflow system comprising:
 an interface portion tangibly disposed in the processing machine, the interface portion inputting application information into the workflow system for processing by the workflow system;   a workflow looping portion tangibly disposed in the processing machine, the workflow looping portion performing processing, the processing including, in sequence:
 performing underwriting processing to effect underwriting of the insurance application based on the application information, the performing underwriting processing including:
 monitoring the underwriting processing to determine whether the underwriting processing is completed, and 
 forwarding the insurance application to perform issue processing subsequent to the determining that the underwriting processing is completed; 
 
 performing issue processing to effect issue of the insurance application, the performing issue processing including:
 monitoring the issue processing to determine whether the issue processing is completed; and 
 forwarding the insurance application to perform settlement processing subsequent to the determining that the issue processing is completed; and 
 
 performing settlement processing to effect settlement of the insurance application, the performing settlement processing including:
 monitoring the settlement processing to determine whether the issue processing is completed; and 
 
   a rules logic portion tangibly disposed in the processing machine, the rules logic portion controlling the implementation of rules applied to the processing of the insurance application as the insurance application passes through the automated processing; and   the performing underwriting processing, performing issue processing and performing settlement processing are each performed in an automated manner to constitute automated processing of the insurance application, such that the automated processing includes the performing underwriting processing, performing issue processing and performing settlement processing.   
     
     
         40 . The workflow system of  claim 39 , further including a wait state portion, the wait state portion imposing wait states on the automated processing such that the automated processing is suspended until the wait state imposed by the wait state portion is ended. 
     
     
         41 . The workflow system of  claim 40 , wherein the wait state portion imposes the wait state because the wait state portion identifies that there is insufficient information available to underwrite the insurance application, the wait state being imposed in the underwriting processing. 
     
     
         42 . The workflow system of  claim 41 , wherein the wait state portion ends wait state once information is received to cure the insufficient information, and subsequently, the workflow looping portion re-starts the underwriting processing. 
     
     
         43 . The workflow system of  claim 42 , wherein the received information is a document. 
     
     
         44 . The workflow system of  claim 40 , wherein the wait state portion imposes the wait state because the wait state portion identifies that there is a required task to be performed by a person. 
     
     
         45 . The workflow system of  claim 40 , wherein the wait state portion imposes the wait state because the wait state portion identifies that required is the resolution of at least one selected from the group consisting of a case management issue, a legal issue and an administrative issue. 
     
     
         46 . The workflow system of  claim 39 , wherein the workflow system further includes a task logic portion, the task logic portion identifying, based on particulars of an insurance application, a need for completion of a task to effect the automated processing. 
     
     
         47 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task is associated with a document used in the automated processing. 
     
     
         48 . The workflow system of  claim 47 , wherein the task is a discrepancy in the document requiring human intervention. 
     
     
         49 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion identifies the task as an item requiring human review. 
     
     
         50 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion identifies the task based on:
 identifying a change to information used in the automated processing by a first person; and   identifying that a second person is required to review the change under the automated processing, the task being a verify task.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 46 , further including:
 a wait state portion, the wait state portion imposing a wait state on the automated processing such that the automated processing is suspended until the wait state imposed by the wait state portion is ended; and   the wait state portion imposes the wait state because there is a task to be performed; and   wherein the task logic portion effects form validation processing, the form validation processing:   identifying a change in a changed document in the automated processing;   wiping clean all tasks associated with the changed document;   scrubbing information in the changed document; and   checking the changed document for deficiencies.   
     
     
         52 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion making an association to effect completion of the task; and
 the making an association to effect completion of the task includes the task logic portion associating the identified task to a person.   
     
     
         53 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion making an association to effect completion of the task; and
 the making an association to effect completion of the task includes the task logic portion associating the identified tasks to a group.   
     
     
         54 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion making an association to effect completion of the task; and
 the making an association to effect completion of the task includes the task logic portion disposing the task for access by at least one of a person and a group.   
     
     
         55 . The workflow system of  claim 46 , wherein the task logic portion generates indicia that is associated with an insurance application, and provides for a user to access the workflow system, and identify their need to perform the task, based on the indicia. 
     
     
         56 . The workflow system of  claim 55 , wherein the task logic portion places information in a queue so as to identify the task to a person, who is identified to complete the task. 
     
     
         57 . The workflow system of  claim 39 , further including a case management portion, the case management portion allowing a user to enter instructions to terminate processing of an insurance application in the workflow system; and
 the case management portion forwarding the insurance application to an external system, outside the workflow system, based on the instructions; and   the insurance application being forwarded to the external system for further processing in the external system.