Dynamically configurable workflow in a mobile environment

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a mobile application that enables a completely and dynamically configurable workflow. Once installed on a mobile computer, the application is completely configurable without re-compiling the application. A user may configure the “look & feel,” as well as the workflow of a particular instance of the application, via configuration templates. Once the application is downloaded and installed in an executable form, the user may configure and/or reconfigure the workflow and the “look and feel” of the application without a re-compiling operation and/or generating new machine-code to enable the configuration. To configure and/or reconfigure the application, the user need only to edit and/or receive additional configuration templates. The execution of the configured workflow is not dependent upon the mobile computer being in communication with another network computer. The mobile application may be a native application. Accordingly, the completely customizable mobile application may be executed in an “offline” mode.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for configuring a workflow at a mobile computer that includes a processor, comprising:
 providing an application to the mobile computer, wherein the application includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules; and   providing one or more configuration templates to the mobile computer, wherein the one or more configuration templates include a workflow definition that indicates at least a subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein   when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the workflow is provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions comprising:
 parsing, at the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates; 
 determining, at the mobile computer, the subset of the plurality of modules included in the workflow definition based on parsing the one or more configuration templates; and 
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a second configuration template to the mobile computer, wherein the second configuration template includes a second workflow definition that is separate from the workflow definitions and indicates at least a second subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein   when the portion of the machine-code instructions are subsequently executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the second workflow is provided to the user of the mobile computer by performing a second set actions that are separate from the first set of actions and comprising:
 parsing, at the mobile computer, the second configuration template; 
 determining, at the mobile computer, the second subset of the plurality of modules included in the second workflow definition based on parsing the second configuration template; and 
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of modules included in the second subset of the plurality of executable modules. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein
 executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein
 executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein executing each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules enables documenting a condition of tangible property. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode. 
     
     
         8 . A system for configuring a workflow at a mobile computer that includes a processor, comprising:
 a network; and   a network computer that performs a third set of actions comprising:
 providing an application over the network to the mobile computer, wherein the application includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules; and 
 providing one or more configuration templates over the network to the mobile computer, wherein the one or more configuration templates include a workflow definition that indicates at least a subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein 
 when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the workflow is provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions comprising:
 parsing, at the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates; 
 determining, at the mobile computer, the subset of the plurality of modules included in the workflow definition based on parsing the one or more configuration templates; and 
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , the third set of actions further comprising:
 providing a second configuration template to the mobile computer, wherein the second configuration template includes a second workflow definition that is separate from the workflow definitions and indicates at least a second subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein   when the portion of the machine-code instructions are subsequently executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the second workflow is provided to the user of the mobile computer by performing a second set actions that are separate from the first set of actions and comprising:
 parsing, at the mobile computer, the second configuration template; 
 determining, at the mobile computer, the second subset of the plurality of modules included in the second workflow definition based on parsing the second configuration template; and 
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of modules included in the second subset of the plurality of executable modules. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein
 executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein
 executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein executing each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules enables documenting a condition of tangible property. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode. 
     
     
         15 . A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes machine-code instructions and a plurality of executable modules for configuring a workflow at a mobile computer that includes a processor, when at least a portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor, the workflow is provided to a user of the mobile computer by performing a first set of actions comprising:
 receiving, at the mobile computer, one or more configuration templates, wherein the one or more configuration templates include a workflow definition that indicates at least a subset of the plurality of modules;   parsing, at the mobile computer, the one or more configuration templates;   determining, at the mobile computer, the subset of the plurality of modules included in the workflow definition based on parsing the one or more configuration templates; and   executing, at the mobile computer, each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules.   
     
     
         16 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the workflow definition further indicates an ordered sequence of the subset of the plurality of the modules and the first set of actions further comprises:
 executing, at the mobile computer, each of the subset of the plurality of executable modules in the ordered sequence.   
     
     
         17 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include an application canvas definition that indicates at least one of a font, background color, or text color, and wherein
 executing at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules includes providing a user interface to the user based on the application canvas definition.   
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more configuration templates further include non-machine-code instructions that are specific to at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules, and wherein
 executing the at least one of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of executable modules includes performing additional actions that are based on the non-machine-code instructions that are specific to the at least one of the modules.   
     
     
         19 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein executing each of the modules included in the subset of the plurality of modules enables documenting a condition of tangible property. 
     
     
         20 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein when the portion of the machine-code instructions are executed by the processor included in the mobile computer, the mobile computer is configured in an off-line mode.