User interface for processing requests for approval
View Patent ↗A facility for presenting approval requests is described. The facility simultaneously displays information describing both a first approval request and a second approval request, where the first approval request is generated using a first application program, and the second approval request is generated using a second application program that is distinct from the first application program.
1. A method in a computing system, the method comprising:
receiving a first approval request among a plurality of approval requests from a first application program;
in response to receiving a query from at least one approver for additional information regarding the first approval request, invoking the first application program to retrieve the additional information regarding the first approval request;
receiving a second approval request among said plurality of approval requests from a second application program, wherein
the second application program is distinct from the first application program, and
the second approval request is of a different type of approval request from the first approval request;
in response to receiving a query from said at least one approver for additional information regarding the second approval request, invoking the second application program to retrieve the additional information regarding the second approval request;
presenting the first approval request and the second approval request to said at least one approver within a single user interface for reviewing and acting on the plurality of approval requests; and
allowing said at least one approver to apply a common action to multiple approval requests from said plurality of approval requests via a single interaction with said single user interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determining the at least one approver has not reviewed the first approval request within a predetermined period of time, redirecting the first approval request to at least one alternate approver.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an approval history of a pending approval request within the single user interface.