Distributing batches of items in a workflow

1. A computer implemented method for distributing items for processing, the method comprising:

receiving a request transmitted across a network for a batch of items to be processed, wherein the request is received at a server, the request comprising parameters for performing at least one of defining items requested and specifying a number of items requested;

determining using a processor associated with the server whether a number of available items exceeds a first predetermined threshold, where the first predetermined threshold specifies a non-zero number of items;

sending a batch of the available items across the network in response to the request if the number of available items exceeds the first predetermined threshold, the batch of available items sent includes a number of items that exceeds the first predetermined threshold and the items sent in the batch satisfy the parameters defining the items requested; and

if the number of available items does not exceed the first predetermined threshold:

determining using the processor if a time period associated with the available items exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold defining a predetermined time period; and

sending a batch of the available items across the network if the time period exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the items to be processed comprise items to be manually processed by a user through a user interface as part of a workflow.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending a batch of the available items if the time period exceeds the second predetermined threshold comprises sending a batch of items comprising a number of items that does not exceed the first predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the time period associated with the available items comprises a time that an oldest of the available items has been available for processing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the time period associated with the available items comprises an average time that a set of the available items has been available for processing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the items to be processed comprise electronic documents.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is sent from a client device to a server.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined threshold is less than the number of items requested.

9. A system for processing batches of items, the system comprising:

a processor adapted to receive a request for a batch of items to be processed, the request including parameters for performing at least one of defining items requested and specifying a number of items requested; and

a processor adapted to:

determine whether a number of available items that satisfy the parameters defining the items requested exceeds a first predetermined threshold, where the first predetermined threshold specifies a non-zero number of items;

if the number of available items that satisfy the parameters exceeds the first predetermined threshold, send a batch of the available items including a number of items satisfying the parameters that exceeds the first predetermined threshold; and

if the number of available items does not exceed the first predetermined threshold, send a batch of the available items in response to the request and to a determination that a time period associated with the available items exceeds a second predetermined threshold, where the second predetermined threshold defines a predetermined time period.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the request for a batch of items to be processed comprises a request for items to be at least partially manually processed in a stage of a workflow; and

the available items comprise items in a queue for the stage of the workflow.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for receiving the sent batch of items after completion of the stage of the workflow.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the items comprise electronic documents.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the items comprise images of physical documents.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein time period associated with the available items comprises a period that an oldest available item has been in the queue.

15. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for a batch of items to be processed, the request comprising parameters for performing at least one of defining items requested and specifying a number of items requested;

determining whether a number of available items exceeds a first predetermined threshold, where the first predetermined threshold specifies a non-zero number of items;

sending a batch of the available items in response to the request if the number of available items exceeds the first predetermined threshold, where the batch of available items sent includes a number of items that exceeds the first predetermined threshold and the items sent satisfy the parameters defining the items requested; and

if the number of available items does not exceed the first predetermined threshold:

determining if a time period associated with the available items exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold defining a predetermined time period; and

sending a batch of the available items if the time period exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

16. The article of claim 15 wherein the items to be processed comprise items to be manually processed by a user through a user interface as part of a workflow.

17. The article of claim 15 wherein the request is received from a client device.