Task harmonization layer

1. A computer program product, tangibly embodied on computer-readable storage media, the computer program product being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

receive, by a task harmonization layer, first data associated with a task originating from one of a plurality of applications via a communications network, wherein the first data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements;

identify, by the task harmonization layer, an entity to which the task has been assigned;

determine, by the task harmonization layer, a delivery context for the entity;

convert, by the task harmonization layer, a format of the first data to be compatible with the determined delivery context to generate second data, wherein the second data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements, wherein the converting maps fields in the first data to fields in the second data using a search agent which dissects the fields in the first data and associates them with field categories;

transmit, by the task harmonization layer, the second data to a first node associated with the entity via the communications network, wherein a user interface associated with the first node is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the second data, wherein a user interface currently being utilized is determined by polling the first node and by receiving periodic beacon signals from the first node and from the user interface;

monitor, by the task harmonization layer, for responses to the transmission of the second data, the monitoring comprising accessing fields in data passing through the task harmonization layer exchanged between the applications and the user interface, the monitoring identifying a current status of the task by determining whether the responses meet pre-defined criteria;

determine, by the task harmonization layer, an alternative delivery context for the entity if a response to the transmission of the second data is not received within a predetermined time interval and does not meet pre-determined criteria;

convert, by the task harmonization layer, the format of the first data to be compatible with the determined alternative delivery context to generate third data; and

transmit, by the task harmonization layer, the third data to the alternative entity via the communications network, wherein the alternative entity is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the third data.

2. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: route the first data to the first node according to the determined delivery context if the first data is compatible with the determined delivery context.

3. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: receive fourth data via the communications network generated by the entity in response to the transmission of the second data indicating a processing state of the task.

4. A computer program product as in claim 3 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

convert a format of the fourth data to be compatible with the originating one of the plurality of applications to generate fifth data; and

transmit the fifth data to a second node associated with the originating one of the plurality of applications via the communications network.

5. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: retransmit the second data to the first node via the communications network if a response to the second data is not received within a predetermined time interval.

6. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: retransmit the second data to the first node via the communications network if a response to the second data meeting pre-determined criteria is not received within a predetermined time interval.

7. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: log receipt of data associated with the task in a data repository.

8. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein determining a delivery context for the entity comprises: associating a delivery platform with the user interface.

9. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a data processing apparatus to: transmit the second data to a third node associated with the entity via the communications network simultaneously with the transmitting the second data to the first node, wherein a user interface associated with the third node is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the second data.

10. A computer program product as in claim 1 , wherein determining the delivery context for the entity comprises: determining a notification modality associated with the user.

11. A computer program product, tangibly embodied on computer-readable storage media, the computer program product being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

receive, by a first node associated with an entity, second data from a task harmonization layer, the second data being associated with first data for a task generated by one of a plurality of applications; and

initiate, by a user interface associated with the entity, one or more transactions associated with the task using the second data;

wherein the task harmonization layer:

receives the first data, wherein the first data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements;

identifies the entity as being the entity to which the task has been assigned;

determines a delivery context for the entity;

converts a format of the first data to be compatible with the determined delivery context to generate the second data, wherein the second data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements, wherein the converting maps fields in the first data to fields in the second data using a search agent which dissects the fields in the first data and associates them with field categories;

transmits the second data to the first node associated with the entity via the communications network, wherein a user interface associated with the first node is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the second data, wherein a user interface currently being utilized is determined by polling the first node and by receiving periodic beacon signals from the first node and from the user interface:

monitors for responses to the transmission of the second data, the monitoring comprising accessing fields in data passing through the task harmonization layer exchanged between the applications and the user interface, the monitoring identifying a current status of the task by determining whether the responses meet pre-defined criteria;

determines an alternative delivery context for the entity if a response to the transmission of the second data is not received within a predetermined time interval and does not meet pre-determined criteria;

converts the format of the first data to be compatible with the determined alternative delivery context to generate third data; and

transmits the third data to the alternative entity via the communications network, wherein the alternative entity is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the third data.

12. A method for implementation by a task harmonization layer being executed on one or more data processors, the method comprising:

receiving, by the task harmonization layer, first data associated with a task originating from one of a plurality of applications via a communications network, wherein the first data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements;

identifying, by the task harmonization layer, an entity to which the task has been assigned;

determining, by the task harmonization layer, a delivery context for the entity;

converting, by the task harmonization layer, a format of the first data to be compatible with the determined delivery context to generate second data, wherein the second data comprises a plurality of fields characterizing requirements for the task and status information regarding the requirements, wherein the converting maps fields in the first data to fields in the second data using a search agent which dissects the fields in the first data and associates them with field categories;

transmitting, by the task harmonization layer, the second data to a first node associated with the entity via the communications network, wherein a user interface associated with the first node is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the second data, wherein a user interface currently being utilized is determined by polling the first node and by receiving periodic beacon signals from the first node and from the user interface;

monitoring, by the task harmonization layer, for responses to the transmission of the second data, the monitoring comprising accessing fields in data passing through the harmonization layer exchanged between the applications and the user interface, the monitoring identifying a current status of the task by determining whether the responses meet pre-defined criteria;

determining, by the task harmonization layer, an alternative delivery context for the entity if a response to the transmission of the second data is not received within a predetermined time interval and does not meet pre-determined criteria;

converting, by the task harmonization layer, the format of the first data to be compatible with the determined alternative delivery context to generate third data; and

transmitting, by the task harmonization layer, the third data to the alternative entity via the communications network, wherein the alternative entity is operable to initiate one or more transactions associated with the task using the third data.