Method and apparatus for creating a custom workflow

1. A method for creating a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to open an application-screen at an application;

in response to the request to open the application-screen, opening the application-screen;

receiving a request to add the application-screen to a custom workflow;

in response to the request to add the application-screen, adding the application-screen to the custom workflow; and

adding the custom workflow to a toolbar.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to save the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to save the custom workflow, saving the custom workflow on a non-volatile storage medium.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein saving the custom workflow can involve:

associating the custom workflow with an icon;

adding the custom workflow to a menu; and

associating the custom workflow with a user-profile.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to execute the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to execute the custom workflow, executing the custom workflow by opening a subset of application-screens associated with the custom workflow, wherein the subset of application-screens can include the entire set of application-screens associated with the custom workflow.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving a request from the client to execute the custom workflow.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving from the client an indicator representing a user-profile associated with a user, wherein receiving the indicator enables the application to execute a custom workflow associated with the user-profile.

7. A method for producing a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to determine application-usage statistics for an application;

in response to the request, monitoring the client's usage of the application to obtain the application-usage statistics;

sending the application-usage statistics to the client to aid the client in producing a custom workflow, wherein the client uses a combination of the application-usage statistics and a user-specified formula to create the custom workflow; and

receiving from the client the custom workflow.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the request to determine application-usage statistics can include a list of the desired application-usage statistics.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the request to determine application-usage statistics can include a time-period rule which specifies a time-period for monitoring the client's usage of the application.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application-usage statistics includes at least one of:

an application-screen set which specifies a set of application-screens accessed by the client;

a sequence-record which specifies the order that the client accessed the set of application-screens;

an access-time record which specifies when the client accessed the set of application-screens;

a usage-time record which specifies how long the client accessed each application-screen in the set of application-screens; and

a usage-record which specifies a set of operations executed while each application-screen in the set of application-screens was active.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein sending the application-usage statistics to the client involves sending a suggested custom workflow to the client.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving the custom workflow can involve:

receiving an icon associated with the custom workflow; and

receiving a user-profile associated with the custom workflow.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a request to execute the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to execute the custom workflow, executing the custom workflow by opening a subset of application-screens associated with the custom workflow, wherein the subset of application-screens can include the entire set of application-screens associated with the custom workflow.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving a request from the client to execute the custom workflow.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving from the client an indicator representing a user-profile associated with a user, wherein receiving the indicator enables the application to execute a custom workflow associated with the user-profile.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for creating a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to open an application-screen at an application;

in response to the request to open the application-screen, opening the application-screen;

receiving a request to add the application-screen to a custom workflow;

in response to the request to add the application-screen, adding the application-screen to the custom workflow; and

adding the custom workflow to a toolbar.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to save the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to save the custom workflow, saving the custom workflow on a non-volatile storage medium.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein saving the custom workflow can involve:

associating the custom workflow with an icon;

adding the custom workflow to a menu; and

associating the custom workflow with a user-profile.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to execute the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to execute the custom workflow, executing the custom workflow by opening a subset of application-screens associated with the custom workflow, wherein the subset of application-screens can include the entire set of application-screens associated with the custom workflow.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving a request from the client to execute the custom workflow.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving from the client an indicator representing a user-profile associated with a user, wherein receiving the indicator enables the application to execute a custom workflow associated with the user-profile.

22. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for producing a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to determine application-usage statistics for an application;

in response to the request, monitoring the client's usage of the application to obtain the application-usage statistics;

sending the application-usage statistics to the client to aid the client in producing a custom workflow, wherein the client uses a combination of the application-usage statistics and a user-specified formula to create the custom workflow; and

receiving from the client the custom workflow.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the request to determine application-usage statistics can include a list of the desired application-usage statistics.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the request to determine application-usage statistics can include a time-period rule which specifies a time-period for monitoring the client's usage of the application.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the application-usage statistics includes at least one of:

an application-screen set which specifies a set of application-screens accessed by the client;

a sequence-record which specifies the order that the client accessed the set of application-screens;

an access-time record which specifies when the client accessed the set of application-screens;

a usage-time record which specifies how long the client accessed each application-screen in the set of application-screens; and

a usage-record which specifies a set of operations executed while each application-screen in the set of application-screens was active.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein sending the application-usage statistics to the client involves sending a suggested custom workflow to the client.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein receiving the custom workflow can involve:

receiving an icon associated with the custom workflow; and

receiving a user-profile associated with the custom workflow.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to execute the custom workflow; and

in response to the request to execute the custom workflow, executing the custom workflow by opening a subset of application-screens associated with the custom workflow, wherein the subset of application-screens can include the entire set of application-screens associated with the custom workflow.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving a request from the client to execute the custom workflow.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , wherein the custom workflow is executed in response to receiving from the client an indicator representing a user-profile associated with a user, wherein receiving the indicator enables the application to execute a custom workflow associated with the user-profile.

31. An apparatus that creates a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request from a client to open an application-screen at an application;

an opening mechanism configured to open the application-screen;

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request to add the application-screen to a custom workflow;

an inclusion mechanism configured to add the application-screen to the custom workflow; and

a toolbar mechanism configured to add the custom workflow to a toolbar.

32. An apparatus that produces a custom workflow which facilitates performing repetitive processes by aggregating application-screens, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request from a client to determine application-usage statistics for an application;

a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor the client's usage of the application to obtain the application-usage statistics;

a sending mechanism configured to send the application-usage statistics to the client to aid the client in producing a custom workflow, wherein the client uses a combination of the application-usage statistics and a user-specified formula to create the custom workflow; and

a receiving mechanism configured to receive the custom workflow from the client.