Method and apparatus for automating organization of processes
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for automating organization of multiple processes involving maintaining a uniform record of process threads using at least one server, each process thread comprising a representation of a collaborative process capable of involving a plurality of users, enabling at least one of the plurality of users to carry out a user action while interacting with one of a plurality of different types of application programs, and modifying at least one process thread in the uniform record of process threads in response to the user action carried out by the user. Modifying the at least one process thread may comprise generating the at least one process thread as a new process thread. Alternatively or in addition, modifying the at least one process thread may comprise modifying the at least one process thread as an existing process thread. At least one of the process threads may reflect user actions carried out by more than one of the plurality of users.
1. A method for automating organization of multiple processes comprising:
managing by a server, a uniform record of process threads, each process thread supporting a plurality of users;
manipulating by the server, the uniform record of process threads;
coupling a storage device to the server;
storing the uniform record of process threads on the storage device;
receiving by the server, data from a client computer modifying the uniform record of process threads; and
modifying by the sever, the uniform record of process threads stored on the storage device in response to the data received from the client computer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step comprises generating a new process thread.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step comprises modifying the at least one of the process threads.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the process threads reflects user actions carried out by more than one of the plurality of users.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the different types of application programs is an email application program.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the different types of application programs is a web application program.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the different types of application programs is an enterprise application program.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of:
associating a piece of electronic content to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads;
wherein the piece of electronic content is a piece of content selected from the group consisting of an application transaction record, a document, a form, a web page, a fax, and an email.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step includes modifying the process threads stored in the uniform record of process threads can be created or modified with security in the form of limited visibility, authentication and authorization protections with respect to users, application program types or content.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of
applying by the server, a predefined process service to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads, wherein the predefined process service provides a specific function to serve the at least one process thread.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of
applying a predefined thread service to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads, wherein the predefined thread service manages operations associated with the at least one process thread.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein collaboration process threads are created and modified with security in the form of limited visibility, authentication & authorization protections with respect to users, application program types and content.
13. An apparatus for automating organization of multiple processes comprising:
at least one server for managing and manipulating a uniform record of process threads, each process thread supporting a plurality of users;
a storage device coupled to at least one server for storing the uniform record of process threads;
a plurality of client computers coupled to the at least one server for enabling the plurality of users to carry out user actions against multiple types of application programs; and
wherein actions of the plurality of users modify the uniform record of process threads.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one server is capable of modifying the uniform record of process threads stored on the storage device by storing a new process thread generated by one of the plurality of client computers.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one server is capable of modifying the uniform record of process threads stored on the storage device by storing at least one process thread after it has been modified by one of the plurality of client computers.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the process threads includes data provided by more than one of the plurality of client computers.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of the different types of application programs is an email application program.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of the different types of application programs is a web application program.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of the different types of application programs is an enterprise application program.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one server is further capable of associating a piece of electronic content to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads and wherein the piece of electronic content is a piece of content selected from the group consisting of an application transaction record, a document, a form, a web page, a fax, and an email.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the modifying step includes modifying the process threads stored in the uniform record of process threads can be created or modified with security in the form of limited visibility, authentication and authorization protections with respect to users, application program types or content.
22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one server is further capable of applying a predefined process service to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads, wherein the predefined process service is capable of providing a specific function to serve the at least one process thread.
23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one server is further capable of applying a predefined thread service to at least one process thread in the uniform collection of process threads, wherein the predefined thread service manages operations associated with the at least one process thread.
24. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the process threads is comprised of a plurality of process primitives, each process primitive corresponding to at least one basic function relating to operation of a process.
25. A system for automating organization of multiple processes comprising:
means for managing by a server, a uniform record of process threads using at least one server, each process thread supporting a plurality of users;
means for manipulating by the server, the uniform record of process threads;
means for coupling a storage device to the server;
means for storing the uniform record of process threads on the storage device;
means for receiving by the server, data from a client computer modifying the uniform record of process threads; and
means for modifying by the sever, the uniform record of process threads stored on the storage device in response to the data received from the client computer.