Systems and methods for data collection using workflow forms
Systems and methods for cloud-based file sharing, where templates are provided for creating workflow instances which enable the sharing of managed objects. Reusable workflow templates are stored in the repository of a cloud-based file sharing system as objects that define components of the workflow, or placeholders for these components. A user instantiates a workflow instance from one of the templates and configures the workflow instance to identify content objects or forms, tasks related to the content objects, and users assigned to perform the tasks. The workflow instance is stored as an object in the repository. Users assigned to tasks are authorized through the workflow instance to access the content objects or forms to perform the tasks.
1. A method for enabling use of workflows in a multitenant environment, the method comprising:
executing a multitenant content sharing system in a cloud-based environment;
storing plurality of content objects in a data repository of the cloud-based multitenant content sharing system, wherein the content objects are owned by one or more tenants, and wherein the content objects are encrypted with keys of respective tenant-owners;
configuring, by each tenant, a set of tenant access rules for content objects owned by the tenant and enabling, by the multitenant content sharing system, users associated with the tenant to access content objects owned by the tenant according to the tenant access rules;
enabling, by the multitenant content sharing system, a first user for:
initiating a workflow instance,
associating a form with the workflow instance,
associating the form with a content object, wherein the form defines one or more form fields through which corresponding data of the content object are accessible,
adding data entered in the form fields to the content object,
wherein the first user is authorized by a tenant-owner of the content object to access the content object, and
assigning a second user to a task in the workflow instance, wherein the task is associated with the form; and
automatically enabling, by the multitenant content sharing system, the second user to access the content object via the form according to the task in the workflow instance in response to the first user assigning the second user to the task of the workflow instance.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second user is not associated with the tenant-owner of the content object.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the multitenant content sharing system enabling the second user to access the content object via the form comprises the multitenant content sharing system enabling ad hoc authorization of the second user to add data to the content object without prior system-level authorization of the second user.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the multitenant content sharing system enabling the second user to access the content comprises decrypting the content object using a decryption key of a tenant-owner of the content object.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the multitenant content sharing system storing one or more workflow templates, wherein the multitenant content sharing system enables the first user to initiate the workflow instance comprises enabling the first user to instantiate the workflow as an instance of one of the workflow templates.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each of the workflow templates comprises a template object that is stored in the data repository, each template object including one or more task attributes, one or more form object attributes and one or more associated user attributes.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content object comprises a native object which is supplied by the multitenant environment and is accessible through different applications executing in the multitenant environment.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the native object comprises a database.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multitenant content sharing system enabling the second user to access the content object via the form according to the task in the workflow instance comprises enabling the second user to add data to the content object and preventing the second user from reading or editing the content object.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multitenant content sharing system enabling the first user to associate the form with the workflow instance comprises:
determining whether the first user is authorized to access the first content object associated with the form according to the tenant access rules of the tenant-owner of the content object,
if the first user is authorized to access the first content object, enabling the first user to associate the form with the workflow instance, and
if the first user is not authorized to access the first content object, preventing the first user from associating the form with the workflow instance.
11. A system for enabling use of workflow instances in a multitenant environment, comprising:
a processor;
a data repository communicatively coupled to the processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores instructions which are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform:
executing a multitenant content sharing system in a cloud-based environment;
storing plurality of content objects in a data repository of the cloud-based multitenant content sharing system, wherein the content objects are owned by one or more tenants, and wherein the content objects are encrypted with keys of respective tenant-owners;
each tenant configuring a set of tenant access rules for content objects owned by the tenant, wherein the multitenant content sharing system enables users associated with the tenant to access content objects owned by the tenant according to the tenant access rules;
the multitenant content sharing system enabling a first user to:
initiate a workflow instance,
associate a form with the workflow instance,
associate the form with a content object, wherein the form defines one or more form fields through which corresponding data of the content object are accessible,
add data entered in the form fields to the content object,
wherein the first user is authorized by a tenant-owner of the content object to access the content object, and
associate a second user with a task in the workflow instance, wherein the task is associated with the form; and
the multitenant content sharing system, in response to the first user assigning the second user to the task of the workflow instance, automatically enabling the second user to access the content object via the form according to the workflow instance.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second user is not associated with the tenant-owner of the content object, and wherein enabling the second user to access the content object via the form comprises enabling ad hoc authorization of the second user to add data to the content object via the form without prior system-level authorization of the second user.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform storing one or more workflow templates; wherein each of the workflow templates comprises a template object that is stored in the data repository, each template object including at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of a task attribute, a form attribute, and a user attribute; and wherein enabling the first user to initiate the workflow instance comprises enabling the first user to instantiate the workflow as an instance of one of the workflow templates.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the multitenant content sharing system enabling the second user to access the content object via the form according to the task in the workflow instance comprises the multitenant content sharing system enabling the second user to add data to the content object and preventing the second user from reading or editing the content object.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein enabling the second user to access the content comprises decrypting the content object using a decryption key of a tenant-owner of the content object.
16. A computer program product for content sharing through external systems, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for:
executing a multitenant content sharing system in a cloud-based environment;
storing plurality of content objects in a data repository of the cloud-based multitenant content sharing system, wherein the content objects are owned by one or more tenants, and wherein the content objects are encrypted with keys of respective tenant-owners;
enabling each tenant to configure a set of tenant access rules for content objects owned by the tenant, wherein the users associated with the tenant are enabled to access content objects owned by the tenant according to the tenant access rules;
enabling a first user to:
initiate a workflow instance,
associate a form with the workflow instance,
associate the form with a content object, wherein the form defines one or more form fields through which corresponding data of the content object are accessible,
add data entered in the form fields to the content object,
wherein the first user is authorized by a tenant-owner of the content object to access the content object, and
assign a second user to a task in the workflow instance, wherein the task is associated with the form; and
in response to the first user assigning the second user to the task of the workflow instance, automatically enabling the second user to access the content object via the form according to the workflow instance.
17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the second user is not associated with the tenant-owner of the content object, and wherein enabling the second user to access the content object via the form comprises enabling ad hoc authorization of the second user to add data to the content object via the form without prior system-level authorization of the second user.
18. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform storing one or more workflow templates; wherein each of the workflow templates comprises a template object that is stored in the data repository, each template object including at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of a task attribute, a form attribute, and a user attribute; and wherein enabling the first user to initiate the workflow instance comprises enabling the first user to instantiate the workflow as an instance of one of the workflow templates.
19. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein enabling the second user to access the content object via the form according to the task in the workflow instance comprises enabling the second user to add data to the content object and preventing the second user from reading or editing the content object.
20. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein enabling the second user to access the content comprises decrypting the content object using a decryption key of a tenant-owner of the content object.