Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-04
2001-12-04
Wiley, David (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C707S793000, C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327611
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the routing of electronic documents in a computer environment. More particularly, this invention relates to the routing of electronic documents to an ordered list of recipients across a computer network, allowing the originator to keep track of the progress of the electronic document and any modifications made to it by the recipients.
BACKGROUND
In many organizations, it is necessary to route documents from person to person, for review and/or approval, among client computers connected to a computer network. Such routing of electronic documents to a list of recipients has been difficult, if not expensive. One approach routes a document through a central server. The server operates using a proprietary software program that is installed on the server and acts as the hub to a distribution center. The user designates the document and the list of recipients. The server progressively sends the document to each person on the list. Each time a recipient sends the document back to the server, the server increments the recipient list and then forwards the document to the next recipient in the list. When the list has been exhausted, the document is sent to the originator. A primary impediment to successfully completing a document review cycle is that a person who needs to review the document never receives the document, usually because a person before him in the review chain has not forwarded the document.
An alternative to purchasing a specialized software package is to broadcast the document to all of the intended recipients. Each recipient adds their comments or modifications to the document and sends the resulting document back to the originator. The originator must then manually collate all of the modifications into one document.
It would be advantageous to provide an electronic document routing system that does not require a server-based proprietary software application and easily integrates into the client's existing email system. It would further be advantageous to provide an electronic document routing system that automatically performs versioning and collating of the document for the user.
SUMMARY
In one general aspect, the invention provides an electronic document routing system. A program executes in an originator computer to support routing of a document on a computer network. A designation program is configured to designate a plurality of recipient computers, connected to the computer network, to which the document is to be routed. A sending program is configured to send, to a first of the recipient computers, the document and, appended thereto, an indication of the designation such that the document is nominally routed from the first recipient computer to each other recipient computer. A status-receiving program is configured to receive status data from at least some of the designated recipient computers. The status data received from the recipient computers indicates a status of transfer of the document. A status handling program is configured to detect and handle an error condition in the document routing in response to an indication thereof based at least partially on the status data.
In one general aspect, the invention uses an easily configured document routing mechanism that routes documents to an ordered list of recipients, thereby allowing automatic versioning and compositioning through standard electronic mail (email) in a computer network environment. In addition, the invention can use a client-based routing mechanism based on the existing email services of the client's Internet browser.
In one general aspect, the invention easily integrates into the existing framework of the client's Internet browser using a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type. An ordered list, with optional rules, are placed in a MIME attachment and describe the route, how the document moves along the route, the time allotments, and specific options based on each person (e.g., if this person does not respond within three hours, then notify the originator, or automatically go to the next person).
The originator creates a document and an ordered list of recipients, and specifies tasks and time allotment options for each recipient in the list. The document is sent out to the first recipient—in one aspect, from the originator's email system. Each recipient normally performs a required task and, when the task is completed or the recipient's allotted time has elapsed, the message is then routed to the next recipient in the list and a status report, perhaps containing the current version of the document, is sent back to the originator. This repeats for each recipient in the list. When all of the recipients have completed their tasks or the route has completed, the finalize document is sent back to the originator.
The originator then has a document that is already collated and composed. The originator additionally has versions of the document for each stage of the modifications.
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Netscape Communications Corporation
Wiley David
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