Distributed asynchronous workflow system and method

Claim 2

The memory of claim 1, wherein said executable code fragments are written in a platform-independent computer language, each of said members further comprising a browser that is configured to load and run said executable code fragments.

Claim 3

The memory of claim 1, wherein said code fragments incorporate a set of workflow rules defining how said stages are to be executed.

Claim 4

The memory of claim 2, wherein, based on said updated manifestations, said updated state data, said actions and said workflow rules, said subset of executable code fragments determines a subsequent stage of said workflow to be executed and an actor type authorized to execute said subsequent stage.

Claim 5

The memory of claim 4, further comprising: an actor index comprising at least one network reference to respective actor directories, wherein an actor directory includes addresses of network nodes associated with authorized actors; such that, following said determination of said subsequent stage of said workflow to be executed and said actor type authorized to execute said subsequent stage, said executing subset directs said one member to access said referenced actor directories and select from said actor directories as an appropriate member for the execution of said subsequent stage a network node of an actor represented therein as having said actor type; said executing subset thereafter directing said one member to communicate to said appropriate member said rules, said code references, said updated manifestations, and said updated state data so that said memory of said appropriate member can be configured to direct said appropriate member to execute said subsequent stage.

Claim 6

The memory of claim 2, further comprising: a route defining a sequence of said stages and associating with each stage in said sequence a network node identifier of one of said members associated with an actor authorized to execute that stage; wherein, following execution of one of said stages and based on said updated state data and said route, said subset of executable code fragments determines a subsequent stage to be executed and directs said one member to communicate to said actor authorized to execute said stage said route, said code references, said updated manifestations and said updated state data so that said memory of said appropriate member can be configured to direct said appropriate member to execute said subsequent stage.

Claim 7

The memory of claim 2, wherein said data representing said manifestations comprise a set of forms to be completed through the execution of said plurality of stages that compose said workflow; said executing subset of code fragments directing said member to display appropriate ones of said set of forms and enable actor interaction with said forms.

Claim 8

A computer system for asynchronously executing steps of a sequential process on a network that includes at least one server and at least one client coupled to said network, said servers and said clients each including a processor and a memory and having a unique network ID, said computer system comprising; a requestor that is executable on a client's processor, said requestor being configured to control messages issued by said client on said network, said messages including a request message instructing a particular one of said servers to transmit to said client a workflow courier requested by a user of said client; a provider that is executable on a server's processor, said provider being configured to be responsive to said messages directed to said server, said provider being configured to respond to said request message by causing said server to transmit to said client said workflow courier; said workflow courier comprising: a set of forms to be completed through the execution of a plurality of stages that compose a workflow, each of said stages being executable by a respective actor; state data indicating executed stages in said workflow; and a registry containing at least one code fragment reference, each of which points to an executable code fragment; such that, upon receiving said workflow courier over said network, said client displays one of said forms and, based on user interaction with said form and other displayed forms, selectably loads and runs a set of referenced code fragments that are configured, when running, to perform one or more of a number of workflow tasks, including displaying said forms, determining from said state data a pending stage to be executed, guiding an actor through execution of said pending stage based on workflow rules and updating said forms and said state data in said workflow courier to reflect completion of said pending stage.

Claim 9

The computer system of claim 8, wherein said executable code fragments are written in a platform-independent computer language, said clients further comprising a browser that is configured to load and run said executable code fragments.

Claim 10

The computer system of claim 9, wherein said provider is also configured to respond to broad user workflow requests issued from said requestor by providing said requestor with a plurality of workflow options that satisfy search terms included in said broad user workflow request, each of said workflow options being linked to a specific workflow so that, when said user selects one of said plurality of workflow options, said requestor is configured to issue on said network a workflow request for said linked workflow.

Claim 11

A computer-implemented method for performing workflow on a network comprising the steps of: (1) issuing a workflow request on said network; (2) in response to said workflow request, a server building a workflow courier, said workflow courier comprising: (a) a set of data representing manifestations of a set of actions to be completed through the execution of at least one of a plurality of stages that compose said workflow, each of said stages being executable by a respective actor; (b) state data indicating executed stages in said workflow; and (d) a registry containing at least one code fragment reference, each of which points to an executable code fragment, each of said executable code fragments being executable on any of said nodes without compromising integrity and security of said any node; (3) said server transmitting said workflow courier to a selected network node associated with an actor authorized to perform, in accordance with said workflow courier, an appropriate stage of said workflow.

Claim 12

The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: (1) upon receiving said workflow courier over said network, said selected network node executing said workflow courier so that said actor performs said appropriate stage under control of said executing workflow courier, said workflow courier ensuring that said actor performs said stage according to said set of data representing manifestations, said state data and workflow rules that define how said stages are to be executed; and (2) upon completion of said appropriate stage, said workflow courier updating itself to reflect status of said workflow upon completion of said appropriate stage.

Claim 13

The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said step of executing said workflow courier comprises: displaying at least a subset of said set of data representing manifestations; based on user interaction with said displayed subset, selectably loading and running a set of referenced code fragments; said referenced code fragments, when running, performing one or more of a number of workflow tasks comprising: displaying said set of data representing manifestations of a set of actions, determining from said state data a pending stage to be executed; guiding an actor through execution of said pending stage based on workflow rules; updating said set of data representing manifestations of a set of actions and said state data in said workflow courier to reflect completion of said pending stage; and forwarding updated workflow courier to an appropriate network node for execution of a subsequent stage by another actor.