System for managing workflow

Abstract

A workflow management system and method is described. The illustrated embodiment is a contact management system, more particularly adapted for employment in a debt collection context. Methods and systems are described for allowing a debt collector to associate debtors with different categories, either manually or automatically in response to predetermined condition. Thus, the system can efficiently manage the status of debtors by associating each debtor with a particular category. As part of this system, the debtor accounts are moved from one category to another, and from one individual to another, as the collection process is undertaken. The system maintains each debtor account within a predetermined category, and then displays each of the categories to a collector on a graphical display. The graphical display uses rectangular bars for representing each category, and indicates within the rectangular bars how many contacts belong to the category. When the graphical display is generated on the collector's computer monitor, the collector can press a function key corresponding to a category in order to be presented with a list of debtor accounts within the category.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for managing a plurality tasks to be completed by a user, comprising: 
 a computer comprising a processor, a memory and a display;    a first module configured to output a graphical user interface to said display, wherein said graphical user interface comprises graphical representations of desktop bins and wherein said desktop bins represent differing tasks to be performed by the user;    a second module configured to determine whether a computer event has been triggered in said system, and responsive to said event being triggered, associating a task from a first desktop bin to a second desktop bin; and    a third module configured to update said graphical representations of desktop bins to indicate that said task is associated with said second desktop bin.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tasks relate to collecting debts from debtors.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer event is triggered by the user pressing a function key on a computer keyboard.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer event is triggered in response to a selection being made from a menu.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer event is automatically generated in response to a condition being satisfied.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of: a date condition, a time condition, a flag set condition and a data entry found condition.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representations are in the shape of rectangles.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first module comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said second module comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said third module comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         11 . A computer system for managing a plurality tasks to be completed by a user, said system comprising: 
 a computer comprising a processor, a memory and a display;    means for displaying a graphical user interface within said display, wherein said graphical user interface comprises graphical representations of desktop bins and wherein said desktop bins represent differing tasks to be performed by the user;    means for detecting whether a computer event has occurred and responsive to said event occurring, associating a task from a first desktop bin to a second desktop bin; and    means for updating said graphical representations of desktops bins to indicate that said task is associated with said second desktop bin.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said tasks relate to collecting debts from debtors.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer event is triggered by the user pressing a function key on a computer keyboard.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer event is triggered in response to a selection being made from a menu.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer event is automatically generated in response to a condition being satisfied.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of: a date condition, a time condition, a flag set condition and a data entry found condition.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the graphical representations are in the shape of rectangles.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for displaying comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said means for detecting comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for updating comprises instructions stored in said memory.  
     
     
         21 . A method performed in a computer for managing a plurality of tasks for a user, said method comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a graphical user interface within said display, wherein said graphical user interface comprises graphical representations of desktop bins and wherein said desktop bins represent differing tasks to be performed by the user;    detecting whether a computer event has occurred and responsive to said event occurring, associating a task from a first desktop bin to a second desktop bin; and    updating said graphical representations of desktops bins to indicate that said task is associated with said second desktop bin.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said tasks relate to collecting debts from debtors.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said computer event is triggered by the user pressing a function key on a computer keyboard.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said computer event is triggered in response to a selection being made from a menu.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said computer event is automatically generated in response to a condition being satisfied.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of: a date condition, a time condition, a flag set condition and a data entry found condition.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the graphical representations are in the shape of rectangles.