An object-oriented framework for document routing service in a
content management system directly provides the
server API set for document routing to the application programmers, without an intermediate
interface layer. This framework provides document routing functions and
system administration support for document routing. In addition, the
system defines the document routing process as a series of steps provided by an administrator through which a document is routed, where a work node is a step within the process. A work
list is provided that is a filter of one or more work nodes; a user may obtain a
list of work or the “next” work item from the work
list. Work packages can be suspended pending the satisfaction of criteria such as
delay time or collection of a specified group of documents. The process can be resumed at any time. Suspension and resumption of the process are defined by the resume list in the
work package and the work node. The object-oriented framework defines the
object model of the document routing service that includes a set of classes and associated methods to support the model.