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.