JP2002083105A - Distributed office system and its managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distributed office system and its managing method capable of improving confidentiality of privacy of each user. SOLUTION: As an image 81 of information regarding a working status of another user, an image of the working status of the other user and a graphic image imitating a blind or a door are automatically switched on the basis of a schedule record table 800 of the other user and an ON/OFF instructing table 900 set by the other user. When a schedule record is not stored in the schedule record table 800 of the other user, the image 81 of the information regarding the working status of the other user is automatically switched on the basis of a working form information table 1000.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a distributed office system and a management method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a plurality of user terminal devices and one host server device are connected via a communication line network to create a virtual space having the same effect as opening an office space. By building office space on a network, even a group of workers dispersed and located in remote areas can work while utilizing good teamwork while maintaining good intra-group communication. Even if the geographically dispersed work is continued for a long period of time, a distributed office system that does not cause a feeling of alienation or loneliness to members and can perform good management while maintaining a sense of unity as an organization (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-2000) −
No. 181967) is known.

In the distributed office system, when each user is working, an image of the working status of each user is displayed, and when each user is not working, a graphic image imitating a blind or a door is displayed. Is displayed on the user terminal device of another user.

[0004]

However, since the switching of the images needs to be manually performed by each user,
Even if each user does not want to display the image of his or her work status, such as during lunch break or meeting with others, if he inadvertently forgets to switch the image, the image of the work status of each user is displayed. There is a problem that the privacy of each user cannot be protected because the user is left in the state.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributed office system capable of improving the confidentiality of privacy of each user and a management method thereof.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed office system comprising: a terminal installed in each of a plurality of users; and a server connected to the terminal via a communication line. A distributed office system comprising: a device; and display means for displaying an image of information related to another user on a screen of the terminal device. A storage means for storing schedule information related to work conditions of the other user; and the schedule information. Switching means for automatically switching the image based on the image data.

[0007] The distributed office system according to claim 2 is
2. The distributed office system according to claim 1, wherein the switching means includes an image of information on the other user,
Switching between a work situation image of another user captured by a camera provided in the terminal device and a graphic image imitating a blind or a door.

[0008] The distributed office system according to claim 3 is
The distributed office system according to claim 1 or 2,
The switching means automatically switches the image based on switching instruction information set in advance.

A distributed office system according to claim 4 is
4. The distributed office system according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of users sets the switching instruction information.

A distributed office system according to claim 5 is
4. The distributed office system according to claim 3, wherein the switching instruction information is set as a default in the distributed office system.

[0011] The distributed office system according to claim 6 is:
The distributed office system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the schedule information includes update date and time information, and when a plurality of pieces of the schedule information exist,
The switching means selects the latest schedule information based on the update date and time information of the plurality of schedule information, and automatically switches the image based on the latest schedule information.

A distributed office system according to claim 7 is
7. The distributed office system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store work mode information of each of the plurality of users, wherein the switching unit performs the image processing based on the work mode information. 8. Is automatically switched.

The distributed office system according to claim 8 is
8. The distributed office system according to claim 7, wherein when the schedule information is not stored, the switching means automatically switches the image based on the work form information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed office system management method, wherein a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, and a screen of the terminal device A management method for a distributed office system, comprising: a display unit for displaying an image of information on another user on the storage unit; and a storage step of storing schedule information on a work situation of the other user; and the image based on the schedule information. And a switching step of automatically switching between the two.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed office system managing method according to the ninth aspect, wherein the switching step includes, as an image of information relating to the other user, a camera provided in the terminal device. Switching between an image of the work situation of another user and a graphic image imitating a blind or a door, etc.

According to a eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the distributed office system managing method according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the switching step automatically switches the image based on switching instruction information set in advance. It is characterized by switching with.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed office system management method according to the eleventh aspect, wherein each of the plurality of users sets the switching instruction information.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed office system management method according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the switching instruction information is set as a default in the distributed office system. I do.

A method for managing a distributed office system according to claim 14, wherein the schedule information includes update date and time information, and the schedule information includes When there are a plurality of schedule information, the switching step selects the latest schedule information based on the update date and time information of the plurality of schedule information, and automatically switches the image based on the latest schedule information. And

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed office system managing method according to any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the work mode information of each of the plurality of users is stored. A storage step is provided, wherein the switching step automatically switches the image based on the work form information.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the method of the fifteenth aspect, when the schedule information is not stored, the switching step includes the step of changing the work form information. The image is automatically switched based on the image.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The distributed office system according to the present embodiment realizes various functions as a distributed office system by simultaneously connecting a plurality of user terminal devices to a host server device via a communication network. It operates a distributed office.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a distributed office system according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a host server device (switching means), which is installed in a main office (for example, a head office of various organizations such as a company introducing a distributed office) and has a LAN in the main office. (Loca
l Area Network) 12.

Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote user terminal devices for users who work in the main office. In this embodiment, the user terminal devices comprise a personal computer 18 or a portable personal computer 22, user terminal software 19 and a telephone set 20. It is realized by combining three types of devices and other devices. Of these, telephone 20
Is a PSTN line (general subscriber telephone line) or ISDN
Connected to the host server device 11 through a line,
The personal computer 18 is connected to the host server device 11 via the LAN 12.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a user terminal device for a user who works in the home office. In the present embodiment, like the user terminal device 13, the user terminal device 3 comprises a personal computer 18, user terminal software 19, and a telephone 20.
It is realized by combining different types of devices and other devices. The telephone 20 is connected to the host server device 11 through a PSTN line (general subscriber telephone line) or an ISDN line, and the personal computer 18 is connected to the host server device 1 through the Internet 21.
1 is connected.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a portable user terminal device for a user who works in a mobile office. In this embodiment,
As with the user terminal device 14, it is realized by combining three types of devices including a portable personal computer 22, user terminal device software 19 and a mobile phone 23, and other devices. The mobile telephone 23 is connected to the host server device 11 through a mobile communication network and a PSTN line (general subscriber telephone line) or an ISDN line, and the portable personal computer 22 is connected to the host server device 1 through the Internet 21.
1 is connected.

Reference numeral 17 denotes another portable user terminal device for a user who works in a mobile office, which is realized by combining two types of devices, a general-purpose portable information terminal (with a built-in WWW browser) 24 and a portable telephone 23. Have been. Of these, the mobile phone 23 is a mobile communication network and a PSTN.
A portable information terminal (built-in WWW browser) 24 is connected to the Internet 21 via a line (general subscriber telephone line) or an ISDN line.
And is connected to the host server device 11 through.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the host server device 11.

In FIG. 2, BP (Basic Pla
tform) 31 is a PC server device. SPU (S
The signal processing unit (32) is a parallel DSP (Digital Signal Pro).
(sensor) signal processing board. CU (Call
Unit 33 is a telephone line board (Computer)
Telephony Board). BP31
Is connected to a LAN in the main office through a LAN network board, and the CU 33 is connected to a PSTN line or an ISDN line.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the host server device 11. The software included in the host server device 11 includes a software program developed using C ++ language and the like and an existing software program, and includes an OS (Operating Sys.).
For example, Windows NT (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) is adopted as the item (tem). In FIG. 3, reference numeral 41 denotes a server manager unit, 42 denotes a CU access library unit, 43 denotes an SPU access library unit,
4, 45, and 48 are driver units, 46 is a mail transmission unit,
7 is DLL (Dynamic Link Library)
y), 49 is a dynamic Web server, 50 is a database connector, 51 is WindowsNT (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA), and 53 is a database (storage means).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the user terminal devices 13 and 15. The main components of the user terminal device are a personal computer 18, terminal device software 19, and a telephone 20. In addition, two types (rear and front) of video cameras 65 and 66 are provided. It is connected to a video input terminal provided in the personal computer main body 61. However, there is a case where only one of the video cameras is used. Also,
The display 64, the keyboard 63, the mouse 62, the speaker 67, the microphone 68, and the like are respectively connected to input / output terminals corresponding to respective devices provided in the personal computer main body 61.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a situation in which the device shown in FIG. 4 is actually installed in a home office where a user works.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the software for the user terminal device. The software for the user terminal device includes a software program developed using the C ++ language or the like and an existing software program, and employs Windows 95 (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA) as the OS. In the figure, 72 is a Windows / Dialog section, 73 is a program component section, 74 is a signal line, 75 is an HTML section, 7
Reference numeral 6 denotes a Web Browser (component) unit.

Next, the operation of various functions in the distributed office system will be described. To simplify the explanation,
It is assumed that each user has already completed connection to the host server device 11 using his or her user terminal device and has started working.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of the screen of the user terminal device. Reference numeral 81 denotes an image of information relating to the work status of another user. Reference numeral 82 denotes a work status data display unit on which character information as the work status data of the user is displayed.
83 is the user's private office space. The combination of these three is a virtual private room office for this user.

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, nine images are displayed on the same screen.
Although one private room office is shown, the number of private room offices may be more or less. Then, the entire display space 84 is set as a private office area. The space between the private room office and the adjacent private room office is a virtual corridor.

The work status image of the user displayed as the image 81 is an image captured by the rear video camera 65 or the front video camera 66 provided in the user terminal device used by the user. The processing operation of this image will be described.

The captured image is input from each camera to the personal computer 18 through the video input terminal of the personal computer main body 61, and the image is compressed and transmitted by the image compression and transmission program component of the program component section 73 into the QCIF format (176 × 144 pix).
els) is compressed and coded as a compressed image, and the signal line 74
(See FIG. 6).

Upon receiving the compressed image, the host server device 11 transfers the image to the SPU 32 by the operation of the software of the server manager 41, the SPU access library 43, and the driver 45.

The SPU 32 uses a compressed image reduction processing function software program stored in advance in the image processing function program storage unit provided in the SPU 32, and reduces the compressed image in both the horizontal and vertical directions by half. Perform processing, 88 x 72 pix
The reduced compressed image of els is generated, and the reduced compressed image is transmitted via the server manager unit 41 to all user terminal devices other than the user terminal device that captured the image.

These user terminal devices display the received reduced-compression image as an image of the work situation of the private room office on each screen using the image decompression display program component of the program component unit 73.

As described above, the SP of the host server device 11
By generating a reduced compressed image based on the original compressed image using U32 and transmitting it to another user terminal device, the work status of each user displayed in each private office on the screen of each user terminal device It has been realized that the update frequency (frame rate) of the image is increased. That is, when the reduced compressed image generation processing in the SPU 32 is not performed, the frame rate of the image displayed in the private room office is, for example, 1 fps (frame per second).
ond), it is possible to increase the speed up to about 4 fps by this reduced image generation processing. However, the actual frame rate depends on various factors such as the Internet transmission speed used.

FIG. 8 is a schedule record table of each user stored in the database unit 53 of FIG.

The schedule record table 80 of FIG.
0, F81 is the serial number of the schedule record (schedule information), F82 is the title of the schedule record, F83 is the content part, F84 is the start date and time of the schedule, F85 is the end date and time of the schedule, and F86 is the last update date and time of the schedule record (updated). Date and time information).

FIG. 9 shows ON / O of the display of the graphic image for the work type stored in the database unit 53 of FIG.
It is an FF instruction table.

In FIG. 9, F91 is a serial number of data,
Reference numeral 92 denotes work type information indicating the type of work performed by each user, and F93 denotes an ON / OFF instruction to display a graphic image imitating a blind or a door corresponding to each work type. There are ON / OFF instruction tables 900 as many as the number of users registered in the distributed office system, and each user can arbitrarily set ON / OFF instructions.

FIG. 10 is a work form information table stored in the database unit 53 of FIG.

In the work form information table 1000 shown in FIG. 10, F1001 is a serial number, F1002 is work form information representing the work form of each user, F1003 is work time information, F1004 is work time information, and F1005 is core time start. Time information, F1006 is core time end time information, F1007 is lunch break start time information, F1008
Is lunch break end time information.

FIG. 11 shows an update frequency setting screen for setting the ON / OFF instruction table 900 of FIG.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes an update frequency setting screen displayed on the display 64; 1102, a graphic image display ON / OFF setting field during normal work; 1103, a graphic image display ON / OFF setting field during breaks. Reference numeral 1104 denotes ON / O for displaying a graphic image during a meeting.
FF setting field, 1105 is an OK button, 1106
Is a cancel button. Update frequency setting screen 1101
The ON / OFF instruction F93 of the ON / OFF instruction table 900 in FIG.

When the setting is not performed by the various ON / OFF setting fields on the update frequency setting screen 1101, the ON / OFF instruction F93 of the contents common to each user which is set as a default on the system side is set. .

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of switching of the image 81 in FIG.

In FIG. 12, the type of work performed by each user is indicated by ON / O in the ON / OFF instruction table 900.
When the work type corresponds to the OFF work type in the FF instruction F93, an image of the work status of the user is displayed as an image 81 (FIG. 12A), and when the work type corresponds to the ON work type, a blind or a door is imitated. Image 8
1 (FIG. 12B).

The switching processing of the graphic image display ON / OFF instruction of the distributed office system according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the switching process of the graphic image display ON / OFF instruction executed by the host server apparatus 11 of FIG.

First, the switching process is started (step S1).
After 301), in a succeeding step S1302, a timer (not shown) is set to a predetermined time (one minute in this embodiment) and the process stands by.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not one minute has elapsed (step S1303). If one minute has elapsed (Yes in step S1303), all connections of the distributed office system held in the server manager unit 41 are performed. Acquire user information of one of the users (step S130)
4). The user information at this time is the name of the user or I
Information such as a D number necessary for identifying the user from other users.

In the following step S1305, based on the obtained user information, the schedule record table 8 of the user stored in the database 53 is stored.
00, and determines whether the user has a schedule record at the current time based on the current time and the schedule start date and time F84 and the schedule end date and time F85 in the searched schedule record table 800.

If the result of the determination in step S1305 is that the user does not have a schedule record at the current time (No in step S1305), the acquired user information, current time, work style of the user, and database 53 Based on the various types of information (F1002 to F1008) of the work form information table 1000 stored in the user, the work type that the user is performing at the current time is obtained (step S1316), and then, the step S130 described later is performed.
When the user has a schedule record at the current time (Yes in step S1305), it is further determined whether there is one or more schedule records at the current time (step S1306).

As a result of the determination in step S1306, when there is one schedule record at the current time (step S13
(No in step 06), the process proceeds to step S1308 to be described later, and when there are a plurality of schedule records at the current time (Yes in step S1306), the schedule record having the latest update date and time F86 of each schedule record is set to the schedule record of the current time. (Step S130)
7).

Next, in step S1308, the title F82 of the selected schedule record is acquired as the type of work performed by the user at the current time.
The current graphic image display ON / OFF instruction of the user stored in the server manager 41 is acquired (step S1309). Thereafter, the acquired work type and the ON / OFF of the user stored in the database 53 are displayed.
Work type F92 of OFF instruction table 900 and ON /
New graphic image display ON / OFF based on OFF instruction F93
OFF instruction is obtained, and the new graphic image display ON / OF is obtained.
It is determined whether the F instruction has changed with respect to the current graphic image display ON / OFF instruction (step S131).
0).

If the result of determination in step S1310 is that there is no change (No in step S1310), the process returns to step S1304, and if there is change (step S110).
(Yes in 310), the user information of the notification destination user representing another user except the above user among all the connected users of the distributed office system held in the server manager unit 41 is acquired (step S1311). At this time, the user information of the notification destination user is the name or ID of the notification destination user.
Information such as a number required to identify the notified user from other notified users.

In the following step S1312, the notification of the new graphic image display ON / OFF instruction is transmitted to the user terminal device of the notified user, and it is determined whether or not another notified user exists (step S1312). S1313),
If it exists (Yes in step S1313), the process returns to step S1312, and if it does not exist (step S1).
(No in 313) proceeds to step S1314.

Next, in step S1314, it is determined whether or not the switching processing of the graphic image display ON / OFF instruction of all the connected users of the distributed office system held by the server manager unit 41 has been completed, and if not completed, it is determined. For example, the processing of step S1304 and subsequent steps are repeated. If the processing has been completed, the processing of switching the present graphic image display ON / OFF instruction is completed (step S1315).

According to the present embodiment, based on the schedule record table 800 of the other user and the ON / OFF instruction table 900 set by the other user, the image 81 of the work status of the other user is displayed as another image 81. The image of the work status of the user and the graphic image imitating a blind or a door are automatically switched. When no schedule record is stored in the schedule record table 800 of another user, the work form information table 100 is displayed.
Since the image 81 of the information about the work status of another user is automatically switched based on 0, when each user does not want to display the image of his or her work status, such as during lunch break eating and drinking or meeting with others, Even if the switching of the images is inadvertently forgotten, the privacy confidentiality of each user can be improved.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the distributed office system according to the first aspect and the distributed office system management method according to the ninth aspect, schedule information relating to the work status of another user is stored. Since the image of information about other users is automatically switched based on the schedule information, when each user does not want to display his / her work status in the above image such as during lunch break during eating and drinking or during a meeting with another person, the user may inadvertently change the image. Even if the switching of the image is forgotten, the privacy of each user can be kept confidential.

According to the distributed office system of the second aspect and the management method of the distributed office system of the tenth aspect, a camera provided in a terminal device installed in each of a plurality of users is used as an image of information on other users. It switches and displays the image of the work situation of the other user and the graphic image imitating the blinds or doors, etc.
It is possible to easily determine whether or not another user is working.

According to the distributed office system of the fourth aspect and the distributed office system management method of the twelfth aspect, each of the plurality of users sets switching instruction information, and based on the set switching instruction information. Since the information image of another user is automatically switched, privacy confidentiality can be improved in accordance with the convenience of each user.

According to the distributed office system of the fifth aspect and the distributed office system management method of the thirteenth aspect, based on the switching instruction information set as a default in the distributed office system, the image of the information on other users is displayed. Is automatically switched, the privacy confidentiality of each user can be improved without each user setting switching instruction information.

According to the distributed office system of the sixth aspect and the distributed office system management method of the fourteenth aspect, the schedule information includes the update date and time information. The latest schedule information is selected based on the update date and time information, and the image of the information related to other users is automatically switched based on the latest schedule information. Therefore, even if each user does not select the schedule information, privacy confidentiality is maintained. Performance can be improved.

According to the distributed office system of the eighth aspect and the distributed office system management method of the sixteenth aspect, when the schedule information is not stored, the schedule information relating to other users is based on the stored work form information. Since the information image is automatically switched, privacy confidentiality can be improved without setting schedule information by each user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a distributed office system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a host server device 11;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the host server device 11;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of user terminal devices 13 and 15;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of FIG. 4 in a home office where a user works
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a situation in which the devices shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of software for a user terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a part of a screen of the user terminal device.

FIG. 8 is a schedule record table of each user stored in the database unit 53 of FIG. 3;

9 is an ON / OFF instruction table for displaying a graphic image corresponding to a work type stored in the database unit 53 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a work form information table stored in a database unit 53 of FIG. 3;

11 is an update frequency setting screen for setting the ON / OFF instruction table 900 in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of switching of an image 81 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a switching process of a graphic image display ON / OFF instruction executed by the host server device 11 of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Host server device 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 User terminal device 18 Personal computer 19 User terminal software 20 Telephone 22 Portable personal computer 24 Portable information terminal 41 Server manager unit 53 Database unit 61 Personal computer main body 62 Mouse 64 Display 65, 66 Video camera 73 Program component section 81 Image of information on work status of user 82 Work status data display section 83 Private office space 84 Private office area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/14 360 G06F 3/14 360A (72) Inventor Masami Kato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takanori Miyazaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (Reference) 5B049 AA02 CC32 DD00 DD01 FF03 GG02 GG03 GG04 GG06 GG07 5B069 AA01 BA03 CA15 DD20 KA06

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, and an image of information about another user displayed on a screen of the terminal device. A distributed office system comprising: a display unit for storing schedule information relating to the work status of the other user; and a switching unit for automatically switching the image based on the schedule information. Distributed office system. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit includes, as the information image regarding the other user, an image of the work status of the other user captured by a camera provided in the terminal device and a graphic image imitating a blind or a door. 2. The distributed office system according to claim 1, wherein the system is switched. 3. The distributed office system according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit automatically switches the image based on switching instruction information set in advance. 4. The distributed office system according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of users sets the switching instruction information. 5. The distributed office system according to claim 3, wherein the switching instruction information is set as a default in the distributed office system. 6. The schedule information includes update date and time information, and when there are a plurality of schedule information, the switching unit selects the latest schedule information based on the update date and time information of the plurality of schedule information. ,
The distributed office system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the images are automatically switched based on the latest schedule information. 7. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store work mode information of each of the plurality of users, wherein the switching unit automatically switches the image based on the work mode information. 7. The distributed office system according to any one of 6. 8. The distributed office system according to claim 7, wherein, when the schedule information is not stored, the switching unit automatically switches the image based on the work form information. 9. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, and displaying an image of information related to another user on a screen of the terminal device. And a switching step of automatically switching the image based on the schedule information, the storage step of storing schedule information relating to the work status of the other user. Characteristic management method of distributed office system. 10. The switching step includes, as an image of information about the other user, an image of a work status of another user captured by a camera provided in the terminal device and a graphic image imitating a blind or a door. The method for managing a distributed office system according to claim 9, wherein the switching is performed. 11. The distributed office system management method according to claim 9, wherein the switching step automatically switches the images based on switching instruction information set in advance. 12. The management method for a distributed office system according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of users sets the switching instruction information. 13. The distributed office system management method according to claim 11, wherein the switching instruction information is set as a default in the distributed office system. 14. The schedule information includes update date and time information, and when there is a plurality of the schedule information,
14. The switching step, wherein the latest schedule information is selected based on the update date and time information of the plurality of schedule information, and the image is automatically switched based on the latest schedule information. The method for managing a distributed office system according to any one of the preceding claims. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a storage step of storing work form information of each of the plurality of users, wherein the switching step automatically switches the image based on the work form information. 15. The method for managing a distributed office system according to any one of claims 14 to 14. 16. The management method for a distributed office system according to claim 15, wherein, when the schedule information is not stored, the switching step automatically switches the image based on the work form information. .