JP2005275471A - Service cooperation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dynamically optimize log information according to a request from a user. <P>SOLUTION: A user operates the display panel of a compound machine, and starts log optimization instructions. This log optimization instructions are provided to instruct a log information storage server to erase IOT cycle-up information included in each log information when the number of pieces of log information stored in the log information storage server is 50 or more. Then, the log information storage server erases the IOT cycle-up information included in each log information when the number of pieces of log information is 50 or more based on the started log optimization instructions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a service cooperation system, and more particularly, to a service cooperation system that performs cooperation processing on a network for multiple services that perform predetermined processing on document data.

  2. Description of the Related Art A network cooperation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that automates various input / output functions or program processing operations performed by users on each device connected via a network is known. .

The network cooperation device described in Patent Document 1 follows the processing order when the input / output function and the program that operate on each device connected to the network are combined and processed according to the usage method of each user. The cooperation processing data is transmitted between the cooperation devices.
JP 2001-306534 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the cooperation process is executed, an audit log and a job log are stored in a storage device. Since the storage capacity of the storage device is finite, if the log size is too large or the number of logs increases, it is necessary to delete old logs. For this reason, conventionally, when all the logs are handled in the same way, there is a problem that important logs are deleted.

  Conventionally, the log recording algorithm is not dynamically switched depending on, for example, day / time, device status, device configuration, and the like. For this reason, log information cannot be recorded / deleted flexibly and efficiently. Furthermore, the log recording / deleting method is fixed, and there is a problem that the user cannot freely customize.

  The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a service cooperation system capable of dynamically optimizing log information according to a user's request.

  A service cooperation system according to the present invention includes a cooperation processing means for cooperatively processing a plurality of services for performing predetermined processing on document data on a network, a storage means for storing log information representing the cooperation processing result, a log information Log information optimizing means for optimizing the log information stored in the storage means based on the instruction information describing the optimization conditions.

  The service is not particularly limited as long as it performs a predetermined process (function) on the document data, and includes, for example, copying, scanning, printing, OCR, format conversion, mail delivery, and the like. The cooperation processing means executes various services as described above in cooperation on the network. As a result, log information which is a processing result of the cooperation processing unit is stored in the storage unit. The log information optimizing unit optimizes the log information stored in the storage unit based on the instruction information describing the optimization condition of the log information.

  Therefore, the service cooperation system effectively utilizes the log information area of the storage unit by optimizing the log information stored in the storage unit based on the instruction information describing the optimization condition of the log information. Can do.

  The log information optimizing unit may optimize the log information based on instruction information describing at least one of log information to be deleted and log information that cannot be deleted as the optimization condition. As a result, it is possible to prevent log information having a low importance level from being deleted to secure a log information area, or to prevent log information having a high importance level from being deleted.

  Further, the log information optimizing means may optimize the log information based on instruction information describing at least one of the number of log information and the time as an execution start condition as the optimization condition.

  The number of log information serving as execution start conditions should be determined according to the importance of log information to be deleted. For example, when the importance of log information to be deleted is low, the number of log information that is an execution start condition may be reduced. And the number should just increase as the importance becomes high. Thereby, log information with low importance can be frequently deleted, and it can be avoided that log information with high importance is immediately deleted.

  The log information optimizing unit may optimize the log information based on a plurality of different instruction information. Thus, a complicated optimization process can be executed by describing different optimization conditions in each instruction information and executing each instruction information.

  The log information optimizing unit may optimize the log information based on instruction information describing activation of other instruction information as the optimization condition. Thereby, the optimization condition of log information can be dynamically switched by executing only one instruction information.

  The service cooperation system according to the present invention effectively utilizes the log information area of the storage means by optimizing the log information stored in the storage means based on the instruction information describing the optimization condition of the log information. can do.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a service cooperation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The service cooperation system 1 is a system in which services that perform predetermined processes on documents are connected on a network, and various services related to documents are linked together and executed as a series of linkage processes. The document is data related to the document, but may include image data and text data, and is not particularly limited.

  Here, a file representing a job flow defined for automating / stylizing service cooperation processing is referred to as an “instruction document”. The service refers to a predetermined process (function) related to a document, and is not particularly limited, such as printing, scanning, copying, character recognition (OCR), mail distribution, folder storage, and the like.

  The service cooperation system 1 includes multifunction devices 10, 20, and 30 that have a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, an instruction sheet storage server 40 that stores an instruction sheet, log information that is an execution result of the instruction sheet, and And a log information storage server 50 for storing offset information for managing this. These devices are connected to each other via a network. In addition to the above, for example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a computer installed with an application program may be connected to the network.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine 10. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the multifunction machines 20 and 30 are configured in the same manner.

  The multifunction device 10 scans an image recorded on a document, records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, develops the electrostatic latent image using monochrome toner or color toner, and records the developed image. A printer unit 12 that transfers and outputs a facsimile message and a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) unit 13 that transmits and receives a facsimile message are provided.

  The multi-function device 10 further includes a controller 14 that controls the whole, a memory 15 that stores image data read by the scanner unit 11, image data received via a network, data of a FAX reception message, and the like, and an icon. A display panel 16 that displays an operation screen and inputs operation information in response to contact with an icon, an input / output port 17 for inputting / outputting data, and a communication control unit 18 for communicating with devices connected to a network. And.

  The scanner unit 11, the printer unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the controller 14, the memory 15, the display panel 16, and the input / output port 17 are connected to each other via a bus. The input / output port 17 is connected to the network via the communication control unit 18. The scanner unit 11 may be incorporated as a part of the FAX unit 13.

  Further, the multifunction machine 10 can access the instruction sheet storage server 40 and the log information storage server 50. At this time, the instruction sheet stored in the instruction sheet storage server 40 and the log information stored in the log information storage server 50 are displayed on the display panel 16 of the multifunction machine 10. At this time, the user can set the parameter of the instruction sheet via the display panel 16 and instruct the activation of the instruction sheet.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an instruction book stored in the instruction book storage server 40. The instruction sheet includes an instruction sheet ID for distinguishing from other instruction sheets and <scan>, <OCR>, and <print> which are services to be linked. This instruction sheet instructs the multifunction device 10 to scan, causes the multifunction device 20 to perform OCR, and causes the multifunction device 30 to print.

  The instruction storage server 40 has instructions for instructing execution of cooperative processing other than that shown in FIG. 3 and instructions for instructing optimization of log information stored in the log information storage server 50 (hereinafter referred to as “instructions”) "Log optimization instruction") is also stored. The log optimization instruction will be described later in detail.

  The instructions stored in the instruction storage server 40 can be activated via a predetermined device (for example, the multifunction machine 10 in this embodiment).

  For example, the user operates the display panel 16 of the multi-function device 10 to select the instruction shown in FIG. 3 from among a plurality of instructions stored in the instruction storage server 40, and activate this instruction. Can be instructed.

  At this time, the multifunction machine 10 reads the instruction sheet shown in FIG. 3 from the instruction sheet storage server 40, executes scan processing based on the instruction sheet, and generates scan data. Then, the multifunction device 10 transmits the scan data and the instruction sheet to the multifunction device 20.

  The multi-function device 20 performs OCR processing of the scan data based on the instruction sheet, and transmits the document data and the instruction sheet that have been subjected to OCR processing to the multi-function device 30. Finally, the multifunction device 30 executes document data print processing based on the instruction sheet. At this time, the log information representing the cooperation processing result of the MFPs 10, 20, and 30 is stored in the log information storage server 50.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of log information stored in the log information storage server 50. The log information represents the execution result of the instruction sheet. Various logs such as a log ID for distinguishing from other log information, IOT (Image Output Terminal) cycle-up information, job start log, job end log, etc. Have information. The IOT cycle up information is IOT rotation start information. There may be one set of job start log and job end log for one service, or one set for one linkage process.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining offset information stored in the log information storage server 50. “Offset” in the figure represents the time-series order of log information. Specifically, the latest log information (log ID) is given an offset of the minimum value “1”. As the log information becomes older, the offset given to the log information increases.

  The service cooperation system 1 configured as described above can optimize the log information of the service cooperation processing based on the log optimization instruction after executing the service cooperation processing based on the instruction.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the log optimization instruction stored in the instruction storage server 40. The log optimization instruction includes an instruction ID for distinguishing from other instructions, <log deletion> indicating a service for deleting log information, <target> indicating a service (log deletion) target, and service execution conditions <Condition> representing the above.

  <Target> and <Condition> are optimization conditions for optimizing log information. Specifically, “X” in <target> represents log information to be deleted and is a parameter that can be set by the user. “Log ≧ n” in <Condition> represents that this service is executed (the log information X is deleted) when the total number of log information becomes n or more. “Time = T” represents that this service is executed when the time reaches T. However, since these two conditions are connected by “or”, this service is executed when either condition is satisfied. Further, “and” may be used instead of “or”. “N” and “T” are parameters that can be set by the user.

  Here, “n” is preferably determined according to the importance of the log information X to be deleted. For example, when the importance of the log information X is low, “n” may be reduced. Then, “n” may be increased as the importance increases. As a result, it is possible to frequently delete log information with a low importance level, or to avoid deleting log information with a high importance level immediately.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another configuration of the log optimization instruction. “Other than“ Y ”in <target> indicates that log information Y is not deleted, that is, log information other than log information Y is deleted. “Y” is a parameter that can be set by the user.

  Here, the user can set the parameters X, Y, n, and T of the log optimization instruction by operating the display panel 16 of the multifunction machine 10. Examples of the log optimization instruction with parameters set are as follows.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a log optimization instruction for instructing deletion of IOT cycle up information. This log optimization instruction is created by the user setting “X = IOT cycle up information” and “n = 50” in the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. This log optimization instruction is written so that when the number of log information stored in the log information storage server 50 becomes 50 or more, the IOT cycle up information included in each log information is deleted. It instructs the storage server 50.

  Here, the reason why n is set to a small value “50” as compared with FIGS. 9 and 10 described later is as follows. In other words, once the processing can be completed or confirmed, as in the case of IOT cycle-up information, information that does not make sense after that is meaningless even if saved, so it is deleted early to secure the storage area as much as possible.

  Therefore, when the user operates the display panel 16 to activate the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. 8, the log information storage server 50 has a log information count of 50 based on the activated log optimization instruction. When this happens, the IOT cycle-up information included in each log information can be deleted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a log optimization instruction for instructing deletion of a job start log. This log optimization instruction is created by the user setting “X = job start log” and “n = 500” in the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. This log optimization instruction stores log information so that the job start log included in each log information is deleted when the number of log information stored in the log information storage server 50 becomes 500 or more. The server 50 is instructed.

  Therefore, when the user operates the display panel 16 to activate the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. 9, the log information storage server 50 determines the number of log information based on the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. When the number reaches 500 or more, a job start log (for example, “scan start log” in FIG. 4) included in each log information can be deleted.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a log optimization instruction for instructing deletion of job information other than the job end log. This log optimization instruction is created by the user setting “Y = job end log” and “n = 1000” in the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. This log optimization instruction instructs the log information storage server 50 to delete log information other than the job end log when the number of log information stored in the log information storage server 50 becomes 1000 or more. To do.

  Here, the reason for leaving the job end log is that if the job end log is deleted, it cannot be determined whether or not the job has ended. Further, the reason why n is set to “1000” which is larger than those in FIGS. 8 and 9 is as follows. That is, when the job information becomes very large, the most important log information (job end log in the present embodiment) is left in order to determine whether or not the job has ended.

  Therefore, when the user operates the display panel 16 to activate the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. 10, the log information storage server 50 determines the number of log information based on the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. All log information except for the job end log (for example, “scan end log” in FIG. 4) included in each log information can be deleted when the number reaches 1000 or more.

  In the log optimization instructions in FIGS. 8 to 10, there is no example of setting the time T. However, the user can of course set the time T via the display panel 16 of the multifunction machine 10.

  As described above, the service cooperation system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention describes an optimization condition for optimizing log information in a log optimization instruction according to a user instruction, and this log optimization instruction By starting and executing the certificate, the log information can be automatically optimized and the log area of the log information storage server 50 can be used effectively.

  Moreover, since the service cooperation system 1 can set the log information to be deleted or the log information to be left as the optimization condition, even if the log information increases, the log information desired by the user is accidentally lost. Can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the user may activate different log optimization instructions. Thereby, the service cooperation system 1 can execute a complicated optimization process for log information by executing a plurality of log optimization instructions.

  Furthermore, the user may describe starting another log optimization instruction as the optimization condition. Thereby, the service cooperation system 1 can dynamically switch the log information optimization processing method (log information acquisition method).

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a design modified within the scope of the claims.

  For example, the log information storage server 50 can optimize log information based on the following log optimization instruction.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of the log optimization instruction. This log optimization instruction includes an instruction ID for distinguishing from other instructions, <log transfer> indicating a service for transferring log information, <target> indicating a target of service (log transfer), log information <Server> representing a transfer destination server and <condition> representing service execution conditions.

  “X and Z” of <target> represents log information to be transferred and is a parameter that can be set by the user. <Server> represents a log information transfer destination server, which is “http://xx.yy.zz.co.jp” in this embodiment. “Log empty size <100 kB” in <Condition> indicates that the service is executed when the empty size (free area) of the log storage area becomes less than 100 kbytes.

  When the user operates the display panel 16 to activate the log optimization instruction shown in FIG. 11, the log information storage server 50 displays the log information when the free size of the log storage area becomes less than 100 kbytes. Transfer X and Z to “http://xx.yy.zz.co.jp”.

  In FIG. 11, the optimization execution start condition is “when the free size of the log area becomes less than 100 kbytes”, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the optimization execution start condition may be “when the ratio (%) of the free size to the log storage area is less than a predetermined value”. At this time, the user may designate either the free size of the log area or the ratio of the free size to the log storage area as the optimization execution start condition.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFPs 10, 20, and 30 have been described as examples of devices that execute services, but the devices are not limited to this. For example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a computer in which an application program is installed may be used.

  In addition, the instruction sheet, the log optimization instruction sheet, and the log information may be stored in any one of the multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30, for example, instead of being stored in the server. That is, the multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30 may have the functions of the instruction sheet storage server 40 and the log information storage server 50, and may optimize the log information stored in the own machine.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the service cooperation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the instruction | indication stored in the instruction | indication storage server. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the log information stored in the log information storage server. It is a figure explaining the offset information memorize | stored in the log information storage server. It is a figure which shows the structure of the log optimization instruction stored in the instruction storage server. It is a figure which shows the other structure of a log optimization instruction document. It is a figure which shows the log optimization instruction document for instruct | indicating deletion of IOT cycle up information. It is a figure which shows the log optimization instruction document for instruct | indicating deletion of a job start log. It is a figure which shows the log optimization instruction document for instruct | indicating deletion of job information other than a job completion log. It is a figure which shows the other structure of a log optimization instruction document.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30 MFP 40 Instruction storage server 50 Log information storage server

Claims (5)

Collaborative processing means for collaborating on a network for a plurality of services that perform predetermined processing on document data;
Storage means for storing log information representing the cooperation processing result;
Log information optimizing means for optimizing log information stored in the storage means based on instruction information describing optimization conditions of log information;
Service linkage system with The log information optimizing unit optimizes the log information based on instruction information describing at least one of log information to be deleted and log information that cannot be deleted as the optimization condition. The service linkage system described. The log information optimizing unit optimizes the log information based on instruction information describing at least one of the number and time of log information serving as an execution start condition as the optimization condition. Item 3. The service cooperation system according to Item 2. The service cooperation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the log information optimization unit optimizes the log information based on a plurality of different instruction information. 5. The log information optimizing unit optimizes the log information based on instruction information describing activation of other instruction information as the optimization condition. 6. Service linkage system.

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