JP2012128784A - Information retrieval device, expert retrieval method and expert retrieval program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify a user who has knowledge on a keyword.SOLUTION: A file server includes: a document management unit 67A for storing access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject in association with an accessed document in response to access to documents 93A stored in an HDD; a keyword reception unit 63A for receiving a keyword; a document search unit 65A for searching for the stored documents 93A to extract at least one document including the received keyword; a relative user specification unit 69A for specifying a relative user relating to the keyword on the basis of the access history information associated with at least one document extracted by the search; and a user information notification unit 81A for notifying user information on the specified relative user.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information search apparatus, an expert search method, and an expert search program, and more particularly to an information search apparatus having a function of searching a document by a keyword, an expert search method and an expert search program executed by the information search apparatus.

  When creating a document, it is created with reference to the documents accumulated so far, or it is created with advice from a knowledgeable person. As a technique for extracting documents for reference from many stored documents, a technique for searching a database or the like by inputting a keyword is known, but the number of documents extracted by the search is large. In some cases, it is troublesome to select an appropriate document. For this reason, a technique for determining the usefulness of a document by the number of accesses is known (Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, when obtaining advice from a user who has knowledge of the theme of a document to be created, terms used, and the like, it is necessary to search for such a user. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-191894 discloses a WEB server that is connected to a plurality of client computers operated by a user via the Internet and includes a processor, a memory, and an interface, and searches for the search keyword and the search keyword. Stores a search history indicating correspondence with a user, receives a search request including a search keyword from the client computer, extracts a search keyword from the received search request, and extracts the search keyword based on the search history Identifying a user corresponding to the search keyword, and transmitting the information related to the identified user to the client computer that is the transmission source of the received search request as information related to a user who has searched the same search keyword in the past. Features WEB server is described .

However, not all search results are successful, and even if the search results are successful, the user does not always use the search results. For this reason, although the conventional WEB server can specify the user who performed the same search in the past, there is a problem that the specified user is not necessarily an expert who has knowledge about the keyword.
JP 2007-293746 A JP 2008-191894A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an expert search apparatus capable of specifying a user who has knowledge about keywords.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an expert search method capable of specifying a user having knowledge about a keyword.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an expert search program capable of specifying a user who has knowledge about a keyword.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, an information search apparatus includes access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject in response to a stored document being accessed. An access history storage means for storing the information in association with the accessed document, a keyword receiving means for receiving a keyword, and a document search means for searching a stored document for extracting one or more documents including the received keyword. , A related user specifying means for specifying a related user related to the accepted keyword based on access history information associated with one or more documents extracted by the search by the document search means, and a user related to the specified related user User information notifying means for notifying information.

  According to this aspect, when the stored document is accessed, the access history information including the user identification information of the access subject is stored in association with the document, and when the keyword is received, the stored document is Related users are identified based on access history information associated with one or more documents retrieved and extracted by the retrieval. Since the access history information associated with the document including the keyword includes the user identification information of the accessing user, the user who has accessed the document including the keyword can be specified. As a result, it is possible to provide an expert search apparatus capable of specifying a user who has knowledge about keywords.

  Preferably, the related user specifying unit is associated with each of the selected one or more documents, and a document selection unit that selects one or more in order of the number of access history information associated with each of the extracted at least one document. A number of access history information for each user that counts the number of access history information for each user identification information included in the access history information, and determines the number of access history information for each user as the number of access times for each user. The related user is specified based on the number of accesses for each user.

  According to this aspect, the number of access history information associated with the document including the keyword is totaled for each user identification information, and the number of access history information totaled for each user is determined as the number of accesses for each user. To identify related users. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the user is familiar with the keyword based on the number of times the document including the keyword is accessed.

  Preferably, the related user specifying means uses a classification table in which a plurality of users are classified into at least one group, totals the number of access times for each user calculated for each user, and calculates the number of access times for each group. It further includes a counting means, and identifies related users based on the calculated number of accesses by group.

  According to this aspect, the number of accesses for each user is counted for each group, the number of accesses for each group is calculated, and the related user is specified based on the number of accesses for each group. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the keyword is known to users belonging to the group based on the number of accesses to the document including the keyword.

  Preferably, according to job execution means for executing a job on a document, keyword extraction means for extracting a keyword from a document that is a target of the job executed by the job execution means, and job execution by the job execution means , A keyword extracted from the document targeted for the job, and user identification information for identifying the instructor instructing execution of the job or / and user identification information for identifying the creator of the document targeted for the job A job history storage means for storing job history information including a job history information means, and a job history search means for searching stored job history information for extracting job history information including an accepted keyword, and a related user The specifying means determines the number of the extracted at least one job history information as a user included in the job history information. Aggregate for each piece of information and determine the number of job history information aggregated for each user as the number of job executions for each user. Adding means for calculating the total number of times for each user by adding the number of times, and specifying the related user based on the total number of times by user calculated by the adding means.

  According to this aspect, according to the job execution, the keyword extracted from the job target document and the user identification information for identifying the instructor who instructed the job execution and / or the job target Job history information including user identification information for identifying a document creator is stored, and when a keyword is received, job history information including the keyword is extracted, and the number of extracted job history information is set as user identification information. The number of job history information aggregated for each user is determined as the number of job executions for each user, and the total number for each user is calculated by adding the number of accesses for each user and the number of job executions for each user for each user. A related user is specified based on another total number of times. For this reason, it is possible to determine whether or not the user is familiar with the keyword based on the sum of the number of times the document including the keyword is accessed and the number of times the job including the keyword is executed.

  Preferably, the related user specifying means uses a classification table in which a plurality of users are classified into at least one group, totals the total number of times calculated for each user, and calculates the total number of times for each group. It further includes a counting means, and identifies related users based on the calculated total number of times by group.

  According to this aspect, the total number of times for each user is totaled for each group, the total number of times for each group is calculated, and the related user is specified based on the total number of times for each group. For this reason, it is possible to determine whether or not the keyword is known to users belonging to the group based on the sum of the number of accesses to the document including the keyword and the number of times the job including the keyword is executed.

  Preferably, the related user specifying unit selects a document selection unit that selects one or more of the extracted at least one document in descending order of the associated access history information, and a creator of each of the selected one or more documents. Identify related users.

  Preferably, the document search means searches for a storage device provided in the file server connected to the network and / or a storage device provided in the own device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an expert search method associates access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject with an accessed document in response to a stored document being accessed. A step of storing, a step of receiving a keyword, a step of searching a document stored for extracting one or more documents including the received keyword, and one or more documents extracted by the search in the step of searching And identifying a related user related to the accepted keyword and notifying user information related to the identified related user based on the access history information associated with.

  If this aspect is followed, the expert search method which can specify the user who has the knowledge regarding a keyword can be provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an expert search program associates access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject with an accessed document in response to the stored document being accessed. A step of storing, a step of receiving a keyword, a step of searching a document stored for extracting one or more documents including the received keyword, and one or more documents extracted by the search in the step of searching Based on the access history information associated with, the computer is caused to specify a related user related to the accepted keyword and a step of notifying user information related to the specified related user.

  If this situation is followed, the expert search program which can specify the user who has the knowledge regarding a keyword can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole outline | summary of the expert search system in one of embodiment of this invention. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an appearance of an MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a file server. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the file server according to the first embodiment, together with data stored in an HDD. It is a figure which shows an example of user data. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the related user search process in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in an MFP according to a second embodiment, together with data stored in an HDD. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of job history information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a job execution process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the related user search process in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU provided in an MFP according to a third embodiment, together with data stored in an HDD. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in a file server according to a third embodiment, together with data stored in an HDD 205. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the related user search process by the job execution apparatus side in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the server side related user search process in 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an expert search system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, expert search system 1 includes multifunction devices (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 100, 100 </ b> A, 100 </ b> B as image forming apparatuses each connected to network 3, file server 200, and authentication server. 300 and personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) 400 to 402. Although the figure shows an example in which three MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100, 100A, 100B are connected to the network 3, the number of MFPs is not limited to this, and may be one or more. That's fine. Further, instead of the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, any apparatus having a function for executing a job may be a facsimile, a printer, or the like. The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 3 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, or the like.

  The PCs 400 to 402, the file server 200, and the authentication server 300 are general computers. Authentication server 300 executes processing for authenticating users who use PCs 400 to 402 and MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. The authentication server 300 stores authentication data that is assigned in advance for each user and includes user identification information for identifying the user and authentication information (for example, a password), and includes PCs 400 to 402, MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. When the user identification information and the authentication information input to the user are received from any of the above, the received user identification information and the authentication information are compared with authentication data stored in advance. The authentication server 300 returns an authentication result indicating a successful authentication if the same authentication data as the user identification information and the authentication information received from any of the PCs 400 to 402 and the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B exists. Returns an authentication result indicating authentication failure.

  In addition, although the example which uses a password as authentication information is shown, you may make it authenticate using biometric information, such as a user's fingerprint, a vein pattern, and an iris. In this case, a reading device for reading biometric information is connected to PCs 400 to 402 and MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, 100 </ b> B, and the authentication data stored in authentication server 300 includes user identification information and biometric information. Each of PCs 400 to 402 and MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B receives biometric information read by the reading device. Each of the PCs 400 to 402 and the MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B transmits the biometric information input from the reading device to the authentication server 300 and causes the authentication server 300 to authenticate.

  In some cases, MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, file server 200, and PCs 400 to 402 also serve as authentication server 300. In this case, authentication server 300 is unnecessary.

  MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B may have the same or different hardware configurations, but include an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet such as paper based on at least image data. Although the hardware configurations of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B may not be the same, here, a case where MFP 100 has a configuration of at least one of other MFPs 100A and 100B will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 10, an image reading unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a paper feeding unit 40, and a post-processing unit 50.

  The ADF 10 automatically conveys a plurality of documents set on the document feed tray 11 one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the image reading unit 20, and the image reading unit 20 The document on which the document image is read is discharged onto the document discharge tray 12. The image reading unit 20 includes a light source that irradiates light to a document conveyed to a document reading position and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light reflected by the document, and scans a document image corresponding to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data that is an electrical signal and outputs the image data to the image forming unit 30. The paper feed unit 40 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 30.

  The image forming unit 30 forms an image by a known electrophotographic method, and performs various data processing such as shading correction on image data received from the outside or image data input from the image reading unit 20. Then, an image is formed on the sheet conveyed by the sheet feeding unit 40 based on the image data after the data processing.

  The post-processing unit 50 discharges the paper on which the image is formed. The post-processing unit 50 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays, and can sort and discharge the sheets on which images are formed. The post-processing unit 50 includes a punch hole processing unit and a staple processing unit, and can perform punch hole processing or staple processing on the discharged paper. The MFP 100 also includes an operation panel 9 as a user interface with the user on the upper surface.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 3, MFP 100 includes a main circuit 101, a facsimile unit 122, and a communication control unit 123. The main circuit 101 is connected to an automatic document feeder (ADF) 10, an image reading unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a paper feeding unit 40, and a post-processing unit 50.

  The main circuit 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112 used as a work area of the CPU 111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 113 for storing programs executed by the CPU 111, and the like. A display unit 114, an operation unit 115, a hard disk drive (HDD) 116 as a mass storage device, and a data communication control unit 117.

  The CPU 111 is connected to the RAM 112, the ROM 113, the display unit 114, the operation unit 115, the HDD 116, and the data communication control unit 117, and controls the entire main circuit 101. The CPU 111 is connected to the facsimile unit 122, the communication control unit 123, the ADF 10, the image reading unit 20, the image forming unit 30, the paper feeding unit 40, and the post-processing unit 50, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The display unit 114 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 115 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The operation unit 115 includes a touch panel provided on the display unit 114.

  The data communication control unit 117 includes a LAN terminal 118 that is an interface for communicating with a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and a serial communication interface terminal 119 for serial communication. . The data communication control unit 117 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal 118 or the serial communication interface terminal 119 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111.

  When a LAN cable for connecting to the network 3 is connected to the LAN terminal 118, the data communication control unit 117 includes other MFPs 100A and 100B, PCs 400 to 402, the file server 200, and the Communicate with the authentication server 300. Furthermore, the data communication control unit 117 communicates with other computers connected to the Internet.

  When a device is connected to the serial communication interface terminal 119, the data communication control unit 117 communicates with a device connected to the serial communication interface terminal 119, for example, a digital camera, a digital video camera, or a portable information terminal. Input and output image data. The serial communication interface terminal 119 can be connected to a memory card 119A incorporating a flash memory. The CPU 111 controls the data communication control unit 117 to read a program to be executed by the CPU 111 from the memory card 119A, and stores the read program in the RAM 112 and executes it.

  The recording medium for storing the program to be executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the memory card 119A, but a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) / MO (Magnetic Optical Disc / A medium such as a semiconductor memory such as an MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically EPROM), or the like may be used. Download a program from a computer connected to the computer and store it in the HDD 116. Alternatively, a computer connected to the Internet may write the program to the HDD 116, and the program stored in the HDD 116 may be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed by the CPU 111. The program here is executed by the CPU 111. It includes not only directly executable programs but also source programs, compressed programs, encrypted programs, and the like.

  The communication control unit 123 is a modem for connecting the CPU 111 to the PSTN 7. The telephone number in PSTN 7 is assigned to MFP 100 in advance, and when a call is made from the facsimile apparatus connected to PSTN 7 to the telephone number assigned to MFP 100, communication control unit 123 detects the call. When the communication control unit 123 detects a call, the communication control unit 123 establishes a call and causes the facsimile unit 122 to communicate.

  The facsimile unit 122 is connected to the PSTN 7 and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN 7 or receives facsimile data from the PSTN 7. The facsimile unit 122 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 116, converts the received facsimile data into print data that can be printed by the image forming unit 30, and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 30. As a result, the image forming unit 30 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 122 on paper. Further, the facsimile unit 122 converts the data stored in the HDD 116 into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN 7.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the file server. Referring to FIG. 4, each file server 200 is connected to a bus 208, a CPU 201 for controlling the entire file server 200, a ROM 202 for storing a program executed by the CPU 201, and operations of the CPU 201. RAM 203 used as an area, network I / F 204 for connecting the file server 200 to the network, HDD 205 as a large-capacity storage device, display unit 206, operation unit 207 for accepting user operation input, external A storage device 209.

  The external storage device 209 is loaded with a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM) 209A storing a program. The CPU 201 loads the program stored in the CD-ROM 209A via the external storage device 209 to the RAM 203 and executes it. The recording medium for storing the program is not limited to the CD-ROM 209A, but a semiconductor memory such as a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (MO / MD / DVD), an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM, and an EEPROM. But you can. Further, the program stored in the HDD 205 may be loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. In this case, the file server 200 may download a program from another computer connected to the network 3 and store the program in the HDD 205. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 201 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU included in the file server according to the first embodiment, together with data stored in the HDD 205. The functions of the CPU 201 provided in the file server 200 shown in FIG. 5 are functions formed in the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 executes an expert search program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 209A.

  Referring to FIG. 5, HDD 205 provided in file server 200 stores document 93A and user data 97A. Document 93A includes application data generated when PCs 400 to 402 execute an application program, and image data obtained by MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B reading a document. The user data 97A includes user identification information for identifying the user, user related information related to the user, and group identification information for identifying the group to which the user belongs. The user related information includes contact information such as a telephone number or / and an email address assigned to the user. The group information is group identification information for identifying a group into which a user is classified among a plurality of predetermined groups. The group is a predetermined class for classifying a plurality of users, and is not particularly limited. Here, the group is a company to which the user belongs. Further, the group may be a group classified by knowledge possessed by the user, for example, may be classified by a specialized knowledge field.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of user data. Referring to FIG. 6, user data 97 includes a plurality of user records. A user record corresponds to one user. The user record includes a user name item, an E-mail item, a telephone number item, and an affiliation item. In the user name item, user identification information for identifying the user is set. In the E-mail item, an e-mail address assigned to the user as the contact information of the user is set. In the telephone number field, a telephone number assigned to the user as the user's contact information is set. In the affiliation item, a department name to which the user belongs is set as a group to which the user belongs.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the CPU 201 includes a document management unit 67A for managing the document 93A stored in the HDD 205, a keyword receiving unit 63A for receiving a keyword, and a document search unit 65A for searching the document 93A using the keyword. A related user specifying unit 69A for specifying a related user based on at least one document extracted by the search, and a user information notifying unit 81A for notifying user information related to the related user.

  The document management unit 67A manages the document 93A stored in the HDD 205. Specifically, the document management unit 67A performs processing for storing a new document in the HDD 205, processing for reading out the document 93A stored in the HDD 205, and changes or deletes the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 in accordance with an access operation by the user. Execute the process. The document management unit 67A is connected via the network I / F 204 to an access operation input by the user operating the PCs 400 to 402 to the PCs 400 to 402, and an access input by the user operating the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B to the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. Accept the operation. The access operation includes an operation for instructing execution of processing for storing a new document in the HDD 205, and an operation for instructing execution of processing for reading out the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 and changing or deleting it. The access operation received by the document management unit 67A from any of the PCs 400 to 402 and the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B includes operation identification information for identifying the access operation and user identification for identifying the user who has input the access operation. Information and document identification information for identifying the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 to be processed based on the access operation.

  For example, if a user who has logged in to the PC 400 inputs an operation for browsing the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 to the PC 400, the PC 400 transmits an access operation indicating that the document 93A is browsed to the file server 200. The file server 200 receives an access operation transmitted from the PC 400 via the network I / F 204. The document management unit 67A receives an access operation from the network I / F 204. In this case, the access operation received from the PC 400 is the document identification information of the document 93A, the operation identification information indicating that it is an operation instructing the process of browsing the document 93A, and the user identification information of the user who has logged into the PC 400. ,including. If a user who has logged in to MFP 100 inputs an operation to print document 93A stored in HDD 205 to MFP 100, MFP 100 transmits an access operation to print document 93A to file server 200. 200 receives an access operation transmitted from the MFP 100 via the network I / F 204. The document management unit 67A receives an access operation from the network I / F 204. In this case, the access operation received from MFP 100 is the document identification information of document 93A, the operation identification information indicating that the operation is an instruction to print the document 93A, and the user identification information of the user who has logged into MFP 100. ,including.

  Upon receiving an access operation from any of PCs 400 to 402 and MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, document management unit 67A executes a process corresponding to the received access operation. When the document management unit 67A executes a process corresponding to the received access operation, the document management unit 67A generates access history information indicating a history of executing the process, and stores it in the HDD 205. As a result, the access history information 95 </ b> A is stored in the HDD 205. The access history information includes at least operation identification information for identifying an access operation, user identification information of a user who has input the access operation, and document identification information of the document 93A that is a target of processing based on the access operation. .

  The keyword receiving unit 63A receives a keyword input by the user. When the user inputs a keyword to the operation unit 207, the keyword is received from the operation unit 207. When the file server 200 is remotely operated by the PCs 400 to 402 or the MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B, for example, when the user inputs a keyword to the PC 400, the PC 400 transmits the input keyword to the file server 200. Therefore, the network I / F 204 receives the keyword from the PC 400. In this case, the keyword receiving unit 63A receives a keyword from the network I / F 204. The keyword receiving unit 63A outputs the received keyword to the document search unit 65A.

  When the keyword is input, the document search unit 65A searches the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 with the input keyword, and extracts the document 93A including the keyword from the document 93A stored in the HDD 205. The document search unit 65A outputs the extracted document 93A to the related user specifying unit 69A.

  The related user specifying unit 69A includes a document selecting unit 73A, a user-specific access count totaling unit 75A, and a group totaling unit 79A. When at least one document 93A is input from the document search unit 65A, the document selection unit 73A selects at least one of the input at least one document 93A as the selected document in descending order of the number of accesses.

  Specifically, the document selection unit 73A firstly selects all of the access history information 95A corresponding to each of at least one document 93A input from the document search unit 65A from the access history information 95A stored in the HDD 205. To extract. For example, when two documents 93A of document identification information “document A” and “document B” are input from the document search unit 65A, the document identification information “document A” is compared with the document 93A of the document identification information “document A”. ”Including all of the access history information including the document identification information“ Document B ”is extracted from the document 93A of the document identification information“ Document B ”. Next, when N or more documents 93A are input from the document search unit 65A, the document selection unit 73A selects the top N documents in the descending order of the number of access history information. Here, N is a predetermined threshold value, and is set when the user inputs to the file server 200 in advance. Then, the document selection unit 73A outputs all of the selected N selected documents at the maximum to the user-specific access count totaling unit 75A.

  The user-specific access count totaling unit 75A counts the number of access history information for each user for all the access history information corresponding to each of up to N selected documents input from the document selection unit 73A. Calculate the number of accesses. The number of accesses by user is the number of accesses for each user identification information. Since the access history information includes user identification information, the access history information is classified into users including the same user identification information, and the number of accesses for each user is calculated by counting the number of access history information for each user identification information. The user-specific access count totaling unit 75A determines whether the output setting is set to the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting. The output setting is a setting value that is set in advance in either the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting, and is set when the user inputs the file server 200 in advance.

  When the output setting is set to the user setting, the user-specific access count totaling unit 75A sorts the user-specific access counts in the descending order of the access counts, and sets the user identification information with priorities in the descending order of the access counts. It outputs to the information notification part 81A. In addition, when the number of user identification information is greater than or equal to M, the user-by-user access count totaling unit 75A rearranges the user identification information in descending order of the number of access counts by user, The information is output to the user information notification unit 81A. Here, M is a predetermined threshold value, and is set when the user inputs to the file server 200 in advance.

  When the output setting is set to the group setting, the user access count totaling unit 75A outputs the user access count to the group totaling unit 79A. When the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the group totaling unit 79A totals the user-specific access counts by group for all the user-specific access counts input from the user-specific access count totaling unit 75A, Calculate the number of accesses by group. The access count by group is the access count by group. The group totaling unit 79A refers to the user data 97A and specifies group identification information of a group in which users of the user identification information are classified. Then, user identification information having the same group identification information is classified into the same group, and the number of accesses by group is calculated. The group totaling unit 79A identifies the group having the largest number of accesses by group, and outputs the group identification information of the identified group to the user information notifying unit 81A.

  When the output setting is set for each user, the user information notifying unit 81A receives a maximum of M pieces of user identification information from the related user specifying unit 69A, and the output setting is set for each group setting. One group identification information is input from the related user specifying unit 69A.

  When the output setting is set for each user, the user information notifying unit 81A refers to the user data 97A for the contact information of each of the maximum M pieces of user identification information input from the related user specifying unit 69A. And a set of user identification information and contact information is output. When the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the user information notifying unit 81A has contact information for all users classified into groups specified by one group identification information input from the related user specifying unit 69A. Information is acquired with reference to the user data 97A, and a set of user identification information and contact information is output.

  When a keyword is received from the operation unit 207 by the keyword receiving unit 63A, the user information notifying unit 81A displays a set of user identification information and contact information on the display unit 206. The user information notifying unit 81A, when the keyword is received from the network I / F 204 by the keyword receiving unit 63A, is a device that has transmitted the keyword via the network I / F 204 to the set of user identification information and contact information. To send to.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of related user search processing in the first embodiment. 7 is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 of the file server 200 executes an expert search program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 209A.

  Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not a keyword has been accepted (step S101). Accepts keywords entered by the user. When the user inputs a keyword to the operation unit 207, the keyword is received from the operation unit 207, and when the network I / F 204 receives a keyword from any of the PCs 400 to 402 or the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, the keyword is received from the network I / F 204. Accept. The process waits until a keyword is accepted (NO in step S101). If a keyword is accepted (YES in step S101), the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 is searched with the accepted keyword. The document 93A including the keyword is extracted from the documents 93A stored in the HDD 205. Then, all access history information 95A corresponding to each of at least one document 93A extracted in step S102 is extracted from the access history information 95A stored in the HDD 205 (step S103). Then, at least one document 93A extracted in step S102 is rearranged in descending order of the number of accesses (step S104). The access count is the number of access history information 95A extracted for the document in step S103.

  In the next step S105, the top N documents are selected as selected documents in the descending order of the number of accesses from the extracted at least one document 93A. Here, N is a predetermined threshold value. If at least one extracted document 93A is N or less, all of the extracted at least one document 93A are selected as selected documents.

  In the next step S106, the access count for each user is calculated by counting the number of access history information for each user for all the access history information corresponding to each of N selected documents at the maximum. The number of accesses by user is the number of accesses for each user identification information. Since the access history information includes user identification information, the access history information is classified into users including the same user identification information, and the number of accesses for each user is calculated by counting the number of access history information for each user identification information.

  In the next step S107, the process branches depending on the setting state of the output setting. If the output setting is set for each user, the process proceeds to step S108. If the output setting is set for each group setting, the process proceeds to step S112. In step S108, the user identification information is rearranged in descending order of the number of accesses by user calculated in step S106. Then, the top M pieces of user identification information are selected in descending order of the number of accesses by user (step S109). Then, the user of the selected user identification information is set as the related user (step S110). A maximum of M users are set as related users.

  Further, the user data 97A including the user identification information of the related user is read from the HDD 205 (step S111), and the process proceeds to step S116. In step S116, the contact information of the related user is acquired from the user data 97A read in step S111. Then, a set of user identification information and contact information is output (step S117), and the process ends. When a keyword is accepted from the operation unit 207 in step S101, a set of user identification information and contact information is displayed on the display unit 206. When a keyword is accepted from the network I / F 204, user identification information and contact information are displayed. The pair with the information is transmitted to the device that has transmitted the keyword via the network I / F 204, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S112, the user data 97A is read from the HDD 205. With reference to the read user data 97A, the group identification information of the group in which the user of the user identification information is classified is specified.

  In the next step S113, the total number of accesses by user is counted for each group, and the number of accesses by group is calculated. User identification information having the same group identification information is classified into the same group, and the number of accesses by group is calculated. In the next step S114, the group having the maximum number of accesses by group is selected as the selected group. In the next step S115, all users classified into the group selected as the selected group are set as related users, and the process proceeds to step S116.

  In step S116, when the process proceeds from step S115, the contact information of the related user is acquired with reference to the user data 97A read from the HDD 205 in step S112. And the set of user identification information and contact information is output, and a process is complete | finished (step S117). When a keyword is accepted from the operation unit 207 in step S101, a set of user identification information and contact information is displayed on the display unit 206. When a keyword is accepted from the network I / F 204, user identification information and contact information are displayed. The pair with the information is transmitted to the device that has transmitted the keyword via the network I / F 204, and the process ends.

  As described above, in the expert search system 1 according to the first embodiment, the file server 200 functions as an expert search apparatus, and user identification for identifying the access subject in response to the document 93A being accessed. The access history information 95A including information is stored in the HDD 205 in association with the accessed document, and when a keyword is received, the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 is searched, and the access associated with one or more documents extracted by the search Based on the history information, a related user related to the keyword is specified, and user information including the contact information of the related user is output.

  The document extracted by searching the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 includes a keyword. Further, since the access history information associated with the extracted document includes user identification information of the accessing user, it is possible to specify the user who has accessed the document including the keyword.

  Further, when the output setting is set for each user, the selected document is selected in the descending order of the number of access history information associated with the document extracted by searching the document 93A stored in the HDD 205. The number of pieces of access history information associated with each document is tabulated for each user, the number of tabulated access history information is determined as the number of accesses for each user, and related users are identified based on the number of accesses for each user. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the user is familiar with the keyword based on the number of times the document including the keyword is accessed.

  Further, when the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the number of accesses by user is totaled for each group, the number of accesses by group is calculated, and the related user is specified based on the number of accesses by group. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the keyword is known to users belonging to the group based on the number of accesses to the document including the keyword.

  In the present embodiment, the file server 200 searches for the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 of the device itself, but may search for the document stored in the HDD 116 of the MFP 100. In this case, MFP 100 may also have a function of managing access to documents stored in HDD 116 and storing an access history in HDD 116.

<Second Embodiment>
In the expert search system 1 in the first embodiment, the expert is determined based on the access history information indicating the history of processing such as browsing, changing, and deleting the document 93A stored in the file server 200. . In other words, a person who frequently accesses the document or a person who belongs to a large group is determined as an expert.

  In the expert search system 1A according to the second embodiment, the expert is judged by adding the number of jobs executed for the document to the access count. In other words, a person who has processed the document a lot or who belongs to a large group is determined as an expert.

  The general outline of the expert search system 1A in the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. The appearance and hardware configuration of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B in the second embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The hardware configuration of the file server 200 is the same as that shown in FIG. Since the hardware configurations and functions of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are the same, MFP 100 will be described as an example here.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the second embodiment, together with data stored in the HDD. The functions of CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 shown in FIG. 8 are functions formed in CPU 111 when CPU 111 executes an expert search program stored in ROM 113, HDD 116, or memory card 119A.

  Referring to FIG. 8, HDD 116 provided in MFP 100 stores document 93 and user data 97. Document 93 includes application data generated when PCs 400 to 402 execute an application program, and image data obtained by MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B reading a document. The user data 97 includes user identification information for identifying the user, user related information related to the user, and group identification information for identifying the group to which the user belongs. The user related information includes contact information such as a telephone number and an e-mail address assigned to the user. Further, the group information is group identification information for identifying a group into which the user is classified among a plurality of predetermined groups. The group is a predetermined class for classifying a plurality of users, and is not particularly limited. Here, the group is a company to which the user belongs. Further, the group may be a group classified by knowledge possessed by the user, for example, may be classified by a specialized knowledge field.

  CPU 111 generates authentication unit 51 that authenticates a user who operates MFP 100, job reception unit 53 that receives a job, job execution unit 55 that executes a job, keyword extraction unit 57 that extracts a keyword, and job history information A job history information generating unit 59, a job history searching unit 61, a keyword receiving unit 63 for receiving a keyword, a document searching unit 65 for searching a document 93 using a keyword, and at least one document extracted by the search. A related user specifying unit 69 that specifies a related user based on the information and a user information notifying unit 81 that notifies user information related to the related user are included.

  Authentication unit 51 authenticates a user who operates MFP 100. Specifically, the authentication unit 51 displays a login screen on the display unit 114. The login screen includes an area for inputting user identification information and an area for inputting authentication information such as a password. When the user inputs user identification information and a password to the operation unit 115, the user identification information and the password are received from the operation unit 115, and the received user identification information and password are transmitted to the authentication server 300 via the data communication control unit 117. The authentication server 300 performs authentication. When the authentication server 300 receives the user identification information and the password, the authentication server 300 compares the user identification information and the password with the authentication data stored in advance, and if both match, returns an authentication result indicating that the authentication is successful. If they do not match, an authentication result indicating authentication failure is returned. Here, the authentication data includes user identification information for identifying the user and a password.

  When the data communication control unit 117 receives the authentication result from the authentication server 300, the authentication unit 51 receives the authentication result. The authentication unit 51 outputs the user identification information of the login user to the job reception unit 53 and the job history information generation unit 59 when the authentication result indicates authentication success, but when the authentication result indicates authentication failure, an error message is output. It is displayed on the display unit 114. When an authentication result indicating successful authentication is received by the authentication unit 51, an operation that is subsequently input to the operation unit 115 is accepted as an operation by a user who is authenticated and permitted to log in.

  The job reception unit 53 receives an input job and outputs the received job to the job execution unit 55. The job is a command for causing the MFP 100 to execute the function of the MFP 100. For example, a print job for executing the print function, a facsimile transmission / reception job for executing the facsimile transmission / reception function, reading a document, storing image data, or This includes a scan job to be sent and a copy job to read an original and print image data. The job also includes user identification information of the user who has instructed execution of the job.

  When the data communication control unit 117 receives a combination of print data and user identification information from the outside, the job reception unit 53 receives the combination of the received print data and user identification information as a print job, and executes the print job as a job. To the unit 55. For example, the data communication control unit 117 receives print data from a personal computer connected via a network.

  Further, after the user identification information is input from the authentication unit 51, the job reception unit 53 receives the job when the logged-in user inputs a job execution instruction operation to instruct the operation unit 115 to execute the job. A job including the input user identification information and specified by the job execution instruction operation is output to the job execution unit 55. The job specified by the job execution instruction operation includes a print job for printing the document 93 stored in the HDD 116, a scan job for storing the image data output by the image reading unit 20 reading the document as the document 93 in the HDD 116, an image A facsimile transmission job in which image data output by reading unit 20 reading and outputting a document is transmitted by facsimile, a copy job in which image reading unit 20 reads image data to be output and printed by image forming unit 30, and image reading unit 20 is an original document Includes a transmission job for transmitting image data to be read and output or a document 93 stored in the HDD 93 by e-mail.

  The document management unit 67 manages the document 93 stored in the HDD 116. Specifically, the document management unit 67 performs a process of storing a new document in the HDD 116, a process of reading out the document 93 stored in the HDD 116, and a change and deletion of the document 93 stored in the HDD 116 in accordance with an access operation by the user. Execute the process. The document management unit 67 receives an access operation input to the PCs 400 to 402 by the user operating the PCs 400 to 402 via the network I / F 204. The access operation includes an operation for instructing execution of processing for storing a new document in the HDD 116, and an operation for instructing execution of processing for reading, changing, and deleting the document 93 stored in the HDD 116. The access operation that the document management unit 67 receives from any of the PCs 400 to 402 includes operation identification information for identifying the access operation, user identification information for identifying the user who has input the access operation, and the access operation. Document identification information for identifying the document 93 stored in the HDD 116 to be processed.

  For example, if a user who has logged in to PC 400 inputs an operation for browsing document 93 stored in HDD 116 to PC 400, PC 400 transmits an access operation indicating that document 93 is browsed to MFP 100. Receives the access operation transmitted by the PC 400 by the data communication control unit 117. The document management unit 67 receives an access operation from the data communication control unit 117. In this case, the access operation received from the PC 400 is the document identification information of the document 93, the operation identification information indicating that the operation is an instruction for processing to browse the document 93, and the user identification information of the user who has logged into the PC 400. ,including.

  When the document management unit 67 receives an access operation from any of the PCs 400 to 402, the document management unit 67 executes processing corresponding to the received access operation. When the document management unit 67 executes a process corresponding to the received access operation, the document management unit 67 generates access history information indicating a history of executing the process and stores it in the HDD 116. As a result, the access history information 95 is stored in the HDD 116. The access history information includes at least operation identification information for identifying the access operation, user identification information of the user who has input the access operation, and document identification information of the document 93 that has been processed based on the access operation. .

  When a job is input from the job reception unit 53, the job execution unit 55 executes the job. If the target document for executing the job is the document 93 stored in the HDD 116, the job execution unit 55 requests the document management unit 67 to read the document, and the job management unit 67 performs the job execution target. The document 93 to be obtained is acquired, and the job is executed on the acquired document 93. When executing a scan job or a copy job, the job execution unit 55 sets image data output by the image reading unit 20 reading a document as a document to be processed. When executing a print job, the job execution unit 55 sets print data received from the outside by the data communication control unit 117 as a document to be processed. The job execution unit 55 outputs the document subjected to the job execution process to the keyword extraction unit 57, and when the job execution is completed, the job execution information generation unit generates job identification information for identifying the type of the executed job. 59.

  When a document is input from the job execution unit 55, the keyword extraction unit 57 extracts a character string that conforms to a predetermined rule from the character strings included in the input document as a keyword. The keywords to be extracted are extracted based on a predetermined standard. For example, all the predetermined criteria may be extracted if they are nouns, or only nouns registered in advance may be extracted. Moreover, you may restrict | limit with the number of characters. If the document is an image, the keyword extraction unit 57 performs OCR (Optical Character Reader) processing to extract keywords. The keyword extraction unit 57 outputs the extracted keyword to the job history information generation unit 59. When extracting a plurality of keywords, the keyword extraction unit 57 outputs all of the plurality of keywords to the job history information generation unit 59.

  The job history information generation unit 59 receives user identification information from the authentication unit 51, job identification information from the job execution unit 55, and a keyword from the keyword extraction unit 57. When job identification information is input from the job execution unit 55, the job history information generation unit 59 generates job history information including the job identification information, user identification information, and keywords, and stores the job history information in the HDD 116. As a result, the job history information 91 is stored in the HDD 116.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of job history information. Referring to FIG. 9, the job history information includes a job type item, a date / time item, a document name item, a user name / creator name item, and a keyword item. In the job type item, job identification information for identifying the job type is set. In the item of document name, document identification information of a document that is a target of job execution is set. In the item of user name / creator, user identification information of a logged-in user who has instructed execution of a job and user identification information of a creator of a document subjected to job execution are set. In the figure, the upper part of one item shows the user identification information of the logged-in user who has instructed execution of the job, and the lower part shows the user identification information of the creator of the document that is the target of job execution. Further, when one piece of user identification information is set for one item, it indicates that the login user who has instructed execution of the job is the same as the creator of the document to be executed.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the keyword reception part 63 receives the keyword which a user inputs. When the user inputs a keyword to the operation unit 115, the keyword is received from the operation unit 115. When the MFP 100 is remotely operated by the PCs 400 to 402, for example, when the user inputs a keyword to the PC 400, the PC 400 transmits the input keyword to the MFP 100, so that the data communication control unit 117 receives the keyword from the PC 400. Receive. In this case, a keyword is received from the data communication control unit 117. The keyword receiving unit 63 outputs the received keyword to the job history search unit 61 and the document search unit 65.

  When a keyword is input from the keyword receiving unit 63, the job history search unit 61 searches the job history information 91 stored in the HDD 116 with the input keyword, and among the job history information 91 stored in the HDD 116. Job history information 91 including a keyword is extracted from. The job history information 91 stored in the HDD 116 and having the same keyword set as the keyword input from the keyword receiving unit 63 in the keyword item is extracted. The job history search unit 61 outputs the extracted job history information 91 to the related user specifying unit 69.

  When a keyword is input, the document search unit 65 searches the document 93 stored in the HDD 116 with the input keyword, and extracts the document 93 including the keyword from the documents 93 stored in the HDD 116. The document search unit 65 outputs the extracted document 93 to the related user specifying unit 69.

  The related user specifying unit 69 includes a user-specific execution count totaling unit 71, a document selection unit 73, a user-specific access count totaling unit 75, an addition unit 77, and a group totaling unit 79. The user-specific execution count totaling unit 71 calculates the job execution count for each user by counting the number of job history information for each user for all the job history information input from the job history search unit 61. The job execution count for each user is the number of job history information including the same user identification information, and indicates the number of times job execution has been instructed. Since job history information includes user identification information, job history information including the same user identification information is classified into the same user, and the number of job history information is calculated by counting the number of job history information for each user identification information. To do. The user execution count totaling unit 71 outputs the user job execution count to the adding unit 77.

  When at least one document 93 is input from the document search unit 65, the document selection unit 73 selects at least one of the input at least one document 93 as a selected document in descending order of the number of accesses. Specifically, the document selection unit 73 firstly selects all of the access history information 95 corresponding to each of at least one document 93 input from the document search unit 65 from the access history information 95 stored in the HDD 116. To extract. For example, when two documents 93 of document identification information “Document A” and “Document B” are input from the document search unit 65, the document identification information “Document A” is added to the document 93 of the document identification information “Document A”. ”Is extracted, and all the access history information including the document identification information“ Document B ”is extracted for the document 93 of the document identification information“ Document B ”. Next, when N or more documents 93 are input from the document search unit 65, the document selection unit 73 selects the top N documents in the descending order of the number of access history information. Here, N is a predetermined threshold value, and is set when the user inputs to MFP 100 in advance. Then, the document selection unit 73 outputs all of the selected N selected documents at the maximum to the user-specific access count totaling unit 75.

  The user-specific access count totaling unit 75 counts the number of access history information for each user for all the access history information corresponding to each of up to N selected documents input from the document selection unit 73, Calculate the number of accesses. The number of accesses by user is the number of accesses for each user identification information. Since the access history information includes user identification information, the access history information is classified into users including the same user identification information, and the number of accesses for each user is calculated by counting the number of access history information for each user identification information. The user-by-user access count totaling unit 75 outputs the user-by-user access count to the adding unit 77.

  The adder 77 receives the user-specific access count from the user-specific access count totaling section 75 and receives the user-specific job execution count from the user-specific execution count totaling section 71. The adder 77 calculates the total number of times for each user by calculating the total number of times obtained by adding the number of accesses and the number of job executions for each user. The total number of times by user is the sum of the number of times of access by user and the number of times of job execution by user.

  The adding unit 77 determines whether the output setting is set to the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting. The output setting is a setting value set in advance in either the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting, and is set when the user inputs the MFP 100 in advance. When the output setting is set to the setting for each user, the adding unit 77 sorts the user identification information in the descending order of the total number of times for each user, and sets the user identification information with the priority in the order of the total number of times for each user as the user information. Output to the notification unit 81. In addition, when the number of user-specific total times is M or more, the user-specific access count totaling unit 75 rearranges the user identification information in descending order of the total number of user-specific numbers, The identification information is output to the user information notification unit 81. Here, M is a predetermined threshold value, and is set when the user inputs to MFP 100 in advance.

  When the output setting is set to the group setting, the adding unit 77 outputs the total number of times for each user to the group totaling unit 79. When the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the group totaling unit 79 totals the user-specific total number input from the adding unit 77 for each group, and the group-specific total number Is calculated. The total number of times per group is the sum of the total number of times per user per group. The group totaling unit 79 refers to the user data 97 and specifies group identification information of a group in which the user of the user identification information is classified. Then, user identification information having the same group identification information is classified into the same group, and the total number of times for each group is calculated. The group totaling unit 79 identifies the group having the maximum total number of times for each group, and outputs the group identification information of the identified group to the user information notifying unit 81.

  When the output setting is set to the user setting, the user information notifying unit 81 receives a maximum of M pieces of user identification information from the related user specifying unit 69 and the output setting is set to the group setting. , One group identification information is input from the related user specifying unit 69. The user information notifying unit 81 refers to the user data 97 for the contact information of each of the maximum M pieces of user identification information input from the related user specifying unit 69 when the output setting is set for each user. And a set of user identification information and contact information is output. When the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the user information notification unit 81 displays the contact information of each user classified into the group specified by one group identification information input from the related user specifying unit 69. The user data 97 is obtained with reference to the user data 97, and a set of user identification information and contact information is output.

  When a keyword is received from the operation unit 207 by the keyword receiving unit 63, the user information notifying unit 81 displays a set of user identification information and contact information on the display unit 206. When the keyword accepting unit 63 accepts a keyword from the data communication control unit 117, the user information notifying unit 81 transmits the keyword identification information and contact information pair via the data communication control unit 117. To the device.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of job execution processing. The job execution process shown in FIG. 10 is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a job execution program stored in ROM 113, HDD 116, or memory card 119A. The job execution program is a part of the expert search program.

  Referring to FIG. 10, CPU 111 determines whether or not the user authentication is successful (step S01). Accepting input of user identification information and a password from a user operating MFP 100B, requesting authentication from authentication server 300, and receiving an authentication result indicating successful authentication from authentication server 300, determines that authentication has succeeded. . If the user authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S09. In step S09, it is determined whether a job has been received. If the data communication control unit 117 receives a set of print data and user identification information from any of the PCs 400 to 402, it is determined that a job has been received. If a job is received, the process proceeds to step S10; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S02, it is determined whether a job execution instruction has been accepted. If a job execution instruction operation is input to the operation unit 115, the job execution instruction is accepted. If a job execution instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S03; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S08. A job is a command for causing MFP 100 to execute a function of MFP 100.

  In step S03, the login user is set as the instructing user. Then, the job is executed (step S04). Then, keywords are extracted from the document to be processed when the job is executed (step S05). The document to be processed when executing the job is determined by the job execution instruction received in step S02, the document 93 stored in the HDD 116, the image data output by the image reading unit 20 reading the document, and It includes print data received from the PCs 400, 401, 402 by the data communication control unit. When a document to be processed when executing a job is image data, the image data is subjected to OCR processing and a keyword is extracted.

  In the next step S06, job history information is generated. The generated job history information is stored in the HDD 116 (step S07). The job history information includes the user identification information of the instructing user set in step S03, the keyword extracted in step S05, and job identification information for identifying the type of job executed in step S04.

  In step S08, it is determined whether a logout condition is satisfied. When a key provided in advance on the operation unit 115 is pressed, or when a predetermined time elapses without the user inputting an operation to the operation unit 115, it is determined that the logout condition is satisfied. If the logout condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S15; otherwise, the process returns to step S02. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the power is switched off. If the power is switched off, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S01.

  On the other hand, if a job is received in step S09, the instructing user is specified in step S10. In step S09, the user identified by the user identification information received together with the print data is specified as the instructing user. In the next step S11, the job received in step S09 is executed. Then, keywords are extracted from the document to be processed when the job is executed (step S12). The document to be processed when executing the job is print data included in the job received in step S09. When the print data is image data, the print data is subjected to OCR processing and a keyword is extracted.

  In the next step S13, job history information is generated. Then, the generated job history information is stored in the HDD 116 (step S14), and the process proceeds to step S15. The job history information includes the user identification information of the instructing user set in step S10, the keyword extracted in step S12, the type of job executed in step S11, here job identification information for identifying a print job Including. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the power source has been switched off. If the power source has been switched off, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S01.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a related user search process in the second embodiment. 11 is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes an expert search program stored in ROM 113, HDD 116, or memory card 119A.

  Referring to FIG. 11, CPU 111 determines whether a keyword has been accepted (step S21). When the user inputs a keyword to the operation unit 207, the keyword is received from the operation unit 207, and when the data communication control unit 117 receives a keyword from any of the PCs 400 to 402, the keyword is received from the data communication control unit 117. The process waits until a keyword is accepted (NO in step S21). If a keyword is accepted (YES in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the document 93 stored in the HDD 116 is searched with the accepted keyword. A document 93 including a keyword is extracted from the documents 93 stored in the HDD 116. Then, all the access history information 95 corresponding to each of the at least one document 93 extracted in step S22 is extracted from the access history information 95 stored in the HDD 116 (step S23). Then, at least one document 93 extracted in step S22 is rearranged in descending order of the number of accesses (step S24). The number of accesses is the number of access history information extracted for each document in step S23.

  In the next step S25, the top N documents are selected as the selected document in descending order of the number of accesses from the extracted at least one document 93. Here, N is a predetermined threshold value. If the extracted at least one document 93 is N or less, all of the extracted at least one document 93 is selected as a selected document.

  In the next step S26, the number of pieces of access history information is totaled for each user for all the access history information corresponding to each of N selected documents at the maximum. Since the access history information includes user identification information, the access history information including the same user identification information is classified into the same group, and the number of access history information is counted for each user identification information.

  In the next step S27, the job history information 91 stored in the HDD 116 is searched with the accepted keyword. From the job history information 91 stored in the HDD 116, job history information 91 in which the same keyword as the keyword accepted in step S21 is set in the keyword item is extracted. Then, for all of the extracted at least one job history information 91, the number of job history information 91 is totaled for each user to calculate the number of job executions for each user (step S28). Since the job history information 91 includes user identification information, the job history information including the same user identification information is classified into the same group, and the number of job history information is counted for each user identification information.

  In the next step S29, by adding the number of access history information for each user identification information tabulated in step S26 and the number of job history information for each user identification information tabulated in step S28, the user is added. Aggregate the total number of times per user for each piece of identification information.

  In the next step S30, the process is branched depending on the setting state of the output setting. If the output setting is set for each user, the process proceeds to step S31. If the output setting is set for each group setting, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S31, the user identification information is rearranged in descending order of the total number of times for each user calculated in step S29. Then, the top M pieces of user identification information are selected in descending order of the total number of times for each user (step S32). Then, the user of the selected user identification information is set as the related user (step S33). A maximum of M users are set as related users.

  Further, the user data 97 including the user identification information of the related user is read from the HDD 116 (step S34), and the process proceeds to step S39. In step S39, the contact information of the related user is acquired from the user data 97 read in step S34. Then, a set of user identification information and contact information is output, and the process ends. When a keyword is accepted from the operation unit 115 in step S21, a set of user identification information and contact information is displayed on the display unit 114. When a keyword is accepted from the data communication control unit 117, the user identification information and contact information are displayed. The pair with the previous information is transmitted to the device that has transmitted the keyword via the data communication control unit 117, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S35, the user data 97 is read from the HDD. With reference to the user data 97, the group identification information of the group into which the user of the user identification information is classified is specified. In the next step S36, the total number of times for each user calculated in step S29 is counted, and the total number of times for each user is totaled for each group to calculate the total number of times for each group.

  In the next step S38, the group having the maximum total number of times for each group is selected as the selected group. In the next step S35, the user classified into the group selected as the selected group is set as the related user, and the process proceeds to step S39.

  In step S39, when the process proceeds from step S38, the contact information of the related user is acquired from the user data 97 read in step S35. And the set of user identification information and contact information is output (step S40), and a process is complete | finished. When a keyword is accepted from the operation unit 207 in step S21, a set of user identification information and contact information is displayed on the display unit 114. When a keyword is accepted from the data communication control unit 117, the user identification information and contact information are displayed. The pair with the previous information is transmitted to the device that has transmitted the keyword via the data communication control unit 117, and the process ends.

  In the expert search system 1A according to the second embodiment, the MFP 100 functions as an expert search apparatus, and when the document 93 is accessed, the access history information 95 including user identification information for identifying the access subject is stored. It is stored in the HDD 116 in association with the accessed document. Further, according to the job execution, the keyword extracted from the job target document and the user identification information for identifying the instructor instructing the job execution and / or the creator of the job target document The job history information including the user identification information for identifying is stored in the HDD 116. When the keyword is received, the selected documents are selected in descending order of the access history information 95 associated with the document extracted by searching the document 93 stored in the HDD 116, and the access associated with each selected document is selected. The number of history information 95 is totaled for each user, the total number of access history information is determined as the number of accesses per user, job history information 91 including keywords is extracted, and the number of extracted job history information is determined by the user. The number of job history information aggregated for each identification information and aggregated for each user is determined as the number of job executions for each user. Further, the total number of times for each user obtained by adding the number of times of access for each user and the number of times of job execution for each user is calculated for each user, and related users are specified based on the total number of times for each user. For this reason, it is possible to determine whether or not the user is familiar with the keyword based on the sum of the number of times the document including the keyword is accessed and the number of times the job including the keyword is executed.

  Further, when the output setting is set to the group setting, the total number of times for each user is totaled for each group, the total number of times for each group is calculated, and the related user is specified based on the total number of times for each group. For this reason, it is possible to determine whether or not the keyword is known to users belonging to the group based on the sum of the number of accesses to the document including the keyword and the number of times the job including the keyword is executed.

<Third Embodiment>
The expert search system 1B in the third embodiment counts the number of accesses in the file server 200, and counts the number of job executions in the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, in the first and second embodiments. This is different from the expert search system 1A.

  The general outline of the expert search system 1B in the third embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. The appearance and hardware configuration of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B in the third embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The hardware configuration of the file server 200 in the third embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. Since the hardware configurations and functions of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are the same, MFP 100 will be described as an example here.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the third embodiment, together with data stored in the HDD. The functions of CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 shown in FIG. 12 are functions formed in CPU 111 when CPU 111 executes an expert search program stored in ROM 113, HDD 116, or memory card 119A.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 8 is that document search unit 65 and document management unit 67 are deleted, related user specifying unit 69 is changed to related user specifying unit 69B, This is the addition of the access count acquisition unit 83 for each user. Unlike the related user specifying unit 69 shown in FIG. 8, the related user specifying unit 69 </ b> B does not include the document selection unit 73 and the user-specific access count totaling unit 75. Since the other functions are the same as those shown in FIG. 8, differences will be mainly described here.

  A keyword is input from the keyword receiving unit 63 to the user-specific access count acquiring unit 83. The user-specific access count acquisition unit 83 transmits an acquisition request including the keyword input from the keyword reception unit 63 to the file server 200. As will be described later, the file server 200 that receives the acquisition request returns a user-specific access count. The access count for each user includes a set of user identification information and access count. When the data communication control unit 117 receives the user-specific access count from the file server 200, the user-specific access count acquisition unit 83 acquires the user-specific access count and outputs it to the related user specifying unit 69B.

  The related user specifying unit 69B includes a user-specific execution count totaling unit 71, an addition unit 77, and a group totaling unit 79. The user-specific execution count totaling unit 71 calculates the job execution count for each user by counting the number of job history information for each user for all the job history information input from the job history search unit 61. The job execution count for each user is the number of job history information including the same user identification information, and indicates the number of times job execution has been instructed. Since job history information includes user identification information, job history information including the same user identification information is classified into the same group, and the number of job history information is calculated by counting the number of job history information for each user identification information. To do. The user execution count totaling unit 71 outputs the user job execution count to the adding unit 77.

  The adder 77 receives the number of accesses for each user from the number of accesses for each user acquisition unit 83, and receives the number of times of job execution for each user from the number of executions count for each user 71. The adder 77 calculates the total number of times for each user by calculating the total number of times obtained by adding the number of accesses and the number of job executions for each user. The total number of times by user is the sum of the number of times of access by user and the number of times of job execution by user.

  The adding unit 77 determines whether the output setting is set to the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting. The output setting is a setting value set in advance in either the user-specific setting or the group-specific setting, and is set when the user inputs the MFP 100 in advance. When the output setting is set to the setting for each user, the adding unit 77 sorts the user identification information in the descending order of the total number of times for each user, and sets the user identification information with the priority in the order of the total number of times for each user as the user information. Output to the notification unit 81. In addition, when the number of user-specific total times is M or more, the user-specific access count totaling unit 75 rearranges the user identification information in descending order of the total number of user-specific numbers, The identification information is output to the user information notification unit 81. Here, M is a predetermined threshold value, and is set when the user inputs to MFP 100 in advance.

  When the output setting is set to the group setting, the adding unit 77 outputs the total number of times for each user to the group totaling unit 79. When the output setting is set to the group-specific setting, the group totaling unit 79 totals the user-specific total number input from the adding unit 77 for each group, and the group-specific total number Is calculated. The total number of times per group is the sum of the total number of times per user per group. The group totaling unit 79 refers to the user data 97 and specifies group identification information of a group in which the user of the user identification information is classified. Then, user identification information having the same group identification information is classified into the same group, and the total number of times for each group is calculated. The group totaling unit 79 identifies the group having the maximum total number of times for each group, and outputs the group identification information of the identified group to the user information notifying unit 81.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functions of the CPU provided in the file server according to the third embodiment, together with data stored in the HDD 205. The functions of the CPU 201 included in the file server 200 illustrated in FIG. 13 are functions formed in the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 executes an expert search program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 209A.

  Referring to FIG. 13, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 5 is that keyword accepting unit 63A is changed to keyword accepting unit 63B, related user specifying unit 69A is changed to related user specifying unit 69C, The user information notification unit 81A is changed to a user-specific access number transmission unit 85A. Since the other functions are the same as those shown in FIG. 5, the differences will be mainly described here.

  When the network I / F 204 receives an acquisition request from any of the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, the keyword receiving unit 63B acquires the acquisition request and extracts a keyword included in the acquired acquisition request. The keyword receiving unit 63B outputs the keyword extracted from the acquisition request to the document search unit 65A.

  The related user specifying unit 69C includes a document selecting unit 73A and a user-specific access count totaling unit 75A. The user-specific access count totaling unit 75A counts the number of access history information for each user for all the access history information corresponding to each of up to N selected documents input from the document selection unit 73A. Calculate the number of accesses. The user access count totaling unit 75A outputs the user access count to the user access count transmission unit 85A.

  The user-specific access count transmission unit 85A transmits the user-specific access count input from the user-specific access count totaling unit 75A to the device that has transmitted the acquisition request among the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B via the network I / F 204. To do.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of related job search processing on the job execution apparatus side according to the third embodiment. 14 is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes an expert search program stored in ROM 113, HDD 116, or memory card 119A.

  Referring to FIG. 14, the difference from the related user search process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is that steps S41 and S42 are executed instead of steps S22 to S26. Referring to FIG. 14, in step S41, an acquisition request is transmitted to file server 200. The acquisition request including the keyword accepted in step S21 is transmitted to the file server via the data communication control unit 117.

  In the next step S42, the number of accesses by user is received from the file server, and the process proceeds to step S27. In step S29, the total number of times for each user is totaled by adding the number of times of access for each user received in step S42 and the number of times of job execution for each user counted in step S28.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of server-side related user search processing according to the third embodiment. The server-side related user search process shown in FIG. 15 is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the file server 200 executes an expert search program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 209A.

  Referring to FIG. 15, the difference from the related user search process shown in FIG. 7 is that step S101 is changed to step S121, steps S107 to S117 are deleted, and step S122 is performed after step S106. Is added. Since the processing in steps S102 to S106 is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, the description thereof will not be repeated here.

  In step S121, it is determined whether an acquisition request has been received. Determination is made based on whether network I / F 204 has received an acquisition request from one of MFPs 100, 100A, and 10B. The process waits until an acquisition request is received (NO in step S121). When an acquisition request is received (YES in step S121), the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the document 93A stored in the HDD 205 is searched with the keyword included in the acquisition request received in step S121.

  In step S122, the number of accesses for each user counted in step S106 is transmitted. The transmission destination is an apparatus that has transmitted the acquisition request received in step S121 among the MFPs 10, 100A, and 100B.

  The expert search system 1B in the third embodiment shares the functions of the MFP 100 in the second embodiment between the file server 200 and the MFP 100, and is the same as the MFP 100 in the second embodiment. There is an effect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the expert search system 1, 1A, 1B has been described. However, the invention can be understood as an expert search method and an expert search program for causing the file server 200 to execute the processing illustrated in FIG. Needless to say. Similarly, it goes without saying that the invention can be understood as an expert search method and an expert search program for causing the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B to execute the processes shown in FIGS. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the invention can be understood as an expert search method and an expert search program for causing the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B to execute the process shown in FIG. 14 and causing the file server 200 to execute the process shown in FIG.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1, 1A, 1B Expert search system, 3 network, 9 operation panel, 10 ADF, 20 image reading unit, 30 image forming unit, 40 paper feeding unit, 50 post-processing unit, 51 authentication unit, 53 job reception unit, 55 job Execution unit, 57 keyword extraction unit, 59 job history information generation unit, 61 job history search unit, 63, 63A, 63B keyword reception unit, 65, 65A document search unit, 67, 67A document management unit, 69, 69A, 69B, 69C related user identification unit, 71 user-specific execution count unit, 73, 73A document selection unit, 75, 75A user-specific access count totaling unit, 77 addition unit, 79, 79A group tabulation unit, 81, 81A user information notification unit, 83 Access count acquisition section by user, 85A Access count transmission section by user, 91 Job history information, 93, 93A Document 95, 95A access history information, 97, 97A user data, 100, 100A, 100B MFP, 101 main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 RAM, 113 ROM, 114 display unit, 115 operation unit, 116 HDD, 117 data communication control unit 119A memory card, 122 facsimile unit, 123 communication control unit, 200 file server, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 network I / F, 205 HDD, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 208 bus, 209 external storage Device, 209A CD-ROM, 300 Authentication server.

Claims (9)

Access history storage means for storing access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject in association with the accessed document in response to access of the stored document;
Keyword accepting means for accepting keywords;
Document retrieval means for retrieving the stored document in order to extract one or more documents including the accepted keyword;
Related user specifying means for specifying a related user related to the accepted keyword based on access history information related to one or more documents extracted by the search by the document search means;
User information notifying means for notifying user information related to the identified related user. The related user specifying means includes: a document selecting means for selecting one or more in order from the largest number of access history information associated with each of the extracted at least one document;
The number of access history information associated with each of the selected one or more documents is totaled for each user identification information included in the access history information, and the number of access history information totaled for each user is used as the number of accesses for each user. Means for counting the number of access times by user to be determined;
The information search device according to claim 1, wherein a related user is specified based on the determined number of accesses for each user. The related user specifying means uses a classification table in which a plurality of users are classified into at least one group, and totals the number of access times for each user calculated for each user, and calculates the number of access times for each group. Further comprising means,
The information search device according to claim 2, wherein a related user is identified based on the calculated number of accesses by group. Job execution means for executing a job on a document;
Keyword extraction means for extracting a keyword from a document that is a target of a job executed by the job execution means;
The keyword extracted from the job target document according to the job execution by the job execution means, the user identification information for identifying the instructor instructing the job execution, and / or the job target document Job history storage means for storing job history information including user identification information for identifying the creator of
Job history search means for searching the stored job history information to extract job history information including the accepted keyword;
The related user specifying means totals the number of the extracted at least one job history information for each user identification information included in the job history information, and calculates the number of job history information totaled for each user Job-specific job execution count aggregation means to determine the execution count,
The related user specifying means includes an adding means for calculating a total number of times for each user obtained by adding the number of times of access for each user and the number of times of job execution for each user for each user,
The information search device according to claim 2, wherein the related user is specified based on the total number of times calculated by the adding unit. The related user specifying means uses a classification table in which a plurality of users are classified into at least one group, totals the total number of times calculated for each user for each group, and calculates the total number of times for each group. Further comprising means,
The information search device according to claim 4, wherein a related user is identified based on the calculated total number of times by group. The related user specifying means is a document selecting means for selecting one or more of the extracted at least one document in descending order of associated access history information;
The information search device according to claim 1, wherein a creator of each of the selected one or more documents is specified as an associated user.   The information search device according to claim 1, wherein the document search means searches for a storage device provided in a file server connected to a network and / or a storage device provided in the device itself. Storing access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject in association with the accessed document in response to the stored document being accessed;
Accepting keywords,
Searching the stored document to extract one or more documents containing the accepted keyword;
Identifying a related user related to the accepted keyword based on access history information associated with one or more documents extracted by the search in the searching step;
And a step of notifying user information related to the identified related user. Storing access history information including user identification information for identifying an access subject in association with the accessed document in response to the stored document being accessed;
Accepting keywords,
Searching the stored document to extract one or more documents containing the accepted keyword;
Identifying a related user related to the accepted keyword based on access history information associated with one or more documents extracted by the search in the searching step;
And a step of notifying user information related to the identified related user.

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