JP2021174167A - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to execute a plurality of processes in an appropriate processing order even when an association between a process requesting entity and an event is changed.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a processor. The processor receives requests for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities, and executes the plurality of processes in a processing order according to a related event, which is an event related to the requesting entity requesting the execution of each process of the plurality of processes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

In a digital multifunction device having a plurality of input means and a plurality of output means, the digital multifunction device has a priority set with a predetermined priority for the department code, the combination of the input means and the output means associated with each job. The department management control system of a digital multifunction device that has a degree management table and determines the order of output processing according to the priority set in the priority management table when multiple jobs are input from the input means at the same time. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3853743

When a request for execution of a plurality of processes is received from a plurality of requesting entities, it may be appropriate to execute the plurality of processes in a processing order according to an event related to the requesting entity. In such a case, if a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of processes are executed in a processing order according to the processing requesting entity, when the association between the processing requesting entity and the event is changed, a plurality of processes are executed in an appropriate processing order. Cannot be executed.

An object of the present invention is to enable a plurality of processes to be executed in an appropriate processing order even if the association between the processing requester and the event is changed.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a processor, and the processor receives requests for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities, and an event related to the requesting entity requesting execution of each process of the plurality of processes. It is an information processing unit characterized by executing the plurality of processes in a processing order according to a related event.
The invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting entity is a user, and the related event is an event that spans the organization to which the user belongs. be.
The invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event straddling the organization is an activity straddling the organization.
The invention according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting entity is an organization, and the related event is an event straddling the organization.
In the invention according to claim 5, the processor assigns a priority to each process of the plurality of processes according to a related event related to a requesting entity requesting execution of the plurality of processes, and the plurality of processes. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing order is determined according to the priority assigned to each processing of the processing.
The invention according to claim 6 is the present invention as a priority according to the specific related event when the specific related event related to the requesting entity that requested the execution of the specific process is valid. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined priority is used for a specific related event.
The invention according to claim 7 states that the specific related event is effective when the processor receives a request for execution of the specific process within the duration of the specific related event. The information processing device according to claim 6, further comprising determination.
The invention according to claim 8 is the lowest priority according to the specific related event when the specific related event related to the requesting subject who requested the execution of the specific process is not valid. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein a priority is used.
The invention according to claim 9 is related to a function of receiving a request for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities to a computer and an event related to the requesting entity requesting the execution of each process of the plurality of processes. It is a program for realizing a function of executing the plurality of processes in a process order according to an event.

According to the invention of claim 1, even if the association between the processing requesting entity and the event is changed, a plurality of processing can be executed in an appropriate processing order.
According to the invention of claim 2, even if the association between the user who requested the process and the event spanning the organization to which the user belongs is changed, a plurality of processes can be executed in an appropriate process order.
According to the invention of claim 3, even if the association between the user who requested the process and the activity across the organization to which the user belongs is changed, a plurality of processes can be executed in an appropriate process order.
According to the invention of claim 4, even if the association between the organization requesting the processing and the event across the organizations is changed, a plurality of processings can be executed in an appropriate processing order.
According to the invention of claim 5, a plurality of processes can be executed in a process order in consideration of the priority according to the event related to the requesting entity of the process.
According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to determine to use a predetermined priority for an event as a priority according to the event related to the requesting entity of processing by an operation of setting the validity of the event. ..
According to the invention of claim 7, it is possible to determine to use a predetermined priority for an event as a priority according to the event related to the requesting entity of processing by an operation of setting the duration of the event. can.
According to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to determine to use the lowest priority as the priority according to the event related to the requesting entity of processing by the operation of setting the invalidity of the event.
According to the invention of claim 9, even if the association between the requesting entity for processing and the event is changed, a plurality of processing can be executed in an appropriate processing order.

It is a figure which showed the whole structure example of the image processing system to which the embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a figure which showed the hardware configuration example of the server in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed an example of the relationship between the department of the company and a project assumed by the Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed an example of the duration of the project assumed by the Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which showed the functional structure example of the information processing apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed the specific example of the user information stored in the user information storage part in the information processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed the specific example of the project information stored in the project information storage part in the information processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing specific examples of processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which showed the operation example of the priority determination part in the information processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which showed the operation example of the processing order determination part in the information processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed an example of the project setting screen displayed in embodiment of this invention.

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

[Overall configuration of image processing system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration example of an image processing system 1 to which the present embodiment is applied. As shown in the figure, the image processing system 1 is configured by connecting the terminal device 10, the server 30, and the image processing device 50 to the communication line 80. Although the terminal device 10, the server 30, and the image processing device 50 are shown one by one in the figure, two or more of these may be provided.

The terminal device 10 is a computer device used by a user who uses the image processing system 1. As the terminal device 10, for example, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a mobile information terminal, or the like may be used.

The server 30 is a computer device that provides a service in response to a request sent from the terminal device 10 by a user operation. As the server 30, for example, a general-purpose personal computer may be used.

The image processing device 50 is a device that performs image processing such as image formation on a recording medium such as paper, image reading from a recording medium such as paper, image transmission to a public line, and image reception from a public line. However, at least one of these may be performed. For example, it is a printer from the viewpoint of only image formation, a scanner from the viewpoint of only image reading, and a copier from the viewpoint of image reading and image formation, and is an image reading and image transmission or image receiving and From the viewpoint of image formation, it is a facsimile.

The communication line 80 is a communication means used for information communication between the terminal device 10 and the server 30 and between the server 30 and the image processing device 50. As the communication line 80, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet may be used.

[Server hardware configuration]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the server 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the server 30 includes a CPU 31 which is a calculation means, a main memory 32 which is a storage means, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 33. Here, the CPU 31 executes various software such as an OS (Operating System) and an application, and realizes each function described later. The main memory 32 is a storage area for storing various software and data used for executing the software, and the HDD 33 is a storage area for storing input data for various software and output data from various software. Further, the server 30 includes a communication I / F 34 for communicating with the outside, a display device 35 such as a display, and an input device 36 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

[Outline of the present embodiment]
In the image processing system 1 having such a configuration, in the present embodiment, the server 30 receives requests for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities, and requests the execution of each process of the plurality of processes. A plurality of processes are executed in a processing order according to a related event that is an event related to the subject.

When the requesting entity is a user, this related event may be an event that spans the organization to which the user belongs. Further, the event may be any event as long as it is an actual event, and may be, for example, an activity.

Further, in the present embodiment, the server 30 assigns a priority to each process of the plurality of processes according to the related event related to the requesting subject who requested the execution of each process, and each process of the plurality of processes. The processing order is determined according to the priority assigned to.

Further, when the specific related event related to the requesting subject requesting the execution of the specific process is valid, the server 30 is predetermined to the specific related event as the priority according to the specific related event. Priority may be used. There are various cases in which this specific related event is effective, but it may be the case that the time when the request for execution of the specific process is received is within the duration of the specific related event.

Alternatively, the server 30 may use the lowest priority as the priority according to the specific related event when the specific related event related to the requesting entity that requested the execution of the specific process is not valid.

Here, the above-mentioned organization may be any group of people for achieving a common goal, but in the following, a department of a company will be taken as an example. In addition, the above activities may be any actions taken with some intention or purpose, and include events, campaigns, etc., but in the following, a project will be taken as an example. A project can be said to be the work of temporary personnel convened to achieve a certain purpose, but the temporary personnel were convened to develop a certain product by focusing on the product rather than the business. It may refer to the product of the case. Further, in the following, as the above processing, a processing for image formation in the image processing apparatus 50 will be described as an example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the department of the company and the project assumed in this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the departments are hierarchically established in this company. Specifically, first, department D001, department D002, department D003, and department D999 are established at the highest level. Then, departments D101, D102, and D103 are established under the department D001, departments D201, D202, and D203 are established under the department D002, and departments D301 and D302 are established under the department D003.

And in this company, each project is carried out by multiple departments. Specifically, project P_A is in charge of departments D101, D202, D301, project P_B is in charge of departments D102, D201, D302, project P_C is in charge of departments D103, D203, and project P_D is in charge of department D999. ing.

Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the duration of the project assumed by the present embodiment. In the figure, a band-shaped mark or a triangular mark indicates the duration. The figure also shows the system date on the day when the server 30 receives the processing request as an example of the time when the request for execution of the specific process is received.

As shown in the figure, the duration of Project P_A is from January 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. The duration of Project P_B is from July 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019. The duration of Project P_C is from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020. Project P_D has a lifespan of only one day, November 1, 2019. Then, July 10, 2019, when the server 30 receives the processing request, is within the duration of the projects P_A and P_B, but outside the duration of the projects P_C and P_D.

[Functional configuration of information processing device]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment. Here, in the information processing device 40, the CPU 31 (see FIG. 2) of the server 30 reads a program for realizing each functional unit described later from, for example, the HDD 33 (see FIG. 2) into the main memory 32 (see FIG. 2) and executes the program. By doing so, it can be regarded as a device to be realized.

As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 40 includes a processing request receiving unit 41, a processing request information storage unit 42, a user information storage unit 43, a project information storage unit 44, a priority determination unit 45, and a processing order determination. A unit 46 and an output instruction unit 47 are provided.

The processing request receiving unit 41 receives the processing request transmitted by the terminal device 10 by the operation of the user. In the present embodiment, the processing request receiving unit 41 is provided as an example of means for receiving requests for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities.

The processing request information storage unit 42 stores information related to the processing request received by the processing request receiving unit 41 (hereinafter, referred to as “processing request information”). The processing request information will be described later in detail, but is composed of a request ID, a user name, a project name, a priority, the number of pages, and the like.

The user information storage unit 43 stores information about a user who uses the image processing system 1 (hereinafter, referred to as "user information"). The specific content of the user information will be described later, but the user information is composed of a user name, a department, and the like.

The project information storage unit 44 stores information (hereinafter, referred to as “project information”) related to the project registered in connection with the business. The project information is composed of the project name, priority, department, period, etc., although the specific contents will be described later.

First, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit 43 to identify the department to which the user who made the processing request belongs. Next, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the project information stored in the project information storage unit 44, searches for the priority of the project in charge of the department, and determines the priority of the corresponding processing request. Specifically, when a processing request is received within the duration of the project in charge of the department, the priority determination unit 45 sets the priority set for the project as the priority of the corresponding processing request. On the other hand, if there is a processing request outside the duration of the project that the department is in charge of, or if there is a processing request from a department that is not in charge of any project, the priority determination unit 45 sets the default priority. Set the priority of the corresponding processing request. In the present embodiment, the priority determination unit 45 is provided as an example of means for assigning a priority according to a related event related to the requesting subject who requested the execution of each process to each process of the plurality of processes. There is.

The processing order determination unit 46 sorts the processing requests stored in the processing request information storage unit 42, which are waiting for processing, with the priority determined by the priority determination unit 45 as the first index and the request ID as the second index. Determines the processing order of processing based on the processing request. In the present embodiment, the processing order determination unit 46 is provided as an example of means for determining the processing order according to the priority assigned to each processing of the plurality of processing.

The output instruction unit 47 transmits the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42 to the image processing device 50 in the processing order determined by the processing order determination unit 46, thereby forming an image in the image processing device 50. To instruct. In the present embodiment, the output instruction unit 47 is used as an example of means for executing a plurality of processes in a processing order according to a related event, which is an event related to a requesting entity that has requested execution of each process of the plurality of processes. It is provided.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of user information stored in the user information storage unit 43. As shown in the figure, the user information is associated with the user name and the department. The user name is the name of a user who is an employee of this company, and the department is a department that constitutes this company. For example, the figure shows that user U001 belongs to department D101.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of the project information stored in the project information storage unit 44. As shown in the figure, the project information is associated with the project name, priority, department, and period. The project name is the name of the project, and the priority is a numerical value indicating the priority set for the project. As this numerical value, it is assumed that the higher the priority, the larger the value is set. The department is the department in charge of the project, and the period is the duration of the project. For example, the figure shows that project P_A has a priority of 5, departments D101, D202, and D301 are in charge, and their duration is from January 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. ..

8 (a) to 8 (c) are diagrams showing specific examples of processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42. As shown in the figure, the processing request information is associated with a request ID, a user name, a project name, a priority, a state, and the number of pages. The request ID is the identification information assigned in the order of receiving the processing request, the user name is the name of the user who made the processing request, and the project name is the name of the project in charge of the department to which the user belongs. The priority is a numerical value indicating the priority set for the project, the state is the progress status of the processing based on the processing request, and the number of pages is the number of pages for which image formation is performed based on the processing request. be. Although omitted in the figure, the processing request information may be further associated with information related to other print settings such as the color mode and the number of copies.

Of these, (a) shows the state of the processing request information immediately after the processing request is received by the processing request receiving unit 41 and stored in the processing request information storage unit 42. In this state, as shown in the figure, only the request ID, the state, and the number of pages are set.

Further, (b) shows the state of the processing request information after the priority determination unit 45 determines the priority. In this state, for example, the user U001 who requested the processing is specified from the processing request of the request ID "4". Further, from the user information of FIG. 6, it can be seen that the user U001 belongs to the department D101, and from the project information of FIG. 7, the department D101 is in charge of the project P_A, and the project P_A is within the lifetime. I understand. In this way, the priority "5" of the project P_A becomes the priority of the processing request of the request ID "4". As a result, in the processing request information of FIG. 8B, the user U001, the project name P_A, and the priority "5" are set for the request ID "4". For processing requests with request IDs "2" and "3", the default priority " 0 "is set.

Further, (c) shows the state of the processing request information after the processing order determination unit 46 determines the processing order. In this state, the lines whose status is "waiting for printing" in (b) are sorted in descending order with the priority as the first index and in ascending order with the request ID as the second index. Specifically, the processing order of the processing request of the request ID "4" having the priority "5" is set to the first, and the processing request of the request ID "1" having the priority "3" is set to the second. The processing requests of request IDs "2" and "3" having a priority of "0" are set as the third and fourth. In (c), the image processing device 50 has already been instructed to form an image based on the processing request of the request ID "4" whose processing order is the first, and the state of the request ID "4" is "printing". It has become.

[Operation of information processing device]
In the information processing device 40, first, the processing request receiving unit 41 receives the processing request from the terminal device 10 and stores it in the processing request information storage unit 42 as the processing request information. At that time, the processing request itself shall be saved in association with the request ID of the processing request information.

Next, the priority determination unit 45 determines the priority of the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42. In the processing request information, the processing request is accumulated as the status "waiting for printing" unless printing based on the processing request is started. Here, the status in the processing request information is "waiting for printing" 1. A case where the priority is determined for one processing request will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the priority determination unit 45 in this case.

First, the priority determination unit 45 analyzes the processing request stored in association with the request ID of the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42, and acquires the user name of the user who requested the processing ( Step 401). Then, the priority determination unit 45 sets the user name acquired in step 401 for the request ID of the processing request in the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42 (step 402).

Next, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit 43 and identifies the department corresponding to the user name acquired in step 401 (step 403).

Next, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the project information stored in the project information storage unit 44, and determines whether or not the project name corresponding to the department specified in step 403 is registered (step 404).

If it is determined in step 404 that the project name corresponding to the department is registered, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the project information stored in the project information storage unit 44, and the processing request reception time is set. It is determined whether or not the time is within the period corresponding to the project name specified in step 404 (step 405).

If it is determined in step 405 that the processing request reception time is within the period, the priority determination unit 45 uses the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42 as the processing request request ID. On the other hand, the project name specified in step 404 is set (step 406).

Further, the priority determination unit 45 refers to the project information stored in the project information storage unit 44 and acquires the priority corresponding to the project name specified in step 404 (step 407). Then, the priority determination unit 45 sets the priority acquired in step 407 for the request ID of the processing request in the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42 (step 408).

On the other hand, if it is not determined in step 404 that the project name corresponding to the department is registered, or if it is not determined in step 405 that the processing request reception time is within the period, the priority determination unit In the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42, 45 sets a default priority for the request ID of the processing request (step 409).

The priority determination unit 45 ends the operation by performing the above processing for all the processing requests whose status in the processing request information is "waiting for printing".

Next, the processing order determination unit 46 determines the processing order of the processing request using the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the processing order determination unit 46 at this time.

First, the processing order determination unit 46 extracts a portion whose state is "waiting for printing" from the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42 (step 451).

Next, the processing order determination unit 46 sorts the portion whose state extracted in step 451 is "waiting for printing" in descending order with the priority as the first index, and sorts in ascending order with the request ID as the second index (). Step 452).

As described above, the processing order determination unit 46 ends the operation.

Finally, the output instruction unit 47 instructs the image processing device 50 to form an image based on the processing request information in the order of the processing request information stored in the processing request information storage unit 42.

Here, the project setting screen for setting the project information in the project information storage unit 44 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the project setting screen 100. As shown in the figure, the project setting screen 100 includes a project name input field 101, a priority input field 102, a department input field 103, a period input field 104, a save button 105, and a cancel button 106.

The project name input field 101, the priority input field 102, the department input field 103, and the period input field 104 are input fields for inputting the project name, priority, department, and period in the project information of FIG. 7, respectively. The figure shows a state in which the project name, priority, department, and period corresponding to the project P_A are input.

When the save button 105 is pressed in this state, the input information is saved in the project information storage unit 44. On the other hand, when the cancel button 106 is pressed, the saving of the input information in the project information storage unit 44 is cancelled.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, the case where the processing requesting entity is a user is taken as an example, but the processing requesting entity may be an organization. In this case, the related event may be a cross-organizational event.

For example, when the user concurrently belongs to a plurality of departments, when the user makes a processing request, the user inputs the department to which the user belongs according to the content of the document to be processed, and the printer driver of the terminal device 10 determines the department to which the user belongs. Should be recorded in the PDL (Page Description Language) file of the processing request. Then, the information processing device 40 analyzes the processing request in step 401 for the operation of the priority determination unit 45 shown in FIG. 9, and in addition to the user information, the information of the department is added to the user information. It should be acquired. Further, the information processing apparatus 40 performs the operation of the priority determination unit 45 shown in FIG. 9 by executing step 402, skipping step 403, and executing step 404 and subsequent steps. The priority of the project in charge may be assigned to the processing request.

Further, in the above embodiment, the project period is used to determine whether to assign the priority of the project to the processing request depending on whether the processing request reception time is within the period. The usage of the period is not limited to this. Instead of the project information, information such as an event or a campaign may be registered, and a period may be used in order to perform processing based on a processing request related to the event or campaign holding period first. For example, on the day of the company's exhibition, processing based on the processing request of the visitor is performed first, or a discount is set for the corporate use of the image processing device 50 in the shared office, and it is based on the processing request from the corporation during the period. It is conceivable that the processing is performed first.

Further, although not mentioned in the above embodiment, it is also conceivable to use an image processing device 50 having an interrupt function. In that case, if a process request with a higher priority occurs while executing a process based on a certain process request, the process being executed is interrupted and the process based on the process request with a higher priority is executed by an interrupt. You may do it. Then, after the processing is completed, the interrupted processing may be continuously executed.

[Processor]
In the present embodiment, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, and is a general-purpose processor (for example, CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) or a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA). : Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.)

Further, the operation of the processor in the present embodiment is not limited to one processor, but may be performed by a plurality of processors existing at physically separated positions in cooperation with each other. Further, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in the present embodiment, and may be changed.

[program]
The processing performed by the information processing apparatus 40 in the present embodiment is prepared as, for example, a program such as application software.

That is, the program that realizes the present embodiment has a function of receiving a request for execution of a plurality of processes from a plurality of requesting entities to a computer, and an event related to the requesting entity that requests the execution of each process of the plurality of processes. It can be regarded as a program for realizing a function of executing a plurality of processes in a process order according to a certain related event.

The program that realizes this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

10 ... Terminal device, 30 ... Server, 40 ... Information processing device, 41 ... Processing request reception unit, 42 ... Processing request information storage unit, 43 ... User information storage unit, 44 ... Project information storage unit, 45 ... Priority determination unit , 46 ... Processing order determination unit, 47 ... Output instruction unit, 50 ... Image processing device

Claims (9)

Equipped with a processor
The processor
Accepts requests to execute multiple processes from multiple requesters,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that a plurality of processes are executed in a processing order according to a related event, which is an event related to a requesting subject that has requested execution of each of the plurality of processes. The requesting entity is a user.
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the related event is an event that spans an organization to which the user belongs. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event straddling the organization is an activity straddling the organization. The requesting entity is an organization
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related event is an event that spans the organization. The processor
For each process of the plurality of processes, a priority is assigned according to the related event related to the requesting entity that requested the execution of each process.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing order is determined according to the priority assigned to each processing of the plurality of processing. When a specific related event related to the requesting entity that requested the execution of the specific process is valid, the processor is predetermined to the specific related event as a priority according to the specific related event. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein a priority is used. A claim, wherein the processor determines that the specific related event is valid when the time when the request for execution of the specific process is received is within the duration of the specific related event. The information processing device according to 6. The processor is characterized in that when a specific related event related to a requesting entity that has requested execution of a specific process is not valid, the lowest priority is used as the priority according to the specific related event. The information processing device according to claim 5. On the computer
A function that accepts requests for execution of multiple processes from multiple requesters,
A program for realizing a function of executing the plurality of processes in a processing order according to a related event, which is an event related to the requesting subject who requested the execution of each process of the plurality of processes.

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