JP6844197B2 - Information processing system, program, processing execution method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system, a program, and a processing execution method.

The flow of daily work and procedures is called a workflow, and the system that automates the workflow with an information processing device is called a workflow system. In addition, information that defines what kind of processing is performed in the workflow system is called workflow information. The workflow system refers to this workflow information and executes the workflow.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of workflow information. A workflow is constructed by combining the three processes. The user displays the user interface prepared by the workflow system on a PC (Personal Computer), and defines the workflow by combining the processes prepared in advance. The server that manages the workflow acquires the user definition and creates the workflow information. There are various types of processing such as input such as scanning, output such as printing, OCR (Optical Character Reader), and file conversion that automatically converts the file format to PDF or the like. Therefore, the user can define a workflow suitable for the user by combining the prepared processes, and can efficiently execute routine tasks and the like.

Further, the workflow information once created can be changed by the user as needed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a workflow system that flexibly changes a service provided by a workflow according to a combination of flows.

However, in the conventional workflow system, there is a problem that a change in the workflow of one user affects the workflow of another user. This will be described with reference to the figures.

FIG. 2A is a workflow defined by user A, and FIG. 2B is a workflow defined by user B. User A and User B work together in a workflow. First, the user A uses a workflow in which a certain manuscript (document) is scanned, OCR is performed, and the document is sent to the user B by e-mail. When the user B receives the e-mail from the user A, the bibliographic items of the e-mail are converted into a QR code (registered trademark), attached to the document received by the e-mail, and saved in the cloud storage.

When the workflows are linked in this way, for example, if user B changes the e-mail address of the process of receiving data from another workflow, user A also changes the e-mail address of the destination (user B) in the process of sending the workflow mail. Must.

In this way, when different workflows are linked, a change in one workflow affects the other workflow, and it becomes necessary to change the other workflow as well.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system in which a plurality of processes can be easily linked.

The present invention is an information processing system that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined, and provides the first process definition information having an abstract output process and the abstract input process. When the storage means for storing the second process definition information to be possessed and the first process definition information are executed, it is determined that the input process is executed after the output process, and the second set in the output process. Has a process execution means for executing the second process definition information associated with the second user based on the information about the user .
The first process definition information is associated with the first user, and the process execution means is used for the input process among the second process definition information associated with the second user. The second process definition information in which the information about the first user is set is specified and executed .

It is possible to provide an information processing system in which a plurality of processes can be easily linked.

It is a conceptual diagram of workflow information. It is an example of the figure explaining the workflow of the user A and the user B. It is a figure which shows the concept about the definition of a plurality of workflows to cooperate with each other. This is an example of a schematic system configuration diagram of a workflow system. This is an example of a schematic hardware configuration diagram of a workflow server. This is an example of the hardware configuration diagram of the MFP. This is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the workflow server, the PC, the cloud storage, and the MFP in a block shape. This is an example of a sequence diagram showing the overall operation of the workflow system. It is a figure which shows an example of the login screen when a user logs in to a workflow server. It is a figure which shows an example of the workflow definition screen operated by the user A. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the mail received by the user B. It is a figure which shows an example of the permission setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the workflow cooperation setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the mail received by the user A. This is an example of the flow selection screen displayed on the MFP. This is an example of a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the workflow system when the user A executes the scan.

Hereinafter, the information processing system for carrying out the present invention and the processing execution method performed by the information processing system will be described with reference to the drawings with reference to examples.

<Outline of workflow>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a concept regarding the definition of a plurality of linked workflows. The processing of the workflow 101 executed by the user A is scanning, OCR and OUT, and the processing of the workflow 102 executed by the user B is IN, QR code (registered trademark, hereinafter abbreviated) assignment and storage in the storage.

The OUT or IN process is an abstract input / output when the two workflows send and receive data to be processed. The abstraction means that the specific output destination or input source is not determined, but OUT outputs the data to be processed and IN inputs the data to be processed. However, it is decided that IN will be executed after OUT.

The user of the workflow 101 sets the user B as the output destination by setting the information about the user B to OUT. When the consent of the user of the workflow 102 is obtained, the workflow server described later sets the information about the user A in IN and sets the user A as an input source. As a result, the workflow of user A and the workflow of user B are linked by OUT and IN.

For OUT and IN, it is not necessary to set a specific destination such as an e-mail address. OUT and IN are automatically connected, and it is sufficient that information about user B is set in OUT. In IN, at least information about user A may be set. As a result, the workflow server can perform each process of the workflow 102 of the user B on the process result of the workflow 101 of the user A. Even if the user B changes the e-mail address, the two workflows can be linked without the user A redefining the workflow 101.

<Terminology>
The output process is a process of outputting data. The input process is a process of accepting data input. Specifically, in order to move data from one device to another, the process performed by one device is the output process, and the process of acquiring the data by another device is the input process.

<System configuration example>
FIG. 4 is an example of a schematic system configuration diagram of the workflow system 100. Local net A (reference numeral 9A) and local net B (reference numeral 9B) are each connected to the Internet 8. Local nets A and B are LANs constructed in facilities such as companies. The Internet 8 is a network in which computers are connected on a global scale and networks around the world are interconnected. The local nets A, B and the Internet 8 may be constructed either by wire or wirelessly, and a part thereof may be constructed by wire or wirelessly.

User A's PC10A and MFP30 (Multi-Function Peripheral) are connected to the local net A. User A scans a document using this MFP 30. However, the MFP 30 may be connected to the local net B. Further, the PC 10B of the user B is connected to the local net B.

The MFP 30 is an example of a device in which data to be processed is input, and has at least a scanner function. The MFP 30 may also have a printer function and a facsimile function. The MFP 30 may be referred to as a multifunction device, an image forming apparatus, a multifunction printer, a copier, an office device, or the like. Further, it is not necessary to use the scanner function to convert the original into image data by the scanner function. For example, as a device for inputting data, a digital camera or various devices having a function of a digital camera may be used instead of the MFP 30. Further, a device that distributes video such as a video conference terminal may be used. In this case, for example, voice recognition is applied to the video, and the cloud storage 70 can be used to save the video together with the video.

The PC10A of the user A or the PC10B of the user B is an information processing device used as a terminal device operated by the user A and the user B (for example, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a workstation, etc.). In addition to a PC, it may be called a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a wearable PC, or the like. PC10A, 10B are used by the user to define the workflow.

Further, a workflow server 50 and a cloud storage 70 are connected to the Internet 8. The workflow server 50 and the cloud storage 70 may be connected to the local net A or B.

The workflow server 50 is realized by one or more information processing devices, and there may be two or more workflow servers 50. The workflow server 50 is an example of an information processing system. The workflow server 50 controls the overall execution of the workflow. Specifically, it functions as a Web server for the user to define a workflow, and stores workflow information as process definition information in which a process is defined. Workflow information is provided in response to a request from the user, and the workflow selected by the user is executed based on the workflow information by using the resources of the workflow server 50 or various information processing devices on the network.

The cloud storage 70 is a storage (storage device) on the Internet 8. In addition to the cloud storage 70, it may also be called online storage. By using the cloud storage 70, the company does not need to build a file server environment by itself, and the capacity can be increased or decreased by the required amount. Further, the document data on the cloud storage 70 can be taken out by a PC or the like accessed via the Internet 8.

Although the cloud storage 70 has a large capacity of storage, it generally has a function as an information processing device as well as a storage function. The cloud storage 70 is realized by one or more computers, and there may be two or more cloud storage 70s. The cloud storage 70 may be integrated with the workflow server 50.

The workflow server 50 and the cloud storage 70 preferably support cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to a usage pattern in which resources on a network are used without being aware of specific hardware resources. The workflow server 50 and the cloud storage 70 do not need to be housed in one housing or provided as a group of devices, and hardware resources are dynamically connected / disconnected according to the load. Consists of. Further, it may be built in a virtual environment in one information processing device, or may be built across a plurality of information processing devices.

The PCs 10A, 10B and MFP30 of the local nets A and B can access the workflow server 50 and the cloud storage 70 connected to the Internet 8, but conversely, the workflow server 50 and the cloud storage 70 directly connect to the PC and the MFP30. Never access (because the firewall restricts communication).

<Hardware configuration example>
FIG. 5 is an example of a schematic hardware configuration diagram of the workflow server 50. The workflow server 50 includes a CPU 201 and a memory 202 that enables high-speed access to data used by the CPU 201. The CPU 201 and the memory 202 are connected to other devices or drivers of the workflow server 50, such as the graphics driver 204 and the network driver (NIC) 205, via the system bus 203.

The graphics driver 204 is connected to the LCD (display device) 206 via a bus to monitor the processing result by the CPU 201. Further, the network driver 205 connects the workflow server 50 to the network N at the transport layer level and the physical layer level to establish a session with the PC or the cloud storage 70.

An I / O bus bridge 207 is further connected to the system bus 203. On the downstream side of the I / O bus bridge 207, a storage device such as an HDD (hard disk drive) 209 is used by IDE, ATA, ATAPI, serial ATA, SCSI, USB, etc. via an I / O bus 208 such as PCI. Is connected. The HDD 209 stores a program 209p that controls the entire workflow server 50. HDD 209 may be SSD (Solid State Drive). The program 209p may be distributed in a state of being stored in a storage medium, or may be distributed from a server for program distribution.

Further, an input device 210 such as a keyboard and a mouse (called a pointing device) is connected to the I / O bus 208 via a bus such as USB, and receives inputs and commands by an operator such as a system administrator. There is.

The hardware configuration of the workflow server 50 shown in the figure shows a hardware element that is preferably provided in the workflow server 50. Further, in order to support cloud computing, the physical configuration of the workflow server 50 of this embodiment does not have to be fixed, and hardware resources are dynamically connected / disconnected according to the load. It may be configured.

The hardware configuration diagrams of the PCs 10A and 10B of the users A and B and the cloud storage 70 are the same as those of the workflow server 50, or even if they are different, there is no problem in the explanation of the workflow system 100 of the present embodiment. To do.

<< Hardware configuration diagram of MFP30 >>
FIG. 6 is an example of a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP 30. The MFP 30 is realized by, for example, a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. The MFP 30 includes a controller 300, an operation panel 306, an external I / F 307, a communication I / F 308, a printer 309, a scanner 310, a short-range wireless communication device 311 and the like.

The controller 300 has a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, an NVRAM 304, and an HDD 305. The ROM 303 stores various programs and data. The RAM 302 temporarily holds programs and data. The NVRAM 304 stores, for example, setting information and the like. Further, the HDD 305 stores the program 305p and data.

The CPU 301 realizes the control and functions of the entire MFP 30 by reading the program 305p, data, setting information, etc. from the ROM 303, NVRAM 304, HDD 305, etc. onto the 302 and executing the processing.

The operation panel 306 has an input unit for receiving input from the user and a display unit (providing a touch panel) for displaying. The external I / F 307 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 312 and the like. The recording medium 312 includes a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, a USB memory, and the like.

The communication I / F 308 is an interface for performing communication via the network N. In the present embodiment, the workflow server 50 is communicated with the workflow server 50 via the local net A.

The printer 309 is a printing device for printing and outputting data to be printed. The scanner 310 is a scanning device that optically reads a document and converts it into electronic data.

The short-range wireless communication device 311 is, for example, a communication device according to communication standards of NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth (registered trademark). For example, in the case of NFC, it may be called a reader / writer or the like.

The MFP 30 according to this embodiment can realize various processes as described later by the hardware configuration described above.

<About functions>
FIG. 7A is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the workflow server 50 in a block shape. The workflow server 50 includes a user management unit 51, an email transmission / reception unit 52, a flow processing unit 53, a flow processing permission unit 54, a UI unit 55, an OCR processing unit 56, a QR code generation unit 57, a PDF generation unit 58, and data transmission / reception. It has a part 59.

Each of these functional units included in the workflow server 50 is realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 5 by an instruction from the CPU 201 according to the program 209p expanded from the HDD 209 to the memory 202. A function or means. This program 209p is distributed from a server for program distribution or in a state of being stored in a storage medium.

The user management unit 51 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and accepts and authenticates the login from the user's PC10A, 10B or the MFP30 to the workflow server 50. If the authentication is successful, the user can execute the workflow. It also manages user information about users as shown in Table 1. The user information is stored in the user information DB 53a.

The mail transmission / reception unit 52 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p to control the network driver 205 and the like, and transmits / receives mails.

The flow processing unit 53 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and executes the workflow based on the workflow information. It also manages workflow-related information as shown in Tables 2-4. Information about the workflow is stored in the workflow information DB 51a.

The flow processing permission unit 54 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and performs processing related to the coupling of workflows with respect to two linked workflows. That is, when the user A sets the information about the user B in the OUT, the user B is notified to that effect, and when the user B permits, the information about the user A is set in the IN. Details will be described in Tables 3 and 4 and the like.

The UI unit 55 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and provides screen information for the UI (user interface) displayed by the user's PCs 10A and 10B and the MFP30. That is, it has a function of a Web server (or a Web application is provided). Screen information is created by, for example, HTML, a script language, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), or the like. In this embodiment, for example, screen information for a user to operate PCs 10A and 10B to define a workflow is provided.

The OCR processing unit 56 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and performs OCR processing on the image data transmitted from the MFP 30 to generate text data.

The QR code generation unit 57 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and decodes the workflow-related information (for example, the workflow transmitted from the user A) into the QR code.

The PDF generation unit 58 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and generates a PDF having image data and text data obtained by OCR processing. For example, a transparent PDF in which text data is transparently superimposed is created.

The data transmission / reception unit 59 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p and controlling the network driver 205, and transmits / receives data between the PCs 10A, 10B and the MFP 30 via the network.

The workflow information DB 51a and the user information DB 53a may be provided in a place where the workflow server 50 can access, in addition to the workflow server 50.

<< PC function example >>
FIG. 7B is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the PCs 10A and 10B in a block shape. The PCs 10A and 10B have a UI display unit 11, a data transmission / reception unit 12, and a mail transmission / reception unit 13.

Each of these functional units of the PCs 10A and 10B is realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 5 by an instruction from the CPU 201 according to the program 209p expanded from the HDD 209 to the memory 202. A function or means.

The UI display unit 11 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 processing the program 209p and screen information, and displays the user interface using the screen information transmitted from the workflow server 50 or the cloud storage 70.

The mail transmission / reception unit 13 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p to control the network driver 205 and the like, and transmits / receives mail.

The data transmission / reception unit 12 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p and controlling the network driver 205, and transmits / receives data via the network.

<< Example of cloud storage 70 function >>
FIG. 7C is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud storage 70 in a block shape. The cloud storage 70 has a user management unit 71, a UI unit 72, a file management unit 73, and a data transmission / reception unit 74.

Each of these functional units included in the cloud storage 70 is realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 5 by a command from the CPU 201 according to the program 209p expanded from the HDD 209 to the memory 202. A function or means.

The user management unit 71 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like, and accepts and authenticates the login from the user's PCs 10A and 10B to the workflow server 50. As the user information for authentication, the user information DB 53a of the workflow server 50 may be used, or the user information DB of its own may be used.

The UI unit 72 is a function of a Web server (or a Web application) that is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p or the like and provides screen information for the UI displayed by the user's PCs 10A and 10B. Has. In the present embodiment, screen information for the user to operate the PCs 10A and 10B to operate the cloud storage 70 is provided.

The file management unit 73 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p, and writes the files transmitted from the workflow server 50 and the user's PCs 10A and 10B to the HDD 209 and the like. In addition, the file requested from the user's PCs 10A and 10B is read from the HDD 209.

The data transmission / reception unit 74 is realized by the CPU 201 of FIG. 5 executing the program 209p and controlling the network driver 205, and transmits / receives data via the Internet 8 or the like.

<< Functional example of MFP30 >>
FIG. 7D is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the MFP 30 in a block shape. The MFP 30 has a UI display unit 31, a data transmission / reception unit 32, and a scanning unit 33.

Each of these functional units included in the MFP 30 is a function or means realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 6 by an instruction from the CPU 301 according to the program 305p expanded from the HDD 305 to the RAM 302. Is.

The UI display unit 31 is realized by the CPU 301 of FIG. 6 executing the program 305p or the like, and displays the user interface using the screen information transmitted from the workflow server 50 or the cloud storage 70.

The scanning unit 33 is realized by the CPU 301 of FIG. 6 executing the program 305p to control the scanner 310, etc., and reads the original to generate image data.

The data transmission / reception unit 32 is realized by the CPU 301 of FIG. 6 executing the program 305p to control the communication I / F 308, and transmits / receives data via the network.

<User information>
The user information managed by the user management unit 51 will be described with reference to Table 1.

表１は、ワークフローサーバ５０のユーザ管理部５１が管理するユーザ情報の一例である。ユーザ情報はユーザ情報ＤＢ５３ａに記憶されている。ユーザ情報は、ユーザＩＤ、表示名、パスワード、及び、所持しているフローＩＤの各項目を有する。ユーザＩＤはユーザを特定する情報である。ＩＤはIdentificationの略であり識別子や識別情報という意味である。ＩＤは複数の対象から、ある特定の対象を一意的に区別するために用いられる名称、符号、文字列、数値又はこれらのうち１つ以上の組み合わせをいう。フローＩＤ以外のＩＤについても同様である。

Table 1 is an example of user information managed by the user management unit 51 of the workflow server 50. The user information is stored in the user information DB 53a. The user information includes each item of the user ID, the display name, the password, and the possessed flow ID. The user ID is information that identifies the user. ID is an abbreviation for Identification and means an identifier or identification information. An ID refers to a name, a code, a character string, a numerical value, or a combination of one or more of these, which is used to uniquely distinguish a specific object from a plurality of objects. The same applies to IDs other than flow IDs.

The user ID and password are login information for the user to log in to the workflow server 50, and the display name is a user name displayed by the MFP 30 or the like as the user's name. The possessed flow ID is information for specifying the workflow information defined (or received and managed) by the user.

An e-mail address is exemplified as the user ID in Table 1, but in the present embodiment, this e-mail address is used to identify the user. Therefore, the e-mail address as the user ID is not changed. It is also possible not to use the e-mail address as the user ID. In this case, the user ID is associated with an e-mail address different from the user ID, and the user ID is not changed, but the e-mail address can be changed. Even if the e-mail address of the user B is changed, there is no problem because the user ID of the user B is set in the OUT of the workflow of the user A.

<Workflow information>
The workflow information will be described with reference to Tables 2 to 4.

表２は、ワークフロー情報の一例である。ワークフロー情報は、フローＩＤ、フロー名、処理ＩＤ、及び、説明の各項目を有する。フローＩＤは表１と同じものである。フロー名はワークフロー情報が表示される際の名称である。処理ＩＤの項目にはワークフローが有する各処理が設定されている。処理ＩＤの項目はワークフローで実行される各処理の順番も設定されている。説明は、ワークフローがどのような処理を含むかの情報である。

Table 2 is an example of workflow information. The workflow information has each item of flow ID, flow name, processing ID, and description. The flow ID is the same as in Table 1. The flow name is the name when the workflow information is displayed. Each process that the workflow has is set in the item of the process ID. In the item of process ID, the order of each process executed in the workflow is also set. The description is information on what kind of processing the workflow includes.

<Processing data>

表３は、処理データの一例である。処理データはワークフロー情報のより詳細な情報である。表３の処理データはフローＩＤが１と２のワークフロー情報が含む処理の処理名、及び処理設定を示している。表３の処理データは、ユーザＢがユーザＡのワークフローのＯＵＴを許可する前の例である。表３（ａ）はユーザＡのワークフロー情報であり、表３（ｂ）はユーザＢのワークフロー情報である。

Table 3 is an example of processed data. The processed data is more detailed information of the workflow information. The processing data in Table 3 shows the processing name and processing setting of the processing included in the workflow information of the flow IDs 1 and 2. The processing data in Table 3 is an example before user B permits OUT of the workflow of user A. Table 3 (a) is the workflow information of the user A, and Table 3 (b) is the workflow information of the user B.

Parameters of each process are set in the process settings. In the OUT of the process 3, which is an abstracted process, the user ID of the user B as the output destination is set (user A sets as described later). The workflow itself of user B is not specified for OUT, but user B may be specified to the last. In Table 3, the e-mail address of the user B is set in OUT, but any information that can identify the user is sufficient.

Since user B has not yet permitted the workflow linkage, there is no process setting for IN with the process ID of 4. Until the user B permits the cooperation of the workflow of the user A with the OUT, the IN may be set to wait for the permission of the user B, such as "accepted": false ".

表４は、ユーザＢによってユーザＡのワークフローのＯＵＴとの連携が許可された後の処理データの例である。表３と比較すると処理４の「ＩＮ」に処理設定が設定されている。この処理設定では、ユーザＡのワークフローのデータが入力されること（from）、ユーザＡのユーザＩＤ（user-a@example.com）、入力を許可するフローＩＤ（acceptFlowId":1）、及び、許可されたこと（"accepted"：true）が追加されている。

Table 4 is an example of the processed data after the user B is permitted to cooperate with the OUT of the workflow of the user A. Compared with Table 3, the processing setting is set in "IN" of the processing 4. In this processing setting, the workflow data of user A is input (from), the user ID of user A (user-a@example.com), the flow ID that allows input (acceptFlowId ": 1), and Accepted ("accepted": true) has been added.

According to the OUT and IN processing settings in Table 4, the workflow server 50 can link the workflow of user A and the workflow of user B. First, when the processes 1 and 2 are executed, the user ID of the user B is specified because the process 3 is a process called OUT. The user information in Table 1 specifies one or more flow IDs possessed by user B. Of the workflow information specified by this flow ID, the workflow information whose first process is IN is specified. Since the flow ID of processes 1 to 3 is 1 and the workflow of the user A, the workflow information of the user A and the user B in which the flow ID = 1 is set in IN is specified.

By setting the user ID of the user B in OUT and the user ID of user A in IN in this way, the two workflows can be linked. Further, when the user B has a plurality of workflow information included in the process called IN, since the flow ID and the user ID linked to IN are set, appropriate workflows can be linked with each other.

<Operation procedure>
FIG. 8 is an example of a sequence diagram showing the overall operation of the workflow system 100.
S1: The PC 10B of the user B defines a workflow (input workflow) described later. Specifically, the user B operates the PC 10B to communicate the PC 10B with the workflow server 50, and the UI display unit 11 of the PC 10B displays the screen information created by the UI unit 55 of the workflow server 50. The PC 10B accepts the workflow definition by accepting the operation of the user B. The definition contents are transmitted to the workflow server 50, and the workflow information is stored in association with the user B.

S2: PC10A of user A also defines a workflow (output workflow) in the same manner.

S3: The PC 10A of the user A accepts the operation of the user A and accepts the OUT setting as the output process of his / her workflow. The PC 10A of the user A transmits this OUT setting to the workflow server 50. At least information about user B is set in OUT. It can be seen that the data is output to the workflow of the user B at the OUT by setting the information about the user B at the OUT.

S3.1: The data transmission / reception unit 59 of the workflow server 50 receives the definition of the workflow including OUT, and the flow processing permission unit 54 detects that the OUT setting is user B. Then, the user B is notified by e-mail using the e-mail transmission / reception unit 52. It should be noted that sending and receiving mail via the mail server is omitted.

S3.2: The flow processing permission unit 54 of the workflow server 50 registers that the workflow information of the user A is waiting for permission from the user B. Therefore, the workflow information of the user A is not in an executable state.

S4: User B's PC10B accepts user B's operation or automatically receives an email. The user B sees the mail and performs the operation described later to allow the user A to cooperate with the workflow.

S5: The PC 10B of the user B accepts the operation related to the permission of cooperation, and the data transmission / reception unit 12 notifies the workflow server 50 of the permission to be the output destination of the workflow information of the user A.

S5.1: The flow processing permission unit 54 of the workflow server 50 registers that the workflow information of the user A has been permitted by the user B, and sets the information about the user A in the IN of the workflow information of the user B.

S5.2: The mail transmission / reception unit 52 of the workflow server 50 notifies the user A of the permission from the user B by mail.

S6: User A logs in to the MFP 30 to execute his / her workflow. The UI display unit 31 of the MFP 30 receives the login information (user name and password, IC card, biometric authentication information, etc.) of the user A.

S6.1: The data transmission / reception unit 32 of the MFP 30 requests the workflow server 50 to log in. As a result, when the user A logs in to the workflow server 50, the workflow that can be executed by the user A is downloaded to the MFP 30. Only the workflow defined by the user A may be displayed, or all the workflows that the user A can execute may be displayed.

S7: User A selects the workflow set by himself / herself in step S2. When the workflow is executed, the MFP 30 executes a scan. The scanning unit 33 of the MFP 30 scans the document and generates image data.

S7.1: Since the workflow is being executed, the data transmission / reception unit 32 of the MFP 30 transmits the scan result (image data) to the workflow server 50. Alternatively, the execution body of each process is set in the workflow information, and the MFP 30 refers to this and transmits the scan result (image data) to the workflow server 50.

S7.1.1: The flow processing unit 53 of the workflow server 50 executes the workflow of the user A.

S7.1.1.1: First, the OCR processing unit 56 of the workflow server 50 executes the OCR processing. The text data and image data obtained by the OCR process are generated as PDF.

S7.1.1.2: Next, the flow processing unit 53 executes the workflow of the user B because the OUT of the workflow of the user A specifies the workflow of the user B.

S7.1.1.2.1: First, the flow processing unit 53 assigns a QR code to the PDF using the QR code generation unit 57. The content of the QR code is, for example, the fact that it is linked with the workflow of user A, the date and time, and the like.

S7.1.1.2.2: The data transmission / reception unit 59 of the workflow server 50 stores the PDF to which the QR code is attached in the cloud storage 70.

<Screen example>
Subsequently, some screen examples used in the sequence diagram of FIG. 8 will be described.

<< Login screen >>
FIG. 9 shows an example of the login screen 401 when the user logs in to the workflow server 50. This login screen 401 is displayed in steps S1 and S2 or step S6 of FIG. The login screen 401 can be displayed by any of PC10A, 10B or MFP30. The login screen 401 has a user ID field 402, a password field 403, and an account creation field 404. If the user already has login information, the user enters the user ID (email address) in the user ID field 402 and the password in the password field 403. If there is no login information, the user can create the login information by pressing the account creation field 404.

<< Workflow definition screen >>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the workflow definition screen 411 operated by the user A. The workflow definition screen 411 is displayed in steps S1 and S2 of FIG. 8, but FIG. 10 is that of step S2. The workflow definition screen 411 has a menu unit 412, a process list unit 413, a bibliographic setting unit 414, a process editing unit 415, and an explanation unit 416. The menu unit 412 has a button or the like that causes a screen transition or the like, but is omitted except for the logout button 412a.

The process list unit 413 displays a list of processes that can be selected by the user. The user drags the desired process with the mouse or finger to move it to the process editorial unit 415. The bibliographic setting unit 414 is a field in which the flow name and description of the flow data in Table 2 are input by the user. The user can operate the PCs 10A and 10B to input the flow name and description.

The process editing unit 415 is an area for the user to edit the process and its order. The user can define or change the order of processing by connecting the processing dragged from the processing list unit 413 with the processing with an arrow. This makes it possible to visually express the connection state of the actual processing. In FIG. 10, OUT processing is selected. The explanation unit 416 is an input field for processing settings that can be set by the user while displaying the details of the processing selected by the processing editing unit 415. For example, in the OUT process, a user ID (email address in the present embodiment) is input to specify the output destination user.

<< Email content >>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the mail received by the user B. This email is displayed in step S4 of FIG. Since the user A has specified the user ID of the user B in the OUT process of the workflow definition screen 411 of FIG. 10, the flow processing permission unit 54 sends an e-mail to the e-mail address of the user B. The flow processing permission unit 54 can include the content set by the user A on the workflow definition screen 411 of FIG. 10 in the mail.

From the description 421 that "User A has requested the following permission", it can be seen that User B is a request from User A. Since the flow processing permission unit 54 identifies the logged-in user A, it can be described in the mail that the request is from the user A.

From the description 422 of "type: permission to connect to the flow", it can be seen that the user B is the permission to connect (link) to the workflow of the user B. The flow processing permission unit 54 determines that the connection is permitted by the process of OUT and describes it in the mail. Further, the description 423 "flow name: business 1" indicates that the user B has the flow name "business 1". The flow processing permission unit 54 describes in the e-mail that the flow name is "business 1" based on the description of the bibliographic setting unit 414.

According to the description 424 "Explanation: Sending the OCR file to the user B", it can be seen that the user B sends the OCR file to the workflow of the user B. The flow processing permission unit 54 describes the "explanation" in the e-mail based on the description of the bibliographic setting unit 414.

The description 424 "URL: https://www.si.ricoh.co.jp/flow/accept/f57c7b214b59480bb3e135d6035c3243" is a connection destination for user B to make a setting to allow or disallow the request to the workflow server 50. .. The description 426 "Inquiry: https://www.ricoh.co.jp/support/" is a connection destination for User B to inquire about unclear points. These URLs are predetermined except for "f57c7b214b59480bb3e135d6035c3243". “F57c7b214b59480bb3e135d6035c3243” is information unique to the request from user A to user B, and is generated by the flow processing permission unit 54. The workflow server 50 can detect that the user B is permitted or denied to access by specifying "f57c7b214b59480bb3e135d6035c3243".

When the user B presses the URL of the description 425, the PC 10B communicates with the flow processing permission unit 54 of the workflow server 50. The UI unit 55 generates screen information, and the data transmission / reception unit 59 transmits it to the user B's PC10B. As a result, the PC 10B of the user B displays the permission setting screen 431 of FIG.

<< Permission setting screen >>
FIG. 12 shows an example of the permission setting screen 431. The permission setting screen 431 is displayed when the user B presses (selects) "URL: https://www.si.ricoh.co.jp/flow/accept/f57c7b214b59480bb3e135d6035c3243" in the content of the mail shown in FIG.

The permission setting screen 431 has a "permit" button 432, a "not permit" button 433, a flow name column 434, an explanation column 435, and a workflow column 436. The user B presses the "permit" button 432 when permitting the workflow linkage from the user A, and presses the "not permit" button 433 when the linkage is not permitted. In the flow name column 434, the explanation column 435, and the workflow column 436, the contents set by the user A on the workflow definition screen 411 of FIG. 10 are displayed.

When the user B presses the "permit" button 432, the fact that the "permit" button 432 is pressed is transmitted to the workflow server 50, and the flow processing permit unit 54 acquires the screen information generated by the UI unit 55 and sends / receives data. It is transmitted to the PC 10B of the user B via the unit 59. As a result, the workflow linkage setting screen 441 of FIG. 13 is displayed. The workflow linkage setting screen 441 is a user interface for the user B to make settings related to workflow linkage.

When the user B presses the "do not allow" button 433, the process related to the workflow setting ends.

<< Workflow linkage setting screen >>
FIG. 13 shows an example of the workflow linkage setting screen 441. The workflow cooperation setting screen 441 has a flow list unit 442, a button list unit 443, and a cooperation setting unit 444. In the flow list unit 442, a list 442a of workflow flow names that can be used by the user B and a "create flow" button 442b are displayed. What can be used by user B is, for example, workflow information associated with the department to which user B belongs. In the example of FIG. 13, since users A and B are in the same department or the like, the workflow information of user A (business 1) is displayed in addition to the workflow information of user B (business 2).

The "create flow" button 442b is a button for the user B to define a new workflow, instead of the user B performing an operation for linking the workflow.

The button list unit 443 includes a "return to the original screen" button 443a, a "quit without permission" button 443b, and a "select a displayed flow" button 443c. The "return to original screen" button 443a is a button for returning to the permission setting screen 431 of FIG. The “Exit without permission” button 443b is a button for terminating the process related to the workflow linkage. The "select the flow being displayed" button 443c is a button for the user B to determine the workflow of the user B to be linked with the workflow of the user A.

The linkage setting unit 444 visually displays the workflow processing of the user A and the workflow processing selected by the user B in the flow list unit 442. When the workflow of the user A has a process of OUT444b and the workflow selected by the user B in the flow list unit 442 has a process of IN444c, the UI display unit 11 of the PC10B of the user B connects OUT444b and IN444c with an arrow 444a. By doing so, the user B can visually grasp that the two workflows are linked. The two workflows may be linked by the user B connecting OUT and IN with a mouse or a finger.

The cooperation setting unit 444 has a user column, a name column, and an explanation column, all of which display the information set on the workflow definition screen 411.

When the "select the flow to be displayed" button 443c is pressed, it is transmitted to the workflow server 50 that the workflow (business 1) of the user A and the workflow (business 2) selected by the user B are linked.

The flow processing permission unit 54 of the workflow server 50 determines that the business 1 and the business 2 are linked, and creates the processing data in Table 4. That is, "{" from ":" user-a@example.com "," acceptFlowId ": 1," accepted ": true}" is set in the process called IN of process 4. As a result, the user ID and flow ID of the user A, and the fact that the user B permits the cooperation of the workflow of the user A are set in the workflow information.

<< Email content >>
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the mail received by the user A. This email is displayed in step S5.2 of FIG. Since the user B permits the workflow linkage setting screen 441 of FIG. 13, the flow processing permission unit 54 sends an e-mail to the e-mail address of the user A. The flow processing permission unit 54 can include the contents set by the user A on the workflow definition screen 411 of FIG.

In the description 451 that "the cooperation is permitted by the user B", the user A can see that the user B has permitted the cooperation of the workflow. Since the flow processing permission unit 54 provides the workflow linkage setting screen 441 to the user B, it can determine that the user B has permitted it and describe it in the mail.

According to the description 452 of "Flow name: Business 1", the user A can determine the workflow for which the user A has requested cooperation. The "flow name" is included in the workflow linkage setting screen 441. According to the description 453 of "Explanation: Sending an OCR file to User B", User A can understand the contents of the workflow for which User A has requested cooperation. "Explanation" is included in the workflow linkage setting screen 441.

The description 454 "URL: https://www.si.ricoh.co.jp/" is the URL of the workflow server 50, and the user A can log in and check the workflow information and the like. The description 455 of "Inquiry: https://www.ricoh.co.jp/support/" is the same as that of FIG.

<< Flow selection screen of MFP30 >>
FIG. 15 is an example of the flow selection screen 461 displayed on the MFP 30. The flow selection screen 461 is displayed in step S7 of FIG. The flow selection screen 461 is displayed on the operation panel 306 of the MFP 30 when the user A logs in to the workflow server 50. The flow selection screen 461 has a selection button 462, an explanation pop-up 463, and an execution button 464.

The selection button 462 is a button for selecting a workflow, and here, the flow names of all the workflows that can be executed by the user A are displayed. Although business 1, business 2, and business 3 are displayed, business 1 is not displayed if business 1 is not permitted by user B. Even if it is a specification that is displayed (a specification that also displays a workflow waiting for permission in S3.2 of the sequence diagram of FIG. 8), an error will occur if user A executes it.

When the user A presses the selection button 462 with a finger, the UI display unit 31 of the MFP 30 displays a description of the workflow corresponding to the button and the display name of the user who owns the workflow. These are included in the screen information.

<Operation of workflow system 100 when executing scan>
FIG. 16 is an example of a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the workflow system 100 when the user A executes a scan. The process of FIG. 16 is started when the user A selects a workflow and presses the execution button 464.

When the MFP 30 analyzes the workflow information, the first process is scanning, so the scanning unit 33 scans the document (S10).

The scanning unit 33 refers to the processing setting of the first processing of the processing data in Table 4 and generates the image data of the original (S20).

The data transmission / reception unit 32 of the MFP 30 transmits the image data to the workflow server 50 (S30). The determination to send to the workflow server 50 is predetermined as an operation at the time of executing the workflow. Alternatively, the execution subject of each process may be defined in the workflow information. In this case, the MFP 30 transmits the image data to the execution subject (workflow server 50).

The data transmission / reception unit 59 of the workflow server 50 receives image data and workflow information. The flow processing unit 53 determines whether or not the process after the scan can be called (executable) (S40). That is, it is confirmed whether it is possible to communicate with the device on the cloud that executes the process after the workflow information scan, or whether it has a software module that executes the process after the workflow information scan.

If it is not callable (No in S50), the workflow server 50 does not execute the workflow and the process of FIG. 16 ends.

When it can be called (Yes in S50), the flow processing unit 53 of the workflow server 50 executes the next process defined in the workflow information (S60).

Since the second process is OCR, the OCR processing unit 56 applies OCR to the image data, and the PDF generation unit 58 generates a PDF with text data (S70).

Since the third process is OUT, the flow processing unit 53 reads the workflow flow information of the user B (S80). That is, since the user ID of the user B is set by referring to the OUT processing setting, the flow ID = 2 possessed by the user B is specified by referring to the user information in Table 1. According to the flow data in Table 2, the processes included in the workflow information of flow ID = 2 are processes 4 to 6. According to the processing data in Table 4, since processing 4 is IN, it can be executed after OUT. Further, referring to the IN processing setting of the processing 4, the user ID of the user A is set. The flow ID of the business 1 being executed is 1, but according to Table 1, the user ID of the flow ID = 1 indicates the user A. Further, although the flow ID = 1 is set in the IN of the process 4, the flow ID of the business 1 being executed is 1. From the above, the flow processing unit 53 determines that the workflow information of the flow ID = 2 is executed, and reads this from the workflow information DB 51a.

Next, since the fifth process is a QR stamp, the flow processing unit 53 of the workflow server 50 uses the QR code generation unit 57 to assign a QR code to the PDF (S90).

Since the sixth process is saved in the storage, the data transmission / reception unit 59 of the workflow server 50 saves the PDF with the QR code in the cloud storage 70 (S100). An access token is attached so that users A and B can access the PDF later. This access token is notified to users A and B by e-mail or the like.

<Summary>
As described above, in the workflow system 100 of the present embodiment, the two workflows can be linked by the processes of OUT and IN in which the specific output destination or input source is not determined. Information about the user may be set for each of OUT and IN, and the change of one workflow information does not affect the other workflow information unless the partner to be linked is changed.

<Other application examples>
Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to examples, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. And substitutions can be made.

For example, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the workflows of different users are linked, but a plurality of workflows of the same user may be linked. Users can combine their multiple workflows to perform various processes.

Further, the configuration example of FIG. 7 is divided according to the main functions in order to facilitate understanding of the processes of the workflow server 50, PC10A, 10B, cloud storage 70, and MFP30. The present invention is not limited by the method of dividing the processing unit or the name. Further, the processing of the workflow server 50, the PC 10A, 10B, the cloud storage 70, and the MFP 30 can be divided into more processing units according to the processing content. It is also possible to divide one processing unit so as to include more processing.

Note that the workflow information of user A is an example of the first process definition information, the workflow information of user B is an example of the second process definition information, OUT is an example of output processing, and IN is an example of input processing. The workflow information DB 51a is an example of storage means, the flow processing unit 53 is an example of processing execution means, the flow processing permission unit 54 is an example of cooperative processing means, and the UI unit 55 is a screen information creation means. The data transmission / reception unit 59 is an example of a transmission means. User A is an example of a first user, user B is an example of a second user, an operation panel 306 is an example of a display device, and a UI display unit 31 is an example of display means.

10A, 10B PC
30 MFP
50 Workflow server 51 User management unit 52 Mail transmission / reception unit 53 Flow processing unit 54 Flow processing permission unit 55 UI unit 56 OCR processing unit 57 QR code generation unit 58 PDF generation unit 59 Data transmission / reception unit 70 Cloud storage 100 Workflow system

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-95986

Claims (11)

An information processing system that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined.
A storage means for storing a first process definition information having an abstracted output process and a second process definition information having an abstracted input process.
When the first process definition information is executed, it is determined that the input process is executed after the output process, and the second user is dealt with based on the information about the second user set in the output process. It has a process execution means for executing the attached second process definition information, and has.
The first process definition information is associated with the first user, and is associated with the first user.
The process execution means is the second process definition information in which information about the first user is set in the input process among the second process definition information associated with the second user. An information processing system that identifies and executes. An information processing system that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined.
A storage means for storing a first process definition information having an abstracted output process and a second process definition information having an abstracted input process.
When the first process definition information is executed, it is determined that the input process is executed after the output process, and the second user is dealt with based on the information about the second user set in the output process. A process execution means for executing the attached second process definition information, and
When the first process definition information in which the information about the second user is set in the output process is received via the network, the second process definition information associated with the second user is displayed. An information processing system having a cooperative processing means for notifying the second user of the fact that it is an output destination. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the process execution means further specifies and executes the second process definition information in which the identification information of the first process definition information is set in the input process. When the notification to the second user includes a URL and the terminal device operated by the second user accepts the selection of the URL,
A screen information creating means for creating screen information for visually displaying a plurality of processes possessed by the first process definition information, and a screen information creating means.
The information processing system according to claim 2 , further comprising a transmission means for transmitting the screen information to the terminal device. When the cooperation processing means obtains from the second user that the second processing definition information is specified and permitted to be the output destination of the first processing definition information.
Information about the first user associated with the first process definition information is set in the input process of the second process definition information.
Said processing execution means, said second of said second process definition information associated with the user, the second process definition information in which information relating to the first user in the input process is set The information processing system according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing system is specified and executed. The screen information creating means can visually display a plurality of processes of the first process definition information and can select one or more of the second process definition information associated with the second user. Create screen information to be displayed on
When the terminal device accepts the selection of the second process definition information, the plurality of processes of the first process definition information are visually displayed, and the output process of the first process definition information and the output process are described. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the input process of the second process definition information is connected and displayed. A display means for displaying one or more of the first process definition information on a display device and accepting a selection by the first user.
A device having an execution means for executing the process included in the first process definition information,
The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the display means displays information related to processing of the first process definition information in response to an operation of the first user. To the information processing device that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined,
Refer to the storage means for storing the first process definition information having the abstracted output process and the second process definition information having the abstracted input process.
When the first process definition information is executed, it is determined that the input process is executed after the output process, and the second user is dealt with based on the information about the second user set in the output process. To function as a process execution means for executing the attached second process definition information,
The first process definition information is associated with the first user, and is associated with the first user.
The process execution means is the second process definition information in which information about the first user is set in the input process among the second process definition information associated with the second user. A program that identifies and executes . To the information processing device that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined,
Refer to the storage means for storing the first process definition information having the abstracted output process and the second process definition information having the abstracted input process.
When the first process definition information is executed, it is determined that the input process is executed after the output process, and the second user is dealt with based on the information about the second user set in the output process. A process execution means for executing the attached second process definition information, and
When the first process definition information in which the information about the second user is set in the output process is received via the network, the second process definition information associated with the second user is transmitted. A cooperative processing means that notifies the second user that it is an output destination ,
A program to function as. It is a process execution method performed by an information processing system that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined.
A step in which the process execution means refers to a storage means for storing a first process definition information having an abstracted output process and a second process definition information having an abstracted input process.
When the process execution means executes the first process definition information, it determines that the input process is executed after the output process, and the first process is based on the information about the second user set in the output process. It has a step of executing the second process definition information associated with the second user, and
The first process definition information is associated with the first user, and is associated with the first user.
The process execution means is the second process definition information in which information about the first user is set in the input process among the second process definition information associated with the second user. A process execution method that identifies and executes . It is a process execution method performed by an information processing system that executes the process based on the process definition information in which the process is defined.
A step in which the process execution means refers to a storage means for storing a first process definition information having an abstracted output process and a second process definition information having an abstracted input process.
When the process execution means executes the first process definition information, it determines that the input process is executed after the output process, and the first process is based on the information about the second user set in the output process. The step of executing the second process definition information associated with the second user, and
When the cooperative processing means receives the first process definition information in which the information about the second user is set in the output process via the network, the second process associated with the second user is associated with the second user. A process execution method including a step of notifying the second user that the process definition information of is the output destination.

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