JP2001155103A - System and method for supporting workflow - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly and also efficiently perform a workflow processing matching with the characteristic of each electronic document in the case of including an electronic document recognized as important from the viewpoint of a business strategy or an electronic document having an specific content, etc. SOLUTION: Servers A11 to A13 are respectively provided with controlling parts 11 to 13 which transmit an invention registration statement being an electronic document that is subjected to a series of workflow to a special examiner and make the special examiner examine special flow when each of the servers A11 to A13 receives information to the effect that a special examination instructed by client groups A1 to A3 is performed and the address of the special examiner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a workflow support system and method for controlling the transfer of electronic documents between a plurality of persons in charge according to a preset workflow, and for automating the coordination of tasks in an arbitrary group. The present invention relates to a workflow support system capable of performing a series of workflows in each group flexibly and efficiently.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent advances in computer technology, OS,
Development of software technology such as application software,
With the reduction of equipment prices, the development of infrastructure such as communication and networks, and the development of the information processing industry, many individuals have personal computers, and the spread of personal computers has increased dramatically. I have.

In particular, companies are rapidly introducing personal computers as a tool for improving white-collar productivity. Specifically, the introduction of a personal computer enables the use of document creation software and spreadsheet software, as well as unifying in-house documents into specific software, and converting paper documents into electronic documents to save files. By unifying them, the company is aiming to significantly improve the efficiency of operations within the company.

[0004] Further, since the sharing of information is difficult to progress only by using a personal computer as a stand-alone, the productivity of business is further increased by connecting the personal computer via a network as the next step. Will be dramatically improved. This dramatic increase in productivity means that information is shared through the network, information is received from other people, and the boss's judgment is immediately obtained. Can be done quickly.

[0005] This tool for improving the productivity of the entire group including a plurality of members as well as individuals is called groupware and can be defined as follows.
In other words, it is a "computer system designed to be used in a group consisting of a plurality of members and intended to increase the productivity of the group". Representative of this groupware is, for example, NOTES (registered trademark of Lotus Corporation, USA) software developed by Lotus Corporation.

Further, recently, not only information is simply shared, but a document created electronically is reviewed and approved and sent to a distribution destination electronically using a network, a so-called workflow. Support systems are gradually being used. Sending the created document to specific people at the same time can be achieved by e-mail. However, the created electronic document is sequentially transmitted to a plurality of predetermined people, and when the processing is completed, the electronic document is automatically transmitted to the next person, so that it is possible to monitor where the document has arrived as a whole, and to perform each process. It is difficult to measure the time required and dynamically change the workflow with e-mail software.

For this reason, workflow software for realizing the above-mentioned dynamic workflow has appeared one after another. For example, in the drafting system workflow software, a personal computer is used to fill in predetermined items in a company-defined drafting form that is determined in advance, and after completion of creation, the supervisor receives the approval and approval of the supervisor in order and settles. After receiving this payment, the system returns to the creator again. In this case, if there is any deficiency in the middle, the creator is returned to the creator because it is denied, and after correction, it can be put on the original approval route again.

Here, when the above-mentioned workflow support system is applied to intellectual property (intellectual property) management, an invention notification form in which contents of an invention and the like are described is first processed in a plurality of development departments for examination and approval. After that, the notification of invention is sent to one of the multiple groups of the IP department corresponding to each development department, and each group of the sent IP department performs further processing such as examination and approval. I have to. in this case,
Each of the plurality of development departments is associated with a plurality of client devices and the corresponding server, and each group of the intellectual property department is also associated with the plurality of client devices and the corresponding server. I have.

Further, when the above-mentioned workflow support system is applied to intellectual property management, inventions and ideas made by the development department generally have a one-to-one correspondence between each development department and each group of the intellectual property department. The electronic documents such as inventions and inventions completed by each development department are sent to the group of the IP department corresponding to this development department after the examination and approval in the development department are completed. A series of processes such as examination and approval are further performed by the group.

[0010]

By the way, the development department examines and approves an electronic document describing the technical contents such as invention and invention, and sends the approved electronic document to a corresponding group in the intellectual property department. Will be done. The reason why the development department reviews and approves is that it is necessary to perform the review and approval from a viewpoint different from that of the IP department, for example, from the viewpoint of business strategy.

[0011] However, even if the electronic document is recognized as important from a business strategy point of view, even if the electronic document is examined and evaluated.
Since the processing such as approval is performed according to a set of workflows set in advance, a problem that an electronic document recognized as important cannot be processed quickly and with high quality corresponding to the importance. There was a point.

Conversely, when it is desired to process an electronic document recognized as important quickly, a document corresponding to the electronic document may be carried around and processed without using a workflow support system.

Also, among inventions and ideas made by the self-developed department, it is more accurate and quicker to have a person with a certain technical level conduct the examination than to be examined by the examiner of the self-developed department. In some cases, processing can be performed, and products developed by the self-developed department are generally integrated with a wide variety of technologies,
In reality, it is sometimes better to have the reviewers of other development departments perform the review, so that a higher quality and faster review can be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and includes an electronic document recognized as important from the viewpoint of business strategy and the like, or an electronic document having specific contents, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow support system capable of performing a workflow process that matches the characteristics of an electronic document flexibly and efficiently.

[0015]

To achieve the above object, a workflow support system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of client devices respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups. Server is connected to the network, and performs a series of workflows in each group in a workflow support system. In the workflow support system, each server includes information indicating that a special examination is to be performed by the client device and a special examiner. And a flow control means for transmitting a digital document for performing the series of workflows to the special examiner when receiving the address and receiving a special flow for performing a special flow.

According to the present invention, when each server receives the information for performing the special examination designated by the client device and the address of the special examiner, the electronic document for performing the series of workflows is converted to the special examination. To the appropriate special examiner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow support system, wherein a plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network. In a workflow support system for performing a control to perform a series of workflows in the server, each server, a relationship table holding a correspondence relationship between a technical keyword and an examiner corresponding to the technical keyword,
When receiving the information to perform the special examination instructed by the client device, obtain a technical keyword included in the electronic document performing the series of workflow,
A flow control unit for identifying an examiner corresponding to the technical keyword as a special examiner with reference to the relation table, and performing a special flow for sending the electronic document to the special examiner for examination. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the flow control means of each server acquires a technical keyword included in an electronic document for performing a series of workflows when receiving information for performing a special examination instructed by a client device. And
The examiner corresponding to the technical keyword is specified as a special examiner by referring to the relation table, and the electronic document is sent to the special examiner so that an appropriate special examiner examines the electronic document.

Further, in the workflow support system according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned invention, the flow control means is a special examiner including a person belonging to a group other than the own group. When the examination is completed, the approver of the own group is made to perform an approval process.

According to the present invention, the flow control means includes a special examiner including a person belonging to a group other than the own group, and when the special examiner has completed the special examination, the approval process is performed by the approver of the own group. Is to be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow supporting method, wherein a plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow supporting method for controlling a series of workflows in each group, the client device sends information for performing a special examination and an address of a special examiner to a server corresponding to the own group to perform a special examination. An instruction step of instructing the server, the server, when receiving the information of performing the special examination and the address of the special examiner instructed by the instruction step, the server performs the series of electronic documents to perform the workflow. A special flow control step of sending the special document to a special examiner for review, and a flow return step of returning the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to an original series of workflows by the server. .

According to the present invention, in the instruction step, the client device sends the information for performing the special examination and the address of the special examiner to the server corresponding to the own group, and instructs the special examination, and By the control step, when the server receives the information of performing the special examination designated by the instruction step and the address of the special examiner, the server performs an electronic document for performing the series of workflows to the special examiner. The server is sent and examined, and in the flow return step, the server returns the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to the original series of workflows, and performs a special examination by a special examination route. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow supporting method, wherein a plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow support method for performing a control for performing a series of workflows in each group, the client device sends an instruction to perform a special examination to a server corresponding to the own group, and instructs a special examination, The server acquires the technical keyword included in the electronic document for performing the series of workflows when receiving the information indicating that the special examination instructed in the instruction step is to be performed, and corresponds to the technical keyword and the technical keyword. A special flow control which refers to a relation table holding a correspondence relation with the examiner, identifies an examiner corresponding to the acquired technical keyword as a special examiner, and sends the electronic document to the special examiner for examination. And the server returns the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to an original series of workflows. And flow returns step of attributed, characterized in that it comprises a.

According to the present invention, in the instruction step, the client device sends information to the effect that a special examination is to be performed to the server corresponding to the own group, and instructs the special examination. When receiving the information to perform the special examination instructed by the instructing step, a technical keyword included in the electronic document for performing the series of workflows is obtained, and the technical keyword and an examiner corresponding to the technical keyword are acquired. An examiner corresponding to the acquired technical keyword is specified as a special examiner by referring to a relation table holding a correspondence relation, and the electronic document is sent to the special examiner for examination. The electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, is returned to the original series of workflows by the step, and the special examination is performed. And to perform the special review by the over door.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned invention, the special flow control step specifies a special examiner including a person belonging to a group other than the own group. I do.

According to the present invention, the special flow control step specifies a person who belongs to a group other than the own group as a special examiner.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a workflow support system and method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow support system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this workflow support system extracts and describes a system that supports a workflow of intellectual property management. In this workflow support system, a client group A1 to A3 in a development section and a client group B1 to B3 in an intellectual property section are connected to a network N. The servers A11 to A13 are servers corresponding to the client groups A1 to A3, respectively.
Servers 11 to B13 correspond to the client groups B1 to B3, respectively.
1 to B13 are connected to the network N.

The external connection server C11 is connected to the network N
And is connected to an external network such as ISDN, and performs connection processing between the workflow support system on the network N and the external network NN. External network NN
Is connected to, for example, an external patent office. Through the external connection server C11, a wall can be created between the workflow support system and the external network NN, and confidentiality management can be reliably performed.

Each client group A1-A3, B1-B3
Are clients 11a to 11c, 12a to 12c, and 13a to 1 that are handled by users in each development section and intellectual property section.
3c, 21a to 21c, 22a to 22c, 23a to 23
c. However, these clients are not limited to three for each client group, but have a plurality of clients. As described above, the client group and the server have a corresponding relationship. For example, the client group A1 of the development department A1 corresponds to the server A11, and each of the clients 11a to 11c in the client group A1
The processing is performed in correspondence with 11.

The servers A11 to A13 are respectively composed of the control units 11 to 13 and the invention notification form creation database DB1 to DB1.
It has DB3. Each of the client groups A1 to A3 creates an invention notification using the invention notification creation databases DB1 to DB3, respectively, and performs a series of first workflow processes in each of the client groups A1 to A3. The invention notification form creation databases DB1 to DB3 hold invention notification forms D1 to D3 including the cover of the invention notification form, the contents of the invention, and the evaluation table of the invention, as well as the technical keywords described below and the special keywords corresponding thereto. The table T11 in which the correspondence with the examiner is described is stored. Control units 11 to 13
Performs workflow control for supporting the workflow processing performed by each of the client groups A1 to A3.

When a series of first workflow processes in each of the client groups A1 to A3 is completed, each of the servers A11 to A13 sends the invention notification form D1 to D3 to the corresponding intellectual property department client group B1 to B3. Server B
11 to B13, and each of the servers B11 to B13 transmits the sent invention notification form to the corresponding client group B1 to B13.
A series of second workflow processing to be performed by B3 is performed.

Here, a series of first workflow processes will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, for example, an inventor A (110) who handles a client in a client group A1 in a development department creates and stores an invention report using an invention report creation database DB1 in a server A11. Thereafter, the server A11 sends the invention notification stored in the invention notification creation database DB1 to the inventor B (11) according to a series of first workflow processes.
1), requesting the processing, the inventor B stores the processed invention report in the invention report creation database DB1.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the server A11 sends the invention notification to the inventor C (112), and the inventor C sends the processed invention notification to the invention notification creation database DB1.
To be stored. The completed invention notification form is then requested by the server A11 for examination by the examiner 113,
After the examination, it is stored again in the invention report creation database DB1. Thereafter, the server A11 sends the final approver 11
Request the approval of the invention notification form to 4, and upon receiving this approval,
The approved invention report is sent to the intellectual property department reception desk 115. The reception of the intellectual property section is the server B11 corresponding to the server A11.

On the other hand, it is judged that the invention notification form received by the examiner 113 is important in the business strategy and it is better to conduct the examination promptly, or the examination of the invention notification form is examined by another examiner. If it is determined that the application is appropriate, the server A11 notifies the server A11 of the invention notification by instructing the special examiner 213 who performs the examination of the invention notification and the information of performing the special examination to the server A11. This invention notification form is sent to the designated special examiner 213 for special examination.
That is, in addition to the normal examination route for allowing the examiner 113 to perform the examination, a special examination route for allowing the special examiner 213 to perform the special examination is provided. When the special examination by the special examiner 213 is completed, the server A11 sends the invention notification to the approver 114 and sends the approved invention notification to the intellectual property department reception 115.

As a result, the invention notification form approved by the development department is stored in the application intellectual property database DB11 in the server B11. Then, server B
11 executes a series of second workflow processes that are processes such as examination and approval of the invention notification stored in the application intellectual property database DB11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover of the invention notification form has a writer display item 201 for displaying the name, ID, etc. of the inventor A (110), who is the writer. 201 is set in advance by the system at the time of creating an invention notification form. The document form setting item 202 includes a selection item 20
By selecting 2a or the selection item 202b, it is set whether the invention report is a 100% electronic document or a paper document. Notification form number setting item 203
Is a field for setting a report number. When the user clicks a report number acquisition button 203a, a unique report number is automatically assigned and set on the system side. In the report form section name item 204, the section name of the notifier, that is, the inventor A is entered. The technical keyword item 205 includes
Technical keywords for printers, cameras, personal computers, etc. are entered.

The inventor setting item 206 is an item for setting information relating to the inventor, and includes an inventor number display column 206a for displaying the number of inventors, and an inventor setting column 206b for setting the inventor's name and ID. Contains. When the name of the inventor is set in the inventor setting field 206b, an address book (not shown) of the inventor is displayed from a predetermined database by clicking a button 206c. When selected,
The information of the inventor is set in the inventor setting field 206b, and the number corresponding to the set number of inventors is calculated and displayed in the inventor number display field 206a. After setting the inventor information in the inventor setting field 206b, clicking the kanji name conversion button 206d causes the inventor setting field 206b to be clicked.
The information of the inventor b is converted into a kanji name and displayed in an inventor transfer column (not shown).

Further, the external announcement schedule setting item 207 includes:
This is an item for setting whether or not there is a plan to announce the contents of the invention reported in this invention notification form outside the company, such as a conference or a publication. One of the selection items 207a is selected to be announced outside the company. Set whether or not. If there is a plan to be announced outside, enter the date of the plan,
One of the reason items 207b is selected, and the reason for making the external announcement is set. The items set in the external announcement schedule setting item 207 are used when setting a processing deadline until filing an application based on the invention notification.

The special examination item 208 is an item for instructing whether or not a special examination is necessary based on the contents of the invention report. Usually, the unnecessary button 208b is selected. When the examiner determines that special examination is necessary, the button 208a is selected, and the selection result is
11 to A13 are notified. In addition, special examiner item 20
In 9 is entered the address of the special examiner who conducts the special examination. The address of this special examiner is stored in the table T1 held in the invention notification form creation databases DB1 to DB3.
Search can be performed using 1 to T13.

In the tables T11 to T13, the correspondence between the technical keywords and the special examiners corresponding to the technical keywords is described.
The address of the special examiner can be known using 11 to T13. The addresses of the special examiners set in the special examiner item 209 are also notified to the servers A11 to A13. In addition, the invention notification form further includes an invention description column for describing the contents of the invention (not shown), an invention assignment column for setting approval / non-approval for the inventor to transfer his invention to a company, and an applicant. An applicant setting column and the like are provided.

Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a description will be given of a workflow control processing procedure including a special examination processing procedure of an invention report performed by each of the servers A11 to A13. In FIG. 4, the control units 11 to 13 of the servers A11 to A13 perform special examination items 208 of the invention notification form.
It is determined whether or not the button 208a indicating “necessary” has been pressed, that is, whether or not there has been a notification from the client indicating that a special examination is to be performed (step S11). Button 2
If 08a is not pressed (step S11, NO), the workflow process based on the normal examination performed by the examiner 113 is continued (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S11.

If the button 208a is pressed (step S11, YES), the address of the special examiner entered in the special examiner item 209 of the invention notification form, that is, the mail ID is obtained (step S12). Thereafter, the invention notification is sent to the special examiner using this mail ID (step S13). Further, it is determined whether or not the special examination by the special examiner has been completed (step S14). If the special examination has been completed (step S14, YES),
A notification of invention is sent to the approver with an indication that the special examination has been completed (step S15). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the approval process by the approver has been completed (step S1).
6). When approval by the approver is obtained (step S1
(6, YES), the invention notification is sent to the corresponding group in the intellectual property department (step S17), and step S1 is performed.
Move to 1.

In the workflow support system described above, the client groups A1 to A3 of the development department are described as being connected to the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the quality management department, accounting department, personnel department, etc. The same applies to a case where a client group is connected to a network. As a result, high-quality screening can be performed, particularly in a sub-development section or a non-development section that requires time and effort for the examination.

The above-mentioned special examiner may be an examiner in a group other than the own group. In this case, the technical keywords,
It is preferable to associate special examiners of all groups corresponding to this technical keyword. Further, a plurality of special examiners corresponding to the technical keywords may be provided. As a result, higher quality examination can be performed flexibly and promptly.

Further, in the above-described workflow support system, the special examination route for the first workflow controlled by the servers A11 to A13 has been described. However, the special examination route is the second examination route performed by the servers B11 to B13.
It is clear that the above-mentioned workflow can be applied in the same manner.

According to the first embodiment, in terms of business strategy,
Alternatively, we have set up a special examination route that allows the special examiner to conduct examinations based on technical content etc.
In addition, quick workflow processing can be realized.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. In the first embodiment described above, when a special examination is performed, the address of the special examiner is entered in the special examiner item 209 of the invention notification form. The special examiner is specified based on this, and the invention notification is sent to this special examiner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the workflow support system has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the control operations of control units 21 to 23 corresponding to control units 11 to 13 shown in FIG. Signs are attached.

Unlike the control units 11 to 13, the control units 21 to 23 obtain the technical keywords described in the technical keyword item 205 of the invention report upon receiving the instruction to perform the special examination, and obtain the tables T11 to T11. With reference to T13, the address of the special examiner corresponding to this technical keyword is obtained, and this invention notification form is sent to the special examiner.
Therefore, the special examiner item 209 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is not provided on the cover of the invention notification form shown in FIG.

Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, a description will be given of the workflow control processing procedure including the special examination processing procedure of the invention notification form performed by each of the servers A11 to A13. In FIG. 7, the control units 11 to 13 of the servers A11 to A13 perform special examination items 208 of the invention notification form.
It is determined whether or not the button 208a indicating “necessary” has been pressed, that is, whether or not there has been a notification from the client indicating that a special examination will be performed (step S21). Button 2
If 08a is not pressed (step S21, NO), the workflow processing by the normal examination performed by the examiner 113 is continued (step S29), and the process proceeds to step S21.

If the button 208a is pressed (step S21, YES), the control units 21 to 23 acquire the technical keywords in the technical keyword item 205 of the invention report (step S22). Then, the table T11
13 to identify a special examiner corresponding to this technical keyword (step S23). That is, the address of the special examiner is obtained. Thereafter, the invention report is sent to the specified special examiner (step S2).
4).

Further, it is determined whether or not the special examination by the special examiner has been completed (step S25). If the special examination has been completed (step S25, YES), it is added that the special examination has been completed. Then, the invention report is sent to the approver (step S26). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the approval process by the approver has been completed (step S27). When approval by the approver is obtained (step S27, YES)
Then, the invention report is sent to the corresponding group of the intellectual property department (step S28), and the process proceeds to step S21.

In the workflow support system described above, the client groups A1 to A3 of the development department are described as being connected to the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the quality management department, accounting department, personnel department, etc. The same applies to a case where a client group is connected to a network. As a result, high-quality screening can be performed, particularly in a sub-development section or a non-development section that requires time and effort for the examination.

The above-mentioned special examiner may be an examiner in a group other than the own group. In this case, the technical keywords,
It is preferable to associate special examiners of all groups corresponding to this technical keyword. Further, a plurality of special examiners corresponding to the technical keywords may be provided. As a result, higher quality examination can be performed flexibly and promptly.

Further, in the above-described workflow support system, the special examination route for the first workflow controlled by the servers A11 to A13 has been described. However, the special examination route is the second examination route performed by the servers B11 to B13.
It is clear that the above-mentioned workflow can be applied in the same manner.

According to the second embodiment, in terms of business strategy,
Alternatively, a special examination route is provided for the special examiner to conduct examinations based on technical content, etc., and at the time of shifting to this special examination route, the server automatically identifies the appropriate special examiner based on the technical keywords and invents Since the notification form is sent, high-quality and quick workflow processing can be realized without wasting labor and time on the user.

[0058]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when each server receives the information for performing the special examination specified by the client device and the address of the special examiner, Since the electronic document for performing the series of workflows is sent to the special examiner to be examined by an appropriate special examiner, for example, based on business strategy or technical content of the electronic document, examination by a normal examiner is performed. Thus, even for an electronic document that requires a great deal of time and effort, high-quality and quick examination is performed, and the workflow processing can be flexibly and efficiently performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the flow control means of each server receives information instructed to perform a special examination instructed by the client device, it executes a series of workflows in the electronic document. Acquiring the included technical keyword, referring to the relation table to identify the examiner corresponding to the technical keyword as a special examiner, sending the electronic document to the special examiner, and having the appropriate special examiner examine the electronic document. Therefore, for example, due to the business strategy or the technical content of the electronic document, a high-quality and prompt examination can be performed even for an electronic document that requires a lot of time and effort in the examination by a normal examiner. This has the effect that the workflow processing can be performed flexibly and efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flow control means is a special examiner including a person who belongs to a group other than the own group. The approval process is performed by the approver, so even if it is an electronic document that requires a lot of time and effort in the review by a normal examiner due to business strategy or technical content of the electronic document, for example, The effect is that high-quality and quick examination is performed, and the workflow processing can be performed flexibly and efficiently.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the instruction step, the client device sends the information for performing the special examination and the address of the special examiner to the server corresponding to the own group to execute the special examination. Instruct, by the special flow control step, the server, when receiving the information of performing the special examination and the address of the special examiner instructed by the instruction step, the server performs an electronic document that performs the series of workflows. The special reviewer is sent to the special reviewer for review, and by the flow return step, the server returns the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to the original series of workflows. As a result, for example, due to the business strategy or the technical content of electronic documents, a large amount of Even for an electronic document that requires time and effort, high-quality and quick examination is performed, and the workflow processing can be flexibly and efficiently performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the instruction step, the client device sends information to the effect that a special examination is to be performed to the server corresponding to the own group and instructs the special examination. In the special flow control step, when the information for performing the special examination instructed in the instruction step is received, a technical keyword included in the electronic document for performing the series of workflows is acquired, and the technical keyword and the technical keyword are acquired. Referencing the relationship table that holds the corresponding relationship with the corresponding examiner, specifying the examiner corresponding to the acquired technical keyword as a special examiner, sending the electronic document to the special examiner for examination, The server returns the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to the original series of workflows by the flow return step. In addition, special examinations are conducted through the special examination route, so even for electronic documents that require a lot of time and effort in the examination by a normal examiner due to business strategy or technical content of electronic documents, for example, The effect is that high-quality and quick examination is performed, and the workflow processing can be performed flexibly and efficiently.

According to the invention of claim 6, the special flow control step specifies a special examiner including a person belonging to a group other than the own group. Or, even if an electronic document requires a lot of time and effort in the examination by a normal examiner due to the technical content of the electronic document, etc., even higher quality and quicker examination is performed, and the workflow processing is flexible and efficient. The effect that it can be performed is produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a series of first workflow processes on intellectual property management.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the cover of the invention notification form used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure which is a workflow support method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a cover of an invention notification form used in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure which is a workflow support method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

A1 to A3, B1 to B3 Client group 11a to 11c, 12a to 12c, 13a to 13c, 2
1a to 21c, 22a to 22c, 23a to 23c Clients A11 to A13, B11 to B13 Servers 11 to 13, 21 to 23 Controllers DB1 to DB3 Invention Notification Creation Database DB11 to DB13 Intellectual Property Database T11 to T13 Tables D1 to D13 D3 Invention notification form 205 Technical keyword item 208 Special examination item 209 Special examiner item C11 External connection server N network NN External network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Someya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Makoto Hanada 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Shuji Tanaka 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Noritoshi Fukuda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company F-term (reference) 5B049 AA06 BB00 CC00 DD05 EE05 GG02 GG04 GG07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow support system that controls a series of workflows in each group, each server receives the information indicating that the special examination is to be performed by the client device and the address of the special examiner, and A workflow support system comprising flow control means for sending a special document for performing a series of workflows to the special examiner to perform a special flow for examination. 2. A plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow support system that controls a series of workflows in each group, each server includes: a relation table that holds a correspondence between a technical keyword and an examiner corresponding to the technical keyword; When receiving the information of performing a special examination that was performed, to obtain a technical keyword included in the electronic document performing the series of workflow,
A flow control unit that specifies a reviewer corresponding to the technical keyword as a special reviewer with reference to the relation table, and performs a special flow for sending the electronic document to the special reviewer for review. A workflow support system characterized by the following. 3. The flow control means is a special examiner including a person belonging to a group other than the own group, and causes the approver of the own group to perform an approval process when the special examination by the special examiner is completed. The workflow support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow support method for controlling a series of workflows in each group, the client device sends information for performing a special examination and an address of a special examiner to a server corresponding to the own group to perform a special examination. An instruction step of instructing the server, and when the server receives the information of performing the special examination and the address of the special examiner designated by the instruction step, the server performs the series of workflows on the electronic document. A special flow control step of sending the special document to a special examiner for review, and a flow return step of returning the electronic document, for which the special flow control step has been completed, to an original series of workflows. Workflow support method. 5. A plurality of client devices constituting at least a plurality of groups and a plurality of servers respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are connected to a network,
In a workflow supporting method for performing a control to perform a series of workflows in each group, the client device, an instruction step of sending information to perform a special examination to a server corresponding to the own group, and instructing a special examination, The server acquires the technical keyword included in the electronic document for performing the series of workflows when receiving the information indicating that the special examination instructed in the instruction step is to be performed, and corresponds to the technical keyword and the technical keyword. A special flow control which refers to a relation table holding a correspondence relation with the examiner, identifies an examiner corresponding to the acquired technical keyword as a special examiner, and sends the electronic document to the special examiner for examination. And a series of workflows in which the server converts the electronic document after the special flow control step to an original. Workflow support method characterized by comprising a flow return step of returning, the. 6. The workflow supporting method according to claim 4, wherein the special flow control step specifies a person who belongs to a group other than the own group as a special examiner.