JP2001265915A - Method and device for workflow processing by fingerprint collation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for performing transaction processing by fingerprint collation and authenticating an approver in the case of performing the transaction processing with respect to a workflow device performing approval processing of an application form etc. SOLUTION: The fingerprint of each finger of the approver necessary to the transaction processing is previously inputted to a registration inputting part 22, and an individual instruction necessary to respective pieces of job processing, for instance, 'approval', 'rejection' or 'holding' is defined and stored in inputted fingerprints. The approver confirms the contents of approval processing in the case of performing the approval processing and presses down the fingerprint of the print previously registered in a fingerprint input device 18. The fingerprint data inputted to the device 18 are inputted to a performance inputting part 26 through a network. A collating part 28 collates the fingerprint of the approver inputted to the part 26 with a fingerprint data table previously stored in a fingerprint database 34 and an instruction data table. A performing part 30 carries out the individual instruction defined to the registered fingerprint on the basis of collation results.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a workflow processing method and apparatus based on fingerprint collation, and more particularly to an improvement in a workflow processing method and apparatus in which an approver performs approval in workflow processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a workflow system has been put into practical use in a company or other organization for converting various application forms, such as a request form and an application form, into electronic data and performing business processing using a network. For example, when applying for purchase of goods, the applicant creates an application form on the application client computer,
The product is distributed to an approval client computer of an approver necessary for purchasing the goods via a server computer or the like connected via a network, and the approver performs predetermined business processing such as approval or rejection by the approval client computer. Here, the approver usually performs a predetermined business process using an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse connected to a computer.

[0003] In addition, since a specific person having the authority of approval needs to perform approval processing of a request for approval and an application form, it is necessary to perform personal authentication of the approver. Generally, password authentication from a keyboard, IC
Personal authentication using a card or the like is conceivable.

In the case of performing password authentication and personal authentication using an IC card, a password is input to the approval client computer using a keyboard separately from the approval process.
There was the inconvenience of having to perform personal authentication using a C card. In password input and personal authentication using an IC card, the password must be released when the user leaves the desk so that a person other than the approver does not perform a predetermined approval process. When the same approver performs the approval process again, personal authentication using a password or an IC card must be performed before the approval process. When a plurality of approvers use one approval client computer, it is necessary to input and release a password for each approver.

[0005] Conventionally, as a personal authentication method, a plurality of fingerprints of an individual are registered in advance, the input fingerprint is collated with the registered fingerprint, and if the collations match, the user is authenticated. Fingerprint matching devices and methods have been proposed.

[0006] For example, Japanese Patent No. 2964199 discloses that a fingerprint input at the time of collation due to a finger injury or the like is different from a registered fingerprint. A fingerprint collation method is disclosed in which a rescue mode is entered in which collation is performed on a plurality of fingers including the fingerprint of the first finger input first, and authentication is performed.

Further, Japanese Patent No. 2872176 discloses that
Arbitrarily designating a plurality of fingers of the same person, (1) fingerprint feature point data of the person to be input at the time of fingerprint collation, (2) fingerprint feature point data stored in the IC card owned by the person,
(3) There is disclosed a personal authentication device that compares fingerprint feature point data registered in advance by a person himself and stored in a database with different data to improve authentication accuracy.

[0008]

In the conventional workflow system, the individual authentication of the approver is performed by fingerprint collation, but the approval process itself must be performed by a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. Would have to pay for the approval process. This task required a large amount of approval on a daily basis, depending on the post within the company, and was more inefficient than doing it directly in writing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform a business process by collating a fingerprint and to improve the business efficiency by simplifying the operation.

In addition, the present invention authenticates the approver at the same time as the approval process, so that an authentication operation separate from the approval process is not required, and the password is released / re-opened when the user leaves the seat as in the case of personal authentication by inputting a password. Can be eliminated.

[0011]

According to the workflow processing method of the present invention, a predetermined business process is distributed from an application client computer, and a server computer connected to the client computer via a network receives the approval from the approval client computer. In the workflow processing method of performing a predetermined approval process, a fingerprint of each finger of an approver to be processed by an approval client computer is input in advance, and individual commands necessary for business processing are defined in the fingerprint of each finger of the approver. When a predetermined business process is performed, a specific fingerprint of the approver is input to the approval client computer, a fingerprint input to the approval client computer is compared with the registered fingerprint, and the fingerprint is registered. Execute the instruction defined in.

Further, in the workflow processing method according to the present invention, the fingerprint of the approver to be processed by the approval client computer is input and stored in advance, and when the predetermined business process is performed, the fingerprint input to the approval client computer is performed. And the registered fingerprint is compared to authenticate the approver.

[0013] The workflow processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: an application client computer for delivering predetermined business processing; an approval client computer for performing predetermined approval processing; and a server computer connected to each client computer via a network. In the configured workflow processing device, input means for inputting the fingerprint of each finger of the approver who performs processing by the approval client computer, and individual instructions necessary for business processing are defined in the fingerprint of each finger of the approver. Storage means for storing, input means for inputting the fingerprint of the approver to the approval client computer when performing predetermined business processing, collation for collating the fingerprint inputted to the approval client computer with the registered fingerprint Means for executing the instructions defined in said fingerprint. Executing means for, it shall be composed of.

Further, the workflow processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: input means for inputting a fingerprint of an approver who performs processing on an approval client computer; storage means for storing the input fingerprint data; It is assumed that the apparatus has authentication means for comparing a fingerprint input to the computer with the registered fingerprint and authenticating an approver.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a workflow processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The workflow processing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of application client computers 10 for distributing predetermined business processes.
One or more approval client computers 12 for performing approval processing, and the approval client computer 12
The server computer 20 that performs a predetermined approval process based on the approval is connected via a network. The application client computer 10 is composed of a computer that creates an application form, a display device, an input device, and the like. The approval client computer 12 includes a computer 14 for performing a predetermined approval process, a display device 16 for displaying an approval document or the like, and a fingerprint input device 18 for inputting a fingerprint when performing the approval process. Each of the client computers 10 and 12 and the server computer 20 are L
They are connected by a network such as an AN (local area network).

The application client computer 10 creates various application forms such as a request form and an application form. The created application form is stored in the processing document database 32 of the storage unit 24 of the server computer 20. FIG. 2 shows an example of saving an application form for a software purchase application request. The application form includes the applicant, title, and approver 1, 2, and 3 required to approve the application.
And other data are stored.

The approval client computer 12 performs an approval process on an application form created by the application client computer 10 or the like. During the approval process, the computer 14 accesses the server computer 20 via the network and executes the approval process of the approver. The display device 16 displays the contents of the application form to be approved. FIG. 3 shows a display example of an application form requesting the approver of the software purchase application request shown in FIG. 2 to perform an approval process. As shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the application form include the title and the applicant, and the contents of the approval process required for the approver include, for example, “approval”, “rejection”,
The content such as "pending" is displayed. When the approver performs the approval process, the fingerprint of each finger of the approver is pressed on the fingerprint input device 18. The fingerprint of the depressed approver is input to the execution input unit 26 of the server computer 20 via the network.

The server computer 20 performs an approval process based on instructions from each of the client computers 10 and 12, and executes a registration input section 22, a storage section 24, an execution input section 26, a collation section 28, and an execution section 30. And The storage unit 24 has a processed document database 32 and a fingerprint database 34.

First, an example of registration of the fingerprint of each finger of the approver of the present invention will be described.

The fingerprint of each finger of the approver who performs processing in the approval client computer 12 is input to the registration input unit 22. It is not necessary to input all fingerprints of each finger of the approver, but may be fingerprints of fingers required for predetermined business processing. If the individual commands required for the approval process are “approved”, “rejected”, and “pending”, the fingerprints of three fingers selected by the approver may be input.

The storage unit 24 defines and stores a fingerprint of each finger of the approver and an individual command necessary for business processing. FIG.
FIG. 5 shows a conceptual diagram in the case of storing the fingerprint of each finger of the approver. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Are registered as thumb = d11, index finger = d21, middle finger = d31. At this time, if the individual instructions necessary for the business processing of the predetermined application form are considered as “approved”, “rejected”, and “pending”, as shown in FIG. 4B, thumb = “approved”, index finger = An individual command is defined and stored as “rejected”, middle finger = “hold”.

In the example of registration of the fingerprint of each finger of the approver shown in FIG. 4, the thumb = “approved” and the index finger = “for the fingerprint of each finger of approver 1, approver 2, and approver 3”. Rejected ", middle finger =
Although the same individual instruction as “pending” is defined and stored, the fingerprint definition of each finger may be changed and stored for each approver.

Next, the approval client computer 12
Will be described.

When performing the approval process, the approver first accesses the processed document database 32 to determine whether or not there is an application to be approved by the computer 14. If there is an unprocessed application form of the approver in the processed document database 32, the application form is displayed on the display device 16. When the fingerprint of each finger of the approver is registered as shown in FIG. 4, the thumb is used when the approver approves, the index finger when the approver is rejected, the middle finger when the approver is put on hold, Fingerprint input device 18
Press

The fingerprint of the approver input to the fingerprint input device 18 of the approval client computer 12 is input to the execution input unit 26.

The collation unit 28 collates the fingerprint of the approver inputted to the execution input unit 26 with the fingerprint data table and the command data table in the fingerprint database 34. For example,
The fingerprint data table and the instruction table as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are compared and collated.

When the fingerprint of the approver inputted to the execution input unit 26 and the fingerprint table of the fingerprint database 34 and the command table are successfully collated, the execution unit 30 executes the command defined in the fingerprint of the approver. Execute

Next, the procedure of the approval process when the workflow apparatus of the present invention is used will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of an approval process using the workflow device according to the present embodiment. In this case, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.

The applicant creates an application using the application client computer 10 (S10). The application form
The data is transmitted to the server computer 20 via the network and stored in the processed document database 32 (S1).
2). The approver 1 performs personal authentication using a password input, an IC card, etc.
Is logged in (S14). Next, the computer 14 of the approval client computer 12 of the approver 1 refers to the processing document database 32. If there is an application form to be approved by the approver 1 in the processing document database 32, an application form as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 16 (S1).
6). The approver 1 checks the application form, determines whether to approve, reject, or hold, and presses the thumb, index finger, and middle finger on the fingerprint input device 18 (S18). Fingerprint data (hereinafter, also referred to as D) of the finger of the approver 1 pressed on the fingerprint input device 18 is transmitted to the execution input unit 26 of the server computer 20 via the network (S2).
0). The collation unit 28 compares the fingerprint of the approver 1 input to the execution input unit 26 with the fingerprint database 34 as shown in FIG.
The fingerprint data table of the approver 1 and the command data table are referred to and collated (S22). As a result, D =
If it is determined that d11, that is, the thumb has been pressed,
As shown in the command data table shown in FIG. 4B, an “approval” process, which is a command defined for the thumb, is performed (S
24). The same processing is performed when the index finger and the middle finger are pressed. That is, if D = d21, authentication is performed (S26). If D = d31, the "hold" processing is performed (S28). If any of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger cannot be authenticated, that is, D <
> D11, d12, d13, the authentication fails (S
30). If the fingerprint data registered in the fingerprint database 34 does not match the fingerprint data registered in the fingerprint database 34, such as when the finger press of the finger on the fingerprint input device 18 of the approver 1 is bad, the depression from the fingerprint input device 18 from S18 is started. The predetermined approval process may be repeatedly performed. "Approve" process (S24), "Reject"
When the processing (S26) and the "pending" processing (S28) are performed, it is determined that the approval processing of the application form of the approver 1 has been completed, and a check is made in the column of the approver 1 of the application form in the processing document database 32. I do. In the application form shown in FIG. 2, “1” is input in the column of the approver 1 assuming that the approval process of the approver 1 has been performed. When the approval process of the approver 1 is completed, the server computer 20 sets the approver 2 to perform the approval process next.
The application is displayed on the display device 16 of the approval client computer 12 (S32). When the approver 2 and the approver 3 perform the approval process, the approval process from S16 may be performed similarly to the approver 1.

In the present embodiment, the approval process based on the fingerprint collation is enabled and the operation of the approval process is simplified, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

When the approver 1 approves another application, the process from S16 may be performed. When a large amount of approval processing is performed, the approval processing can be performed by pressing the fingerprint of the finger of the approver 1 on the fingerprint input device 18, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

In the approval process described above, the approval process of the approver 2 is started after the approval process of the approver 1 is completed.
To 3 approved client computers 12,
The approver 1 to 3 may be configured to perform the approval process at the same time.

Embodiment 2 Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of an approval process using the workflow processing device according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the workflow processing device 1
Since itself is configured in the same manner as in Embodiment 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 as appropriate.

In the present embodiment, personal authentication is performed at the time of fingerprint verification in the approval processing in S22 instead of the personal authentication step in S14 in the flowchart of the first embodiment in FIG. In the first embodiment, in S14,
Authentication of the approver is performed by inputting a password and using an IC card. In the present embodiment, the approver presses the fingerprint input device 18 for approval processing, and personal authentication is performed based on the fingerprint of the approver's finger input to the execution input unit 26. Also,
This authentication of the approver is performed at the time of fingerprint collation in the approval processing corresponding to S22 of the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the flow of the approval process according to this embodiment will be described.

As described above, in the present embodiment, instead of the step of S14, S22 of the first embodiment is replaced.
In order to perform the personal authentication of the approver in the processing step corresponding to
The steps are the same as steps S10 to S12 and S16 to S20. Therefore, the description of each of the above steps is omitted here, and the description starts from S52.

The collation unit 28 refers to the fingerprint database 34 as shown in FIG. 4 and determines which approver's fingerprint the approver's fingerprint input to the execution input unit 26 is. At this time, the instruction data table is also referred to and collated (S52). As a result, when D = d11, that is, when it is authenticated that the thumb of the approver 1 has been pressed, the “approval” process of the approver 1 is performed (S54). Similarly, when D = d12 is authenticated, the “approval” process of the approver 2 is performed (S56).
If D = d13, authentication is performed by the approver 3 (S58). If the fingerprint cannot be collated with any of the fingerprints in the fingerprint database 34, it is conceivable that the manner in which the finger of the approver's finger is pressed onto the fingerprint input device 18 is bad or the case where the user is not the approver. If the method of pressing the fingerprint input device 18 is not good, a predetermined approval process may be performed repeatedly from the pressing of the fingerprint input device 18 from S48. If it is not a registered approver, the approver is authenticated at the same time as the approval process in S52, so the approval process cannot be performed. "Approve" process of approver 1 (S54), "Approve" process of approver 2 (S56), "Approve" of approver 3
When the process (S58) is performed, it is determined that the approval process of the approver has been completed, and the column of each approver of the application form in the processed document database 32 is checked (S62).

In the present embodiment, the authentication of the approver is performed at the same time as the approval process, so that an authentication operation different from the approval process is not required, and the password is released when the user leaves the seat as in the case of personal authentication by inputting the password. / Re-input is not required.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the approval process based on fingerprint collation is made possible and the operation of the approval process is simplified, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the authentication of the approver can be performed simultaneously with the approval processing, an authentication operation different from the approval processing is not required, and the password at the time of leaving the seat, such as personal authentication by inputting a password, is not required. Release / re-input is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a workflow processing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of saving an application form for a software purchase application request.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example at the time of approval processing of an application form for a software purchase application request in FIG. 2;

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of registration of a fingerprint of each finger of an approver. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a fingerprint data table, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an instruction data table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an approval process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an approval process according to the second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 workflow processing device, 10 application client computer, 12 approval client computer, 1
4 calculator, 16 display device, 18 fingerprint input device, 2
0 server computer, 22 registration input section, 24 storage section, 26 execution input section, 28 collation section, 30 execution section, 32 processed document database, 34 fingerprint database.

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a workflow processing method, a predetermined business process is delivered from an application client computer, and a server computer connected to the client computer via a network performs a predetermined approval process based on approval of the approval client computer. In the case where a fingerprint of each finger of an approver to be processed by the approval client computer is input in advance, an individual command necessary for business processing is defined and stored in the fingerprint of each finger of the approver, and a predetermined business processing is performed. Inputting the specific fingerprint of the approver to the approval client computer, collating the fingerprint input to the approval client computer with the registered fingerprint, and executing an instruction defined in the fingerprint. Characteristic workflow processing method. 2. A fingerprint of an approver who performs processing on an approval client computer is input and stored in advance, and when performing predetermined business processing, a fingerprint input to the approval client computer is compared with the registered fingerprint. 2. The workflow processing method according to claim 1, wherein authentication of the approver is performed. 3. A workflow processing apparatus comprising: an application client computer for delivering a predetermined business process; an approval client computer for performing a predetermined approval process; and a server computer connected to each client computer via a network. In, an input means for inputting the fingerprint of each finger of the approver performing the processing in the approval client computer, and storage means for defining and storing individual instructions required for business processing in the fingerprint of each finger of the approver, Input means for inputting the approver's fingerprint to the approval client computer when performing predetermined business processing; collation means for comparing the fingerprint inputted to the approval client computer with the registered fingerprint; Execution means for executing the defined instruction; and A workflow processing device characterized in that: 4. An input means for inputting a fingerprint of an approver who performs processing on the approval client computer, a storage means for storing the input fingerprint data, and a fingerprint input to the approval client computer during business processing. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: an authentication unit configured to verify a registered fingerprint and authenticate an approver.