JP2001282562A - System and method for executing task - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide task executing system and task executing method which can autonomously execute a task without the need of deep job knowledge of a user and without making the user to directly use a work flow system. SOLUTION: The type of an abstract task and information which the task deals with are inputted from an input/output device 6. An information reception means 41 informs an agent processor 3 of the type of the task. A task evaluation means 32 acquires the processing procedure of the task from the work flow system 1 through a task processing procedure acquirement means 21. The task evaluation means and a task executing means perform processing in accordance with the obtained processing procedure on an agent generated by an agent generation means 31. An inter-agent communication means 34 realizes communications between the agents. The result of the processing is outputted to the input/output device 6 through an information distribution means 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a task execution system and a task execution method in computer processing. In particular, the present invention relates to a task execution system and a task execution method in workflow processing that handles multimedia data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A workflow system is used to support processing performed in accordance with the flow of business. In the conventional technology, a system that supports task processing is realized by a configuration in which multiple applications are managed and operated by the workflow system, centering on the workflow system, so if the user does not use the workflow system directly In addition, in order to obtain the effects of the system, it was necessary for the user to have sufficient knowledge of the work flow and the like.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in particular, in a system for processing a task that handles information such as multimedia data, the user is required to have deep business knowledge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a task execution system and a task execution method capable of autonomously executing a task without requiring a user to directly use a workflow system.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a processing procedure comprising detailed processing contents of a task and an order relation of the detailed tasks. A task execution system using
Information receiving means for receiving the type and input information of the task, task evaluation means for controlling execution of an agent for processing the task, and acquiring the processing procedure of the task based on the type of the task; and Based on the processing procedure obtained by the evaluation means, the information processing apparatus comprises: an agent processing means for executing processing using the input information; and an information distribution means for distributing output information from the agent processing means. is there.

[0005] In the task execution system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the agent processing means is an agent generation means for generating a new agent in response to a request and an inter-agent communication means for realizing communication between the agents. And the agent performs a process corresponding to the task.

In the task execution system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the agent processing unit requests execution of a process from an external system via the information distribution unit, and requests the external system to execute the process via the information reception unit. Receiving the result of the processing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a task execution method that uses a processing procedure including detailed processing contents of a task and an order relation of the detailed tasks. An information receiving step of receiving input information, a task processing procedure obtaining step of obtaining the processing procedure of the task based on the type of the task received in the information receiving step, and the task processing procedure obtaining step of obtaining the task processing procedure. An agent processing step of executing a process using the input information based on a processing procedure;
And an information distribution step of distributing output information output in the agent processing step.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, a system autonomously executes a task on behalf of a user by using information handled by a task type and a task and workflow information defining a processing procedure of a detailed task constituting the task. Process. Here, the “task” means a group of work in the business.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the task execution system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the task execution system includes a workflow system 1, a workflow information acquisition device 2, an agent processing device 3 (agent processing means), an information transmission / reception device 4, an information storage device 5, an input / output And an apparatus 6. Further, the workflow information acquisition device 2 is provided with a task processing procedure acquisition unit 21. Further, the agent processing device 3 is provided with an agent generation unit 31, a task evaluation unit 32, a task execution unit 33, and an inter-agent communication unit 34. The information transmitting / receiving device 4 includes an information receiving unit 41 and an information distribution unit 42.
Are provided.

A task processing procedure obtaining means 21 provided in the workflow information obtaining apparatus 2 obtains information on a processing procedure of a task from a workflow system in response to a request from the agent processing apparatus 3, and
Notify.

The agent generating means 31 provided in the agent processing device 3 generates an agent for autonomously processing the given information from the given information and processing. The task evaluation unit 32 requests the task execution unit 33 to perform processing or requests another agent to perform processing in accordance with the processing procedure of the task acquired from the workflow information acquisition device 2. The task executing means 33 processes the information and notifies a processing result to a request source. The agent-to-agent communication unit 34 implements communication with an agent that can process the specified task.
If there is no agent that can process the specified task, the inter-agent communication unit 34 requests the agent generation unit 31 to generate an agent that processes this task. As described above, the agent operating on the agent processing device operates autonomously while interpreting the type of task and the acquired processing procedure.

An information receiving means 41 provided in the information transmitting / receiving means receives a task type and information handled by the task from outside the system, stores the information in the information storage device 5, and handles the received task type and the task. The information is notified to the inter-agent communication means 34. Information distribution means 42
Receives an information output request from the input / output device 6 and outputs the information to an output destination specified in response to the request.

The information receiving means 41 receives the type of task and information handled by the task, and notifies the agent processing device 3 of the received type and information of the task. The agent generating means 31 provided in the agent processing device 3 generates an agent which is a subject executing the task based on the type of the task and the information. The generated agent is
The task processing procedure obtaining means 21 provided in the workflow information obtaining apparatus 2 receives the processing procedure of the task obtained from the workflow system 1 and processes the task according to the processing procedure. If the processing procedure received from the workflow system 1 defines that another task is to be processed, the agent issues a request to the other agent using the inter-agent communication means 34, Processes the task and waits for the processing result to be returned to the original agent.

By using such a configuration, the user of the task execution system knows the specific and detailed processing procedure of the task only by specifying the type of the abstract task and the information to be handled by the task. Tasks can be processed without any problems.

Next, the operation procedure of the task execution system will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure from accepting a task to generating an agent. (Step S1) First, the information receiving unit 42 receives the type of task input by the user using the input / output device 6 and information handled by the task, and stores the information in the information storage device 5.

(Step S 2) The information receiving means also stores the type of the received task and an information identifier indicating the storage location of the information in the information storage device 5 in the agent generating means 31.
And the agent generating means 31 receiving this,
From the notified task type and the information identifier of the information handled by the task, an agent that is the subject of processing the specified task is generated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of task execution management by the agent. The agent generated by the agent generating means 31 performs the following operation.

(Step S 11) First, the task evaluation means 32 acquires the processing procedure of the task to be processed by the agent via the task processing procedure acquisition means 21 of the workflow information acquisition device 2. In this processing procedure, a detailed task constituting the task and an order relation between the detailed tasks are defined. Further, the detailed task defined in the processing procedure may further have a definition of the processing procedure. In this case, the detailed tasks constituting the detailed task and the order relation thereof are defined.

(Step S12) Next, the task evaluation means 32 performs processing for each detailed task indicated in the acquired processing procedure. Here, it is determined whether or not the detailed task has a more detailed processing procedure. If the detailed task does not have such a detailed processing procedure, that is, if the detailed task is a primitive, the detailed task processing is performed by the task execution means. 33 (step S16).

(Step S16) The requested task executing means 33 executes the processing of the specified one detailed task, and returns the processing result to the task evaluating means 32.

(Step S17) Upon receiving the result, the task evaluating means 32 determines the next detailed task to be processed based on the processing procedure.

(Step S18) Task evaluation means 32
Returns to step S12 if the processing procedure is not completed.
Thus, the processing of the detailed task is similarly repeated until the processing procedure is completed. When the processing procedure is completed, the agent stops its activity and waits for the next task processing start instruction from the agent generation means 31.

(Step S12) In this step, if the detailed task itself is composed of more detailed detailed tasks, that is, if the detailed task is not a primitive, inter-agent communication is performed (step S1).
3).

(Step S13) Task evaluation means 32
Requests the inter-agent communication means 34 to transmit a task processing request to an agent capable of processing a detailed task. If there is no agent capable of processing the detailed task, an agent is generated (to step S14), and if it already exists, a task processing request is sent to the agent (to step S15).

(Step S14) The inter-agent communication means 34 requests the agent generation means 31 to generate an agent for processing the specified detailed task.

(Step S15) The inter-agent communication means 34 obtains the processing result returned from the requested agent and notifies the task evaluation means 32 of the result. The following procedure is the same as that in step S17 and subsequent steps.

Next, the handling of input and output of information accompanying the processing of a task will be described. When the task executing means 33 executes the processing of the detailed task in the above step S16,
When it is necessary to refer to the information handled by the task, the corresponding information is extracted from the information storage device 5 using the information identifier. Further, when new information is generated when the task execution unit 33 executes the processing of the detailed task, the generated information is notified to the information storage device 5 and stored. When the task executing means 33 needs to output information to the outside of the system when executing the detailed task processing, the task executing means 33 sends the information 6, the output destination is designated and the output of this information is requested. In this case, the information distribution unit 42 requests the input / output device 6 to retrieve the designated information from the information storage device 5 and output the designated information to the designated output destination.

Next, a specific example of the above information input / output will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of information associated with task processing. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the system user uses the input / output device 6 to input, for example, task A (“recommended song guidance”) as a task type and information A (information identifier: “A”, information: “ Event: Christmas ").

(Step S1) The task A and the information A input from the input / output device 6 are stored in the information storage device 5 by the operation of the information receiving means 41. (Step S2) Similarly, the task A and the information identifier “A” indicating the storage location in the information storage device 5 are notified to the agent generation unit 31 by the operation of the information reception unit 42, and the agent generation unit 31 identifies the notified task. An agent A to be executed is generated, and the agent A is instructed to start an activity.

The agent A instructed to start an operation by the function of the agent processing device operates as follows.

(Step S11) Task evaluation means 32
Obtains the processing procedure of the task A to be processed by the agent A via the task processing procedure obtaining means 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the processing procedure of task A is detailed task A
1, A2, A3, and A4. A1 is a detailed task to be executed first.
If the processing result of No. 1 is normal, then the detailed tasks A2 and A4
It is defined to process in order, and to process the detailed task A3 in the case of an abnormality. The above detailed task A2 is
It further has a processing procedure A2, and this processing procedure A2 is composed of detailed tasks A21 and A22. That is, here, task A and detailed task A2 are non-primitive, and the remaining detailed tasks A1, A3, A4, A
21 and A22 are primitives.

The task evaluation means 32 first requests the task execution means 33 to execute the detailed task A1 according to the processing procedure of the acquired task A.

(Step S16) In response to this request, the task executing means 33 executes the processing of the detailed task A1.
When the detailed task A1 is described so as to refer to the input information, in this execution, it is necessary to refer to the information having the information identifier "A", and the task executing means 33 stores the information using the information identifier "A". The information A is extracted from the device 5 and processed. From the task execution means 33, the detailed task A
The processing result 1 (“normal”) is notified to the task evaluation unit 32.

(Step S17) Task evaluation means 32
Receives the notification of the processing result ("normal") of the detailed task A1, and determines that the next detailed task to be processed is A2 based on the definition of the processing procedure of the task A. (Step S18) Since the processing procedure of the task A is not completed, the task evaluation unit 32 proceeds to the execution of the step S12.

(Step S12) Since the task A2 to be processed next has a further defined processing procedure, that is, is a non-primitive, the processing is requested to another agent. (Step S13) A request for the detailed task A2 is issued from the task evaluation means 32 to the inter-agent communication means 34, but there is no agent capable of processing the detailed task A2 yet (to step S14). (Step S14) In response to a request from the inter-agent communication means 34 to the agent generation means 31, an agent A2 is generated, and this agent A2
Is instructed. (Step S15) Agent A is Agent A
Wait for the notification of the completion of the process of No. 2.

On the other hand, the agent A2 executes the detailed task A
According to the processing procedure 2, the detailed tasks A21 and A22 are sequentially processed by the functions of the task evaluation means 32 and the task execution means 33. (Step S16) At this time, when the detailed task A22 is processed, new information A22 (information identifier: “A22”,
Information: When “List of recommended songs for Christmas (1. Merry Christmas, 2. Santa came to town)”) is generated, the task execution unit 33 notifies the information storage device 5 of the generated information A22. Store. Task evaluation means 32
After the processing of the detailed tasks A21 and A22 is completed,
The processing result ("completion, information identifier: A22") is notified to the inter-agent communication means 34, and the agent A2 stops its activity.

(Step S15) The agent A that has been waiting receives the notification of the processing result (“completed, information identifier: A22”) of the agent A2 by the inter-agent communication means 34, and sends the result to the task evaluation means 32. Notified. (Step S17) Processing result ("completed, information identifier:
The task evaluation means 32 that has received the notification of A22 ″) determines that the next detailed task to be processed is A4.

(Step S16) Task evaluation means 32
In response to the request, the task execution means 33 sets the detailed task A4
Execute In executing the detailed task A4, it is necessary to output the information A22 to the user of the system, and the task execution unit 33 requests the information distribution unit 42 to output the information A22 by specifying an output destination. By the operation of the information distribution means 42, the information A22 indicated by the information identifier "A22" is extracted from the information storage device 5 and passed to the input / output device 6. Then, the input / output device 6 outputs the information A22 to the designated output destination.

(Step S17) Task execution means 33
Notifies the task evaluation means 32 of the processing result (“completed”) of the detailed task A4. Task evaluation means 32
Determines that the completion of the detailed task A4 completes all the processing of the task A, and there is no next detailed processing. (Step S18) Upon completion of the processing procedure of task A, agent A stops its activity.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. Next, a second embodiment which enables input / output to / from an external system will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the task execution system according to the embodiment. In the configuration of FIG. 5, an external system 7 is added.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a task type and information handled by the task can be passed from the external system 7 to the information receiving means 41 via the input / output device 6. Further, the information distribution means 42 sends the information to the external system 7.
To the input / output device 6 as an output destination. As a result, a cooperative operation between the task execution system and the external system 7 becomes possible.

The operation of the system according to the present embodiment will be described using a specific example. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of information associated with task processing. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the system user inputs the input / output device 6 to the input / output device 6, for example, task A ("recommended song guidance") as the task type, and information A (information identifier: "A", information: " Event: Christmas ").

(Step S 1) The task A and the information A are passed from the input / output device 6 by the information receiving means 42, and the information A is stored in the information storage device 5. (Step S2) The information receiving means 42 sends the task A and the information from the input / output device 6 to the agent generating means 31.
The information identifier “A” of A is notified. The agent generation means 31 includes an agent A for executing the task A.
And instruct the agent A to start the activity.

The agent A instructed to start the operation operates as follows. (Step S11) The task evaluation means 32 acquires the processing procedure of the task A to be processed by the agent A. In this processing procedure, task A includes detailed tasks B1, A2, A
3, A4 and their order relation are defined.

Here, as the processing of task B1, information A
Is input and the information B12 is output. In executing the detailed task B1, the agent determines that the external system 7 can execute the detailed task B1 by referring to a directory service or the like in the system, and associates the detailed task B1 with the information A. It generates information B11 (execution request) based on the information and outputs the information B11 (execution request) to the external system 7. The external system 7 outputs information B12 as a result of the detailed task B1.

(Step S16) According to the processing procedure of the task A, the task execution means 33 first executes the processing of the detailed task B1. In executing the detailed task B1, in order to output the information B11 to the external system 7, the task executing unit 33 writes the information B11 into the information storage device 5 and requests the information distribution unit 42 to output. The information distribution unit 42 is connected to the external system 7 via the input / output unit 6.
To output information B11. Here Agent A
Enters a standby state.

The external system 7 receives the notified information processing B1.
Is executed, and the processing result (task B1 “completion notification”, information B
12 “Normal”) is input to the input / output device 6. The task B1 and the information B12 are stored in the information storage device 5 by the information receiving means 42. Further, the information receiving unit 42 notifies the inter-agent communication unit 34 of the task B1 and the information identifier “B12”.

(Step S16) The task B1 and the processing result indicated by the information identifier "B12" are received by the agent communication means 34, and the operation of the waiting agent A is resumed. (Step S17) The task evaluation means 32 determines that the next detailed task to be processed is A2 based on the received information B12 ("normal").

The following procedure is the same as the procedure described above with reference to FIG. As described above, according to the present embodiment, a part of the task can be executed in the external system.

Note that the above-described workflow information acquisition device,
The agent processing device, the information transmitting / receiving device, and the like have a computer system therein. And the task processing procedure acquisition, agent generation, task evaluation,
Each process such as task execution, inter-agent communication, information reception, and information distribution is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processing is performed by reading and executing the program by a computer. Will be Here, the computer-readable recording medium refers to a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic hard disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the agent processing means autonomously executes the task processing based on the processing procedure (workflow) obtained by the task evaluation means, the user is abstracted. It is only necessary to specify the type of the general task and the information to be handled by the task, and it is not necessary to have knowledge of the work flow.

According to the present invention, since the agent processing means requests information processing to the external system based on the processing procedure, the agent can cooperate with the external system even if the user has no knowledge of the external system. Is executed autonomously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a task execution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from accepting a task to generating an agent according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of task execution management in the agent processing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of information accompanying task processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a task execution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of information accompanying task processing according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Workflow system 2 Workflow information acquisition device 3 Agent processing device 4 Information transmission / reception device 5 Information storage device 6 Input / output device 7 External system 21 Task processing procedure acquisition means 31 Agent generation means 32 Task evaluation means 33 Task execution means 34 Agent communication means 41 Information receiving means 42 Information distribution means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Ishijima 2-4-1-18 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the NEC Corporation (72) Inventor Yasunobu Watanabe Shin-Yokohama 2, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa No. 4-18, NEC Aerospace Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazumi Akiyama 2-4-1-18 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Within NEC Aerospace Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Atsushi Kobayashi Tokyo 5-7-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, NEC Corporation (72) Inventor Takuo Kato 5-7-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5B045 BB11 BB28 BB47 GG06 5B049 AA01 BB00 CC21 DD01 DD05 FF09 GG04 GG07 5B098 AA10 GA04 GC16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A task execution system that uses a processing procedure consisting of processing contents of a detailed task constituting a task and an order relation of the detailed task, comprising: an information receiving unit receiving a type of the task and input information; Controlling the execution of an agent for processing the task,
Based on the type of the task, task evaluation means for acquiring the processing procedure of the task, based on the processing procedure acquired by the task evaluation means,
A task execution system comprising: an agent processing unit that executes a process using the input information; and an information distribution unit that distributes output information from the agent processing unit. 2. The agent processing means includes an agent generating means for generating a new agent in response to a request, and an inter-agent communication means for realizing communication between agents, wherein the agent performs processing corresponding to the task. The task execution system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent processing unit requests the external system to execute a process through the information distribution unit, and receives a result of the process through the information reception unit. 3. The task execution system according to 1 or 2. 4. A task execution method using a processing procedure including a processing content of a detailed task constituting a task and an order relation of the detailed task, comprising: an information receiving step of receiving a type of the task and input information; A task processing procedure obtaining step of obtaining the processing procedure of the task based on the type of the task received in the information receiving step; and the input information based on the processing procedure obtained in the task processing procedure obtaining step. A task execution method comprising: an agent processing step of executing processing using the information processing method; and an information distribution step of distributing output information output in the agent processing step.