JP2003076823A - Work flow system with staying prevention function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workflow system in which a worker can refer to task information in advance, processing result is previously set so as to automatically process a task and the task is automatically distributed if task staying occurs. SOLUTION: The workflow system with staying prevention function 1 is comprised of a database 6 having an answer storing database 14, and a task information database 11, and capable of disclosing the information timely, a staying monitoring part 8 having a function concerned with task processing time, a server 2 having a workflow function part 5 for exercising management control of the workflow, a client 3 and a network 4. The staying monitoring function 8 has a staying monitoring function that monitors the flow of the task to provide instructions of the task destination change, and a predetermined arrival time calculation function for calculating the predetermined arrival time of the task, and the workflow function part 5 has an answer diversion function and an automatic processing function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a workflow system for creating and managing a task involving a plurality of workers and a series of business procedures (business processes) according to certain rules.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the efficiency of core business, a large-scale company-wide systemization by general-purpose machines and client / server systems has been promoted. In addition, tools such as e-mail and groupware that support the collaborative work of multiple people are becoming popular.

Workflow is software for managing the flow of work on the client / server system. A workflow is to manage the flow of work and data in a computer by managing the order of work transfer and processing procedures in a work that spans multiple groups or departments, and the purpose is to automate business processes. It aims to streamline clerical work, improve productivity, and improve work quality.

An example of a conventional workflow system 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 by taking a [shared document control type] workflow system as an example. This system builds a workflow by putting tasks into a database and controlling the access sequence to the database.

FIG. 6 shows a workflow system 101 including four clients 103, a server 102, and a network 104 connecting the four. Now, consider a workflow in which the order of task flow is client 131 → client 132 → client 133 → client 134.

The server 102 manages and controls the workflow, and stores the tasks and processing contents transmitted from each client 103 in a database (not shown). Further, the worker 141 applies for a task, and the workers 142 to 144 sequentially perform processing such as examination and approval.

First, the worker 141 requests a task from the client 131. The task is transferred to and stored in the server 102 by the client 131, and the server 102 sends an e-mail to the client 132 according to the process definition to notify the worker 142 of the existence of the task.

The worker 142 who confirms the arrival of the task by e-mail fetches the task information from the server 102 and processes it. The task processed by the worker 142 is transferred to and stored in the server 102 by the client 132, and the server 102 sends an e-mail to the client 133 according to the process definition to notify the worker 143 of the existence of the task. After that, the same procedure is repeated.

In this workflow system 101, when a task is applied for and stored in the server 102, each worker can confirm the existence of the task (including the progress status). Since the task is processed according to the definition of the workflow, the worker in the post process needs to access the server 102 to confirm the existence of the task, and by doing so, which task reaches to which worker, You can also check the type of task.

[0010]

However, in the conventional workflow system 101, since the specific contents of the task and the processing contents of the intermediate worker are not disclosed before the arrival of the task, what kind of processing is to be performed in advance. I couldn't decide.

In the above example, when the worker 141 makes an application, the worker 144 can know the existence of the task. However, since the worker 144 is uncertain when the worker 142 and the worker 143 process the task and what kind of process the worker 142 and the worker 143 process, the process content of the task cannot be prepared. Therefore, it has been a hindrance in making a business plan.

Further, when tasks are concentrated on one worker and the processing is delayed, the succeeding workers are forced to wait, resulting in a stagnation of work. In addition, even if it is predicted that they will concentrate in advance, measures could not be taken automatically.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an operator can always refer to the concrete contents of a task and the result of intermediate processing in advance, and the operator can automatically set the processing result in advance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workflow system that can process tasks and that can automatically distribute tasks when tasks are accumulated.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a work flow system with a stay prevention function according to the invention of claim 1 preliminarily executes a task which is a routine work on a client / server system. A workflow system that sets and creates a series of business procedures according to a certain rule based on a plurality of workers or work processes, and manages and controls the task and the business procedure, wherein the server is a processing content of the worker. Task saving means for updating the task information according to the request, accepting means for accepting the task disclosure request from the client, and task for extracting the corresponding task information from the task saving means according to the accepted disclosure request It is characterized by comprising a search means and a transmission means for transmitting the extracted search result to the client.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow system with a staying prevention function, wherein in the workflow system with a staying prevention function according to the first aspect, an answer which is a processing content of a task processed by an operator in the past is stored. An answer storage means, an acceptance means for accepting an answer disclosure request from an operator, an answer search means for extracting an answer matching the disclosure request from the answer storage means in response to the accepted disclosure request, and an extracted And an output unit for presenting the search result to the worker.

The work flow system with a staying prevention function according to the third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the workflow system with a retention preventing function described in (4), the server stores an answer created by the worker in advance for the task before the task arrives at the worker; When the task arrives at the worker, the automatic answer processing means is provided for extracting the corresponding answer from the answer storing means, adding the answer to the task, and transmitting the answer to the worker in the next step.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow system with a stay prevention function according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the server is a task that has arrived at the worker. The work time calculating means for calculating the work time from the number and the kind of the work time, the calculation result of the work time calculating means and a preset threshold value are compared, and when the calculation result exceeds the threshold value, Includes a proxy setting means for setting a proxy to perform the work on behalf of the worker, and a task distributing means for changing the destination of the task and distributing the task to the set proxy. Characterize.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow system with a stay prevention function according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the server is a calculation result of the work time calculating means. Therefore, it is characterized by including an estimated time of arrival calculating means for calculating an estimated time of arrival of a specific task to a worker in the next process.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a work flow system with a staying prevention function.
In the workflow system with a stay prevention function described in [3], the work time calculating means is an average work time saving means for saving an average work time required by the worker for one task for each type of task, and an arrival time at the worker. Target task, the average work time is multiplied by the number of tasks for each type of task, the multiplication results are integrated, and the calculation result is used as the working time of the worker. And

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A workflow system 1 with a staying prevention function of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, a workflow system 1 with a retention preventing function of the present invention is composed of a server 2, a plurality of clients 3, and a network 4 connecting each of them. The server 2 has a database unit 6, a workflow function unit 5, a server-side communication unit 7, and a stay monitoring unit 8.

The workflow function unit 5 has a function of managing and controlling tasks according to the process definition of the workflow. The workflow function unit 5 has a function of instructing the server-side communication unit 7 to transfer various information and send the information to the client 3.
It has a function to instruct to send various e-mails to. Further, it has a function of transmitting a search instruction from the client 3 received via the server side communication unit 7 to each search unit described later and receiving the search result.

Further, the workflow function section 5 is a staying monitoring section 8
In response to the instruction, the agent has a function of selecting a substitute who performs the substitute processing of the task and automatically changing the destination of the task.

The workflow function unit 5 has the authority to operate information with respect to a task information database 11 and an answer storage database 14 managed and controlled by a database unit 6 which will be described later, and a database unit for storing or updating various information. 6 can be instructed. Also, the destination information database 13 and the average lead time database 15 have only the authority to search, and information can be obtained from the respective databases via the database unit 6.

The workflow function section 5 has a task search section 9 and an answer search section 10. The task search unit 9 has only the authority to search the task information database 11, and can obtain information from each database via the database unit 6. The answer search unit 10 has only the authority to search the answer storage database 14 and can obtain information from the answer storage database 14 via the database unit 6.

The task search unit 9 searches the task information database 11 with a search instruction from the client 3 received via the workflow function unit 5, extracts information matching the search instruction, and outputs the search result to the workflow function unit 5. It has a function to send.

The answer search unit 10 searches the answer storage database 14 according to a search instruction from the client 3 or the workflow function unit 5, extracts information matching the search instruction, and sends the search result to the workflow function unit 5. Have.

The database unit 6 has a function of managing and controlling the input / output of information. Further, as the database, the task information database 11, the destination information database 13,
It has an answer storage database 14 and an average lead time database 15 (hereinafter [database] is abbreviated as [DB]).

The database section 6 monitors the presence or absence of authority in response to a save or update instruction from each section, and saves or updates information when it has operating authority. Also, the presence or absence of the search authority is monitored in response to the search instruction from each unit, and if the search authority is given, the information is extracted and provided.

The task information DB 11 shown in FIG. 2 has [task ID], [task name], [form name], [destination], and [completion time].
It is a data table including (see FIG. 2). [Task I
Index numbers (symbols) for identifying individual tasks are stored in D]. [Task name] is the name of the task,
[Form name] stores the name of the form. [Destination] is the destination information of the task. The completion time of the task is saved in [Completion time]. The information stored in the task information DB 11 can be referred to by all clients 3 at any time.

The answer storage DB 14 shown in FIG.
It is a data table including D], [task ID], [creator], [task name], [form name], [presence / absence of automatic processing], [application]. An index number (symbol) for identifying the accumulated answers is stored in [Reply ID]. The task identification number is stored in [task ID]. In addition, the worker ID of the worker who created the answer is stored in [Creator]. The name of the task is stored in [task name], and the name of the form is stored in [form name].

The answer storage DB 14 is updated whenever a task is processed, but the answers that have not been reused for a certain period by the answer diversion function described later are deleted at any time. However, the answers created in advance will not be deleted.

The destination information DB 13 shown in FIG. 4 is an organization table. [Organization ID] is given to each organization, and each worker is given [Worker ID] and [E-mail address].
Further, one or more agents are set for each operator, and the operator ID of the operator who indicates the agent is given as [agent ID].

The average lead time DB15 shown in FIG.
It is a data table including [worker ID], [average lead time], [form name], and [task name]. [Average lead time] stores the average value of the work time required for each worker from receiving a task to inputting an answer, and is calculated for each worker on a form name basis. The form name is stored in the [form name], the worker ID of each worker is stored in the [worker ID], and the name of the task is stored in the [task name].

The server-side communication section 7 has a function of performing various information communication with the client-side communication section 16 of each client 3 via the network 4. It also has a function of sending an electronic mail in response to an instruction from the workflow function unit 5. Further, it has the authority to search the electronic mail address for the destination information DB 13, obtains information from the destination information DB 13 via the database unit 6, and transmits the above-mentioned electronic mail. There are three types of e-mails that the workflow function unit 5 requests to be sent. An e-mail that notifies that a task has arrived (including a remand), an e-mail that indicates that a task has been set as a proxy, and an automatic processing function described later There are three types of e-mail that notify that a preset answer has been automatically processed.

Further, the staying monitor 8 determines the average lead time D
It has a function of calculating the average lead time stored in B15. Also, the average lead time DB for each worker at all times
Monitor the flow of tasks based on the average lead time stored in 15, and the number and type of tasks that have arrived at each worker,
If it is determined that the tasks are stagnant, the workflow function unit 5 has a function (stuck monitoring function) for instructing to change the work order of the tasks. Further, according to an instruction from the workflow function unit 5, the estimated lead time for the task to arrive at the worker of the next process is calculated based on the average lead time stored in the average lead time DB 15 and the task that has arrived at each worker. It has a function (scheduled arrival time calculation function).

The staying monitoring unit 8 has the authority to operate information with respect to the average lead time DB 15 of the database unit 6, and instructs the average lead time DB 15 to transfer various information to the database unit 6 for storage or updating. Have a function.

The staying monitoring unit 8 determines a certain fixed period (for example, a week unit or a monthly unit), calculates the total lead time in task units of the same form for each worker, and calculates the result within a fixed period. Divide by the number of tasks that occurred to get the average lead time. The calculation result is transferred to the database unit 6, and the database unit 6 stores the average lead time DB15,
The average lead time of each worker calculated for each form name is saved. Since the average lead time is regularly updated, it is possible to reflect the variation of the seasonal work load and the shortening of the work time due to the "habituation" of the worker in the stay monitoring function.

The client 3 is an information terminal equipped with an input / output device such as a display and a keyboard, and has a client side communication section 16, a response input section 17 and a task response display section 18.

The client side communication section 16 has a function of receiving an electronic mail sent from the server 2 via the network 4 and transmitting / receiving various kinds of information such as task information and reply information. Further, it has a function of receiving answer information and a search instruction input by the operator from the answer input unit 17, and a function of transmitting various kinds of information to the task answer display unit 18.

The answer input section 17 transfers various information and search instructions input by the operator to the client side communication section 16,
It has a function of instructing the client side communication unit 16 to transmit to the server 2. In addition, it has a function that continuously gives answers to selected multiple tasks from the tasks arriving at the worker (hereinafter referred to as continuous processing function), and batches selected multiple tasks. Then, it has a function of giving one answer (hereinafter, batch processing function).

The task answer display section 18 has a function of displaying the task, answer, etc. received by the client side communication section 16. In addition, based on the conditions input by the worker, from the information received by the client 3, a function of sorting a plurality of tasks and answers, a function of extracting matching tasks, and a continuous processing function, the tasks are continuously displayed. Have the function to

The continuous processing function means the task answer display section 18
From the task list displayed by, sort and extract tasks by task name and form name, perform grouping, and while the multiple grouped tasks are processed, do not return to the list display and continuously enter answers It is a function to do.
When the continuous processing function is designated for the grouped tasks, the answer input unit 17 receives the tasks all at once from the task information DB 11 and displays the received tasks each time the worker inputs an answer. Do it continuously. The worker can save the trouble of selecting a task from the list display each time he / she inputs an answer, and can work efficiently.

The batch processing function is to perform a grouping process in which tasks are sorted and extracted from the task list displayed by the task answer display section 18 by task name and form name, and a plurality of grouped tasks are grouped. It is a function of performing an answer input process with one answer. When the batch processing function is specified for the grouped tasks, the answer input unit 17 receives the tasks collectively from the task information DB 11 and automatically receives one answer entered by the worker. The task is designated, the task is transmitted to the server 2, and the processing is terminated. The worker can save the trouble of inputting an answer for each task, and can work efficiently.

Next, a series of basic operations of the workflow system 1 with a stay preventing function according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This system is [shared document control type].

The workflows of task IDs [TA0001] to [TA0003] in FIG. 2 define a series of work related to an application for purchasing an article. This workflow is composed of three clients 3 (workers). The work procedure of the workflow is performed by the client 31 (worker 41, worker ID [S00
199]) → client 32 (worker 42, worker ID [S
00185]) → client 34 (worker 44, worker ID)
[S00224]).

First, the worker 41 makes an application for purchasing an article (task ID [TA0001]). The task information input according to the process definition of the workflow is transmitted to the server 2 via the client side communication unit 16 by the response input unit 17 of the client 31. The workflow function unit 5, which has received the task information from the client 31 via the server-side communication unit 7, transfers the task information to the database unit 6,
It issues an instruction to save it in the task information DB 11.

The database unit 6 saves the task information in the task information DB 11 according to the instruction of the workflow function unit 5. When the saving is completed, each worker can refer to the information in the task information DB 11.

Next, the workflow function section 5 causes the worker 42
The server side communication unit 7 is instructed to send an e-mail notifying that the task has arrived. Server side communication unit 7
Obtains an electronic mail address by referring to the destination information DB 13 via the database unit 6, and the operator 42
Send an e-mail notifying the arrival of the task to the e-mail address (client 32).

Next, the client side communication section 16 of the client 32 receives the electronic mail, and the task answer display section 1
8 and the task reply display unit 18 displays the e-mail. When the worker 42 inputs to display the task in the answer input unit 17 at the time when the arrival of the task is confirmed by the email, the answer input unit 17 of the client 32 causes the answer input unit 17 of the client 32 to check the task corresponding to the worker 42 from the task information DB 11. Client side communication unit 1 to send information
The server 2 is instructed via 6. The applicable tasks may include tasks that have arrived and tasks that have not arrived.

Client 3 via server side communication unit 7
The workflow function unit 5, which has received the instruction from 2, issues an instruction to the task search unit 9 to search the corresponding task for the worker 42. The task search unit 9 extracts a task corresponding to the worker 42 from the task information DB 11 via the database unit 6 and sends it to the workflow function unit 5. The workflow function unit 5 transmits the task information received from the task search unit 9 to the client 32 via the server-side communication unit 7.

The client side communication section 16 of the client 32 receives the task and sends it to the task response display section 18. The task response display unit 18 is the client side communication unit 1.
The task information received via 6 is displayed.

Next, when the worker 42 selects a specific task, the client 32 receives detailed information of the selected task from the task information DB 11 and displays it in the same procedure as above.

The worker 42 displays the displayed task (task I
D [TA0002]), the entered answer is transmitted to the client side communication section 16 by the response input section 17 of the client 32, and is transmitted from the client side communication section 16 to the workflow function section 5 of the server 2. . The workflow function unit 5, which has received the response from the client 32 via the server-side communication unit 7, transmits the response to the database unit 6 and stores the response information in the response storage DB 14.

The task is sent to the worker 44 by the worker 42 sending the answer. Since the same operation as described above is repeated thereafter, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the answer input method using the answer ID (answer function and automatic processing function) will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

Normally, the answer entered by the operator is [Answer I
D], [task ID], [presence / absence of automatic processing], and [apply] are added and stored and accumulated in the answer storage DB 14. When the worker confirms the task information in advance (before the task arrives) and creates an answer in advance, the answer can be stored in the answer storage DB 14. Answer IDs [K0002], [K in Figure 3
[0004] indicates an answer created in advance. When the task IDs are the same for the answers created in advance, only one of them is given [○] in [Apply].

The answer diversion function is a function of diverting the answer stored in the answer storage DB 14 to the answer of another task to assist the operator in inputting the answer. Answer storage DB14
Answer information is updated at any time, but answers frequently used by the answer diversion function are not deleted, and the answer storage DB 14
Left behind. Since the frequently used answers are left, it is possible to efficiently support the operator's answer input in performing the routine work peculiar to the workflow.

When the operator inputs an answer, the operator saves the answer D
You can call the answers created in advance by searching with [Task ID] from B14, or you can use the answers entered in the past.
By searching by [author], you can call up the corresponding answer for the worker himself. further
By searching with [form name] and [task name], it is possible to call up answers with similar processing details. An appropriate one is selected from the answer group extracted by this search processing, and is processed as a task answer.

The workflow of the task IDs [TC0001] to [TC0003] will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as a series of operations of the answer diversion function.

After confirming the arrival of the task ([TC0003]), the worker 44 first fetches the task information from the server 2 into the client 34. Next, the worker 44 inputs an answer input in the past or an answer created in advance into the answer input unit 17 so as to search. The answer input unit 17 instructs the server 2 to search the answer storage DB 14 via the client-side communication unit 16.

The workflow function unit 5, which has received the search instruction via the server-side communication unit 7, issues an instruction to the answer search unit 10 to search the answer storage DB 14 for an answer corresponding to the worker 43. The answer search unit 10 instructs the database unit 6 to search the answer storage DB 14. The search result extracted by the database unit 6 is the answer search unit 1
0 to the workflow function unit 5, and the workflow function unit 5 transmits to the client 34 via the server side communication unit 7.

The client side communication unit 16 that has received the search result transmits the search result to the task response display unit 18, and the task response display unit 18 sorts the search results by the keyword specified by the worker, for example, [form name]. And display it. In the case of FIG. 5, two answers [K0003] and [K0] prepared by the worker 44 in advance are provided.
[004] is displayed. Answer [K00] pointing to [Approval]
When the worker 44 selects "03", the reply input unit 17 diverts the selected reply and transmits it to the server 2 via the client-side communication unit 16.

Client 3 via server side communication unit 7
The workflow function unit 5, which has received the response from 4, is newly provided with the response ID as the response to the task ID [TC0003],
[○] is given to [Apply]. Then, the process proceeds to the next task.

By adding the index number (symbol) to the answer and storing it in the answer storage DB 14 as described above, it is possible to use it when inputting the answer. Therefore, the load of the operator's input work can be reduced, and the work can be smoothly performed. Further, when using the batch processing function or the continuous processing function, it is possible to obtain a greater effect by continuing to display the once received answer list.

Next, the automatic processing function will be described based on the task of task ID [TA0002] in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The automatic processing function means that the worker confirms the task information in the task information DB 11 and the answer storage DB 14 before the task arrives and then sets the answer to the task in advance. The workflow function unit 5 is a function for automatically processing an answer to a task. When a task is automatically processed, a notification of [automatic processing completed] is sent to the operator who has set the automatic processing by e-mail.

As shown in the answer storage DB 14 of FIG. 3, it indicates the worker ID [S00185], that is, the answer prepared in advance by the worker 42. When the input of the worker 41 is completed and the task arrives at the worker 42, the answer ID [K
[Accounting acceptance] indicated by [0002] is added as an answer.

Further, the client 34 is provided in the server side communication section 7.
The operator 44 is instructed to send a notification of [automatic processing completion] by e-mail, and the server-side communication unit 7 refers to the e-mail address of the worker 46 stored in the destination information DB, Send an email.

Since the worker can grasp the task information and the task contents in a timely manner, a situation arises in which an answer can be prepared in advance. In such a case, by using the answer created in advance or the answer stored in the answer storage DB 14 with the automatic processing function, the worker can complete the processing without waiting for the arrival of the task. The task can be transmitted to the next worker. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary tasks from accumulating and to smoothly perform business.

Next, the stay monitoring function will be described based on the average lead time DB 15 in FIG.

The stay monitoring function is a function of monitoring the flow of a workflow and determining whether or not a task stays.

Based on the number of tasks arriving at the worker and the average lead time for each worker stored in the average lead time DB 15, the stay monitoring unit 8 counts the number of tasks for each worker on a form name basis. And the average lead time. When the integrated value of the calculation results exceeds a certain judgment reference value (threshold value), it is judged that "task retention has occurred".

When the retention monitor 8 determines that "task retention has occurred", the agent with the least work load is selected from the one or more agents set for the operator. Is selected and the workflow function unit 5 is instructed. When deciding a substitute, the product of the number of tasks and the average lead time is calculated for each set substitute for each form name, and the one with the smallest integrated value of the calculation results is set as the substitute. It

The workflow function unit 5, which has received the agent setting instruction from the staying monitoring unit 8, distributes the task to the designated agent from the staying monitoring unit 8 on behalf of the worker in which the staying has occurred. The workflow function unit 5 has task information D
Database unit 6 to change the contents of [Address] in B11
Give instructions to. In this way, the workflow configuration is automatically changed and the task is transferred to the substitute.

At the same time, the workflow function section 5 instructs the server side communication section 7 to notify the worker set as the proxy and the original worker by e-mail that the proxy has been set. put out. The server side communication unit 7 receives the destination information D
Referring to B13, an e-mail indicating that the task is transferred to the agent is sent to the e-mail addresses of the worker and the agent.

The average lead time of the worker 43 having the worker ID [S00185] in FIG. 5 will be described as an example. Now, for the worker 43, 55 tasks [approval] of the form name [purchase request for expense], 40 tasks [approval] of [request for regular supply item], and [approve application of parking lot] ] Have arrived, each. Since the average lead time of the worker 43 is as shown in FIG. 5, the integrated value is as follows.

55 pieces × 10 minutes = 550 minutes 40 pieces × 7 minutes = 280 minutes 30 pieces × 3 minutes = 90 minutes 550 minutes + 280 minutes + 90 minutes = 920 minutes Temporarily the judgment reference value (threshold value) is 720 minutes. If it is set to, since it means that the worker 43 is overloaded for 200 minutes, it is determined that “the retention of tasks has occurred”. Then, the number of tasks corresponding to this 200 minutes is distributed to the agents, and the workflow function unit 5 changes the destination of the tasks.

As described above, by monitoring the flow of tasks and automatically setting a substitute when a stagnation occurs, the concentration of tasks can be eased and the work load can be dispersed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary tasks from accumulating and to smoothly perform business.

Next, the estimated arrival time calculation function will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5.

The estimated arrival time calculation function is a function of calculating an estimated time at which a specific task arrives at the worker. The estimated arrival time of the task is the same as the retention monitoring function described above.
It is calculated by the integrated value of the multiplication result of the average lead time and the number of tasks. The estimated arrival time is displayed in accordance with the case where the unarriving task is displayed when the task is displayed.

Now, it is assumed that the task with the task ID [TD0002] arrives at the worker 44, and the worker 44 processes this task 10th. Task ID for worker 45 in the next process
The task of [TD0003] arrives at the time required for processing all the first to tenth tasks, and is an integrated value of the results obtained by multiplying the number of tasks and the average work time for each task type.

The workflow function section 5 includes the client 3
Each time the task information is displayed, the retention monitoring unit 8 is instructed to calculate the estimated arrival time. Next, the retention monitor 8
Multiplies the number of tasks by the average work time for each task type, adds up the multiplication results, and sends the integrated result to the workflow function unit 5 as the estimated arrival time. The workflow function unit 5 that has received the integration result sends the task information from the database unit 6 and the estimated arrival time from the stay monitoring unit 8 to the client 3 via the server-side communication unit 7.

By calculating the estimated arrival time as described above, the worker can know the progress status of the task, which facilitates the work plan. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary tasks from accumulating and to smoothly perform business.

Although the embodiment has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the present invention is not limited to this.

Answer storage DB 14 for storing the answers input by the operator, and answer search unit 1 for searching the answer storage DB 14.
The server 2 does not necessarily have to have 0, and the client 3 may have 0.

When the client 3 has the answer storage DB 14 and the answer search section 10, it does not cause any trouble in realizing the answer diversion function. Since the worker has a function of searching for an answer stored in the client 3 and operating it, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be realized. In the case of the automatic processing function, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be realized by storing the answer created in advance on the client 3 side and temporarily storing it on the storage device on the server 2 side. . The same effect can be obtained even if the server 2 has a database that stores only the answers created in advance and a search unit that searches only that database is provided on the server 2 side.

Further, in the retention monitoring function, the worker having the least work load is set as the substitute in the above embodiment, but a plurality of workers may be set. There are various methods such as when the work for the overload is evenly distributed to multiple agents set for the workers, and the task allocation ratio is changed according to the work load status of each agent. To be

[0089]

As described above, the workflow system with a staying prevention function of the present invention has various functions in order to prevent staying of tasks and improve work efficiency of workers.

Since the server has a function of disclosing the task information to the client in a timely manner, the worker can obtain the task information in advance. Therefore, the operator can set an answer in advance, and can realize an automatic processing function. With this automatic processing function, the worker can reduce the load of input work, can perform work smoothly, and can improve the efficiency of work. In addition, the answer diversion function allows the worker to efficiently input the answer, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, by monitoring the flow of tasks by the stay monitoring function, automatically setting a substitute and distributing the tasks, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the work and prevent interruption or stagnation of the work. .

By disclosing the task information and the task contents to the worker together with the estimated arrival time calculation function, the worker can know the concentration and stay of the task, and the work plan can be easily made. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the work and prevent the work from being interrupted or stagnant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a workflow system with a retention preventing function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data table of a task information database.

FIG. 3 is a data table of an answer storage database.

FIG. 4 is a data table of a destination information database.

FIG. 5 is a data table of an average lead time database.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional workflow system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Workflow system with retention prevention function 2 servers 3 clients 4 network 5 Database Department 6 Workflow function section 7 Server side communication unit 8 Retention monitor 9 Task search section 10 Answer search section 11 task information database 13 Destination information database 14 Answer storage database 15 Average lead time database 16 Client side communication unit 17 Answer input section 18 Task answer display area 31-36 clients 41-46 workers 101 Conventional Workflow System 102 servers 103 client 104 network 131-134 Client 141-144 workers

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A task that is a routine work is set in advance on a client / server system, and a series of business procedures is created according to a certain rule based on a plurality of workers or work processes. A workflow system for managing and controlling the business procedure, wherein the server stores task information so that task information can be updated in accordance with the processing content of the worker, acceptance means for accepting a task disclosure request from a client, and acceptance A retention preventing function, characterized by comprising task search means for extracting corresponding task information from the task storage means in response to the disclosed request, and transmission means for transmitting the extracted search result to the client. Workflow system. 2. The workflow system with a retention prevention function according to claim 1, wherein an answer storage unit for saving an answer, which is the processing content of a task processed by the worker in the past, and an answer disclosure request from the worker are accepted. A reception means, an answer search means for extracting an answer matching the disclosure request from the answer storage means in response to the received disclosure request, and an output means for presenting the extracted search result to the worker. A workflow system with a stay prevention function. 3. The workflow system with a staying prevention function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the server creates a task for the task before the task arrives at the operator. An answer storage means for saving the answer provided, and, when the task arrives at the worker, an automatic response for extracting the corresponding answer from the answer storage means, adding it to the task, and transmitting it to the worker in the next step. A workflow system with a staying prevention function, comprising: an answer processing unit. 4. The workflow system with a staying prevention function according to claim 1, wherein the server is a work time calculating means for calculating work time from the number and types of tasks arriving at the worker. Comparing the calculation result of the work time calculating means with a preset threshold value, and when the calculation result exceeds the threshold value, a substitute is set to perform work on behalf of the worker. A workflow system with a stay prevention function, comprising: a proxy setting unit for changing the task destination; and a task distribution unit for changing the destination of the task and distributing the task to the set proxy. 5. The workflow system with a staying prevention function according to claim 1, wherein the server uses the result of calculation by the work time calculating means,
A workflow system with a stay prevention function, comprising: an estimated arrival time calculating means for calculating an estimated time at which a particular task arrives at a worker in the next process. 6. The workflow system with a staying prevention function according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the work time calculating means stores an average work time required by the worker for one task for each type of task. For the time storage means and the task that has arrived at the worker, the average work time and the number of tasks are multiplied for each type of task, the multiplication results are integrated, and the integrated result is calculated by the worker. A workflow system with a stay prevention function, comprising: a work time calculation means;