JP2005197949A - Process executing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To communicate data even when a transmission side and a reception side of an instruction document are connected through the Internet etc. <P>SOLUTION: A job flow transmission part 24 of an input/output terminal 12 transmits the instruction document indicating processes and the generation state of processes to be reported as a start request to a process service 14 by using a Web service. The job flow reception part 32 of the process service 14 receives the start request by using the Web service. The process service 14 transmits specified data to the input/output terminal 12 via a job flow event transmission part 36 by using the Web service when the generation state to be reported is generated. The job flow event reception part 20 of the input/output terminal 12 receives the data by using the Web service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a process execution device, and more particularly to a process description execution device that executes a process according to a process description.

  Conventionally, input / output terminals (devices) having functions such as document scanning and fax reception send data obtained by scanning and fax reception and instructions for instructing processing of this data to a processing service using a specific protocol. doing. As described above, the processing service that has received the data and the instruction form executes the process instructed by the instruction form on the data.

  In addition, when the processing service executes instruction processing, the device side normally manages the processing status of the processing service. In this case, when the processing service side periodically confirms the processing status and notifies the device side of the confirmation result, the device side cannot manage immediately according to the change in the processing status. Therefore, conventionally, the processing service side notifies the device side of the processing status according to a change in the processing status.

  However, considering that the device and the processing service are connected via the Internet, the data from the device is blocked by the firewall on the processing service side, and data cannot be communicated between the device and the processing service. There is a case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described technique, and provides a processing execution apparatus that enables data to be communicated even if the instruction description transmission side and the reception side are connected via the Internet or the like. The first purpose.

  Further, as described above, when the processing service side notifies the device of the processing status according to the processing status, information not necessarily required for the device side is also sent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above technique, and a second object of the present invention is to provide a processing execution apparatus capable of notifying only necessary information.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to an instruction description for instructing a process, and at least one execution state selected from a plurality of different execution states of the process as notification information, Input means, a process execution means for executing the process instructed by the instruction description input by the input means, an execution state of the process by the process execution means, and the notification information by the input means A determination unit that determines whether or not the input execution state is equal, and the determination unit determines that the execution state of the process by the process execution unit is equal to the execution state as the notification information Includes notification means for notifying a predetermined notification destination.

  That is, the input means inputs an instruction description for instructing a process and at least one execution state selected from a plurality of different execution states of the process as notification information.

  Here, as the execution state, as in claim 7, there are a plurality of different execution states such as waiting for processing, executing, normal termination, abnormal termination, primary stop, cancellation, etc. In the present invention, At least one execution state considered necessary for notification is selected and input as notification information.

  The process execution means executes the process instructed by the instruction description input by the input means.

  Here, as in claim 4, the process execution means registers the process instructed by the input instruction description as a job, and executes the process instructed by the instruction description by executing the registered job. You may make it do. In this case, as in claim 5, the process execution means may register the input notification information as a job attribute.

  The determination unit determines whether or not the execution state of the process by the process execution unit is equal to the execution state input as the notification information by the input unit.

  The notification unit notifies a predetermined notification destination when the determination unit determines that the execution state of the process by the process execution unit is equal to the execution state as the notification information.

  Here, as in claim 2, the input unit may further input a notification destination as the notification information, and the notification unit may notify the notification destination input by the input unit. In this case, as information to be input as the notification destination by the input means, for example, a character for identifying the notification destination, an end point (URL or the like) of the notification destination, a user name, or the like may be used.

  As described above, at least one execution state that is considered necessary for notification among a plurality of execution states is selected and input as notification information, and the execution state of processing by the processing execution means and the execution state as notification information Is notified to a predetermined notification destination, a necessary execution state can be selectively notified.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the input means further inputs change information for changing the content of the notification information, and the input means According to the input change information, the information processing apparatus further comprises a change means for changing the input notification information. That is, the input means inputs change information for changing the content of the notification information, and the change means inputs the change information. The inputted notification information is changed according to the change information inputted by the means. Thereby, for example, a selected execution state among a plurality of execution states can be deleted, or a newly selected execution state can be added. In addition, the notification destination can be changed or added as described above.

  As in claim 7, the selected execution state is any one of waiting, executing, normal termination, abnormal termination, primary stop, and cancellation of the process by the process execution unit. As in the invention described in item 8, the following may be performed.

  In other words, the input unit inputs an instruction to change the mode of the process by the process execution unit.

  The process execution unit changes the process mode when an instruction to change the process mode is input by the input unit.

  The notifying unit notifies the predetermined notification destination when the selected execution state is a change in the mode of the process and the mode of the process is changed by the process executing unit.

  Here, the change of the processing mode includes, for example, primary stop of the process, cancellation of the pause, or cancellation.

  That is, the processing execution means cancels or cancels the execution of the primary stop or the pause when an instruction to cancel or cancel the primary stop or pause of the process is input by the input means.

  The notifying unit is configured to notify the predetermined notification destination when the selected execution state is primary stop, standby, or execution, and the process is canceled or canceled by the process execution unit. Notice.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input means inputs the instruction description and the notification information using a web service, and the notification means It is characterized by notifying using Web service first.

  In this way, the input means inputs the instruction description and the notification information using a web service, and when the notification means notifies the notification destination using the web service, the transmission source of the instruction description or the like Even if information is communicated with the processing execution apparatus according to the present invention via the Internet, it is possible to easily prevent the interruption of the communication due to the so-called firewall or the like using the existing standard technology.

  Therefore, a processing execution apparatus according to the invention of claim 9 is proposed. That is, the invention according to claim 9 is an input means for inputting an instruction description for instructing processing using a Web service, and a process execution means for executing the process instructed by the instruction description input by the input means. And a processing execution device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, at least one execution state considered necessary for notification among a plurality of execution states is selected and input as notification information, and the execution state and notification of the process by the process execution means When the execution state as information is equal, a predetermined notification destination is notified, so that it is possible to selectively notify the necessary execution state.

  In addition, since the present invention inputs the instruction description using a Web service, even if the instruction description transmission source and the processing execution apparatus according to the present invention communicate information via the Internet, a so-called fire is provided. Communication interruption due to a fall or the like can be easily prevented.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the processing execution system according to the present embodiment includes an input / output terminal (device) 12 and a processing service 14 as a processing execution device.

  The input / output terminal 12 includes a scan function and a fax reception function, and includes the following units. That is, the input / output terminal 12 includes a storage unit 14 that stores a plurality of job flow instructions.

  Here, the job flow instruction (consisting of data) includes the processing of the data (processing scheduled data) obtained by the above-described scanning and fax reception, the notification destination for notifying the execution status of the processing, the processing The destination of later data is instructed.

  The input / output terminal 12 includes a job flow processing unit 16 that executes processing instructed by a job flow instruction selected from among a plurality of job flow instructions stored in the job flow instruction storage unit 14, and a job A job flow transmission unit 24 having a web service for transmitting to the processing service 14 a start request for requesting the processing service 14 to start the next instruction instructed by the job flow instruction after being processed by the flow processing unit 16; It has. The input / output terminal 12 also receives a job flow event reception unit 20 that receives a job flow event (described later) transmitted from the processing service 14, and a job flow state from the job flow event received by the job flow event reception unit 20. Are displayed, and a job flow operation unit 26 for operating the job displayed on the job flow state display unit 22 is provided.

  On the other hand, the processing service 14 receives the start request transmitted by the job flow transmitter 24 of the input / output terminal 12 using the Web service, and the start request received by the job flow receiver 32. And a document processing unit 40 that processes the job according to the instruction based on the start request registered as a job by the job management unit 34. Further, when the job status changes due to the execution of the document processing unit 40 or the operation of the job flow operation unit 42, the processing service 14 is in a state where notification destination information (described later) registered in the job is necessary. A job flow event transmission unit 36 that notifies the notification destination only when necessary, and a notification destination additional registration unit 38 that additionally registers a notification destination. Yes. The job management unit 34 and the document processing unit 40 constitute a processing execution unit.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows a start request processing program in which the input / output terminal 12 makes a start request to the processing service 14. The start request program is started when the input / output terminal 12 scans a document or receives a fax and obtains processing schedule data such as scan data or fax reception data. 18 displays a plurality of job flow instructions (hereinafter referred to as instructions) stored in the job flow instruction storage unit 14, and when one instruction is selected by the user, the selected instruction is displayed. From the storage unit 14.

  In step 54, notification information composed of a notification destination and notification contents designated, selected and stored in advance is fetched.

  Here, the notification content is information for designating which event is to be notified when an event that is an execution state of processing in the processing service 14 occurs. This is information indicating the occurrence state to be notified among the states generated in the processing service 14. For example, as will be described later, events (execution status of processing in the processing service 14) include waiting, processing, normal termination, abnormal termination, suspension, and cancellation. Among these, for example, when it is determined that the standby, normal end, and abnormal end should be notified, the standby, normal end, and abnormal end are selected as the notification contents. The notification destination is a notification destination for notifying that the selected event has occurred when the selected event has occurred.

  In step 56, the job flow processing unit 16 creates a start request including the processing schedule data, the instruction sheet, and the notification information. That is, the start request includes notification information as shown in FIG. 3 in addition to the processing schedule data and the instruction sheet.

  The notification destination information includes a notification destination identification character string, a notification transmission destination (URL), a notification user, a notification user password, and the like. The event information includes a job identifier, a job issuer, a job status, and specific contents of the event.

  In the next step 58, the job flow transmission unit 24 transmits the created start request to the processing service 14 using a Web service. In step 60, it is determined whether the job flow event receiving unit 20 has received job generation from the processing service 14. When the job generation is received, in step 62, the job flow state instructing unit 22 receives the job generation. Is displayed and the program is terminated.

  When the start request is received from the input / output terminal 12 as described above, the processing service 14 starts the job generation processing program shown in FIG. That is, when the job generation program starts, in step 72, the management unit 34 stores the instruction sheet and the processing schedule data included in the start request as a job in the last order to be executed. In step 74, job attributes are extracted from the notification information and stored. With these steps 72 and 74, the job management unit 34 can manage document information and notification information for each job in the job management table 100 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the job management table 100 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the job management table 100 includes a job ID (order) that is a number for executing a job, a job, and a job attribute (notification information). And an actual state. The area for storing jobs further includes an area for storing instruction sheets and an area for storing processing schedule data. The area for storing job attributes (notification information) includes notification destination information, notification contents, and an area for storage. The notification destination area further includes an area for storing an ID for identifying the notification destination and the job owner of the instruction sheet. The area for storing the notification contents includes an area for designating which execution state is to be notified from among a plurality of different execution states of processing by the processing service 14. That is, there is an area corresponding to each of the waiting, processing, normal end, abnormal end, temporary stop, and cancel of the processing by the processing service 14, and predetermined data (in FIG. Is stored, the execution state corresponding to this area is designated.

  As described above, the start request includes an instruction sheet, processing schedule data, and notification information. Through these steps 72 and 74, the instruction sheet, processing schedule data, and notification information are acquired from the start request, and the job management table 100 The information corresponding to each is stored. That is, for example, in the case of the job ID 1 registered by receiving a certain start request, the instruction sheet A is stored, and the scan data a is stored as the processing scheduled data. In addition, XX is stored as the notification destination ID in the job ID1, and ΔΔ is stored as the owner. As notification contents, standby, normal end, and abnormal end are selected. That is, during processing, pause and cancel are not selected. Note that the normal end is stored as the actual state.

  As described above, the job is registered in steps 72 and 74. In the next step 76, the job flow event transmission unit 36 transmits job generation (data indicating that the job has been generated) to the input / output device 22 using the Web service.

  In the next step 78, the standby is stored in the “actual state” area of the job management table 100. In step 80, it is determined using the job management table 100 whether or not standby is designated as the notification content of the job registered this time. If standby is specified as the notification content, in step 82, the standby is transmitted to the notification destination using the Web service. If standby is not specified as the notification content, this process ends.

  FIG. 7 shows a job execution processing program executed by the document processing unit 40. The program starts when the power is turned on, and in step 102, the job management table 100 is used to fetch a job to be executed this time. That is, the job to be executed this time is fetched using the “actual state” area of the job management table 100 shown in FIG. For example, normal end is stored in the actual state of job ID1, and abnormal end is stored in the actual state of job ID2. Therefore, it can be determined that the jobs of job IDs 1 and 2 have ended. . On the other hand, since standby is stored in the actual state 3 of the next job ID 3, the job to be executed this time can be determined as the job identified by the job ID 3.

  In step 104, processing is stored in the “actual state” area of the job management table 100. In step 106, it is determined whether or not processing is specified in the notification content column corresponding to the job to be executed this time. If processing is specified as the notification content, in step 108 the processing is performed as a Web service. Send using.

  In step 110, processing of the instruction sheet for the current job (instruction sheet C in the above example) is executed. That is, the process designated by the instruction sheet C is executed on the scan data C, and the processed data is transmitted to the transmission destination designated by the instruction sheet C.

  In step 112, it is determined whether or not the job has been completed normally. If it is determined that the job has been completed normally, normal termination is stored as the actual state in step 114. In step 116, it is determined whether or not the normal end is specified as the notification content corresponding to the current job using the job management table 100. If the normal end is specified as the notification content, in step 118, the normal end is specified. , Send a normal end using Web service.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 112 that the job has not ended normally, in step 120, the abnormal end is stored in the actual status column corresponding to the current job, and in step 122, the job management table is stored. 100 is used to determine whether or not abnormal termination is designated as the notification content. If abnormal termination is designated as the notification content, in step 124, the abnormal termination is transmitted using the Web service.

  With the above processing, for example, when a job with job ID 3 is executed, the processing instructed in the instruction sheet C is processed into scan data C that is processing scheduled data, and when this job ends normally, Since the normal end of the notification content corresponding to the job of job ID 3 is designated, the normal end is notified to the notification destination. When the current job (job ID 3 = 3) is abnormally terminated, the abnormal termination is designated as the notification content, and the abnormal termination is notified to the notification destination.

  Specifically, the notification destination is determined using the notification destination ID of the job management table 100 and the data in the owner column, and the determined notification destination is notified. The notification destination may be stored in advance in the processing service 14, but in the present embodiment, the notification destination transmitted from the input / output terminal 12 together with the instruction sheet may be stored in the processing service 14.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the notification information and the execution of the processing can be changed from the input / output terminal 12 or the processing service 14. That is, when a job attribute or process change is instructed by the job flow operation unit 26 of the input / output terminal 12 or the job flow operation unit 42 of the processing service 14, the change processing program shown in FIG. In step 132, it is determined whether or not the notification information is changed. If it is determined that the notification information is changed, the notification information is changed in step 134. In other words, the notification information (job attribute) in the job management table 100 is changed to the content specified to be changed. On the other hand, if the notification information is not changed, it is determined in step 136 whether or not an instruction to pause the process has been issued. If the pause is designated, in step 138, the pause is stored in the actual status column corresponding to the designated job.

  In the next step 140, it is determined whether or not a pause is designated as the notification content corresponding to the designated job. If the pause is designated, the suspension is notified in step 142 using the web service. To do.

  If it is determined in step 136 that it is not a temporary stop, it is determined in step 143 whether or not a cancellation of the primary stop has been instructed. If cancellation of the primary stop is not instructed, that is, if cancellation is designated, the cancellation is stored in the actual status column corresponding to the designated job in step 144 and the job designated in step 146 is handled. It is determined whether or not cancellation is designated as the notification content to be performed. If cancellation is designated, the cancellation is notified using the Web service in step 148.

  If cancellation of the primary stop is instructed in step 143, the standby is stored in the actual status column corresponding to the designated job in step 150, and the notification content corresponding to the designated job is designated in step 152. It is determined whether or not standby is designated. If standby is designated, in step 154, the standby is notified using the Web service.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, at least one execution state considered necessary for notification among a plurality of execution states executed by the processing service is selected and input as notification information, and the processing service 14 Since the notification destination is notified when the execution state of the process by and the execution state as the notification information are equal, the necessary execution state can be selectively notified.

  In the present embodiment, since the information communication between the input / output terminal 12 and the processing service 14 uses a Web service, the input / output terminal 12 and the processing service 4 are connected via the Internet. However, it is possible to easily prevent communication interruption by a so-called firewall or the like by using an existing standard technology without developing and introducing a new program.

It is a block diagram of a process execution system. It is a flowchart which shows the start request | requirement program which an input / output terminal performs. It is a figure which shows the detail of the notification information in a start request. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a job generation processing program executed by the processing service 14. It is a job management part table. It is a figure which shows the detail of a management table. It is a flow church which shows the job execution processing program which a processing service performs. It is a flowchart which shows the change program which a processing service performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Input / output terminal 14 Processing service 14 Storage part 16 Job flow processing part 20 Job flow event reception part 22 Job flow state display part 24 Job flow transmission part 32 Job flow reception part 34 Job flow reception part 34 Job management part 40 Document processing part 36 Job flow event transmission Part

Claims (9)

An input means for inputting an instruction description for instructing a process and at least one execution state selected from a plurality of different execution states of the process as notification information;
Processing execution means for executing the processing instructed by the instruction description input by the input means;
Determination means for determining whether or not the execution state of the process by the process execution means is equal to the execution state input as the notification information by the input means;
A notification means for notifying a predetermined notification destination when the determination means determines that the execution state of the process by the process execution means is equal to the execution state as the notification information;
A processing execution apparatus comprising: The input means further inputs the notification destination as the notification information,
The notification means notifies the notification destination input by the input means;
The processing execution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The input means inputs the instruction description and the notification information using a Web service, and the notification means notifies the notification destination using a Web service. Item 3. The process execution device according to Item 2.   The process execution means registers the process instructed by the input instruction description as a job, and executes the process instructed by the instruction description by executing the registered job. The process execution device according to claim 1.   5. The process execution apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the process execution unit registers the input notification information as an attribute of the job. The input means further inputs change information for changing the content of the notification information,
The processing execution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes the input notification information in accordance with the change information input by the input unit.   7. The selected execution state is any one of standby, execution, normal end, abnormal end, primary stop, and cancellation of the process by the process execution unit. The process execution apparatus of any one of Claims. The input means inputs an instruction to change the mode of the process by the process execution means,
The process execution unit changes the process mode when an instruction to change the process mode is input by the input unit.
The notification means notifies the predetermined notification destination when the selected execution state is a change in the processing mode and the processing execution means has been changed.
8. The process execution apparatus according to claim 7, wherein An input means for inputting an instruction description for instructing processing using a Web service;
Processing execution means for executing the processing instructed by the instruction description input by the input means;
A processing execution apparatus comprising:

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