JP2008113440A - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cooperatively carry out processing flexibly without being restricted by an apparatus configuration or processing contents. <P>SOLUTION: A purchase request statement is scanned by an image processing apparatus 61, the image processing apparatus 61 transmits to a cooperative processing server 50 a message (instruction statement) for calling an external service (approval processing) and transmits scanned document data to a document management server 62, and the data are stored in a non-approved data storage region 236. The cooperative processing server 50 performs approval processing using an approval processing device 64 based on the instruction statement and notifies the document management server 62 about a result of the approval processing, and the document management server 62 stores the document data in an approved data storage region 238. The cooperative processing server 50 transmits the instruction statement to a second image processing apparatus 65 to execute a service based on the instruction statement, and the second image processing apparatus 65 extracts and prints the document data from a storage position (approved data storage region 238) described in the received instruction statement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method suitable for use in a document processing network system and the like for sharing paper documents and electronic information.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed a multi-function machine in which a facsimile, a scanner, and a printer function are integrated into a copier. As a result, paper-based office processing using a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like, and processing of an electronic document on a personal computer can be linked. For example, a paper document can be scanned and transferred to a personal computer, or a document received by facsimile can be sent to the personal computer as image data without printing.

  In order to automate a lot of procedures and processes after paper documents and facsimile received documents are digitized, a job template in which desired settings for items to be set in the multifunction peripheral have been prepared in advance. A technique has been proposed in which a job template is designated and processing is performed after changing a setting value as necessary.

  For example, a conventional image forming apparatus can store a plurality of output setting data for setting an output format, and can form and output an image in an output format according to the selected output setting data (for example, Patent Documents). 1). Also, an image reading system that has at least one image reading device and transfers a read image from the image reading device to another device has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

In such an image reading system, the image reading apparatus can read an image in accordance with the reading conditions described in the job template, and can transmit the read image file to another apparatus.
JP-A-10-83263 (page 5-7, FIG. 2, FIG. 5) JP 2000-270148 A

  In general, processing that can be performed in a multi-function peripheral has poor expandability because its items and behavior are fixed. For example, in order to digitize a document in a multi-function peripheral, it is also set in the multi-function peripheral to send a document that has been processed under certain conditions set in the multi-function peripheral and is digitized. Processed under certain conditions. For this reason, it is difficult to add a process that is difficult to execute in the multifunction peripheral or to request a process in another apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of performing various processes flexibly without being limited to the apparatus configuration and processing contents.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a type of a series of services to be executed in an image processing apparatus included in a document processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data. And holding means for holding information relating to the processing order of each service, and judging means for determining whether or not the service corresponding to the information held by the holding means is a service to be performed by the image processing apparatus Transmitting means for transmitting request information indicating a service execution request to another service processing apparatus when the determination means determines that the service is not a service to be processed by the image processing apparatus; It is provided with.

  The image processing apparatus further includes storage means for storing the request information, and the transmission means transmits the request information stored in the storage means.

  Also, the image processing method of the present invention provides a type of a series of services to be executed and a processing order of the services in an image processing method in which services for performing predetermined processing on document data are processed in cooperation on a network. A holding step for holding information about, a determination step for determining whether a service corresponding to the information held by the holding unit is a service to be performed by the image processing apparatus, and the determination unit, A transmission step of transmitting request information indicating a service execution request to another service processing device when it is determined that the service is not a service to be processed by the image processing device. To do.

  The image processing method further includes a storage step of storing the request information, and the transmission step transmits the request information stored in the storage step.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided in an image processing apparatus included in a service processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data. Here, the document data may be information related to the document, and is not particularly limited to character information such as text data or image information obtained by reading a paper document.

  The transmission means transmits request information representing an external service execution request. The request information represents an external service execution request, and is used to request that the service difficult to be executed by the image processing apparatus is executed externally. That is, the image processing apparatus can execute a predetermined service, but cannot process a service other than the predetermined service. Therefore, request information representing an external service execution request is transmitted. As a result, it is possible to grasp that a request for a service that is difficult to be executed by the image processing apparatus is made outside the image processing apparatus, and it is possible to request or execute the execution of the corresponding service. .

  The transmission means is an instruction in which processing information representing a series of processing and item information defining the execution contents of each processing are described in order to link a service for performing predetermined processing on document data on the network. The request can include the request information and the instruction can be transmitted.

  The request information can be transmitted as it is, but in the service processing system, there is a case where an instruction document is distributed in order to perform processing on the network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data. . As this instruction, it is possible to adopt information in which processing information representing a series of processing and item information defining the execution contents of each processing are described. By including the request information in this instruction, a request for a service that is difficult to execute in the image processing apparatus is made only by referring to the instruction that is distributed outside the image processing apparatus by the instruction that is normally distributed. This makes it possible to grasp the situation and to request and execute the execution of the corresponding service.

  The transmission means is an instruction in which processing information representing a series of processing and item information defining the execution contents of each processing are described in order to link a service for performing predetermined processing on document data on the network. The request information can be transmitted to an external service to be transmitted included in the document.

  In some cases, the instruction sheet includes a description representing hardware resources or software resources for executing the service in order to link the service on the network. Therefore, by transmitting the request information to the external service to be transmitted included in the instruction sheet, it is possible to reliably and optimally request a service that is difficult to execute in the image processing apparatus.

  The apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores the request information, and the transmission unit may transmit the request information stored in the storage unit.

  The request information to be transmitted to the outside is often a fixed information such as a predetermined command or data. This is because sharing is preferable in order to link services on a network. Therefore, if the request information is stored in the storage means and the transmission means transmits the request information stored in the storage means, when a service that is difficult to execute in the image processing apparatus occurs, the request is easily executed. it can.

  Storage means for storing the request information is further provided, and the transmission means includes processing information representing a series of processing and contents of execution of each processing in order to link a service for performing predetermined processing on document data on the network. The request information stored in the storage means can be transmitted to the external service to be transmitted, which is included in the instruction document in which the item information for defining the information is described.

  In addition, as described above, the instruction sheet may include a description representing hardware resources or software resources for executing the service in order to link the service on the network. Therefore, by transmitting the request information to the external service to be transmitted included in the instruction sheet, it is possible to reliably and optimally request a service that is difficult to execute in the image processing apparatus.

  The storage means can store a plurality of request information, and the transmission means can transmit request information selected from the plurality of request information.

  When there are a plurality of services that are difficult to execute in the image processing apparatus, or when the services can be performed by any of the services, it is preferable to select from the plurality of services. Therefore, if a plurality of request information is stored in the storage means and the transmission means transmits the request information selected from the plurality of request information, an appropriate service desired by the user or desired on the image processing apparatus side is obtained. Can be requested about.

  Input means for inputting data may be further included, and the transmission means may include the data input by the input means in the request information.

  When selecting from a plurality of items, it is preferable to reflect the user's wishes. Therefore, the data input by the input unit is included in the request information and transmitted by the transmission unit. Thereby, the request information reflecting the user's wishes can be transmitted.

  Data storage means for storing data input by the input means can be further provided.

  The data input according to the user's request is highly likely to be input again at the next input. Therefore, the data input by the input means can be stored in the data storage means so that it can be reused.

  By the way, when the service included in the instruction sheet is executed in the image processing apparatus, the instruction sheet may include a service that is difficult to perform in the image processing apparatus. In this case, the request information can be appropriately transmitted to the outside in the next image processing apparatus. Specifically, in order to link a service that performs predetermined processing on document data on a network, an instruction sheet that describes processing information representing a series of processing and item information that defines the execution contents of each processing. Receiving means, interpreting means for interpreting processing information and item information described in the instruction received by the receiving means, and processing executed by the item information described in the instruction interpreted by the interpreting means A specifying unit that specifies an external service; and a transmission unit that transmits request information representing an execution request for the external service specified by the specifying unit.

  That is, the processing information and item information described in the instruction received by the receiving means are interpreted by the interpreting means, and the means executed by the item information described in the interpreted instruction is an external service specifying means. The request information indicating the execution request for the external service specified by the transmission means is transmitted. In this way, it is possible to request an external service included in the instruction sheet from the image processing apparatus.

  In this case, the transmission means can transmit a message for calling a service as the request information.

  Note that, in an image processing apparatus included in a service processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data, in order to link a service that performs predetermined processing on the document data on the network. Receiving means for receiving instruction information in which processing information representing a series of processing, item information for defining the execution contents of each processing, and processing information described in the instruction received by the receiving means; and Interpreting means for interpreting the item information, and executing means for executing the item information described in the instruction sheet interpreted by the interpreting means can be provided.

  The image processing apparatus originally executes image processing, and an instruction to execute the image processing is given by an instruction sheet. Therefore, the processing information and item information described in the instruction received by the receiving means are interpreted by the interpreting means, and the item information that can be executed by the image processing apparatus described in the instruction is executed by the executing means. By doing so, the image processing apparatus can easily perform a service that can be executed in the image processing apparatus only by receiving and interpreting the instruction. Examples of services that can be executed in the image processing apparatus include copying, image reading (scanning), and image formation (printing and printing).

  The main part executed in the image processing apparatus is achieved by the following image processing method. More specifically, it is an image processing method in a service processing system in which a service that performs predetermined processing on document data is processed in cooperation on a network, and request information representing an external service execution request is transmitted from the image processing apparatus. can do.

  Further, in the image processing method, in order to link a service for performing a predetermined process on the document data on the network, process information representing a series of processes and item information defining the execution contents of each process include: The request information can be included in the written instruction and the instruction can be transmitted.

  Further, in the image processing method, in order to link a service for performing a predetermined process on the document data on the network, process information representing a series of processes and item information defining the execution contents of each process include: The request information can be transmitted to an external service to be transmitted included in the written instruction.

  In the image processing method, the stored request information stored in advance can be transmitted.

  Further, in the image processing method, in order to link a service for performing a predetermined process on the document data on the network, process information representing a series of processes and item information defining the execution contents of each process include: Request information stored in advance can be transmitted to an external service to be transmitted, which is included in the written instruction.

  In the image processing method, request information selected from a plurality of request information stored in advance can be transmitted.

  Further, in the image processing method, the input data can be included in the request information.

  In the image processing method, the input data can be stored and the data stored at the next transmission can be used.

  The other image processing method is an image processing method executed in an image processing apparatus included in a service processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data. In order to link a service that performs predetermined processing on data on the network, it receives an instruction in which processing information representing a series of processing and item information that defines the execution contents of each processing are described, and the reception The processing information and item information described in the instruction may be interpreted, and the item information described in the interpreted instruction may be executed.

  The image processing method can be easily executed on a computer by the following program. Specifically, the image processing control program transmits request information representing an external service execution request to a computer included in a service processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data. A transmitting step can be provided.

  As another program, the image processing control program performs predetermined processing on the document data on a computer included in a service processing system that performs processing on the network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on the document data. In order to link the services to be performed on the network, a receiving step for receiving instruction information in which processing information representing a series of processing and item information for defining the execution contents of each processing is received, and received by the receiving means An interpreting step for interpreting the processing information and item information described in the instruction, and an executing step for executing the item information described in the instruction interpreted by the interpreting means.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that request information representing a service execution request can be transmitted.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The document processing system 1 is one in which various services and applications are connected via a network 5. Here, a service refers to a function that can be used for a document in response to an external request. Services include, for example, copying, printing, scanning, facsimile transmission / reception, mail delivery, storage in the repository, reading from the repository, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing, noise removal processing, and the like, and are not particularly limited. .

  Specifically, the document processing system 1 includes a client terminal 10 having a user interface that instructs a user's desired processing in cooperation with a plurality of services, a service search server 20 that searches for a user's desired service, a client An instruction sheet generation server 30 that creates an instruction sheet from information related to service cooperation instructed by the terminal 10, an instruction sheet management server 40 that manages the instruction sheet, and a cooperation processing server 50 that executes cooperation processing of each service according to the instruction sheet. And.

  Further, the document processing system 1 includes an image processing device 61 that performs image processing such as noise removal processing, image rotation processing, OCR processing, and image binding of an image document, a document management server 62 that manages documents, and a document. A document distribution server 63 for distribution, a first service processing device 64 that performs first service processing, and a second service processing device 65 that performs second service processing are provided.

  The document processing system 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of servers that perform predetermined service processing are connected via the network 5 in this embodiment, but a plurality of services may be connected via the network 5. There is no particular limitation.

  Here, the instruction sheet refers to information representing the relationship between each function, interface (I / F) information for calling each function, and a series of processes when the series of processes is decomposed into a plurality of functional processes. And data for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) related to processing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the mutual relationship between the service processing apparatuses constituting the document processing system 1. Each service processing apparatus stores I / F information representing the content of the service provided by itself.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of / F information. The I / F information includes <Service Class>, <Service Name>, <Service Icon>, <Service Location Information>, <Input. >, <Output>, <Parameter Restriction Rules>, <Service Location>, <Method Name>, <Invocation Scheme>, <Implicit Element (Inclusive Elements)>.

  <Service type> is a type of service provided by the service processing apparatus. As the <service type>, those defined in advance are used, and examples include scan, print, repository, and flow. <Service name> is the name of a service provided by the service processing apparatus. <Service icon> is position information of an icon displayed on the GUI of the client terminal 10.

  <Service location information> is a URL used by the instruction sheet generation server 30 to acquire I / F information. <Input> is an input to the service. <Output> is an output to the service. <Parameter restriction rule> is a restriction rule applied to <input> and <output>. <Service location> is location information when the service is actually used. <Method name> is a service processing providing method.

  The <startup method> is a method for calling and starting a service process. For example, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) or SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), which are message exchange protocols, can be used as the <startup method>. <Implicit element> is data that is not explicitly passed to the subsequent process as an output, but can be referred to in the subsequent process.

  The client terminal 10 has a graphical user interface (GUI) function for displaying a screen and performing a predetermined operation in order to instruct creation of an instruction and select an instruction to be activated.

  The service search server 20 searches for a service corresponding to the search condition from among a plurality of services connected to the network 5. The service search server 20 is one of I / F information of various service processing devices such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, the document distribution server 63, the first service processing device 64, and the second service processing device 65. Part (hereinafter referred to as “partial I / F information”) is stored in advance. Here, the partial I / F information refers to <service type>, <service name>, <service location information>, <input>, and <output> in the elements of the I / F information.

  When a search condition is transmitted from the instruction form generation server 30 or the cooperation processing server 50, the service search server 20 searches for a service using the partial I / F information of each service processing device. For example, when searching for a service similar to a predetermined service, the service search server 20 searches for a service that matches <service type>, searches for a service that matches <input> and <output>, Find a service that matches all of these.

  The instruction form generation server 30 acquires I / F information from each service processing apparatus when generating the instruction form, and generates an instruction form for linking services provided by the service processing apparatuses. Specifically, the instruction book generation server 30 executes the following processing in order to create an instruction book.

  Based on <service location information>, the instruction form generation server 30 requests to transmit I / F information regarding each service from a predetermined service processing device distributed on the network 5. When there is no predetermined service processing device, the instruction form generation server 30 instructs the service search server 20 to search for another service processing device that performs the same service as the predetermined service processing device. put out. Then, the instruction sheet generation server 30 may acquire <service location information> of another service processing device from the service search server 20.

  The instruction form generation server 30 manages search results from the service search server 20 and I / F information received from each service processing device. The instruction form generation server 30 generates an HTML file serving as a GUI screen for defining a job flow, based on the I / F information acquired from each service processing apparatus. Then, when there is a service browsing request from the client terminal 10, the instruction form generation server 30 transmits an HTML file serving as a GUI screen to the client terminal 10.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an instruction creation screen 100 that is a GUI screen for defining a job flow. The instruction form creation screen 100 includes a service window 101, a flow window 102, a logic window 103, and a property window 104.

  The service window 101 displays various service processing devices that can be used. The logic window 103 displays a job flow indicating a pattern of cooperation between services. The property window 104 displays detailed setting parameters for each icon displayed in the service window 101 and the logic window 103.

  The user can define a job flow in the flow window 102 by dragging and dropping the icon of the service window 101 and the icon of the logic window 103 to the flow window 102. The user can further set the service and logic in detail by editing the contents displayed in the property window 104.

  The client terminal 10 transmits the job flow information defined by the user's operation to the instruction form generation server 30 according to the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) format.

  The instruction form generation server 30 is configured to request each service based on the job flow information related to the service cooperation instruction from the user and the I / F information of each service, input parameters, and how to link each service. (Job Flow), and an instruction sheet defining information for specifying a document to be processed such as a document name and storage location information. The instruction sheet is composed of an XML format file.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an instruction sheet configured in the XML format. Since the linkage processing itself of a plurality of services is also regarded as one service, the instruction form has a configuration in which <Flow> is added to the I / F information shown in FIG.

  <Flow> is an element that describes the cooperation between services, and specifies elements such as <Invoke>, control structure, logical operation, <if> for calculating operation, and a document to be processed. Contains information for.

  <Activation> represents a specific method of the service processing apparatus, and executes a service call. As elements of <startup>, a <map> indicating position information of parameters and a method name <method> to be called are included. <If>, <and>, <eq>, and <gt> indicating a control structure, logical operation, and the like perform conditional branching during coordination processing and adjust parameters passed between services.

  In the instruction sheet, all information related to the control of the service cooperation process is described in the <flow> element. Thereby, the cooperation processing itself represented by the instruction sheet is also regarded as one service. Note that the instruction sheet is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, and it is sufficient that the services can be linked.

  The instruction book generation server 30 transmits the XML format instruction book as described above to the instruction book management server 40. In addition, the instruction form generation server 30 may directly transmit the instruction form to the cooperation processing server 50 when the execution of the service cooperation processing is instructed by the user.

  The instruction sheet management server 40 holds the instruction sheet transmitted from the instruction sheet generating server 30 and transmits the instruction sheet to the cooperation processing server 50 in response to a request from the client terminal 10.

  The cooperation processing server 50 is a server that interprets and executes a specified instruction. When the instruction is transmitted, the cooperation processing server 50 interprets the instruction, and the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, the document distribution server 63, and the like according to the order and usage described in the instruction. Each service processing device is called in order to execute cooperation processing. Further, the cooperation processing server 50 stores information on the status of the cooperation processing being executed and the results of the cooperation processing that has been completed, and notifies the status and results of the cooperation processing in response to an external request.

  When the cooperation processing server 50 interprets the instruction sheet and requests each service processing apparatus, the cooperation processing server 50 generates individual instruction information including processing request contents, input parameters, information for specifying a processing target document, and the like. Note that the cooperation processing server 50 may describe the relationship with the processing before and after the processing performed by each service processing device in the instruction sheet, or a unique information exchange format for each service processing device instead of the format of the instruction sheet A processing request may be made at.

  The image processing device 61 is a computer in which a software program for performing an image processing function is installed. The image processing device 61 processes the document based on the service processing request content, the input parameters, and the processing target document information included in the processing request from the cooperation processing server 50. Further, the image processing apparatus 61 notifies the service search server 20 of the partial I / F information at the time of activation. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 61 transmits I / F information indicating a method for using the image processing service in response to a request from the instruction sheet generation server 30. This I / F information is used when creating the instruction sheet.

  The document management server 62 has a document storage function. Based on the information included in the request from the cooperation processing server 50, the document management server 62 executes storage, retrieval, and reading of documents, change of attributes related to documents, and various processes. Further, the document management server 62 notifies the service search server 20 of the partial I / F information at the time of activation. Further, the document management server 62 transmits I / F information indicating how to use the document management service in response to a request from the instruction sheet generation server 30.

  The document distribution server 63 has a function of storing the acquired document in the instructed document management server, sending an e-mail or FAX to the instructed transmission destination, or performing a print output process to the instructed printer. ing. The document distribution server 63 performs document distribution processing based on a document instructed by the client terminal 10 and information on the distribution destination in response to a request from the cooperation processing server 50. Further, the document distribution server 63 notifies the partial I / F information to the service search server 20 at the time of activation. Further, the document distribution server 63 transmits I / F information indicating how to use the document distribution processing service in response to a request from the instruction sheet generation server 30.

  The first service processing device 64 is a device that performs predetermined service processing relating to a document in accordance with an instruction from the outside. Here, the first service processing device 64 executes the service processing to be executed by itself based on information such as the content of the processing request from the cooperation processing server 50, input parameters, and information for specifying the processing target document. To do. In addition, the first service processing device 64 notifies the partial I / F information to the service search server 20 at the time of activation. Further, the first service processing device 64 transmits I / F information indicating a service processing usage method in response to a request from the instruction form generation server 30. The second service processing device 65 operates in the same manner as the first service processing device 64 except for the contents of the service processing.

  In the document processing system 1 configured as described above, each service processing apparatus such as the image processing apparatus 61, the document management server 62, and the document distribution server 63 is installed with an application program for executing a predetermined service. And it works as follows.

  Service processing devices such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, and the document distribution server 63 notify the service search server 20 of partial I / F information including information indicating each service outline and address in the startup processing. .

  The service search server 20 stores partial I / F information transmitted from each service processing device such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, and the document distribution server 63. Accordingly, the service search server 20 can execute a search using the partial I / F information when a predetermined service search request is received from, for example, the instruction form generation server 30 or the cooperation processing server 50.

(Creation of instructions)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the client terminal 10 and the instruction book generation server 30 when the instruction book is created.

  The client terminal 10 accesses the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the HTML file generated for the user interface screen provided by the instruction generation server 30 through the installed browser according to the user's operation (step ST1).

  In response to the browsing request from the client terminal 10, the instruction form generation server 30 transmits the HTML file of the user interface screen to the client terminal 10 (step ST2).

  The client terminal 10 displays a user interface screen based on the HTML file transmitted from the instruction book generation server 30 (step ST3). At this time, the user can use the user interface screen displayed on the client terminal 10 to define a desired service cooperation job flow.

  The client terminal 10 determines whether or not the job flow is defined via the user interface screen, and waits until the job flow is defined (step ST4). When the client terminal 10 determines that a job flow has been created, the client terminal 10 transmits job flow information related to service cooperation defined by the user to the instruction sheet generation server 30.

  The instruction form generation server 30 is configured to request each service based on the information related to the service link job flow transmitted from the client terminal 10 and the I / F information acquired from each service processing apparatus, and input parameters. Then, an instruction is defined that defines information for identifying the document to be processed, such as how to link each service, document name, storage location information, and the like (step ST5). Then, the instruction sheet generation server 30 transmits an XML-format instruction sheet to the instruction sheet management server 40.

  The instruction management server 40 stores the instruction generated by the instruction generation server 30. The instruction sheet management server 40 stores a plurality of instructions created by the instruction sheet generation server 30 and reads out the selected instruction sheet when there is an instruction sheet selection instruction from the client terminal 10.

(Start / execute linked processing)
The user can select a desired instruction from a plurality of instructions stored in the instruction management server 40 and start the cooperation process. Specifically, it is as follows.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of the client terminal 10, the instruction book management server 40 and the cooperation processing server 50.

  The client terminal 10 accesses the instruction sheet management server 40 and acquires an instruction sheet list managed by the instruction sheet management server 40 (step ST11).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the service cooperation process selection screen 110 representing the instruction list. The service cooperation process selection screen 110 has buttons 111 to 116 for selecting an instruction for each instruction. The user can select an instruction by clicking a desired button on the service cooperation processing selection screen 110.

  The client terminal 10 selects an instruction sheet representing a predetermined service cooperation process from the service cooperation process selection screen 110 based on a user operation instruction, and instructs activation of the instruction sheet.

  The instruction management server 40 transmits the instruction specified by the client terminal 10 to the cooperation processing server 50 (step ST12). As a result, the cooperation processing server 50 starts execution of the cooperation processing.

  The cooperation processing server 50 interprets the instruction sheet transmitted from the instruction sheet management server 40 and executes the first service process on the image processing apparatus 61 that is the first process described in the instruction sheet. (Step ST13). Specifically, the cooperation processing server 50, based on the information described in the instruction sheet, the location of the service processing device that requests processing, the input parameter and output parameter format required for the processing request, and the method for processing request Information specifying the name, activation method, and processing target document is extracted, and individual instruction information is created. The cooperation processing server 50 transmits the individual instruction information to the image processing apparatus 61 that is the first processing request destination.

  The image processing device 61 acquires the document by copying the processing target document based on the storage location information of the processing target document described in the transmitted instruction. The image processing device 61 interprets the service processing request contents for the acquired document image, performs image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing, and performs processing for binding with the extracted text document. The image processing device 61 re-stores the document in which the image document and the text document obtained by the image processing are bound to the original storage destination. When such processing is completed, the image processing apparatus 61 transmits processing results such as processing status information (completed), output parameters, processed document storage destination information, and the like to the cooperative processing server 50.

  When the cooperation processing server 50 receives the processing result from the image processing device 61, the cooperation processing server 50 manages the first processing request result as a log. Then, the cooperation processing server 50 specifies the second processing request destination based on the instruction, and requests the document management server 62 to execute the second service processing (step ST14). Similar to the first service processing request, the cooperation processing server 50 receives individual instruction information (information indicating that the document is information relating to the processing request, information on the storage destination of the document, and information specifying the processing target document). Transmit to the document management server 62.

  The document management server 62 performs storage processing on the document processed and stored in the previous processing (first service processing) based on the request content of the cooperation processing server 50 based on the storage location information described in the request content. . When such processing is completed, the document management server 62 transmits processing results such as processing status information (completion), output parameters, processed document storage location information, and the like to the cooperation processing server 50.

  When the cooperation processing server 50 receives the processing result from the second service processing (document storage processing), the cooperation processing server 50 manages the second processing request result as a log. The cooperation processing server 50 specifies the third processing request destination based on the instruction, and requests the document distribution server 63 to execute the third service processing (step ST15). Similarly to the second service processing request, the cooperation processing server 50 receives individual instruction information (information indicating that the document is information relating to the processing request, information on the storage destination of the document, and information specifying the processing target document). Transmit to the document distribution server 63.

  The document distribution server 63 converts the document processed and stored in the previous process (second service process) based on the request contents of the cooperation processing server 50 into the document file based on the information (storage destination information) specifying the document. Read and execute the process described in the request. Here, the document delivery server 63 sends a text document only to a mail address designated as a delivery destination among documents in which a text document and an image document are bound, and faxes only the image document to a designated fax number. Send. When the processing is completed, the document distribution server 63 transmits processing results such as processing status information (completion), output parameters, processed document storage destination information, and the like to the cooperative processing server 50.

  In this processing, the document distribution server 63, for example, if the other party is busy in the FAX transmission process and cannot be connected to the other party even after retrying a predetermined number of times, the status information is “mail transmission: completed, FAX transmission”. : Not transmitted ”to the cooperation processing server 50.

  When the cooperation processing server 50 receives the processing result from the third service processing and determines that the next processing is not described in the instruction sheet, the cooperation processing server 50 notifies the client terminal 10 that all processing has been completed. To complete the cooperation process (step ST16).

  In the present embodiment, the service search server 20 acquires part of the I / F information (partial I / F information) from each service processing apparatus, but acquires all of the I / F information. May be.

(Approval workflow)
As described above, in the document processing system 1, various devices are connected via the network 5 so that various services and applications can be executed. Here, in the present embodiment, the case where the approval workflow process is executed will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a main part for explaining the approval workflow processing based on the mutual relationship between the service processing devices constituting the document processing system 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In order to realize the approval workflow processing, the cooperation processing server 50, the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, the first service processing device 64, and the second service processing device 65 are used.

  In the following description, the first service processing device 64 is described as the approval processing device 64 that executes the approval processing, and the second service processing device 65 is described as the image processing device 65 having the same configuration as the image processing device 61. Further, the document management server 62 includes a storage device 240 that stores document data.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus 61. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 61 includes a mechanism unit 200 for various image processing that functions as a multifunction peripheral for copying and printing images. The mechanism unit 200 includes a printing mechanism unit 202, a copying mechanism unit 204, a scanning mechanism unit 206, and a facsimile machine rear unit 208.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 61 includes a process execution unit 214 that controls the mechanism unit 200. The configuration including the processing execution unit 214 includes various functional units that function as the client terminal 10. The processing execution unit 214 is connected to a display device 220 such as an LCD having a GUI function, and instructions inputted from the outside are inputted via the instruction interpretation unit 210 and the external service specifying unit 212. It is connected to the.

  The external service specifying unit 212 is connected to the execution request message processing unit 218, and the display device 220 and the memory 222 are also connected to the execution request message processing unit 218. A message output unit 216 for outputting a message to the outside is connected to one of the output sides of the execution request message processing unit 218.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the document management server 62. The document management server 62 includes a process execution unit 232 for executing management control of document data. An input unit 230 to which instructions and data from the outside are input is connected to the input side of the processing execution unit 232, and an output unit 234 to which instructions and data are output to the outside is connected to the output side. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the document management server 62 includes a storage device 240. The storage device 240 is for storing document data, and has an unapproved data storage area 236 for storing unapproved document data and an approved data storage area 238 for storing approved document data. Contains.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the approval processing device 64. The approval processing device 64 includes an approval process execution unit 252 for executing an approval process for requested document data. An input unit 250 to which external instructions and data are input is connected to the input side of the approval processing execution unit 252, and data including approval data indicating approval or non-approval is externally connected to the output side. An output unit 254 to which instructions and the like are output is connected.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the cooperation processing server 50. The cooperation processing server 50 includes a cooperation processing execution unit 262 for executing cooperation processing of document data. An input unit 260 to which external instructions and data are input is connected to the input side of the cooperation processing execution unit 262, and data and instructions including external instructions and requests are output to the output side. The output unit 264 is connected.

(Overview of approval workflow)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process outline in the approval workflow. This process is a processing flow for obtaining approval for a purchase request form such as purchase of an article requested by a user.

  First, the purchase request form is scanned on the image processing apparatus 61 side (step 300), and a message (instruction form) for calling an approval process as an external service is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 61 side to the cooperation processing server 50 (step 302). . At this time, the image processing apparatus 61 transmits the document data of the scanned purchase request form to the document management server 62. At this time, since the document data is still unapproved, it is stored in the unapproved data storage area 236.

  That is, as described above, by pressing the approval workflow button 115 from the service cooperation process selection screen 110, the instruction sheet is called and the instruction sheet is transmitted to the cooperation processing server 50.

  The cooperation processing server 50 makes an approval processing request to the approval processing device 64 for the approval processing based on the received instruction, and waits for the result (step 304). At this time, the approval processing device 64 executes an approval process in response to a request from the cooperation processing server 50, and returns an approval result. The cooperation processing server 50 receives the approval result from the approval processing device 64 and notifies the document management server 62 that the approval has been completed.

  When the document management server 62 receives this notification, the document management server 62 stores the document data stored in the unapproved data storage area 236 in the approved data storage area 238. The document management server 62 sends this storage end notification to the cooperation processing server 50, and the cooperation processing server 50 transmits an instruction to the second image processing apparatus 65 to execute a service based on the instruction (step 308). .

  The second image processing apparatus 65 receives the instruction from the cooperation processing server 50 and requests the document management server 62 to extract the document data from the storage location (approved data storage area 238) described in the instruction. Receive this and print it according to the instructions.

  As described above, approval is obtained for a purchase request form such as purchase of an article requested by the user.

  Next, processing in the image processing device 61 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 15 includes a portion executed by the second image processing device 65.

  First, in step 400, an instruction is obtained. In this process, as described above, by pressing the approval workflow button 115 (see FIG. 8) from the service cooperation process selection screen 110, the instruction sheet is called from the instruction sheet management server 40. In this case, the resources of the display device 220 and the process execution unit 214 (FIG. 10) are used. This instruction sheet includes document data storage location (storage location information) and data for calling an external service (partial I / F information).

  In the next step 402, the obtained instruction is interpreted. That is, with reference to the individual instruction information included in the instruction sheet, the service that can be processed by itself (the image processing apparatus 61 or the second image processing apparatus 65) and other services are classified. The processing in step 402 corresponds to the functional part of the instruction interpretation unit 210 (FIG. 10).

  In the next step 404, for the service that can be processed by itself (the image processing apparatus 61 or the second image processing apparatus 65), the corresponding service, that is, the scanning process (or printing process) is executed. This process corresponds to a part of the function of the process execution unit 214 (FIG. 10).

  In the image processing apparatus 61, the purchase request form is scanned. On the other hand, in the second image processing apparatus 65, document data extraction and printing processing are executed. This process corresponds to a part of the function of the process execution unit 214 (FIG. 10) executed using the mechanism unit 200.

  In the next step 406, the process result execution process is executed. Here, processing corresponding to the result processed in step 404 is executed, and the image processing apparatus 61 transmits document data as a result of scanning the purchase request document to the document management server 62. As a result, the document management server 62 stores the document data in the storage device 240 (unapproved data storage area 236). This process corresponds to the function of the process execution unit 214 (FIG. 10) executed using the mechanism unit 200 and the function of the process execution unit 214 transmitting document data via the message output unit 216.

  In the second image processing apparatus 65, a process of returning the print result to the cooperation processing server 50 is executed.

  In the next step 408, it is determined whether or not an external service is included in the series of linkage processes. This determination can be made from the instruction sheet interpreted in step 402 above. Here, the approval process is applicable. That is, since the approval process cannot be performed by the image processing apparatus 61, the result is affirmed in step 408, and in step 410, the external service, that is, the approval process is specified as the external service in the present embodiment. This process corresponds to the function of the external service specifying unit 212.

  In the next step 412, a message for calling an external service is identified and stored. This message corresponds to the above-described individual instruction information and represents that the approval processing device 64 that is an external device of the image processing device 61 is requested to execute the approval processing. This message can be included in the instructions. This processing corresponds to a function of specifying a message stored in the memory 222 (FIG. 10) by the execution request message processing unit 218 and a function of storing it.

  In the process of step 412 described above, a message can be specified by selecting from a plurality of messages. In this case, a plurality of messages are stored in the memory 222. Then, a message is selected from a plurality of messages according to a predetermined condition. The predetermined conditions include selecting a service processing device that is currently in operation, selecting a service processing device with the shortest processing time, simply requesting a service, selecting a predetermined service processing device, etc. There is.

  Further, the above selection may be made by a user input value using a GUI function. In this case, since the probability that the next user's selection is the same is high, it is preferable to store the input value in the memory 222 and reuse it.

  In the next step 414, an instruction including the message specified in step 412 is transmitted to the cooperation processing server 50. That is, a message (instruction) for calling an approval process, which is an external service, is transmitted from the image processing device 61 side to the cooperation processing server 50. This process corresponds to the function of the message output unit 216 (FIG. 10).

  Thereby, the cooperation processing server 50 requests the approval processing device 64 for the approval processing for the approval processing based on the instruction from the image processing device 61, receives the approval result, and completes the approval to the document management server 62. Then, the document management server 62 can store the document data from the image processing device 61 from the unapproved data storage area 236 into the approved data storage area 238.

  Further, the second image processing apparatus 65 receives and interprets the instruction sheet from the cooperation processing server 50 (steps 400 and 402), and the storage location (approved data storage area 238) described in the instruction sheet. The document management server 62 is requested to take out the document data from the printer, and is received and printed according to the instruction (steps 404 and 406).

  In each of the above processes, an authentication process can be added to continue a process corresponding only to a user having a certain authority, such as a user authentication. In this case, it may be executed by prompting or displaying an input by the user using a GUI function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an external service execution request can be made from the image processing apparatus, so that the linkage processing is smoothly performed without being limited to the functions owned by the image processing apparatus, that is, the service processing apparatus. Can be carried out.

  In addition, since the image processing apparatus can receive a service request from the outside, the functions possessed by the image processing apparatus, that is, the service processing apparatus can be easily used from the outside, and the cooperative processing can be smoothly performed. it can.

  Note that the processing in step 302 and step 414 in the above embodiment corresponds to the function of transmitting request information in the transmission means of the present invention. The message at the time of transmission corresponds to request information. The memory 222 corresponds to a storage unit and a data storage unit of the present invention. The display device 220 corresponds to the input unit of the present invention. Further, when a series of processes constituting the instruction document is broken down into a plurality of functional processes, information indicating the relationship between the functions, interface (I / F) information for calling each function, a series of processes Information for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) related to processing corresponds to the item information of the present invention, and information indicating the relationship between each function when a series of processing is decomposed into a plurality of functional processing, Information representing a series of processing itself corresponds to processing information of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the cooperation processing server 50 is used to execute cooperation processing of a plurality of services has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained by sequentially passing through various devices connected in series with document data.

  In this case, each device may be provided with an interpreter that interprets the instruction sheet, and the process or service according to the instruction sheet may be executed. In addition, data transmission between devices may be performed by transmitting document data together with the instruction sheet.

  That is, each device interprets the contents of the service processing request based on the instruction based on the storage location information of the processing target document described in the instruction (such as the memory location of its own memory or the previous device). , Acquire the document data to be processed, execute the process (service process) that can be processed by the device described in the instruction for the acquired document data, and send the instruction and document data to the next device Send. At this time, by describing in the instruction sheet that the processing has been performed by its own device, the processing and services that have already been processed are not executed in the subsequent devices.

  As described above, the cooperative processing can be easily executed by sequentially transmitting the instruction sheet and the document data.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the cooperation process server 50 was used and the cooperation process of a some service was performed, or several apparatuses were connected in series and a cooperation process was carried out, this invention is limited to this. It is not done. In other words, even when the above-described various devices and services are applied to a composite device provided as a function in one device, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the mutual relationship of each service processing apparatus which comprises a document processing system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows schematic structure of I / F information. It is an image figure which shows the instruction creation screen 100 which is a GUI screen for defining a job flow. It is an image figure which shows the instruction document comprised by the XML format. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the client terminal at the time of instruction creation, and an instruction creation server. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a client terminal, an instruction book management server, and a cooperation processing server. It is an image figure which shows an example of the service cooperation process selection screen showing an instruction list. It is a block diagram of the principal part for demonstrating approval workflow processing based on the mutual relationship of each service processing apparatus which comprises a document processing system. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the document management server concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the approval processing apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the cooperation processing server concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process outline | summary in the approval workflow concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process outline | summary in the image processing apparatus concerning Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document processing system 61 ... Image processing apparatus 62 ... Document management server 64 ... Approval processing apparatus 65 ... 2nd image processing apparatus 200 ... Mechanism part 212 ... External service specific | specification part 214 ... Process execution part 218 ... Execution request message process part 220 ... Display device 222 ... Memory 232 ... Processing execution unit 240 ... Storage device

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus included in a document processing system that performs processing on a network in cooperation with a service that performs predetermined processing on document data,
Holding means for holding a type of each service to be executed and information on the processing order of each service;
Determining means for determining whether or not a service corresponding to the information held by the holding means is a service to be performed by the image processing apparatus;
Transmitting means for transmitting request information indicating a service execution request to another service processing apparatus when the determination means determines that the service is not a service to be processed by the image processing apparatus;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the request information, wherein the transmission unit transmits the request information stored in the storage unit. In an image processing method in which a service that performs predetermined processing on document data is processed in cooperation on a network,
A holding step for holding a type of each service to be executed and information on a processing order of each service;
A determination step of determining whether a service corresponding to the information held by the holding unit is a service to be performed by the image processing apparatus;
A transmission step of transmitting request information representing a service execution request to another service processing device when the determination unit determines that the service is not a service to be processed by the image processing device;
An image processing method comprising:   The image processing method according to claim 3, further comprising a storage step of storing the request information, wherein the transmission step transmits the request information stored in the storage step.