JP2012194933A - Groupware system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a groupware system capable of efficiently performing a cooperative operation between different organizations.SOLUTION: In a groupware system, a server comprises; means A for transmitting input screen information to a requester; means B for receiving respondent information input by the requester and an application file for response, generating a response request document and updating the database; means C for transmitting input screen information with response request display and response request document information if there is a response request, to a respondent; means D for receiving an application file for response replaced by the respondent and approval request information including approver information, generating a responded document which is associated with the replaced application file for response and updating the database; means E for transmitting input screen information with approval request display and responded document information if there is an approval request, to an approver; and means F for receiving approval information input by the approver and updating the database.

Description

  The present invention relates to a groupware system and a computer program in which information such as electronic materials stored in a database of a server is written, notified, viewed, and managed by a user via a telecommunication line such as the Internet.

  An information sharing system such as a groupware system is known as a document management system capable of searching a database for managing internal documents of companies and organizations. Since this type of information sharing system is premised on use inside a company or the like, it is necessary to prepare a separate questionnaire system in order to conduct a questionnaire for external persons. However, it is not always easy to link the information sharing system for the inside and the questionnaire system for the outside, especially when the questionnaire is in an elaborate form.

  Patent Document 1 has a questionnaire creation function providing means for providing a questionnaire creation function to a creator who creates a questionnaire, and a questionnaire response function providing means for providing a questionnaire response function to respondents who answer the questionnaire. The creation function providing means is based on a questionnaire creating means for causing the creator to create a questionnaire composed of a plurality of pages, a checking means for checking a page transition of a questionnaire composed of a plurality of pages created by the creator, and a check result by the checking means. In a questionnaire apparatus having an error message output means for outputting an error message, a questionnaire apparatus for instructing a groupware server to execute an examination approval flow for the contents of a questionnaire created by a creator is disclosed.

  By the way, the applicant, when the server device or the plurality of client devices are provided with a history holding folder, and each time the server device acquires the edited object data from the client device via the network, the edited object A learning support system including a history data creation processing unit that copies board data in a state in which object data immediately before editing related to data is included as history object data to the history holding folder is proposed (Patent Document 2). .

JP 2005-209042 A JP 2007-52148 A

  Although information sharing is promoted by the groupware system and business efficiency is promoted, it is natural that information sharing by groupware can be performed only between users of the same groupware. For this reason, there is still a problem that communication by paper, e-mail, and FAX is still necessary in the scene of information sharing in linkage work between different organizations. For example, when a certain public institution (for example, a school) exchanges information such as questionnaires with the government (for example, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), it is difficult to introduce a common system between an organization and the public institution. However, there is a problem in that information technology is applied only to the limits of e-mails for linkage work.

  In the exchange by e-mail, it is difficult to confirm that the attached document is approved by an authorized person. Therefore, apart from the exchange of documents by e-mail, there has been a problem that a document proving that it has been approved by an authorized person must be exchanged separately by mail.

  Furthermore, in the case of e-mail exchange, it is difficult to continue using for many years, and there is a problem that past know-how is not succeeded due to replacement of personal computer equipment or change of person in charge, resulting in inefficiency in business. .

  An object of this invention is to provide the groupware system and program which can solve said subject.

  The inventor assumes that it is difficult to introduce the same groupware between different organizations, so that it is possible to efficiently perform linkage work between different organizations while using a conventional system. Created a groupware system and program based on data linkage by files. That is, the present invention comprises the following technical means.

[1] Means for enabling creation of a document consisting of one or a plurality of pages from a client terminal, means for enabling writing of a field on each page of the document from the client terminal, means for storing the creation date and time of a document and fields, user information Data transmission / reception between the server and the web browser via a telecommunication line, and a server having a database for storing the document related information and the answer request related information. And a client terminal, wherein the server can transition from the database to an answer request input unit or an answer request input unit when a client accesses the client terminal via a communication network. Read the input screen information with the input part The response request information including means A for transmitting to the client terminal of the requester and the respondent information input by the requester on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal and the application file for response is received, and the response request document is received. Means B for creating and updating document related information and response request related information in the database, and when the respondent accesses the client terminal via a communication network, reads the response request related information from the database, If there is a reply request to the client terminal, the answer C is displayed on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal and the means C for transmitting the input screen information with the reply request display and the reply request document information to the client terminal. Answer information and input including application files Receiving the approval request information including the approved approver information, creating a response document associated with the replaced response application file, and updating the document related information and the response request related information in the database; When accessing from the client terminal via the communication network, the response request related information is read from the database, and when there is an approval request for the approver, the input screen information and the response document information with the approval request display are displayed on the client terminal. Means E for transmitting, and means F for receiving the approval information input by the approver on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal and updating the document related information and the response request related information in the database. A groupware system characterized by

[2] The groupware according to [1], wherein the server further includes means for allowing the requester to collectively save each answer application file associated with each answer document. system.
[3] The server sets the answer request document in the means B so that the answer request document cannot be updated by anyone other than the respondent, and the respondent can be updated within a limited range. The groupware system according to [1] or [2], characterized in that is set to be non-updatable.
[4] The server further receives final confirmation request information including final confirmer information input on an input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal by the approver, and relates to document related information and answer request related to the database. When the requester accesses the information requesting means G and the client terminal via the communication network, the response request related information is read out from the database. Means H for transmitting input screen information and answer document information with a confirmation request display; and final confirmation information input on the input screen displayed by the client on the Web browser of the client terminal; And means I for updating the response request related information. Groupware system according to any one of 1 to [3].
[5] The server further receives collaborative editing request information including answer collaborator information entered on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal by the respondent, and receives document-related information and reply request in the database When the means J for updating the related information and the answer collaborator accessed from the client terminal via the communication network, the answer request related information is read from the database, and there is an answer collaborative edit request to the answer collaborator Includes a means K for transmitting input screen information and response request document information with a response joint edit request display to the client terminal, and a response application file replaced by the response joint editor on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal An answer application that received and replaced answer information including [1] to [4], further comprising means L for updating an answer document associated with an application file and updating document related information and answer request related information in the database. Groupware system.
[6] A groupware program that operates on a server of the groupware system according to any one of [1] to [5].

According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform linkage work between different organizations.
In addition, it is possible to easily manage progress when a response request is made to another user.

It is an image figure for demonstrating an answer request function. It is a processing flow in an answer request function. It is a screen when a writing operation is performed on the first page of a document. It is a top screen on which a list of created document names is displayed together with the creator, the updater, and the update date and time. It is a figure which shows the flow of document distribution and collection | recovery between an education center and each school. It is a figure which shows the flow of document distribution and collection | recovery based on an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the reply request document produced from the template. It is a figure which shows an example of a questionnaire document. It is a figure which shows an example of a notification list screen.

  The groupware system of the present invention includes a server, a telecommunication line (network), and a client terminal that can access the server via the telecommunication line.

The server includes a control unit such as a CPU, a storage unit such as a main memory, a communication unit that performs communication via a network, a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores information, and a display unit such as a display that performs screen display. And an operation unit for inputting information such as a keyboard and a mouse. There may be one server or a plurality of servers. Further, the application server and the database server may be used together, or a physically separate housing may be used.
A groupware program runs on the server, and can generate and provide a web page described in a markup language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or XHTML (Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language).
In addition, a database is stored in the storage unit of the server, and user information such as attribute information, group information, input screen information associated with individual users, documents that are management information such as created document parts and access restrictions Information related to response requests, which is management information such as related information and creation / update / status of response request documents, is managed.

  The client terminal may be an information processing apparatus provided with a browser (Web browser) for browsing web pages, and may not be a personal computer (PC). That is, a device such as a portable personal computer called an ultra mobile PC or a pocket PC, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Data Assistance), a tablet computer, or a mobile terminal device called a smartphone is used as the client terminal. it can. The web browser may be any application as long as it can browse web pages by TCP / IP communication. There may be one client terminal, but usually there are many.

  The telecommunication line (network) may be an intranet or a combination of the Internet and an intranet. The telecommunication line includes not only wired communication but also wireless communication.

  The system of the present invention has functions of general groupware such as schedule management, bulletin board, e-mail, workflow, and user management in units of groups. It has new functions such as a function (also called attached file batch saving function).

《Reply request function》
The reply request function is a function for requesting a reply from a requester in a document with respect to a predetermined content from one or many respondents. The answer request function can be used in the following situations, for example.
・ When the board of education requests a survey from each school, receives a report from each school, and aggregates (aggregates). ・ The department in charge of the group company requests a survey from each group company. When a report is collected and aggregated (aggregated) ・ In a certain organization, a person in charge requests a survey from each department, receives a report from each department, and aggregates (aggregates)

An outline of the answer request function will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as a specific example as follows.
First, when the answer requester designates answerers A, B, and C and creates an answer request document on the server, each answerer can access the answer request document. Respondents A, B, and C can also make a response joint editing request to D and E by clicking a button for adding a reply collaborator. Each respondent creates an answer document created by copying the answer request document and updates the attached file. The requester can collect desired information by accessing the answer documents created by the same number as the respondent. If there is a deficiency in the contents of the response, you can re-request it, and when it is re-requested, the status of the response document will change during the response and you will be able to respond again (see the dotted line in Figure 1) .

  The answer request function is particularly effective when conducting a complicated questionnaire with many input items. For example, in the case of a simple questionnaire with few input items, it is possible to acquire the data for aggregation work by CSV etc. by creating a dedicated form with groupware, but in the case of a complicated questionnaire, the form to which the questionnaire is transcribed It is difficult to create. In such a case, it is efficient to transfer the application file (attached file) on which the questionnaire is described to the respondent as it is, but the work is complicated by the management by e-mail, and the work is closed by the person in charge Therefore, collaborative work is difficult. The answer request function of the present invention is provided in view of the actual situation in which cooperation with other organizations must be performed using application files.

The reply by the reply request function is performed by the following procedure, for example (see FIG. 2).
(1) When the requester makes a response request to the respondent, updatable information on the server is updated, the response request document is locked, and only the respondent can be updated. It is also possible to send an email with a link in order to notify the creation of the response request document.
(2) The respondent accesses the answer request document on the server and downloads the questionnaire document (application file) attached to the answer request document to his / her terminal.
(3) The respondent enters the answer in the questionnaire document and saves it on his terminal.
(4) The respondent accesses the answer request document on the server, clicks “Replace attached file”, and uploads the completed questionnaire document saved on his / her terminal. As a result, an answer document unique to the respondent is created on the server.
(5) The respondent clicks the reply completion button to complete the reply. If it is necessary to specify an approver here, an approver is specified. As a result, updatable information on the server is updated, and only the approver can update. Here, notification by e-mail can be used together.
(6) The approver accesses the answer document on the server and approves the answer document. As a result, the updatable person information on the server is updated, and the answer document cannot be updated by anyone other than the requester. If the final confirmation of the requester is not required, the reply request work is completed upon approval by the approver.
(7) The requester accesses the answer document of the server and finally confirms the answer document. This completes the answer request work.

《Batch saving function》
The response batch saving function is a function for extracting only application files (questionnaire documents) replaced by a large number of respondents, displaying a list of download links, and downloading them in a batch. The requester can save a large number of questionnaire documents in a specific folder at once by simply clicking the batch attachment file save button without individually checking the large number of response documents created on the server. .
In the case where a comment is attached to the answer document, a function of simultaneously creating a comment file storing only the comment in the CSV format may be provided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

The system of the embodiment is groupware for sharing information by a plurality of users.
The system of the present embodiment is configured by a client-server model, and is implemented by a server side program written in C # and Ajax (abbreviation of Asynchronous JavaScript + XML). That is, the system of this embodiment uses the HTTP communication function of JavaScript (registered trademark) implemented in a web browser to exchange XML format data with the web server without reloading the web page. It is an interactive web application that advances processing.
The system of the present embodiment has functions that are included in general groupware such as schedule management, bulletin board, workflow, and user management in units of groups. Hereinafter, functions unique to the system of the present embodiment will be described. The explanation is centered.

1. Creating a Document A user creates a “document” when he / she wants to share information on another topic with other users. One document consists of one or more “pages”, and information can be shared with other users by writing information on each page. The main methods of writing information on each page are described below.
A. Image: Draw with a drawing tool in a resizeable designated area.
A. Photo ... Imports a photo image file into a designated area that can be resized.
C. Horizontal writing: Enter text information in horizontal writing in the designated area that can be resized.
D. Vertical writing: Enter text information vertically in a resizeable designated area.
E. Attach ... Displays the attached file with an image icon.
F. Free drawing: Draw freely on the page with a drawing tool.
G. Sticky ... Enter text information in a sticky area (color can be specified) that can be resized.

  An area (= field) created by each function of the above-mentioned keys is managed by a part number that is a unique ID. In addition, a flag and a time stamp are associated with the field, thereby managing “unread” and “read” information at a specific time. The time stamp of each field is recorded as a document update history, and the user can check the field update status together with the document update history.

  FIG. 3 shows a screen when writing is performed on the first page of “document”. The picture of the train in the center of the screen is captured by the “A. Image” function, and the image of the clip next to it is a file attached by the “O. Attachment” function. → is drawn by the "K. Free drawing" function toward the sticky area (pink) created by the "Ki Sticky" function from the train photo. A thumbnail of each page is displayed on the left side of the screen, and you can jump to an arbitrary page by clicking this. Click the “Top” character on the top right of the screen to jump to the top screen. On the top screen, a list of created document names is displayed together with the creator, the updater, and the update date and time (see FIG. 4). When there is a newly published document, “NEW” is displayed on the left side of the document name, and when there is a document updated, “UP” is displayed on the left side of the document name. The A document in which a padlock image is displayed on the left side of the document name is a document that no one has created. Documents that cannot be written (read-only) are displayed in a different color from those that can be written. As a result, even when there are a large number of documents, the user can grasp at a glance the status of disclosure / update and the like.

2. Answer request function By using the answer request function, it is possible to improve the efficiency of a request for a questionnaire or the like to request a questionnaire or the like from a large number of respondents. In this embodiment, an explanation will be given of an example in which an education center entrusted by an administrative agency makes an answer request to the chief professor or teacher in charge via the head of each school. Here, the linkage with the administrative agency is performed by application files such as word processing software (for example, Word (registered trademark)) and spreadsheet software (for example, Excel (registered trademark)), and the link between the education center and each school is a groupware. It is assumed that

The flow of document distribution and collection between the education center and each school is shown in FIG.
(I) First, the educational center sends a reply request in the form entered in the questionnaire document (application file) to the head of each school. This notification is performed using the answer request function of this system. The requester creates an answer request document, selects a user (respondent) to answer from the address book, and requests an answer. At this time, it is possible to limit the document updatable work by the respondent. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to grant the authority of “permit addition and deletion of parts” and “permit operations related to pages”. If not, the respondent is only allowed to replace the attached file.
Also, “approval is required upon completion of answer”, and in the example of FIG. 5, the principal is the approver. If “Include client at the end of the approval path” is checked, the requested work will not be completed until the client performs final confirmation. After requesting an answer, the client will not be able to access the questionnaire document that has already been answered until it is approved.

  In creating the response request document, a request document can be created by selecting a template created in advance from the template list. FIG. 7 is an example of an answer request document created from a template, and is a document whose title is “Survey on excess / shortage of desks / chairs”. This reply request document can be used repeatedly over the years. The reply request document is premised on replying with an attached file. The reply is made by clicking on the clip icon at the bottom center of the screen to download, fill in, and replace the attached file. FIG. 8 shows an example of a questionnaire document.

(II) The head of each school confirms the content of the document and decides whether to respond by itself, or to ask the supervisor or supervisor in charge of the work to collaborate. When requesting a collaborative editing to the supervisor or the teacher in charge, click the “Add Respondent” button to add a user who will be a collaborator. In the example of FIG. 5, a supervisor and a teacher in charge are added.

(III) The teacher in charge fills in the questionnaire with the necessary information, the supervisor of the professor confirms it, and asks the principal for confirmation via e-mail. In addition, when the user can add and delete parts to the document, the document may be provided with a check box for inputting that the description of the teacher in charge has been completed or that the supervisor has confirmed.

(IV-1) The principal confirms the contents written by the supervisor and the teacher in charge, and if there are no problems, asks the principal to approve the questionnaire.
(IV-2) If the questionnaire document needs to be corrected, the principal rejects the approval and requests the respondent to correct it. If the rejection is made, the status of the response document is changed during the response, and the response can be made again.
(IV-3) If there is no need to modify the questionnaire document, the principal clicks the “Approve” button to update the document status. As a result, approved questionnaires can be confirmed and tabulated from the education center. The Education Center can save a large number of questionnaire documents in a specific folder by simply clicking on the batch saving of attached files. The specification may be such that the attached files are stored together in one compressed file.
With the above procedure, it is possible to easily collect questionnaire documents for which approval has been obtained. Collected questionnaire documents are revised as appropriate and sent to relevant agencies such as administrative agencies.

The requester can check the status of the response request (not created, being created, being approved, etc.) on the notification list screen. FIG. 9 shows an example of the notification list screen. Similarly, the approver can also check the status of the approval request on the notification list screen. Thus, according to the reply request function, the reply status can be managed for each reply request / approval request task, so that the trouble of individual management by e-mail can be eliminated.
Further, the requester can select “A: release immediately” and “B: release after approval” at the time of request. When A is selected, when the respondent clicks the reply completion button, the document is automatically made visible to the set user and affiliation (group). If B is selected and all approvers approve, the document can automatically be seen by the set user and affiliation (group).

  The groupware system of the present invention can be used for information sharing, meetings, education, and training in companies and schools.

1 Server 2 Requester terminal 3 Respondent terminal 4 Approver terminal 5 Answer collaborator terminal

Claims (6)

Means for enabling creation of a document comprising one or a plurality of pages from a client terminal; means for enabling writing of a field on each page of the document from the client terminal; means for storing the creation date and time of the document and fields; and managing user information Means for providing a document readable by a web browser, a server having a database for storing document related information and answer request related information, and a client terminal for transmitting and receiving data by the server and the web browser via a telecommunication line A groupware system comprising
The server is
When the requester accesses from the client terminal via the communication network, the input screen information having an input part that can be changed to the answer request input part or the answer request input part is read from the database and transmitted to the client terminal of the requester. Means A;
The requester receives the answer request information including the answerer information and the answer application file input on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal, creates the answer request document, the document related information of the database and the answer request Means B for updating related information;
When the respondent accesses from the client terminal through the communication network, the response request related information is read from the database, and when there is a reply request to the respondent, the input screen information and the reply with the reply request display on the client terminal Means C for transmitting requested document information;
The respondent receives the response information including the response application file replaced on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal and the approval request information including the input approver information, and is associated with the replaced response application file Means D for creating an answer document and updating the document related information and answer request related information in the database;
When the approver accesses from the client terminal via the communication network, the response request related information is read from the database, and when there is an approval request for the approver, the input screen information and the response with the approval request display on the client terminal Means E for sending document information;
Means F for receiving approval information entered by an approver on an input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal, and updating document related information and response request related information in the database;
A groupware system comprising: The server further comprises:
The groupware system according to claim 1, further comprising means for allowing the requester to collectively save each answer application file associated with each answer document. The server is
In the means B, the response request document is set to be non-updatable except for the respondent, and the respondent can be updated within a limited range.
In the means D, the answer document is set to be non-updatable except for the approver,
The groupware system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The server further comprises:
Means G for receiving final confirmation request information including final confirmer information entered on an input screen displayed on the web browser of the client terminal by the approver, and updating document related information and response request related information in the database;
When the requester accesses from the client terminal via the communication network, the response request related information is read from the database, and if there is a final confirmation request for the requester, the input screen information with the final confirmation request display on the client terminal And means H for transmitting response document information;
Means I for receiving final confirmation information entered on the input screen displayed on the web browser of the client terminal by the requester and updating the document related information and answer request related information in the database;
The groupware system according to claim 1, comprising: The server further comprises:
Means J for receiving response collaborative editing request information including answer collaborator information entered on the input screen displayed on the web browser of the client terminal by the respondent, and updating the document related information and answer request related information in the database; ,
When the response collaborator accesses from the client terminal via the communication network, the response request related information is read from the database, and if there is a response collaborative edit request to the response collaborator, the client terminal requests the response collaborative editing Means K for transmitting input screen information with display and re-response request document information;
The response collaborator receives the response information including the response application file replaced on the input screen displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal, updates the response document associated with the replaced response application file, Means L for updating document related information and response request related information;
The groupware system according to claim 1, comprising:   A groupware program that operates on a server of any of the groupware systems according to claim 1.