JP3042425B2 - Workflow system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a workflow system for defining a work procedure and a flow of information on a work, and actually operating and managing the work flow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called workflow system for defining, operating and managing a series of operations involving a plurality of workers, it is possible to operate and manage operations in accordance with the operation procedure.

[0003] In general, the definition of a workflow in a workflow system means that a task is divided into a plurality of unit tasks, and then the execution order of each unit task, a person in charge of each unit task, and handed over between each unit task. This defines the format of the data. For example, as an example of the business of processing a business trip slip, a first unit business for creating a business trip slip, a second unit business for approving the business trip slip, a third unit business for booking tickets and hotels, and a request for settlement of travel expenses 4th to do
, And a fifth unit business that performs accounting processing based on the settlement application. These are executed in this order. Of these, the first and fourth unit services are handled by the business traveler himself, the second unit business is handled by the boss of the business traveler, the third unit business is handled by the secretary, and the fifth unit business is handled by the accounting staff. . The data passed between the unit services is a business trip slip.

[0004] In the example of processing a business trip slip, each unit business is executed one by one. However, conditional branching in which only one of a plurality of unit businesses is executed depending on conditions, or a plurality of unit businesses are executed in parallel. There may be parallel processing executed by

[0005] It is also possible to give a priority to a workflow task. The priority is a parameter indicating which workflow task should be preferentially handled when a plurality of workflow tasks are being executed. In addition, deadlines can be defined for workflow tasks. Such a deadline may include a deadline that specifies the time at which the workflow operation is finally completed, or a deadline that specifies completion for each unit operation.

In such a conventional workflow system, when a worker processes a circulation document and sends the circulation document to the next worker in the workflow system, when a certain worker stays in the circulation document for a long time. The user of the workflow system can see the display screen of the progress of the workflow (how far it is flowing) and distribute the staying circulation to another worker.

[0007] As a conventional technique related to such a technique, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-143162 (Title of Invention: "E-mail delivery device and circulation order changing method")
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-1905, in which
Reference is made to the description in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 84 (name of the invention, "workflow system"). Note that the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-143162
In the issue publication, the circulation order of the circulation mail can be changed during circulation, and the circulation order of the absentee is delayed, so that the circulation of the mail can be smoothly performed without delay and the circulation mail can be changed. There has been proposed a configuration of an e-mail delivery device that can always allow a sender to know how far the mail is circulated.

[0008]

However, when a workflow user moves the staying circulation next after observing the staying status, in the conventional system, the workflow user moves the staying circulation next without permission. However, there is a problem that the worker who should process the staying circulation and the next worker who is assigned the processing of the staying circulation are not notified in advance, which may confuse the work of the worker to be assigned. doing.

[0009] When a workflow user moves a stay circulation to another worker while observing the stay status, in the conventional system, the circulation is still circulated by referring to the circulation order information of the workflow defined in advance. Can not move the circulated circulation to only those workers who have not yet circulated, and cannot have the circulated circulation processed by workers who are not scheduled beforehand. There is a problem that cannot be moved to.

Further, when the workflow user collects the staying circulation by observing the staying state, in the conventional system, the workflow user collects the staying circulation without permission, and the worker who should process the staying circulation and Since the worker who is circulated thereafter is not notified of the collection, there is a possibility that the worker who is currently processing the circulating circulation and the work of the worker circulated after that worker may be confused.

Further, the workflow user processes the staying circulation document, that is, whether the circulation document has not been opened at all, is being created, or has already created the transmission document, but has transmitted it to the next worker. Or just not
For example, there is a possibility that the whole circulation time will be delayed by allocating to another worker a circulation that should be transmitted to the next worker after waiting a little longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a worker who is currently processing a circuit at the time of collecting a circulating circulation and a work to be processed later. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workflow system that reliably prevents the disruption of the work of the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a workflow system that allows a worker who is not scheduled to circulate a stay circulation to move the circulation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a workflow system which avoids disrupting the work of a worker who is currently processing a circulated circulation and a worker circulated after the worker. .

Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to judge the work state of an operator who is stagnating the circulation, so that the circulating circulation is not moved unnecessarily.
An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow system that avoids delaying the entire circulation time.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention (claim 1), in a workflow server, a notice of collection of staying circulation which notifies a client machine of an operator in advance that collection of staying circulation is to be collected. Means, means for confirming distribution of staying circulation, means for confirming distribution of staying circulation, means for checking and answering whether or not a client machine having staying circulation can process the staying circulation, and processing for staying circulation can be allocated. And a distribution confirmation response means for responding to the next worker's client machine to confirm the distribution of the staying circulation.

With such a configuration, according to the present invention,
When a worker who is currently processing a circulation moves a retained circulation to another worker, the worker who removes the retained circulation is confirmed in advance to confirm the collection of the retained circulation, and then the work to which the circulation is sent After confirming the distribution of the staying circulation to the worker, it is possible to move the staying circulation, so that the worker can know in advance that the staying circulation will be distributed, which will confuse the work of the worker. Solving the problem.

Further, according to the present invention (claim 6), the workflow server has a new worker stay circulation allocating means for allocating the stay circulation even to the client machine of the worker who is not scheduled to circulate in advance.

With such a configuration, a worker who has not designated a circulating circulation in a predefined circulation order is notified of the circulating circulation distribution notice, and the circulating circulation can be moved. When the work of the worker described in the workflow routing order information in which the staying circulation is defined in advance is too busy to process the staying circulation, another new worker can process the staying circulation. This solves the above-mentioned problem that the retained circulation cannot be moved to an operator who is not scheduled to circulate.

Further, according to the present invention (claim 11), in the workflow server, a stay circulation collection and notifying means for notifying the worker's client machine in advance that the stay circulation is to be collected, And a stay circulation collection notice means for notifying the plurality of workers sent that the stay circulation has been collected.

By adopting such a configuration, the present invention provides a method of removing a staying circulation from a notice of collection of a staying circulation to an operator who removes the staying circulation beforehand and a plurality of circulation notices thereafter. The worker who is currently processing the staying circulation and the workers who are circulating after that worker can collect the staying circulation after notifying the worker in advance that the staying circulation is to be collected. The above-mentioned problem of confusing business is solved.

According to the present invention (claim 13), the workflow server includes a circulation state confirmation unit for confirming the state of the circulation in the client machine of the worker having the circulation circulation. Circulating state management means for managing the state of the circulating state.

With such a configuration, according to the present invention, by confirming the state of the circulated circulation, the worker who should process the circulation can determine the circulation circulated by another worker. Can be provided to the user to determine whether to move to the server or to process the staying circulation as it is, so that the user can process the circulation processing status and the circulation of the staying worker in the future. This can solve the above-mentioned problem that the entire circulation time is delayed by allocating the circulation transmitted to the next worker to another worker after a while.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, four embodiments will be described as embodiments of the present invention.
The inventions described in 2, 3, 4, and 5 are described in the first embodiment, and the inventions described in claims 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are described in the second embodiment. The twelfth aspect of the present invention relates to the third embodiment, claims 13, 14, and 1.
Regarding the inventions described in 5 and 16, each embodiment will be described as a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the workflow system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a workflow system 1 distributes a workflow server 10, a client 20 of a worker who is staying in circulation, and then circulation. And an operator's client 30.

The workflow server 10 includes an input / output unit 1
1, a workflow management unit 12, a stay circulation collection confirmation unit 13, a stay circulation distribution confirmation unit 14, and a workflow control unit 15.

The client 20 performs the collection confirmation response means 2
1, and the client 30 includes:
It is configured to include at least the distribution confirmation response means 31.

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

When the user inputs the name of the circulated circulation, the name of the worker who is circulating the circulation (name of the stagnating worker), and the request for moving the circulated circulation, the input / output means 11 inputs / outputs the information from the input / output means 11 of the workflow server 10. , To the workflow management means 12,
The entered stay circulation name, stay worker name, and stay circulation transfer request are sent.

The workflow management means 12 sends the staying circulation name and the staying worker name to the staying circulation collection / confirmation means 13.

The staying circulation collection / confirmation means 13 first sends a confirmation signal to the confirmation answering means 21 of the staying worker's client machine 20 as to whether the staying circulation can be moved to another worker ( Step S11 in FIG. 7).

The collection and response means 21 of the staying worker investigates whether to process or move the staying circulation, and returns to the staying circulation collection and confirmation means 13 a reply to the effect that the processing or movement will be performed.

As a method of examining the answer contents in the collection confirmation answering means 21 of the client machine 20, for example,
There is a method of referring to schedule information and work state information input by a worker in advance to determine whether processing can be performed, and a method of directly checking with a worker. ) Will be described later in detail.

There are roughly two types of answers of the collection confirmation answering means 21, and the subsequent operation differs depending on each type.

First, (1) when the collection confirmation reply means 21 does not return an answer within a certain period of time or returns a reply to the collection request to the stay circulation collection confirmation means 13 of the workflow server 10, , Sends a stay circulation transfer request to the workflow management means 12. At that time, the workflow management means 12 sends the staying circulation distribution notice means 14 the name of the worker scheduled to circulate next to the staying worker name specified from the workflow routing route definition information (next worker name). Send.

(2) When the collection confirmation reply means 21 returns a reply indicating that the collection is refused, the retained circulation collection confirmation means 1
3 sends a stay circulation collection rejection signal to the workflow management means 12 (step S14 in FIG. 7). At that time, the workflow management means 12 sends a stay circulation rejection signal to the input / output means 11, and the input / output means 11 displays a response to the user that the staying worker refuses the collection (FIG. 7). Step S15).

In the case of the above (1), the workflow server 1
The staying circulation distribution confirmation unit 14 of 0 sends a distribution confirmation signal of the staying circulation to the distribution reply confirmation unit 31 of the client machine 30 of the worker (step S13 in FIG. 7).

The distribution confirmation response means 31 of the worker's client machine 30 receives the distribution confirmation signal from the stay circulation distribution confirmation means 14 of the workflow server 10 and performs processing. As a processing method, for example, there is a method of displaying a distribution confirmation message on the worker's client machine, and a method of checking whether the processing is possible by referring to the schedule information and the work state of the worker.

As in the case of the above-mentioned answer at the time of the collection confirmation, there are roughly two types of answers, and the subsequent operation differs depending on each type.

First, (1) when the distribution confirmation response means 31 of the client machine 30 returns a response to the distribution confirmation signal indicating that distribution is permitted, the workflow server 1
The staying circulation distribution confirmation unit 14 of 0 sends a stay circulation transfer request to the workflow management unit 12. The workflow management unit 12 sends the name of the staying worker, the name of the staying circulation, and the name of the worker who will distribute the circulation to the workflow control unit 15. The workflow control unit 15 moves the stay circulation from the stay worker to the next worker.

(2) If the distribution confirmation response means 31 of the client machine 30 does not return a response within a certain period of time or returns a response indicating that the distribution is rejected, 14 sends another stay circulation circulation distribution person search request to the workflow management means 12 (step S17 in FIG. 7). The workflow management means 12 stores the names of the workers other than the intended distribution persons (for example, the names of the workers scheduled to be circulated next to the intended distribution persons), which are specified from the circulation order definition information of the workflow, in the retained circulation distribution confirmation means. Send to 14. Subsequent operations are the same as those described above, and the above-described procedure (2) is repeated until there is an answer of the above-mentioned type (1) from the distribution confirmation answering means 31.

Here, an embodiment of the collection confirmation response means 21 in the client machine 20 will be described below.

First, a first embodiment of the collection confirmation response means will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the collection confirmation response unit 22 according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the collection confirmation response means 22
Means the schedule confirmation means 23 and the collection answer determination means 2
4 at least.

When the staying circulation collection confirmation means 13 of the workflow server 10 sends a collection confirmation signal to the collection confirmation response means 22, the schedule confirmation means 23 in the collection confirmation response means 22 shows an example of the contents in FIG. Check the schedule by referring to the appropriate schedule table.

Referring to FIG. 5, the schedule table preferably includes date, time, and schedule information as schedule information.
The schedule content and priority are described.

The schedule confirmation means 23 acquires schedule information for several days after the current date and time and sends the schedule information to the collection answer determination means 24. The collection reply determination unit 24 refers to the schedule information and sends a reply “collection refusal” or “collection request” to the stay circulation collection check unit 13 of the workflow server 10.

A method of determining collection refusal / hopping by the collection answer determination means 24 is, for example, when there is no schedule in the acquired schedule information for several days, or when schedule contents with low priority are described. Replies that “collection is refused”. If the schedule is too busy, reply "request for collection".

Next, a second embodiment of the collection confirmation response means will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the collection confirmation response means.

Referring to FIG. 3, the collection confirmation response means 25
Is a work state confirmation unit 26 and a collection answer determination unit 27
And at least.

When the staying circulation collection confirmation means 13 of the workflow server 10 sends a collection confirmation signal to the collection confirmation response means 25, the work status confirmation means 26 in the collection confirmation response means 25 shows an example of the contents in FIG. The work status is confirmed by referring to the work status table as shown in FIG. The work status table is created when a collection confirmation signal is sent.

Referring to FIG. 6, the work status table includes, as work status information, a query date, a query time, a work content,
The priority is described. For example, there is a method of determining the work content based on which application is currently running on the client machine. If the current work is registered as schedule information in the schedule information described above, the priority is obtained from the schedule information.

The work state confirmation means 26 acquires the work state information from the work state table and sends the schedule information to the collection answer determination means 27. The collection reply determination unit 27 refers to the work state information and sends a reply “collection refusal” or “collection request” to the stay circulation collection confirmation unit 13 of the workflow server 10.

Rejection of collection by the collection answer determination means 24
As a method of determining a desired one, for example, if no work is performed or a low-priority work is performed, a response of “collection refusal” is answered. If the user is performing a high-priority operation, a response to "request for collection" is given.

Next, a third embodiment of the collection confirmation response means will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the collection confirmation response means. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the collection confirmation response means 28 according to the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the collection confirmation response means 28
Are schedule check means 23 and work state check means 2
6 and a collection response comprehensive decision means 29.

When the staying circulation collection confirmation means 13 of the workflow server 10 sends a collection confirmation signal to the collection confirmation response means 28 (step S21 in FIG. 8), the collection confirmation response means 28
Inside, the schedule confirmation means 23 confirms the schedule by the method described above, and the work state confirmation means 26
However, the work state is confirmed by the method described above.

The schedule confirmation means 23 sends the schedule information and the work state confirmation means 26 sends the work state information to the collective response comprehensive decision means 29.

The collection answer comprehensive decision means 29 refers to both the received schedule information and the work state information and sends a reply of “collection refusal” or “collection hope” to the staying circulation collection confirmation means 13.

An example of a method of determining an answer of collection refusal / collection hope in the collection answer comprehensive determination means 29 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

First, referring to the schedule information, it is determined whether a schedule with a high priority is included (step S21).

If a schedule with a high priority is included, the collective response comprehensive decision means 29 replies "request for collection" (step S22).

There is a schedule with a low priority.
Or, if no schedule is entered, the work status is referred to, and it is determined whether or not a work with a high priority is performed (step S23).

If the work is of high priority, the collective response comprehensive decision means 29 replies "request for collection" (step S21).

If a low-priority work is being performed or nothing has been done, the collective response comprehensive decision means 29 replies "collection refusal" (step S24).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a workflow system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the workflow system 2 distributes the workflow server 40, the client 60 of the worker who is circulating the circulation, and then the circulation. And an operator client 70.

The workflow server 40 includes the input / output unit 4
1 and the workflow management means 42. The system includes a stay circulation collection notifying unit 43, a stay circulation distribution notice unit 44, a new circulation work allocating unit 45, and a workflow control unit 46.

Also, the client ( the client who
Client machine (client machine) 60 includes at least a reception processing unit 61, and a client (client of a newly circulated worker).
Ant machine) 70 includes at least a reception processing unit 71.

The user enters in the input / output means 41 the name of the circulated circulation and the name of the worker whose circulation is being stagnated (the name of the stagnated worker).
And input of the new worker assignment request, the input / output means 41 sends the stayed circulation name, the staying worker name, and the new assignment work request to the workflow management means 42.

The workflow management means 42 sends the name of the stayed circulation and the name of the staying worker to the staying circulation collection / notification means 43,
A new worker allocation request is sent to the new worker stay circulation allocating means 45.

The staying circulation collection notifying means 43 sends a staying circulation collection notice signal to the reception processing means 61 of the client machine 60 of the staying worker.

The staying worker's reception processing means 61 performs post-processing of circulation collection. For example, there is a method of deleting a previously scheduled circulation schedule or notifying the worker directly.

[0075] A new worker circulation allocation means 45 is to appoint a working party other than the circulation prospective, send the new work's name to the workflow management means 4 2.

As a method of the nomination, (1) a nomination is made by referring to a record of the same type of work experience in the past, and (2) a user is directly nominated. Will be described later.

[0077] workflow management means 4 2 sends the new work's name to the residence circulation distribution notice means 44.

The staying circulation distribution notice means 44 is provided for the client machine 7 of the new worker (newly circulated worker).
The distribution notice signal of the distribution of the staying circulation is sent to the reception processing means 71 of No. 0.

The reception processing means 71 of the client machine of the new worker receives the distribution notice signal and performs processing.

As a processing method, for example, there is a method of displaying a distribution notice message on the client machine of the worker, or a method of automatically inputting a schedule for processing distribution and circulation.

The workflow management means 42 sends the name of the staying worker, the name of the staying circulation, and the name of the next worker to distribute the circulation to the workflow control means 46. Workflow control means 4
6 is the staying worker (the client of the worker with the staying circulation)
From the next machine (newly circulated work)
To move to the client machine 70) .

Here, various embodiments of the new worker stay circulation allocating means will be described below.

First, the first of the new worker stay circulation allocating means
An example will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the new worker stay circulation allocating unit 47 according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the new worker stay circulation allocating means 47 includes at least a work history confirming means 48 and a new worker determining means 49.

When the workflow management means 42 sends a new worker assignment request to the new worker staying circulation allocating means 47, the work history confirmation means 48 in the new worker staying circulation allocating means 47 has the contents shown in FIG. The business history is confirmed with reference to a business history table as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 13, the work history table includes, as work history information, a workflow name, a role name, a worker name,
The work date is described.

The work history confirmation means 48 obtains the name of the currently running workflow and the corresponding work history information, and sends this work history information to the new worker determination means 49.

The new worker determining means 49 sends the determined new worker name to the workflow managing means 42 with reference to the work history information. As a method of determining a new worker name by the new worker determining means 49, for example, when there are a plurality of persons, a worker who has recently performed the task is determined as a new worker.

Next, the second of the new worker stay circulation allocating means will be described.
An example will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the new worker stay circulation allocating unit 50 according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the new worker stay circulation allocating means 50 includes at least a schedule confirming means 51 and a new worker determining means 52.

When the workflow management means 42 sends a new worker assignment request to the new worker staying circulation allocating means 50, the schedule confirmation means 51 in the new worker staying circulation allocating means 50 has an example of the contents shown in FIG. Check the schedule by referring to the schedule table shown.

Referring to FIG. 14, the schedule table describes work groups (names), worker names, and schedule numbers (numbers). Schedule No
Is the ID of the schedule table of the worker. Actual schedule information is stored in a table format as shown in FIG.

The schedule confirming means 51 obtains the names of the workers who do not have a schedule at present, and sends the names of the workers to the new worker determining means 52.

The new worker determining means 52 sends the determined new worker name to the workflow management means 42 with reference to the worker name. As a method of determining a new worker name in the new worker determination means 52, for example, when there are a plurality of persons, a worker who has recently performed the task is determined as a new worker.

Next, the third method of the new worker stay circulation allocating means will be described.
An example will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the new worker stay circulation allocating unit 53 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the new worker stay circulation allocating means 53 of the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, the new worker stay circulation allocating means 53 includes at least a work history confirming means 48, a schedule confirming means 51, and a new worker comprehensive determining means 54.

When the workflow management means 42 sends a new worker allocation request to the new worker stay circulation allocating means 53,
The work history confirming means 48 in the new worker stay circulation allocating means 53 confirms the work history by the method described above, and at the same time, the schedule confirming means 51 confirms the work state by the method described above.

The business history check means 48 stores the business history information, the schedule check means 51 stores the schedule information,
The information is sent to the new worker comprehensive decision means 54.

The new worker comprehensive decision means 54 sends the worker name to the standard worker decision means 52 with reference to both the received work history information and schedule information. An example of a method for determining a new worker in the new worker total determining means 54 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a person who has previously experienced the same job by referring to the job history information (step S).
31). If there is no experienced person, new worker comprehensive decision means 5
4 informs the workflow management means 42 that there is no corresponding person (Sstep 32).

If there is an experienced person of the same work before, it is determined whether the experienced person has a free schedule by referring to the schedule information (step S33).

If the schedules of all experienced workers are tight, the new worker comprehensive decision means 54 informs the workflow management means 42 that there is no corresponding person (step S3).
2).

If any of the experienced persons has a vacant schedule, an appropriate worker is selected from the persons (step S34).

As the selection method, for example, a method of selecting a worker who has recently performed the job is used.

The new worker comprehensive decision means 54 sends the selected person name to the workflow management means 42 (step S35).

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a workflow system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the workflow system 3 distributes the workflow server 80, the client 90 of the worker who is circulating the circulation, and then the circulation. And an operator client 100.

The workflow server 80 is provided with the input / output unit 8
1, a workflow management unit 82, a stay circulation notice collection unit 83, a stay circulation collection notice unit 84, and a workflow control unit 85. The client 90 includes at least a reception processing unit 91, and the client 100 includes at least a reception processing unit 101.

The name of the circulated circulation material and the name of the worker who circulates the circulation in the input / output means 81 (name of the stagnating worker)
Is input, the input and output means 8
1 sends to the workflow management means 82 the name of the stayed circulation, the name of the staying worker, and the staying circulation collection request.

The work flow management means 82 sends the stay circulation notice collection means 83 the work to be processed later, which is specified by the stay circulation object name, the stay worker name, and the circulation order definition information of the workflow. Send the name of the person who will be working.

The staying circulation collection notifying means 83 first sends a staying circulation collection notice signal to the reception processing means 91 of the client machine 90 of the staying worker.

Each reception processing means performs the work after collection of the circulation in each client machine. As the contents of the work, for example, there is a method of deleting schedule information of a circulation schedule which has been input in advance, or a method of notifying the worker directly.

The workflow management means 82 sends the staying worker name and the stay circulation name to the workflow control means 85.

[0114] The staying circulation collection notice means 84 has received a reservation cancel signal indicating that the circulation scheduled to be circulated has been collected to the accepting means of the client machines of all the workers, so that the circulation will no longer be circulated. Is sent to the reception processing means 101 of the client possessed by all the scheduled workers.

The workflow control means 85 collects the stay circulation from the stay operator.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a workflow system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the workflow system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a circulation state management unit in the workflow system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a workflow system 4 includes a workflow server 110 and a client 120 of a worker who is staying in circulation.

The workflow server 110 includes an input / output unit 111, a workflow management unit 112, a circulation status confirmation unit 113, an operator confirmation unit 114, and a workflow control unit 115. The client 110 includes at least a circulation state management unit 121 and a reception processing unit 122.

Referring to FIG. 18, the circulation state management unit 121 includes at least a circulation state determination unit 124 and a circulation state period determination unit 125.

When the user inputs the name of the worker whose circulation is staying (name of the staying worker) and the request for confirming the staying circulation status to the input / output means 111, the input / output means 111 sends the staying work to the workflow management means 112. Send the worker name.

When the workflow management unit 112 sends the staying worker name to the circulation state confirmation unit 113, the circulation state confirmation unit 113 receives the name of the staying worker, and the circulation state state management unit 113 of the client machine 120 of the staying worker. A signal is sent to 121 requesting an investigation of the processing state of the circulars staying at the worker.

The circulation status management unit 121 checks the processing status of the retained circulation. First, the circulation state management unit 12
The processing status is confirmed and determined by the circulation status determination means 123 in the reference numeral 1. As shown in FIG. 19 as an example, there are five processing states: an unopened state, an uncreated state, a created state, an untransmitted state, and a transmitted state.

In particular, as an example of a method of examining whether a circular is not created or created, an application (word processor or the like) for creating a circular is defined in advance, and when the application is activated using the relevant circular as an argument. There is a method of determining the processing state as a "creation state".

Next, the circulation state period determining means 125 determines how long the processing state continues.

Then, the circulation state management unit 121 returns the investigated processing state to the circulation state confirmation unit 113 of the workflow server machine 110 (step S41).

The circulation state confirmation unit 113 of the workflow server 110 sends the confirmed circulation processing state to the workflow management unit 112. Note that the circulation state checking means 1
The details of the thirteenth embodiment will be described later.

The workflow management unit 112 sends the processing status of the worker name to the input / output unit 111, and the input / output unit 111 indicates the processing status to the user (step S4).
2).

The user looks at this processing state and determines whether or not to distribute the circulation to another worker. For example,
When the processing state is “unopened state” or “uncreated state”, the user determines that the circulation is not processed for the time being, and requests the circulation distribution request from the input / output unit 111, and sets a different worker name. Is input (step S43).

At that time, the workflow management means 112
Upon receiving the circulation distribution request and the name of another worker, a process of distributing the circulating circulation material to the other worker is performed.

The procedure for the distribution is the same as the procedure following step S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 7 used in the description of the first embodiment.

Further, for example, when the processing state is “created state” or “untransmitted state”, the user determines that there is a possibility that the circulation will be processed immediately, At 111, a circulation processing request and a staying worker name are input (step S44).

At that time, the workflow management means 112
The worker name is sent to the worker confirmation means 114.

The worker confirmation means 114 sends a signal to the reception processing means 122 of the worker's client machine 120 for confirming how long the worker can process the circulation.

The reception processing means 122 of the worker's client machine 120 checks the circulation processing time by using a method such as referring to the schedule state of the worker or confirming the worker directly. Then, the confirmation content is sent to the workflow server machine 110 (step S45).
The contents of the confirmation result include, for example, the remaining man-hours for processing the circular.

The worker confirming means 114 sends the contents of the confirmation to the workflow managing means 112.

The workflow management means 112 sends the confirmation result to the input / output means 111, and the input / output means 111 outputs the confirmation result.

The user looks at the confirmation result and determines again whether or not to distribute the circulation to another worker (step S46).

At this time, if the remaining man-hours are less than those specified by the user, it is determined that the circulation of the stagnant is not to be distributed to another worker, and the name of the stagnating worker is input to the input / output means. , A circulation processing request (step S47).
On the other hand, if the number is large, it is determined that it is better to distribute to other workers, and the above-described procedure of distributing the stagnant to another worker is performed (step 43).

A description will now be given of an embodiment of the circulation status confirmation means. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the circulation state checking means.

Referring to FIG. 21, the circulation status confirmation means 126 includes at least a work history confirmation means 127 and a circulation processing determination means 128.

When the circulation state management means 121 sends the state of the circulation and the period of the circulation to the work history confirmation means 127 in the circulation state confirmation means 126, the work history confirmation means 126
Refers to the work history table whose contents are shown in FIG. 22 as an example, and confirms the work history information of the currently running workflow.

Referring to FIG. 22, the work history table preferably describes an operator name, a workflow name, a state, a state period, and a completion period.

The work history confirming means 126 acquires the work history and sends the work state, the work state period and the work history to the circulation processing judging means 128.

The circulation process judging means 128 compares the work state period with the completion period of the work history, and judges whether or not the worker should process the circulation. As a method of this determination, for example, if the scheduled processing period input by the user in advance is less than the current state period and the completion period, it is determined that the circulation can be processed between the scheduled processing machines.

The circulation processing judging means 128 sends the judgment contents (processable or impossible during the scheduled processing period) to the workflow managing means 112.

[0146]

As described above, according to the workflow system of the present invention, the user can move the staying circulation,
At the time of collection, each worker can be notified of it, so that each worker has an effect that his or her work schedule can be efficiently planned.

Further, according to the present invention, since the user can determine the working state of the worker who is circulating the circulation,
This has the effect of avoiding the unnecessary circulation of the circulation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a first embodiment of a workflow system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a collection confirmation response unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of another example of a unit of the collection confirmation response unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of still another example of the collection confirmation response unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the content of a schedule according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a work state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first embodiment of the workflow system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an example of a collection confirmation response unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a workflow system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a new worker staying circulation allocating unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another example of a new worker staying circulation allocating unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of still another example of the new worker staying circulation allocating means according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a business history according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of group schedule content according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an example of a new worker staying circulation allocating unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a workflow system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a workflow system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a circulation state management unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of a work state according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the fourth embodiment of the workflow system according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a circulation state checking unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of a work history according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Workflow system 2 Workflow system 3 Workflow system 4 Workflow system 10 Workflow server 11 Input / output means 12 Workflow management means 13 Staying circulation collection confirmation means 14 Staying circulation distribution confirmation means 15 Workflow control means 20 Staying worker's client 21 Collection confirmation reply means 22 Collection confirmation response means 23 Schedule confirmation means 24 Collection response determination means 25 Collection confirmation response means 26 Work status confirmation means 27 Collection response determination means 28 Collection confirmation response means 29 Collection response comprehensive determination means 30 Next worker's client 31 Distribution confirmation Answer means 40 workflow server 41 input and output means 42 workflow management unit 43 residence circulation recovery notifying means 44 residence circulation distribution notifying means 45 new workers staying circulation allocator means 46 follower Flow control means 47 New worker staying and allocating means 48 Business history checking means 49 New worker determining means 50 New worker staying and allocating means 51 Schedule checking means 52 New worker determining means 53 New worker staying and allocating means 54 New Worker comprehensive decision means 60 Clients of staying workers (classes with staying circulation)
Client machine (client machine) 61 Reception processing means 70 Client of the next worker (newly circulated work)
(Receiver's client machine) 71 Reception processing means 80 Workflow server 81 Input / output means 82 Workflow management means 83 Staying circulation collection notification means 84 Staying circulation collection notice means 85 Workflow control means 90 Staying worker client 91 Reception processing means 100 Scheduled worker Client 101 reception processing means 110 workflow server 111 input / output means 112 workflow management means 113 circulation status confirmation means 114 worker confirmation means 115 workflow control means 120 staying worker client 121 circulation status management means 122 reception processing means 123 Circulation state management means 124 Circulation state determination means 125 Circulation state period determination means 126 Circulation state management means 127 Work history confirmation means 128 Circulation processing determination means S11 Collection Recognition signal transmission step S12 Conditional branching step for confirmation of movement of staying circulation S13 Distribution confirmation signal transmission step S14 Collection rejection signal transmission step S15 Collection rejection presentation step S16 Conditional branching step for distribution confirmation to prospective distributors S17 Transmission of another prospective distributor name Step S18 Stay circulation route step S21 Schedule confirmation step S22 Collection request transmission step S23 Work status confirmation step S24 Collection refusal transmission step S31 Work history confirmation step S32 Step of notifying the applicable person S33 Schedule confirmation step S34 Applicable person selecting step S35 Applicable person name Transmission step S41 Circulation state confirmation step S42 User determination step S43 Circulation distribution request input step to another worker S44 Circulation processing request input step S45 Submit step S46 user decision step S47 circulation processing request input step

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-109349 (JP, A) JP-A-64-16147 (JP, A) JP-A-62-1063 (JP, A) JP-A-8-123875 (JP JP-A-4-316243 (JP, A) JP-A-8-147274 (JP, A) JP-A-6-214905 (JP, A) JP-A-4-77030 (JP, A) JP-A-7-183912 (JP, A) JP-A-8-97850 (JP, A) JP-A-7-143162 (JP, A) JP-A-8-190584 (JP, A) JP-A-63-141176 (JP, A) A) JP-A-62-159270 (JP, A) JP-A-62-25373 (JP, A) JP-A-59-196647 (JP, A) JP-A-57-161969 (JP, A) -277343 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 19/00 G06F 13/00 H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. A business procedure and a flow of business information are defined.
This is a client-server type workflow system in which operation and management are performed by a server machine, and each worker's processing is performed by a client machine, wherein the workflow server inputs a staying circulation name, a staying worker name, a movement request, and An input / output means for displaying data based on the input; a workflow management means for managing workflow information; and the workflow server collecting (removing) the staying circulation.
And a workflow control means for actually moving the retained circulation, comprising: a retained circulation collection confirmation means for notifying the worker's client machine in advance that the suspended circulation is to be performed; a retained circulation distribution confirmation means for confirming the distribution of the retained circulation; and a workflow control means for actually moving the retained circulation. A client with a staying circulation has a collection confirmation response unit that checks whether the processing of the staying circulation can be processed and responds.The client of the next worker who is assigned the processing of the staying circulation responds with a confirmation of the distribution of the staying circulation. A workflow system comprising a distribution confirmation response means. 2. When a worker who is currently processing a circulation moves a circulated circulation to another worker, firstly, the circulating circulation collection is confirmed by the worker from whom the circulating circulation is to be removed. 2. The workflow system according to claim 1, wherein the retained circulation is moved after confirming distribution of the retained circulation to a worker to whom the circulation is sent. 3. The collection confirmation responding means in the client, wherein the schedule confirmation means confirms schedule information of an operator who is staying in circulation, and a collection which decides a collection request or a collection refusal by referring to the schedule information. Response determination means, at least based on the schedule state of the worker, automatically replying to the collection request / collection rejection means of the workflow server based on the schedule status of the worker, Item 2. The workflow system according to Item 1. 4. The collection confirmation response means in the client, wherein the collection status reply means checks the work status of the worker who is staying in the circulation, and the collection status is determined with reference to the work status. A collection reply determination means, at least based on the schedule state of the worker, automatically replying a collection request or a collection rejection to the staying circulation collection confirmation means of the workflow server. Item 2. The workflow system according to Item 1. 5. The collection confirmation replying means in the client, wherein the schedule confirmation means confirms schedule information of a worker who is circulating the circulation, and a work state which confirms the work state of the worker who is circulating the circulation. Confirmation means, and a collection answer comprehensive decision means for deciding a collection request or a collection refusal with reference to both the schedule information and the work state. The collection answer is automatically determined based on the worker's schedule state. , Requesting collection or rejection of collection, replying to the staying circulation collection confirmation means of the workflow server,
The workflow system according to claim 1. 6. A business procedure and a flow of business information are defined and defined.
This is a client-server type workflow system in which operation and management are performed on a server machine, and each worker's processing is performed on a client machine.The workflow server inputs a staying circulation name, a staying worker name, a new movement request, And input / output means for displaying data based on the input, workflow management means for managing workflow information, and collection of the retained circulation for notifying the client of the worker in advance that the workflow management server machine moves the retained circulation. Notifying means, Staying circulation distribution notice means for giving notice of distribution of staying circulation, New worker staying circulation allocation means for assigning staying circulation to client machines of workers who are not scheduled to circulate in advance, Actually staying circulation A client machine that has a workflow control means for moving Oite, characterized by having a reception processing means for processing the residence circulation recovery notification signal, the workflow system. 7. A client machine of a newly circulated worker is provided with a reception processing means for receiving a notice of distribution of a circulating circulation, and a worker whose circulating circulation is not specified in a predefined circulation order. 7. The workflow system according to claim 6, wherein, after notifying the stay circulation notice, the stay circulation can be moved. 8. The new worker staying and circulating allocating means in the workflow server, a task history confirming means for confirming a task history of a new worker, a new task for determining a new worker by referring to the task history. 7. The workflow system according to claim 6, further comprising: determining a candidate for a next circulation person from among workers not specified in the circulation order definition. 9. The new worker staying / circulating allocating means in the workflow server, a schedule confirming means for confirming a schedule state of a new worker, and a new worker referring to the schedule state to determine a new worker. 7. The workflow system according to claim 6, further comprising: determining means for determining candidates for a next circulation person from among workers not specified in the circulation order definition. 10. The new worker staying and circulating allocating means in the workflow server includes: a work history confirming means for confirming a work history of a new worker; a schedule confirming means for confirming a schedule state of the new worker. A new worker comprehensive determination means for determining a new worker with reference to both the work history and the schedule state, and a next worker who is not specified in the circulation order definition. 7. The workflow system according to claim 6, wherein a candidate is determined. 11. A client-server type workflow system that defines, operates, and manages a business procedure and a flow of business information on a server machine, and performs processing of each worker on a client machine. Input / output means for inputting a collection request, which is a request for removing a stay circulation name, a stay worker name, and a stay circulation, and displaying data based on the input; a workflow management means for managing workflow information; Stayed circulation collection notification means for notifying the client machine of the worker in advance that the server will collect the stayed circulation, and a notice that the suspended circulation has been collected to a plurality of workers to whom the circulation is sent after the staying worker And a workflow control means for actually moving the circulated circulation. In the next task of the client to be allocated the processing of the client and residence circulation, it becomes includes a reception processing means for receiving a distribution recovery notice residence circulation, characterized in that, the workflow system. 12. When removing a staying circulation, a notice of collection of the staying circulation is given to a worker who is to remove the staying circulation, and a plurality of workers to whom the circulation is sent are notified in advance to collect the staying circulation. 12. The workflow system according to claim 11, wherein the retained circulation is collected after the completion. 13. A client-server type workflow system in which a server machine defines, operates, and manages business procedures and information flow in a business, and performs processing of each worker on a client machine. Input / output means for inputting a stay circulation name, a stay worker name, a circulation status confirmation request, and displaying data based on the input; a workflow management means for managing workflow information; A circulation state confirmation unit for confirming the state of the circulation to a client of a certain worker; a worker confirmation unit for confirming how long the circulation processing can be performed to the client of the worker; Workflow control means for moving the circulation, and the state of the circulation on the client machine of the worker. Workflow system, wherein the circular notice state management unit, a reception processing unit for receiving the work confirmation content to become comprise manage. 14. Checking the status of the circulated circulation, the worker who is currently processing the circulation moves the circulated circulation to another worker, or the circulated circulation of the worker remains unchanged. 14. The workflow system according to claim 13, wherein information for judging whether the processing is performed by the user is provided to the user. 15. A circulation material in which the circulation state management means in the workflow server determines five circulation state of the circulation material: an unopened state, an uncreated state, a created state, an untransmitted state, and a transmitted state. A state determining means, and a circulation state period determining means for calculating the circulation state period, wherein the circulation state is automatically determined by the user based on the circulation state and the circulation state period. 14. The workflow system according to claim 13, wherein the answer is a. 16. The circulating material status checking means in the workflow server includes: a work history checking means for checking a work history of the worker; and a circulation processing determining means for determining whether the worker processes the circulation. 16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the circulation state and the work history are referred to, and a user who is staying in the circulation is presented to the user whether the circulation can be processed by referring to the circulation state and the work history. Workflow system.