JP5987735B2 - Workflow system, user terminal device, data processing device, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a workflow system, a user terminal device, a data processing device, and a program.

  As a technology that distributes and executes a series of processes included in a workflow to multiple servers, the entire workflow is registered in each server, and each server processes the process that it is responsible for from the previous process. A technique to be executed based on the result has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-214289 JP-A-10-105623

  An object of the present invention is to cause each data processing apparatus to execute each process according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing apparatuses that execute a series of processes included in the workflow.

A workflow system according to the present invention includes a user terminal device, a plurality of data processing devices, an execution order of the processing among a series of processing executed to provide a service, and the data processing device that executes the processing Storage means for storing workflow definition information including at least information, and the user terminal device is specified by referring to the workflow definition information in response to a service provision request from a user An instruction means for instructing the start of execution of a service by issuing a job for executing a process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus to a first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the data processing apparatuses to be executed; Last data processing for executing the last processing among the data processing devices specified by referring to the workflow definition information Execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the processing by the device as the execution result of the service that provides the user, each data processing device of the user terminal device or the own data processing device according to the workflow definition information Accepting means for accepting a job issued by the data processing apparatus that has just executed processing, job executing means for executing processing in accordance with the job accepted by the accepting means, and data for executing processing immediately after its own data processing apparatus A workflow definition information acquisition unit that acquires workflow definition information corresponding to the processing device, and a data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device according to the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition unit. Processing corresponding to a data processing device that executes processing immediately after the data processing device Job issuing means for issuing a job to be executed and including a result of execution of processing in the own data processing apparatus; and when the own data processing apparatus is the last data processing apparatus, the workflow definition information acquiring means and the job issuing means instead, it possesses the execution result transmitting means for transmitting an execution result of the processing in the own data processing apparatus to the user terminal device, wherein the last data processing the respective data processing devices except the device, by the job issuing means When the issued job is received by the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus, the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus Identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information, and job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means Identification information transmission means for transmitting to the user terminal device, and when the user identification information is transmitted from the identification information transmission means, the user terminal device sends the data processing device immediately after the data processing device. to have a workflow definition information transmitting means for transmitting the workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing apparatus to execute processing characterized.

  In addition, the user terminal device includes a monitoring unit that monitors a job status specified by job identification information transmitted from the data processing device.

Further, each of the data processing devices except the last data processing device is self-responding to the fact that the job issued by the job issuing means is received by the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the self-data processing device. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the data processing apparatus, and job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means as the user terminal device Identification information transmission means for transmitting the job identification information to the data processing apparatus that has transmitted the job identification information when the job identification information is transmitted from the identification information transmission means. It is characterized by switching to monitoring the job specified by the received job identification information when it is recognized that the job has ended. .

The user terminal apparatus according to the present invention, the data processing to be executed and the user terminal device, a plurality of data processing devices, the execution order and those the processing of the processing of the series of processing executed in order to provide services storage means for storing the workflow definition information including at least information specifying the apparatus, a workflow system with the respective data processing unit, immediately before the according workflow definition information user terminal or the own data processing apparatus A receiving unit that receives a job issued by a data processing device that has executed processing, a job execution unit that executes processing according to the job received by the receiving unit, and a data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information corresponding to -In accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the definition information acquisition means, the processing corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device is executed on the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device. a job issuing means for issuing a job including the execution result of the processing in a job itself data processing apparatus for the last of the data processing device identified by reference to its own data processing apparatus side Kufuro definition information In the case of the last data processing device that executes processing, instead of the workflow definition information acquiring unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmitting unit that transmits the execution result of the process in its own data processing device to the user terminal device; Yes, and the last data processing apparatus wherein each of the data processing device except the calling by the job issuing means The job of the job sent from the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device in response to the received data being received by the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device An identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information; and an identification information transmission unit that transmits job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit to the user terminal device . A job that causes a head data processing device that executes the first process among the data processing devices specified by referring to the workflow definition information to execute a process corresponding to the head data processing device in response to a service provision request Is issued, and the instruction means for instructing the start of execution of the service and the execution of the process by the last data processing device When job identification information is transmitted from an execution result acquisition unit that acquires a result as an execution result of a service provided to a user and the identification information transmission unit, the data processing device is processed immediately after the data processing device. And workflow definition information transmitting means for transmitting workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing apparatus that executes the above.

Program according to the present invention, a user terminal, a plurality of data processing devices, said data processing apparatus executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the process to provide services Storage means for storing workflow definition information including at least information to be specified , wherein each data processing device performs processing immediately before the user terminal device or the own data processing device according to the workflow definition information. Corresponding to accepting means for accepting a job issued by the executed data processing apparatus, job executing means for executing processing according to the job accepted by the accepting means, and data processing apparatus for executing processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information to be performed, and the workflow In accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the right information acquisition means, the data processing device that executes the process immediately after the own data processing device executes the process corresponding to the data processing device that executes the process immediately after the own data processing device. a job issuing means for issuing a job including the execution result of the processing a job in its own data processing apparatus, the end of the processing of the data processing device identified by reference to its own data processing apparatus side Kufuro definition information In the case of the last data processing apparatus that executes the processing , instead of the workflow definition information acquisition means and the job issuance means, there is provided an execution result transmission means for transmitting the execution result of the process in the data processing apparatus to the user terminal device The data processing devices except the last data processing device are issued by the job issuing means. Job identification of the job sent from the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the local data processing device in response to the received data being received by the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the local data processing device Mounted in the user terminal device included in the workflow system , comprising identification information acquisition means for acquiring information, and identification information transmission means for transmitting job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means to the user terminal device In response to a service provision request from a user, the first data processing device that executes the first processing among the data processing devices specified by referring to the workflow definition information Instruction means for instructing the start of service execution by issuing a job for executing processing corresponding to the device When the job identification information is transmitted from the execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the process by the last data processing apparatus as the execution result of the service provided to the user, and the identification information transmission means, the data processing apparatus In order to function as workflow definition information transmitting means for transmitting workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the data processing apparatus .

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention, the data processing to be executed and the user terminal device, a plurality of data processing devices, the execution order and those the processing of the processing of the series of processing executed in order to provide services storage means for storing the workflow definition information including at least information specifying the apparatus, a workflow system having said user terminal, in response to the provision request of a service from a user, referring to the work flow definition information Instructing the start of execution of the service by issuing a job for executing the processing corresponding to the first data processing device to the first data processing device that executes the first processing among the data processing devices specified by The last process of the data processing device specified by referring to the instruction means and the workflow definition information is executed. When the job identification information is transmitted from the execution result acquisition unit that acquires the execution result of the process performed by the last data processing device as the execution result of the service provided to the user and the identification information transmission unit, the data processing device A workflow definition information transmitting unit that transmits workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing device that executes the processing immediately after the data processing device, the user terminal device or the own data according to the workflow definition information. Receiving means for accepting a job issued by a data processing apparatus that has executed processing immediately before the processing apparatus, job execution means for executing processing in accordance with the job accepted by the accepting means, and processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus Get workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing device to be executed Data for executing processing immediately after the own data processing device in accordance with the workflow definition information acquiring means and the data processing device that executes the processing immediately after the own data processing device in accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquiring means A job issuing means for issuing a job for executing processing corresponding to the processing device and including a result of execution of processing in the own data processing device; and, if the own data processing device is the last data processing device , the workflow definition information In place of the acquisition unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmitting unit that transmits the execution result of the process in the own data processing device to the user terminal device; and if the own data processing device is not the last data processing device, the job issuance The job issued by the means executes processing immediately after its own data processing device An identification information acquisition unit that acquires job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus in response to being received by the data processing apparatus; And the identification information transmitting means for transmitting the job identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the user terminal device when the identification information acquisition means is not the last data processing apparatus .

Program according to the present invention, a user terminal, a plurality of data processing devices, said data processing apparatus executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the process to provide services Storage means for storing workflow definition information including at least information to be identified , wherein the user terminal device refers to the workflow definition information in response to a service provision request from a user. Instructing means for instructing start of service execution by issuing a job for executing processing corresponding to the head data processing device to the head data processing device that executes the first processing among the data processing devices specified by And executing the last process among the data processing devices specified by referring to the workflow definition information. When job identification information is transmitted from an execution result acquisition unit that acquires the execution result of the process performed by the last data processing device as an execution result of a service provided to the user and the identification information transmission unit, the data processing device Workflow definition information transmitting means for transmitting workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the data processing apparatus, and a computer mounted on the data processing apparatus included in the workflow system, Accepting means for accepting a job issued by the data processing apparatus that executed the process immediately before the user terminal device or the own data processing apparatus, a job executing means for executing the process according to the job accepted by the accepting means, own data processing For data processing devices that perform processing immediately after the device. Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information to be performed, in accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition means, to a data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus, immediately after the own data processing apparatus A job issuing means for issuing a job corresponding to a data processing apparatus for executing the process, and issuing a job including the execution result of the process in the own data processing apparatus, and when the own data processing apparatus is the last data processing apparatus In place of the workflow definition information acquisition unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmission unit that transmits the execution result of the process in the own data processing device to the user terminal device, and the own data processing device is not the last data processing device The job issued by the job issuing means Identification for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus in response to being received by the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after the processing apparatus An information acquisition means, for functioning as the identification information transmission means for transmitting the job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means to the user terminal device when the own data processing apparatus is not the last data processing apparatus. is there.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each data processing apparatus is caused to execute each process according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing apparatuses that execute a series of processes included in the workflow. be able to. In addition, the user terminal device can be notified of the data processing device to be processed next to each data processing device.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cause the user terminal device to monitor the job execution state in the data processing device.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the job to be monitored in the user terminal device can be switched to the job specified by the transmitted job identification information.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , each data processing device is caused to execute each processing according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing devices that execute a series of processing included in the workflow. be able to. In addition, the user terminal device can be notified of the data processing device to be processed next to each data processing device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, each data processing apparatus is caused to execute each process according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing apparatuses that execute a series of processes included in the workflow. be able to. In addition, the user terminal device can be notified of the data processing device to be processed next to each data processing device.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, each data processing apparatus is caused to execute each process according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing apparatuses that execute a series of processes included in the workflow. be able to. In addition, the user terminal device can be notified of the data processing device to be processed next to each data processing device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, each data processing apparatus is caused to execute each process according to the workflow without registering the entire workflow in each of a plurality of data processing apparatuses that execute a series of processes included in the workflow. be able to. In addition, the user terminal device can be notified of the data processing device to be processed next to each data processing device.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] It is the block block diagram which showed one Embodiment of the workflow system based on this invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the computer which forms the user terminal device in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of the workflow definition information memorize | stored in the workflow definition information holding part in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process implemented in a user terminal device when providing a user with a service in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process implemented in a server when providing a user with a service in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data communication performed between a server and a user terminal device, and between a server and a server when providing a service to a user in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the service execution status display screen when the first process is performed in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the service execution status display screen when the 2nd process is performed in this Embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a workflow system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of servers 10 provided as data processing apparatuses that execute processes according to a workflow, and a user who uses a service provided by a series of processes executed by the plurality of servers 10. A configuration in which the terminal device 20 is connected to the network 2 is shown. Note that the processing functions of each server 10 may be the same in executing a series of processes according to the workflow, and therefore, only one server 10 is shown in a block configuration in FIG. The network 2 may be constructed not only in a wide area but also in a local area or a combination thereof.

  The “workflow” in the present embodiment refers to a series of service flows realized by combining various service processes provided by a plurality of servers on the network. In other words, the workflow is defined by setting at least the execution order of the service processes and the server that executes each service process.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer forming the user terminal device 20 according to the present embodiment. The user terminal device 20 in the present embodiment may be realized by a general-purpose personal computer (PC). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device 20 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an HDD controller 35 to which a hard disk drive (HDD) 34 is connected, a mouse 36 and a keyboard 37 provided as input means, and a display device. An input / output controller 39 to which each provided display 38 is connected and a network controller 40 provided as a communication means are connected to an internal bus 41.

  The server 10 in the present embodiment may be realized by a general-purpose server computer. Accordingly, the hardware configuration of the server 10 can be illustrated similarly to the user terminal device 20. Of course, if not necessary, an input unit such as a mouse or a display may be omitted.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the user terminal device 20 includes a service processing unit 21, a workflow (WF) definition information transmission unit 22, a job ID acquisition unit 23, a state monitoring unit 24, a state holding unit 25, and a workflow definition information holding unit 26. doing. The service processing unit 21 is provided as an instruction unit, and executes a first process (hereinafter referred to as “first server”) among a plurality of servers 10 included in the workflow system in response to a service provision request from a user. The service execution is instructed by issuing a job for executing the process corresponding to the head server. The service processing unit 21 is also provided as an execution result acquisition unit, and is based on a server (hereinafter also referred to as “last server”) that executes the last process among the plurality of servers 10 included in the workflow system. The execution result of the process is acquired as the execution result of the service provided to the user who requested the service provision. It is specified by referring to the workflow definition information which server is the first server and the last server, and what processing is further executed by the first server and the last server.

  The workflow definition information transmission unit 22 is provided as a workflow definition information transmission unit. When a job ID is transmitted from the next job ID notification unit 17 of any of the servers 10, the workflow definition information transmission unit 22 immediately follows the server 10. The workflow definition information corresponding to the server 10 that executes the process is transmitted. The job ID acquisition unit 23 acquires a job ID transmitted from the server 10. The status monitoring unit 24 is provided as a monitoring unit, and monitors the status of the job specified by the job ID transmitted from the server 10. The status holding unit 25 holds the job execution status in the server 10 confirmed by the status monitoring unit 24.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of workflow definition information stored in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 according to the present embodiment. The workflow definition information holding unit 26 is provided as a storage unit. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the workflow definition information is configured by associating a processing order, a processing name, a connection destination, and authentication information. The processing order indicates the execution order of the processing among a series of processing executed to provide the service. In the process name, the name of the service process is set as information for specifying the process to be executed in that order. In the connection destination, information for specifying the server 10 that executes the process is set. In this embodiment, a URL is set. Authentication information necessary for executing the processing in the server 10 is set in the authentication information.

  The workflow definition information only needs to include at least processing order and connection destination information. That is, when the process executed by the server 10 is uniquely specified, the setting of the process name can be omitted. Further, when the server 10 does not require authentication for execution of the process, the authentication information is not necessary.

  Each component 21-24 in the user terminal device 20 is implement | achieved by the cooperative operation | movement of the program which operate | moves with the computer which forms the user terminal device 20, and CPU31 mounted in the computer. The holding units 25 and 26 are realized by the HDD 34 or the RAM 33 mounted on the user terminal device 20. Alternatively, external storage means may be used via the network 2.

  The server 10 includes a job reception unit 11, a job ID notification unit 12, a job execution unit 13, a workflow definition information acquisition unit 14, a job issue unit 15, a next job ID acquisition unit 16, a next job ID notification unit 17, and an execution result transmission unit. 18. The job receiving unit 11 is provided as a receiving unit, and receives a job issued by the server 10 that has executed the process immediately before the user terminal device 20 or the own server 10 according to the workflow definition information. The job ID notification unit 12 is a necessary component when the server 10 is the first server, and the job ID of a job to be executed on the own server in response to a service execution start instruction from the user terminal device 20 The terminal device 20 is notified. The job execution unit 13 is provided as a job execution unit, and executes processing according to the job received by the job reception unit 11. The workflow definition information acquisition unit 14 is provided as a workflow definition information acquisition unit, and acquires workflow definition information corresponding to the server 10 that executes processing immediately after the server 10 itself.

  The job issuing unit 15 is provided as a job issuing unit, and in accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquiring unit 14, the job issuing unit 15 performs processing immediately after the own server 10. A job for executing a process corresponding to the server 10 to be executed and including a result of executing the process in the own server is issued. The next job ID acquisition unit 16 is provided as an identification information acquisition unit, and in response to the job issued by the job issuing unit 15 being received by the server 10 that executes processing immediately after the own server 10, Immediately after, the job ID of the job sent from the server 10 that executes the process is acquired. Thus, the job ID acquired by the next job ID acquisition unit 16 is particularly referred to as “next job ID”. A server that executes processing immediately after the server 10 is also referred to as a “next server”. The next job ID notification unit 17 is provided as identification information transmission means, and transmits the job ID acquired by the next job ID acquisition unit 16 to the user terminal device 20. The execution result transmission unit 18 is provided as an execution result transmission unit, and transmits the execution result of the process in the server 10 to the user terminal device 20. The execution result transmission unit 18 is a component required when the server 10 is the last server. When the server 10 executes processing as the last server, the execution result transmitting unit 18 may be provided instead of the workflow definition information acquiring unit 14 and the job issuing unit 15.

  Each component 11-18 in the server 10 is implement | achieved by cooperation operation | movement of the program which operate | moves with the computer which forms the server 10, and CPU31 mounted in the computer.

  Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU of the computer sequentially executing the program.

  In the present embodiment, when providing a service to a user, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the user terminal device 20, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the server 10, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows sequence diagrams showing data communication performed between the terminal device 20 and between the server 10 and the server 10. Hereinafter, the operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to these drawings. It is assumed that workflow definition information having the contents illustrated in FIG. 3 is set in advance in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 of the user terminal device 20. Then, by following this workflow definition information, it is assumed that the service requested by the user is provided by the servers 1 to 4 executing processes in order as shown in FIG.

  When the user performs a predetermined operation for requesting service provision from the service request screen or the like on the user terminal device 20, the service processing unit 21 determines the processing order from the workflow definition information holding unit 26 in accordance with the instruction operation. The workflow definition information WF1 that is 1 is acquired, and the server 1 that should execute the process first is specified by the workflow definition information WF1. The service processing unit 21 designates data to be processed and issues a job, and sends the acquired workflow definition information WF1 to the server 1 to instruct start of service execution (steps 101 and 102). . Note that. According to the setting example illustrated in FIG. 3, the server 1 is the server 10 specified by the connection destination setting content (http://cloud-bandw.com), and performs black and white conversion processing.

  In the server 1, when the job reception unit 11 receives a job transmitted from the user terminal device 20 (step 121), the job reception unit 11 registers the job in a job database (not shown) (step 122). When registering, the job issuer is authenticated in advance using the authentication information included in the workflow definition information WF1. When the job ID notification unit 12 obtains the job ID of the registered job (step 123), the job ID of the job to be executed by the first server 1 (hereinafter referred to as “job ID 1”) is the user terminal device. 20 is notified (step 124). Thereafter, the job for executing the registered black and white conversion process is executed by the job execution unit 13 (step 125).

  In the user terminal device 20, when the job ID acquisition unit 23 acquires the job ID 1 sent first from the server 1 (step 103), the workflow definition information transmission unit 22 determines the processing order following the transmitted workflow definition information WF 1. 2, whether the workflow definition information WF 2 is set in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 is confirmed. If it is set as in this example (Y in step 104), the workflow definition information transmission unit 22 reads the workflow definition information WF2 from the workflow definition information holding unit 26 and transmits it to the server 1 (step 105).

  In step 103, when the job ID acquisition unit 23 acquires job ID 1, the state monitoring unit 24 monitors the connection destination of the workflow definition information WF 1 and the process specified from the job ID 1. An example of a service execution state display screen displayed on the display 38 by the monitoring process in the state monitoring unit 24 is shown in FIG. On the service execution state display screen, the process name of each process and the state of the process are displayed for each process execution order. Referring to the state illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the black-and-white conversion process in the server 1 is currently “in progress”. The status of each process that follows is displayed as “unexecuted” indicating a status that has not yet been executed. The status of each job is held in the status holding unit 25, and the status monitoring unit 24 reads out the execution status of each process from the status holding unit 25 and displays it on the screen.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen that displays a process name and a state in association with each process included in the workflow. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the server name, job execution start time, Information such as job execution time (elapsed time since the start of execution) and estimated end time may also be displayed. In addition, instead of displaying information for all processes on one screen, a screen for displaying information regarding the process may be provided for each process.

  In the flowchart, the workflow definition information transmission processing (steps 104 and 105) performed by the workflow definition information transmission unit 22 is described above. However, the status monitoring processing (step 106) performed by the state monitoring unit 24 is a job. Since the processing can be performed in accordance with the transmission of the ID, the processing may be performed in parallel, either of which may be illustrated first.

  As described above, the user terminal device 20 transmits the workflow definition information WF2 to the server 1 because the workflow definition information WF2 is set. Accordingly, the workflow definition information acquisition unit 14 in the server 1 receives the workflow definition information WF2 transmitted from the user terminal device 20, and the reception of the workflow definition information is before the job is issued. The job may be executed before, during or after execution.

  In the server 1, when the workflow definition information acquisition unit 14 receives the workflow definition information WF 2 transmitted from the user terminal device 20 (Y in step 126), and when the execution of the job is completed in the server 1, the job issuing unit 15 , The next server by referring to the workflow definition information WF2, in this example, the connection destination is http: // cloud-dpi. The job including the job execution result (the monochrome conversion process execution result) in the local server 1 is issued to the server 2 that is com (step 127). At this time, in order to receive authentication and when the next server has a plurality of processing functions, the workflow definition information WF2 including the processing name and authentication information may be transmitted together.

  In the server 2, when the job reception unit 11 receives a job transmitted from the server 1 (step 121), the job reception unit 11 registers the job in a job database (not shown) (step 122). When registering, the job issuer is authenticated in advance using the authentication information included in the workflow definition information WF2. When the job ID notification unit 12 acquires the job ID of the job registered in the job database (step 123), the job ID notification unit 12 notifies the server 1 of the job ID (hereinafter referred to as “job ID 2”) (step 124). Thereafter, the job for executing the registered resolution conversion process is executed by the job execution unit 13 (step 125).

  In the server 1, when the next job ID acquisition unit 16 acquires the job ID 2 sent from the server 2 (step 128), the next job ID notification unit 17 notifies the user terminal device 20 of the acquired job ID 2 ( Step 129). The job ID 2 of the job (resolution conversion process) executed in the next server is acquired after the execution of the job (monochrome conversion process) in the own server is completed and transmitted to the user terminal device 20, so that the next job ID The transmission also notifies the user terminal device 20 of the end of the job in the own server.

  Therefore, the user terminal device 20 that has monitored the job execution state in the server 1 recognizes the end of the job in the server 1 by acquiring the job ID 2 of the job executed in the server 2 as the next server from the server 1. Then (Y in Step 107), the state monitoring unit 24 updates the execution states of the server 1 and the server 2 managed using the state holding unit 25 (Step 108). An example of the service execution state display screen after this state is updated is shown in FIG.

  Referring to the example of the service execution status display screen shown in FIG. 8, the user finishes the monochrome conversion process executed by the server 1 and starts the subsequent resolution conversion process executed by the server 2, which is currently being executed. It can be seen that it is.

  Note that the execution status of the process is “finished” indicating that the process has been completed, “executing” indicating that the process is being executed, and “unexecuted” indicating that the process has not been started. Although it is assumed, the status may be divided and displayed in more detail, for example, “waiting” indicating a status where a job is registered but not started yet.

  In the user terminal device 20, the monitoring target is shifted (step 109) and the processing returns to step 104 as the server that executes the processing shifts to the server 2. The workflow definition information transmission unit 22 sets the workflow definition information WF3 having a processing order of 3 following the transmitted workflow definition information WF2 in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 (Y in Step 104), and therefore the workflow definition information WF3. Is read from the workflow definition information holding unit 26 and transmitted to the server 2 (step 105).

  Since the subsequent processes performed in the server 2 and the server 3 repeat the same processes as those already described, they are omitted as appropriate.

  In the server 2, when the workflow definition information acquisition unit 14 receives the workflow definition information WF 3 transmitted from the user terminal device 20 (Y in step 126), and the server 2 finishes executing the job, the job issuing unit 15 By referring to the workflow definition information WF3, the job including the job execution result in the server 2 is issued to the server 3 as the next server (step 127).

  In response to this, the server 3 returns the job ID 3 of the accepted job to the server 2 and executes the job (steps 121 to 125).

  When the next job ID 3 registered in the server 3 is sent, the next job ID notification unit 17 in the server 2 notifies the user terminal device 20 of the next job ID 3 (steps 128 and 129).

  In response to the notification of the job ID 3, the state monitoring unit 24 in the user terminal device 20 recognizes the end of the job in the server 2, and is specified by the job specified by the monitored job ID 2 and the received job ID 3. The job status is updated, and the monitored job is switched (step 108).

  When the process is transferred to the server 3 by updating i to 3 in step 109, the workflow definition information WF4 is set in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 (Y in step 104). Therefore, the description of the processing in the server 3 is omitted. On the other hand, the server 3 receives the workflow definition information WF4 and notifies the user terminal device 20 of the job ID 4 acquired by issuing a job to the server 4 (Y in step 126, steps 127 to 129), The processing (steps 121 to 125) in which the server 4 receives a job issued from the server 3, notifies the server 3 of the job ID 4 of the job, and executes the job (steps 121 to 125) has already been described, and will be omitted.

  Therefore, when the user terminal device 20 receives the job ID 4 from the server 3 to receive the job end notification in the server 3 and continues the description from the process after switching the job to be monitored to the job with the job ID 4, The terminal device 20 does not transmit the workflow definition information to the server 4 because the workflow definition information subsequent to the transmitted workflow definition information WF4 is not set in the workflow definition information holding unit 26 (N in Step 104). The process proceeds to process status monitoring by the status monitoring unit 24 (step 110).

  On the other hand, in the server 4, since the workflow definition information is not transmitted from the user terminal device 20 after the job execution is completed (step 125) (N in step 126), the execution result transmitting unit 18 does not execute the job in the server 4. The execution result (printing process execution result) is transmitted to the user terminal device 20 to notify the end of execution of the service (step 130).

  Whether or not the workflow definition information is transmitted from the user terminal device 20 by the server 4 is determined by comparing the elapsed time from the start or end of execution of the job with a preset time, that is, the occurrence of a timeout. It's okay. Alternatively, the fact that there is no workflow definition information to be transmitted by the user terminal device 20 may be transmitted, and the server 4 may receive this to recognize that there is no workflow definition information to be received.

  In the user terminal device 20, when the service processing unit 21 recognizes the end of execution of the service because the processing execution result is sent from the server 4 (Y in step 111), the status monitoring unit 24 monitors the job being monitored. The status of the job specified by ID4 is updated from “being executed” to “finished” (step 112). Then, the service processing unit 21 presents the execution result of the printing process sent from the server 4 as the last server to the user as the service execution result (step 113). As a presentation method, a predetermined method may be used, for example, a desired method such as display on the display 38 or file storage.

  According to the present embodiment, when the user terminal device 20 instructs the head server to start executing the service, the execution result of the process is exchanged between the servers that execute a series of processes. The user terminal device 20 does not need to receive or intervene data (processing results of each server) between the servers via the network 2, and only needs to receive the service processing results from the last server. That is, as the network communication process performed by the user terminal device 20 while the service process is being executed, only the workflow definition information in the next server is transmitted to the servers 1 to 4 except the last server via the network 2. That's fine.

  However, if no information is received from the server until an execution result is obtained after requesting execution of the service process with the server 10, it cannot be confirmed whether the service process is actually executed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user terminal device 20 is made to acquire the job ID of the job executed on the next server from the server that is executing the job, so that the end of the job execution on the server can be recognized. In addition, the change timing of the job execution monitoring target is notified.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the workflow definition information is held in the user terminal device 20, and the workflow definition information of the next server is notified from the user terminal device 20 to each of the servers 1 to 3 except for the last server 4. did. However, since the workflow administrator or the like knows the setting contents of the workflow definition information in advance, the workflow definition of the first server necessary for starting the execution of the service without holding all the workflow definition information in the user terminal device 20. Only information may be held. On the other hand, for each server 10, the workflow definition information of its own server and the workflow definition information of the next server may be set in advance for servers other than the last server. For example, the workflow definition information of the server 3 and the server 4 is set in the server 3 in advance. In this way, the user terminal device 20 does not need to notify the servers other than the last server of the workflow definition information of the next server. That is, when the user terminal device 20 transmits a service execution request to the first server, it is not necessary to perform any network communication with each server 10 until the service processing result is received from the last server. However, if network communication is not performed with the server 10, it cannot be confirmed whether the service processing is actually executed as described above. Therefore, as described above, the execution state of the process in each server is obtained by sending information (connection destination) specifying the next job ID and the server that executes the job specified by the next job ID from each server. May be monitored.

  2 network, 10 server, 11 job reception unit, 12 job ID notification unit, 13 job execution unit, 14 workflow definition information acquisition unit, 15 job issue unit, 16th job ID acquisition unit, 17th job ID notification unit, 18 execution Result sending unit, 20 user terminal device, 21 service processing unit, 22 workflow definition information sending unit, 23 job ID acquisition unit, 24 status monitoring unit, 25 status holding unit, 26 workflow definition information holding unit, 31 CPU, 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 34 Hard disk drive (HDD), 35 HDD controller, 36 Mouse, 37 Keyboard, 38 Display, 39 Input / output controller, 40 Network controller, 41 Internal bus.

Claims (7)

A user terminal device;
A plurality of data processing devices;
Storage means for storing workflow definition information including at least the execution order of the processes among a series of processes executed to provide a service, and information for specifying the data processing device that executes the processes;
Have
The user terminal device
In response to a service provision request from a user, a process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus is performed on the first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the data processing apparatuses specified by referring to the workflow definition information. An instruction means for instructing the start of execution of a service by issuing a job for executing
Execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the process by the last data processing apparatus that executes the last process among the data processing apparatuses specified by referring to the workflow definition information as the execution result of the service that provides the user; ,
Have
Each of the data processing devices
Accepting means for accepting a job issued by a data processing device that has executed processing immediately before the user terminal device or the own data processing device according to workflow definition information;
Job execution means for executing processing according to the job received by the reception means;
Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device;
In accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition unit, a process corresponding to the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus is performed on the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus. Job issuing means for issuing a job to be executed and including a job execution result in the data processing apparatus;
When the own data processing device is the last data processing device, instead of the workflow definition information acquiring unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmitting unit that transmits an execution result of the process in the own data processing device to the user terminal device; ,
I have a,
Each of the data processing devices excluding the last data processing device is
When the job issued by the job issuing means is received by the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device, the job is sent from the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device. An identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information of the job
Identification information transmitting means for transmitting job identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the user terminal device;
Have
When the job identification information is transmitted from the identification information transmission unit, the user terminal device transmits workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the data processing device to the data processing device. workflow system characterized by have a workflow definition information transmitting means for.   The workflow system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal device includes a monitoring unit that monitors a state of a job specified by job identification information transmitted from the data processing device. Each of the data processing devices excluding the last data processing device is
When the job issued by the job issuing means is received by the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device, the job is sent from the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device. An identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information of the job
Identification information transmitting means for transmitting job identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the user terminal device;
Have
When the monitoring means recognizes that the execution of the job in the data processing apparatus that has transmitted the job identification information has been completed due to the transmission of the job identification information from the identification information transmission means, the monitoring means uses the received job identification information. Switch to monitoring specific jobs,
The workflow system according to claim 2 . Including a user terminal, a plurality of the data processing device and the information identifying the data processing device executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the processing for providing the service at least Storage means for storing workflow definition information , wherein each data processing device is issued by a data processing device that has executed processing immediately before the user terminal device or its own data processing device in accordance with the workflow definition information Accepting a job to be processed, job execution means for executing processing according to the job accepted by the accepting means, and workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing apparatus for executing processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus Acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition means and the workflow definition information acquisition means A job that causes a data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device to execute processing corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device according to the workflow definition information a job issuing means for issuing a job including the execution result of the processing in the processing unit, the last data processing to be executed at the end of the processing of the data processing device identified by reference to its own data processing apparatus side Kufuro definition information for devices, the place of the workflow definition information acquiring means and the job issuing means, possess the execution result transmitting means for transmitting an execution result of the processing in the own data processing apparatus to the user terminal device, wherein the last data processing Each of the data processing devices other than the device is configured such that the job issued by the job issuing means ID information acquisition for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after its own data processing apparatus in response to being received by the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after And an identification information transmitting means for transmitting job identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the user terminal device .
In response to a service provision request from a user, a process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus is performed on the first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the data processing apparatuses specified by referring to the workflow definition information. An instruction means for instructing the start of execution of a service by issuing a job for executing
Execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the process by the last data processing device as an execution result of a service that provides a user;
When the job identification information is transmitted from the identification information transmitting unit, the workflow definition information transmitting unit transmits the workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the data processing device to the data processing device. When,
A user terminal device comprising: Including a user terminal, a plurality of the data processing device and the information identifying the data processing device executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the processing for providing the service at least Storage means for storing workflow definition information , wherein each data processing device is issued by a data processing device that has executed processing immediately before the user terminal device or its own data processing device in accordance with the workflow definition information Accepting a job to be processed, job execution means for executing processing according to the job accepted by the accepting means, and workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing apparatus for executing processing immediately after the own data processing apparatus Acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition means and the workflow definition information acquisition means A job that causes a data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device to execute processing corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device according to the workflow definition information a job issuing means for issuing a job including the execution result of the processing in the processing unit, the last data processing to be executed at the end of the processing of the data processing device identified by reference to its own data processing apparatus side Kufuro definition information for devices, the place of the workflow definition information acquiring means and the job issuing means, possess the execution result transmitting means for transmitting an execution result of the processing in the own data processing apparatus to the user terminal device, wherein the last data processing Each of the data processing devices other than the device is configured such that the job issued by the job issuing means ID information acquisition for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after its own data processing apparatus in response to being received by the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after And a computer mounted on the user terminal device included in the workflow system , and an identification information transmission unit that transmits the job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit to the user terminal device.
In response to a service provision request from a user, a process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus is performed on the first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the data processing apparatuses specified by referring to the workflow definition information. Instructing means to instruct the start of service execution by issuing a job to execute
Execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the process by the last data processing device as an execution result of a service that provides a user;
When the job identification information is transmitted from the identification information transmitting unit, the workflow definition information transmitting unit transmits the workflow definition information corresponding to the data processing device that executes processing immediately after the data processing device to the data processing device. ,
Program to function as. Including a user terminal, a plurality of the data processing device and the information identifying the data processing device executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the processing for providing the service at least Storage means for storing workflow definition information , wherein the user terminal device is identified by referring to the workflow definition information in response to a service provision request from a user Refers to the instruction means for instructing the start of service execution and the workflow definition information by issuing a job for executing the process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus to the first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the apparatuses. By the last data processing device that executes the last processing among the data processing devices specified by When the job identification information is transmitted from the execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the service as the execution result of the service provided to the user and the identification information transmission means, immediately after the data processing apparatus A workflow definition information transmission means for transmitting workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing device that executes the process, and included in a workflow system,
Accepting means for accepting a job issued by a data processing device that has executed processing immediately before the user terminal device or the own data processing device according to workflow definition information;
Job execution means for executing processing according to the job received by the reception means;
Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing device that executes processing immediately after the own data processing device;
In accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition unit, a process corresponding to the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus is performed on the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus. Job issuing means for issuing a job to be executed and including a job execution result in the data processing apparatus;
When the own data processing device is the last data processing device , instead of the workflow definition information acquiring unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmitting unit that transmits an execution result of the process in the own data processing device to the user terminal device; ,
If the data processing device is not the last data processing device, the data processing device is responsive to the job issued by the job issuing means being accepted by the data processing device that executes the processing immediately after the data processing device. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after
If the own data processing device is not the last data processing device, the identification information transmission means for transmitting the job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means to the user terminal device;
A data processing apparatus comprising: Including a user terminal, a plurality of the data processing device and the information identifying the data processing device executing sequence of the processing of a series of processes executed and executes those the processing for providing the service at least Storage means for storing workflow definition information , wherein the user terminal device is identified by referring to the workflow definition information in response to a service provision request from a user Refers to the instruction means for instructing the start of service execution and the workflow definition information by issuing a job for executing the process corresponding to the first data processing apparatus to the first data processing apparatus that executes the first process among the apparatuses. By the last data processing device that executes the last processing among the data processing devices specified by When the job identification information is transmitted from the execution result acquisition means for acquiring the execution result of the service as the execution result of the service provided to the user and the identification information transmission means, immediately after the data processing apparatus A workflow definition information transmitting unit that transmits workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing device that executes processing on the computer mounted on the data processing device included in the workflow system,
Accepting means for accepting a job issued by a data processing device that has executed processing immediately before the user terminal device or the own data processing device in accordance with workflow definition information;
Job execution means for executing processing according to the job received by the reception means;
Workflow definition information acquisition means for acquiring workflow definition information corresponding to a data processing device that executes processing immediately after its own data processing device;
In accordance with the workflow definition information acquired by the workflow definition information acquisition unit, a process corresponding to the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus is performed on the data processing apparatus that executes the process immediately after the own data processing apparatus. Job issuing means for issuing a job to be executed and including a job execution result in the data processing apparatus;
If the own data processing device is the last data processing device , instead of the workflow definition information obtaining unit and the job issuing unit, an execution result transmitting unit that transmits an execution result of the process in the own data processing device to the user terminal device;
If the data processing device is not the last data processing device, the data processing device is responsive to the job issued by the job issuing means being accepted by the data processing device that executes the processing immediately after the data processing device. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring job identification information of the job sent from the data processing apparatus that executes processing immediately after
The identification information transmission means for transmitting the job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means to the user terminal device when the data processing apparatus is not the last data processing apparatus;
Program to function as.

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