JPH07234843A - Group work support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily grasp the activity state of group work which is done by sharing plural data. CONSTITUTION:This group work support system is provided with data management means (5, 6, 9, and 10) for group work which store and manage group work data (shared data and half-shared data) as an object of the group work, an information processor (A) where an operator performs operation for the group work data, an activity data management means (7) which gathers and manages activity data on the group work by monitoring the operation for the group work data, and a display means (3) which makes a display regarding the activities of the group work on the basis of the activity data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a collaborative work support system that allows a plurality of persons to collaborate using shared data using a workstation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method of sharing data via a network when performing collaborative work has been known (for example, a drawer [1] or a Shared Book [2] in a Xerox Star workstation). That is, in such a conventional system, for example, in order to co-author a plurality of workers, when allocating work in chapters and creating sentences, a storage location for shared data is secured and a reference indicating the storage location is provided. Place each on the desktop of your workstation. Each worker creates a sentence on the desktop of his workstation,
Sentences are stored in the storage location indicated by the reference at an appropriate timing. Other collaborators can refer to the stored document by opening the reference icon. In addition, exclusive control is performed so that only one worker can correct the same sentence at the same time as another worker. In addition, information can be obtained, such as who is editing the sentence or who edited it last. As a result, the shared data can be maintained consistently and collaborative work can be performed. Further, there is known a system having a function of automatically notifying the change of shared data (for example, the access notification device [3] and the collaborative work device [4]). That is, in such a conventional system,
The shared data is notified of the change of the shared data at fixed time intervals according to the timing when the request or access from the worker occurs. As a result, the user of the shared data can know the fact that the shared data has been accessed.

[1] Akihiro Uetani (ed.), "Workstation series JStar workstation", Maruzen, 1986. [2] JP-A-2-2450 (Applicant: Xerox Corporation) "Expression of cooperative multi-user activity regarding shared structured data object object in networked workstation environment" [3] JP-A-3-117246 (Applicant Fuji Xerox) "Access notification device" [4] Japanese Patent Application No. 04-212324 (Applicant)
Fuji Xerox) “Collaboration device”

[0004]

However, the conventional shared data device (for example, the drawer [1] and the Shared in the Xerox Star workstation).
In Book [2]), shared data can be viewed by a plurality of workers at the same time, but cannot be changed unless copied to an individual workstation. Another problem is that if you copy it to your personal workstation, you will not know what you are doing with the document. Also, a conventional shared data device (eg, Shared Book)
In [2]), other workers cannot refer to the data that they are working by bringing the shared data to their personal workstations, or they can show the data that they are working on to other workers for discussion. Can not. That is, at the same time, only one operator can occupy and correct the data. As a result, the person who occupies the shared data is one person, and there is a problem that a plurality of persons cannot occupy and use one shared data. Further, although it is possible to know the actions of the workers performed on the shared data in the conventional collaborative work system (for example, the access notification device [3] or the collaborative work device [4]), it is a sporadic activity. There was a problem that I could not know the history of.

The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to grasp the activity status of joint work such as project activity performed by sharing a plurality of data. And

[0006]

A collaborative work support system according to the present invention is a collaborative work data management means (5, 6, 9, for accumulating and managing collaborative work data to be collaborative work).
10), an information processing device (A) in which an operator operates the collaborative work data, and an activity data management means (7) for collecting and managing the collaborative work activity data by monitoring the operation on the collaborative work data ( 7) and a display means (3) for displaying a joint work activity based on the activity data. In one aspect of the present invention, the collaborative work data includes shared data shared by workers, semi-shared data that is connected to the shared data and can be occupied by each worker, and the like.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned basic structure, an activity information analysis means (11) for analyzing activity data collected by the activity information management means is further provided. The results analyzed from various angles by the activity information analysis means are displayed in an easy-to-understand manner on the display means. The display modes are as follows. (1) The analysis result of the activity information analysis means is displayed in a graph of the number of operations performed on data according to time. (2) The analysis result of the activity information analysis means is displayed in a graph of the number of occurrences of operations on data for each worker and activity information type. (3) The analysis result of the activity information analysis means is displayed by displaying the action performed by the worker on the specific data for each activity information type by the occurrence time and time. (4) The transition to shared data, semi-shared data, and personal data for specific data is displayed from the analysis result of the activity information analysis means. (5) From the analysis result of the activity information analysis means, the name and state of the worker who is operating the specific data and the start time of the action are displayed. (6) From the analysis result of the activity information analysis means, both the action performed on the specific data and the action in progress are
Displayed by worker name, action, start time, end time, etc.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the basic configuration, a data change tracking means (12) for tracking a change in data is further provided based on the result of the activity information analysis means. .

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned basic structure, message transmission / reception means (13) for managing transmission / reception of a message between workers participating in a project activity is further transmitted / received. Is provided with a message transmitting / receiving means (14). Further, in the configuration provided with an electronic mail means in addition to the message sending / receiving means, a mail creating means (17) for converting the message created by the message sending / receiving means into an electronic mail and a mail for converting the electronic mail into a message. An intake means (18) is provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned basic structure, a message tracking means (15) for tracking the transmitted message and checking the state of the message is further provided.

Further, in the present invention, in the basic configuration, a participation management means (19) is provided for managing the workers who are engaged in the joint work data managed by the activity information management means. It is characterized by Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration having the participation managing means, an activity checking means (20) for checking the activity of the registered worker is provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned basic structure, a work request management means (21) for managing the work request and the current state is further provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned basic structure, a display switching means (22) for switching data to be displayed is further provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the display switching is performed according to the work completion deadline. Further, it is possible to provide an access right changing means (24) for changing the access right to the data which has passed the work deadline.

[0014]

In the basic configuration of the present invention, the activity information management means monitors the action of the worker on the collaborative work data,
When an action occurs, activity data is collected along with the time.
Also, necessary activity data is extracted in response to a request from the information processing device and sent back to the information processing device. The display means displays based on the activity data. According to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the activities of the members of the joint work in the joint work data.

In one aspect of the present invention, the collaborative work data includes shared data and semi-shared data that is connected to the shared data and can be occupied by each worker. The activity information management means monitors the activity of the worker on the shared data and the semi-shared data, and when the activity occurs, adds the activity to the activity data together with the time. Also, necessary activity data is extracted in response to a request from the information processing device and sent back to the information processing device. The display means displays based on the activity data. According to this aspect of the present invention, not only the shared data but also the operation of the semi-shared data used to modify the shared data can be grasped, and the activity of the members of the collaborative work on the shared data can be grasped in more detail.

The activity information analysis means analyzes the activity data accumulated in the activity information management means. The desired activity data can be obtained from the activity information management unit by, for example, attaching a search expression to the activity information management unit and requesting the activity information. The activity information analysis means analyzes the information obtained from the activity information management means and displays the activity information on the display means. According to the present invention, by providing the activity information analysis means, it is possible to analyze the progress of the work from various angles. Further, by displaying the analysis result on the display means in various modes shown in (1) to (6) above, the progress status of the work can be grasped, the activity situation of the worker can be grasped for each worker, and specific data can be displayed. It is possible to easily understand the status of workers involved, the status of specific data, the workers involved in specific data, and the workers who are operating on specific data. Become.

The data change tracking means analyzes the connection between the data based on the activity information obtained through the activity information analysis means and displays the result on the display means. According to the present invention, by providing the data change tracking means, it becomes possible to grasp the transition of the specific data and the data related to the specific data.

The message transmitting / receiving means transmits / receives a message. Specifically, it sends a message created by the operator to the message transmission management means according to the operator's instructions, or inquires about whether the message has arrived at the message transmission management means. Receive such a message. The message transmission management means manages the sending and receiving of messages between the workers participating in the joint work. For example, the message received from the message transmitting / receiving unit is stored and the message transmission status data is updated. Further, it responds to the inquiry from the message transmitting / receiving means about the presence or absence of the message, and delivers the message in response to the request from the message transmitting / receiving means to update the message transmission status data. According to the present invention, the provision of the message transmission management means and the message transmission / reception means makes it possible to identify a message related to a team (project) of collaborative work from information by electronic mail. In addition, in transmitting a message, when adding activity data to a message, you may comprise using the reference means which adds the information of the storage location of data instead of the substance of data. The reference means does not send the substance to the message transmission management means when the data managed by the activity information management means is added to the message,
The storage location is inquired to the activity information management means, the storage location is added to the message, and the message is transmitted to the message transmission management means.
Also, when a message with a storage location is received, the activity information management means, based on the operator's instruction,
Receive the substance. By adding such a configuration, it becomes possible to prevent data flooding.

The message transmitting / receiving means transmits the message information to the mail creating means when a name other than a person related to the joint work team (project) is found at the destination when transmitting the message. The e-mail creating means, to which the message information is transmitted, creates an e-mail with an address other than those associated with the collaborative work team (project) and sends the e-mail. E-mail capture method is a collaborative work team (project)
When a mail is sent to, the mail is analyzed, the message and the attached data are separated, and the message is sent to the message transmission management means, and the shared data management device or the semi-shared data is sent through the activity information management means. A request to register the separated data is made to the management device. According to the present invention, since information is transmitted between the message transmitting / receiving means and the electronic mail, it is possible to easily transmit the message to a person who is not involved in the joint work, and also to perform the joint work. E-mails received from people who are not involved can be managed in the same way as messages within the collaborative team (project), and it is possible to understand the interactions with those outside the collaborative team (project).

When the worker opens the message, the message tracking means transmits the message to the message transmission management means.
Further, the message tracking means sends a message information request to the message transmission management means to check and display the message transmission status. Upon receiving the message information request, the message transfer management means searches the message transfer status data according to the search expression of the request and returns the result to the message tracking means. According to the present invention, by providing the message tracking means, it becomes possible to grasp the transmission status of the message.

The participation management means manages the workers who are active in the collaborative work data. That is, the participation management means checks the participation management data and updates the participation status of the worker when the shared data or the semi-shared data is accessed, for example. Also, the participation management means sends back the participation management data when the information processing device makes an inquiry. According to the present invention, by providing the participation management means, it is possible to grasp the person who is currently working on the joint work team (project). The activity check means checks the activity of the worker registered in the participation management means. Specifically, the participation management data is checked, and the latest access time of the worker who is active is checked from the activity data. Based on the result, it is judged whether it is suspended or active and the participation management data is updated. According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately grasp the situation by checking the activity of the worker.

The work request management means manages the work request and the current status. For example, it receives information such as work request and end from the message management unit and updates the work request management data. According to the present invention, by providing the work request management means, it is possible to understand the work request relationship in the joint work team (project) and the situation of the requested work.

The display switching means switches the data to be displayed. For example, the information to be displayed and the information not to be displayed are discriminated based on the display switching information, and only the information to be displayed is transmitted to the display means for display. Further, the display can be switched according to the work deadline. According to the present invention, by providing the display switching means, it becomes possible to visually grasp the work situation.

By providing the access right changing means according to the work deadline, it is possible to forcibly perform work with high priority.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of this embodiment is a workstation A used by an operator.
(1) ... (n) and shared drawers B (1) ... (n) that manage shared data shared by a plurality of workers are connected via the network 1. The workstation A (1) includes a communication management unit 2, a display unit 3, an information input unit 4, an activity information analysis unit 11, a data change tracking unit 12, a message sending / receiving unit 14, a message tracking unit 15, a reference unit 16, and a mail creating unit. 17, a mail capturing unit 18, a display switching unit 22, and a project search unit 23.
The shared drawer B includes a communication management unit 2 ′, a shared data management unit 5, a shared data storage unit 6, a project management unit 7, an activity data storage unit 8, a semi-shared data management unit 9, a semi-shared data storage unit 10, and message transmission. Management unit 13, participation management unit 1
9. An activity check unit 20 and a work request management unit 21 are provided.

The communication management units 2 and 2 ′ are devices for communicating via the network 1. The display unit 3 is a device for visualizing information. The information input unit 4 is a device for an operator to input information. Shared data management unit 5
Manages updating of shared data and lock of shared data for exclusive control. The shared data storage unit 6 stores shared data under the control of the shared data management unit 5.

The project management unit 7 manages operations on shared data and semi-shared data, and updates activity data. The activity data storage unit 8 stores activity data under the control of the project management unit 7. The semi-shared data management unit 9 updates the semi-shared data and manages the connection with the shared data. The semi-shared data storage unit 10 stores the semi-shared data under the control of the semi-shared data management unit 9.

The activity information analysis unit 11 attaches a search formula to the project management unit 7 to request activity information, analyzes based on the information returned from the project management unit 7, and displays it on the display unit 3
Display activity information. The data change tracking unit 12 analyzes the connection between the data based on the activity information obtained through the activity information analysis unit 11 and displays the result on the display unit 3. The message transmission management unit 13 stores the message received from the message transmission / reception unit 14 and updates the message transmission status data. Further, it responds to the inquiry from the message transmitting / receiving unit 14 about the presence / absence of a message, and delivers the message in response to the request from the message transmitting / receiving unit 14 to update the message transmission status data. The message transmission management unit 13 searches the message transmission status data by the search formula of the message information request and returns the result to the message tracking unit 15.

The message transmission / reception unit 14 sends the message created by the operator to the message transmission management unit 13 according to the instruction of the operator. Further, the message transmitting / receiving unit 14 inquires of the message transmission management unit 13 whether the message has arrived, and if it has arrived, receives the necessary message from the message transmission management unit 13. Message tracking unit 1
When the worker opens the message, 5 transmits the message to the message transmission management unit 13. Also, the message tracking unit 15
Sends a message information request to the message transfer management unit 13 to check and display the message transfer status.

When the data managed by the project management unit 7 is added to the message, the reference unit 16 does not send the substance of the data to the message transmission management unit 13 but manages the storage location of the data by the project management. The inquiry is sent to the unit 7, the storage location is added to the message, and the message is transmitted to the message transmission management unit 13. When the message with the storage location is received, the substance is received from the project management unit 7 based on the instruction of the worker. When the mail is sent to the project, the mail fetching unit 18 analyzes the mail, separates the message from the attached data, and further, the message transmission management unit 1
3 to send a message to the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9 via the project management unit 7 to register the separated data.

When the shared data or the semi-shared data is accessed, the participation management unit 19 checks the participation management data and updates the participation status of the worker. In addition, participation management department 1
9 receives a query from the workstation, and sends back a necessary part of the participation management data. The activity check unit 20 checks the participation management data, and checks the latest access time of the worker who is active from the activity data. Based on the result, it is judged whether it is suspended or active and the participation management data is updated. The work request management unit 21 receives information such as work request and end from the message management unit, and updates the work request management data. The display switching unit 22 discriminates the information to be displayed and the information not to be displayed based on the display switching information, transmits only the information to be displayed to the display unit 3, and displays the information.
The project search unit 23 makes an inquiry to the plurality of project management units 7 based on the request of the worker, searches the project data, collects necessary information, and displays it on the display unit 3.

Next, the structure of data used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of activity data managed by the project management unit 7 of FIG. 1 and stored in the activity data storage unit 8 (when semi-shared data management is not included). “Time” indicates the time when the worker accessed the shared data. “Shared data name” indicates the shared data name accessed by the worker. "operator"
Indicates a worker who has accessed the shared data. The “operating workstation” indicates the workstation used by the worker when accessing the shared data.
The "activity type" indicates an action performed by the worker on the shared data.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of the activity data managed by the project management unit 7 of FIG. 1 and stored in the activity data storage unit 8 (in the case of including semi-shared data management). “Time” indicates the time when the worker accessed the shared data or the semi-shared data. “Shared data name” indicates the shared data name accessed by the worker. “Semi-shared data name” indicates the semi-shared data name accessed by the worker.
The “operator” indicates an operator who has accessed the shared data or the semi-shared data. "Operation workstation" is
Indicates the workstation the worker was using when accessing the shared or semi-shared data. The “activity type” indicates an action performed by the worker on the shared data or the semi-shared data.

FIG. 4 shows the message transmission management unit 13 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of message transmission status data possessed by. "Message number" indicates a number for identifying a message. “Transmission type” indicates the type of message. The types include single-shot sending, forwarding to send the sent message to others, circulation to circulate the message by specifying multiple recipients, reply to send a reply to the received message, and the like. “Sender” indicates the worker who sent the message. “Recipient” indicates a worker who receives the message. The "status" indicates a status such as whether the message is opened or the reply is written. "Related message"
Indicates a message registered as a related message when a message is transmitted by forwarding or replying to the received message.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram (with activity check data) of the participation management data held by the participation management unit 19 of FIG.
“Participant” indicates a worker who is involved in the project. The “participation time” indicates the time when the worker who is currently working on the project has started the work on the project. “Current status” indicates the activity status of the worker who is currently working on the project.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of work request management data held by the work request management unit 21 of FIG. "Request number" is
Indicates the number that identifies the work request. "Requester" indicates a worker who has requested the work. The “underwriter” indicates a worker who is requested to work. The “sender” indicates a worker who has sent a message regarding work. The “event” indicates request items such as requests and approvals and report items for the requests. The “related message” indicates a message regarding the requested item. “Related request” indicates a request number of a related request, such as when another worker is requested to execute the request.

FIG. 7A is a structural diagram of activity information request data, and FIG. 7B is a structural diagram of response data to it.
FIG. 8A is a structural diagram of activity information request data when there is semi-shared data, and FIG. 8B is a structural diagram of response data to it. In these figures, the "operator" indicates the worker who issued the request. "Workstation" indicates the workstation used by the worker who issued the request. “Request” indicates a request item for a server or a workstation. "Request No." is added to identify the command issued from the workstation. When a server or workstation returns a response to a request, it responds with this command number so that it can be identified which command the response is. The “search formula” is a formula for searching data. "Content" is the search result. The search formula “data (document 1) and operator (A)” given as an example of the activity information request in FIG. 7A.
The result of searching the data of FIG. 2 is illustrated in the content column of FIG. 7B. Similarly, the result of searching the data of FIG. 3 by the search expression “data (document 1) and operator (A)” similarly given as an example of the activity information request of FIG. 8A is the result of FIG. 8B. It is illustrated in the content column of.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are structural diagrams of message information request data and response data to the message information request data.
The “operator” indicates the worker who issued the request. "Workstation" indicates the workstation used by the worker who issued the request. “Request” indicates a request item for a server or a workstation. "Request N
o. ] Is added to identify the command issued from the workstation. When a server or workstation returns a response to a request, it responds with this command number so that it can be identified which command the response is. The “search formula” is a formula for searching data. "Content" is the search result. The result of searching the data of FIG. 4 by the search expression “transmission type (circulation) and sender (B)” given as an example of the message information request of FIG. 9A is the content column of FIG. 9B. "(3, circulation, B ((A, end), (C, end), (D, open), (B, ---)))".

FIGS. 10A and 10B are structural diagrams of participant information request data and response data to the participant information request data.
The “operator” indicates the worker who issued the request. "Workstation" indicates the workstation used by the worker who issued the request. “Request” indicates a request item for a server or a workstation. "Request N
o ”. Is attached to identify the command issued from the workstation. When a server or workstation returns a response to a request, it responds with this command number so that it can be identified which command the response is. The “search formula” is a formula for searching data. "Content" is the search result. The result of searching the data in FIG. 5 by the search expression “current status (activity)” given as an example of the participant information request in FIG.
The activity data of participants A, D, E, and G are illustrated in the content column of (b).

11A and 11B are structural diagrams of work request information request data and response data to the request data.
The “operator” indicates the worker who issued the request. "Workstation" indicates the workstation used by the worker who issued the request. “Request” indicates a request item for a server or a workstation. "Request N
o. ] Is added to identify the command issued from the workstation. When a server or workstation returns a response to a request, it responds with this command number so that it can be identified which command the response is. The “search formula” is a formula for searching data. "Content" is the search result. The result of searching the data of FIG. 6 by the search formula “request number (2)” given as an example of the work request information request of FIG. 11A is shown in FIG.
It is shown in the column of the content of 1 (b).

FIG. 12 is a structural diagram of project data. “Project type” indicates a type in which the way of proceeding with the project is classified. “Keyword” indicates a keyword related to the project. “Member” indicates a participant in the project. "Start date" indicates the start date of the project. “End date” indicates the end date of the project. “Project purpose” indicates the purpose for which the project was performed. These are the data used to search for projects.

An example of a screen display displayed on the display screen in the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a screen display example of the project activity information (time-activity type) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG. In this screen display example, a horizontal line plots the passage of time on the horizontal axis and a vertical line plots of the number of occurrences of data operations for each activity type on the vertical axis. What is done in is shown.

FIG. 14 is a screen display example of the project activity information (person-activity type) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG. In this screen display example, in order to show the activity status of each person, the number of activity occurrences of each person for each activity type is represented by a bar graph. Thus, the activity status of work can be grasped for each worker.

FIG. 15 is a screen display example of the project activity information (time of specific document-person) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG. In this screen display example, the horizontal axis shows the time and date, and the vertical axis shows the persons who have been active and their periods by activity type. With this, the activity status and timing of each worker are listed and understood. be able to. In addition, it is possible to grasp the situation of the worker who is involved in the specific document.

FIG. 16 is a screen display example of the project activity information (document correction time-person) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG. The time course of the semi-sharing, personalization, or sharing of the semi-sharing information, correction of the document, which is the sharing information, is shown together with the name of the person who performed it.

FIG. 17 is a screen display example of the project activity information (display of a person who is touching a specific document) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG. In this screen display example, each document is displayed as an icon, and by selecting the icon, information such as the person currently involved in the selected document, its status, and start time is displayed as a list and related to the document icon. Is displayed.

FIG. 18 is a screen display example of the project activity information (display of a person who touches a specific document) displayed on the display unit 3 according to the analysis result of the activity information analysis unit 11 of FIG.
In this screen display example, each document is displayed with an icon, and by selecting the icon, a list of information such as the name of the person who is currently involved in the selected document, its action, start time, end time, etc. is displayed. Is displayed in association with the document icon.

FIG. 19 is a display screen display example of the change history of the document 1 displayed by the data change tracking unit 12 of FIG. In this screen display example, you can split, change, merge documents,
Each operation such as printing is plotted on the time axis shown on the horizontal axis together with the operator name, and the change history of the document is graphically shown.

FIG. 20 is an example of a participant notification screen displayed by using the participation management unit 19 of FIG. When there is a participant, it is notified on the display screen. FIG. 21 is a display example of the notification screen of the work request / report input sheet. There are columns for request number, requester, underwriter, work request item, contents, etc., the work request item column displays the type of request or report, and the content column requests according to the work request item. The contents of the report or the contents of the report are displayed.

Next, the operation of each part of the embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration of the embodiment described above, the data structure of each information, the screen display example, and the like. FIG. 22 is a control flow chart of the process of the project management unit 7. First, in step 101, the project management unit 7 receives an item “request” in the received request data (see FIG. 7).
(See (a) to FIG. 11 (a)) to determine the type of request.

When the type of the received request is access to the data managed by the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9, the process proceeds to step 102 and the accessed operator, operation workstation, action ( The activity type) is determined and the process proceeds to step 103. In step 103, the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9 is requested to access the data and waits for the result. When the result is returned, the process proceeds to step 104.
In step 104, it is added to the activity data (see FIG. 2 or 3) in the activity data storage section 8 based on the processing result of the shared data management section 5 or the semi-shared data management section 9, and the process returns to step 101.

If the type of the received request is the activity information request in step 101, the process proceeds to step 105.
In step 105, the project management unit 7 stores the activity data stored in the activity data storage unit 8 by the search formula of the activity information request (contents of the item of “search formula” in FIG. 7A and FIG. 8A). Is searched and the process proceeds to step 106. In step 106, the result of the search is returned to the workstation that requested the activity information, and the process returns to step 101.
For example, in the example of the activity information request shown in FIG. 7A, the activity data accumulating unit 8 which is accumulated in the activity data accumulating unit 8 by the retrieval formula “data (document 1) and operator (A)” is searched. Then, the data in the first row and the data in the tenth row shown in FIG. 2 satisfy the search condition. This 2
As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the two items of data are added to the “Content” item as “((1993.4.1 12:20:53, document 1,
A, fugu, personalized), (1993.4.3 18:
47:48, document 1, A, fugu, shared)) ”, and sends it back to the workstation that requested the activity information. In the example of the activity information request having the semi-shared data shown in FIG. 8A, for example, the activities stored in the activity data storage unit 8 by the search expression “data (document 1) and operator (A)” shown in FIG. When you search the data,
The data in the first, fourth, fifth, and eleventh rows shown in FIG. 3 satisfy the search condition. As shown in FIG. 8 (b), these four data are added to the “content” item as “((1993.
4.1 12:20:53, Document 1, A.P. Document 1, A,
fugu, semi-shared), (1993.4.1 17: 4.
2: 05, -A. Document 1, A, fugu, open), (1993.4.1 18:12:14,-,
A. Document 1, A, fugu, close 2), (199
3.3.3 18:47:48, Document 1, A.P. Document 1
A, fugu, shared)) ”is included and returned to the workstation that made the activity information request.

In step 101, if the type of the received request is a project search request, step 107
Go to. In step 107, the project management unit 7 searches for project data, and proceeds to step 108. In step 108, the search result is returned to the project search unit 23 that made the search request, and the process returns to step 101.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the activity information analysis unit 11. First, the activity information analysis unit 11
In step 111, a search formula for time, activity type, operator, specific data, etc. is created at the request of the worker, and the process proceeds to step 112. In step 112,
An activity information request is sent by sending the activity information request data of FIG. 7A or FIG. 8A including the created search formula to the project management unit 7, and the process proceeds to step 113. In step 113, it is determined whether or not there is a response to the request from the project management unit 7. If there is no response to the request, step 113 is repeated, and if there is a response to the request, the process proceeds to step 114. In step 114, the worker looks at the activity information in the "content" section included in the response data and determines whether the data change needs to be tracked. If data change tracking is required, step 115.
In step 1, the data change tracking unit 12 is activated, and step 1
Proceed to 16. At step 116, it is determined whether the tracking result has returned. If the tracking result has not been returned, step 116 is repeated. When the tracking result is returned, the process proceeds to step 117. In step 114,
If you determine that you do not need to track data changes, step 1
Proceed to 17. In step 117, the time, activity type, operator, data name, etc. are sorted and displayed on the display unit 3 according to the request (display form) of the worker, and the process is ended.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the data change tracking unit 12. The data change tracking unit 12
First, in step 121, a history list of changes to specific data is created, and the process proceeds to step 122. In step 122, the history of integration / division for specific data is checked from partial movement of activity type, etc., and in step 123
Go to. In step 123, the time, activity type, operator, data name, integration / division, etc. are organized and returned to the activity information analysis unit 11 in response to the operator's request (display form), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the message transmission management unit 13. First, in step 131, the message transmission management unit 13 determines whether the message has arrived. If the message has arrived, the process proceeds to step 132. In step 132, the message is saved, the new message is added to the message transmission status data, and the process returns to step 131. If the message has not arrived in step 131, step 13
The process proceeds to step 3 and it is determined whether the inquiry is about the presence or absence of a message. In the case of a message inquiry, the process proceeds to step 134, the inquirer is discriminated, and the process proceeds to step 135. Step 135
In the step (1), the presence or absence of a message from the inquirer is checked from the message transmission status data and a reply is returned, and the process returns to step 131.
In step 133, if it is not a message inquiry, the process proceeds to step 136, it is determined whether it is a message delivery request, and if it is a message delivery request, step 1
Proceeding to step 37, the requester is discriminated and the processing advances to step 138.
In step 138, the requester's message is checked from the message transmission status data, and the message of the corresponding message number is issued to the message transmitting / receiving unit 14 that issued the request. In step 139, the message transmission status data is updated, and in step 13
Return to 1. In step 136, if it is not a message delivery request, the process proceeds to step 140, it is determined whether it is a message open notification, and if it is a message open notification, the process proceeds to step 141, the operator is determined, and the process proceeds to step 142. In step 142, the message transmission status data is updated, and the process returns to step 131. In step 140, if it is not a message open notification, the process proceeds to step 143, and it is determined whether it is a message status inquiry. If it is a message status inquiry, the process proceeds to step 145, and message transmission status data is searched by the request search expression. The result is returned to the message tracking unit 15, and the process returns to step 131. In step 143,
If it is not a message status inquiry, step 131
Return to.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the message transmitting / receiving unit 14. Message transmitter / receiver 14
First, in step 151, it is determined whether a message is transmitted. If sending a message, step 15
In step 2, it is determined whether the address of the message is not related to the project. If there is anyone other than the project related person, the process proceeds to step 153, the message information is transmitted to the mail creating unit 17, and the process proceeds to step 154. Step 1
In 52, if there are no persons other than the persons involved in the project, the process proceeds to step 154. In step 154,
The message transmission / reception unit 14 sends the message to the message transmission management unit 13 and returns to step 151. If the message is not transmitted in step 151, the process proceeds to step 155. In step 155, it is determined whether the inquiry is about the presence or absence of a message. If the inquiry is about the presence or absence of a message, the process proceeds to step 156, where the message transmission management unit 13 is inquired whether the message has arrived, step 1
Proceed to 57. When the result is returned in step 157, the result is displayed and the process returns to step 151. In step 155, if the inquiry is not about the presence or absence of a message, the process proceeds to step 158. In step 158, it is determined whether the message is a distribution request. If the message is a distribution request, the process proceeds to step 159. In step 159,
A message delivery request is sent to the message transfer management unit 13, and the process proceeds to step 160. In step 160, the message returned from the message transmission management unit 13 is displayed, and the process returns to step 151. Step 15
If it is not the message distribution request in 8, the process returns to step 151.

FIG. 27 shows a control flow of processing of the message tracking unit 15. Message tracking unit 15
First, in step 171, it is determined whether the message is opened. When the message is opened, in step 172, the message transmission management unit 13 is notified that the operator has opened the message, and the process returns to step 171. In step 171, if the message is not opened, the process proceeds to step 173 to determine whether the request is a tracking request. If the request is a tracking request, the process proceeds to step 174. In step 174, the message transmission management unit 13 is sent to FIG.
A message information request having a data structure as shown in (a) is sent, and in step 175, a response to the request is sent, and if there is a response to the request, the process proceeds to step 176. Step 1
At 76, the message transmission status is displayed based on the content of the response data having the data structure as shown in FIG.
Return to step 171. In step 173, if it is not the tracking request, the process returns to step 171.

FIG. 28 shows a control flow of processing of the reference section 16. First, in step 181, the reference unit 16 determines whether the message includes additional data. If the message includes additional data, in step 182 the project management unit 7 is inquired whether the additional data is data managed by the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9. In step 183, it is determined whether the data is managed by the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9 based on the response to the inquiry. In the case of managed data, in steps 184 to 186, the storage location is checked, the storage location is added to the message, the message is transmitted to the message transmission management unit, and then the process returns to step 181 to receive the next message information. In step 183,
If the data is not managed by the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9, the process returns to step 181, and the next message information is received. If there is no additional data in the message in step 181, step 1
Returning to 81, the next message information is received.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the mail creating section 17. First, in step 191, destinations other than those involved in the project are extracted, and the flow advances to step 192. In step 192, the extracted destination is set as the destination of the mail, the mail is transmitted, and the processing ends.

FIG. 30 shows a control flow of processing of the mail fetching section 18. Email capture unit 18
First, in step 201, it is determined whether or not an email has arrived at the project. If an email is sent to the project, in step 202, analyze the email,
The relationship between the message and the message stored in the message transmission management unit 13 is checked, and then, in step 203, the message and the added data are separated. Then, in step 204, a message is sent to the message transmission management unit 13, and the process proceeds to step 205. Step 20
5, the project management unit 7 requests the shared data management unit 5 or the semi-shared data management unit 9 to register the separated data, and the process returns to step 201. Step two
When the mail is not sent to the project in 01, the process returns to step 201.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a control flow of processing of the participation management unit 19. First, in step 211, the participation management unit 19 determines whether it is an inquiry or a data access. If the result of the determination is an inquiry, step 212.
At step 211, send back the participation management data.
Return to. When it is determined that the data is accessed in step 211, it is determined in step 213 by checking the participation management data as shown in FIG. 5 whether the worker has already participated. As a result of the determination, if the worker has already participated, in step 215,
Determine whether the worker's action is a data close request. In the case of a data close request, it is determined in step 216 whether other data is open. As a result of the determination, if other data is not opened, step 2
In 17, the current state of the column of the worker corresponding to the participation management data is set to "-" and the participation time is also set to "-", and the process returns to step 211. If other data is opened in step 216, the process returns to step 211. In step 215, if the request is other than data closing, the process returns to step 211. In step 213,
If the worker has not joined yet, the process proceeds to step 214. In step 214, the current state of the column of the worker corresponding to the participation management data is set to “activity”, the participation time is entered, and the process returns to step 211.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a control flow of the process of the activity check unit 20. The activity check unit 20 first checks the participation management data in step 221.
Create a list of active workers. next,
In step 222, the latest access time of the worker of the created list is checked from the activity data. Then, in step 223, the worker, who has been a certain time after the last access time, sets the current state of the participation management data to "suspended" and ends the processing.

FIG. 33 shows a control flow of processing of the work request management unit 21. First, in step 231, the work request management unit 21 starts the work request item (“event”) of the message in the work request management data of FIG.
And the "request number". In step 232,
It is determined whether or not the work request item is “request”, and if it is a request, the process proceeds to step 233. In step 233, 1 is added to the maximum value of the request number of the work request management data to make the request number, and the process proceeds to step 234. Step 234
At, the work request management data is updated from the determined work request item, sender, and receiver, and the process ends. When the work request item is other than “request” in step 232, the process proceeds to step 234.

FIG. 34 shows a control flow of processing of the display switching section 22. First, in step 241, information to be displayed and information not to be displayed are discriminated from the display switching information, and the process proceeds to step 242. Step 242
In, if it is not display information, if it is not display information,
Go to step 244. For display information, step 2
Proceed to 43. In step 243, the display information is sent to the display unit, and the process proceeds to step 244. In step 244, it is determined whether or not the information remains, and if the information does not remain, the process is terminated, and if the information remains, the next information is taken out and the process returns to step 242.

FIG. 35 shows a control flow of the process of the project search section 23 shown in FIG.
At 51, the operator is requested to specify a search formula and a search target project, and the process proceeds to step 252. Step two
At 52, it waits until the answer comes back, and when the answer comes back, it proceeds to step 253. In step 253, the project data of the search target project is searched, and the process proceeds to step 254. In step 254, the result is displayed on the display unit 3, and the process ends.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the information is transmitted via the network as the communication means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the constituent means of the present invention can be provided in the same workstation. If it exists, it may be communication between processes or communication using a bus.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, the activity data management means for monitoring the activity of the collaborator and managing the activity data in the collaborative work support system is provided. Since the activity to the shared data is known, the situation and transition of the joint work such as the project activity can be grasped, and the decision making and the work preparation can be efficiently performed.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the activity data managing means for managing the operations on the shared data and the semi-shared data, the operation of the semi-shared data used for correcting the shared data as well as the shared data is provided. It is also possible to grasp the details of the activities of the collaborators on the shared data, so that the status and transition of the project activities can be grasped, and decision-making and work arrangements can be performed efficiently. Also, the transition of data can be grasped.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the activity information analysis means, it is possible to analyze the progress of the work from various angles. In addition, by displaying the analysis results on the display means in various forms, the progress of the work can be grasped, the activity of the worker can be grasped for each worker, and the situation of the workers involved in the specific data can be grasped. It is possible to easily grasp the status of the specific data, the worker involved in the specific data, and the worker who is operating the specific data.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the data change tracking means for tracking the change of the data based on the result of the activity information analysis means, the transition of the specific data and the data related to the specific data can be obtained. Can be grasped.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the message transmission management means and the message transmission / reception means,
Messages involved in collaborative work can be identified as e-mail information.

Further, according to the present invention, the transmission status of the message can be grasped by providing the message tracking means.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the mail creating means, the message can be easily transmitted to the person who is not involved in the joint work (project).
Also, by providing an email importing means, emails received from people who are not involved in collaborative work can be managed in the same way as messages within the project, and exchanges outside the project can be understood.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the participation management means, it is possible to grasp the person who is currently working on the project. By providing the activity checking means for checking the activity of the worker, the situation can be grasped more accurately. Further, according to the present invention, by providing the work request management means, it is possible to grasp the work request relationship of the project. Also, the status of the requested work can be grasped.

According to the present invention (claim 19),
By providing the display switching means, it is possible to visually grasp the status of the work and the deadline of the work of the project.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to forcibly perform a work with a high priority by the access right changing means according to the work deadline.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a collaborative work support system of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Structure diagram of activity data (when semi-shared data management is not included)

[Fig. 3] Structure diagram of activity data (including semi-shared data management)

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of message transmission status data.

[Figure 5] Structure of participation management data (with activity check data)

[Figure 6] Structure diagram of work request management data

[Figure 7] Structure of activity information request data

[Figure 8] Structure of activity information request data (with semi-shared data)

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of message information request data.

FIG. 10: Structure of participant information request data

FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of work request information request data.

[Figure 12] Project data structure diagram

[Figure 13] Project activity information (time-activity type)
Screen display example

[Fig. 14] Screen display example of project activity information (person-activity type)

[Fig. 15] Screen display example of project activity information (time of specific document-people)

[Fig. 16] Example of screen display of project activity information (document modification time-people)

[Fig. 17] Screen display example of project activity information (display of person touching specific document)

[Fig. 18] Screen display example of project activity information (display of person who touched specific document)

FIG. 19: Example of display screen of change history of document 1

[Fig. 20] Example of participant notification screen display

[Fig. 21] Display example of notification screen of work request / report input sheet

FIG. 22 is a control flow diagram of processing of the project management unit (server)

FIG. 23 is a control flow chart of processing of the activity information analysis unit (workstation)

FIG. 24 is a control flow chart of processing of the data change tracking unit (workstation)

FIG. 25 is a control flow chart of processing of the message transmission management unit (server)

FIG. 26 is a control flow chart (workstation) of processing of the message transmitting / receiving unit.

FIG. 27 is a control flow chart of the processing of the message tracking unit (workstation)

FIG. 28 is a control flow chart of processing of the reference unit (workstation)

FIG. 29 is a control flow chart (workstation) of processing of the mail creating unit.

FIG. 30 is a control flow chart of the processing of the mail importing unit (workstation)

FIG. 31 is a control flow chart of the process of the participation management unit (server)

FIG. 32 is a control flow chart of the process of the activity check unit (server)

FIG. 33 is a control flow chart (server) of processing of the work request management unit.

FIG. 34 is a control flow chart of the processing of the display switching section (workstation)

FIG. 35 is a control flow chart of the process of the project search unit (workstation)

[Explanation of sign]

1 ... Network, 2, 2 '... Communication management unit, 3 ... Display unit, 4 ... Information input unit, 5 ... Shared data management unit, 6 ... Shared data storage unit, 7 ... Project management unit, 8 ... Activity data storage unit , 9 ... Semi-shared data management unit, 10 ... Semi-shared data storage unit, 11 ... Activity information analysis unit, 12 ... Data change tracking unit, 13 ... Message transmission management unit, 14 ... Message transmission / reception unit, 15 ... Message tracking unit, 16 ... Reference part, 17 ... Mail creating part, 18 ... Mail importing part, 19
... Participation management section, 20 ... Activity check section, 21 ... Work request management section, 22 ... Display switching section, 23 ... Project search section.

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A collaborative work data management means for accumulating and managing collaborative work data to be collaborative work, an information processing device for an operator to operate the collaborative work data, and the collaborative work data. A collaborative work support system comprising: an activity information management unit that collects and manages collaborative work activity data by monitoring operations; and a display unit that displays the collaborative work activity based on the activity data. . 2. The collaborative work data includes at least one of shared data shared by workers and semi-shared data that is connected to the shared data and can be occupied by each worker. The collaborative work support system described in 1. 3. The collaborative work support system according to claim 1, further comprising activity information analysis means for analyzing activity data accumulated in the activity information management means. 4. The collaborative work support system according to claim 3, wherein the display means displays the number of occurrences of operations on the data as a graph based on the analysis result of the activity information analysis means. 5. The display means displays the number of occurrences of operations on data for each worker and each type of activity information as a graph based on the analysis result of the activity information analysis means. Collaborative work support system. 6. The display means displays, based on an analysis result of the activity information analysis means, an action performed by a worker on specific data at each occurrence time and time for each activity information type. The collaborative work support system according to claim 3. 7. The collaborative work data includes shared data and semi-shared data, and the display means comprises:
4. The collaborative work support system according to claim 3, wherein the transition to shared data, semi-shared data, and personal data is displayed for specific data from the analysis result of the activity information analysis means. 8. The display means displays, based on the analysis result of the activity information analysis means, the name and status of the worker who is operating the specific data and the start time of the action. The described collaborative work support system. 9. The display means displays, based on the analysis result of the activity information analysis means, both an action performed on specific data and an action in progress, such as a worker name, an action, a start time and an end time. The collaborative work support system according to claim 3, wherein 10. The collaborative work support system according to claim 3, further comprising data change tracking means for tracking data changes based on a result of the activity information analysis means. 11. A message transmission management means for managing the exchange of messages between workers participating in collaborative work activities, and a message transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving messages. The collaborative work support system described in 1. 12. An electronic mail means is provided, and a mail creating means for converting a message created by the message transmitting / receiving means into an electronic mail and a mail importing means for converting the electronic mail into a message are provided. Item 11. The collaborative work support system according to item 11. 13. The collaborative work support system according to claim 11, further comprising message tracking means for tracking the transmitted message and checking the status of the message. 14. The collaborative work support system according to claim 1, further comprising a participation management unit that manages workers who are engaged in the collaborative work data managed by the activity information management unit. . 15. The collaborative work support system according to claim 14, further comprising activity check means for checking the activity of the worker registered in the participation management means. 16. The collaborative work support system according to claim 1, further comprising work request management means for managing the work request and the current status. 17. The collaborative work support system according to claim 1, further comprising display switching means for switching data to be displayed. 18. The collaborative work support system according to claim 17, wherein the display switching means performs display switching according to a work end deadline. 19. The collaborative work support system according to claim 19, further comprising access right changing means for changing an access right to data whose work end time limit has passed.