JPH09305659A - Electronic document circulation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize talent while preventing the partial storage of items by distributing a quantity of stored items of ordinary processing roll to the user of substitutable roll by defining the substitutable roll. SOLUTION: A roll distributing means 102 receives an electronic document (item) to be circulated sent from a user processing means 104. The item contains an item ID, the ID of business process to which the item belongs, the roll in which circulation is performed, and document data to be processed. The roll distributing means 102 extracts the next circulation roll of business process corresponding to the business process ID and circulation roll of the item according to a business process definition table 101 to which the item belongs. After the circulation roll is extracted, the roll distributing means 102 writes the item into a roll item DB 105. Besides, a work quantity collecting means 107 collects the number of work items for each roll from the roll item DB 105 and stores it in a work quantity table 109.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computerized document circulation system for circulating a computerized document via a network. In particular, the amount of work is not constant and it is necessary to increase or decrease the number of workers (users) according to the amount of work. Especially effective when there is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Known examples of electronic document circulation systems are found in, for example, "Nikkei Computer" (published by Nikkei BP, May 1994, May, pp. 57-67). They are collectively called a workflow management system, which defines a flow of work (documents) and automatically circulates the work based on the flow to reduce time and improve productivity. According to this, the workflow management system is composed of three elements: workflow definition, execution, and monitoring. In defining the workflow, a flowing electronic document and a circulation destination of the document are defined. In executing the workflow, the document is circulated based on the defined information. In the monitoring of workflow, it is used as a tool for recording the processing status of a flown electronic document so that the progress can be grasped and collecting statistics to analyze and improve the work flow. Further, as a method of defining a workflow, there are methods such as programming with a script (language), expressing a circulation order in a table, and using a chart.

Known examples of the definition of the workflow management system include, for example, the 50th National Convention Proceedings 6-173 to 174 of the Information Processing Society of Japan. According to it, the chart is used as the definition of the workflow. A series of charts is called a business process.There are control nodes that control the flow of documents and processing nodes that represent the elements that process the documents to be circulated.By connecting the nodes with arrows, you can compose a business process. There is. The role represented by this processing node is called a role, and consists of one or more users who perform processing. By providing the roll, the destination can be automatically determined even when there are a plurality of users who can be circulated next time, and the burden on the user is reduced. When distributing work, the document distributed to the role is automatically distributed to the user when the work is carried out on an individual basis, and the work is accessed by the user when the work is jointly carried out without being automatically distributed. You can

[0004]

Since the conventional technique is based on the premise that the amount of work (the number of circulation documents) is steady, the role corresponding to the processing node or the user determines the processing state such as the amount of documents. It was fixed regardless. As a result, there is a change in the composition of users due to fluctuations in the amount of computerized circulation documents, absences, business trips, or new users being registered.For example, the number of users who perform time-consuming tasks decreases. Or, if the number of users that does not take much time increases, the difference in the number of documents processed by roles and users increases depending on the node, and the system administrator must monitor the situation and change the configuration of the role each time. There was a problem.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a workflow management system for automatically leveling the load of each circulation node user, even if the administrator does not monitor the processing amount or the user's work amount. To do.

Further, in the prior art, it is not assumed that the terminal used by the role user is different depending on the case and the document operation ability is different. For example, if there is a terminal that can display a text document but takes a long time to display an image document due to its performance, and a terminal that can also operate an image document at high speed, the ratio of the text document and the image document included in one circulation document may be Since different users have different processing efficiencies, it is difficult to efficiently circulate the circulation document even if the distribution of the circulation document is determined based on the user's performance and the like.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an electronic document circulation system capable of circulation according to the user's work environment.

[0008]

As a first means for solving the problems, the present invention provides the following means in order to achieve the first object.

That is, in the above workflow management system: a) Role distribution means for storing the digitized document processed by the user in the role matter database (hereinafter abbreviated as DB) according to the business process definition table. B) Role distribution means for each role Work amount collecting means for collecting the work amount of the above and storing it in the work amount table c) User processing capacity collecting means for collecting the work status of the user from the processing means of the user and storing it in the user activity state management table d) The work amount table, User distribution means for determining users to be distributed using the user activity state management table, the role / user correspondence table, and the role inclusion relationship definition table that stores the role inclusion relationship of the above roles e) Extracting a document from the user matter DB, Also, a user processing hand that sends the processing result to the roll distribution means. The provision.

The role distributing means receives the processed document sent from the user processing means, specifies the role which is the role of the next processing node based on the business process definition table which defines the circulation order, and performs the role. Store in the case DB.

The work amount collecting means extracts the number of items for each roll from the roll item DB and stores them in the work amount table.

The user processing capacity collection means monitors a connection / disconnection request from the user processing means to the workflow system and a document processing request, and stores the status in the user activity status management table.

The user distribution means first retrieves from the role inclusion relation table the roles that include the roles distributed by the document stored in the role item DB. Next, the user corresponding to the fetched role is fetched from the role / user correspondence table, a user that can be processed is selected while referring to the user activity state management table, and is stored in the user matter DB of the corresponding user.

Regarding the method of selecting a processable user, 1) take out the user's activity status and distribute it to the active user. 2) take out the number of staying cases of the user and deliver it to users with few staying documents. ) There are cases where the number of documents processed by a user is extracted and distributed to users who have processed many documents.

The present invention also provides, as a second means for solving the problems, the following means for achieving the first object.

That is, in the above workflow system, a) role distribution means for storing the digitized document processed by the user in a role matter database (hereinafter abbreviated as DB) according to the business process definition table b) role distribution means for each role Work amount collection means for collecting work amount and storing in work amount table c) User processing capacity collecting means for collecting user work condition from user processing means and storing in user activity status management table d) Above work amount table, user Role redistribution means for redistributing roles from role to role by using the activity status management table, the role / user correspondence table, and the role inclusion relationship definition table that stores the role inclusion relationships of the above roles e) Documents from the role matter DB User who retrieves the result and sends the processing result to the role distribution means Providing a physical means.

The roll distributing means, the work amount collecting means, and the user ability collecting means are the same as the first means.

The roll redistribution means is first a roll case DB.
The roles including the roles to be distributed by the document stored in are fetched from the role inclusion relation table. Next, the user corresponding to the fetched role is fetched from the role / user correspondence table, the processable role is selected with reference to the user activity state management table, and the role matter DB of the corresponding role is stored again.

Regarding the method of selecting a processable role, 1) take out the user's activity status and distribute it to the roles with many active users. Distributing 3) There is a case where the number of documents processed by the user is taken out and distributed to the role that processed many documents.

The present invention also provides, as a third means for solving the problem, the following means for achieving the second object.

That is, in the electronic document circulation system, in addition to the first means, f) the type of the terminal used in the user process is acquired,
A roll / user correspondence updating unit for updating the roll / user correspondence table using the terminal / roll correspondence table is provided.

The terminal capability collecting means acquires the type of the terminal to be used from the user processing means, obtains the correspondence between the user and the role from the roll / terminal correspondence table showing the correspondence between the roll and the required terminal, and the user / roll. Update the correspondence table.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the roll distributing means 102 receives an electronic document to be circulated (hereinafter referred to as a case) sent from the user processing means 104. For the case, case I
D, the ID of the business process to which the item belongs, the circulated role, and the document data to be processed are stored. The role distribution unit 102 extracts the circulation roll next to the business process ID corresponding to the matter and the circulation process according to the business process definition table 101 to which the matter belongs. The role distribution means 102 writes the matter in the roll matter DB 105 after taking out the circulation roll.

The work amount collection means 107 collects the number of work items for each roll from the roll item DB 105 and stores them in the work amount table 109.

FIG. 5 shows the business process definition table 10
1 is an example. This table shows business process ID 5
01, circulation roll 502, and next circulation roll 503. Note that the business process definition is not limited to this, and may be represented by a chart as shown in the related art.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the roll case DB 105.
This DB includes records of a matter ID 601, a circulation roll 602, a business process ID 603, and a matter content 604.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the work amount table. This table is composed of records of circulation roll 701 and number of cases 702.

On the other hand, the user processing means 104 takes out the matter assigned to the user to be processed from the user matter DB 106, processes the matter, and then sends the matter to the role distributing means 102. At that time, the user processing means 104 sends information to the user processing capacity collection means 112 that the processing user has started or finished the processing, or has taken out / circulated the item.

The user processing capacity collecting means 112 receives the information from the user processing means 104 and records it in the user activity state management table 111.

FIG. 9 shows the user activity status management table 111.
This is an example. This table manages whether the user is in an active state that can be processed or not, and the number of retained cases and processed cases. This table is composed of four records including a user ID 901, an activity status 902, a number of processed cases 903, and a number of retained cases 904.

The user processing capacity collecting means 112 sets the activity status 902 of the corresponding user in the user activity status management table 111 to active when the user starts the processing, and suspends it when the processing ends. When the user retrieves the matter from the user matter DB 106, the number of retained matters 904 is increased by 1, and when the matter is circulated, the number of retained matters is decreased by 1 and the number of processed matters is increased by 1.

Then, the user distribution means 103 takes out the matter stored in the role matter DB 105 and uses the information of the work amount table 109, the role / user correspondence table 110, the role inclusion relation definition table 113, and the user activity state management table 111. And stores it in the user matter DB 106.

FIG. 4 shows the role / user correspondence table 110.
This is an example. This table is a table for defining which role each user belongs to. This table shows user ID 401, user name 402, role 4
It consists of three records of 03.

FIG. 8 shows the role inclusion relation definition table 113.
This is an example. This table is a table that defines whether a certain role can be substituted by any other role. This table is composed of two records, a circulation roll 501 and an inclusion roll 502 that can substitute the circulation roll.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a flow chart for determining the distribution user of the item in the user distribution means 103. First, a case is taken out from the roll case DB 105 (step 1001). Next, the roles including the roles of this item are fetched from the role inclusion relation table 113 (step 1002). Next, the work amount of the roll of the item and the taken-out roll is taken out from the work amount table 109 (step 1003). Next, the work amount between the taken out rolls is compared, and the roll with the smallest work amount is selected (step 1004). Next, a list of users corresponding to roles is fetched from the role / user correspondence table 110 (step 1005). Next, the activity status of each user is retrieved from the user activity status management table 111 (step 10).
06). Next, the user's activity status is compared, and the user with the smallest number of staying projects is selected (step 100).
7). Then, the case is stored in the corresponding user of the user case DB 106 (step 1008).

As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the work load of a certain roll is increased, if the work load of the roll that can act on behalf of the roll is smaller than that of the roll, the matter is handled by a user who has less work load of the acting roll. As it is circulated, it is possible to prevent uneven distribution and efficiently circulate projects.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the operations of the roll distributing means 102, the work amount collecting means 107, and the user processing capacity collecting means 112 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the user processing means 104
Retrieves the matter assigned to the role to which the user belongs from the role matter DB 105, processes the matter, and then sends the matter to the role distribution unit 102. At that time, the user processing means 104 sends information to the user processing capacity collection means 112 that the processing user has started or finished the processing, or has taken out / circulated the item.

Then, the role redistribution means 201 takes out the matter stored in the roll matter DB 105, and stores the information of the work amount table 109, the role / user correspondence table 110, the role inclusion relation definition table 113, and the user activity state management table 111. It is used and stored in another role in the role matter DB 106 as needed.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a flow chart of redistribution in the roll redistribution means 201. First, the matter is retrieved from the role matter DB 105 (step 110).
1). Next, the roles including the roles of this item are retrieved from the role inclusion relation table 113 (step 110).
2). Next, the work amount of the roll of the item and the taken-out roll are taken out from the work amount table 109 (step 110
3). Next, the roles of the item and the users belonging to the retrieved roles are retrieved from the role / user correspondence table 110 (step 1104). Next, the number of activities of the extracted users and the number of retained jobs are totaled for each role (step 1105). Next, the activity states of the rolls are compared with each other, and a roll having a large number of activities and a small number of staying matters is selected (step 1106). Then, the taken item is moved to the selected roll (step 1107).

As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the work amount of a certain roll is increased when there is no automatic distribution to the user,
When the amount of work for a roll that can act on behalf of the roll is smaller than that of the roll, and the number of user activities is greater than that of the roll, the item is redistributed to the alternate role, so bias of retention is prevented and the item is efficiently processed. Can be circulated.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the operations of the roll distributing means 102, the work amount collecting means 107, and the user processing capacity collecting means 112 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the user processing means 104
Retrieves the matter assigned to the role to which the user belongs from the role matter DB 105, processes the matter, and then sends the matter to the role distribution unit 102. At that time, the user processing means 104 sends information to the user processing capacity collecting means 112 that the processing user has started or ended the processing, or has performed the operation of taking out and circulating the item. Further, the user processing unit 104 uses the role / user correspondence updating unit 301 to identify the terminal identification information 303 used by the user.
And send the user ID.

FIG. 12 is an example of a terminal / roll correspondence table. This table is a circulation roll 1201, 120 cases
It consists of 2 records.

Then, the role / user correspondence updating means 301
Is the information and role sent from the user processing means 104.
By referring to the terminal correspondence table 302, the role corresponding to the user is changed and the role / user correspondence table 110 is updated.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the role / user correspondence update in this user distribution means. First, the user information and the terminal information are acquired from the user processing means 104 (step 1301). Next, the roll corresponding to the sent terminal information is taken out from the roll / terminal correspondence table (step 1302). Then, in the role / user correspondence table 110, the role corresponding to the sent user information is updated (step 1303).

In FIG. 3, the user distribution means 103 takes out the matter stored in the roll matter DB 105, the work amount table 109, the role / user correspondence table 110,
It is stored in the user case DB 106 using the information in the user activity status management table 111.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the ability of the terminal used by the user is changed and it becomes difficult to work in the original role, the terminal type is acquired when the terminal is connected and the role can be changed to a workable role. Since it is carried out, it is possible to prevent stagnation due to work difficulty.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when there is a change in the composition of users due to a change in the amount of projects, absenteeism, a business trip, or a new user being registered, If you define a role that can be delegated, even when the amount of retained matter of normal processing role increases compared to the retained matter of the role that can be delegated, it is automatically distributed to the user of the role that can be delegated and retained. It is possible to prevent human bias and effectively utilize human resources.

Further, when the user accesses the system in another environment, the role can be changed by the user in accordance with the capability of the terminal used, so that the item suitable for the work environment can be distributed. It is possible to prevent retention due to difficulty.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a user / role correspondence table.

FIG. 5 is an example of a business process definition table.

FIG. 6 is an example of a roll case DB.

FIG. 7 is an example of a work amount table.

FIG. 8 is an example of a role inclusion relationship definition table.

FIG. 9 is an example of a user activity status management table.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of user distribution.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of roll redistribution.

FIG. 12 is an example of a terminal / role correspondence table.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of update for role / user correspondence.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Business process definition table, 102 ... Role distribution means, 103 ... User distribution means, 104 ... User processing means, 105 ... Roll case DB, 106 ... User case DB, 107 ... Work amount collection means, 109 ... Work amount table, 110 ... Role / user correspondence table, 1
11 ... User activity status management table, 112 ... User processing capacity collecting means, 113 ... Role inclusion relationship table,
201 ... Role redistribution means, 301 ... Terminal capability collection means, 302 ... User terminal management table, 303 ... Terminal identification information.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuyuki Arao 12 shares at 890 Kashimada, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Information Systems Division (72) Inventor ▲ Tsuji ▼ Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 1099 Stock Company Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A role matter DB for storing matters to be processed by any user belonging to a group consisting of one or more users (hereinafter, defined as a role) and a matter to be processed by a specific user. There is a user matter DB, and the means for distributing the matter according to the business process definition table that defines the circulation order, the role distribution means that stores the matter processed by the user to the next user in order to circulate it to the next user In a workflow system having two types of user distribution means for storing the matter distributed to the role matter DB in the user matter DB, the work amount collection means for calculating the work amount from the information stored in the role matter DB and the user Means for collecting the user processing capacity from the processing status, wherein the user distribution means stores the work amount At least one table is referenced from among four types of tables: a table, a management table that stores the user activity state, a table that defines the correspondence between roles and users, and a relationship table that defines the relationship between roles. A computerized document circulation system characterized by distributing the matter stored in the matter DB to the user matter DB. 2. The electronic document circulation system according to claim 1, wherein 1) the step of extracting the role of the electronic document circulation destination from the business process definition table and 2) substituting the role extracted in 1). Can do 1
A step of retrieving one or more roles from a relationship table that defines the relationship between the roles; and a step of retrieving the users included in the 3) circulation roll and the roles retrieved in 2) from the table that defines the correspondence relationship between the roles and the users. 4) a step of extracting the work amount of all users extracted in 3) from the work amount table, and 5) a step of comparing the work amounts of all users extracted in 4), and distributing the items in order from the user with the smallest work amount. An electronic document circulation system consisting of. 3. There is a role matter DB that stores matters to be processed by any user belonging to a group consisting of one or more users (hereinafter, defined as a role), and according to a business process definition table that defines a circulation order. In a workflow system that has a role distribution means for storing the matter processed by the user to the next user as the means for distributing the matter to the next user, the work amount is calculated from the information stored in the roll matter DB. It is equipped with a work amount collection means for calculating, a means for collecting the user processing capacity from the processing status of the user, and a means for redistributing the matter stored in the role matter DB to another role, and stored in the roll matter DB. A means for redistributing an item to another role is a management table storing the work amount table storing the work amount and the user activity state. Tables that define correspondences between tables, roles, and users and relationship tables that define relationships between roles are referenced to at least one table, and the matter stored in the role matter DB is changed to another role. An electronic document circulation system characterized by redistributing. 4. The electronic document circulation system according to claim 3, wherein 1) a step of extracting a role for circulating the electronic document next from the business process definition table, and 2) a role including the role is included in the role inclusion relation table. And 3) The step of extracting the number of user activities and the number of stay projects in each of the above-mentioned retrieved rolls from the work amount table and 4) The number of user activities of each of the above retrieved rolls and the number of retained projects are compared, and the number of user activities is An electronic document circulation system that consists of steps that determine the maximum number of retained jobs. 5. The computerized document circulation system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal used by the user as the item processing means,
A workflow management system having information indicating the type of terminal, comprising means for changing the correspondence between roles and users, and means for changing the correspondence between roles and users,
An electronic document circulation system characterized in that the correspondence between roles and users is changed using the terminal type information, a table that defines the types of terminals and the roles that can be processed by the terminals. 6. The computerized document circulation system according to claim 5, wherein 1) a step of extracting user information and terminal information from a means by which a user processes an item, and 2) a terminal type and a roll processable by the terminal. An electronic document circulation system including a step of extracting a role corresponding to a terminal from a table defining a relationship, and 3) a step of updating a role to which a user belongs to the role extracted in 2)