JPH09311889A - Document parallel circulation method for work flow system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the necessity for defining a flow in plural patterns when jobs, in which the number of persons circulating the documents in parallel is different for every matter are realized in a work flow system bye freely designating the number of persons circulating the documents in parallel to each other at a specific point of time in an operation mode. SOLUTION: When an operation inputs a matter via a work flow client 202, a work flow server 201 produces a matter management table 900 to store the matter information. The server 201 also produces a document management table 1000 to store the document information. When the operator designates the persons who circulate the documents in parallel to each other via the client 202, the server 201 produces a parallel circulation management table 1100. Thus, the number of persons circulating the documents in parallel to each other can be decided in an operation mode. As a result, a document parallel circulation method is secured in a single flow and in a simple way when the number of persons circulating the documents in parallel to each other perform the different jobs in every matter in a work flow system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document circulation method using a workflow system, and more particularly, a workflow system document parallel circulation suitable for circulating documents in parallel to a plurality of readers designated during operation of the workflow system. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A workflow system is one of the infrastructures for improving the efficiency of document circulation in an office. Here, the workflow system means Nikkei Computer No. 5.2, 1994 (Nikkei BP), pp. 57-
As described in 60, if a work flow involving a plurality of people is defined in advance, the system proceeds according to the flow. The document is digitized and circulated on the network. The workflow system can automatically circulate documents in accordance with the order by setting the readers in individual units such as roles or users and registering the circulation order of the documents between the readers in advance in the workflow server. it can. Here, a role is a collection of users who have the same role. By defining a reader as a role, the document can be circulated to any one user in the role during operation. You can Further, by digitizing the document, the same document can be circulated simultaneously in parallel. Furthermore, it has a function of displaying the progress information of the item, which indicates how far the document circulation has progressed. Here, the item refers to one actual example of work.

Conventionally, in a workflow system, a document can be circulated in parallel by defining a circulation order in advance so as to circulate the document to a specific number of readers at a specific time. This is mainly used for shortening the processing time when individual works constituting a work are performed in parallel with each other without depending on the respective work results.

[0004]

However, such a conventional method has the following problems.

That is, in a business in which the number of people who circulate a document in parallel at a specific time differs depending on the case, a plurality of flows of all patterns that can occur in the business at that time are registered in advance in a server, Determining the number of people who will be circulated in parallel will need to be selected and circulated for each case when a company sends a document to the next reader. Here, the flow refers to the definition of the circulation order of documents registered on the workflow server. In addition, in the case of a work in which the decision maker of the number of parallel circulation exists in the middle of the flow, in addition to the above, the flow is divided into two parts, the first half and the second half of the work, between the decision maker and the next circulation person. It should be noted that among the flows of the latter half of a plurality of patterns registered in advance for the document circulated in the flow of the first half of the work, the flow corresponding to the pattern of the number of circulation at the time of parallel circulation is It needs to be selected and put in by the decision makers. In this way, the person who decides the number of people who will be circulated in parallel needs to select the appropriate flow for each case and circulate the document, and with such a method, there is a risk that the document may be input to the wrong flow, Not a good method.

[0006] Further, when one business is defined by a plurality of patterns of flows, the same business item exists in a plurality of flows. Furthermore, if one work is divided and defined in multiple flows, the same matter will flow between multiple flows. If one business is defined by multiple flows in this way, the administrator must manage all the flows related to the business. For example, if the administrator wants to investigate the progress of a certain item, It is necessary to acquire the progress information of the projects existing in all the involved flows. Also, if there is a change in the flow, it is necessary to redefine all patterns.

[0007] As described above, in the conventional method, it is necessary for a workflow system to implement a task in which the number of people who circulate a document in parallel at a specific time differs depending on the case. There is a problem that the means for managing the is very inefficient.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to define a flow in a plurality of patterns when a workflow system realizes a task in which the number of people who circulate a document in parallel at a specific time differs depending on the case. It is to provide a document parallel circulation method.

[0009]

The present invention has a parallel circulation management table for each matter and for each node that performs parallel circulation for a matter on a workflow system. Based on the information input from the workflow client, a circulation person who circulates in parallel to the table and a document to be circulated for each circulation person are recorded, and the workflow server refers to the information and sends the designated document to the designated circulation person. To do. Here, a process is synonymous with a business flow, and a node refers to an arbitrary point in time on a process. In addition, by managing the end of processing of parallel readers one by one in the table, the document is sent to the next node at the end of processing of all readers.
In this way, at the time of operation, by designating one or more circulators at the node performing the parallel circulation, the number of people who circulate the document in parallel at a specific point in time will be different depending on the case to the workflow server of the work flow. You can have only one registration.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a processing procedure when the present invention is applied to a workflow system, and FIG. 2 is a whole showing an example of a configuration of a client, a server and a database according to the present invention. It is a block diagram. FIG. 3 is an example of a matter processing screen displayed by the client when the operator processes the matter, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an example of the matter submission screen displayed by the client when the operator submits the matter to the process. FIG. 5 is a parallel circulation registration screen displayed by the client when the operator specifies a circulation person who performs the parallel circulation. Is an example. 6 is a process management table for managing process information for each process, FIG. 7 is a group management table for managing group information, FIG. 8 is a user management table for managing user information, and FIG. 9 is a matter. 11 is a document management table for managing information of documents registered in each case, and FIG. 11 is a table for managing information of documents registered for each case.
It is a parallel circulation management table which manages the information of the node under parallel circulation for every node which circulates in parallel.

In FIG. 2, by registering a process from the workflow client 202 by the administrator,
The workflow server 201 uses the process management table 60.
0 is created and process information is stored. The administrator adds the group information from the workflow client 202, and the workflow server 201 stores the group information in the group management table 700. In addition, the administrator adds user information from the workflow client 202 so that the workflow server 2
01 stores user information in the user management table 800.

An operator operates the workflow client 202.
The workflow server 201 creates the case management table 900 and stores the case information, and also creates the document management table 1000 and stores the document information by inputting the case from. The operator is the workflow client 2
When a circulation person to be circulated in parallel is designated from 02, the workflow server 201 creates the parallel circulation management table 1100. When a document is circulated to the operator according to the process defined in the process management table 600, the operator performs processing from the workflow client 202, and the workflow server 201 stores the result in the matter management table 900 and the parallel circulation management table 1100. Update one or both.

In FIG. 3, a case processing screen example 300 is
It is an example of a matter processing screen on a screen when performing matter processing such as displaying or sending a document circulated by an operator.
The matter list 310 is an area for displaying the contents of the matter sent to the operator, such as the matter name 311, the matter ID 312,
The process name 313 of the process in which the matter exists and the node name 314 of the node in which the matter exists are displayed. The document list 320 is an area for displaying the contents of the documents registered in the case, and the document name 321 and the document ID 322 are displayed. The document display unit 330 is an area for displaying the document registered in the case. The matter submission button 340 is a button for submitting a matter to the process, the display button 350 is a button for displaying the document registered in the matter on the document display section 330, and the send button 360 is a next circulation of the matter. The button 370 is a button for sending the item to the person, and the end button 370 is a button for ending the item processing.

In FIG. 4, a case input screen example 400 is
It is an example of a case input screen on a screen when a case submitter registers a document in the case. The process list 410 is an area for displaying the content of the process for submitting the matter, and the process name 411 and the process ID 412 are displayed. The node list 420 is an area for displaying a list of nodes on the process selected in the process list 410, and a node name 412 and a node ID 422 are displayed. Case name 4
Reference numeral 30 is an area for inputting the name of the item to be input, document name 440 is an area for inputting a name to be given to the document to be registered, and file name 450 is an area for inputting the actual file name of the document to be registered. Yes, registered document list 4
Reference numeral 60 denotes an area for displaying the contents of the registered document, in which the registered document name 461, the registered document file name 462, and the node name 463 of the node to which the registered document is sent are displayed. The registration button 470 is a button for registering the document specified by the document name 440 and the file name 450 in the matter, and the cancel button 480 is a button for canceling the registration of the document displayed in the registered document list 460. The OK button 490 is a button for completing the registration of the document.

In FIG. 5, an example of a parallel reader registration screen 50
0 is an example of the parallel circulation person designation screen on the screen when the operator designates the parallel circulation person. The node name 510 is an area for the operator to display the name of the node that designates the parallel reader, and the group name 520 is for displaying the name of the group registered in the node displayed in the node name 510. It is an area, and the circulation list 530 is the group name 5
This is an area for displaying a list of readers registered in the group displayed in 20, and the user name 531 of the reader,
The user ID 532 of the reader is displayed. Document list 54
Reference numeral 0 is an area for displaying a list of documents registered in the case, and a document name 541 and a document ID 542 are displayed.
The reader category 550 is a button for selecting the category of the reader specified in the reader list 530, and is composed of one representative reader and several general readers in one node. The registered reader list 560 is an area for displaying the contents of registered readers, and the registered reader user name 56.
1. Document name 562 sent to readers, reader classification 563
Is displayed. The registration button 570 is a button for registering the reader specified in the reader list 530 as the reader of the node displayed in the node name 510, and the cancel button 580 is the circulation displayed in the registered reader list 560. The OK button 590 is a button for canceling the registration of the person who has registered the person, and the OK button 590 is a button for completing the registration of the parallel reader.

In FIG. 6, a process ID 601 is a number for identifying a process, a process name 602 is a name of a process, a node ID 603 is a number for identifying a node on the process, and a node name 604.
Is the name of the node, user ID / group ID 60
5 is a user ID or group ID of a user or group registered as a reader. Parallel circulation flag 6
Reference numeral 06 is an item indicating a node that performs parallel circulation. “1” is entered in a node that performs parallel circulation, and “0” is entered in a node that does not perform parallel circulation. The circulation person designation node 607 is an item indicating a node that designates a parallel circulation person, and is a node ID of a node that the operator designates a parallel circulation person. If there is no node that designates a parallel circulation person, NULL is entered. The circulation source 608 is the node ID of the immediately preceding node, and if there is no immediately preceding node, that is, if it is the start node of the process, it is NUL.
L enters. The circulation destination 609 is the node ID of the immediately following node, and if there is no immediately following node, that is, if it is the end node of the process, NULL is entered.

In FIG. 7, the group ID 701 is a number for identifying the group, the group name 702 is the name of the group, and the belonging user 703 is the user ID of the user who belongs to the group.

In FIG. 8, the user ID 801 is a number for identifying the user, and the user name 802 is the name of the user.

In FIG. 9, a case ID 901 is a number for identifying a case, a case name 902 is a case name, a process ID 903 is a process ID of a process in which the case exists, and a document management ID 904 is a case. This is an item to be associated with the document management table 1000 that manages the registered document, and the node ID 905 corresponds to the node ID 603 of the process management table 600. The existence flag 906 is an item indicating the node where the matter currently exists, and means that there is no matter in the node whose value is “0” and that there is a matter in the node “1”. The circulation document 907 is a document to be circulated to the circulation person, and NULL is entered at the start node. Parallel circulation management ID 908
Is an item for associating with the parallel circulation management table 1100 that manages the parallel circulation, and NULL is entered in the node that does not perform the parallel circulation or in the node where the parallel circulation is not set.

In FIG. 10, the document management ID 1001 is a number for identifying the document management table 1000, the case ID 1002 corresponds to the case ID 901 of the case management table 900, and the document ID 1003 is for identifying the document. The document name 1004 is a number, the document name 1004 is the name of the document, and the file name 1005 is the actual file name of the document.

In FIG. 11, the parallel circulation management ID 110
1 is a number for identifying the parallel circulation management table 1100, node ID 1102 is the node ID of the node that manages the parallel circulation, case ID 1103 corresponds to the case ID 901 of the case management table 900, and user ID 1104. Is a user ID of a reader who is circulated in parallel. The end flag 1105 is an item indicating whether or not the reader has completed the processing. A reader having a value of "0" is in process, and a reader having a value of "1" means that the process is completed. The representative flag 1106 is an item indicating a representative reader. When the value is "1", it means a representative reader, and the value is "1".
When it is 0 ", it means a general reader. Circulation document 1107
Is the document ID of the document circulated to the reader.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of each unit will be described.

First, when the operator logs in, the workflow client 202 displays a list of matters sent to the operator as in the case processing screen example 300 (step 101). The operator selects from the case processing screen example 300 any one of case input, document display, case transmission, and process end. If the user selects to input a case, the case input button 340 is pressed. If the document display is selected, the matter in which the document to be displayed is registered is selected from the matter list 310, the document to be displayed is selected from the document list 320, and the display button 350 is pressed. If the item to be sent is selected, the item to be sent is selected from the item list 310 and the send button 360 is pressed. If the end of processing is selected, the end button 370 is pressed (step 102). The workflow server 201 determines the processing content from the pressed button (step 10
3, 104), and the next processing is performed according to the determination result.

If the pressed button is the end button 370, the workflow client 202 hides the case processing screen example 300, and ends the case processing such as case input, document display, and case transmission (step 10).
5).

If the pressed button is the display button 350, the document selected in the document list 320 is displayed on the document display section 330 (step 106).

The pressed button is the item input button 340.
If so, the workflow client 202 displays the example submission screen example 400. The operator selects a process for submitting an item from the process list 410, inputs the item name in the item name 430, inputs the document name of the document to be registered and the actual file name in the document name 440 and the file name 450, respectively, Select one or more nodes to which the document is to be sent from the node list 420 and press the registration button 470. The document to be registered is displayed in the registered document list 460. When the document is registered, the process list 410 and the matter name 430 cannot be changed. Registered document list 460 to cancel registration
Select the document whose registration is to be canceled from, and press the cancel button 480. When all the documents to be registered have been registered by repeating the operation, the OK button 490 is pressed (step 10).
7). When the OK button 490 is pressed, the workflow server 201 creates the matter management table 900 and the document management table 1000, newly assigns identification numbers, and stores the respective identification numbers in the matter ID 901 and the document management ID 1001.

The workflow server 201 stores information in the newly created document management table 1000. Matter management ID 90 of the newly created matter management table 900
1 is stored in the case ID 1002 of the document management table 1000, and the document name 461 and the file name 462 of the case input screen example 400 are respectively the document name 1 of the document management table 900.
004 and the file name 1005. Furthermore, an identification number is added to each registered document, and the document ID 100
Store in 3.

The workflow server 201 also stores information in the newly created matter management table 900.
Document management I of newly created document management table 1000
D1001 is the document management ID 9 of the matter management table 900
04, and the case name 430 of the case input screen example 400 is stored in the case name 902 of the case management table 900. The information of the corresponding process management table 600 is referred from the process ID 412 of the matter submission screen example 400, and the process ID 601 and node ID of the process management table 600 are referenced.
603 is the process I of the matter management table 900.
It is stored in the D903 and the node ID 905. Further, the document ID 1003 of the document management table 1000 is stored in the circulation document 907 of the node designated by the sending node 463 of the case input screen example 400. However, at the process start node, NULL is stored in the circulation document 907. The existence flag 906 is "1" for the process start node,
"0" is stored in other nodes, and parallel circulation management ID
NULL is stored in all the nodes in 908 (step 108).

The workflow server 201 corresponds to the process ID 412 of the item submission screen example 400, and the reader designation node 607 of the start node of the process management table 600.
Is checked to see if there is a node that specifies a parallel reader in the start node, that is, if the value is not NULL. If it is not NULL, the designated node 6
Parallel circulation management ID 908 of the node specified by 07
Is referred to from the newly created matter management table 900, and it is confirmed whether or not there is a node for which a parallel circulation person is not set, that is, the value is NULL (step 109).

If the operator designates a parallel circulation user and there is an unset node, the workflow client 202 displays the parallel circulation registration screen example 500 (step 110). The operator is a circulation list 530
Select the circulation person who circulates the case in parallel from the
One or more documents to be circulated from 0 are selected, the circulation category 550 is selected, and the registration button 570 is pressed. The registered readers are displayed in the registered reader list 560. When a reader who registers the reader category 550 as a representative reader is registered, only the general reader can select the reader category 550. To cancel the registration, select the reader whose registration is to be canceled from the registered reader list 560 and press the cancel button 580. After repeating the operation and registering all the readers,
The OK button 590 is pressed (step 111).

When the OK button 590 is pressed, the workflow server 201 creates the parallel circulation management table 1100, newly gives an identification number, and the parallel circulation management ID 11
01, and the node ID 905 and matter ID 901 of the node that specifies the parallel circulation of the matter management table 900 are stored in the node ID 1102 and matter ID 1103 of the parallel circulation management table 1100, respectively. Further, referring to the registered circulation person 561 of the parallel circulation person registration screen example 500, the user ID 532 of the registered circulation person is set in the parallel circulation management table 1.
Stored in the user ID 1104 of 100 and referring to the sent document 562 of the parallel circulation person registration screen example 500, the document ID 5
42 parallel document 110 of the circular circulation management table 1100
Store in 7. Further, "0" is stored in all the nodes of the end flag 1105, the section 563 of the parallel circulation registration screen example 500 is referred to, and if the division 563 is "representative", the representative flag 1106 of the parallel circulation management table 1100. If the classification 563 is "general", the value "0" is stored in the representative flag 1106 (step 112).
Finally, the parallel circulation management ID 1101 of the parallel circulation management table 1100 is stored in the parallel circulation management ID 908 of the node that specifies the parallel circulation of the matter management table 900, and the process returns to the confirmation of the presence or absence of the parallel circulation designated node (step 109). .

If there is no node that specifies a parallel circulation person,
The workflow server 201 updates the presence flag 906 of the current node from “1” to “0” and changes the presence flag 906 of the next node from “0” to “1” (step 1
13) and returns to the process selection (step 102).

If the pressed button is the send button 306, the workflow server 201 indicates that the matter ID 312 of the matter selected by the operator and the matter ID 901 are equal to each other, the matter management table 900 and the process I of the matter management table 900.
The process management table 600 having the same process ID 601 as D903 is referred to. Process management table 600
Of the current node, the parallel circulation flag 600 is referred to (step 114), and if the value is “1”, that is, if the node performs parallel circulation, the parallel circulation management ID 908 of the current node of the matter management table 900 is referred to, The corresponding parallel circulation management table 1100 is taken out. Workflow server 2
01 updates the operator's end flag 1105 of the parallel circulation management table 1100 from "0" to "1" (step 115).

The parallel circulation flag 606 of the current node in the process management table 600 is "0", that is, the node that does not perform parallel circulation, or the parallel circulation flag 606 of the current node is "0", that is, parallel circulation is performed. If it is a node and the representative flag 1106 of the operator of the parallel circulation management table 1100 is "1", that is, if it is the representative circulation (step 116), the workflow server 201 determines that the process ID 412 and the process ID of the matter submission screen example 400.
By referring to the reader-designated node 607 of the current node in the process management table 600 having the same 601 is checked whether there is a node that designates a parallel reader, that is, whether the value is not NULL. If it is not NULL, further reference is made to the parallel circulation management ID 908 of the matter management table 900 of the node designated by the circulation designated node 607, and there is a node for which no parallel circulation has been set, that is, whether the value is NULL. To confirm. (Step 117).

If the operator designates a parallel circulation user and there is an unset node, the workflow client 202 displays the parallel circulation registration screen example 500 (step 118). The operator is a circulation list 530
Select the circulation person who circulates the case in parallel from the
One or more documents to be circulated from 0 are selected, the reader category 550 is selected, and the registration button 570 is pressed. The registered readers are displayed in the registered reader list 560. When a reader who registers the reader category 550 as a representative reader is registered, only the general reader can select the reader category 550. To cancel the registration, select the reader whose registration is to be canceled from the registered reader list 560 and press the cancel button 580. The operation is repeated, and when all the registration of the reader is completed, the OK button 590 is pressed (step 119).

When the OK button 590 is pressed, the workflow server 201 creates the parallel circulation management table 1100, newly assigns an identification number, and the parallel circulation management ID 11
01, and the node ID 905 and matter ID 901 of the node that specifies the parallel circulation of the matter management table 900 are stored in the node ID 1102 and matter ID 1103 of the parallel circulation management table 1100, respectively. Further, referring to the registered circulation person 561 of the parallel circulation person registration screen example 500, the user ID 532 of the circulation person is set in the parallel circulation management table 110.
Stored in the user ID 1104 of 0 and referring to the sent document 562 of the parallel circulation person registration screen example 500, the document ID 542
Is stored in the circulation document 1107 of the parallel circulation management table 1100. Further, "0" is stored in all the nodes of the end flag 1105, the section 563 of the parallel circulation registration screen example 500 is referred to, and if the division 563 is "representative", the representative flag 1106 of the parallel circulation management table 1100. Value to
1 ”, and if the classification 563 is“ general ”, the representative flag 1
The value "0" is stored in 106 (step 120). Finally, the parallel circulation management ID 1101 of the parallel circulation management table 1100 is stored in the parallel circulation management ID 908 of the node that specifies the parallel circulation of the matter management table 900, and the process returns to the confirmation of the presence or absence of the parallel circulation designated node (step 117). .

When there is no node that specifies a parallel circulation person, the value of the parallel circulation flag 606 is "0", or
If the value of the parallel circulation flag 606 is "1" and the end flags of all users of the parallel circulation management table are "1" (step 121), the workflow server 201 determines that the existence flag 906 of the matter management table 900 of the current node. To
Update from 1 ”to“ 0 ”, and the presence flag 90 of the next node
6 is changed from "0" to "1" (step 122).

Finally, the workflow server 201 updates the item list display (step 123) and returns to the process selection (step 102).

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to determine the number of people who circulate in parallel and the number of circulators during operation. As a result, when a workflow system is used to implement work in which the number of people who circulate in parallel differs for each case,
It is possible to simply create a single flow without creating multiple flow patterns. 1
By defining with one flow, it becomes possible to facilitate the operation and management.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a processing procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a server, a client, and a database of the workflow system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a case processing screen displayed by a client when an operator processes a case.

FIG. 4 is an example of a case input screen displayed by a client when an operator inputs a case into a process.

FIG. 5 is an example of a parallel circulation person registration screen displayed by the client when the operator specifies a circulation person who performs parallel circulation.

FIG. 6 is a process management table that manages process information for each process.

FIG. 7 is a group management table for managing group information.

FIG. 8 is a user management table for managing user information.

FIG. 9 is a matter management table that manages matter information for each matter.

FIG. 10 is a document management table that manages information of documents registered for each case.

FIG. 11 is a parallel circulation management table that manages information on nodes in parallel circulation for each node to be circulated in parallel.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 ... Workflow server, 202 ... Workflow client, 600 ... Process management table, 700
... Group management table, 800 ... User management table, 900 ... Matter management table, 1000 ... Document management table, 1100 ... Parallel circulation management table.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Yoshihide Omura, 2nd Kagahara, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Kanagawa business system development center (72) Inventor Yoshio Nagai Kagahara, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Business System Development Center, 2-chome, Ltd. (72) Masako Ogoshi Inventor Masako Ogoshi 2-chome, Kagahara 2-chome, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Within Hitachi, Ltd. Business System Development Center

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A workflow system document parallel circulation method capable of freely designating the number of persons who are to be parallel circulated at a specific point in time in a system in which the flow of business and documents is defined in advance and processing proceeds accordingly. 2. The workflow system document parallel circulation method according to claim 1, wherein a document to be circulated for each circulator can be set during operation.