JPH11196125A - Device and method for automatic operation reporting and storage medium stored with program regarding the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically send a specific report to a person who has deviated from a route of workflow operation by sending a specific report to a specific addressee when a detected even is specific. SOLUTION: After operation of inputting necessary data to a downloaded electronic document, a transmission button 504 is turned on and the script defined for the transmission button is executed. Then, the electronic document is transmitted to the next client through ' case shift' script 505. Then, ' case information' script 506 is analyzed to prepare information acquisition. Here, when information needs to be acquired from a server, the necessary information is acquired from a server managing mechanism and necessary information is acquired from the electronic document of a client. For example, its address is acquired and on the basis of it, an electronic mail defined in ' mail transmission' script 507 is sent to outside the workflow route to perform automatic reporting, and the process is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a business automatic notification apparatus and method capable of automatically notifying a predetermined destination from a workflow-type business in which electronic processing is performed through a standardized route, and a method thereof. And a storage medium storing the program according to the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a workflow processing function for electronically processing digitized form data and the like along a standardized route has been known. The workflow process is a process in which the electronic document flows from person to person (from terminal to terminal) to perform work. For example, if an employee of a company travels for work and settles the travel expenses, the employee first prepares and stamps the travel expense slip, sends it to the section manager of the section to which he / she belongs, and gets the seal. To get the seal, and so on. In the past, such processing was performed by turning paper documents, but according to the workflow processing function,
An employee who has traveled on a business trip creates and stamps an electronic travel expense slip on his own terminal, sends it to the section manager by e-mail, etc., and receives it on his own terminal, stamps it and sends it to the accounting section. While the electronic document is transferred along a predetermined route such as sending,..., The same processing as that performed on the conventional paper can be realized.

[0003]

By the way, in the workflow processing function, electronic data such as an electronic form flows along a predetermined route to execute a task, but a person who is out of the route of the task is executed. Sometimes you want to be notified. For example, if you want to report to your superior that you submitted an application in a workflow operation,
Alternatively, when a workflow job is processed on behalf of the user, the fact that the process has been performed on behalf of the authorized processor is reported. Conventionally, when notifying a person who is outside the normal workflow business route, after performing the workflow business process, manually starting the mail editor to create and send a mail for notification Had to be done.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional form, the present invention provides a method of notifying a person who has deviated from a workflow-type job in which electronic processing proceeds along a standardized route from the workflow-type job. It is an object of the present invention to provide a business automatic notification device and method capable of automatically performing the above, and a storage medium storing a program according to the method.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an automatic task notification apparatus applied to a system for performing a workflow-type task while transferring an electronic document through a standardized route. And a means for detecting an event occurring during the work of the workflow form, and a means for transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow business system comprising a plurality of clients and a workflow server, wherein the workflow business system performs a workflow-type business while transferring an electronic document between clients through a standardized route. The workflow server comprises: means for registering an electronic document to be used for the workflow operation; and means for managing a workflow operation for transferring the electronic document between the plurality of clients by a predetermined route. Means for connecting to a server, downloading an electronic document, performing predetermined workflow processing, and uploading the electronic document to the workflow server again; means for detecting an event occurring during the workflow processing; Was a predetermined address Characterized by comprising a means for transmitting e-mail of a predetermined content to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic job notification method applied to a system for performing a workflow-type job while transferring an electronic document through a standardized route,
A step of detecting an event occurring during the work in the workflow form; and transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program related to an automatic job notification method executed in a system for performing a workflow-type job while transferring an electronic document through a standardized route. The program is
A step of detecting an event occurring during the work in the workflow form; and transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a workflow business processing system to which a business automatic notification device and method according to the present invention are applied. The workflow business execution clients 101, 102, 103, the automatic notification destination client 104, and the workflow & mail management server 105 are connected to the network. The workflow & mail management server 105 is a server including a server that manages workflow operations and a server that manages mail. Therefore, when referring to the function of workflow management, it is called the workflow server 105, and refers to the function of mail management. At this time, the mail server 105 is called.

The workflow server 105 manages workflow operations. The workflow server 105 is provided with an electronic shelf in which various electronic forms (workflows) are stored. For example, client 101
Downloads an electronic form to be used from the electronic shelf, inputs predetermined information, and sends it. "Send next"
That is, specifically, uploading to the workflow server 105 is performed. The workflow server 105 manages that the uploaded electronic form is to be processed next by the client 102. The client 102 knows that there is an unprocessed electronic form by some method (for example, displaying a message indicating that there is an unprocessed case), and the client 1
After the electronic form created in step 01 is downloaded and subjected to predetermined processing, it is sent next (uploaded to the workflow server 105). Similarly, the client 103
Then, the user knows that there is an unprocessed electronic form by some method, downloads the electronic form sent from the client 102, performs a predetermined process, and then sends the electronic form. As described above, the business forms proceed as the electronic forms flow as indicated by the solid arrows.

The mail server 105 is a server that manages the transfer of mail between clients connected to the network. The mail transmitted from any client with the destination address specified is sent to the mail server 105.
Stored in the mailbox. Each client takes out the mail from the mailbox of its own address of the mail server 105 and receives the mail addressed to itself.

Although the above-described workflow operation and mail processing are not generally related to each other, the system according to the present embodiment allows a predetermined client located outside the flow of the workflow operation to be transmitted from the workflow operation. A function of automatically transmitting a predetermined mail. For example, in the system of FIG.
Is a client located at a position deviating from the workflow operation flow indicated by the solid arrow. Client 101
When the workflow operation from the client 101 to the client 103 is performed, when the processing of the client 101 ends, the client 104 is automatically notified of the completion. This automatic notification function is realized by executing a script (detailed in FIGS. 5 and 6) defined in the electronic form.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed internal configuration of the client and server in FIG. The client machine 201 corresponds to the clients 101 to 104 in FIG. 1, and the server machine 205 is the workflow & mail management server 1 in FIG.
05. In particular, the workflow server machine 20
6 corresponds to the workflow server of the workflow & mail management server 105 in FIG.
Reference numeral 07 corresponds to the mail server in the workflow & mail management server 105 in FIG.

The client machine 201 includes an electronic form control unit 202, and the electronic form control unit 202 includes a workflow input unit 203 and a mail input unit 204. Electronic form control unit 202
Controls the entire electronic form processing in the workflow operation. The workflow input unit 203 performs a process of creating and registering an electronic form for use in a workflow operation (described later with reference to FIG. 3). The workflow input unit 203 downloads an electronic form from the workflow server machine 206, performs various data input operations of the user on the electronic form, and uploads the data to the workflow server machine 206. A process of automatically sending a mail to a predetermined client and automatically notifying the client is performed (described later with reference to FIG. 4). The mail input unit 204 performs processing for creating an e-mail to be transmitted from the client machine 201,
It performs processing such as downloading received mail from the mailbox of the mail server machine and displaying it.

The workflow server machine 206 includes a workflow receiving unit 208, a storage device 209 for storing received data and the like, and a workflow transmitting unit 210. The workflow receiving unit 208 performs processing of receiving an electronic form uploaded from the client machine 201 and storing the electronic form in the storage device 209. Storage device 2
An electronic shelf 09 stores electronic forms received by the workflow receiving unit 208 and stores data of electronic forms used in various tasks. The workflow transmitting unit 210 reads a designated electronic form from the shelf of the storage device 209 in response to a request from each client machine 201 and transmits the electronic form to the client machine 201, or in response to a download request from each client machine 201. For example, processing for transmitting an electronic form in the course of business to the client machine is performed.

The mail server machine 207 includes a mail receiving unit 211, a storage device 212 for storing received data and the like,
And a mail transmission unit 213. The mail receiving unit 211 performs processing of receiving an electronic mail transmitted from each client machine 201 and storing the received electronic mail in the storage device 212. The storage device 212 is provided with a mailbox for each user, and the mail received by the mail receiving unit 211 is stored in a predetermined mailbox according to the destination. In response to a request from each client machine 201, the mail transmission unit 213 performs processing such as extracting mail from a mailbox in the storage device 212 and returning it to the client.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which an electronic form for use in a workflow operation is created and a workflow server 105 (FIG. 2) is created.
FIG. 206 is a flowchart showing a flow until the electronic shelf is registered in 206). This process is executed by an administrator of a workflow operation or the like from an appropriate client machine in advance. First, in step 301, an electronic form for use in a workflow operation is created. When creating an electronic form, a script definition file that describes a script indicating a processing procedure for performing automatic mail notification is created and included in the electronic form file. Next, in step 302,
The created electronic form file is transferred to the workflow server 105.
And the processing is terminated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen of an electronic form file created in the procedure of FIG. 3 and registered on an electronic shelf of the workflow server 105 (displayed to a client when a workflow process is performed using the electronic form file). Screen example)
Here is a definition example of a script that executes automatic notification.
501 is an example of a screen displayed on the client machine. On the electronic form 501, the subject of the electronic form is displayed at the top, and an item 502, a seal area 503, a button 504, and the like are arranged. The user writes data in each item as necessary, seals the data in the seal area, and turns on the button (clicks with a mouse). The send button is a button for instructing that the processing of the electronic form is completed and sent to the next client. When this button is turned on, the electronic form is uploaded to the workflow server 105 and enters a state of waiting for transfer to the next client. . The hold button is a button for instructing to suspend processing during input to this electronic form. When this button is turned on, this electronic form is uploaded to the workflow server 105, but data is still being input. So
Instead of entering a state of waiting for transfer to the next client, the apparatus enters a state of waiting until data is continuously input from the same user. The return button is a button for instructing the previous client to return this electronic form.

In such an electronic form 501, a script to be executed in response to an event that has occurred can be defined. An event is an event that occurs in the processing of the electronic form 501, for example, a button is turned on, a seal is pressed, or data is input to a predetermined item. In the example of FIG.
The example of the definition of the script executed when is turned on is shown. The “＠Matter transition” 505 is a command for instructing that the processing of this electronic form be completed and sent to the next client. Reference numeral 506 denotes a command for passing the user ID of the user who is processing the electronic form and instructing the variable “destination” to return the superior address of the user.
507 automatically sends an e-mail including the subject of the electronic form and the text of “XXX processed” to the superior address of the user acquired in the variable “destination” by the instruction 506. This is an instruction to do so. When the send button 504 is turned on by the above scripts 505 to 507, this electronic form is sent to the next client, and an e-mail for automatically reporting to the superior of this user that this workflow processing has been performed is automatically sent. Is sent.

FIG. 6 shows the data format of an electronic form file created according to the procedure of FIG. 3 and registered on the electronic shelf of the workflow server 105. The electronic form file 601 includes electronic form management information 602, screen format 603, item information 604, and a script 605 for each event. The electronic form management information 602 is various types of management information regarding the electronic form. The screen format 603 is data that defines the format of a screen displayed by each client as shown in FIG. Item information 604 is
It is various information (for example, information such as a number or a number of characters in this item) related to each item (for example, 502 in FIG. 5) displayed on the screen. The script 605 for each event stores a script to be executed according to the event that has occurred. For example, a script that is executed when the transmission button 504 described in FIG. 5 is turned on is stored in the area of the script 605 for each event.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for executing an electronic form processing at the client machine and for automatically notifying. First, in step 401,
An electronic form registered in the workflow server 105 is downloaded on the client machine. Step 4
At 02, the electronic form is read and executed by the client. Thereby, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. In step 403, the user
An operation such as inputting necessary data or stamping the electronic form is performed. In step 404, after confirming the content entered by the user, when a trigger such as turning on the send button is applied, it is confirmed whether or not there is a script corresponding to the event, and a script to be executed in response to the event is determined. If so, execute the script. Here, the transmission button 504 in the electronic form shown in FIG.
Is turned on, and the script defined in the send button 504 is executed as described below.

In step 405, the electronic form is transmitted to the next workflow route, that is, the next client, by the “@item transition” script 505. In step 406, the "@item information" script 506 is analyzed to prepare for information acquisition. In step 407, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to acquire information from the server. If so, the process proceeds to step 408; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 409.
In step 408, necessary information is obtained from the server management information, and the process proceeds to step 409. In step 409,
Obtain necessary information from client's electronic form. In the example of the script in FIG. 5, since it is necessary to obtain the superior address of the user, the address is acquired from the server in step 408. After step 409, in step 410, the "@mail transmission" script 507 transmits an e-mail defined by the script to a place other than the workflow route based on the acquired information, executes an automatic notification, and ends the processing.

Here, an example has been described in which an automatic notification e-mail is transmitted when the transmission button is turned on.
An email may be transmitted at other events. For example, automatic notification may be performed at some processing timing, such as when a seal is pressed or when data is input to a predetermined item. Also, if you want to automatically notify other than the workflow route not only when the process proceeds normally but also when the process is abnormal (for example, when returning the electronic form to the previous client), define such a script. It is good.

In the above embodiment, a script is executed in response to an event generated in a workflow process on the client side, thereby automatically sending an e-mail. However, a method other than the script is used. You may make it transmit a mail. Further, an automatic notification mail may be transmitted on the server side instead of the client side. In this case, for example, when a completed electronic form is uploaded from a certain client, the server detects this and the client performs the workflow processing for a predetermined person such as the superior of the client. What is necessary is just to automatically send an e-mail reporting that the operation has been performed.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
From a work in the form of a workflow in which electronic processing proceeds along a standardized route, a predetermined notification can be automatically given to a person who has deviated from the route of the workflow work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a workflow business processing system to which a business automatic notification device and method according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a detailed internal configuration diagram of a client and a server.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow from creation of an electronic form for use in a workflow operation to registration in an electronic shelf of a workflow server.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for executing an electronic form process on a client machine and performing automatic notification.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen example of an electronic form file and a definition example of a script for executing automatic notification.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data format of an electronic form file.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 102, 103: Workflow business execution client, 104: Automatic notification destination client, 105: Workflow & mail management server, 201: Client machine, 202: Electronic form control unit, 203: Workflow input unit, 204: Mail input unit 205: server machine, 206: workflow server machine, 20
7: mail server machine, 208: workflow receiving unit, 209: storage device, 210: workflow transmitting unit
211: mail receiving unit, 212: storage device, 213: mail transmitting unit 213.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jin Kobayashi 6-81 Onoe-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture In-house Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masao Nagahata 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Software Development Division

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A business automatic notification device applied to a system for performing a workflow-type business while transferring an electronic document along a standardized route, comprising: means for detecting an event occurring in the workflow-type business. Means for transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. 2. A workflow business system comprising a plurality of clients and a workflow server, wherein the workflow server performs a workflow-type business while transferring an electronic document between the clients according to a standardized route. Means for registering an electronic document to be used, and means for managing a workflow task that proceeds while transferring the electronic document between the plurality of clients by a predetermined route, wherein the client is connected to the workflow server, Means for downloading an electronic document, performing predetermined workflow processing and uploading the electronic document to the workflow server again, means for detecting an event occurring during the workflow processing, and determining whether the detected event is a predetermined event. Of the specified address Means for transmitting an e-mail. 3. A business automatic notification method applied to a system for advancing a work in a workflow form while transferring an electronic document along a standardized route, comprising: a step of detecting an event occurring in the work in the workflow form. And transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. 4. A storage medium storing a program related to an automatic job notification method to be executed by a system for performing a job in a workflow form while transferring an electronic document through a standardized route, wherein the program is configured to execute the workflow form. Detecting an event that occurs during the operation of the job, and transmitting a predetermined report to a predetermined destination when the detected event is a predetermined event. A storage medium storing a program according to the method.