JP2000259702A - Workflow control method and system, and storage medium storing workflow control program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A workflow control method and system and a workflow control that can reduce communication traffic, further simplify process definition defined in each server, and facilitate transition control between servers. A storage medium storing a program is provided. According to the present invention, for each task defined in a process definition, a server that executes the task retains the contents of the task, the connection destination of the task and the connection relationship to the next line, and executes the task. Process common information including an identifier for specifying a process and an identifier for specifying a process definition is routed among the distributed servers to control the allocation of work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a workflow control method and system, and a storage medium storing a workflow control program. More particularly, the present invention relates to a workflow control method and system and a storage medium storing workflow control programs. In a workflow system composed of a server and a plurality of clients, work contents are allocated to workers according to a process definition in which the contents of work constituting a business process and the assignment destination of the work are defined in advance in a connection relationship between the work. The present invention relates to a workflow control method and system for executing a business process, and a storage medium storing a workflow control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an organization such as a company, a business process is generally not completed in one department, but is generally completed by workers in a plurality of departments working together. For example, in the case of a business process of purchasing goods,
The processing flow is as follows: "Entry of the slip of the person in charge → settlement by the superior → budget management in the accounting department → contract in the contract department”. In order to support such a work mode, a series of definitions (hereinafter, referred to as a process definition) of the contents of the work constituting the business process, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relationship between the work for each type of the business process are described. In accordance with the process definition, a workflow system having a function of executing a business process by allocating work to a worker or transferring work between workers is used.

[0003] In a company or the like that provides services to a wide area such as information communication, departments for processing business processes are distributed and arranged in a wide range of locations. Therefore, it is necessary to allocate work to each worker and deliver work between workers between locations distributed over a wide area. In such a case, there are the following two methods for realizing using a conventional workflow system.

(A) A centralized server system in which one server manages all departments distributed over a wide area and controls business processes: (B) A server is provided for each location to which each department belongs, and each server holds the server. Server coordination method for controlling the business process by defining the flow between the process definitions in the process definition: FIG. 8 shows a system configuration according to the conventional centralized server method (A).

In a conventional workflow system, a LAN
Server (hereinafter, referred to as server) 10 for managing all business processes in a network such as a network or a WAN.
0, a plurality of workflow clients (hereinafter, referred to as clients) 300, 301 provided for each worker and providing an interface between the server 100 and the worker.
302, 303, 304, and 305;
0 and each client are connected and configured by networks 200 and 201.

The server 100 uses a client interface management unit 110 for providing assigned work to a client, a workflow control unit 120 for controlling a workflow, a process definition management unit 130 for managing process definition data, and a worker. Information management unit 140 that holds the identifier of the client
And a log management unit 150 for managing a log of the execution result of the work.

[0007] The process definition device 500
A server interface management unit 510 that provides an interface between the server and the process definition setting unit 520 that provides a process definition person with a means for setting a process definition, and a definition of each operation of the process definition to the process definition management unit 130 of the server 100. It comprises a process definition transmission unit 530 for transmission.

The details of the process definition 400 in FIG. 1 are defined as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows an outline of the business process execution processing. The process execution process is described below with reference to FIG.
8 and 9 will be described. First, worker A
Requests the workflow control unit 120 to start the process of the process definition 400 via the client interface management unit 110 on the client 300 (step 101).

[0009] The workflow control unit 120 receives an operation 410 of the process definition 400 from the process definition management unit 130.
(Step 102). The workflow control unit 120 determines the assignment destination of the work to the worker A, which is the process initiator, according to the rule of the assignment destination 411 of the work 410 in the process definition 400 (step 10).
3).

The workflow control unit 120 obtains the identifier of the client 300 to which the worker A has logged in from the worker information management unit 140 (step 10).
4). The workflow control unit 120 notifies the client 300 via the client interface management unit 110 that the work has been allocated (step 10).
5).

When the worker A receives the notification and instructs the execution of the work, the client 300 requests the contents of the work from the workflow control unit 120 via the client interface management unit 110 (step 106). The workflow control unit 120 transmits the work 41 of the process definition 400 via the client interface management unit 110.
The content 412 specified by 0 is notified to the client 300 (step 107).

The worker A performs the work in accordance with the above information, and when completed, instructs the client 300 to complete the work (step 108). The client 300 that has received the work completion instruction is in the client interface management unit 1
The log management unit 150 is notified of the completion of the work via the server 10 (step 109).

The log management unit 150 holds the above-mentioned work completion as a log, and notifies the workflow control unit 120 of the work completion (step 110). Upon receiving the work completion, the workflow control unit 120 executes the work 4 of the process definition 400.
In accordance with the rules of the ten connection relations 413, it is determined whether there is a work to be executed next (step 111).

The workflow control unit 120 acquires information on the work 420 of the process definition 400 from the process definition management unit 130 (Step 102). The workflow control unit 120 sets the work assignment destination to the worker B according to the rule of the assignment destination 421 of the work 420 in the process definition 400.
(Step 103).

The workflow control unit 120 acquires the identifier of the client 302 to which the worker B has logged in from the worker information management unit 140 (step 104).
The workflow control unit 120 notifies the client 302 via the client interface management unit 110 and the network 200 that the work has been allocated (step 105).

In the same way, the processing from step 102 to step 111 is repeated, and the process definition 400
Allocate the remaining work specified in. When all the operations specified in the process definition 400 are completed, the process is terminated (step 112). Next, the flow of the process definition transmission process is shown in FIG. The process definition process in the centralized server system of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

The process definition setter defines the process definition 400 on the process definition device 500 using the process definition setting section 520 (step 201). The process definition transmission unit 530 transmits the identifier and the work of the process definition 400 to the process management unit 130 of the server 100 via the server interface management unit 510 (Step 202).

The process definition management unit 130 stores the process definition identifier and the operation 410 in a database or the like (step 203). The process definition transmission unit 530 determines whether there is the next work according to the connection relation 413 of the work 410 of the process definition 400 (step 204). Hereinafter, similarly, the above-described processes from step 202 to step 204 are repeated, and when the remaining work defined by the process definition 400 is distributed to each server, the process ends (step 205).

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a system based on the server cooperation method (B) described above. The server interface management units 160 and 161, which provide the server of FIG. 8 with an interface for transmitting and receiving control information between the servers,
Servers 100, 101, 102 and clients 300, 301, 302, 303, 30 to which 162 has been added.
4 and 305. The servers 100, 101, and 102 and each client are connected and configured by networks 200 and 201.

The process definition in FIG.
00 is defined as a process definition 400, the server 101 is defined as a process definition 401, and the server 102 is defined as a process definition 402. Details of the process definition are shown in FIG. In order to define the flow between the process definitions, information indicating transition to the process definition 401 of the server 101 is stored in the allocation destination 421 of the work 420 of the process definition 400.
Is defined as a connection relationship 423, and information indicating transition to the process definition 402 of the server 102 is assigned to the assignment destination 441 of the work 440 of the process definition 401.
43.

FIG. 14 shows an outline of the business process execution processing. Hereinafter, the process execution process will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Worker A is the client 30
Then, the process control unit 120 requests the workflow control unit 120 to start the process of the process definition 400 via the client interface management unit 110 (step 301).

The workflow control unit 120 sends the process 410 of the process definition 400 from the process definition management unit 130.
(Step 302). The workflow control unit 120 determines whether the request is to another server according to the rule of the allocation destination 411 of the work 410 in the process definition 400 (step 303). Workflow control unit 120
Is the allocation destination 41 of the work 410 of the process definition 400
In accordance with the provisions of (1), the work is allocated to the worker A who is the process initiator (step 305).

The workflow control unit 120 acquires the identifier of the client 300 to which the worker A has logged in from the worker information management unit 140 (step 306).
The workflow control unit 120 notifies the client 300 via the client interface management unit 110 that the work has been allocated (step 307).

When the worker A receives the notification and instructs the execution of the work, the client 300 requests the contents of the work to the workflow control unit 120 via the client interface management unit 110 (step 308). The workflow control unit 120 notifies the client 300 of the contents 412 defined by the work of the process definition 400 via the client interface management unit 110 (Step 309).

The worker A performs the work in accordance with the information described above, and when completed, instructs the client 300 to complete the work (step 310). The client 300 that has received the work completion instruction is in the client interface management unit 1
The work completion is notified to the log management unit 150 via the server 10 (step 311).

The log management unit 150 holds the work completion as a log, and notifies the workflow control unit 120 of the work completion (step 312). The workflow control unit 120, which has been notified of the work completion, executes the work 4 of the process definition 400.
In accordance with the rules of the ten connection relations 413, it is determined whether there is a work to be executed next (step 313).

The workflow control unit 120 sends the process 420 of the process definition 400 from the process definition management unit 130.
(Step 302). The workflow control unit 120 determines whether the request is to another server according to the rule of the allocation destination 421 of the work 420 in the process definition 400 (step 303). The workflow control unit 120 of the server 100 includes the server-to-server interface management unit 16
0, the workflow control unit 1 of the server 101 via the network 200 and the server interface management unit 161
21, connection 4 of work 420 of process definition 400
The process definition 401 specified in 23 is designated, and a process start is requested (step 304).

The workflow control unit 121 of the server 101
Is the allocation destination 43 of the operation 430 of the process definition 401.
It is determined whether the request is for another server in accordance with the provisions of step 1 (step 303). The workflow control unit 121 determines the work assignment destination to the worker B according to the rule of the assignment destination 431 of the work 430 in the process definition 401 (step 305).

The workflow control unit 121 acquires the identifier of the client 302 to which the worker B has logged in from the worker information management unit 141 (step 306).
The workflow control unit 121 notifies the client 302 via the client interface management unit 111 that the work has been allocated (step 307).

When the worker B receives the notification and instructs the execution of the work, the client 302 requests the contents of the work to the workflow control unit 121 via the client interface management unit 111 (step 308). The workflow control unit 121 notifies the client 302 of the contents 432 defined by the work of the process definition 401 via the client interface management unit 111 (Step 309).

The worker B performs work according to the work contents.
Upon completion, the work completion is instructed to the client 302 (step 310). The client 302 that has received the work completion instruction,
1 to notify the log management unit 151 of the completion of the work (step 311).

The log management unit 151 holds the work completion as a log and notifies the workflow control unit 121 of the work completion (step 312). In response to the completion of the work, the workflow control unit 121 determines whether there is a work to be executed next in accordance with the definition of the connection relation 433 of the work 430 in the process definition 401 (step 313).

The workflow control unit 121 sends the work 440 of the process definition 401 from the process definition management unit 131.
(Step 302). The workflow control unit 121 determines whether it is a request to another server according to the definition of the allocation destination 441 of the work 440 of the process definition 401 (step 303). Workflow control unit 121
Is the server-to-server interface 161, the network 20
1. The process definition 402 specified by the work connection of the process definition 401 is specified to the workflow control unit 122 via the server-to-server interface management unit 162,
Request the start of the process (step 304).

In the same manner, the processing from the above-mentioned steps 302 to 313 is repeated, and the remaining work specified by the process definition is allocated. When all the operations specified in the process definition are completed, the process ends (step 314). It should be noted that the process definition transmission processing in the above-described method has the flow shown in FIG. 11, as in the above-described centralized method. The process definition 400 is set using the process definition device 501, the process definition 401 is set using the process definition device 502, and the process definition 402 is set using the process definition device 503. Send.

[0035]

However, the above conventional method has the following problems. In the case of the centralized method (A), since all processing is performed centrally on the server, the processing load on the server and the communication traffic from the client to the server are reduced due to an increase in the number of workers to manage and an increase in business processes to be processed. Increase. for that reason,
Lack of system scalability.

In the case of the server cooperation method (B), in the case of a business process in which work flows from one department to another department and further to a department different from the above-described department, one business process is defined. In order to do so, it is necessary to define the information of the server to which the transition is made and the process definition in the process definition individually defined in each server over which the processing is performed, and to maintain the relationship between the process definitions. Therefore, in the case of a business process in which work is alternately performed between a plurality of servers or a business process in which work transitions from one server to the next server, and further to the next server different from the above-mentioned server, it is specified in the process definition of each server. Information of the server and process definition of the transition destination
Definition is not easy, and transition control between servers becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to reduce communication traffic, to simplify the process definition defined in each server, and to facilitate transition control between servers. It is an object to provide a workflow control method and system, and a storage medium storing a workflow control program.

[0038]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. The present invention (Claim 1) provides a workflow system comprising a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients which are arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area and are connected via a network, and which constitute a business process. In accordance with a process definition that prescribes the connection relationship between the work and the work and the work, a work control is performed by allocating the work to the worker. The server executing the work holds the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work and the connection relationship to the next line (step 1), and assigns an identifier for identifying the executed business process and an identifier for identifying the process definition. By routing process common information including distributed information among distributed servers and controlling the allocation of work ( Step 2), the allocation of work to workers (Step 3).

According to the present invention (claim 2), the worker to which the work is to be allocated is determined based on the role of the worker defined in the process definition work allocation destination. The present invention (claim 3)
Holds process common information as an attribute of an object and routes the object between distributed servers. According to the present invention (claim 4), for each work defined in the process definition, the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work are distributed in advance to the server that executes the work.

According to the present invention (claim 5), in each server, a work log is managed for each work, an identifier capable of uniquely specifying the work log is notified to one server, and the notified work log identifier is identified. Centralized management for each business process. According to the present invention (claim 6), each server holds an end time limit for each work defined in the process definition, and when the work is not completed within the time limit, the processing at the time over specified in the process definition is performed. Execute.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 7) comprises a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients which are arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area and are connected via a network, and perform work processes by allocating work to workers. A process definition 10 that pre-defines the contents of the work constituting the business process, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relationship between the work, and a work definition defined by the process definition 10. A work content holding unit 20 for storing the contents of the work, the connection destination of the work, and a connection relationship to the next line by the server executing the work, and an identifier and a process definition for specifying the executed business process Work allocation control means 30 for routing process common information including identifiers among distributed servers and controlling work allocation Having.

According to the present invention (claim 8), the process definition 10
And a worker deciding means for deciding a worker to which the work is to be assigned based on the role of the worker specified in the work assignment destination. The present invention (claim 9) has an attribute holding unit for holding process common information as an attribute of an object, and a routing unit for routing the object between distributed servers.

The present invention (claim 10) provides a process definition 1
There is provided a work distribution unit for pre-distributing, for each work specified by 0, the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work to the server executing the work. According to the present invention (claim 11), in each server, a work log management unit that manages a work log for each work, a work log notification unit that notifies one server of an identifier that can uniquely identify the work log, A process log management unit that centrally manages the identifier of the work log notified by the notification unit for each business process.

According to the present invention (claim 12), the process definition 1
An end time limit holding unit that holds the end time limit for each operation specified by 0 in each server, and a time-out specified in the process definition when the work is not completed within the time limit held by the end time limit holding unit. And time-over processing means for executing time processing.

The present invention (claim 13) comprises a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients which are arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area and are connected via a network, and allocate work to workers. A storage medium storing a workflow control program mounted on a server that executes a business process according to the present invention, the process definition preliminarily defining the contents of the work constituting the business process, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relationship between the works For each work specified in the above, a work content storage process for storing the contents of the work and the connection destination of the work and the connection relationship to the next line in the storage means, an identifier for identifying the executed business process, and a process definition A work assignment that controls the assignment of work by routing process common information including an identifier to be specified among distributed servers. And a swing control process.

The present invention (claim 14) has a worker determination process for determining a worker to which a work is to be allocated based on the role of the worker defined in the process definition work allocation destination. The present invention (claim 15) has an attribute holding process for holding the process common information in the storage means as an attribute of the object, and a routing process for routing the object between distributed servers.

According to the present invention (claim 16), for each work specified in the process definition, the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work are distributed in advance to the server executing the work. To have a work distribution process. According to the present invention (claim 17), a work log management process that manages a work log for each work, and an identifier that can uniquely identify the work log include one identifier.
And a process log management process for centrally managing the identifier of the work log notified by the work log notification process for each business process.

According to the present invention (claim 18), a time-over process for executing a process at a time-over specified by a process definition when a task is not completed within an end time limit for each task specified by a process definition. Having a process. As described above, according to the present invention, work allocation is performed in units of work in a distributed manner in each server, so that the processing load of work allocation does not concentrate on one server as in the conventional server cooperation method. In addition, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reliability due to concentration of processing load of work.

Since the acquisition of the work information from the client is distributed to the client interface management means at each location to which the worker belongs, the processing load for acquiring the work information from the client is concentrated on one server, Traffic is not concentrated on one server, and the number of clients is highly expandable. Furthermore,
Even when defining a business process that spans multiple servers, there is no need to define the transition destination server and the process definition information in the process definition so that the business process can be executed without inconsistency between the servers, making definition easy. It is.

Further, transition control between servers can be performed only by delivery of process common information, and control is easy. Further, since the process log management means holds a unique work identifier and its state for each executed work, it is easy to grasp the execution status of the entire business process.

[0051]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows an example of 11111 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This is shown. The workflow system shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of servers 100, 101, 102, and one location management unit 60.
0, process definition device 500 and multiple clients 3
00, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 are connected via networks 200, 201. Note that the position management unit 600 can also realize the function in any of the server states.

The servers 100, 101, and 102 are provided with client interface management units 110, 111, and 1 of interfaces that provide work to be allocated to clients.
12 and a process start unit that assigns a unique identifier (hereinafter, referred to as a process identifier) to each business process to be executed and generates process common information together with an identifier of the process definition to be executed (hereinafter, referred to as a process definition identifier). 12
0, 121, 122, and work management units 130, 13 for notifying the client that work has been allocated and the contents of work.
1, 132, a server holding process definition managing unit 140, 141, 142 that manages process definition data, and a work log managing unit 1 that holds logs such as results of executed work.
50, 151, 152, routing control units 170, 171, 172 for delivering process common information to the corresponding server according to the process definition connection information, and server-to-server interface management units 160, 161, for providing an interface between the servers. 162, an identifier for identifying the executed work (hereinafter, referred to as a work identifier), and a process log management unit 180, 18, which holds the state of the line as a log.
1, 182, and the worker information management unit 19 for storing the role of the worker and the identifier of the client used for each worker.
0, 191, and 192.

The process definition device 500 is defined by a server interface management unit 510 for providing an interface with a server, a process definition setting unit 520 for providing a process definer with a means for setting a process definition, and the process definition. According to the connection relationship, the definition of each work is stored in the server holding process definition management units 140 and 141 of the server.
And a process definition distribution unit 530 for delivering the process definition to the process definition distribution unit 142.

The position management unit 600 manages the relationship between the organization name and the server that manages the organization. In addition, it is also possible to implement | achieve a function using an existing naming service. The details of the process definition 400 in FIG.
Are defined as follows, and the allocation destinations 411, 421, 431
Stipulates the role of the worker, and the connection relations 413, 42
In 3 and 433, the name of the organization is defined. Then, the server 100 performs the operation 410, and the server 101 performs the operation 420.
, The server 102 holds the operation 430.

The process common information is managed by a process common information object 700 shown in FIG. 5, and has a process definition identifier 710, a process identifier 720, and process log management server information 730 as attributes. The business process execution processing will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a business process execution process according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 along FIG.

The worker A specifies the process definition identifier of the process definition 400 on the client 300 via the client interface management unit 110, and requests the process start unit 120 to start the process (step 40).
1). The process start unit 120 assigns a unique process identifier to the process to be started, and adds the process definition identifier of the process definition 400 to the process definition identifier 710 of the process common information object 700, and the process identifier 72.
0 is set to the process identifier described above, and the process log management server information 730 is set to the identifier for specifying the own server.
0 (step 402).

The work management unit 130 sends the work 41 corresponding to the process definition identifier 710 of the process common information object 700 from the server held process definition management unit 140.
0 and obtain a work identifier (step 4)
03). The work management unit 130 determines the work to be assigned to the worker A, which is the process initiator, according to the rule of the assignment destination 411 of the work 410 (step 404).

The work management unit 130 includes the worker information management unit 1
90, the client 3 to which the worker A is logged in
00 is acquired (step 405). The work management unit 130 includes the client interface management unit 110
Via the client 30 that the work has been allocated
0 is notified (step 406). When the worker A receives the notification and instructs the work execution, the client 300
Request the contents of the work to the work management unit 130 via the client interface management unit 110 (step 40).
7).

The work management unit 130 notifies the client 300 of the contents 412 specified in the work 410 via the client interface management unit 110 (step 408). The work management unit 130 is connected to the process log management unit 180 via the server-to-server interface management unit 160.
Is notified of the work identifier and the start state (step 30).
9).

The worker A performs work according to the above information, and when completed, instructs the client 300 to complete the work (step 410). The client 300 that has received the work completion instruction notifies the work log management unit 150 of the work completion via the client interface management unit 110 (step 411).

Work log management unit 150 that has received the work completion
Holds the completion of the work as a log, and stores it in the process log management unit 180 through the server-to-server interface management unit 160.
Is notified of the work identifier and the end state (step 31).
2). The work log management unit 150 includes the routing control unit 1
The work completion is notified to 70 (step 413).

The routing controller 17 which has received the work completion
0 acquires the connection relation 413 of the work 410 from the server holding process definition management unit 140 (step 41).
4). The routing control unit 170 determines whether there is a task to be executed next based on whether or not the connection relation 413 of the task 410 is defined (step 415). Running control unit 17
0 determines the server to execute the next work as the server 101 according to the connection relation 413 of the work 410 from the position management unit 600 via the networks 200 and 201 (step 416).

The routing control unit 170 communicates via the network 200 and the interface 171 between servers.
The process common information object 700 is delivered to the work management unit 131 of the server 101 (step 417). The work management unit 131 includes a server holding process definition management unit 141
Then, the definition of the work 420 corresponding to the process definition identifier 710 of the process common information object 700 is obtained, and the work identifier is allocated (step 403).

The work management unit 131 includes the worker information management unit 1
From 91, in accordance with the rule of the assignment destination 421 of the work 420, the assignment destination of the work is determined to the worker B having the role of the role b (step 404). The work management unit 131 acquires the identifier of the client 302 with which the worker B is logged in from the worker information management unit 191 (step 4).
05).

The work management unit 131 notifies the client 302 via the client interface management unit 111 that the work has been allocated (step 40).
6). When the worker B receives the notification and instructs the execution of the work, the client 302 sends the contents of the work to the work management unit 13 via the client interface management unit 111.
1 (step 407).

The work management unit 131 notifies the client 302 of the contents 422 specified in the work 420 via the client interface management unit 111 (step 408). The work management unit 131 includes the server-to-server interface management unit 161 and the server-to-server interface management unit 1
The work identifier and the start status are notified to the process log management unit 180 via the server 60 (step 309).

The worker B performs the work according to the above information, and when completed, instructs the client 302 to complete the work (step 410). The client 302, which has received the work completion instruction, enters the client interface management unit 1
Then, the work log management unit 150 is notified of the completion of the work via the server 11 (step 411).

The work log management unit 150 that has received the work completion
Holds the completion of the work as a log, and stores it in the process log management unit 180 through the server-to-server interface management unit 160.
To the work identifier and the end state (step 41).
2). The work log management unit 151 includes the routing control unit 1
The work completion is notified to the server 71 (step 413).

The routing control unit 171, having received the notification of the completion of the work, acquires the connection relation 423 of the work 420 from the server holding process definition management unit 141 (Step 414). The routing control unit 171 determines whether there is a next operation to be performed based on whether or not the connection relationship 423 of the operation 420 is defined (step 415).

The routing control unit 151 performs the operation 420
Then, the location management unit 600 via the network 201 determines the next server to execute the work as the server 102 using the connection relation 423 (step 416). The routing control unit 151 distributes the process common information object 700 to the work management unit 132 of the server 102 via the network 201 and the server interface 172 (Step 417).

Hereinafter, similarly, the above-mentioned processing from step 303 to step 315 is repeated, and the remaining work specified by the process definition is executed. Process definition 4
When all the operations specified by 00 have been completed, the process ends (step 418). Note that process definition 4
The work end time limit is defined in the definition of the work 00, and the server manages the work end time limit based on the definition. If the work is not completed within the time limit, the next work specified in the process definition 400 or another work Schedule management such as performing processing is also possible.

Next, the flow of the process definition distribution process to each server will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process definition distribution process according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 3 along FIG. The process definition setter operates the process definition setting unit 52 on the process definition device 500.
0, the process definition 400 is defined (step 5).
01).

The process definition distribution unit 530 stores the process definition identifier and the operation 410 in the server 100, 101, 1.
02 server holding process definition management units 140, 141,
It is distributed to the server 142 via the server interface management unit 510 (step 502). The server holding process definition management units 140, 141, and 142 manage the process definition identifier and the work 410 in a database or the like (step 503).

The process definition distribution unit 530 uses the connection relation 413 of the process definition work 410 and the location management unit 60 via the network 200 and the network 201.
From 0, the server to distribute is determined to the server 101 (step 504). The process definition distribution unit 530 distributes the identifier of the process definition 400 and the operation 420 to the server holding process definition management unit 141 of the server 101 via the server interface management unit 510 (step 50).
5).

The server holding process definition management section 141
The identifier of the process definition 400 and the operation 420 are managed in a database or the like (step 506). The process definition distribution unit 530 determines whether there is the next work according to the definition of the connection relation 423 of the work 420 of the process definition 400 (step 507). Hereinafter, similarly, in step 5 described above,
The processing from step 04 to step 507 is repeated, and when the remaining work specified in the process definition is distributed to each server, the processing ends (step 508).

Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration of FIG. 3, the components of the server and the process definition device shown in FIG. 3 are constructed as a program, and the server and the computer used as the process definition device are used. The present invention can be easily realized by storing the program in a portable storage medium such as a disk device or a floppy disk or a CD-ROM connected to the storage device and installing the present invention when implementing the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, for each work specified in the process definition, the server executing the work holds the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work. Then, process common information is routed among the distributed servers, and work allocation is controlled.

As a result, the conventional problems can be solved and the following effects can be obtained. 1. Work allocation processing is distributed to each server in units of work, and the processing load for work allocation does not concentrate on one server, so that a reduction in reliability due to the concentration of processing loads can be prevented. 2. The processing load from the client is not concentrated on one server, and the network traffic from the client is not concentrated on one server. Therefore, the scalability of the number of clients is high, and a large-scale workflow system can be constructed.

3. Even when defining a business process that spans multiple servers, there is no need to specify in the process definition the transition destination server and the process definition information that allow the business process to be executed without contradiction between the servers.
Business processes can be easily defined. 4. By simply routing the process common information, the control of the work allocation process can be shifted between servers, and the control is easy.

5. Since the process log management unit holds a unique work identifier and its state for each executed work, it is easy to grasp the execution status of the entire business process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

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

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process definition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of process common information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a business process execution process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process definition distribution process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram (centralized server system) of a conventional workflow system in a plurality of locations.

FIG. 9 is a process definition (centralized server method) according to a conventional method.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a conventional (centralized server) business process execution process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a conventional process definition transmission process.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram (server cooperation method) of a conventional workflow system in a plurality of locations.

FIG. 13 is a process definition (server cooperation method) in a conventional method.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a conventional system (server cooperation system) business process execution process.

[Description of Signs] 10 Process definition 20 Work contents holding means 30 Work allocating means 100, 101, 102 Servers 110, 111, 112 Client interface management sections 120, 121, 122 Process start sections 130, 131, 132 Work management sections 140, 141, 142 Server holding process definition management unit 150, 151, 152 Work log management unit 160, 161, 162 Interface management unit 170, 171, 172 Routing control unit 180, 181, 182 Process log management unit 190, 191, 192 Worker Information management unit 200, 201 Network 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 Client 400 Process definition 410, 420, 430 Work 411, 421, 431 Allocation destination 412, 422 432 Contents 413, 423, 433 Connection relationship 500 Process definition device 510 Server interface management unit 520 Process definition distribution unit 530 Process definition setting unit 600 Location management unit 700 Process common information object 710 Process definition identifier 720 Process identifier 730 Process log management server information

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A workflow system comprising a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area and connected via a network, the contents of work constituting a business process and the contents of the work. According to a workflow control method for executing a business process by allocating work to a worker in accordance with a process definition that prescribes a connection relationship between an allocation destination and the work, the work is defined for each work defined in the process definition. Server that maintains the content of the work, the connection destination of the work and the connection to the next line, and distributes process common information including an identifier for specifying the executed business process and an identifier for specifying the process definition. Routing between the servers to control the allocation of work. Control method. 2. The workflow control method according to claim 1, wherein a worker to which the work is to be allocated is determined based on a role of the worker defined as a work allocation destination of the process definition. 3. The workflow control method according to claim 1, wherein the process common information is held as an attribute of an object, and the object is routed between the distributed servers. 4. The work according to claim 1, wherein, for each work defined in the process definition, the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work are distributed in advance to a server that executes the work. Workflow control method. 5. In each server, a work log is managed for each work, an identifier capable of uniquely specifying the work log is notified to one server, and the notified work log identifier is centralized for each business process. 2. The workflow control method according to claim 1, wherein the workflow control is performed. 6. An end time limit for each work defined in the process definition is held in each server, and when the work is not completed within the time limit, a process at a time over specified in the process definition is executed. Claim 1
The described workflow control method. 7. A workflow which is arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area, is composed of a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients connected via a network, and executes a business process by allocating work to a worker. A control system, comprising: a process definition that preliminarily defines contents of work constituting a business process, an assignment destination of the work, and a connection relationship between the work, and executes the work for each work defined by the process definition. Work content holding means for the server to perform to maintain the contents of the work, the connection destination of the work and the connection relationship to the next line, and process common information including an identifier for specifying the executed business process and an identifier for specifying the process definition Routing between the distributed servers, and work allocation control means for controlling the allocation of work. A unique workflow control system. 8. The workflow control system according to claim 7, further comprising: a worker determining unit that determines a worker to which the work is to be allocated based on a role of the worker defined as a work allocation destination of the process definition. 9. The workflow control system according to claim 7, further comprising: an attribute holding unit that holds the process common information as an attribute of an object; and a routing unit that routes the object between the distributed servers. 10. A work distribution means for, for each work specified in the process definition, preliminarily distributing the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work to a server executing the work. The workflow control system according to claim 7. 11. In each server, a work log management unit that manages a work log for each work, a work log notification unit that notifies one server of an identifier that can uniquely identify the work log, and the work log notification. 8. The workflow control system according to claim 7, further comprising process log management means for centrally managing the work log identifier notified by the means for each business process. 12. An end time limit holding means for holding an end time limit for each work defined in the process definition in each server, and when the work is not completed within the time limit held in the end time limit holding means, 8. The workflow control system according to claim 7, further comprising time-over processing means for executing a process at a time-over specified by the process definition. 13. A server that is arranged on a plurality of locations distributed over a wide area, is composed of a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients connected via a network, and executes a business process by allocating work to workers. A storage medium storing a workflow control program installed in a work process, wherein contents of work constituting a business process, an allocation destination of the work, and a connection relationship between the work are defined for each work defined by a process definition defined in advance. A work content storing process for storing the contents of the work and the connection destination of the work and the connection relationship to the next line in a storage means; and a process common process including an identifier for specifying an executed business process and an identifier for specifying a process definition. A work allocation control process for routing information between the distributed servers and controlling work allocation; Storage medium storing a workflow control program characterized in that it comprises and. 14. A worker decision process for deciding a worker to which a work is to be assigned based on a role of a worker defined as a work assignment destination of the process definition.
A storage medium storing the described workflow control program. 15. The workflow control program according to claim 13, further comprising: an attribute holding process for holding the process common information as an attribute of an object in a storage unit; and a routing process for routing the object between the distributed servers. Storage media. 16. A work distribution process for distributing, in advance, for each work defined in the process definition, the contents of the work, the assignment destination of the work, and the connection relation to the next work to a server that executes the work. A storage medium storing the workflow control program according to claim 13. 17. A work log management process for managing a work log for each work; a work log notification process for notifying one server of an identifier capable of uniquely specifying the work log; and a work log notification process for notifying the work log. 14. The storage medium storing the workflow control program according to claim 13, further comprising: a process log management process for centrally managing the work log identifier for each business process. 18. A time-over processing process for executing a process at a time-over specified by the process definition when the work is not completed within an end time limit for each operation specified by the process definition. 14. A storage medium storing the workflow control program according to 13.