JP2004326598A - Workflow system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workflow system capable of processing a plurality of items of the same work content simultaneously when there exist a plurality of such items. <P>SOLUTION: The workflow system W comprises a data transmitting and receiving part 11 for transmitting data to and receiving data from a terminal, a workflow control part 12 that controls the flow so that each item is processed according to the predetermined circulation order, a data management part 13 for managing data of each item, a bundle creating part 10 for bundling a plurality of items, and a display control part 15 for controlling display of items at the terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a workflow system, and more particularly, to a workflow system for efficiently processing a plurality of cases.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional workflow system, cases are circulated in a predetermined circulation order (flow), and a task (work) is performed for each circulation destination. The “item” is, for example, an electronic document. The “operation” is, for example, approval or confirmation of a matter. As this kind of conventional technology, for example, there is a “workflow system” disclosed in Patent Document 1.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-279335 (pages 4 to 6, FIG. 1-3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional workflow system, since cases are managed one by one, when there are a plurality of cases having the same business content, there is a problem that the plurality of cases cannot be processed at the same time.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a workflow system capable of simultaneously processing a plurality of cases when there are a plurality of cases having the same business content.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The workflow system according to claim 1 is a workflow system for circulating cases in a predetermined circulation order and performing business of the cases for each circulation destination, for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal. A data transmission / reception unit, a workflow control unit that manages the processing of each case according to a preset circulation order, a data management unit that manages data of each case, and a bundle of a plurality of cases And a display control unit for controlling the display of the case on the terminal.
[0007]
A workflow system according to a second aspect is the workflow system according to the first aspect, further comprising a bundle division / integration unit that divides the bundle into a plurality of bundles or integrates the plurality of bundles. Features.
[0008]
Also, in the workflow system according to claim 3, in the workflow system according to claim 1 or 2, when the workflow control unit receives a report of the end of the work from a circulation destination that is currently performing processing, An e-mail transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting an e-mail notifying the start of the business to the next circulation destination is provided.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a workflow system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
[0010]
(Configuration of Workflow System W)
First, the configuration of the workflow system W will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a workflow system W. This workflow system W is a system for simultaneously processing a plurality of cases having the same business content.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, the workflow system W includes a server 1, an administrator terminal 2, an intermediate administrator terminal 3, and a person in charge terminal 4. The server 1, the administrator terminal 2, the intermediate administrator terminal 3, and the person in charge terminal 4 are connected via a network 5. Note that the “manager terminal 2”, “intermediate manager terminal 3”, and “person in charge terminal 4” correspond to “terminals” in the claims. Hereinafter, each unit of the workflow system W will be described.
[0012]
(Server 1)
The server 1 includes a data transmission / reception unit 11, a workflow control unit 12, a data management unit 13, a bundle division / integration unit 14, a display control unit 15, a mail transmission / reception unit 16, a bundle creation unit 10, a control unit 17, and an overall data storage unit 18. , A management data storage unit 19.
[0013]
The data transmitting and receiving unit 11 transmits and receives data to and from the administrator terminal 2, the intermediate administrator terminal 3, and the responsible terminal 4 (hereinafter, "each terminal") via the network 5. Specifically, data transmission / reception is performed with the data transmission / reception units 21, 31 and 41 of each terminal.
The workflow control unit 12 manages that each case is processed according to a preset circulation order. Specifically, the processing at the next circulation destination is restricted until each case receives a report of the end of the operation from the circulation destination currently processing the case.
[0015]
The data management unit 13 manages data of each case. Specifically, the data of each case is updated based on the update information of each case received by the data transmitting / receiving unit 11. Further, the data management unit 13 searches for data of each case based on a search command from each terminal. The searched data is transmitted to each terminal via the data transmission / reception unit 11.
[0016]
The bundle creating unit 10 bundles a plurality of cases selected by the administrator. Specifically, the data transmitting / receiving unit 11 stores the data relating to a plurality of cases received in the entire data storage unit 18, assigns the same identification number (bundle ID) to these cases, and activates the workflow. Have.
[0017]
The bundle division / integration unit 14 divides cases or integrates cases. Specifically, the same identification number (division ID) is assigned to each case in which the next circulation destination is the same. In addition, the bundle division / integration unit 14 has a function of handling a case in units of “bundle” or “small bundle” based on the “bundle ID” or “division ID” assigned to each case.
[0018]
The display control unit 15 controls display of a case on each terminal. Specifically, based on a request from each terminal, each case is displayed in a case unit or a bundle unit.
[0019]
The e-mail transmitting / receiving unit 16 transmits an e-mail notifying the start of the business to the next circulation destination when the workflow control unit 12 receives the report of the end of the business from the circulation destination currently performing the processing.
[0020]
The overall data storage unit 18 stores information on the case selected by the administrator.
The case selected by the administrator is stored in the overall data storage unit 18 as, for example, a database in a table format.
[0021]
The management data storage unit 19 stores information on “bundle” and “small bundle”. This information is stored in the management data storage unit 19, for example, as a tabular database.
[0022]
The control unit 17 includes a data transmission / reception unit 11, a workflow control unit 12, a data management unit 13, a bundle division / integration unit 14, a display control unit 15, a mail transmission / reception unit 16, a bundle creation unit 10, an overall data storage unit 18, management data The storage unit 19 is controlled.
[0023]
(Administrator terminal 2)
The administrator terminal 2 includes a data transmission / reception unit 21, an input unit 22, a display unit 23, a mail transmission / reception unit 24, and a control unit 25.
[0024]
The data transmitting and receiving unit 21 transmits and receives data to and from the server 1 via the network 5. The input unit 22 is for inputting data to the administrator terminal 2. The input unit 22 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The display unit 23 is for displaying information on cases registered in the server 1. The display unit 23 includes, for example, a display. The mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 receives the task start notification transmitted from the mail transmitting / receiving unit 16 of the server 1. The control unit 25 controls the data transmitting / receiving unit 21, the input unit 22, the display unit 23, and the mail transmitting / receiving unit 24.
[0025]
The terminal 3 for intermediate managers and the terminal 4 for persons in charge include data transmitting / receiving units 31, 41, input units 32, 42, display units 33, 43, mail transmitting / receiving units 34, 44, and control units 35, 45. Note that the terminal 3 for the intermediate administrator and the terminal 4 for the supervisor have the same configuration as the terminal 2 for the administrator, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.
[0026]
(Processing of matter in workflow system W)
Next, processing of an item in the workflow system W shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing in the workflow system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the workflow system W.
[0027]
First, an outline of processing in the workflow system W will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 circulates the digitized cases t _{1 to} t _{10 in the order} of the manager K, the middle managers M ₁ and M ₂ , and the persons in charge N (illustration is omitted except for N _{1 to} N ₄ ). Then, after each person in charge N processes each case, the intermediate managers M ₁ and M ₂ approve the process, and the administrator K approves the entire process.
[0028]
(1) Creation of a bundle First, when the administrator K inputs data relating to the cases t ₁ to t ₁₀ from the administrator terminal 2 (see FIG. 1), the bundle creating unit 10 causes the bundled cases t ₁ to be separated. to create a bundle T are summarized in one ~t _10. Then, the created bundle T is registered in the server 1 (see FIG. 1).
[0029]
(2) division of the bundle next bundle flattening unit 14 next circulation destination for each same project, a bundle T, to divide the small bundles T ₁ to a small bundle T _2. In addition, the bundle division / integration unit 14 registers these small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ in the server 1. Then, the mail transmitting / receiving unit 16 notifies the intermediate managers M ₁ and M ₂ of the start of circulation.
[0030]
(3) request the workflow control unit 12 of the process, after the completion of verification middle manager _{M 1,} to request the processing of each project _t 1 ~t ₄ against personnel _N 1 to N _4. Similarly, the middle manager M _2, to request the processing of each case to each person (not shown).
[0031]
(4) request workflow control unit 12 of the approval process, after personnel N ₁ processing to N ₄ ends, to request the approval process on middle manager M _1. Here, it matters _t 1 ~t ₄ again gathered under the middle manager _{M 1,} becomes small bundles _{T 1} is integrated. The same is true for middle management's M _2.
[0032]
(5) Integration of Bundles When approval is given by the intermediate managers M ₁ and M ₂ , small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ gather again under the manager K and are integrated into the bundle T.
[0033]
The outline of the processing in the workflow system W has been briefly described above.
[0034]
Next, the processing of the workflow system W will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 as appropriate).
[0035]
Steps S1 to S3 are steps for creating a bundle T.
In step S1, to determine the opportunity _t 1 _{~t 10} to be circulated in the workflow system W, to bundle T. Specifically, the administrator K inputs data relating to the cases t ₁ to t ₁₀ from the input unit 22 of the administrator terminal 2 (hereinafter, “terminal 2”) illustrated in FIG. This data is transmitted to the bundle creation unit 10 of the server 1 via the data transmission / reception unit 21. Bundle creating unit 10 stores the data related to transactions _t 1 _{~t 10} throughout the data storage unit 18.
As the data related to transactions _t 1 _{~t 10,} circulation destination, circulation order, are included deadline like.
[0036]
In step S2, a bundle ID is given to the bundle T. Specifically, the bundle creation unit 10 creates a bundle ID, in association with project _t 1 _{~t 10,} and stores the entire data storage unit 18.
The case included in the bundle T is identified by the bundle ID.
[0037]
In step S3, the bundle ID is registered in the management data storage unit 19. Specifically, the bundle division / integration unit 14 of the server 1 registers the bundle ID created in step S2 in the management data storage unit 19. Further, the bundle division / integration unit 14 stores the administrator name of the bundle T, the name of the bundle T, and the like input from the input unit 22 of the terminal 2 by the administrator K in the management data storage unit 19 in association with the bundle ID. Let it.
[0038]
Note that the bundle division / integration unit 14 and the display control unit 15 of the server 1 display and process the case in units of “bundle” based on the bundle ID stored in the management data storage unit 19. In other words, it is possible to manage the cases in “bundle” units.
[0039]
Steps S4 to S6 are steps for dividing the bundle.
In step S4, next circulation destination for each same opportunity to divide the bundle T on small bundles T _1, T _2. More specifically, the bundle division / integration unit 14 uses the division start instruction of the administrator K to select, from among the cases t _{1 to} t ₁₀ stored in the entire data storage unit 18, a case in which the next circulation destination is the same. select.
[0040]
In step S5, it imparts a segmentation ID into small bundles _T 1, _{T 2.} Specifically, the bundle division / integration unit 14 creates a division ID and transfers it to the data management unit 13. The data management unit 13 stores the division ID in the overall data storage unit 18 in association with the case selected in step S4.
The cases included in the small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ are identified by the division ID.
[0041]
In step S6, the division ID is registered in the management data storage unit 19. Specifically, the bundle division / integration unit 14 of the server 1 registers the division ID created in step S5 in the management data storage unit 19. Further, the bundle division / integration unit 14 controls the names of the small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ (for example, the intermediate manager M) and the small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ that are input from the input unit 22 of the terminal 2 by the administrator K. Is stored in the management data storage unit 19 in association with the division ID. This enables display and processing in “small bundle” units.
The division ID is stored in the management data storage unit 19 in association with the bundle ID. The bundle division / integration unit 14 manages the division / integration of the bundle based on the relationship between the bundle ID and the division ID.
[0042]
The above is the preparation stage before the circulation starts.
Hereinafter, step S7 "processing for each case", step S8 "processing approval", and step S9 "bundle integration" will be described.
[0043]
When the steps S1 to S6 are completed, the mail transmitting / receiving unit 16 of the server 1 notifies the intermediate managers M ₁ and M ₂ and the persons in charge N of the mail. The intermediate managers M ₁ and M ₂ and each person in charge N who received the mail confirm the request contents.
[0044]
In step S7, processing is performed for each case. Specifically, representative N _1, the person-in-charge's terminal 4 (hereinafter. Referred to as "terminal 4") to input data from the input unit 42, and performs predetermined processing for transactions t _1. This data is transmitted to the data management unit 13 of the server 1 via the data transmission / reception unit 41. Data management unit 13 updates the data related to transactions t ₁ stored in the entire data storage unit 18 based on the received data. Similar processing by the respective representative N for the other matters t ₂ ~t ₁₀ is performed, the data is updated.
[0045]
In addition, every time the person in charge N _{1 to} N ₄ performs the process, the bundle division / integration unit 14 stores the processing status of the cases t _{1 to} t _{4 in} the management data storage unit 19 in association with the small bundle T ₁ . .
[0046]
In step S8, the process is approved. Specifically, middle manager M ₁ requests the display of the processing status to the server 1 from the input unit 32 of the terminal 3. Upon receiving the request, the display control unit 15 of the server 1 transmits the processing status stored in the management data storage unit 19 to the terminal 3 via the data transmission / reception unit 11. Then, the display unit 33 of the terminal 3, the processing status matters contained in the small bundles T ₁ is displayed. Middle management M _1, this makes it possible to grasp the processing state.
[0047]
After confirming the processing contents of each case, the intermediate manager M ₁ inputs approval data from the input unit 32 of the terminal 3. This approval data is sent from the data transmission / reception unit 31 to the bundle division / integration unit 14 of the server 1. Beam flattening unit 14 is stored in the management data storage unit 19 in association with authorization data and a small bundle T _1.
[0048]
In step S9, the bundles are integrated. That is, the small bundles T ₁ coming circulated from middle manager M _1, to reproduce the bundle T by integrating the small bundles T ₂ and coming circulated from middle manager M _2. More specifically, each time the small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ are approved in step S8, the bundle division / integration unit 14 of the server 1 associates the small bundles T ₁ and T _{2 with} the approval state of the small bundles T ₁ and T _2. It is stored in the management data storage unit 19. Thereby, the processing result of each case is reflected on the management data of the bundle T.
[0049]
The administrator K displays the management data of the bundle T on the display unit 23 of the terminal 2 and confirms the processing content. At this time, the display control unit 15 can display the processing content in units of small bundles T ₁ and T ₂ based on the data stored in the management data storage unit 19, so that the confirmation is easy. In addition, the display control unit 15 can display the processing contents in detail for each case based on the data stored in the entire data storage unit 18, and thus can easily confirm important cases and the like.
In this way, the administrator K approves the whole, and the workflow ends.
[0050]
As described above, an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the bundle is divided only once, but the bundle can be divided any number of times.
Further, in the present embodiment, the bundle is integrated in step 9 and the processing is terminated (see FIG. 3). It is also possible to add a step to start the workflow as
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a workflow system capable of simultaneously processing a plurality of cases when there are a plurality of cases having the same business content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow system W.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing in a workflow system W;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a workflow system W;
[Explanation of symbols]
W Workflow system 1 Server 2 Administrator terminal 3 Intermediate administrator terminal 4 Person in charge terminal 5 Network

Claims (3)

A workflow system for circulating cases in accordance with a predetermined circulation order, and performing business of the case for each circulation destination,
A data transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from the terminal,
A workflow control unit that manages that each matter is processed according to a preset circulation order;
A data management unit that manages data of each of the cases,
A bundle creation unit that bundles the plurality of cases together;
A workflow system, comprising: a display control unit that controls display of a case on the terminal. The workflow system according to claim 1, further comprising a bundle division / integration unit that divides the bundle into a plurality of bundles or integrates the plurality of bundles into one bundle. When the workflow control unit receives a report of the end of the work from the circulation destination that is currently processing, an e-mail transmission / reception unit that transmits an e-mail notifying the start of the business to the next circulation destination is provided. The workflow system according to claim 1.

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