JP4626638B2 - Workflow system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a workflow system that digitizes documents such as approval documents and reports and circulates them on a network, and a client in the workflow system.

  Recently, in organizations such as corporations, it has been proposed to introduce a workflow system that electronically circulates approval requests, reports, and the like on a network. In other words, in this kind of workflow system, setting the circulation destination and the circulation order in advance does not allow the document to be automatically circulated in that order, but each reader sets approval / disapproval of the circulation document, etc. By doing so, it becomes possible to efficiently approve approval documents.

However, the conventional workflow system is provided as a server program on the premise that documents are circulated on a closed network of a client-server system, and therefore has the following problems.
1) A circulation management server is required.
2) Since a circulation management server is used as a reference and each client accesses the server for circulation, the load on the server increases.
3) Access to a server from an external network (different LAN, Internet, etc.) is usually restricted by a firewall or the like, and thus circulation to clients connected to the external network becomes difficult.
4) Circulation of documents to external network clients may lead to leakage of secrets.

  The present invention was devised to eliminate the above-described problems, and makes circulation management by a server unnecessary by circulating a document file between clients without going through a circulation management server. This makes it possible to reduce the load on the server and to build a circulation network that is not subject to firewall restrictions for clients connected to different LANs or the Internet, and easily circulate document files. An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow system that can be used.

  Another object is to transmit the circulation information file together with the document file, thereby enabling circulation of the document file between clients without going through the circulation management server, and various information can be stored in the circulation information file. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workflow system that can have a function equivalent to or higher than that of a workflow system that performs circulation management on a server.

  Another object is to send a notification that a document file has been sent to the next client to another client, thereby circulating the document file between the clients without going through the circulation management server. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workflow system that enables each client to recognize the circulation state even if it performs the above.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a workflow system that can circulate a document file to a client connected to an external network without encrypting the secret by encrypting the document file to be transmitted. Objective.

  Another object is to transmit the circulation information file together with the document file, thereby enabling circulation of the document file between the clients not via the circulation management server, and the transmission button display means on the client. , A save button display means, a confirmation result input means, a reminder message display means, a transmitted notification means, or a transmitted document encryption means, and functions equivalent to or higher than a workflow system for managing circulation in a server It is an object of the present invention to provide a client in a workflow system that can include:

In order to solve the above problems, the workflow system of the present invention provides:
A plurality of clients each having an information processing unit that processes electronic information and a storage unit that stores a file that can be read by the information processing unit are connected to the network, and a plurality of clients receive electronic document files on the network. A workflow system that circulates through
The workflow system includes an originating client for transmitting a document file for circulation first, a plurality of circulation clients sequentially circulated the document file the originating client sent,
The transmission client creates a document file for circulation based on the original document file stored in a predetermined storage destination, sets circulation destination information for specifying the circulation destination and the circulation order, and the circulation destination. A circulation information file including information and the document file are transmitted to the next circulation client set in the circulation destination information, and stored in the storage unit of the circulation client;
The circulation client that has received the circulation information file and the document file transmits the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client set in the circulation destination information in response to the confirmation operation of the document file. Store it in the storage unit of the circulation client,
The circulation client that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client transmits a transmission notification indicating that the document file and the circulation information file have been transmitted to the next circulation client to another circulation client or the transmission client,
The circulation client or transmission client that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client and has received the transmission notification deletes or deletes the document file and the circulation information file stored in the storage unit. Has been made possible ,
The circulation information file includes original information regarding a storage destination of the original document file, and storage destination information regarding a storage destination after circulation,
The circulation client, which is the last circulation destination in the circulation order, acquires the original document file based on the original information in response to the confirmation operation of the document file, and stores the original document file in the storage destination information. it said that you save to.

  By configuring as described above, the present invention can reduce the load on the server by making circulation management by the server unnecessary by performing circulation of the document file between the clients without going through the circulation management server, In addition, it is possible to construct a circulation network that is not restricted by a firewall for clients connected to different LANs or the Internet, and easily circulate document files.

  In addition, the present invention enables circulation of a document file between clients without passing through a circulation management server by transmitting the circulation information file together with the document file, and includes various information in the circulation information file. Thus, it is possible to provide functions equivalent to or higher than those of a workflow system that performs circulation management on a server.

  Further, the present invention circulates a document file between clients without passing through a circulation management server by sending a transmission completion notification that the document file has been sent to the next client to another client. Even so, the circulation state can be recognized in each client.

  Further, according to the present invention, by encrypting a document file to be transmitted, the document file can be circulated to a client connected to an external network without fear of secret leakage.

  In addition, the present invention enables circulation of a document file between clients not via a circulation management server by transmitting a circulation information file together with the document file. By configuring display means, confirmation result input means, prompt message display means, transmitted notification means, or transmitted document encryption means, it has a function equivalent to or higher than that of a workflow system for managing circulation in a server. be able to.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a workflow system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hardware of the workflow system according to this embodiment includes a network 3 such as a LAN to which a server 1 and a plurality of clients 2 are connected, and a plurality of networks 3 via a gateway 4. The server 1 and the client 2 include an information processing unit 6 that processes electronic information, a display unit 7 that displays electronic information, an input unit 8 that inputs electronic information, and the information processing. A storage unit 9 that stores a file that can be read by the unit 6 and a network connection unit 10 that connects the information processing unit 6 to the network 3 are provided.

  FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circulation file in the workflow system. The circulation file includes a document file including a circulation document such as an electronic approval document and a report, and various types of circulation files. A circulation information file including information, and the circulation information file includes circulation destination information for identifying the circulation destination, circulation order information for identifying the circulation order, and each circulation destination file. Proxy routing destination information for specifying the proxy, notification destination information for specifying the notification destination of the communication completion notification and the circulation impossible notification, the storage destination information for specifying the storage destination of the circulation document file, and the original Original information for specifying the document file storage source, deadline information for specifying the circulation deadline, and approval necessity for specifying whether or not each client 2 is requested to perform an approval operation And distribution includes a confirmation history information for recording document file check result (approval result) in each client 2, and correction history information to record the correction of the document file in the client 2.

  FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing the configuration of the notification file in the workflow system. As the type of the notification file, another client 2 (or server 1) indicates that the circulation file has been transmitted to the next circulation client 2. ) A transmitted notification file for notifying the client), a circulation end notification file for notifying the other client 2 (or server 1) that the last circulation client 2 has saved the document file in a predetermined storage location, There is a circulation unnotification notification file for notifying other clients 2 (or server 1) that the next circulation client 2 is unable to circulate, and each notification file includes a circulation document for specifying at least the circulation document. Information and notification source information for specifying the notification source are included.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration in the client 2, and the software includes a circulation transmission setting processing unit 11, a circulation / notification reception processing unit 12, a circulation time limit processing unit 13, a display / correction processing unit 14, and a confirmation. Approval processing unit 15, circulation transmission processing unit 16, transmitted notification processing unit 17, document storage processing unit 18, circulation end notification processing unit 19, circulation deletion processing unit 20, circulation disabled notification processing unit 21, selective transmission processing unit 22 The non-circulation notification processing unit 23, the inquiry processing unit 24, and the like are described below. The processing contents of the processing units 11 to 24 will be sequentially described below.

  The circulation transmission setting processing unit 11 is executed in the transmission client 2 that first transmits the circulation file. In the setting screen displayed on the display unit 7 by the circulation transmission setting processing unit 11, in addition to specifying the circulation document. The above-mentioned circulation destination information, circulation order information, notification destination information, storage destination information, original information, time limit information, and approval necessity information can be arbitrarily set, and when this setting operation is completed, according to the setting contents A circulation file (a document file and a circulation information file) is generated. The generated circulation file is transmitted to the first circulation client 2 specified based on the circulation destination information and the circulation order information by the circulation transmission processing unit 16 described later.

  The circulation / notification reception processing unit 12 is configured to receive the circulation file or the notification file and store the received file in the storage unit 9, and when the received file is encrypted, The encrypted file is decrypted based on a preset decryption key and then stored in the storage unit 9.

  The circulation time limit processing unit 13 refers to the time limit information included in the circulation information file of the received circulation file, and performs a confirmation / approval operation for the document file included in the circulation file when the time limit information has passed. A message for prompting is displayed on the display unit 7.

The display / correction processing unit 14 displays the document file included in the received circulation file on the display unit 7, and when the displayed document file is corrected by the reader, the correction content is displayed in the circulation information file. It is configured to be added to the correction history information.

  The confirmation / approval processing unit 15 determines whether or not the approval is necessary based on the approval necessity information included in the circulation information file of the received circulation file. If the approval is not necessary, the confirmation / approval processing unit 15 displays a part of the document file display screen. While a confirmation button is displayed, if approval is required, an approval button and a disapproval button are displayed. Further, when any button is operated, the operation result is added to the confirmation history information of the circulation information file. It is configured as follows.

  The circulation transmission processing unit 16 specifies the next circulation client 2 based on the circulation destination information and the circulation order information included in the circulation information file of the circulation file, displays a transmission button on the display unit 7, and operates the transmission button. The circulation file is transmitted to the next circulation client 2 in response to the request, and when the next circulation client 2 is a client 2 outside the same network, it is based on a preset encryption key. The circulation file (document file) is encrypted and then sent.

  The transmission notification processing unit 17 notifies the client 2 (or the server 1) based on the notification destination information included in the circulation information file of the circulation file when the circulation transmission processing unit 16 has normally transmitted the circulation file. ), And a transmission notification file indicating that the circulation file has been transmitted to the next circulation client 2 is transmitted to the notification destination.

The document storage processing unit 18 is executed when the circulation client 2 that has received the circulation file is the last circulation destination, and the document storage processing unit 18 stores the circulation file included in the circulation information file. The client 2 (or server 1) that stores the circulation file is specified based on the destination information, and the circulation file is stored (transmitted) in the storage destination, but is included in the circulation information file of the circulation file. When the original document file storage source is set in the original information, the original document file is acquired from the storage source and the original document file is stored in the storage destination.

  The circulation end notification processing unit 19 notifies the client 2 (notifying based on notification destination information included in the circulation information file of the circulation file when the document storage processing unit 18 normally stores (transmits) the circulation file. Alternatively, the server 1) is specified, and a circulation end notification file indicating that the circulation file is stored in the storage destination is transmitted to the notification destination.

  The circulation deletion processing unit 20 is executed by the client 2 that has received the transmitted notification file or the circulation end notification file. The circulation deletion processing unit 20 stores the circulation file stored in the storage unit 9. Among them, the circulation file corresponding to the notification file is configured to be able to be deleted or deleted.

  The circulation disapproval notification processing unit 21 notifies the client 2 (or the notification) based on the notification destination information included in the circulation information file of the circulation file when the circulation file transmission by the circulation transmission processing unit 16 does not end normally. The server 1) is specified, and a circulation unnotification notification file indicating that the circulation file could not be transmitted to the next circulation client 2 is transmitted to the notification destination.

  The selective transmission processing unit 22 determines the next circulation client 2 based on the proxy circulation destination information included in the circulation information file of the circulation file when the transmission of the circulation file by the circulation transmission processing unit 16 does not end normally. The proxy client 2 is identified, the circulation client 2 is identified one after another based on the circulation destination information and the circulation order information, and further, the identified two clients 2 are displayed on the display unit 7 to request one of the selections, The circulation file is transmitted to the client 2 selected here.

  The circulation unavailable notification processing unit 23 is executed by the client 2 that has received the circulation unavailable notification file, and the circulation unavailable notification processing unit 23 cannot perform circulation based on information included in the circulation unavailable notification file. The client 2 is specified, and a message indicating that the client 2 cannot be circulated is displayed on the display unit 7.

  The inquiry processing unit 24 is effective when the server 1 is set as the notification destination of the notification file. The inquiry processing unit 24 transmits the inquiry file to the server 1 according to a predetermined operation. In addition, the answer file returned from the server 1 is received, and the answer file is displayed on the display unit 7.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a software configuration in the server 1, and the software is composed of a reception processing unit 25, a storage processing unit 26, a notification accumulation processing unit 27, a circulation status reply processing unit 28, and the like. Hereinafter, the processing content of each processing part 25-28 is demonstrated sequentially.

  The reception processing unit 25 is configured to receive a storage circulation file, a notification file, or an inquiry file. If the reception file is encrypted, the reception processing unit 25 encrypts the file based on a preset decryption key. It is designed to decrypt files.

  The storage processing unit 26 is executed when a storage circulation file is received. The storage processing unit 26 is configured to store the received storage file in a predetermined area of the storage unit 9. Yes.

  The notification accumulation processing unit 27 is executed when a notification file (including a transmitted notification, a circulation end notification, and a circulation impossible notification) is received, and the notification accumulation processing unit 27 receives the received notification file. Is stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 9.

  The circulation state answer processing unit 28 is executed when an inquiry file is received. The circulation state answer processing unit 28 refers to the notification file of the circulation document related to the inquiry and based on the notification file. To which client 2 the circulation document has been circulated, or which client 2 is currently confirming the circulation document, and the identified circulation state information is sent to the inquiry source client 2 It is configured to reply.

  FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram for explaining the operation of the client 2 in the workflow system. The ladder diagram includes a call client 2A, and a circulation client 2B connected to the call client 2A via a network 3 (LAN). A case is shown in which circulation is performed between a circulation client 2C connected to the circulation client 2B via the Internet 5 and a circulation client 2D connected to the circulation client 2C via a network 3 (LAN). Hereinafter, the operation in each of the clients 2A to 2D will be sequentially described.

  In the sending client 2A, a document to be circulated is created or specified, and circulation destination information, circulation order information, proxy circulation destination information, notification destination information, storage destination information, original information, time limit information, approval necessity information, and the like are circulated. Set the information. Thereafter, when a transmission button displayed on the screen is operated, a circulation file including a document file and a circulation information file is transmitted to the circulation client 2B. When this transmission is completed normally, the transmission notification file is transmitted to the clients 2B, 2C, and 2D.

  When the circulation client 2B receives the circulation file, the circulation client 2B stores the circulation file in the storage unit 9 and displays the document file on the display unit 7 to request a confirmation operation or an approval operation. This operation result is added to the confirmation history information of the circulation information file. Thereafter, when the send button displayed on the screen is operated, the circulation file is transmitted to the circulation client 2C. Since the circulation client 2C is connected to the external network, the circulation file is encrypted. , Sent to the circulation client 2C. When this transmission is completed normally, a transmission notification file is transmitted to the clients 2A, 2C, and 2D.

  When the circulation client 2C receives the circulation file, it decrypts it and stores it in the storage unit 9 and also displays the document file on the display unit 7 for a confirmation operation or an approval operation. This operation result is added to the confirmation history information of the circulation information file. Thereafter, when the transmission button displayed on the screen is operated, the circulation file is transmitted to the circulation client 2D. When this transmission is completed normally, a transmission notification file is transmitted to the clients 2A, 2B, and 2D.

  When the circulation client 2D receives the circulation file, the circulation client 2D stores the circulation file in the storage unit 9 and displays the document file on the display unit 7 to request a confirmation operation or an approval operation. This operation result is added to the confirmation history information of the circulation information file. Further, in the circulation client 2D that is the final reader, a save button is displayed after the confirmation operation, and the circulation file is transmitted to a predetermined save destination in accordance with the save button operation. When the transmission is normally completed, the circulation end notification file is transmitted to the clients 2A, 2B, and 2C. In the clients 2A, 2B, and 2C that have received the file, the circulation stored in the storage unit 9 is transmitted. The file will be automatically deleted. Also in the client 2D, the circulation file stored in the storage unit 9 is automatically deleted with the transmission of the circulation end notification file.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the operation of the server 1 in the workflow system. This block diagram is similar to the ladder diagram shown in FIG. 5 and is used to notify the transmission notification file and the like when circulating between the clients 2A to 2D. The operation when the server 1 is designated as the destination is shown. That is, the server 1 receives notification files (including a transmission completion notification, a circulation end notification, and a circulation impossible notification) transmitted from the clients 2A to 2D, and stores the received notification file in a predetermined area of the storage unit 9. To do. When the clients 2A to 2D transmit the inquiry file to the server 1, the client 2A refers to the notification file of the circulation document related to the inquiry, and to which client 2 the circulation document has been circulated based on the notification file, or At present, it is identified which client 2 is confirming the circulation document, and the identified circulation state information is returned to the inquiry source client 2.

  In the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, in the workflow system, the circulation destination and the circulation order are set in advance, and the circulation of the document is automatically executed in the order, and each reader makes the circulation document. By setting approval / non-approval, etc., the approval work for the approval document is performed. However, the workflow system of the present invention includes a transmission client 2 that first transmits a document file for circulation, and the transmission client 2 A plurality of circulation clients 2 that sequentially circulate the transmitted document file, and the transmission client 2 sets circulation destination information for specifying a circulation destination and a circulation order, and includes a circulation information file including the circulation destination information. And the document file is transmitted to the next circulation client 2 set by the circulation destination information and recorded in the storage unit 9 of the circulation client 2. Then, the circulation client 2 that has received the circulation information file and the document file sends the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client 2 set in the circulation destination information according to the confirmation operation of the document file. It is transmitted and stored in the storage unit 9 of the circulation client 2. For this reason, a circulation information file for specifying a circulation destination and the like is also transmitted together with the document file, and the document file can be circulated sequentially between clients without going through the conventional circulation management server. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on the server by eliminating the circulation management by the server, and to provide a circulation network that is not restricted by the firewall for the client 2 connected to a different LAN or the Internet 5. The document file can be easily circulated.

  Further, the circulation client 2 that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client 2 (including the storage destination) transmits a transmitted notification file (circulation end notification file indicating that the document file and the circulation information file have been transmitted to the next circulation client 2). In order to transmit the document file to the other circulation client 2 or the transmission client 2, the circulation of the document file is performed in each client 2 while the document file is circulated between the clients 2 without going through the circulation management server. Moreover, since the sending client 2 can arbitrarily set the notification destination (for example, the sending client 2 or the previous circulation client 2), the sent notification file can be sent to all clients 2 without any problem. The inconvenience of increasing the processing load on the client 2 by transmitting can be avoided.

  Further, the notification destination is the server 1 that monitors circulation of the document file, and the circulation client 2 that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client 2 has transmitted to the server 1 a notification file (circulation end notification file). In addition, the server 1 that does not perform the circulation management is not allowed to recognize the circulation state, but in response to an inquiry from the client 2, the transmission is performed. Circulation status information can be returned based on the completion notification file.

  Further, the circulation client 2 or the transmission client 2 that has received the transmitted notification file (including the circulation end notification file) can delete or delete the document file and the circulation information file stored in the storage unit 9. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that unnecessary document files and circulation information files are accumulated in the storage unit 9 of the client 2.

  In addition, the last circulation client 2 circulates the document file between the clients 2 without going through the circulation management server in order to save the document file in a preset storage destination. It is possible to easily check the circulated document, and when saving the circulated document file, it is also possible to acquire and save the original document file. Can increase the sex.

  Further, since the circulation client 2 adds history information including the confirmation result of the document file to the circulation information file and transmits it to the next circulation client 2, the circulation client 2 does not pass through the circulation management server. Documents that circulate document files, but can circulate approval documents with approval, and can set the necessity of approval operations for document files arbitrarily, so documents that do not require approval It is possible to avoid the inconvenience of requesting an approval operation to the file and increasing the burden on the reader.

  In addition, the circulation client 2 prompts a confirmation operation of the document file when the time limit information included in the circulation information file has expired, thereby preventing a significant delay in circulation, Since the calling client 2 can arbitrarily set the circulation time limit, it can cope with an urgent circulation.

  In addition, the circulation client 2 or the transmission client 2 can encrypt the document file to be transmitted. Therefore, the document file can be circulated to the client 2 connected to the external network without fear of secret leakage. Can do.

  Further, when the next circulation client 2 cannot be circulated, the circulation client 2 or the transmission client 2 sends a notification file to that effect to the other circulation clients 2 or the transmission clients 2, so that a circulation management server is provided. While the document file is circulated between the clients 2 without going through, the client 2 that cannot circulate can be recognized in each client 2.

  Further, when the next circulation client 2 cannot be circulated, it is possible to skip the next circulation client 2 and circulate to the proxy client 2 of the next circulation client 2. This can be avoided, and any one can be arbitrarily selected, so that quick circulation can be performed based on the selection according to the situation.

  Further, since the circulation client 2 adds corrections to the document file as correction information to the circulation information file and transmits it to the next circulation client 2, the document is exchanged between the clients 2 without going through the circulation management server. The contents of correction by each client 2 can be recognized while circulating the file.

  Further, since the client 2 displays a transmission button or a save button on the display unit 7 and executes transmission to the next circulation client 2 or the save destination in response to the button operation, an intuitive operation is allowed. In addition, it is possible to improve the reliability of the workflow system by preventing erroneous transmission and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a workflow system. (A) is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circulation file, and (B) is a block diagram showing a configuration of a notification file. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of a client. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of a server. It is a ladder figure showing an operation of a client in a workflow system. It is a block diagram which shows the effect | action of the server in a workflow system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server 2 Client 3 Network 5 Internet 6 Information processing part 7 Display part 8 Input part 9 Storage part 11 Circulation transmission setting processing part 12 Circulation / notification reception processing part 13 Circulation time limit processing part 14 Display / correction processing part 15 Confirmation / approval process Unit 16 Circulation transmission processing unit 17 Transmitted notification processing unit 18 Document storage processing unit 19 Circulation end notification processing unit 20 Circulation deletion processing unit 21 Circulation impossible notification processing unit 22 Selection transmission processing unit 23 Circulation impossible notification processing unit 24 Query processing unit 25 Reception processing unit 26 Storage processing unit 27 Notification accumulation processing unit 28 Circulation state answer processing unit

Claims (9)

A plurality of clients each having an information processing unit that processes electronic information and a storage unit that stores a file that can be read by the information processing unit are connected to the network, and a plurality of clients receive electronic document files on the network. A workflow system that circulates through
The workflow system includes an originating client for transmitting a document file for circulation first, a plurality of circulation clients sequentially circulated the document file the originating client sent,
The transmission client creates a document file for circulation based on the original document file stored in a predetermined storage destination, sets circulation destination information for specifying the circulation destination and the circulation order, and the circulation destination. A circulation information file including information and the document file are transmitted to the next circulation client set in the circulation destination information, and stored in the storage unit of the circulation client;
The circulation client that has received the circulation information file and the document file transmits the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client set in the circulation destination information in response to the confirmation operation of the document file. Store it in the storage unit of the circulation client,
The circulation client that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client transmits a transmission notification indicating that the document file and the circulation information file have been transmitted to the next circulation client to another circulation client or the transmission client,
The circulation client or transmission client that has transmitted the document file and the circulation information file to the next circulation client and has received the transmission notification deletes or deletes the document file and the circulation information file stored in the storage unit. Has been made possible ,
The circulation information file includes original information regarding a storage destination of the original document file, and storage destination information regarding a storage destination after circulation,
The circulation client, which is the last circulation destination in the circulation order, acquires the original document file based on the original information in response to the confirmation operation of the document file, and stores the original document file in the storage destination information. A workflow system characterized by storing in The circulation client that has received the document file and the circulation information file adds history information including the confirmation result of the document file to the circulation information file, and transmits the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client . The workflow system according to claim 1. The circulation information file includes time limit information related to the circulation time limit of the document file,
3. The workflow system according to claim 1, wherein a circulation client that receives the circulation information file and the document file prompts a confirmation operation of the document file when the time limit information has expired. . Circulation client or originating client attempts to send the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client, in any one of 3 the document file from claim 1, characterized in that encrypts and transmits The described workflow system. When the next circulation client is unable to circulate, the circulation client or the transmission client who intends to transmit the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client notifies the other circulation client or the transmission client to that effect. workflow system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to transmit. If the next circulation client is unable to circulate, the circulation client or the sending client who intends to transmit the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client will receive the circulation information file and the document file in the next circulation. skip client transmits or workflow system according to claim 1 in any one of the 5 and transmits to the proxy client next circulation client. If the next circulation client is unable to circulate, the circulation client or the sending client who intends to transmit the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client will receive the circulation information file and the document file in the next circulation. workflow system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that to send to skip client, or either transmits to the proxy client next circulation client is selectable. The circulation client that has received the document file and circulation information file, which adds to the circulation information file modifications to the document file as the correction information, and transmits the circulation information file and the document file to the next circulation client The workflow system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the workflow system is characterized. The originating client or the circulation client has a display means for displaying the transmission button, according to the operation of the displayed transmission button on the display unit, the circulation information file and the document file, set by the circulation destination information The workflow system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the workflow system is transmitted to the next circulation client and stored in a storage unit of the circulation client.

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