JP2001243164A - Office information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To allow a system to store and understand control information on a flow of an OA object on a network, which has conventionally been in the head of an office worker, and guide the work to be performed by the office worker. It is an object of the present invention. In an office information processing system in which a plurality of workstations are connected via a network and exchange electronic mails with each other, control information defining control processing as to what kind of processing can be performed after receiving mails is provided. The definition unit 34, the processing history storage unit 22 that stores history information of operations performed on received mail, the control unit 35 that guides a recipient by referring to both pieces of information, and the mail processing status are inquired. A tracking instruction unit 36 and a tracking processing unit 37 that reports the status of the tracking instruction are included.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the visualization and control of information flow when office workers exchange electronic mail with each other using a distributed information processing system in which a plurality of workstations are connected via a network. The present invention relates to a suitable office information processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Along with the reduction in cost and weight of personal computers and word processors, many office workers have come to create documents and tables (hereinafter collectively referred to as OA objects) using computers. Conventionally, software systems for processing these OA objects have provided a function of supporting closed work for individuals, but it cannot be said that the group has supported the work performed jointly by the group.

[0003] An electronic mail of information is one of the first steps of the group's joint work, and OFIS / MAIL-
EV (manual number 2050-3-061) and the like are known. These have functions such as broadcasting, express delivery, and confidentiality, and also have a mailing function to a remote place via a plurality of computers. These electronic mail systems digitize conventional office postal services and realize high-speed information exchange.

[0004]

In the conventional electronic mail system, basically, the control of "when and what to do to the received mail" is left to the receiver as "the receiver decides after receiving". Met. In addition, the caller was able to know "whether the mail arrived" or "whether it was read", but I really wanted to know "how was processed" or "why not processed" Could not be known via the system.
Furthermore, the sender was unable to correct the mail once sent by himself. further,
From the recipient's point of view, when there was mail to be received, it was necessary to monitor the reception by himself.

[0005] Due to the above functional limitations, the conventional electronic mail is effectively used for one-sided notification, but when requesting the recipient to take action, the flown OA object is processed. There was a problem that it was often stayed without. This functional limitation is basically due to the fact that conventional mail systems are designed to faithfully model the office postal service.

That is, in the conventional electronic mail system, consideration is given to system support for visualization and control of the flow of OA objects required when a plurality of office workers, which is a feature of office work, work in cooperation asynchronously. Was not done enough.

An object of the present invention is to improve the flow of OA objects on a network, that is, to support asynchronous office work among office work performed by a group, so that the flow of mail information is difficult to see and control. It is an object of the present invention to provide an office information processing system which solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art which is left to the user.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to achieve
Means for defining control information when the A object flows through the network, control means for interpreting and executing the definition information, means for storing the state of the OA object (hereinafter referred to as processing history storage means), and OA object (Hereinafter referred to as tracking instruction means) and means for responding to the inquiry (hereinafter referred to as tracking processing means). Further, the details of the means vary as follows.

One feature is that the control information definition means includes a function of "the sender defines what processing can be performed on the mail by the receiver", and the processing history storage means has the function of "the mail received by the receiver". The control means includes a function of "referring to both pieces of information and guiding the recipient what to do".

[0010] Here, in order to enhance the control of the flow of the OA object, the control information defined by the sender includes information indicating "time limit for performing processing, condition for performing processing". On the other hand, the control means has a function for urging the recipient to process the received mail when the time comes within a certain period of time before the time limit or when the time exceeds the time limit. Includes a function to report that processing has not been performed, or a function to report to the sender or receiver conditions that do not hold for processing.

[0011] For these functions, a means for tracking the mail once transmitted by the sender from a different point of view is provided. That is, "inquire about the processing status" to the tracking instruction means
The tracking processing means is provided with a function that can respond to this request, including a function and a function of “changing control information defined once”. The control information defining means includes a function such that "control information defined once can be changed not only by the sender but also by the receiver".

Further, the control information defining means includes a function for defining "information to be received by a prospective recipient or information relating to a schedule in which the recipient is absent and cannot access the system".

According to the present invention, the system stores and understands the control information relating to the flow of the OA object on the network, which was conventionally in the head of the office worker, and guides the work to be performed by the office worker. Opportunities for the object to lodge at a certain location are reduced, and as a result, the flow of the OA object on the network is improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, as shown in FIG.
This is realized by a hardware configuration connected via a. The workstation 1 includes an input / output device 11, a processing device 12, and a storage device 13, and other workstations include similar devices.

Next, an example of the configuration of functional blocks for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Inside each workstation of the present invention, there are four storage units: a control information storage unit 21, a processing history storage unit 22, a transmission mail storage unit 23, a reception mail storage unit 24, and eight processing units (modules):
User interface unit (module) 31, mail transmission processing unit (module) 32, mail reception processing unit (module) 33, control information definition unit (module) 34, control unit (module) 35, tracking instruction unit (module) 3
6, a function block including a tracking processing unit (module) 37 and a transmission / reception processing unit (module) 38.

The user interface unit 31 controls an interface between a user and various functions provided by the present system.
The control information definition unit 34 implements a function of defining control information regarding the flow of the OA object on the network. Of the information defined by the control information definition unit 34, the control information for the outgoing mail is delivered to the mail sending processing unit 32 and added to the mail text. The control information for the received mail is stored in the control information storage unit 31, and the control unit 35
Referred to by

The mail transmission processing section 32 manages editing of the mail text, obtains control information from the control information definition section, and stores the control information in the transmission mail storage section 23. The mail stored in the outgoing mail storage unit 23 is transmitted to another workstation having the address designated by the transmission / reception processing unit 38 via the network.

The transmission / reception processing unit 38 receives a mail sent from another workstation, and stores the received mail in the received mail storage unit 2.
4 is stored. When processing is performed on the mail stored in the received mail storage unit 24, the mail reception processing unit 33 stores the history of the processing in the processing history storage unit 22.

The control unit 35 refers to the information stored in the control information storage unit 21, the processing history storage unit 22, and the received mail storage unit 24, and guides, prompts, and prompts the user to operate.
The message is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit 23 in order to give a warning or report to the sender of the mail.

The tracking instructing unit 36 controls an interface for instructing the sender to follow the status of the e-mail, refers to the information stored in the outgoing e-mail storage unit 23, and transmits / receives the information via the transmission / reception processing unit 38 to another workstation. And exchanges information with the tracking processing unit 37.

The tracing processing unit 37 is started by the tracing instruction unit 36 of another work station, and receives the received mail.
With reference to 4 and the information in the processing history storage unit 22, the information in the received mail storage unit 24 is changed, and an appropriate response is returned to the tracking instruction unit 36 of another workstation via the transmission / reception processing unit 38.

Next, the operation of the system will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and subsequent specific information examples and FIG. 7 and subsequent specific flowchart examples.

FIG. 3 shows an example of guiding the recipient by defining the control information 41 by the sender and adding the control information 41 to the mail body 42 and transmitting the message. FIG. 7 shows an operation example corresponding to the operation. In this example, the control unit 35 prompts the recipient to perform processing by displaying the guidance screen 44 with reference to the control information 41 and the history information 43 (FIG. 7, step 101). The control information 41 includes not only that the mail circulation route is from Mr. Tanaka to Mr. Suzuki, but also that Mr. Tanaka has “return (return to the sender)”, “accept (accepted the contents)”, “copy
This indicates that Mr. Suzuki can perform "return", "accept", "save", "print", and "print". The processing history information 43 indicates that the mail has not been processed yet. As a result, the control unit 35
Sends “return”, “accept”, “copy” and “commenta” to Tanaka from these information through the user interface unit 31.
te ”(step 105 in FIG. 7).

In the components shown in FIG. 3, the control information 41 may include a time limit to be processed. In this case, the control unit 35 determines that a certain time before the time limit has been reached or that the time limit has been exceeded (step 1 in FIG. 7).
03), it is possible to urge the recipient to process. Further, the control information 41 can include a condition under which the processing can be performed. In this case, the control unit 35 monitors whether the condition is satisfied (step 104 in FIG. 7), and can guide the recipient when the condition is satisfied. Thus, steps 103 and 104 in FIG. 7 are optional.

On the other hand, the control unit 35 searches for an unsatisfied condition among the conditions, and can indicate the unsatisfied condition as a reason why the mail is not processed (step 106 in FIG. 7).

FIG. 4 shows an example of each component of the system when tracking the processing status of a transmitted mail. FIG. 8 shows an operation example corresponding to this figure. A case where Mr. Sato sends a mail having the control information of FIG. 3 to Mr. Suzuki via Mr. Tanaka will be described.

[0027] The sender is the user interface unit 31a.
(Step 201 in FIG. 8), the tracking instruction unit 36a of the workstation 1b of Mr. Tanaka first refers to the processing history storage unit 22b (FIG. 8). Step 202). In this example, the history information 46 indicates that the processing of “copy” and “accept” has been completed (step 20 in FIG. 8).
3). Then, it is determined that further tracking is necessary (Step 204 in FIG. 8), and the system causes the tracking processing unit 37c of the workstation 1c of Mr. Suzuki to refer to the processing history storage unit 22c (Step 202 in FIG. 8). In this example, it is understood from the history information 47 that nothing has been done (step 203 in FIG. 8). Based on these two pieces of history information, the user interface unit 31a of the workstation 1a shows the status display screen 45 to the caller (step 20 in FIG. 8).
5).

FIG. 5 shows an example of each component of the system for remotely controlling the transmitted mail control information. This operation is shown in FIG. When the caller inputs a remote operation exemplified by the remote instruction screen 48 via the user interface unit 31a (step 201 in FIG. 8), the tracking instruction unit 36a sets the workstation 1
b (step 20 in FIG. 8).
6). The tracking processing unit 37b changes the control information 49 stored in the received mail storage unit 22b into the control information 50, and stores the control information 50 in the received mail storage unit 22b.

FIG. 6 shows an example of control for a received mail, and FIGS. 9 and 10 show operation examples correspondingly. The receiver stores the mail to be received by the control information definition unit 34 in the control information storage unit 21 in advance. Then, the control unit 35 refers to the control information and the status of the received mail storage unit 24 (step 301 in FIG. 9), and if there is a mail that has not been received (step 302 in FIG. 9), sends a mail to the prospective sender.
(Step 303 in FIG. 9). If it is defined that a certain mail is received as the control information and that fact is reported, the control unit 35 reports it via the user interface unit 31.

In the component shown in FIG. 6, when the schedule of the recipient (the schedule during which the system cannot be accessed) is stored in the control information storage unit 21 by the control information definition unit 34, the control unit 35 refers to the information ( FIG. 10 Step 4
01), when the control information of the received mail includes a schedule related to the time limit (step 40 in FIG. 10).
2), compare them (step 403 in FIG. 10), and if there is any mail that cannot be processed, warn the sender that the mail cannot be processed before the deadline (step 4 in FIG. 10).
04).

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the system stores and understands the control information relating to the flow of the OA object on the network in the head of the office worker. Since the work to be performed is guided, the chance of staying at the place where the OA object is located is reduced, and as a result, the flow of the OA object on the network is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration for realizing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of operation guidance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of tracking of a processing status.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of remote control.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of control on a received mail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

21: control information storage unit, 22: processing history storage unit, 23:
Outgoing mail storage unit, 24 ... Received mail storage unit, 31 ... User interface unit, 32 ... Mail transmission processing unit, 33
... Mail reception processing unit, 34 control information definition unit, 35 control unit, 36 tracking instruction unit, 37 tracking processing unit, 38 transmission / reception processing unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohide Haga 1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside System Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd. Software Development Headquarters (72) Inventor Michiko Oba 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Co., Ltd. No. 5030 Hitachi Software Development Headquarters, Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] In an office information processing system in which a plurality of processing devices are connected via a network, the processing device includes a definition unit that defines a process executable after receiving information exchanged between the processing devices in control information. A storage unit for storing history information of an operation performed on received information; a tracking instruction unit for inputting a tracking instruction for transmitted information and outputting a processing status corresponding to the input tracking instruction; An office information processing system comprising: a tracking processing unit that extracts information processing status by tracking information based on an instruction from the tracking instruction unit. 2. The control information includes a condition that can be processed by a processing device that has received the information, and the tracking support unit, when the condition is not satisfied, responds to an input of an inquiry about a reason why the information is not processed.
2. The office information processing system according to claim 1, wherein a condition under which the information can be processed is output. 3. The tracking instructing means inputs a change instruction after information transmission to the already defined control information, and the tracking processing means changes the control information based on the change instruction. 2. The office information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The office information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said definition means inputs a change instruction for the received control information, and changes said control information based on said change instruction. 5. An office information processing system in which a plurality of processing devices are connected via a network, wherein the processing devices define control information on a source of information to be received and a scheduled reception time, and the control information Search for unreceived information based on
An office information processing system, comprising: a control unit that outputs a reminder message to a source of unreceived information or a message that information has not arrived at a prospective recipient when there is unreceived information. 6. The control information includes a content for specifying information to be notified to a prospective recipient that the control information has been received, and the control unit, when receiving the information including the specified content, sets the reception schedule. 6. The office information processing system according to claim 5, wherein a notification of the reception of the information is given to a person.