JP2002133046A - Delivery method of analysis data using email in analysis service - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To reduce the cost and time required for delivering analytical data. When a request for analysis is received, a unique report number is generated, paired with a customer ID, registered in a database, and a corresponding report directory is generated in a management server. All the analysis data is stored in the report directory 111-i in the form of digitized data. The analysis data delivery PC 16 allows the operator to input a report number unique to the analysis request upon delivery of the analysis data to the customer based on the analysis request, and saves the report number in the report directory 111-i specified by the input report number. Select the file to be delivered from among the data files. PC 16 is a customer ID paired with the input report number
Is retrieved from the database 122, an e-mail address paired with the customer ID is retrieved from the database 12, and the selected file is sent by e-mail addressed to the address.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analysis service for analyzing a sample received from a customer, and more particularly to an analysis service which digitizes all analysis data to be provided to the customer and delivers the data to the customer by e-mail. The present invention relates to a method of delivering analysis data using email in a service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An analysis service for analyzing a sample received from a customer with various analyzers and providing the customer with data on the analysis obtained from the analyzer has been conventionally known. Generally, there are various types of analysis data obtained from an analyzer, such as numerical data, image data, and graphs, depending on the type of the analyzer or the analysis. Also,
These data are not necessarily electronic data.

[0003] Various analysis data obtained from one or a plurality of analyzers are processed and printed into figures, tables, photographs, etc. after being subjected to appropriate processing. conventionally,
In general, these printed materials are compiled into a report format as analysis data, and delivered to a customer using a carrier's courier service or the like. In addition, facsimile transmission is used to report the progress of analysis or to provide a preliminary report.

[0004]

However, in the above-described method of delivering analysis data in the conventional analysis service, a home delivery service or the like is used to deliver (submit) the analysis data (report of the analysis result) to the customer. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and money to deliver the product to the customer who has received the order. Previously, reports on the progress of the analysis,
Alternatively, facsimile transmission has been used to provide a flash report. However, facsimile has a problem that it is difficult to distinguish fine lines and the like, and it is difficult to distinguish colors and shades.
Conventionally, there has not been a sufficient mechanism for delivering analysis data to a correct customer without error.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to digitize all the analysis data of a sample received from a customer and send the digitized analysis data to the customer by e-mail. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of delivering analysis data using an e-mail in an analysis service capable of reducing costs and time required for delivering analysis data by delivering (sending) the delivery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of delivering analysis data using electronic mail in an analysis service capable of delivering (sending) analysis data to a correct customer without error.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for delivering analysis data using an e-mail, wherein each time an analysis request is received from a customer, a unique report number and a report number specified by the report number are used. Assigning a directory, and digitizing analysis data that has not been digitized among analysis data obtained by analyzing the sample requested for analysis by at least one analyzer.
A file specified by a report number specific to the analysis request corresponding to the analysis data file digitized among the analysis data obtained by the at least one analyzer and the analysis data file corresponding to the analysis request Saving the data in a directory for data processing, and performing data processing so that the digitized analysis data or the file of the digitized analysis data can be presented as a report. Storing a report number specified in the report directory in a report directory; and, when delivering analysis data based on the analysis request to a customer, allowing an operator to input a report number unique to the analysis request. From the analysis data files stored in the report directory specified by the Allowing the operator to select a data file to be attached to the file, and for each customer of the analysis service, from a customer database in which customer information including a customer ID (customer identification information) of the customer and an e-mail address of the customer is registered. Obtaining the e-mail address of the customer who has submitted the analysis request corresponding to the input report number; and transmitting the selected analysis data file to the e-mail address addressed to the e-mail address obtained from the customer database. Sending to the customer.

In the analysis data delivery method having such a configuration, the digitized file (analysis data file) as a sample analysis result based on the analysis request is used for a report specified by a report number unique to the analysis request. Stored in the directory. Then, when trying to deliver the analysis data to the customer, the operator is required to input a report number unique to the corresponding analysis request, and the analysis data is stored in the report directory specified by the input report number. The operator can select the data file to be attached to the e-mail only from the analysis data file that is present, that is, the analysis data file as a sample analysis result based on the analysis request corresponding to the input report number. This can prevent an analysis data file based on another analysis request from being selected by mistake. Note that all data files stored in the report directory other than the report directory specified by the input report number, that is, data files outside the target report directory, are also selected by the operator, and If an operator selects a data file outside the report directory, a warning may be issued.

In the above configuration, the e-mail address of the customer required for sending the selected data file by e-mail to the customer who made the corresponding analysis request is obtained from the customer database by the customer ID of the customer. Can be obtained. For this reason, by sending the selected data file to the customer by e-mail addressed to this e-mail address, the cost and time required for delivering the analysis data can be reduced, and the analysis data can be correctly transmitted to the correct customer. Can be delivered (sent).

Here, every time an order for analysis is received from a customer,
Registering report number information including a set of the assigned report number and a corresponding customer ID of the customer of the analysis request in a report number database; and registering the input report number from the report number database. Pair of Customers I
If the step of searching for D is added, the correct customer ID can be acquired more reliably, and the correct e-mail address of the corresponding customer can be acquired using the customer ID.

When the selected analysis data file is sent to the customer, the file name of the analysis data file previously sent by e-mail, the file creation date and time, and the report number unique to the corresponding analysis request are sent. From the attached file database in which the attached file information including the file name of the selected analysis data file and the input report number are searched, and the file creation date and time in the attached file information are searched. By comparing with the file creation date and time of the selected analysis data file, a step of determining whether or not duplicate transmission of the analysis data file is performed, and when determining duplicate transmission, issuing a warning to that effect, A step of instructing the operator whether or not the analysis data file for which duplicate transmission has been determined is not to be sent; For all of the data files that are sent by the sending step by the electronic mail, and generates the attachment information adding and registering to the attached file database for each file,
When it is instructed that the analysis data file is not to be sent, in the e-mail sending step, the instructed analysis data file may be excluded from the sending object.

In this way, when the operator selects an analysis data file having the same content as that previously transmitted as a transmission target, a warning to that effect can be sent to the operator. Here, even if the data files have the same file name, if the file creation date and time are different, that is, if the data file selected by the operator has a new file creation date and time, the file content is upgraded. Since it is assumed that the analysis data file is once sent and no warning is issued, it is convenient when the analysis data file once sent is sent again after version upgrade.

By the way, when an order for analysis is received from a customer and a data file of the requested analysis result is sent to the customer, an analysis request is received from the customer before that, and the customer has already received the analysis request. Sometimes, for example, an analysis result data file having the same file name as the one sent, for example, which has been upgraded, should be sent together.

[0014] Therefore, a step of searching the report number database for all report numbers paired with the customer ID using the customer ID retrieved from the report number database as a key is added. In addition to the analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the report number, the analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the report number retrieved from the report number database It is preferable to allow the operator to select a data file to be attached to the e-mail from among them.

Here, when sending the analysis data file selected in the selection step to the customer, the selected analysis data file is stored in the report directory specified by the input report number. Determining whether the analysis data file is an analysis data file; and issuing a warning if the selected analysis data file is not an analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the input report number. And instructing the operator whether to exclude the selected analysis data file from the transmission target, and save the selected analysis data file in the report directory specified by the input report number. If the above-mentioned duplicate transmission determination step is performed only when the analysis data file is Swimming.

In the step of assigning the report number and the report directory, a directory before data processing and a directory after data processing are generated as subdirectories of the report directory, and the data processing is performed. The analysis data file before the application is stored in the directory before data processing, and the analysis data file after the data processing is stored in the directory after data processing. In the selection step, the report specified by the report number is stored. If you let the operator select a data file to be attached to the e-mail from the analysis data files stored in the post-data processing directory among the sub directories of the data directory, data files that are not to be delivered to customers Is removed from the selection by the operator Therefore, the data file to be delivered to the customer, that is, the data to be attached file to an e-mail and easy operator to select.

The present invention relating to the method of delivering analysis data using an e-mail described above also holds as an invention relating to an apparatus (analysis service system having an analysis data delivery function using an e-mail).

[0018]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an analysis service system having an analysis data delivery function using an electronic mail according to an embodiment of the present invention. The analysis service system 10 in FIG. 1 includes a management server (management server computer) 11, a database server (database server computer) 12, analyzers 13-1 to 13-m, a scanner 14, and a personal computer for processing analysis data. (Hereinafter referred to as analysis data processing PC) 15, analysis data delivery personal computer (hereinafter referred to as analysis data delivery PC) 16, servers 11, 12 and PC
And a LAN 17 for interconnecting 15, 16 and the like. An analysis service customer-side terminal (customer terminal) 30 can be connected to the PC 15 via a communication network 20 such as a public line network or the Internet. Although only one customer terminal 30 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of drawing, generally there are as many as the number of customers.

The management server 11 is a computer that stores and manages a report (report file) composed of computerized analysis data specified by a report number. The management server 11 includes report directories 111-1 to 11-1 used for storing and managing reports (report files) and the like.
1-n are prepared. This report directory 111-1
To 111-n are constructed on the secondary storage of the management server 11, for example, a hard disk device.

The report directory 111-i (i = 1 to 1)
n) is generated (prepared) for each analysis request (order) from the customer and assigned to the analysis request, and is assigned to the analysis request (order) (report identification information). Specified by number.

Report directories 111-1 to 111-n
2, as shown in FIG. 2, digitized files (data files) 114-1 to 114-n and 115-1 to 115- of analysis results of a sample requested by an analysis request to which a corresponding report number is assigned. Used to store and manage n.
The data files 114-1 to 114-n are, for example, data files before conversion (processing) to data that can be presented to customers (data files before data processing),
The data files 115-1 to 115-n are data files after conversion (processing) into data that can be presented to the customer (data files after data processing).

In this embodiment, the report directory 1
As shown in FIG. 2, sub-directories 11-1 to 111-n include data files 114-1 to 114-1 before data processing.
The sub-directories (directory before data processing) 116-1 to 116-n for storing and managing 4-n and the sub-directories (for post-data processing) for storing and managing the data files 115-1 to 115-n after data processing. Directory) 117
-1 to 117-n are prepared. As described above, by preparing two directories 116-i and 117-i that are lower layers of the report directory 111-i (i = 1 to n), the analysis to which the corresponding report number is assigned is performed. The data file of the analysis result of the sample requested in the request is a data file 1 before data processing which is not to be presented to the customer.
14-i and a data processed data file 115-i to be presented to the customer.

The database server 12 is a management server 1
1 is a computer that stores and manages various databases necessary for management and the like, for example, a customer database 121, a report number database (report number-customer ID table) 122, and an attached file database (attached file table) 123. is there. Databases 121 to 123 are
It is constructed on the secondary storage of the database server 12, for example, on a hard disk device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the customer database 121 stores, for each customer, a customer ID which is identification information of the customer.
And each ID of the company and department to which the customer belongs (company ID
And department ID), an e-mail (e-mail) address, and the name of the customer.

As shown in FIG. 4, the report number database 122 receives an analysis request (order is received) from a customer.
Report number information including a set of a report number assigned to the analysis request and a customer ID of the customer who made the analysis request is stored.

The attached file database 123 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), for each digitized file (analysis data file) of the report (analysis data) sent by e-mail to the customer (customer terminal 30), the serial number, the report number, and the file name And the date and time of transmission (only the date in the figure)
And attached file information including a set of the file creation date and time (only the date in the figure).

The analyzers 13-1 to 13-m are, for example, a secondary ion mass spectrometer, a scanning Auger electron spectrometer,
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the like. Here, the analysis device 13-1 converts the analysis data into digitized numerical data in a data format that can be processed by the analysis data processing PC 15,
It has a function of outputting image data and the like. On the other hand, the analyzer 13-m does not have a function of outputting digitized data as analysis data, and has, for example, a printout function of numerical data and a negative film output function of image data. .

The scanner 14 scans a paper medium on which numerical data and the like are printed, or a developed negative film or the like, and converts the data into digitized data.

The analysis data processing PC 15 is connected to the scanner 14
Is read via a transmission line independent of the LAN 17 and processed as necessary. Further, the analysis data processing PC 15 includes the analysis devices 13-1 to 13-
Among the data 13-m, analysis data obtained by an analyzer that outputs digitized data in a data format that can be processed by the PC 14, such as the analyzer 13-1, is read and processed as necessary. The analysis data processing PC 15 refers to the paper medium on which the analysis data is printed, and processes the analysis data input by the operator using the keyboard as necessary. The data read by the analysis data processing PC 15 or the processed data is converted into a digitized file (data file) by the operation of the management server 11 in accordance with the request from the PC 15 as a corresponding report directory 111-i. It is stored in a directory 116-i or 117-i) which is a subdirectory.

The analysis data delivery PC 16 performs a process of sending (delivery) an analysis result data file to the customer by e-mail in response to the analysis request from the customer. The analysis data delivery PC 16 registers the information of the file to be sent (attached file) in the attached file database 123 so that when the operator tries to attach a file with the same file name and the same creation date and time to the e-mail from the next time on, the operator will be notified. It is configured to detect the fact from the registered contents of the attached file database 123 and issue a warning to the operator. Further, the analysis data delivery PC 16 generates a report number to be assigned to the analysis request according to an operator's operation for each analysis request (order is received) from the customer, and includes a set of the report number and the customer ID of the customer. It is also configured to register the report number information in the report number database 122 in the database server 12.

Next, the analysis service system 10 shown in FIG.
The operation in (1), the processing at the time of receiving the order for the analysis request,
(2) Digitization and storage processing of analysis data and (3) Analysis data delivery processing using electronic mail will be described in order.

(1) Processing when receiving an analysis request First, the processing when receiving an analysis request in the analysis service system 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When an order for analysis is received from a customer, the operator operates a PC connected to the LAN 17, for example, the analysis data delivery PC 16 to open an analysis request order screen (step S 1). This screen displays the analysis requester (customer)
Is provided with a unique customer ID input field.
The operator operates the analysis data delivery PC 16 to input the customer ID of the analysis requester (customer) in the customer ID input field of the analysis request order screen (step S2).

Then, the analysis data delivery PC 16 generates a unique report number (allocated) to the corresponding analysis request and displays it on the screen (step S3), and sets a set of the report number and the inputted customer ID. Is registered in the report number database 122 of the database server 12 (step S4). The analysis data delivery PC 16 causes the management server 11 to generate a report directory 111-i specified by the generated report number, that is, a report directory 111-i assigned to the corresponding analysis request (step S5). ). At this time, in the management server 11, the report directory 111
In addition to the report directory 111-i, the pre-data processing directory 116-i is a subdirectory of the report directory 111-i.
And a post-data processing directory 117-i.

(2) Digitization and Saving Process of Analysis Data Next, digitization and saving process of analysis data in the analysis service system 10 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

The analysis of the sample requested by the customer is performed using at least one of the analyzers 13-1 to 13-m (j is one of 1 to m) ( Step S11). The analysis results of the analyzer 13-j are numerical data output by the analyzer 13-j,
Alternatively, it is obtained by image data or the like (step S1
2).

The data such as numerical data or image data output from the analyzer 13-j is
If 3-j is the analyzer 13-1, for example, it is digitized data in a data format that can be processed by the analysis data processing PC 15 (step S13). In this case, the analysis data processing PC 15 reads numerical data or image data output by the analysis device 13-j via a transmission path independent of the LAN 17. If numerical data or image data output from the analyzer 13-j can be saved from the analyzer 13-1 to a recording medium such as a floppy disk or a memory card, the analysis data processing PC 15 Reads numerical data or image data stored in the recording medium from the recording medium.

The analysis data processing PC 15 converts the read data into a data file (data file before data processing) 114-i as it is, for example, for each data type.
Management server 1 generated when receiving the corresponding analysis request
1, the report directory 111-i, that is, the report directory 111-i specified by the report number unique to the analysis request (step S14). here,
As a sub-directory of the report directory 111-i, two directories, a pre-data processing directory 116-i and a post-data processing directory 117-i, are prepared.
The data file 114-i before data processing is stored in the directory 116-i for data processing.

The analysis data processing PC 15 performs processing (conversion) on the read data in accordance with the type of the data, such as numerical processing or image processing, according to an operator's operation. The data is processed into a report format (step S15), and the data after the processing is specified as a data file (data file after data processing) 115-i by a report number unique to the corresponding analysis request in the management server 11. The report is stored in the report directory 111-i (step S16). Here, the data file 115-i is stored in the report directory 111-i.
It is stored in the post-data processing directory 117-i of the three subdirectories.

On the other hand, the analyzer 13-j is, for example, the analyzer 1
If it is 3-m, the analysis data such as numerical data or image data output from the analyzer 13-m is non-electronic data. In this case, a paper medium on which numerical data is printed and a negative film on which image data is projected are obtained using the print output function and the negative film output function of the analyzer 13-m. The operator develops the obtained negative film and causes the scanner 14 to read the film, thereby converting the digitized image data to the analysis data processing P.
It is converted and output to C15 (step S17). Further, the operator causes the scanner 14 to scan the paper medium on which the numerical data is printed, that is, the printed paper surface, to read the numerical data from the printed paper surface, and convert and digitize the digitized numerical data to the analysis data processing PC 15. (Step S17).

The analysis data processing PC 15 is connected to the scanner 14
Computerized numerical data or image data converted and output from the management server 1 as a data file (data file before data processing) 114-i as it is.
1, among the two subdirectories of the report directory 111-i specified by the report number unique to the corresponding analysis request, the report directory 111-i is stored in the pre-data processing directory 116-i (step S14). Here, numerical data and the like digitized by the scanner 14 can be converted into character data by OCR (optical character recognition) software and then processed by the analysis data processing PC 15.

The analysis data processing PC 15 performs processing (conversion) on the read data in accordance with the type of the data, such as numerical processing or image processing, in accordance with an operator's operation. For example, the data is processed into a report format (step S15), and the processed data is used as a data file (data file after data processing) 115-i in the management server 11 with a report number unique to the corresponding analysis request. Report directory 111-i to be identified
Are stored in the post-data processing directory 117-i (step S16).

The above processing is repeated until there is no more analysis data to be filed (step S18).

(3) Analysis Data Delivery Processing Using E-Mail Next, analysis data delivery processing using e-mail in the analysis service system 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9 and the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. I will explain.

First, the operator operates the analysis data delivery PC 16 to open the analysis data delivery screen when the analysis data is to be delivered to the customer by using an e-mail (step S21). This screen is provided with an input field for a report number assigned to (an order for) an analysis request. The operator operates the analysis data delivery PC 16
To input a report number unique to the target analysis request (order received) in the report number input field of the analysis data delivery screen (step S22). Here, it is assumed that “12-3456” has been input as the report number.

Then, the analysis data delivery PC 16 stores the report directory specified by the input report number “12-3456”, for example, the report directory 111-1.
Is accessed via the management server 11 (step S
23). Next, the analysis data delivery PC 16 transfers the post-data processing directory 117-1 of the pre-data processing directory 116-1 and the post-data processing directory 117-1 that are subdirectories from the report directory 111-1. To access the directory 117-1
-Processed data file 115-1 stored in
Is obtained (step S24).

The analysis data delivery PC 16 uses the database server 12 to register the customer ID registered in the report number database 122 in a pair with the input report number (input report number) “12-3456”. A search is performed (step S25). Here, as shown in FIG.
The customer ID “1234” is searched.

Next, the analysis data delivery PC 16 causes the database server 12 to search all the report numbers registered in the report number database 122 in combination with the customer ID searched by the database server 12 (step S26). ). If the retrieved report number includes a report number other than the input report number “12-3456” (step S27), the analysis data delivery PC1
6 also accesses the report directory 111-i specified by a report number other than the input report number "12-3456" (step S28). Then, the analysis data delivery PC 16 makes the report directory 1 in step S28.
Every time 11-i is accessed, similarly to the case where the report directory specified by the input report number is accessed (step S23), the pre-data processing directory 116-i, which is a sub-directory thereof, and the data processing The post-data processing directory 117-i of the post-processing directory 117-i is accessed, and the
Data file 1 after data processing stored in 17-i
15-i is acquired (step S29). The analysis data delivery PC 16 executes the above steps S28 and S29 for all the report numbers other than the input report number “12-3456” among the report numbers searched in step S26 (step S30).

The analysis data delivery PC 16 proceeds to step S2
4 and a list of the data files after data processing acquired in S29 is displayed on the screen (step S31). The operator selects a data file to be sent as an attached file of the e-mail from the list of data files on the screen (step S32).

The analysis data delivery PC 16 stores the data file selected by the operator in the input report number “12”.
Report directory specified by -3456 "(hereinafter referred to as the target report directory)
Or a data file stored in a report directory other than the target report directory (that is, a data file in the target report directory). It is determined whether the file is a data file outside the report directory (step S).
33).

If the data file is in the target report directory, the analysis data delivery PC 16 inputs the file name of the data file, for example, “/12-3456/ab.file”. The database server 12 searches the attached file database 123 for the attached file information including the report number “12-3456” (step S34). Here, as the analysis data for the analysis request for report number “12-3456”,
As shown in FIG. 10, the file name is "/12-3456/ab.fil
The attached file information indicating that the data file "e" was sent on October 5, 2000 is searched.

When the attached file information can be retrieved (step S35), the analysis data delivery PC 16 determines the file creation date and time in the attached file information and the file creation date and time of the data file having the same file name selected by the operator. Then, it is determined whether or not the created date and time are the same (step S36).

If the date and time are the same, the analysis data delivery PC 16 determines that the data file having the same content has been sent before, and issues a warning to the operator by voice or display (step). S3
7). At this time, the analysis data delivery PC 16 displays a data file having the same file name selected by the operator on the screen. The operator determines whether to consider or ignore this warning based on, for example, the contents of the data file displayed on the screen, and performs a corresponding operation (step S38). In response, analysis data delivery PC16
Determines that the data file selected by the operator is not to be attached to the e-mail (step S39) and performs an operation to ignore the warning when the operation for considering the warning is performed. In this case, it is determined that the data file is attached to the e-mail (step S4).
0).

On the other hand, if the creation date and time are not the same,
In other words, if the file creation date and time is newer than the previously sent data file, the analysis data delivery PC 16 determines that the data file selected by the operator has been upgraded, and The attachment to the mail is determined (step S40).

If the attached file information cannot be retrieved (step S35), the analysis data delivery PC1
6 determines that the data file selected by the operator has not been previously sent as analysis data for the analysis request of the input report number (here, “12-3456”), and The attachment to the mail is determined (step S40).

On the other hand, if the data file selected by the operator is a data file outside the target report directory (step S33),
The analysis data delivery PC 16 issues a warning to the operator by voice or display as in step S37 (step S41). The operator determines whether to consider or ignore this warning and performs a corresponding operation (step S42). In response to this, when an operation for considering a warning is performed, the analysis data delivery PC 16 determines that the data file selected by the operator is not to be attached to the e-mail (step S43). On the other hand, if an operation to ignore the warning is performed, the analysis data delivery PC 16 returns to step S
Proceeding to 40, the attachment of the data file to the e-mail is determined.

When the operator determines whether or not to attach the data file selected from the list to the electronic mail, the operator selects an unselected data file to be sent as an electronic mail attachment file in the list. It is determined whether there is any remaining data file (step S44), and if so, one unselected data file is selected (step S32). Subsequent operations are as described above.

On the other hand, if no unselected data file remains, the operator sends the analysis data delivery PC1.
The user operates 6 to instruct transmission of an e-mail. Then, the analysis data delivery PC 16 refers to the customer database 121 as shown in FIG. 10 using the customer ID “1234” retrieved in step S25 as a key, and customer information including the customer ID “1234”, that is, the customer ID “ From the customer information of the customer to which "1234" is assigned, the e-mail address of the customer is extracted (step S45).

Next, the analysis data delivery PC 16 attaches all the data files determined in step S40 to the destination specified by the e-mail address extracted from the customer database 121 via the communication network 20 via e-mail. It is sent (step S46). In this e-mail transmission, the e-mail is transmitted to the communication network 20.
May be viewed or eavesdropped by a third party during transmission via the Internet. Therefore, in order to avoid this, for example, public key cryptography is applied to e-mail transmission, and both public keys are exchanged between the analysis service system 10 and the customer. It should be available.

When transmitting the data file by e-mail, the analysis data delivery PC 16 transmits the serial number, report number, file name, transmission date and time, file creation date and time for each data file attached to the e-mail. Is registered in the attached file database 123 (step S47). Thus, when file data having the same file name and the same creation date and time is selected as an attached file by the operator from the next time onward, a warning can be issued to the operator to warn the user not to send the same data file.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the problem described in the column of the effect of the invention can be solved. In the case where at least one of the effects described above is obtained, a configuration from which this component is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0063]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a digitized file (analysis data file) corresponding to the analysis data obtained from the analyzer is allocated for each analysis request from a customer. When the data is stored in the corresponding directory of the report directory and the operator selects the data file of the analysis result to be delivered to the customer, it is unique to the corresponding analysis request (specified by the report number). Files other than those stored in the report directory are excluded from the selection, and the selected files are sent by e-mail to the address indicated by the customer's e-mail address correctly obtained from the customer database. , Reducing the cost and time required for delivering analytical data, and delivering (sending) analytical data to the correct customer without error

According to the present invention, every time an order for analysis is received from a customer, report number information including a set of a unique report number and the customer ID of the customer is registered in the report number database, At the time of delivery of the analysis data to the customer in response to the analysis request from the company, the report number unique to the analysis request is input by the operator, and the customer ID is searched from the customer database based on the input report number. The customer ID can be reliably acquired and the customer ID
Can be used to obtain the correct e-mail address of the corresponding customer.

According to the present invention, when the operator selects an analysis data file having the same content as that previously transmitted as a transmission target, a warning to that effect can be sent to the operator, so that duplicate transmission is not performed. Wasted operations can be eliminated. In addition, if the file content of the same file has been upgraded, the latest version can be transmitted without being a warning target.

According to the present invention, when an operator selects a data file of analysis results to be delivered to a customer,
Not only files stored in the report directory specific to the corresponding analysis request (identified by the report number), but also data files obtained in response to another analysis request of the same customer (that is, the same customer File stored in the report directory specific to another request for analysis)
Also, by selecting the data file to be attached to the e-mail, the analysis data can be efficiently delivered using the e-mail. In addition, if a data file acquired in response to another analysis request of the same customer is selected by the operator, a warning to that effect is issued, so if the operator selects an incorrect data file as a delivery target, Can undo it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an analysis service system having an analysis data delivery function using an electronic mail according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a report directory 111-1 to 11-11 in FIG.
1-n and data files 114-1 to 114-n and 115-1 to 1 managed by the directories 111-1 to 111-n.
The figure which shows the relationship with 15-n.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a data structure of a customer database 121 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the data structure of a report number database 122 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the data structure of an attached file database 123 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining processing at the time of receiving an order for an analysis request in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining processing for digitizing and storing analysis data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing a part of a flowchart for explaining a process of delivering analysis data using electronic mail in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary remaining part of a flowchart for explaining analysis data delivery processing using electronic mail in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a report number database 122 is used to refer to a customer database 121 and a report number database 122 when delivering analysis data.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 analysis service system 11 management server 12 database server 13-1 to 13-m analysis device 14 scanner 15 analysis data processing PC 16 analysis data delivery PC 17 LAN 20 communication network 30 customer terminal 111 -1 to 111-n: Report directory 114-1 to 114-n: Data file (data file before data processing) 115-1 to 115-n: Data file (data file after data processing) 116-1 to 116 -n: subdirectory (directory before data processing) 117-1 to 117-n: subdirectory (directory for data processing) 121: customer database 122: report number database 123: attached file database

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01N 23/227 G01N 23/227

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A step of allocating a unique report number and a report directory specified by the report number every time an order for analysis is received from a customer; Digitizing the analysis data that has not been digitized among the analysis data obtained by performing the analysis in; a file of the digitized analysis data among the analysis data obtained by the at least one analyzer; and Saving a file of the analysis data digitized in the digitization step in the report directory specified by a report number unique to the corresponding analysis request; and a file of the digitized analysis data. Or perform data processing so that the digitized analysis data file can be presented as a report. After that, storing in the report directory specified by the report number unique to the corresponding analysis request, when delivering the analysis data based on the analysis request to the customer,
Causing the operator to input a report number unique to the analysis request; and, from the analysis data files stored in the report directory specified by the input report number, data attached to an e-mail. Causing the operator to select a file, and for each customer of the analysis service, a customer database containing customer information including customer identification information of the customer and an e-mail address of the customer corresponding to the input report number. Obtaining an e-mail address of the customer who made the analysis request, and the analysis data file selected in the selection step,
Sending the analysis data to the customer by e-mail addressed to the e-mail address obtained from the customer database. 2. For each order received for an analysis request from a customer, report number information including a set of the assigned report number and the customer identification information of the corresponding analysis request customer is registered in a report number database. And the step of retrieving the customer identification information paired with the input report number from the report number database, and the step of obtaining the e-mail address includes retrieving from the report number database. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail address of the customer indicated by the customer identification information is acquired by referring to the customer database based on the obtained customer identification information. 3. When the analysis data file selected in the selection step is sent to the customer, the file name, file creation date and time of the analysis data file previously sent by e-mail, and the unique analysis request From the attached file database in which the attached file information including the report number is registered, the attached file information including the file name of the selected analysis data file and the input report number is searched, and the attached file information in the attached file information is searched. Comparing the file creation date and time with the file creation date and time of the selected analysis data file to determine whether or not duplicate transmission of the analysis data file is performed; and Issue a warning and ask the operator whether to exclude the analysis data file for which duplicate transmission has been determined Indicating, and for all data files sent in the sending step by e-mail, generating the attached file information for each file and registering the attached file information in the attached file database, further comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the sending step by e-mail, the designated analysis data file is excluded from the sending target when the instruction is sent out. 4. The method further comprising: using the customer identification information retrieved from the report number database as a key, retrieving all the report numbers paired with the identification information from the report number database; In the step, in addition to the analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the input report number, the report directory specified by the report number retrieved from the report number database 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the operator is allowed to select a data file to be attached to the e-mail from the analysis data files stored in the e-mail. 5. When sending the analysis data file selected in the selection step to a customer, the selected analysis data file is stored in the report directory specified by the input report number. Determining whether or not the analysis data file is, if the selected analysis data file is an analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the input report number, The selected analysis data file from the attachment file database in which the attachment file information including the file name of the analysis data file previously sent by e-mail, the file creation date and the report number unique to the corresponding analysis request is registered. Searching for attached file information including the file name and the input report number, Comparing the file creation date and time in the attached file information with the file creation date and time of the selected analysis data file to determine whether or not the analysis data file is redundantly transmitted; If so, issuing a warning to that effect, and instructing the operator whether to exclude the analysis data file determined to be duplicated transmission from the transmission target, and the selected analysis data file is the input report number If the analysis data file is not the analysis data file stored in the report directory specified by the above, issuing a warning to that effect and instructing the operator whether or not the selected analysis data file is not to be sent And for all data files sent in the sending step by email, for each file Further comprising the step of generating attached file information and registering it in the attached file database, and when instructed not to be sent, in the sending step by email, the designated analysis data file is 5. The method for delivering analysis data using an electronic mail according to claim 4, wherein the method is excluded from a sending target. 6. The step of assigning the report number and the report directory includes generating a pre-data processing directory and a post-data processing directory as subdirectories of the report directory. The analysis data file before performing the data processing is stored in the directory for data processing, and the analysis data file after performing the data processing is stored in the directory for data processing, respectively. An operator selects a data file to be attached to an e-mail from among analysis data files stored in the post-data processing directory among subdirectories of the specified report directory. Use the e-mail described in item 1 or 4. Analysis of data delivery methods.