JP2005275472A - Instruction information performance device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform desired processing in an event desired by a user based on instruction information in a system where various pieces of equipment are connected to a network. <P>SOLUTION: This controller 14 selects the i-th instructions (a step S4), and decides whether or not the instructions are valid at present (a step S5), and when it is decided that the instructions are valid at present, performs the selected instructions (a step S6). Then, the controller 14 decides whether or not the instructions of the following number are present (a step S7), and when the instructions of the following number are present, increments a parameter i(i=i+1) (a step S8), and selects the following instructions. This processing is repeated until the following document is not present. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction information execution apparatus and method, for example, an instruction information execution apparatus and method suitable for use in a service cooperation system that links a plurality of services that perform predetermined processing on document data on a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art A network cooperation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that automates various input / output functions or program processing operations performed by users on each device connected via a network is known. .

When the above-mentioned network cooperation device performs input / output functions and programs that operate on each device connected to the network in combination according to the usage method of each individual user, It communicates between devices.
JP 2001-306534 A

  In the network cooperation processing technique described in Patent Document 1, a predetermined command can be activated and executed only when document data is received from the outside. In other words, when the document data is not received, the predetermined command cannot be activated. Further, there is a problem that the operation cannot be changed depending on the time zone after the command is executed.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problem, and in a system in which various devices are connected to a network, an instruction that can perform a desired process in an event desired by a user based on instruction information. An object is to provide an information execution apparatus and method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an instruction information execution device according to the present invention includes an instruction information storage unit that stores an event and instruction information that instructs to perform predetermined processing on document data in association with each other. Determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined event has occurred, and instruction information execution means for executing instruction information associated with the predetermined event when the determination means determines that the predetermined event has occurred And.

  The instruction information execution method according to the present invention determines whether or not a predetermined event has occurred in a state where the event and the instruction information instructing to perform predetermined processing on document data are stored in the storage unit in association with each other. And an instruction information execution step of executing instruction information associated with the predetermined event when it is determined that the predetermined event has occurred.

  The instruction information storage means stores an event and instruction information for instructing to perform predetermined processing on the document data in association with each other. The determination means determines whether or not a predetermined event has occurred. The predetermined event here is not limited to one, and may be an event. The instruction information execution unit executes the instruction information associated with the predetermined event when the determination unit determines that the predetermined event has occurred.

  Therefore, according to the instruction information execution device and method of the present invention, it is determined whether or not a predetermined event has occurred, and when it is determined that the predetermined event has occurred, the instruction associated with the predetermined event is determined. By executing the information, it is possible to conveniently switch the instruction information in accordance with the event that has occurred and to execute the optimum process.

  Here, various events are applicable, and for example, when a time zone is used, it is as follows.

  That is, in the instruction information execution device, the instruction information storage unit stores different time zones and instruction information as the events in association with each other, and the determination unit determines whether the predetermined time zone has been reached. The instruction information execution unit may execute the instruction information associated with the predetermined time zone when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time zone has been reached.

  In the instruction information execution method, in the state in which different time zones as the events and the instruction information are stored in the storage unit in association with each other, the determination step determines whether or not a predetermined time zone has been reached. In the instruction information execution step, the instruction information associated with the predetermined time zone may be executed when it is determined by the determination step that the predetermined time zone has been reached.

  Therefore, according to the invention, the instruction information can be conveniently switched according to the time zone, so that the optimum process can be executed according to the time zone.

  Further, when the reception location of the document data is used as an event, it is as follows.

  That is, in the instruction information execution device, the instruction information storage means stores the reception location of the document data and the instruction information as the event in association with each other, and the determination means receives the document data in a predetermined manner. The instruction information executing means determines whether or not the instruction information execution means is associated with the predetermined reception place when the determination means determines that the document data has been received at the predetermined reception place. Information may be executed.

  In the instruction information execution method, the document data is received at a predetermined reception location in the determination step in a state where the reception location of the document data and the instruction information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. In the instruction information execution step, the instruction information associated with the predetermined reception location is executed when the determination step determines that the document data has been received at the predetermined reception location. May be.

  Therefore, according to the invention, the instruction information can be conveniently switched according to the reception location of the document data, so that the optimum process can be executed according to the reception location of the document data.

  In the instruction information execution device, the instruction information storage unit stores, as second instruction information, an event and instruction information instructing to perform predetermined processing on document data. May be.

  The instruction information execution device and method according to the present invention determines whether or not a predetermined event has occurred, and executes the instruction information associated with the predetermined event when it is determined that the predetermined event has occurred. Thus, it is possible to conveniently switch the instruction information according to the event that has occurred, and as a result, it is possible to execute an optimum process according to the event that has occurred.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a service cooperation system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The service cooperation system 1 is a system in which services that perform predetermined processes on documents are connected on a network, and various services related to documents are linked together and executed as a series of linkage processes. The document is data related to the document, but may include image data and text data, and is not particularly limited.

  Here, a file representing a job flow defined for automating / stylizing service cooperation processing is referred to as an “instruction document”. The service refers to a predetermined process (function) related to a document, and is not particularly limited to print, scan, copy, OCR, mail delivery, folder storage, and the like.

  The service cooperation system 1 includes multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30 that have a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and an instruction book editor 40 that creates an instruction book. These devices are connected to each other via a network. In addition to the above, for example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a computer installed with an application program may be connected to the network.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine 10. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the multifunction machines 20 and 30 are configured in the same manner.

  The multifunction device 10 scans an image recorded on a document, records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, develops the electrostatic latent image using monochrome toner or color toner, and records the developed image. A printer unit 12 that transfers and outputs a facsimile message and a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) unit 13 that transmits and receives a facsimile message are provided.

  The multi-function device 10 further includes a controller 14 that controls the whole, a memory 15 that stores image data read by the scanner unit 11, image data received via a network, data of a FAX reception message, and the like, and an icon. A display panel 16 that displays an operation screen and inputs operation information in response to touching an icon, a storage device 17 that stores instructions, an input / output port 18 that inputs and outputs data, and a network. And a communication control unit 19 for communicating with other devices.

  The scanner unit 11, the printer unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the controller 14, the memory 15, the display panel 16, the storage device 17, and the input / output port 18 are connected to each other via a bus. The input / output port 18 is connected to the network via the communication control unit 19. The scanner unit 11 may be incorporated as a part of the FAX unit 13.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the instruction book editor 40. The instruction editor 40 includes a CPU 41 that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM 42 that stores a control program for the CPU 41, a RAM 43 that is a data work area, and an input / output port 44 that transmits and receives information to and from the network. A hard disk drive 45 storing various information such as an application program for creating instructions, an operation panel 46 for creating instructions, and a monitor 47 for displaying the contents of the instructions, etc. Yes.

  When creating the instruction sheet, the user can input the configuration requirements (service content, time zone, target document data, etc.) of the instruction sheet by operating the operation panel 46. At this time, information on the instruction sheet being created is displayed on the monitor 46. Then, the CPU 41 can create an instruction based on the input information from the operation panel 46 and register this instruction in any of the multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30.

  4 to 6 are diagrams showing the structure of the instruction sheet created by the instruction sheet editor 40. FIG. These instructions represent document processing when the multi-function peripheral receives document data from the outside.

  The instruction shown in FIG. 4 has the name “document processing 1” and represents that one copy is printed from 10 am to 17:00 from Monday to Friday as document processing. The instruction shown in FIG. 5 has the name “document processing 2”, and mail transfer (forwarding destination: abc @ xyz) is performed from 17:00 to 10:00 from Monday to Friday as document processing. Represents. The instruction shown in FIG. 6 has the name “document processing 3”, and represents that all-day facsimile transfer (facsimile transfer destination number: 03-1234-5678) is performed on Saturday and Sunday as document processing. .

  In the service cooperation system 1 configured as described above, the instruction editor 40 creates these three instructions and registers them in a terminal (the multifunction machine 10 in this embodiment) that executes them. The multi-function device 10 stores these three instructions in the storage device 17, and when these three instructions are activated at the same time, the MFP 10 performs the following processing to execute the three instructions.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an instruction form execution procedure by the controller 14 of the multifunction machine 10. When the memory 15 of the MFP 10 stores document data from the outside, the process proceeds to step S1, and the controller 14 receives a document storage notification from the memory 15 and proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2 and step S3, the controller 14 acquires the current time, further initializes the parameter i, sets i = 1, and proceeds to step S4. The parameter i represents the instruction number. In this embodiment, “document processing 1” is the first instruction, “document processing 2” is the second instruction, and “document processing 3” is the third instruction instruction. And

  In step S4, the controller 14 selects the i-th instruction from the three instructions stored in the storage device 17, and proceeds to step S5. Here, it is assumed that the controller 14 selects the instruction document “document processing 1”.

  In step S5, the controller 14 determines whether or not the selected instruction is currently valid, that is, an instruction that operates at the current time. If it is determined that it is currently valid, the process proceeds to step S6. If it is not currently valid, the process proceeds to step S7.

  For example, when the instruction “document processing 1” is selected, the instruction is valid if the current time is from 10:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday, and if the current time is not in that time zone, the instruction is effective. The letter is not valid.

  In step S6, the controller 14 executes the selected instruction, and proceeds to step S7. Here, based on the instruction document “document processing 1”, the controller 14 prints one copy of the document data received in step S1 and proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the controller 14 determines whether there is an instruction number with the next number. When there is an instruction number with the next number, the controller 14 proceeds to step S8, and when there is no instruction number with the next number, the execution process is performed. finish. For example, when the process of the first instruction “document processing 1” is completed, the second instruction “document processing 2” exists, and the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, the controller 14 increments the parameter i (i = i + 1), and returns to step S4. Then, the controller 14 determines the current validity for the other two instructions, executes the instructions as necessary, and ends the process.

  As described above, the service cooperation system 1 automatically describes the service (document processing) contents and time zone to be executed in a plurality of instructions, and then automatically instructs each instruction once. The service can be executed at different times.

  In the present embodiment, each time zone to be executed is described in each instruction sheet. That is, each instruction sheet and each time zone are associated with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, each instruction may be associated with an event other than the time zone.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a plurality of instructions registered in the multifunction machine 10 and a plurality of events. Here, confidential boxes A, B, and C that received document data are listed as events.

  According to the figure, the multifunction machine 10 executes processing for the document data received in the confidential box A based on the instruction document “document processing 1”. Similarly, the document data received in the confidential box B is processed based on the instruction “document processing 2”, and the document data received in the confidential box C is processed based on the instruction “document processing 3”. To do.

  As described above, the event associated with the instruction sheet is not limited to time, and may be document data (or its reception location), and is not particularly limited.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part same as 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The instruction editor 40 can create the following instructions instead of the instructions shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and register them in the multifunction machine 10.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the instruction “document processing 4” created by the instruction editor 40.

  The instruction shown in FIG. 9 has the name “document processing 4”, and is a combination of the instructions shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

  That is, the instruction document “document processing 4” is printed one copy at a time from 10:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday as the first document processing, and from 17:00 to 10:00 from Monday to Friday as the second document processing. Until the time, the mail transfer (transfer destination: abc @ xyz) is performed, and as the third document processing, the all day facsimile transfer (facsimile transfer destination number: 03-1234-5678) is performed on Saturday and Sunday. The multifunction device 10 can obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment by executing the above instruction when the instruction is activated.

  As described above, the service cooperation system 1 automatically describes different times after instructing the execution of the instruction once by describing the time zones to be executed in a plurality of processes in the instruction. Different processing can be executed in each band.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a design modified within the scope of the claims.

  For example, the multifunction device 10 may perform thumbnail printing of a predetermined number of transmission jobs collectively after activation.

  Further, the instruction editor 40 may describe the document data to be processed in the instruction sheet and register the instruction sheet in the multifunction machine 10. At this time, when the instruction sheet is activated, the multifunction device 10 determines whether or not the document data to be processed described in the instruction sheet has been received, and when the document data is received, The described processing contents can be executed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a multifunction peripheral is described as an example of a device that executes a service. However, the device is not limited to this. For example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a computer in which an application program is installed may be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the service cooperation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an instruction book editor. It is a figure which shows the structure of the instruction document "document processing 1" produced by the instruction document editor. It is a figure which shows the structure of the instruction document "document processing 2" produced by the instruction document editor. It is a figure which shows the structure of the instruction document "Document processing 3" produced by the instruction document editor. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an instruction form execution procedure by a controller of the multifunction machine. 6 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a plurality of instructions registered in a multifunction peripheral and a plurality of events. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the instruction document "document process 4" produced by the instruction document editor.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30 MFP 14 Controller 17 Storage device 40 Instruction editor

Claims (7)

Instruction information storage means for storing the event and instruction information for instructing to perform predetermined processing on the document data in association with each other;
A determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined event has occurred;
Instruction information execution means for executing instruction information associated with the predetermined event when the determination means determines that the predetermined event has occurred;
An instruction information execution device comprising: The instruction information storage means stores different time zones as the events and instruction information in association with each other,
The determination means determines whether or not a predetermined time zone has been reached,
The instruction information execution device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information execution unit executes the instruction information associated with the predetermined time zone when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time zone has been reached. The instruction information storage means stores the reception location of the document data and the instruction information in association with each other as the event,
The determination means determines whether or not the document data is received at a predetermined reception location,
The instruction according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information executing unit executes the instruction information associated with the predetermined reception location when the determination unit determines that the document data has been received at the predetermined reception location. Information execution device. The instruction information storage unit stores, as second instruction information, an association between an event and instruction information for instructing to perform predetermined processing on document data. The instruction information execution device according to claim 1. A determination step for determining whether or not a predetermined event has occurred in a state where the event and instruction information for instructing to perform predetermined processing on document data are stored in the storage unit in association with each other;
An instruction information execution step of executing instruction information associated with the predetermined event when it is determined that the predetermined event has occurred in the determination step;
Instruction information execution method comprising: In the state where the different time zones as the event and the instruction information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit, the determination step determines whether or not a predetermined time zone has been reached,
The instruction information execution method according to claim 5, wherein, in the instruction information execution step, the instruction information associated with the predetermined time zone is executed when it is determined by the determination step that the predetermined time zone has been reached. In the state where the reception location of the document data and the instruction information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit as the event, in the determination step, it is determined whether the document data is received at a predetermined reception location,
The instruction according to claim 5, wherein in the instruction information execution step, the instruction information associated with the predetermined reception location is executed when it is determined in the determination step that the document data is received at the predetermined reception location. Information execution method.

Images