JP2006126943A - Workflow management device, network system, control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workflow management device for automating the conditional branch of the transition of a workflow, and for making common the workflow even when the format of a document is different, and to provide a network system, a control method and a program. <P>SOLUTION: This network system is provided with clients PC101, 102 and 106, an HTTP server 108 and a Web application server 109. The Web application server 109 is configured to perform the character recognition of a document based on a template having field information showing the character recognition place of the document, and to store the character-recognized character string and the field information in a database 110 by associating them, and to acquire the character string corresponding to the field information designated when the conditional branch of a workflow is set from the database 110, and to define the acquired character string as the element of the conditional branch decision of the workflow. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a workflow management apparatus and network that can be applied to a workflow system that performs character recognition on an image of an electronic document and uses the electronic image and the character-recognized electronic image data in cooperation with, for example, an approval flow or a business flow. The present invention relates to a system, a control method, and a program.

  A workflow system is a system that rules business flows involving multiple departments and people in a company and performs business processing and business support on a computer network based on the rules.

  Workflow systems began to be commercialized in the late 1990s, but each vendor had implemented them individually, so the implementation and specifications differed, and the workflow systems could not be linked. However, WfMC (Workflow Management Coalition), established in 1993, proposed a workflow system standard. WfMC is a standardization organization for workflow-related specifications related to software, and more than 300 companies participate as members (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Since then, standardization of workflow systems has been carried out by other vendors and non-profit organizations, which are based on WfMC standards.

  By using the workflow system, documents that have been circulated between departments and members within the company, such as document deliberation and transportation expense adjustment, can be digitized and processed efficiently. In the workflow system, the work flow is automated by defining the work flow in advance. For example, in the case of document deliberation, an approval flow along the approval route can be executed on the system by creating an approval route in advance and digitizing the document.

  The workflow system is generally considered to have the following effects.

  By defining a series of work flows, the work flow and the person in charge (who, what, and when) are clarified. By automating the work flow using a computer network, work efficiency can be improved. By digitizing and centrally managing the data, it is possible to reduce the input effort and input errors, and it is possible to automate the storage and management of the data. By recording the work flow, data for business analysis and business improvement can be obtained.

  In recent years, workflow systems and their core modules have been provided by various vendors. However, these workflow systems and core modules have not yet provided convenient functions as a single unit. This is because business in a company is constructed by know-how that each company has accumulated independently, and its operation method is different.

For this reason, the workflow system implementation forms are divided into the following two directions. It can be considered that these two directions are in a trade-off relationship.
(1) Only general-purpose parts of business are modularized, and other parts are created individually for each business.
(2) Although convenience will be lost, an interface will be provided to handle many tasks and covered in operation.

  However, in the above (1), as a result, the versatility of the entire workflow system is impaired. Further, in (2) above, convenience is lost and efficiency in actual work is reduced.

Currently, workflow systems are required to implement functions that are more convenient and more versatile.
Workflow Management Coalition website (http://www.wfmc.org/), as of September 14, 2004

  As described above, in many workflow systems that perform business processing and business support on a computer network, it is possible to branch a transition of a workflow conditionally. For example, in the approval flow, there may be a case where a route with different approval rights is selected according to the amount of the approval document. However, there are various types of documents handled by the workflow system, and it is difficult to define conditional branches in advance for these various types of documents.

  For example, let us consider a case in which a route with different approval rights is selected based on the amount of an estimate. Since the quotation differs in format depending on the type of business to be issued, the position where the amount is described is different. Therefore, in the conventional approval flow based on electronic image data, the person in charge inputs the amount of money, or the person in charge selects the approval route by looking at the electronic image data, or according to the form. It was necessary to implement customized functions.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow management apparatus, a network system, a control method, and a workflow management apparatus that can automate conditional branching of workflow transitions, and can share workflows even when the forms of the forms are different. To provide a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management apparatus according to the present invention is a workflow management apparatus that manages a workflow that rules the flow of a task that uses an electronic form, and recognizes characters of a document related to the task. The character recognition means for recognizing the character of the document on the basis of the template having field information indicating the place where the character recognition is performed, the character string recognized by the character recognition means and the field information are stored in the storage means in association with each other. A storage unit; an acquisition unit that acquires a character string corresponding to the field information specified when setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow; and a character string acquired by the acquisition unit as a condition of the workflow And a control means serving as a branch determination element.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a control method of the present invention is a control method of a workflow management apparatus that manages a workflow that rules the flow of a task that uses an electronic form, and is a method for controlling a document related to the task. Based on a template having field information indicating a place where character recognition is performed, a character recognition step for character recognition of the document, a character string recognized by the character recognition step, and field information are associated with each other in a storage unit. A storage step for storing; an acquisition step for acquiring from the storage means a character string corresponding to field information specified when setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow; and a character string acquired by the acquisition step for the workflow And a control step as an element of the conditional branch determination.

  In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute a control method of a workflow management apparatus that manages a workflow that rules the flow of work using an electronic form. Corresponding character recognition function for character recognition of the document, character string recognized by the character recognition function, and field information based on a template having field information indicating a location for character recognition of a document related to business A storage function for storing in the storage unit, an acquisition function for acquiring a character string corresponding to the field information specified at the time of setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow, and an acquisition function acquired by the acquisition function A computer can realize a control function using a character string as an element of conditional branch determination of the workflow. The features.

  According to the present invention, the character string recognized from the document and the field information are stored in the storage unit in association with each other, and the character string corresponding to the field information specified at the time of setting the conditional branch when defining the workflow Is obtained from the storage means, and the character string is used as an element for determining the conditional branch of the workflow. Therefore, the conditional branch setting of the workflow can be performed in advance, and the conditional branch can be automated. In addition, when setting a conditional branch, it is possible to specify a data type of a character string to be entered in specified field information, so that a workflow can be shared even when the document formats are different.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the network system includes LANs 105 and 111 and the Internet 107, and client personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as client PCs) 101 and 102 connected to the LAN 105, an image reading device 103, and a multifunction device (multifunction device). 104, an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) server 108 connected to the LAN 111, a Web application server 109, and a client PC 106 directly connected to the Internet 107.

  The client PCs 101 and 102 are electronic systems in which a company system administrator registers a new data file, performs system maintenance processing such as correction of user management information, or the company registration worker receives on the Web application server 109. Used when sorting documents and checking their contents, or when an approver of a company approves approval documents or applications.

  An image reading apparatus (scanner) 103 is a device shared on the network, and reads an application form sent by mail from a user, a document brought to a branch of the company, or the like. The multi-function device 104 is a multifunction device shared on the network having a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. The multi-function device 104 can be used as a scanner as well as the image reading apparatus 103. It is also possible to register the facsimile image received via the LAN 105, the Internet 107, and the LAN 111 in the Web application server 109 or the like.

  The HTTP server 108 is a server that receives a request transmitted from the client PCs 101, 102, and 106 via the LAN 105, the Internet 107, and the LAN 111 using the HTTP protocol. When receiving the request from the client PC transferred from the HTTP server 108, the Web application server 109 executes processing based on the request and returns the processing result to the client PCs 101, 102, and 106. Further, the Web application server 109 manages a form template (see FIG. 4) for identifying form attributes such as a quotation and an application form using the database 110.

  The database 110 is connected to the Web application server 109, data received by the Web application server 109 from a client PC, etc., information such as character recognition results of electronic image data, application processing status related to the application form, and user / group System information such as information and registration data file processing information is saved.

  The above HTTP server 108, Web application server 109, and database 110 are combined organically to function as a Web database system.

  In this network system, a device (scanner) having only an image reading function and a device (multifunction device) having a plurality of functions including an image reading function, such as the image reading device 103 and the multifunction device 104 described above, are separately provided. Installed in a computer, a device having a plurality of functions including an image reading function (multifunction machine), a device having only an image reading function (scanner), and a device having only an image forming function (printer) It is possible to adopt any configuration such as a configuration in which the

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the WEB application server 109 as the workflow management apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, a WEB application server 109 includes a system bus 1, a CPU 2, a program memory (hereinafter abbreviated as PMEM) 3, a communication control unit 4, a communication port 5, an external storage control unit 8, an input control unit 11, a keyboard 12, and a pointing device. Device 13, video image memory (hereinafter abbreviated as VRAM) 14, display output control unit 15, CRT display (hereinafter abbreviated as CRT) 16, multifunction device control unit 17, external device control unit 18, and image reading device control unit 19 ing.

  Each of the above components is connected to the system bus 1. The CPU 2 is a central processing unit that controls each component via the system bus 1 and executes conditional branch processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 based on a control program stored in a ROM (not shown). The PMEM 3 is a memory for appropriately selecting and reading a control program for executing conditional branch processing from the ROM. Data input from the keyboard 12 is stored as code information in the PMEM 3 that is also a text memory.

  The communication control unit 4 controls input / output data in the communication port 5. A signal output from the communication port 5 is transmitted to a communication port of another device on the network (LAN 105, LAN 111, Internet 107) via the communication line 6. In the present embodiment, a case where a network such as a LAN is used will be described, but it goes without saying that the present invention is applied even if the communication port and communication line connected to the communication control unit 4 are general public lines. Yes.

  The external storage device control unit 8 controls writing / reading of data to / from an external storage device (in this embodiment, a floppy (registered trademark) disk and a hard disk). A floppy (registered trademark) disk (hereinafter abbreviated as FD) 9 is an external storage device for data files. A hard disk (hereinafter abbreviated as HD) 10 is an external storage device for data files.

  Input devices such as a keyboard 12 and a pointing device 13 are connected to the input control unit 11. The operator issues an operation command to the system by operating the keyboard 11. The pointing device 13 is used by an operator to instruct processing of image information on the CRT 16, and a mouse is used in the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a mouse 13). The operator arbitrarily moves the cursor on the CRT 16 in the X direction / Y direction with the mouse 13 and selects a command icon on the command menu to give an instruction for processing, an instruction for editing, an instruction for a drawing position, etc. Also do.

  The VRAM 14 is a memory in which character data and graphic data displayed on the CRT 16 are expanded as bitmap data. The display output control unit 15 controls display on the CRT 16. The CRT 16 is a display unit that displays various screens and the like shown in FIGS. The display method is not limited to the CRT, but may be a liquid crystal.

  The external device control unit 18 controls the multifunction device control unit 17 and the image reading device control unit 19. The multifunction device control unit 17 controls the multifunction device 104 and controls output of data to the multifunction device 104. The image reading device control unit 19 controls the image reading device 103, and controls input of read data from the image reading device 103. Note that the image reading apparatus control unit 19 is essential for the WEB application server 109, but the client PC is shared on the WEB application server 109 side via the communication control unit 4 and the communication port 5 of the WEB application server 109. The components that are available can be used.

  In this embodiment, the control program is stored in the ROM (not shown). However, the control program may be stored in the FD 9 or the HD 10 or on a network (LAN 105, LAN 111, Internet 107). It is good also as a structure stored on the other apparatus connected. Further, the control program can be supplied from the WEB application server 109 to another system or another device via a storage medium such as the FD 9 or the HD 10 or a network.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of modules of the client PC and the Web application server.

  In FIG. 3, client PCs 101, 102, and 106 each include an information registration module 302 and an output form registration module 303. The Web application server 109 includes a request processing module 307, an editing module 308, a database common library 309, various utility libraries 310, and a database 110. The HTTP server 108 transfers requests from the client PCs 101, 102, 106 to the Web application server 109. Although the client PC 106 is directly connected to the Internet 107 as shown in FIG. 1, the internal module configuration common to each client PC is shown in FIG. Reference numerals 102 and 106 are added in parentheses.

  In the client PC 101, the information registration module 302 is a module for registering data files such as catalog information and image data in the Web application server 109. The output form registration module 303 is a module for registering a form for outputting product data. However, since the information registration module 302 and the output form registration module 303 are automatically distributed from the Web application server 109 to the client PC in the form of a Java (registered trademark) applet or active X control as necessary, There is no need to perform installation processing on a PC.

  In the Web application server 109, the request processing module 307 is a module that processes a request from the client PC transferred from the HTTP server 108. Functions corresponding to the request processing module 307 include user authentication, search processing, workflow control, received data registration, cover sheet registration, user management, group management, data maintenance, character recognition result registration, character recognition form registration, device There are various functions such as setting registration. The request processing module 307 is loaded on the memory of the Web application server 109 in response to a request from the client PC, and the corresponding processing is executed.

  The editing module 308 is a module having a workflow editor unit for editing a workflow, a cover page editor unit for editing a cover sheet, and the like. The database common library 309 is a library for exchanging data (including form template data) with the database 110. Various utility libraries 310 are libraries of various utility software such as character recognition applications.

  Next, character recognition processing for recognizing characters described in a document and information storage processing for storing character-recognized information in a database will be described with reference to FIGS.

  4A is a diagram illustrating the concept of a form template of the estimate sheet A, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the concept of the form template of the estimate sheet B.

  In FIG. 4, a form template is a template for identifying form attributes. In the form template data, a position and an area for character recognition processing are defined. Hereinafter, the defined position and area are referred to as a field.

  Reference numerals 400 and 410 denote form templates of quotations (A, B) having different formats. 401 and 411 represent date fields indicating the date of issue of the estimate, 402 and 412 represent customer fields indicating the company that issued the estimate, and 403 and 413 represent amount fields indicating the amount described in the estimate. Represents. The field has a field ID and a field name as attributes for identifying the field.

  By performing character recognition processing of documents (various documents such as quotations, applications, proposals, checkouts, etc.) based on the form template, the database 110 is in a state in which specified field information and field character strings are associated with each other. Can be stored. In this case, even if the form template has a different format, such as the form template 400 and the form template 410, it can be handled as form template data having the same property by sharing the field attributes.

  When the Web application server 109 performs character recognition processing of the document corresponding to each of the form templates 400 and 410, the character string at the date field position, the character string at the customer field position, and the character at the money field position Each column is read, and date field data, supplier field data, and money amount field data are stored in the database 110 as form template data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing form template data.

  In FIG. 5, the database 110 stores date field data, business partner field data, and money amount field data as form template data. Reference numerals 501 and 511 denote date field data, reference numerals 502 and 512 denote customer field data, and reference numerals 503 and 513 denote amount field data.

  Next, setting for conditional branching of workflow transition will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 show screens of applications for defining workflow procedures, which are activated on the client PCs 101, 102, and 106 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow definition screen 600 of an editor for defining a workflow flow.

  In FIG. 6, the flow definition screen 600 is displayed on the CRT 16 of the client PC. On the flow definition screen 600, the user arranges objects constituting the flow in order to define the workflow flow.

  601 (S: START) is an object that defines the start of a workflow, and 602 (E: END) is an object that defines the end of a workflow. Reference numeral 603 denotes an object that defines the transition of the workflow, and is hereinafter referred to as a transition. Reference numeral 604 denotes an object that defines each work in the workflow, and is hereinafter referred to as an activity. Reference numeral 605 denotes an object that defines a conditional branch of a workflow, and is hereinafter referred to as a conditional branch activity.

  The user arranges each object on the flow definition screen 600 and defines the flow, and then sets each object. When the conditional branch activity 605 is selected, the mouse 13 is right-clicked, and properties are selected from the pop-up menu, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT 16. When the transition 603 is selected, the mouse 13 is right-clicked, and the property is selected from the pop-up menu, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the CRT 16.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conditional branch property setting screen 700.

  In FIG. 7, a conditional branch property setting screen 700 is displayed on the CRT 16 of the client PC, and is a screen for setting data that is a basis for the conditional branch determination at the time of conditional branching. On the conditional branch property setting screen 700, the user sets which information among the character-recognized information is used as conditional branch data.

  A name 701 is set by the user in order to identify the conditional branch object. In the illustrated example, a branching condition based on the amount is set. Reference numeral 702 denotes a text box for setting a field name set by character string recognition. Reference numeral 703 denotes a button for acquiring a list of field names. When the user presses the button 703, a list of form template names is acquired from the Web application server 109 via the network by the client PC, and the screen in FIG. 8 is displayed on the CRT 16. The screen of FIG. 8 will be described later.

  Reference numeral 704 denotes a combo box for setting which data type handles the value of the field. For example, if it is data in the amount field, it is handled as a numerical value in the conditional branch determination, so a numerical value is selected. As shown in FIG. 5, all the data recognized as character strings are stored in the database 110 as character strings. Therefore, when the conditional branch determination is performed, the field value is converted into a specified data type in the program. In the combo box 704, a numerical value, a character string, true / false, etc. can be set.

  Reference numeral 705 denotes a button for confirming the contents set on the conditional branch property setting screen 700 and closing the screen 700. A button 706 cancels the contents set on the conditional branch property setting screen 700 and closes the screen 700.

  In the text box 702, the user can manually set a field name. The selection of the field name is for assisting the user input and does not depend on the designated form. For example, when “amount” is set as the field name, the field name is subject to conditional branching in both the form template 400 of the estimate sheet A and the form template 410 of the estimate sheet B in FIG.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a form template list screen 800, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a field list screen 810.

  In FIG. 8, a form template list screen 800 and a field list screen 810 are displayed on the CRT 16 of the client PC, and are screens for setting data that is the basis for conditional branch determination at the time of conditional branching.

  In the form template list screen 800, reference numeral 801 denotes a list box for displaying a form template list, and a selected line is highlighted as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 802 denotes a field list display button. When a form template is designated in the list box 801 and a field list display button 802 is pressed, a list of field names set in the designated form template is acquired by the client PC from the Web application server 109 via the network. The field list screen 810 is displayed on the CRT 16. Reference numeral 803 denotes a button for closing the form template list screen 800.

  In the field list screen 810, 811 is a form template name selected on the form template list screen 800. Reference numeral 812 denotes a list box for displaying a field list, which displays a list of fields set in the selected form template. The selected line is highlighted as shown. Reference numeral 813 denotes a setting button. When a field is selected in the list box 812 and the setting button 813 is pressed, the field name is set in the text box 702 of the conditional branch property setting screen 700 in FIG. 7, and the field list screen 810 and the form template list screen 800 are closed. Reference numeral 814 denotes a button for closing the field list screen 810.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a transition setting screen 900.

  In FIG. 9, a transition setting screen 900 is displayed on the CRT 16 of the client PC, and is a screen for setting the transition 603 shown in FIG. In the transition setting screen 900, conditions are set for the field data set in the conditional branch property setting screen 700 of FIG. The transition is set for each transition connected to the conditional branch activity 605.

  Reference numeral 901 denotes a check box for setting a condition. If the check box 901 is not checked, the condition determination is not performed. Reference numeral 902 denotes a combo box for setting the data type of the field value, which corresponds to the data type set in the combo box 704 of the conditional branch property setting screen 700 in FIG. In the combo box 902, a numerical value, a character string, true / false, etc. can be set.

  Reference numeral 903 denotes an edit box and a combo box for setting a conditional expression. By selecting a value indicating a range of conditions and an inequality sign (in the illustrated example, condition value 1: 1000, condition 1: ≦, condition value 2: 2000, condition 2: <), the condition is set for the field value. It can be carried out. The set condition is displayed in the conditional expression preview 904. The conditional expression indicates which work route is changed in the conditional branch of the workflow.

  When there is one condition, the other condition can be left unspecified. If the data type is numeric, the condition can specify an inequality sign or an equal sign. In addition, when the data type is a character string, it is possible to specify whether it is a match, a mismatch, or whether it is included. Further, when the data type is true / false, it is possible to set true or false.

  Reference numeral 905 denotes a button for confirming the contents set on the transition setting screen 900 and closing the screen 900. A button 906 cancels the contents set on the transition setting screen 900 and closes the screen 900.

  Next, the flow of conditional branch processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of conditional branch processing of a workflow in the Web application server 109.

  In FIG. 10, the workflow transits to the conditional branch activity 605 (step S1001). The CPU 2 of the Web application server 109 acquires the field name set by the user on the conditional branch property setting screen 700 of FIG. 7 (amount in the example of FIG. 7), accesses the database 110, and corresponds to the field name. The character string (character string in the money amount field in the example of FIG. 4) that has been character-recognized is acquired (step S1002).

  Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a field set by the user exists in the character string acquired in step S1002 (step S1003). If the set field does not exist, it is handled as an error (step S1011), and if the set field exists, the process proceeds to step S1004.

  If the set field exists, the CPU 2 converts the data type of the field (step S1004). For example, the character string “200,000” in the character-recognized money amount field acquired in step S1002 is converted to a numerical value “200000” in order to perform conditional branch determination. Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the data type specified by the user can be converted on the conditional branch property setting screen 700 of FIG. 7 (step S1005). If it cannot be converted to the specified data type, it is handled as an error (step S1011). If it can be converted to the specified data type, the process proceeds to step S1006.

  If the data can be converted to the designated data type, the CPU 2 performs a loop process corresponding to the number of transitions 603 connected to the conditional branch activity 605 (step S1006). The CPU 2 acquires the character string of the conditional expression of the transition 603 set by the user on the transition setting screen 900 of FIG. 9 (step S1007).

  The CPU 2 interprets the character string of the conditional expression of the transition 603 acquired in step S1007, and determines whether the data type converted in step S1004 is compatible with the conditional expression (step S1008). If the converted data type does not conform to the conditional expression, the process returns to step S1007 to repeat the process. If the converted data type matches the conditional expression, the process exits the loop and proceeds to step S1009.

  If the converted data type conforms to the conditional expression, the CPU 2 makes a transition from the conditional branch activity of the workflow to the adapted transition (step S1009). Thereby, the conditional branch processing of the workflow is completed. On the other hand, if the converted data type does not conform to the conditional expression even after the loop processing is repeated, the CPU 2 exits the loop and determines that there is no destination for transition from the conditional branch activity of the workflow (step S1010). It is handled as an error (step S1011).

  As described above, by coordinating with the character recognition process using the form template, the condition branch setting of the workflow can be simply performed, and the condition branch process can be implemented with more general-purpose logic.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the character string recognized from the form and the field information are stored in the database 110 in association with each other and specified when setting the conditional branch when defining the workflow. Since the character string corresponding to the field information is acquired from the database 110 and the character string is used as an element for determining the conditional branch of the workflow, the conditional branch setting of the workflow can be performed in advance, and the conditional branch can be automated. In addition, when setting a conditional branch, it is possible to specify the data type of a character string to be entered in specified field information, so that the workflow can be shared even if the form format is different.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the case where the Web application server 109 performs the conditional branch processing of the workflow has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conditional branch processing of the workflow is performed on the client PC side. Is also possible.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the HTTP server 108 and the Web application server 109 are configured separately has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the HTTP server 108 and the Web application server 109 are integrated. An apparatus (housing) can also be used.

  The present invention is achieved by supplying a software program (flowchart in FIG. 10) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments to a computer or CPU, and that the computer or CPU reads and executes the supplied program. can do.

  In this case, the program is supplied directly from a storage medium storing the program, or downloaded from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like. Supplied.

  The form of the program may be in the form of object code, program code executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS (operating system), and the like.

  The present invention also supplies a computer or CPU with a storage medium storing a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the computer or CPU reads and executes the program stored in the storage medium. Can also be achieved.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for storing the program code, for example, ROM, RAM, NV-RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk (registered trademark), magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, MO, CD-R, CD -RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, etc.

  The function of the above-described embodiment is not only by executing the program code read from the computer, but the OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Can also be realized.

  Further, the present invention can be achieved by downloading a software program for realizing the above-described embodiment from a database on a network or a homepage by a communication program, and reading and executing this program.

  The above program can also be supplied by connecting to a homepage on the Internet using a browser of a client computer and downloading the computer program itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function from the homepage to a storage medium such as a hard disk. .

  The above program distributes a storage medium such as a CD-ROM stored after encrypting the program code to the user, and provides a key for decrypting the encryption from the homepage via the Internet to the user who has cleared a predetermined condition. It can also be provided by downloading the information and using the key information to execute the encrypted program code and install it on the computer.

  The functions of the embodiments described above can also be realized by dividing the program code into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different home page. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer also constitutes the present invention.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are obtained by writing a program read from a storage medium into a function expansion board inserted in a computer or a memory provided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and It can also be realized by the CPU or MPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit executing part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program.

It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the network system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the WEB application server as a workflow management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the module of a client PC and a web application server. (A) is a figure which shows the concept of the form template of the estimate A, (b) is a figure which shows the concept of the form template of the estimate B. It is a figure which shows form template data. It is a figure which shows the flow definition screen of the editor which defines the flow of a workflow. It is a figure which shows a conditional branch property setting screen. (A) is a figure which shows a form template list screen, (b) is a figure which shows a field list screen. It is a figure which shows a transition setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the conditional branch process of the workflow in a Web application server.

Explanation of symbols

2 CPU (character recognition means, acquisition means, storage means, control means)
101, 102, 106 Client PC (information processing device)
103 Image reading device (image processing device)
104 MFP (image processing device)
105, 111 LAN (network)
107 Internet (network)
108 HTTP server (information processing device)
109 Web application server (workflow management device)
110 Database (storage means)
603 Transition 605 Conditional branch activity 600 Flow definition screen 700 Conditional branch property setting screen 800 Form template list screen 810 Field list screen 900 Transition setting screen

Claims (10)

A workflow management device that manages a workflow that rules the flow of work that uses electronic forms,
Character recognition means for character recognition of the document, based on a template having field information indicating a location for character recognition of the document related to the business,
Storage means for storing the character string recognized by the character recognition means and the field information in association with each other in storage means;
An acquisition unit that acquires a character string corresponding to field information specified at the time of setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow, from the storage unit;
A workflow management apparatus comprising: a control unit that uses the character string acquired by the acquisition unit as an element for conditional branch determination of the workflow.   The control unit converts the character string acquired by the acquisition unit into a data type for performing the conditional branch determination, and based on whether the data converted into the data type meets a set condition, the workflow The workflow management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein conditional branch processing is performed.   3. The workflow management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting condition indicates to which work route a transition is made in a conditional branch of the workflow.   2. The workflow management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein field information stored in the storage means can be referred to when setting the conditional branch.   2. The workflow management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the conditional branch is set, a data type of a character string written in designated field information can be designated.   6. The workflow management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data type is selected from a group including a numerical value, a character string, and true / false.   The workflow management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document related to the business is selected from a group including an estimate, an application, an approval document, and a checkout statement.   8. A network system comprising: the workflow management apparatus according to claim 1; an information processing apparatus; and an image processing apparatus connected via a network. A control method of a workflow management apparatus that manages a workflow that rules the flow of work using an electronic form,
A character recognition step for character recognition of the document, based on a template having field information indicating a location for character recognition of the document related to the business;
A storage step of storing the character string recognized by the character recognition step and the field information in association with each other in a storage unit;
An acquisition step of acquiring, from the storage means, a character string corresponding to field information specified at the time of setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow;
And a control step using the character string acquired in the acquisition step as an element of conditional branch determination of the workflow. A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of a workflow management apparatus that manages a workflow that rules the flow of work using an electronic form,
A character recognition function for character recognition of the document based on a template having field information indicating a location for character recognition of the document related to the business;
A storage function for storing the character string recognized by the character recognition function and the field information in association with each other in a storage unit;
An acquisition function for acquiring, from the storage means, a character string corresponding to field information specified at the time of setting a conditional branch when defining the workflow;
A program that causes a computer to realize a control function that uses a character string acquired by the acquisition function as an element of conditional branch determination of the workflow.

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