JP2005202626A - Workflow creation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily create a workflow system when creating a workflow system configured to select a process using input information from a user as a selection condition even when there are a plurality of types of processes to be selected. It is to provide a workflow creation system that can.
Event flow creation means for creating an event flow, which is a process flow accompanying the occurrence of an event, for each event based on an input from an operator, and a control program for a workflow system based on the event flow And a workflow system control program that operates as
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a workflow creation system, and more particularly to a workflow creation system for creating a workflow system for improving work efficiency using, for example, a computer.

  There are various businesses in organizations such as companies. There are various types of business such as, for example, a main business that is a business for a customer of the company, personnel management for employees, benefits related business, materials management business, and the like. Recently, workflow systems that automate the processing of various tasks using a computer and improve the efficiency of tasks have begun to be provided.

  For example, companies have departments in charge of their various operations, and employees can use their own environment for “marriage”, “childbirth”, “transfer”, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “events”). Is changed (hereinafter referred to as “occurrence of event”), it is necessary to submit application documents (hereinafter also referred to as “slip” or “form”) to the department in charge of the change and procedure. In addition, the department in charge of receiving the application documents will carry out procedures accordingly.

  For example, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a workflow system related to a process of creating a “neighborhood travel expense report” for reimbursing a travel expense when an employee makes a business trip at a company job.

  In addition, it is desirable that companies that use workflow systems can easily create a workflow system for their own company because the documents to be submitted to each department vary from company to company, and the names of departments differ. In some cases, a workflow creation system for creating a workflow system is provided to a company that is a user.

  By the way, such a workflow system usually has a function of performing “process selection” and “candidate selection” such as selecting and extracting a document that needs to be submitted when an event occurs. is there.

  Therefore, the conventional workflow system described in Non-Patent Document 1 also needs to have a function of performing “process selection” and “candidate selection”.

  In addition, when there are multiple types of processes for performing such “selection”, conventionally, when creating a workflow system, it is necessary to create a software program for each of the multiple types of processes. Since “selection” in the process of performing “selection” is performed based on input information from the user (using input information from the user as a selection condition), a software program serving as a user interface is required. Conventionally, this user interface must also be created for each of a plurality of types of processing.

Nobuo Shido and Aki Sugiyama, “Groupmax Workflow”, first edition, IDG Communications, Inc., March 30, 1999, pages 74-177

  However, the conventional workflow creation system for creating a workflow system as described in Non-Patent Document 1, for example, has the following problems.

  That is, in the process of performing “selection”, it is necessary for the user to input the selection condition. However, in the conventional system, the user interface for this depends on the selection condition, and the user is in accordance with the selection condition. It is necessary to create a process that performs “selection” for each interface. Therefore, it takes time and effort to create a workflow system, and the creation of the workflow system is complicated and difficult. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a workflow creation system for creating a workflow system that automates the processing of a job that is required when an event occurs, input information from a user is used as a selection condition. An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow creation system capable of easily creating a workflow system even when there are a plurality of types of processes to be selected when creating a workflow system configured to select a process. .

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a workflow creation system for creating a workflow system that automates the flow of work using a computer, an event occurs for each event based on an input from an operator. An event flow creating means for creating an event flow that is the flow of the processing, and a workflow system control program that operates as a workflow system control program based on the event flow.

  According to the present invention, in the invention described in claim 1, the event flow creation means is based on parts registration means for registering parts constituting the event flow based on an input from the operator, and input from the operator. And part combination means for creating an event flow by combining the parts registered by the parts registration means.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 2, at least one of the parts registered by the parts registration means is a question part which is a question for a user who uses the workflow system. .

  The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized in that the workflow system control program includes a user interface for a user who uses the workflow system.

  Further, the present invention is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein only the event flow created by the event flow creation means is for each of a plurality of events or a plurality of users who use the workflow system. The workflow system control program is common to the plurality of events and the plurality of users.

  The present invention also provides a workflow creation program that operates on a computer to create a workflow program that operates on a computer to automate the flow of work. And a workflow system control program that operates as a workflow system control program based on the event flow, and a program that functions as an event flow creation unit that creates an event flow that is a process flow accompanying the occurrence of And

  According to the present invention, in a workflow creation system for creating a workflow system that automates the processing of a job that is required when an event occurs, a workflow configured to select a process using input information from a user as a selection condition Provide a workflow creation system that can easily create a workflow system even when there are multiple types of processing to select when creating the system (that is, different for each event or user company) be able to.

  That is, in the workflow creation system of the present invention, an event flow that is different for each event such as “marriage” or “transfer” or for each company that is a user can be easily created by operations such as part registration and part combination.

  Also, a workflow system control program (including a user interface such as question display control and input control for the user) that actually operates as a workflow system based on this event flow is created in advance, and the workflow creation system revisits it. By eliminating the need for creation, the workflow creation system can create only the above-described event flow, which can improve user convenience and convenience.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a workflow creation system according to the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a workflow creation system is realized by operating a software program for workflow creation on a personal computer. In this embodiment, a software program is operated on one personal computer to create a workflow. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various computers such as a plurality of personal computers and server computers are connected to a network. For example, a computer operated by a workflow creator may be operated as a mere terminal device (input / output device), and a software program for workflow creation may be operated on another network-connected computer. Absent.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a personal computer 100 includes a control means 101 such as a CPU and MPU that controls the operation of the entire personal computer 100, and a user inputs operations and instructions to the personal computer 100. Input / output means 102 for displaying and outputting various information and storage means 103 for storing programs and parameters necessary for the operation of the personal computer 100.

  As the input / output means 102, for example, a keyboard or a mouse is used for input, and a display device or the like is used for output.

  The storage means 103 is composed of, for example, a hard disk. In this embodiment, the storage means 103 includes a software program for the workflow creation system, various data necessary for executing the workflow creation software program, and the workflow creation system. The software program of the workflow system created in step 1 and various data necessary for executing the workflow software program are stored.

  In the present embodiment, as an example of “process selection” and “candidate selection”, which form (for example, various reports) that an employee or the like needs to submit to the company upon the occurrence of an event. The process of “selecting” whether or not there is, and the process of executing “selection” of a necessary form based on the answer to the employee by conducting a question will be described. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to various “processing selection” and “candidate selection”.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the workflow creation system according to the present embodiment is realized by starting an application program related to workflow creation in the personal computer 100.

  Here, as an example of the workflow, create a workflow that automates the procedure required for the company when an employee gets married, that is, define the flow of processing that is required when the event `` marriage '' occurs A case where a created event flow is created and registered will be described. An event flow is a flow of processing executed in association with each event.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an event flow registration process which is an example of the operation of the workflow creation system shown in FIG.

  An operator who creates a workflow operates an input / output unit 102 on the personal computer 100 to start an application program related to workflow creation. This application program is stored in the storage means 103 as described above, and is executed by the control means 101.

  When an application program (in this case, an event flow registration process) is started, first, the operator is requested to input the name of the event to be registered this time (A-1). An example of a screen for requesting the operator to input the event name is shown in FIG.

  At this time, in the input / output means 102, as shown in FIG. 3, an event name input field is shown, and the name given to the event flow to be registered by the operator is input to this field. In this case, since a workflow is created when employees and the like are married, the event name is “marriage” in FIG. In the revision date field of the event flow registration screen in FIG. 3, for example, when the internal rules are revised and the event flow is changed, the revision date, the date on which the internal rules are applied, and the like are input. In this way, the event flow may be automatically applied based on the date. Each registered content is stored in the storage means 103, for example.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, in step (A-2), registration of parts used for event flow registration is performed. This is a part registration means. This part registration may be registered in advance before the event flow registration. Each registered content is stored in the storage means 103, for example.

  In the workflow creation system of this embodiment, a part called a part is registered, and an event flow is created by combining the parts. There are various types of parts, but typical ones will be described here.

  In this embodiment, there are seven types of parts: “Category” parts, “Question” parts, “Selection” parts, “Form” parts, “Signal” parts, “Signal judgment” parts, and “Exit” parts. The contents are defined and registered, and the operator can combine them to create an event flow.

  Here, each part will be described. Multiple types of parts can be registered. For example, a plurality of << Question >> parts having different question contents can be registered.

  However, the “Exit” part is a part that is used as a command to exit from the process nesting when defining the process flow of the event flow. Since this part has no contents to be defined for each user, The operator who creates the event flow simply uses it as “<< parts” part in step (A-3) of FIG. 2 described later.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a << category >> part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The << Category >> part is a part that defines the content to be displayed as the title when the << Category >> part is nested when the workflow system created by this workflow creation system is executed. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the necessary forms, the necessary forms are narrowed down in the form of questions to the user, but on the question screen, what type of category is currently being questioned is displayed to the user This << Category >> part is used to do this.

  In the example of the input / output unit 102 in FIG. 4, a “category” part that displays “[about address]” on the question screen when the event flow is executed is registered. When the input of the title sentence or the like to be displayed is completed, registration of the << category >> part "[about address]" is completed by clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse, for example.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a “question” part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The << Question >> part is a part that defines a question to be asked when the workflow system created by this workflow creation system is executed. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the necessary forms, the necessary forms are narrowed down in a question format for the user. This << Question >> part is used to define the question.

  In the example of the input / output means 102 in FIG. 5, a “Question” part that asks “Does the address change?” Is registered on the question screen when the event flow is executed. When the input of the contents of the question is completed, the registration of the << Question >> part "Does the address change?" Is completed by clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse, for example.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a << selected >> part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The << Selection >> part is a part that defines options for answers to questions to be asked when executing the workflow system created by the workflow creation system. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the necessary forms, the necessary forms are narrowed down in the form of a question for the user. This << Selection >> part is used to define the choices of answers to the question. There may be two types of answer options, for example, “Yes” and “No”, or three or more types of options may be prepared.

  More specifically, the << selection >> part in which answer options are defined is used to determine whether or not to execute the process nested in the << selection >> part in accordance with the answer from the user.

  In the example of the input / output unit 102 in FIG. 6, << selection >> parts are registered when the answer is “Yes” on the question screen when the event flow is executed. When the input of this option is completed, the registration of the “Select” part “Yes” is completed by clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse, for example.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a “form” part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The “form” part is a part that defines a form to be “selected” when the workflow system created by the workflow creation system is executed. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the required form, the necessary form is narrowed down in the form of a question for the user, but this “form” part is used to define the form to be “selected” as a result of answering that question. It is done. The format of the form is stored in advance in the storage means 103, and the stored form name is input on the screen of FIG.

  In the example of the input / output means 102 in FIG. 7, the “form” part is registered when “select” the form “address change notification-2003 / 04/01” when the event flow is executed. When the entry of the form name is completed, the registration of the << form >> part "address change notification-2003 / 04/01" is completed by clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse, for example.

  Note that the date in the form name “address change notification-2003 / 04/01” indicates information such as the revision date of the form.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a << signal >> part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The << Signal >> part is a part for setting a so-called flag by turning on or off a predetermined signal when the workflow system created by this workflow creation system is executed. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the required forms, the necessary forms are narrowed down in the form of questions to the user. When narrowing down, in addition to the judgment means of questions and answers, more complicated for “selection” In order to realize the judging means, this << signal >> part is used together with the << signal judging >> part described later.

  In the example of the input / output means 102 in FIG. 8, the << Signal >> part that turns on the signal "Address has changed!" Is registered. When the input of this signal (signal name and type of signal on or off) is completed, the registration of the << signal >> part "address has changed!" Is completed by, for example, clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse. To do.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registering a << signal determination >> part among a plurality of types of parts.

  The << Signal Determination >> part is a part for determining the on / off state of the aforementioned signal when executing the workflow system created by this workflow creation system, and changing the processing accordingly. When a user, such as an employee, starts up the workflow system, the event flow created and registered according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is executed and submitted when reporting the occurrence of an event to the company. In order to “select” the required forms, the necessary forms are narrowed down in the form of questions to the user. When narrowing down, in addition to the judgment means of questions and answers, more complicated for “selection” In order to realize the determination means, this “signal determination” part is used together with the above-mentioned “signal” part.

  In the example of the input / output means 102 of FIG. 9, both the signal “The address has changed!” And the signal “The commute route has changed!” Are both ON (named when the address and commute route have changed). When “ALL ON” is selected, the “Signal Judgment” part is registered so that the parts below the “Signal Judgment” part are executed.

  When the input of the signal judgment (signal judgment name, signal to be checked with this judgment name, (ALL ON), etc.) is completed, the “Signal judgment” part can be obtained by, for example, clicking the OK button 102a with a mouse. Registration of “when address and commuting route change” is completed.

  In addition, in FIG. 9, in consideration of the usability of the operator who creates the workflow system in the workflow creation system, the currently registered << Signal >> parts are displayed, and the operator can easily select by selecting from these, Signals to be checked can be specified. Similarly, when registering the << Form >> part in Fig. 7, a list of currently registered form names is displayed, and the operator It may be possible to easily register << form >> parts by selecting from the above.

  As described above, when registration of each part is completed, an event flow is created by combining these parts (step (A-3) in FIG. 2). This is part combination means.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for creating an event flow by combining registered parts.

  Although not shown in FIG. 10, in consideration of the usability of the operator who creates the workflow system in the workflow creation system, a list of various registered parts is displayed, and the operator selects a desired part from the list. It is desirable to be able to do it. At this time, it is desirable that a desired part can be set in the part setting field 102b by so-called drag and drop from the list or the like to the part setting field 102b of the input / output means 102.

  In the part setting field 102b of the screen of FIG. 10, an event flow is assembled with a combination of parts already registered.

  In the example of FIG. 10, as an outline, the “Question” part “Does the address change?” Is set under the “Category” part “About address”, and the “Question” part “Does the address change?” The “Selection” part “Yes” and the “Selection” part “No” are set below.

  The operation when the event flow is executed in the workflow system when the event flow is assembled as shown in FIG. 10 will be described for << Category >> "Address".

  When a user who uses the workflow system, such as an employee, who wants to enter a form corresponding to the event that occurred, enters the name of the event that occurred, “marriage”, to “select” the form that needs to be submitted to the company The question screen is displayed. In the question screen, “[about address]” is displayed as the title.

  Next, on the question screen, options of “Yes” and “No” are displayed together with a question “Does the address change?”.

  When the user selects “Yes”, “Yes” and “No” options are displayed along with a question “Does the commuting route change?”.

  When the user selects “Yes”, “commuter commuter pass change notice” is “selected” as a form that needs to be submitted to the company.

  If the user selects “No” in the question “Does the commuting route change?”, The “Need” part is used to exit from the nesting.

  Thereafter, after the signal “address has changed!” Is turned ON, “address change notification” is “selected” as a form that needs to be submitted to the company.

  If the user selects “No” in the question “Does the address change?”, The “Need” part is used to escape from the nesting and proceed to the next category.

  If such an event flow is acceptable, when an operator who creates a workflow system with this workflow creation system performs, the operator clicks the OK button 102a, for example, to click the event name “marriage”. The event flow registration is complete. This registration is performed, for example, by storing in the storage means 103 (step (A-4) in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 10, this event flow includes the contents of questions, the order of questions, selection targets (form names, etc.) that can be selected according to the answers to the questions, processing according to the answers to the questions, and the like. Configured.

  By the way, regardless of the data structure when storing the event flow composed of this question and processing according to the answer in the storage means 103, any of the conventionally known storage formats may be used. A data structure as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-399543 (name of the invention "data management system") filed earlier by the applicant of the present application can also be adopted. Since this data structure has already been described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-399543, here is a brief description. As shown in FIG. 10, when each part has a vertical relationship (parent-child relationship) with other parts, When storing the data of each part, it is stored together with information indicating which parts are all at the higher level.

The above is the event flow creation means for creating an event flow that is a process flow accompanying the occurrence of the event for each event based on the input from the operator. ,
As described above, in the workflow creation system of the present embodiment, different event flows can be easily created as described above for each event such as “marriage” and “transfer” or for each company as a user. Also, a workflow system control program (including a user interface such as question display control and input control for the user) that actually operates as a workflow system based on this event flow is created in advance, and the workflow creation system revisits it. By eliminating the need for creation, the workflow creation system can create only the above-described event flow, which can improve user convenience and convenience.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the workflow system created as described above will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a workflow system for operating a workflow program created by the workflow creation system according to the present invention. Here, the workflow program includes the above-described event flow and a workflow system control program that actually operates as a workflow system based on the event flow (including so-called user interfaces such as display control of questions to the user and input control). Suppose that

  This workflow system is a system that automates company operations. For example, when an event that occurs in each employee of the company needs to be managed by the company, the processing required by the company when the event occurs is handled. Specifically, the above event flow is stored in the storage means of the computer, and questions are asked to employees etc. based on this event flow, “Select” forms, slips, etc. that need to be submitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the workflow system according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting a server computer 1, a printer 2, a personal computer 3, and a personal computer 4 via a network 5.

  The workflow system according to the present embodiment employs a network configuration as shown in FIG. 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be executed by a computer that operates stand-alone. It doesn't matter.

  In FIG. 11, the network 5 may be any network, for example, a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or token ring, the Internet, or the like, regardless of wired or wireless, or a communication protocol. Each device connected to the network 5 is preset with an address on the network, and each device is identified by this address and communicates with other devices connected to the network 5.

  The printer 2 is a device that can print a form or the like according to instructions from each device connected to the network 5.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server computer 1 shown in FIG.

  The server computer 1 includes a network connection unit 14 that is an interface with the network 5 shown in FIG. 11, a control unit 11 such as a CPU or MPU that controls the operation of the entire server computer 1, and a user operation on the server computer 1. Input / output means 12 for inputting instructions and the like, and for displaying and outputting various information to the user by the server computer 1, and storage means 13 for storing programs and parameters necessary for the operation of the server computer 1 It is configured. As the input / output means 12, for example, a keyboard or a mouse is used for input, and a display device or the like is used for output.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the personal computer 3 shown in FIG.

  Since the personal computers 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 11 have the same basic configuration according to the present embodiment, the personal computer 3 will be described as a representative here.

  The personal computer 3 includes a network connection means 34 that is an interface with the network 5 shown in FIG. 11, a control means 31 such as a CPU and MPU that controls the operation of the whole personal computer 3, and a user performs operations, instructions, etc. on the personal computer 3. Input / output means 32 for inputting and displaying or outputting various information to the user by the personal computer 3 and storage means 33 for storing programs and parameters necessary for the operation of the personal computer 3. The As the input / output means 32, for example, a keyboard or a mouse is used for input, and a display device or the like is used for output.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  The workflow system according to the present embodiment is realized by starting an application program related to a workflow on the server computer 1 or the personal computer 3 and executing processing based on an event flow as shown in FIG.

  The event flow stored and registered in the storage unit 103 in step (A-4) in FIG. 2 needs to be stored in advance in the storage unit of the computer that executes the workflow. Here, it is assumed that this event flow is stored in the storage unit 13 of the server computer 1.

  In addition, here, as an example of a workflow, processing when an employee of a company needs to report the occurrence of an event about the company to the company will be described as an example.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the workflow system shown in FIG.

  The flowchart of FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when an employee of a company performs processing when an application is made to the company with the occurrence of an event by the workflow system of the present embodiment.

  Assume that the personal computers 3 and 4 are personal computers operated by employees of the company, and the following description will be given of a case where an employee operating the personal computer 3 reports the occurrence of an event about itself to the company.

  First, an employee who needs to report the occurrence of an event about himself / herself to the company operates the input / output means 32 of the personal computer 3 to input the event (S-1). In this step (S-1), for example, the name of the event that the employee has occurred is input. The names of the events include “marriage”, “transfer”, “childbirth”, “funeral”, and the like. When such an event name is input by an employee, that is, an operator of the personal computer 3, characters may be directly input. The event name may be selected and input (the event name of the event flow already registered in the storage unit 13 may be selected).

  The control means 31 of the personal computer 3 recognizes the event name input by the input / output means 32 and determines the type of the event (S-2). Here, the determination of the type of event means, for example, that the event that has occurred is “marriage” when the operator employs a configuration in which the operator directly inputs the name of the event in step (S-1). When, for example, “enrollment” is entered without entering “marriage”, it is determined that the event entered this time is “marriage”. This is because, for example, “enrollment” or the like, which is a similar word representing the event name such as “marriage”, is stored in advance in the storage means 33, for example, and the control means 31 is based on this association. This can be realized by obtaining the event name indicated by the input by the operator. This association can be stored in, for example, an RDB (relational database).

  The association between the event name and the similar word may be stored in the storage unit 13 of the server computer 1, and the process for determining the type of the event may be performed by the control unit 11 of the server computer 1. .

  In addition, when an event name option is displayed in step (S-1), and the operator selects and inputs the corresponding event name, the type of event in step (S-2) is determined. Processing is not necessary.

  If the event name input by the operator this time is recognized after step (S-2), a form that may need to be submitted to the company when an event with that event name occurs Is determined (S-3).

  The processing in this step (S-3) is executed by reading the event flow of the event name input by the operator this time from the storage means 13 and asking the operator along the event flow.

  That is, the control means 31 of the personal computer 3 receives the event flow read from the storage means 13 from the server computer 1, and the input / output means 32 executes each question of the << Question >> part described in the event flow. Then, the operator receives an answer to the response and “selects” a necessary form or the like.

  When a necessary form or the like can be acquired in this way, the format (style) of the input item or the like of the form or the like is acquired from the storage means 33 or the storage means 13, for example.

  In the control means 31 of the personal computer 3 that has acquired information such as a form that may be necessary (format (form) of the form), the information is presented to the operator by the input / output means 32, and the operator In response, the input / output means 32 inputs corresponding items for each item of the format such as each form (S-4).

  After the input of each item such as each necessary form by the operator is completed as described above, the operator can print each form and the like input by the operator with the printer 2 as necessary. This can be realized by transmitting print data, that is, data such as a form, to the printer 2 through the network connection unit 34 and the network 5 under the control of the control unit 31.

  If the operator completes the input to each item such as each form by the input / output means 32 of the personal computer 3, the control means 31 of the personal computer 3 uses the input contents of step (S-4) as the network connection means 34 and the network. 5 to the server computer 1.

  The control means 11 of the server computer 1 that has received the input contents of each form and the like transmitted from the personal computer 3 via the network 5 and the network connection means 14 is stored in advance in, for example, the storage means 13. , Read the destination of each form (for example, form 1 is sent to the general affairs department, form 2 is sent to the accounting department, form 3 is sent to the human resources department and general affairs department, etc.) 3, the contents input by the operator such as each form received from 3 are transmitted to the person in charge in each organization and each department of the company.

  For this transmission, a mail server having a protocol such as SMTP is provided in the network 5 (the server computer 1 may also serve), and an email address is set for each person in charge of each organization or department of the company or each employee. You may make it transmit to an e-mail address. Moreover, the owner, ie, operator, is defined for each of a plurality of personal computers connected to the network 5, and a transmission addressed to a certain person is sent to that personal computer. May be transmitted directly. In addition, the storage means 13 of the server computer 1 is provided with boxes (storage areas) for persons in charge of each organization and department of each company and each employee, and a transmission addressed to a certain person is stored in that person's box. Thus, the person in charge of each department or each employee may refer to the inside of his / her box by remote operation from his / her personal computer, for example, and obtain a transmission addressed to himself / herself.

  By doing in this way, each form etc. can be reliably transmitted to the correct destination.

  The person in charge of each organization or department of the company that received the form from the server computer 1 performs the procedure determined for each form, etc. (execution of transportation cost change, etc.) (S- 5). At this time, the person in charge in each organization or department of the company can print each received form by the printer 2 as necessary. This is performed by the printer 2 via the network connection means (corresponding to the network connection means 34 of the personal computer 3) and the network 5 under the control of the personal computer control means (corresponding to the control means 31 of the personal computer 3) operated by the person in charge. On the other hand, it can be realized by transmitting print data, that is, data such as a form.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the workflow creation system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the event flow registration process which is an example of operation | movement of the workflow production system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which requests | requires input of an event name with respect to an operator. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << category >> parts among multiple types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << question >> parts among a plurality of types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << selection | part >> parts of multiple types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << form >> parts of multiple types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << signal >> parts among multiple types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen registered about << signal judgment >> parts among a plurality of types of parts. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which produces an event flow combining the registered parts. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the workflow system which operates the workflow program created with the workflow creation system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server computer shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the personal computer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of operation | movement of the workflow system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server computer 2 Printer 3 Personal computer 4 Personal computer 5 Network 11 Control means 12 Input / output means 13 Storage means 14 Network connection means 31 Control means 32 Input / output means 33 Storage means 34 Network connection means 100 Personal computer 101 Control means 102 Input / output means 102a OK Button 102b Parts setting field 103 Storage means

Claims (6)

In a workflow creation system that creates a workflow system that automates the flow of work using a computer,
An event flow creation means for creating an event flow, which is a process flow accompanying the occurrence of the event, for each event based on an input from the operator;
A workflow creation system comprising: a workflow system control program that operates as a workflow system control program based on the event flow.   The event flow creating means combines the parts registration means for registering the parts constituting the event flow based on the input from the operator and the parts registered by the parts registration means based on the input from the operator. The workflow creation system according to claim 1, further comprising a part combination unit that creates a flow.   The workflow creation system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the parts registered by the part registration unit is a question part that is a question for a user who uses the workflow system.   The workflow creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the workflow system control program includes a user interface for a user who uses the workflow system.   Only the event flow created by the event flow creation means is different for each of a plurality of events and a plurality of users using the workflow system, and the workflow system control program is common to the plurality of events and the plurality of users. The workflow creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein In a workflow creation program that runs on a computer to create a workflow program that runs on a computer to automate the flow of work,
A program that causes a computer to function as an event flow creation unit that creates an event flow that is a process flow associated with the occurrence of an event for each event based on an input from an operator;
A workflow creation program comprising: a workflow system control program that operates as a workflow system control program based on the event flow.

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