Patent ID: 8601478
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: G06Q,H04N

Abstract:
1. A workflow executing apparatus, in a plurality of workflow executing apparatuses, which executes a workflow comprising a plurality of steps as defined by a workflow definition, the workflow executing apparatus comprising: a processor; an obtaining unit to obtain personal information associated with a user instructing the workflow to be executed and related to the execution of the workflow; a modifying unit to modify the workflow definition corresponding to the workflow to be executed, based on the personal information obtained with the obtaining unit; a dividing unit to divide the workflow definition modified with the modifying unit into a plurality of divided workflow definitions; an adding unit to add processing to link together the plurality of divided workflow definitions divided with the dividing unit; an executing unit to execute at least one of the plurality of divided workflow definitions divided with the dividing unit; a sending unit to send at least one other divided workflow definition divided with the dividing unit to a second workflow executing apparatus in the plurality of workflow executing apparatuses, wherein the second workflow executing apparatus executes a portion of the workflow as defined by the at least one other divided workflow definition; and wherein the dividing unit determines whether each workflow apparatus in the plurality of workflow executing apparatuses is able to execute each portion of the workflow as defined by each of the plurality of divided workflow definitions to be initially divided with the dividing unit, and extracts one or more candidate workflow executing apparatuses, which in combination, can sequentially execute the workflow as defined by the plurality of divided workflow definitions; and wherein the one or more extracted candidates are selected with the combination requiring the fewest number of divisions; and wherein the workflow definition modified with the modifying unit is then divided based on the selected combination of workflow executing apparatuses.