Delivery system and computer program product

When delivery data input to a delivery server is directly input to an MFP by an applicant, an examination request flow is determined as a flow to be executed next. When the delivery data input to the delivery server is transmitted from an information processing apparatus of an examiner, an approval request flow is determined as the flow to be executed next. When the delivery data input to the delivery server is transmitted from the information processing apparatus of an approver, an issuance flow is determined as the flow to be executed next.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority document 2007-0008539 filed in Japan on Jan. 17, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technology for delivering electronic data to a delivery destination.

2. Description of the Related Art

A delivery system that delivers electronic data stored in a document database or the like to an electronic mail (email) address specified by a user or to a folder on a file system has been conventionally used (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-62859, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-274150, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-288041, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-175594).

Further, a workflow system that defines a series of workflows relating to a certain operation or a series of flows standardized according to a work content to execute an operation based on the defined workflow has been heretofore used (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-282970). For example, in a case that a document is circulated to many persons in a company, when a workflow is used, the time required for each person to come to a place where the document is placed can be saved, thereby enabling speed-up of operations.

There has been a technique for circulating an electronic mail or an electronic document by applying the workflow to a delivery system that delivers electronic data to a delivery destination. According to this technique, as shown inFIG. 12, one flow can be built for one delivery destination. Therefore, portable document format (PDF)-converted data can be delivered by email delivery or folder delivery. In other words, because a plurality of delivery processes can be concurrently executed by one delivery operation, efficient processing is possible, and a user needs only to perform one delivery operation.

However, according to the conventional technique, after email delivery or folder delivery has been executed by one workflow, the flow cannot be repeated again. Therefore, in the company, when an operation is performed by transferring the electronic mail or the electronic document between persons in charge (applicant, examiner, and approver), there is a problem that such a workflow cannot be realized that examination by the examiner and approval by the approver are organized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a delivery system including a delivery server that executes a workflow by receiving electronic data from an image forming apparatus and delivering the electronic data to a delivery destination. The workflow defines a plurality of delivery flows.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product including a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program codes embodied in the medium that when executed cause a computer to execute a delivery program for executing a function of a delivery server in a delivery system delivery system. The delivery server executes a workflow by receiving electronic data from an image forming apparatus and delivering the electronic data to a delivery destination. The workflow defines a plurality of delivery flows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the invention is not limited to the embodiments. Furthermore, constituent elements in the embodiments include elements that persons skilled in the art can easily assume or that are substantially the same.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an example of a configuration of a delivery system1according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The delivery system1according to the first embodiment includes a multifunction product (MFP)100, a scanner application server200, a delivery server300, and an information processor400and is communicably connected to each other via a network500. While the delivery system1shown inFIG. 1includes four MFPs100, one scanner application server200, and two delivery servers300, the number of respective devices is not limited to the one shown inFIG. 1.

A basic configuration of respective devices constituting the first embodiment is explained first.

The MFP100is an image forming apparatus in which a copy function, a fax function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a function for delivering the electronic data (image data read by the scanner function or image data input by the printer function or the fax function) are combined.

The MFP100includes a storage unit140(seeFIG. 2) for registering location information (URL or IP address) of the scanner application server200and the delivery server300. The location information is registered by a management program102installed beforehand in the MFP100.

The user can activate a scanner application210(seeFIG. 2) installed beforehand in the scanner application server200, by using the MFP100to perform an arbitrary operation (for example, pressing a scanner key). At the time of activating the scanner application210, the MFP100refers to the location information registered in the storage unit140, to request the scanner application server200to acquire user interface (UI) information. The UI information indicates a screen to be displayed on an operation panel110(seeFIG. 2) included in the MFP100.

The user can set the delivery data (information indicating an output method of electronic data and information indicating a delivery destination) via the operation panel110of the MFP100. After setting an arbitrary delivery destination (To, Cc, Bcc, etc. of email address) via the screen displayed on the operation panel110, the user arranges a paper medium of the electronic data to be delivered on an auto document feeder (ADF) included in the MFP100, thereby enabling execution of the scan. The MFP100also refers to the location information to transmit the scanned electronic data together with the delivery data to the delivery server300.

The email address of the examiner is set to the MFP100as the delivery destination of the email. The email addresses of the approver and a distributor are set to the delivery server300via the MFP100. The delivery server300delivers the email to the set email addresses.

Upon reception of an acquisition request of the UI information from the MFP100, the scanner application server200generates the UI information and transmits the generated UI information to the MFP100. The MFP100to be the destination of the UI information builds a screen corresponding to the content thereof on the operation panel110.

The delivery server300delivers the electronic data received from the MFP100to the information processor400. Specifically, the delivery server300analyzes the information indicating the output method of the electronic data received from the MFP100and the information indicating the delivery destination, and delivers the electronic data to the information processor400of the examiner, the approver, or an issuer as the delivery destination, based on the analyzed result. The delivered electronic data is received by a program installed in the information processor400.

The delivery server300according to the first embodiment delivers the electronic data to the information processor400. However, the delivery server300can deliver the electronic data to the information processor400via, for example, an external system.

The information processor400transfers the email between the delivery server300and the information processor400. The information processor400can store the electronic data as a document in a file folder delivered from the delivery server300and perform predetermined image processing with respect to the document. The examiner or the approver who is a receiver of the email from the delivery server300confirms an application content, using the information processor400.

A basic process performed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment is explained next with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of an example of a functional configuration of the delivery system1.

When the user activates the scanner application210via the operation panel110, an acquisition request of the UI information to be displayed on the operation panel110is transmitted to the scanner application server200by an operation-panel display application120(S1).

The scanner application210in the scanner application server200generates UI information and transmits the generated UI information to the operation panel110with respect to the acquisition request by the operation-panel display application120(S2).

The operation-panel display application120displays a screen indicating the UI information on the operation panel110, so that a scanning process is executed by a scanner framework130to read the electronic data (S3). The user can specify the delivery data (output method, delivery destination, and the like) via the operation panel110.

The electronic data read by the scanner framework130is temporarily stored in the storage unit140in the MFP100(S4).

The scanner framework130requests an electronic-data transfer program150to deliver the electronic data together with the delivery data specified by the user via the operation panel110(S5).

The electronic data stored in the storage unit140is acquired by the electronic-data transfer program150, the acquired electronic data is transmitted to the delivery server300together with the delivery data, and the transmitted electronic data and the delivery data are acquired by an electronic-data reception program310(S6).

The received delivery data is transferred to a delivery-destination-information solution program320by the electronic-data reception program310in the delivery server300(S7).

An output unit and a delivery address are determined by the delivery-destination-information solution program320based on the delivery data (S8).

The electronic data to be delivered, the information indicating the output unit of the electronic data, and the information indicating the delivery destination are transmitted to an electronic-data delivery program330by the delivery-destination-information solution program320to request execution of delivery (S9).

The electronic data is delivered to the information processor400, which is the delivery destination, by the electronic-data delivery program330(S10).

A workflow10executed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment is explained with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of the workflow10executed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment.

A plurality of delivery flows is defined in the workflow10executed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 3, an examination request flow20, an approval request flow30, and an issuance flow40are defined as the delivery flow.

In the examination request flow20, the electronic data scanned by the MFP100is converted to PDF, and the PDF-converted electronic data is delivered by an email. In the examination request flow20, the email is delivered to the information processor400of the pre-set examiner in the email delivery connected lastly. The examiner having received the email delivered by the execution of the examination request flow20confirms the delivery content. When determining that there is no problem in the application content, the examiner replies to the email.

In the approval request flow30, upon reception of the email replied from the examiner, the email is delivered. In the approval request flow30, the email is delivered to the information processor400of the preset examiner. The approver having received the email delivered by the execution of the approval request flow30confirms the delivery content. When determining that there is no problem in the application content, the approver replies to the email.

In the issuance flow40, upon reception of the email replied from the approver, the information indicating the approved electronic data is registered, and an approval notification is issued to the delivery destination, to which the registered electronic data is preset. The delivery destination is an applicant, the examiner, a manager of the delivery system1, or a person associated with the delivery system1.

A unit that executes one workflow10in which the delivery flows are defined is explained with reference toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of an example of a header of the email to be delivered to the information processor400of the examiner by executing the examination request flow20.

As shown inFIG. 4, “applicant” <user@xxx.co.jp> is described as the name and an email address of a sender in the header of the email to be delivered to the information processor400of the examiner. As shown inFIG. 4, “examiner” <sinsa@xxx.co.jp> is described as the delivery destination. As shown inFIG. 4, “delivery server email input” <email_input@xxx.co.jp> is described as a reply destination of the email by the examiner. Examination request <FlowID=“0001”> is described as a subject of the email.

Because the content of the header of the email to be delivered to the information processor400of the approver is the same as that of the header shown inFIG. 4, explanations thereof will be omitted.

The examiner receives the email delivered from the applicant via the MFP100by the information processor400used by the examiner to confirm that there is no problem in the application content from the applicant. When determining that there is no problem in the application content, the examiner replies to the delivery server300in an email via the information processor400.

“Examiner” <sinsa@xxx.co.jp> is described in the header of the email transmitted from the examiner to the delivery server300via the information processor400as the name and an email address of the sender.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of an example of a flow definition table340stored in the delivery server300. As shown in the drawing, the flow definition table340includes a From address column342and a FlowId column344. The email address of the examiner or the approver is set in the From address column342. A flow to be executed according to the email received by the delivery server300is set in the FlowId column344. The delivery server300refers to the name and the email address of the sender described in the header of the received email to determine whether the received email is from the examiner or the approver.

For example, because “examiner” <sinsa@xxx.co.jp> is described in the header of the email from the examiner, the delivery server300can determine that the sender of the email is the examiner. The delivery server300then refers to the FlowId column344in the flow definition table340, and determines the approval request flow30as the flow to be executed next, so that the approval request flow30is executed. When “approver” <shounin@xxx.co.jp> is described in the header of the received email, the delivery server300determines that the email is from the approver, determines the issuance flow40as the flow to be executed next, so that the issuance flow40is executed.

Thus, the flow corresponding to an input source of the received email is defined beforehand to execute the flow according to the definition, thereby enabling to execute one workflow10in which the delivery flows are defined.

The process of the workflow10executed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment is explained with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a flowchart of a process procedure for the workflow10executed by the delivery system1according to the first embodiment.

The delivery data is input to the delivery server300(step SA-1). The delivery data input at step SA-1is directly input by the applicant via the operation panel110of the MFP100or received from the information processor400of the examiner or the approver.

When the delivery data input at step SA-1is directly input by the applicant to the MFP100(YES at step SA-2), the examination request flow20is determined as the flow to be executed next (step SA-3), so that the examination request flow20is executed (step SA-4).

When the delivery data input at step SA-1is not directly input by the applicant to the MFP100(NO at step SA-2), but is transmitted from the information processor400of the examiner (YES at step SA-5), the approval request flow30is determined as the flow to be executed next (step SA-6), so that the approval request flow30is executed (step SA-7).

When the delivery data input at step SA-1is not directly input by the applicant to the MFP100(NO at step SA-2), and is not transmitted from the information processor400of the examiner (NO at step SA-5), the issuance flow40is determined as the flow to be executed next (step SA-8), so that the issuance flow40is executed (step SA-9).

Accordingly, according to the delivery system1according to the first embodiment, the email is transmitted to the examiner via the delivery server300. Upon reception of the email, the examiner replies to the delivery server300. The delivery server300refers to the header of the email to determine the approval request flow30as the flow to be executed next, and transmits an email to the approver. Upon reception of the email, the approver replies to the delivery server300. The delivery server300refers to the header of the email to determine the issuance flow40as the flow to be executed next, and transmits an email to a delivery destination. Accordingly, one workflow in which the delivery flows are defined can be executed. Specifically, when an operation is performed by transferring emails between persons in charge (applicant, examiner, and approver), one workflow in which application, examination, approval, and issuance are organized can be realized.

The delivery server300according to the first embodiment can define a plurality of examiners.FIG. 7is a schematic diagram of an example of the flow definition table340. As shown in the drawing, in the flow definition table340, the examiners in the From address column342can be recorded and set. When the examiners are set, the delivery server300delivers an email in which “examination request” is written as a subject sequentially to the examiners.

While one approver is recorded and set in the flow definition table340shown inFIG. 7, a plurality of examiners can be set.

Because the delivery server300sets a plurality of examiners or approvers and an email is delivered sequentially to the examiners or approvers, the number of examiners or approvers can be changed according to importance of the application content.

When an email is used for circulation, the configuration can be such that the email is not delivered sequentially to the examiners, but is simultaneously delivered to the examiners, and when there are replies by emails from all of the examiners at the delivery destinations, control shifts to the approval request flow30. Likewise, the configuration can be such that the email is simultaneously delivered to a plurality of approvers, and when there are replies by emails from all of the approvers, control shifts to the issuance flow40.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bare schematic diagrams of examples of the flow definition table340when the emails are simultaneously delivered to a plurality of examiners. A complete/incomplete column346indicates presence of reply from the examiner or the approver. When there is a reply from the examiner or the approver, a character “complete” is input to the complete/incomplete column346corresponding to the replied examiner or approver.FIG. 8Aindicates that a reply from sinsaA@xxx.co.jp and sinsaB@xxx.co.jp is already complete, respectively. When there is a reply from sinsaC@xxx.co.jp and sinsaD@xxx.co.jp, respectively, and when the complete/incomplete column346corresponding to the email addresses of the examiners in the From address column342is completely filled with the character “complete” as shown inFIG. 8B, an email is delivered to the email address of the approver set in the From address column342and the approval request flow30is executed.

When an email is simultaneously delivered to a plurality of examiners for circulation, and there are replies by emails from all of the examiners or approvers at the delivery destinations, control can shift to the approval request flow30or to the issuance flow40. Accordingly, the delivery system1that requires agreement of all of the examiners can be realized.

A delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is explained below. In the first embodiment, the examiner or the approver having received the email from the delivery server300confirms the application content via the information processor400.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the examiner or the approver having received the email from the delivery server300confirms the application content via the operation panel110of the MFP100.

A conformation method of the application content by the examiner or the approver, which is a characteristic part of the second embodiment, is explained with reference toFIGS. 9A to 9E. The confirmation method of the application content by the examiner is explained below, and because the confirmation method of the application content by the approver is the same as that by the examiner, explanations thereof will be omitted.

The MFP100according to the second embodiment notifies an examination number required when the examiner performs examination via the operation panel110of the MFP100, via the delivery server300. Therefore, the MFP100manages the application content to be examined for each examiner in association with the information indicating whether the examination content is confirmed by the examiner.

FIG. 9Ais a schematic diagram of an example of a login screen50displayed on the operation panel110of the MFP100. The examiner inputs predetermined items respectively in a user name field52, a password field54, and a domain name field56.

When the examiner presses a login button58on the login screen50, as shown inFIG. 9B, the MFP100displays a normal operation screen60on the operation panel110.

When the examiner presses an examination process button62on the normal operation screen60, as shown inFIG. 9C, the MFP100displays an examination-number input screen70on the operation panel110.

When the examiner inputs an examination number notified from the delivery server300in an examination-number input field72on the examination-number input screen70and presses an OK button74, as shown inFIG. 9D, the MFP100displays an examination list screen80indicating the information of the application content on the operation panel110.

When the examiner presses, for example, a Test1button82on the examination list screen80, the MFP100displays a screen (not shown), on which the document of Test1to be examined can be viewed on the operation panel110.

The examiner can print the document (Test1) displayed on a browsing screen on the operation panel110. The MFP100can print the document having an embedded pattern. The MFP100can also transmit the document displayed on the browsing screen on the operation panel110to an address specified by the email. The examiner can also select whether the output format of the document displayed on the browsing screen is to be printed out or to be transmitted by the email.

When the examination button84on the examination list screen80is pressed by the examiner, the delivery system1shifts from the examination request flow20to the approval request flow30. That is, the MFP100delivers the email to the information processor400of the approver via the delivery server300.

When finishing the login process via the login screen50(seeFIG. 9A), the MFP100according to the second embodiment displays the normal operation screen60(seeFIG. 9B) and displays the examination-number input screen70(seeFIG. 9C) when the examination process button62is pressed. However, for example, when finishing the login process, the MFP100can display a pop-up dialog64for notifying that there is an item to be examined, as shown inFIG. 9E, together with the normal operation screen60. In such a configuration, when an OK button66in the pop-up dialog64and the examination process button62are continuously pressed by the examiner, the MFP100displays the examination list screen80(seeFIG. 9D).

Accordingly, in the delivery system1according to the second embodiment, the MFP100manages the application content to be examined for each examiner in association with the information indicating whether the examination content is confirmed by the examiner, and transmits an email including the examination number to the examiner. When the examiner having received the email inputs the received examination number via the operation panel110of the MFP100, the examination list screen80is displayed. Accordingly, the examiner can perform the examination process via the operation panel110of the MFP100.

In the delivery system1according to the second embodiment, when the login process via the login screen50is completed, the pop-up dialog64is displayed simultaneously with the normal operation screen60. Accordingly, the examiner can easily ascertain whether there is an item to be examined.

A delivery system1according to a third embodiment of the present invention is explained next. In the first embodiment, the electronic data scanned by the MFP100is delivered to the information processor400of the examiner or the approver via the delivery server300.

On the contrary, in the third embodiment, the electronic data scanned by the MFP100is uploaded together with a form for confirming the application content, and information indicating a link destination of the uploaded form is delivered to the information processor of the examiner or the approver by an email.

A conformation method of the application content by the examiner or the approver, which is the characteristic part of the third embodiment, is explained below with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11. The confirmation method of the application content by the examiner is explained below, and because the confirmation method of the application content by the approver is the same as that by the examiner, explanations thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10is a schematic diagram of an example of the examination request flow20in the third embodiment. In the examination request flow20in the third embodiment, as shown inFIG. 10, the electronic data scanned by the MFP100is converted to PDF, the PDF-converted electronic data is delivered to a Web server (not shown) together with the form for confirming the application content, and an email including the information indicating the link destination of the electronic data delivered to the Web server is delivered to the information processor400of the examiner.

FIG. 11is a schematic diagram of an example of the email delivered from the MFP100to the examiner by executing the examination request flow20in the third embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the MFP100delivers an email including information indicating the link destination of the uploaded form to the information processor400of the examiner.

The examiner having received the email shown inFIG. 11can confirm the application content based on the form of the link destination. Accordingly, because the subject included in the header of the email received from the MFP100cannot be corrected, execution of the approval request flow30due to an unauthorized operation can be prevented beforehand.

In the delivery system1according to the third embodiment, the MFP100uploads the scanned electronic data together with the form for confirming the application content, and delivers the email including the information indicating the link destination of the uploaded form to the information processor400of the examiner or the approver. The examiner or the approver then confirms the delivery content based on the form of the link destination via the information processor400. Accordingly, execution of the approval request flow30due to an unauthorized operation can be prevented beforehand.

The object of the present invention can be also achieved by providing a recording medium, on which a program code of software that realizes the function of the delivery server300is recorded, to a system or a device and executing the program code stored on the recording medium by a computer (or CPU, MPU, or DSP) of the system or the device.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the function of the delivery server300, and therefore the recording medium storing the program code or a program thereof constitutes the present invention. An optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optic recording medium, and a semiconductor recording medium, such as a flexible disk (FD), a hard disk (HD), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a CD-recordable (CD-R), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory, and a read only memory (ROM), can be used as the recording medium for distributing the program code.

It is a matter of course that not only the function of the delivery server300is realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also an operating system (OS) operating on the computer can perform a part of or the entire actual process based on an instruction in the program code, to realize the function of the image processor by the process.

Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory included in a function enhancement board inserted into the computer or a function enhancement unit connected to the computer, a CPU included in the function enhancement board or the function enhancement unit can also perform a part of or the entire actual process based on the instruction in the program code, to realize the function of the delivery server by the process.

As described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, when transfer of an electronic mail or an electronic document is performed between persons in charge (applicant, examiner, and approver) to perform an operation, a workflow in which application, examination, and approval are organized can be realized.