WORKFLOW PROCESSING APPARATUS, WORKFLOW PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

Abstract

A workflow processing apparatus includes a request receiving unit that receives an input related to a work, an execution-flow creating unit that creates an execution flow to perform the work, and an execution determining unit that determines whether the execution flow is executable. The workflow processing apparatus further includes an execution-flow storage unit that stores executable execution flow, a flow control unit that controls execution of the executable execution flow, and a function control unit that controls resources to perform the functions under control of the flow control unit. The resources include an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a workflow system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by the workflow system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic for explaining a network environment surrounding an MFP according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of the MFP;

FIG. 5 is a schematic for explaining a relationship between software and hardware of the MFP;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of software in a controller of the MFP that functions as a workflow processing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a macro registration process performed by the workflow processing apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a schematic for explaining macro setting;

FIG. 9 is a schematic for explaining automatic macro setting;

FIG. 10 is a schematic of an execution flow of a macro shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic of an execution flow of a macro shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an example of contents of an input/output-function association table;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a basic process performed by the workflow processing apparatus; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process performed by the workflow processing apparatus utilizing a registered macro to carry out a work.

Claims

1. A workflow processing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives an input related to a work;a flow creating unit that creates a flow of the work indicating processes of the work, an order in which the processes are performed, functions required for the processes, and settings for the functions;a determining unit that determines whether the flow is executable;a storing unit that stores executable flow in a storage device;a flow control unit that controls execution of the executable flow in the storage device; anda function control unit that controls resources to perform the functions under control of the flow control unit, the resources including an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit.

2. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a table storage unit that stores therein an association table, the association table containing an association between at least a function, an input medium, and an output medium, wherein the flow creating unit refers to the association table to determine possible combinations of functions to perform the processes, and selects a combination of functions.

3. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a function managing unit that determines whether the resources provide the functions selected by the flow creating unit, wherein the determining unit determines whether the flow is executable based on determination by the function managing unit.

4. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit determines whether the functions are available, and informs the flow creating unit of determination result.

5. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the functions include contradictory functions that are not available together, the determining unit determines that the functions are not available.

6. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the flow creating unit creates the flow, the determining unit determines whether the functions and the settings for the functions are available based on a processing state of the workflow processing apparatus and a condition of each device in the workflow processing apparatus.

7. The workflow processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resources handle image data.

8. A workflow processing method comprising: receiving an input related to a work;creating a flow of the work indicating processes of the work, an order in which the processes are performed, functions required for the processes, and settings for the functions;determining whether the flow is executable;storing executable flow in a storage device;controlling execution of the executable flow in the storage device; andcontrolling resources to perform the functions, the resources including an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit.

9. The workflow processing method according to claim 8, further comprising storing an association table, the association table containing an association between at least a function, an input medium, and an output medium, wherein the creating includes referring to the association table to determine possible combinations of functions to perform the processes, and selecting a combination of functions.

10. The workflow processing method according to claim 9, further comprising checking whether the resources provide selected functions, wherein the determining includes determining whether the flow is executable based on check result.

11. The workflow processing method according to claim 10, wherein the determining includes determining whether the functions are available, and reporting determination result.

12. The workflow processing method according to claim 11, wherein the determining includes determining that the functions are not available when the functions include contradictory functions that are not available together.

13. The workflow processing method according to claim 10, wherein the determining includes determining, upon creation of the flow, whether the functions and the settings for the functions are available based on a processing state of a workflow processing apparatus and a condition of each device in the workflow processing apparatus.

14. The workflow processing method according to claim 8, wherein the resources handle image data.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program codes embodied in the medium that, when executed, cause a computer to execute: receiving an input related to a work;creating a flow of the work indicating processes of the work, an order in which the processes are performed, functions required for the processes, and settings for the functions;determining whether the flow is executable;storing executable flow in a storage device;controlling execution of the executable flow in the storage device; andcontrolling resources to perform the functions, the resources including an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit.