Information processing system and information processing program

Abstract

To obtain an information processing system and an information processing program, capable of more easily selecting desired cloud service compared to when cloud service in which a case waiting for processing is registered is not preferentially displayed.SOLUTION: An information processing system 1 includes: a reception unit 31A that receives a registration of a case waiting for processing, the case being scheduled for a user to execute predetermined additional processing to any of a plurality of kinds of cloud service in a target device (image forming device 50); and an execution unit 51A that, when the user selects the cloud service in which the corresponding case waiting for processing is registered in order to execute the additional processing from the plurality of kinds of cloud service in the target device, preferentially executes processing of displaying the cloud service in which the case waiting for processing is registered of the plurality of kinds of cloud service in a list as a selection candidate in the target device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system and an information processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming device that aims to provide a mechanism for optimally updating applications when a service that is not compatible with an application installed on the image forming device is included among the services that a user can access.

[0003] This image forming device comprises an authentication means for receiving a user's authentication information and performing authentication, a judgment means for judging, when authentication by the authentication means is successful, whether or not information on services accessible to the user, included in the authentication result, can be handled by an application installed in the image forming device, and an update control means for displaying a message regarding an update of the application on a display unit when it is determined by the judgment means that the services accessible by the user cannot be handled by the application. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-166377 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Recently, workflow systems have been put into operation to improve the efficiency of a series of tasks performed by multiple users, and are used to approve and circulate electronic applications and notices in accordance with a predetermined workflow. Note that the term "workflow" used here means "a flow or collection of tasks that are linked in response to user processing."

[0006] On the other hand, in a workflow system, operations are sometimes performed using multiple types of cloud services, and in this case, when a single target device is shared by multiple users, the target device may link with multiple cloud services. Note that, examples of the types of cloud services include sales-related services such as a customer management system, a sales support system, and a sales management system, human resources-related services such as a human resources and payroll system, and services related to all departments such as business chat and Web conferences.

[0007] In this case, a user of the target device needs to select a desired service from the large number of cloud services, which requires a great deal of effort in the selection process.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing system and an information processing program that allow a desired cloud service to be selected more easily compared to a case in which the cloud service in which a pending process is registered is not displayed preferentially. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing system according to a first aspect includes one or more processors, and the processor accepts registration of a pending case by a user, which is a case in which a predetermined additional process is scheduled to be executed on a target device for any of a plurality of types of cloud services, and when the user selects from the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device the cloud service in which the corresponding pending case is registered in order to execute the additional process, executes a process of displaying a list of the cloud service in the plurality of types of cloud services in which the pending case is registered as a selection candidate on the target device with priority.

[0010] An information processing system according to a second aspect is the information processing system according to the first aspect, wherein the addition process is a process of adding predetermined additional information.

[0011] In addition, an information processing system according to a third aspect is the information processing system according to the second aspect, wherein the target device is an image processing device having an image reading function, and the additional information is scanned image information read by the image reading function of the image processing device.

[0012] In addition, an information processing system according to a fourth aspect is an information processing system according to the first aspect, in which the processor executes a process of displaying the list by preferentially displaying cloud services available to a login user who has logged in to the target device.

[0013] In addition, an information processing system according to a fifth aspect is an information processing system according to the fourth aspect, in which the processor executes the process of displaying the list by preferentially displaying the cloud service in which the pending cases registered by the logged-in user are registered.

[0014] In addition, an information processing system according to a sixth aspect is an information processing system according to the first aspect, in which the processor executes a process of highlighting cloud services in which the pending cases are registered as selection candidates and displaying them in a list on the target device in accordance with predetermined conditions.

[0015] In addition, an information processing system according to a seventh aspect is an information processing system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the predetermined conditions include at least one of displaying in order of delivery date for performing the additional processing and displaying in order of registration date of the case.

[0016] In addition, an information processing system according to an eighth aspect is an information processing system according to the first aspect, in which the processor executes a process of displaying a list on the target device as selection candidates only those cloud services in which the pending processing cases are registered.

[0017] An information processing system according to a ninth aspect is the information processing system according to the first aspect, wherein the processing of the case waiting to be processed is a workflow processing.

[0018] In addition, an information processing system according to a tenth aspect is an information processing system according to the first aspect, wherein, when a user selects a desired cloud service from the listed selection candidates, the processor executes a process of displaying on the target device a list of only the waiting cases registered by the user among the waiting cases registered in the selected cloud service as selection candidates.

[0019] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing program of an eleventh aspect causes a computer to execute a process that accepts registration of a pending case by a user for any of a plurality of types of cloud services, which is a case for which a predetermined additional processing is scheduled to be executed on a target device, and when the user selects from the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device the cloud service in which the corresponding pending case is registered in order to execute the additional processing, executes a process of displaying, as a list on the target device, the cloud service in which the pending case is registered, among the plurality of types of cloud services, as a selection candidate with priority. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the first and eleventh aspects, a desired cloud service can be selected more easily, compared to a case in which cloud services in which pending requests are registered are not preferentially displayed.

[0021] According to the second aspect, it is possible to preferentially display cloud services that perform a process of adding additional information as an additional process.

[0022] According to the third aspect, it is possible to preferentially display cloud services that perform a process of adding scanned image information as an additional process.

[0023] According to the fourth aspect, a desired cloud service can be more easily selected compared to a case in which cloud services available to the logged-in user are not subject to preferential display.

[0024] According to the fifth aspect, the desired cloud service can be selected more easily compared to a case in which the cloud service that is preferentially displayed is not the cloud service in which the pending processing item registered by the logged-in user is registered.

[0025] According to the sixth aspect, a desired cloud service can be selected more easily, compared to a case in which cloud services are unconditionally displayed as a list of selection candidates.

[0026] According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to facilitate the selection of an application that meets the applied conditions from among the applications that are selection candidates.

[0027] According to the eighth aspect, a desired cloud service can be selected more easily compared to when all cloud services are displayed.

[0028] According to the ninth aspect, the effects of the present disclosure can be enjoyed when a workflow is executed.

[0029] According to the tenth aspect, it is easier to select a desired waiting task than when the waiting tasks displayed as selection candidates are not narrowed down to tasks registered by the user who will perform the additional processing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an electrical system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a license information database according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a pending job database according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a first information process according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a service designation screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of second information processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a service designation screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating an example of a pending job presentation screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a front view showing another example of a service designation screen according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, here, a case where the technology of the present disclosure is applied to an information processing system that realizes the above-mentioned workflow will be described.

[0032] First, the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0033] 1, an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment includes a license server 10, a terminal device 30, an image forming device 50, and a plurality of cloud servers 80A, 80B, .... In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the cloud servers 80A, 80B, ..., they will be collectively referred to simply as "cloud server 80."

[0034] Examples of the license server 10, the terminal device 30, and the cloud server 80 include various stationary information processing devices such as a personal computer and a server computer. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various portable information processing devices such as a tablet terminal and a mobile information terminal may be applied as the license server 10, the terminal device 30, and the cloud server 80. In addition, in this embodiment, a digital multifunction peripheral having an image printing function, an image reading function, an image transmission function, and the like is applied as the image forming device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other image forming devices such as an image forming device having only an image printing function and an image reading function may be applied as the image forming device 50.

[0035] The license server 10, the terminal device 30, the image forming device 50, and the cloud server 80 are connected via a network N, and these devices are capable of communicating with each other via the network N. In this embodiment, the network N is a combination of a public communication line such as the Internet or a telephone network, and an in-company communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network), but is not limited to this form. For example, only one of the public communication line and the in-company communication line may be applied as the network N. In this embodiment, the network N is a combination of a wired and wireless communication line, but is not limited to this form. Only a wireless communication line or only a wired communication line may be applied.

[0036] 1, in order to avoid confusion, only one each of the license server 10, the terminal device 30, and the image forming device 50 are shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a system having at least one of these devices multiple times may be applied as the information processing system 1.

[0037] The information processing system 1 of this embodiment is configured to provide users with multiple types of cloud services that are made available in cooperation with the image forming device 50, and each of the multiple cloud servers 80 of this embodiment is configured to provide these cloud services.

[0038] In order to use the cloud services according to this embodiment, it is necessary to conclude a license agreement with the provider of the corresponding service. As shown in Fig. 1, the license server 10 according to this embodiment has a license information database 12 (details of which will be described later) in which information indicating users who have concluded a license agreement for each cloud service targeted by the information processing system 1 is registered.

[0039] On the other hand, as described below, the information processing system 1 of this embodiment is capable of registering, in the corresponding cloud server 80, a pending case in which a predetermined additional process is scheduled to be executed on a target device for any of the multiple types of cloud services mentioned above.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, each cloud server 80 according to this embodiment has a pending job database 82, the details of which will be described later, in which the above-mentioned pending jobs are registered.

[0041] Next, the configuration of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment.

[0042] 2, the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 as a processor, a memory 32 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 33, an input unit 34 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 35 such as a liquid crystal display, a medium reading and writing device (R / W) 36, and a communication interface (I / F) unit 38. The CPU 31, the memory 32, the storage unit 33, the input unit 34, the display unit 35, the medium reading and writing device 36, and the communication interface (I / F) unit 38 are connected to each other via a bus B1. The medium reading and writing device 36 reads information written in a recording medium 37 and writes information to the recording medium 37.

[0043] The storage unit 33 according to this embodiment is realized by a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, etc. The storage unit 33 serving as a storage medium stores a first information processing program 33A.

[0044] The first information processing program 33A is stored (installed) in the storage unit 33 by connecting a recording medium 37, on which the program 33A is written, to the medium reading and writing device 36, and the medium reading and writing device 36 reading the program 33A from the recording medium 37. The CPU 31 appropriately reads the first information processing program 33A from the storage unit 33, expands it in the memory 32, and sequentially executes the processes of the program 33A.

[0045] Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 50 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrical system of the image forming apparatus 50 according to this embodiment.

[0046] 3, the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 51 as a processor, a memory 52 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 53, an input unit 54 such as various switches, a display unit 55 such as a liquid crystal display, a medium reading and writing device (R / W) 56, and a communication I / F unit 58. The CPU 51, the memory 52, the storage unit 53, the input unit 54, the display unit 55, the medium reading and writing device 56, and the communication I / F unit 58 are connected to one another via a bus B2. The medium reading and writing device 56 reads information written in a recording medium 57 and writes information to the recording medium 57.

[0047] The storage unit 53 according to this embodiment is realized by an HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, or the like. A second information processing program 53A is stored in the storage unit 53 as a storage medium. The second information processing program 53A is stored (installed) in the storage unit 53 when a recording medium 57 on which the program 53A is written is connected to the medium reading and writing device 56, and the medium reading and writing device 56 reads the program 53A from the recording medium 57. The CPU 51 appropriately reads the second information processing program 53A from the storage unit 53, expands it in the memory 52, and sequentially executes processes of the second information processing program 53A.

[0048] Next, a functional configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0049] 4, the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a receiving unit 31A, and the image forming device 50 includes an execution unit 51A. The CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 executes a first information processing program 33A to function as the receiving unit 31A. The CPU 51 of the image forming device 50 executes a second information processing program 53A to function as the execution unit 51A.

[0050] As described above, the reception unit 31A of the terminal device 30 in this embodiment accepts registration of a pending case by a user, which is a case in which predetermined additional processing is scheduled to be executed on the target device for any of a number of types of cloud services.

[0051] In this embodiment, a process of adding predetermined additional information is applied as the additional process. In addition, in this embodiment, an image forming apparatus 50 having an image reading function is applied as the target apparatus, and scanned image information read by the image reading function of the image forming apparatus 50 is applied as the additional information. However, the present invention is not limited to this form, and the additional process may be a form in which a process of obtaining approval from a predetermined approver for using a cloud service during execution of a workflow using the cloud service is applied. In this form, for example, information indicating a seal by the approver can be exemplified as the additional information. Note that the target apparatus in this case is not necessarily limited to the image forming apparatus 50, and for example, the terminal apparatus 30 according to this embodiment may be applied as the target apparatus.

[0052] On the other hand, when a user selects a cloud service in which a pending case is registered from among a plurality of cloud services in a target device to execute additional processing, the execution unit 51A of the image forming device 50 according to the present embodiment executes a process of displaying a list of the cloud services in which the pending case is registered preferentially as selection candidates on the target device. The execution unit 51A according to the present embodiment identifies the cloud service in which the pending case is registered by referring to the pending case database 82 registered in the cloud server 80, but is not limited thereto. For example, when a user registers a pending case using the terminal device 30, information indicating the pending case may be registered in the terminal device 30 together with information indicating the corresponding cloud service, and the cloud service in which the pending case is registered may be identified by reading out the information.

[0053] In particular, the execution unit 51A according to the present embodiment executes the above-mentioned list display process, giving priority to cloud services available to the logged-in user who has logged in to the target device. The execution unit 51A according to the present embodiment identifies cloud services available to the logged-in user by referring to the license information database 12 registered in the license server 10, but is not limited thereto. For example, when a user uses the terminal device 30 to enter into a license agreement for a cloud service, information indicating that the license agreement has been entered into may be registered in the terminal device 30 together with information indicating the corresponding cloud service, and the execution unit 51A may read out this information to identify cloud services available to the logged-in user.

[0054] The execution unit 51A according to the present embodiment executes the process of displaying the list by giving priority to cloud services in which pending cases registered by the logged-in user are registered. Furthermore, the execution unit 51A according to the present embodiment executes a process of displaying a list on the target device only of cloud services in which pending cases are registered as selection candidates.

[0055] In this embodiment, the processing for the pending case is the processing immediately after initiation by the workflow, but is not limited to this. For example, as in the case of receiving approval by the approver described above, the processing for the pending case may be the processing in the middle of the execution of the workflow. Also, the processing for the pending case may be the processing for a one-off case in which some additional processing is scheduled to be executed in the target device, unrelated to the processing by the workflow.

[0056] Furthermore, when a user selects a desired cloud service from the list of selection candidates, the execution unit 51A in this embodiment executes a process of displaying on the target device a list of only the processing cases registered by the user among the processing cases registered in the selected cloud service as selection candidates.

[0057] Next, the license information database 12 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the license information database 12 according to this embodiment.

[0058] As described above, the license information database 12 according to this embodiment is a database in which information indicating users who have concluded the license agreement is registered. As an example, as shown in Fig. 5, the license information database 12 according to this embodiment stores information on cloud service IDs (Identifications), service names, and contractors in association with each other.

[0059] The cloud service ID is information that is assigned in advance as a different ID for each cloud service in order to individually identify the cloud service supported by the information processing system 1. The service name is information indicating the name of the corresponding cloud service, and the contractor is information indicating a user who has concluded a license agreement with the provider of the corresponding cloud service.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 5, a cloud service to which "CS001" has been assigned as the cloud service ID has a name "Service A" and three subscribers, a, b, and c, are stored.

[0061] Next, the pending task database 82 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the pending task database 82 according to this embodiment.

[0062] The pending case database 82 according to the present embodiment is a database in which the above-mentioned pending cases (hereinafter also referred to as "pending cases") are registered. As an example, as shown in Fig. 6, the pending case database 82 according to the present embodiment stores each piece of information, such as a case ID, a case name, a registrant, and registered information, in association with each other.

[0063] The case ID is information that is assigned in advance to each of the corresponding pending cases as a different ID in order to individually identify the corresponding pending case. The case name is information that indicates the name of the corresponding pending case, the registrant is information that indicates the user who registered the corresponding pending case, and the registration information is information that indicates the corresponding pending case itself.

[0064] In the example shown in FIG. 6, a pending case given the case ID "J0001" has a name "pending a1" and is registered by a.

[0065] Next, the operation of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7 to Fig. 11. Note that, in order to avoid confusion, the case where the license information database 12 has already been constructed will be described here.

[0066] First, the operation of the terminal device 30 when the first information processing is executed will be described with reference to Fig. 7 to Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing according to the present embodiment.

[0067] The first information processing in this embodiment is executed by the CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 executing the first information processing program 33A when a user of the terminal device 30 inputs an instruction to start executing the first information processing in order to register the above-mentioned pending processing case.

[0068] In step 100 of FIG. 7, the CPU 31 reads all service names from the license information database 12 of the license server 10, thereby acquiring the names of all cloud services supported by the information processing system 1.

[0069] In step 102, the CPU 31 controls the display unit 35 to display a service designation screen having a predetermined configuration using the names of all the acquired cloud services, and in step 104, the CPU 31 waits until predetermined information is input. An example of the service designation screen according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 8.

[0070] 8, the service designation screen according to this embodiment displays a message prompting the user to designate a cloud service to be applied. Also, the service designation screen according to this embodiment displays a list of information indicating the names of the acquired cloud services (hereinafter, referred to as "service name information") 35A, each of which can be designated.

[0071] When the service designation screen is displayed on the display unit 35 of the terminal device 30, the user designates a display area for the name of the cloud service to be applied from among the displayed service name information 35A via the input unit 34. When any display area is designated by the user, the determination in step 104 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 106.

[0072] In step 106, the CPU 31 executes a process of registering the above-mentioned pending case, which utilizes the specified cloud service, in the pending case database 82 of the corresponding cloud server 80. In this process, the CPU 31 determines the above-mentioned case ID and case name for the pending case input by the user, and registers these pieces of information, information that the user is a registrant, and information that indicates the pending case itself in the pending case database 82.

[0073] In step 108, the CPU 31 judges whether or not a predetermined end timing for terminating the first information processing has arrived, and if the judgment is negative, the process returns to step 102, whereas if the judgment is positive, the first information processing is terminated. Note that in this embodiment, the end timing is the timing at which the user inputs an instruction to terminate the first information processing, but it goes without saying that the end timing is not limited to this.

[0074] By the above-described first information processing, a pending job database 82, as an example of which is shown in FIG.

[0075] In the above first information processing, a case has been described in which all cloud services targeted by the information processing system 1 are displayed in a list on the service designation screen, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by referring to the license information database 12 of the license server 10, only cloud services licensed by the user logged in to the terminal device 30 may be displayed on the service designation screen. In this case, if there are multiple cloud services to be displayed, the order in which the cloud services are displayed may be determined according to a predetermined condition, such as the earliest date on which the logged-in user signed a license agreement or the most frequently used by the logged-in user.

[0076] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 50 when the second information processing is executed will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. Figure 9 is a flow chart showing an example of the second information processing according to the present embodiment.

[0077] The second information processing according to the present embodiment is executed by the CPU 51 of the image forming apparatus 50 executing the second information processing program 53A when a user goes to the installation location of a desired image forming apparatus 50 in order to execute additional processing due to the above-mentioned pending processing and instructs execution of the additional processing from a menu displayed on the display unit 55 of the image forming apparatus 50. Note that, in order to avoid confusion, a case will be described here in which a user has logged in to the image forming apparatus 50 in advance and the logged-in user is identified by the image forming apparatus 50.

[0078] In step 200 of FIG. 9, the CPU 51 refers to the license information database 12 of the license server 10, and identifies a cloud service with which the logged-in user has made a license contract (hereinafter, referred to as a "contracted service").

[0079] In step 202, the CPU 51 reads all information (hereinafter referred to as "pending case information") from the pending case database 82 of the cloud server 80 that executes the contracted service. In step 204, the CPU 51 narrows down the identified contracted services to only those whose pending case information includes pending cases registered by the logged-in user. The contracted services narrowed down by this narrowing down process are hereinafter referred to as "target contracted services".

[0080] In step 206, the CPU 51 uses information indicating the target contract service (in this embodiment, the service name) to control the display unit 55 to display a service designation screen having a predetermined configuration, and in step 208, the CPU 51 waits until the predetermined information is input. An example of the service designation screen according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 10.

[0081] 10, the service designation screen according to this embodiment displays a message prompting the user to designate a cloud service to be applied. Also, the service designation screen according to this embodiment displays a list of information indicating the names of target contract services (hereinafter, referred to as "target service name information") 55A, each of which can be designated.

[0082] When the service designation screen is displayed on display unit 55 of image forming apparatus 50, the user designates a display area for the name of the cloud service to be applied from among displayed target service name information 55A via input unit 54. When any display area is designated by the user, the determination in step 208 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 210.

[0083] At step 210, the CPU 51 extracts only pending cases registered by the logged-in user from the pending cases corresponding to the target contract service specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as "target pending cases"). Then, the CPU 51 controls the display unit 55 to display a pending case presentation screen having a predetermined configuration using information indicating the extracted target pending case (in this embodiment, the case name), and at step 212, the CPU 51 waits until the predetermined information is input. FIG. 11 shows an example of the pending case presentation screen according to this embodiment.

[0084] 11, the pending job presentation screen according to this embodiment displays a message prompting the user to specify the pending job to be applied. Also, the pending job presentation screen according to this embodiment displays a list of information indicating the job names of the target pending jobs (hereinafter, referred to as "target pending job name information") 55B in a state in which each of the information can be specified.

[0085] When the pending case presentation screen is displayed on the display unit 55 of the image forming apparatus 50, the user designates a display area for the case name of the pending case to be applied (hereinafter, referred to as the "case to be processed") from among the displayed target pending case name information 55B via the input unit 54. When any display area is designated by the user, the determination in step 212 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 212.

[0086] In step 214, the CPU 51 executes the process corresponding to the pending case designated by the user.

[0087] For example, if the pending task is a task for adding scanned image information obtained by the image reading function of the image forming apparatus 50, the user uses the image forming apparatus 50 to place the document to be scanned at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus 50, and then presses the image reading button to cause the image forming apparatus 50 to read (scan) the document image. In response, the CPU 51 of the image forming apparatus 50 executes a process for adding the scanned image information obtained by the scan to information indicating the task to be processed.

[0088] In step 216, the CPU 51 judges whether or not a predetermined end timing for terminating the second information processing has arrived, and if the judgment is negative, the process returns to step 206, whereas if the judgment is positive, the second information processing is terminated. Note that in this embodiment, the end timing is the timing at which the user inputs an instruction to terminate the second information processing, but it goes without saying that the end timing is not limited to this.

[0089] By the above-described second information processing, it is possible to continuously process pending cases designated by the user.

[0090] Furthermore, when adding additional information in many conventional cloud services such as Kintone (registered trademark), it is necessary to go through many steps such as selecting an application program, selecting a record, and selecting a field, but the information processing system 1 of this embodiment can reduce this hassle.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the first information processing is executed by the terminal device 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first information processing may be executed by the image forming device 50, or the first information processing may be shared and executed by both the terminal device 30 and the image forming device 50.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the various databases are distributed and registered in the license server 10 and the cloud server 80, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the various databases may be collectively registered in one of these devices.

[0093] In the above embodiment, a process is executed to display only cloud services in which cases waiting for processing are registered as selection candidates on the target device, thereby preferentially displaying the cloud services in which cases waiting for processing are registered as selection candidates on the target device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a process may be executed to display the cloud services in which cases waiting for processing are registered as selection candidates on the target device in a highlighted manner according to a predetermined condition, thereby preferentially displaying the cloud services in which cases waiting for processing are registered as selection candidates on the target device. FIG. 12 shows another example of a service designation screen according to this embodiment.

[0094] 12 illustrates an example in which the predetermined condition is applied to display the pending jobs in order of their registration date on the cloud server 80. As illustrated in FIG. 12, in this example, the names of all cloud services supported by the information processing system 1 are displayed in a list, with the earliest date and time at which the logged-in user registered the pending job being displayed first. Therefore, the logged-in user can quickly identify the cloud service in which he or she has registered a pending job, as well as quickly identify the cloud service in which a pending job that is likely to be processed sooner has been registered.

[0095] The predetermined condition may be a display in the order of due dates for additional processing, which allows the logged-in user to quickly identify the cloud service in which the logged-in user has registered a pending job, and more reliably identify a cloud service in which a pending job that is to be processed sooner is registered.

[0096] In addition, in these forms, the form of displaying at the top of the list as a selection candidate with priority has been described, but the preferential display form may also be a form in which a selection candidate is preferentially displayed in a list by being different from other selection candidates in at least one of color, density, and size.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the image forming device 50 is used as the target device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image processing device having an image reading function and an image transmission function may be used as the target device.

[0098] Although the embodiments have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention, and such modifications or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0099] Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions are extracted by combining the multiple components disclosed. Even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments, as long as the effect can be obtained, the configuration from which these some components are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0100] In addition, in the above embodiment, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes a general-purpose processor (e.g., a CPU, etc.) and a dedicated processor (e.g., a GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, an ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, an FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, a programmable logic device, etc.).

[0101] In addition, the operations of the processor in the above embodiment may be performed not only by one processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0102] Further, although the "system" in the present embodiment has been described as being composed of a plurality of devices as an example, it may be composed of a single device.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first information processing and the second information processing are realized by a software configuration using a computer by executing a program, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first information processing and the second information processing may be realized by a hardware configuration or a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

[0104] In addition, the configurations of the terminal device 30 and the image forming device 50 described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted or new parts may be added without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0105] Furthermore, the configurations of the various screens described in the above embodiment are also examples, and it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted, new parts may be added, and the layout may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0106] Furthermore, the flows of the first information processing and the second information processing described in the above embodiment are also examples, and it goes without saying that unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0107] (Additional Note) (((1))) One or more processors; The processor, Accepting registration of a pending process by a user, the pending process being a process for which a predetermined additional process is scheduled to be executed on a target device for any one of a plurality of types of cloud services; When a user selects, from the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device, the cloud service in which the corresponding pending job is registered in order to execute the additional process, a process is executed to preferentially display, as a selection candidate, a list of the cloud services in which the pending job is registered among the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device. Information processing system. (((2))) The adding process is a process in which predetermined additional information is added. An information processing system according to (((1))). (((3))) the target device is an image processing device having an image reading function, the additional information is scanned image information read by the image reading function of the image processing device; The information processing system according to (((2))). (((4))) The processor, execute the process of displaying the list by giving priority to cloud services available to the logged-in user who has logged in to the target device; 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))). (((5))) The processor, and executing the process of displaying the list by giving priority to the cloud service in which the pending case registered by the logged-in user is registered. The information processing system according to (((4))). (((6))) The processor, execute a process of highlighting the cloud services in which the pending jobs are registered as the selection candidates and displaying them in a list on the target device in accordance with a predetermined condition; 13. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. (((7))) The predetermined condition includes at least one of displaying the cases in order of a deadline for performing the additional processing and displaying the cases in order of a registration date. An information processing system according to (((6))). (((8))) The processor, execute a process of displaying, on the target device, a list of only cloud services in which the pending processing items are registered, as the selection candidates; 13. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. (((9))) The processing of the pending case is a processing by a workflow. 13. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. (((10))) The processor, When a desired cloud service is selected by the user from the displayed list of selection candidates, a process is executed to display, on the target device, a list of only the waiting cases registered by the user among the waiting cases registered in the selected cloud service as selection candidates. 13. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

[0108] According to the information processing system of (((1))), a desired cloud service can be selected more easily compared to a case in which cloud services in which pending cases are registered are not displayed preferentially. According to the information processing system of (((2))), it is possible to preferentially display cloud services that perform a process of adding additional information as an additional process. According to the information processing system of (((3))), it is possible to preferentially display cloud services that perform a process of adding scanned image information as an additional process. According to the information processing system of (((4))), the logged-in user can more easily select a desired cloud service, compared to a case in which cloud services available to the logged-in user are not subject to preferential display. According to the information processing system of (((5))), the desired cloud service can be selected more easily than in a case where the cloud service displayed preferentially is not the cloud service in which the pending case registered by the logged-in user is registered. According to the information processing system of (((6))), a desired cloud service can be selected more easily, compared to a case in which cloud services are unconditionally displayed as a list of selection candidates. According to the information processing system of (((7))), it is possible to easily select a case that matches the applied conditions from among cases that are selection candidates. According to the information processing system of (((8))), a desired cloud service can be selected more easily compared to when all cloud services are displayed. According to the information processing system of (((9))), the effects of the present disclosure can be enjoyed when executing a workflow. According to the information processing system relating to (((10))), it is possible to more easily select a desired pending case compared to a case in which the pending cases displayed as selection candidates are not narrowed down to cases registered by the user who will perform the additional processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1. Information Processing Systems 10 License Server 12 License Information Database 30 Terminal Equipment 31 CPU 31A Reception 32 Memory 33 Storage section 33A First Information Processing Program 34 Input section 35 Display section 36 Media Read / Write Device 37 Recording media 38 Communication I / F section 50 Image forming device 51 CPU 51A Executive Department 52 Memory 53 Storage section 53A Second Information Processing Program 54 Input section 55 Display section 56 Media Read / Write Device 57 Recording media 58 Communication I / F section 80 Cloud Server 82 Pending Case Database N Network

Claims

1. One or more processors; The processor, Accepting registration of a pending process by a user, the pending process being a process for which a predetermined additional process is scheduled to be executed on a target device for any one of a plurality of types of cloud services; When a user selects, from the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device, the cloud service in which the corresponding pending job is registered in order to execute the additional process, a process is executed to preferentially display, as a selection candidate, a list of the cloud services in which the pending job is registered among the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device. Information processing system.

2. The adding process is a process in which predetermined additional information is added. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. the target device is an image processing device having an image reading function, the additional information is scanned image information read by the image reading function of the image processing device; The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor, execute the process of displaying the list by giving priority to cloud services available to the logged-in user who has logged in to the target device; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The processor, and executing the process of displaying the list by giving priority to the cloud service in which the pending case registered by the logged-in user is registered.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4.

6. The processor, execute a process of highlighting the cloud services in which the pending jobs are registered as the selection candidates and displaying them in a list on the target device in accordance with a predetermined condition; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

7. The predetermined condition includes at least one of displaying the cases in order of a deadline for performing the additional processing and displaying the cases in order of a registration date.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6.

8. The processor, execute a process of displaying, on the target device, a list of only cloud services in which the pending processing items are registered, as the selection candidates; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

9. The processing of the pending case is a processing by a workflow. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

10. The processor, When a desired cloud service is selected by the user from the displayed list of selection candidates, a process is executed to display, on the target device, a list of only the waiting cases registered by the user among the waiting cases registered in the selected cloud service as selection candidates. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

11. Accepting registration of a pending process by a user, the pending process being a process for which a predetermined additional process is scheduled to be executed on a target device for any one of a plurality of types of cloud services; When a user selects, from the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device, the cloud service in which the corresponding pending job is registered in order to execute the additional process, a process is executed to preferentially display, as a selection candidate, a list of the cloud services in which the pending job is registered among the plurality of types of cloud services on the target device. An information processing program that causes a computer to execute processing.

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