Information processing system, program, facsimile document data processing method, and service providing system

Abstract

To reduce the workload on a user in operations for a received facsimile document.SOLUTION: An information processing system can communicate with a cloud facsimile system that executes transmission and reception of facsimiles, a file editing system that executes editing of files, and a terminal device. The information processing system uses the file editing system to edit facsimile document data received by the cloud facsimile system, and uses the cloud facsimile system to transmit the facsimile document data after the edit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, a program, a fax document data processing method, and a service providing system. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known tasks that use fax. For example, there is a task of "receiving a purchase order by fax, creating a purchase order confirmation that includes a reply to the purchase order, and sending the fax to the ordering party." Therefore, a user performs the following steps. To receive the purchase order, the user uses the cloud fax system to download the received purchase order. The user uses a file editing system to edit the purchase order confirmation. The user uses the cloud fax system to send the purchase order receipt that he / she created.

[0003] There is known a technique for sorting received fax document data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for sorting received fax document data based on characters contained therein and their layout areas. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, when editing received fax document data and then sending it by fax, the user needs to switch between the cloud fax system and the file editing system, which causes a problem of a heavy workload for the user because the user needs to switch between the systems.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the workload of a user in handling received fax document data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a cloud fax system that sends and receives faxes, a file editing system that edits files, and an information processing system that can communicate with a terminal device, the information processing system including a first file transmitting / receiving unit that acquires fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system, a communication unit that transmits first screen information displaying the fax document data to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device, and a second file transmitting / receiving unit that requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to a request from the terminal device to edit the fax document data, the communication unit transmitting second screen information displaying the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmitting / receiving unit from the file editing system to the terminal device, and the first file transmitting / receiving unit requesting the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data in response to a request from the terminal device to send the edited fax document data. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The workload of the user in handling received fax document data can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a system configuration. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration of an example of a service providing system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing system and a terminal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus, which is an example of a device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an example of a service providing system. [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram illustrating a fax document table stored in a fax data storage unit. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an image diagram of a purchase order, which is an example of a fax document. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an edited fax document (purchase order acknowledgment) after a user has edited the fax document. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of an example illustrating a process in which a user edits a fax document received by a cloud fax system in a file editing system and returns the fax document (comparative technology). [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process in which a user edits a fax document received by the cloud fax system in a file editing system and returns the fax document via the cloud fax system. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an order form display screen displayed by the terminal device. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an edit screen of a purchase order displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a fax transmission screen of an order receipt displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a workflow application and its constituent components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A service providing system and a fax document data processing method performed by the service providing system will be described below with reference to the drawings as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] <Additional information on comparative technologies> In recent years, workflows using fax documents have become capable of sending, receiving, and storing fax documents on the cloud. For example, there is a task in which a purchase order (an example of a fax document) is received by fax, a user creates a purchase order acknowledgment indicating that the purchase order has been received, and then sends it again by fax. (1) To receive the purchase order, the user downloads the purchase order stored by the cloud fax system. (2) In order to generate a purchase order acknowledgement, the user edits the purchase order using a file editing system. (3) In order to send the created purchase order acknowledgment, the information processing system uses the cloud fax system to send the purchase order acknowledgment.

[0011] As a result, users needed to use two different tools - a cloud fax system and a file editing system - in their work, and as a result they had to switch between the two tools within the same job.

[0012] <Outline of the service providing system according to this embodiment> Therefore, in this embodiment, an information processing system that manages a workflow links with a cloud fax system and a file editing system.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the system configuration. As shown in Fig. 1, an information processing system 10 can link a cloud fax system 60 and a file editing system 70. In addition, a user can connect a terminal device 30 to the information processing system 10, and receive fax documents, edit fax documents, and send the edited fax documents by fax on the information processing system 10.

[0014] Therefore, the information processing system 10 of this embodiment can reduce the workload of the user switching between multiple systems in a series of tasks such as receiving and replying to a fax.

[0015] <Terminology> A workflow refers to the execution of multiple processes in a fixed order, or multiple processes. A workflow app refers to an application that executes multiple processes in a fixed order. A workflow app is sometimes simply called a workflow or a process flow.

[0016] The fax document data is an electronic document received by the cloud fax system 60. In this embodiment, the fax document data is described by the term fax document.

[0017] A cloud fax system is a server device or system that sends and receives faxes over a network (mainly on the cloud). Even if the user does not have a fax device, the user can connect a web browser or the like to the cloud fax system to send faxes and check received faxes. The cloud fax system 60 may receive fax documents via a fax number (circuit-switched) or via Internet fax (email). Internet fax is a technology that sends fax documents as email attachments via the Internet, addressed to an email address.

[0018] A file editing system is a server device or system that accepts edits of files from users. For example, even if the software used to create a file is required to edit the file, the user can edit the file without the software by connecting a web browser or other device to the file editing system and uploading the file.

[0019] <System configuration> The system configuration of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment.

[0020] The service providing system 100 shown in Fig. 2 includes an information processing system 10 and a device 20. The information processing system 10 and the device 20 are communicatively connected via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet. The information processing system 10, the device 20, and the terminal device 30 can communicate with an external service system 40, which is an external system, via the network N1. The information processing system 10 and the cloud fax system 60, and the information processing system 10 and the file editing system 70 can communicate with each other via the network N1. The terminal device 30 and the device 20 may also be able to communicate with the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70.

[0021] The device 20 and the terminal device 30 are installed in a facility such as a company and are connected to a network N2. The network N2 may be a LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), wide area Ethernet (registered trademark), a mobile phone network such as 4G, 5G, or 6G, or the like.

[0022] The information processing system 10 is realized by one or more information processing devices, and provides various services realized by a series of processes in cooperation with an external service system 40 such as a cloud service via a network N1. Specific examples of services provided by the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment will be described later. The information processing system 10 may be realized by cloud computing, or may be realized by a single information processing device. Cloud computing refers to a form in which resources on a network are used without being aware of specific hardware resources. The information processing system 10 may exist on the Internet or on-premise. Note that a series of processes is provided by one application, and the series of processes is also called a "processing flow" or "workflow."

[0023] As described above, the information processing system 10 can call the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70 via the network N1 and use their functions. The cloud fax system 60 is a system that allows a user to send a document by fax by operating a web browser. The cloud fax system 60 may be a type of web application. The cloud fax system 60 sends a fax in response to a user's operation without linking with the information processing system 10. The cloud fax system 60 may store a received fax document in the cloud fax system 60 or in the external service system 40. The cloud fax system 60 also links with the information processing system 10 to perform the processes of "sending a received fax document to the information processing system 10" and "sending a fax document sent from the information processing system 10 by fax."

[0024] The file editing system 70 is a system that displays a document on a Web browser operated by a user and accepts editing of the document. The file editing system 70 can edit a document in response to a user's operation even without linking with the information processing system 10. When the file editing system 70 links with the information processing system 10, the file editing system 70 receives an instruction from the information processing system 10, edits a fax document, and returns the edited fax document to the information processing system 10. Editing a fax document includes processing of adding text, images, a digital signature / timestamp, and other metadata to the fax document.

[0025] The information processing system 10 exchanges fax documents with the cloud fax system (downloading received fax documents, uploading fax documents to be sent, sending instructions, etc.). The information processing system 10 issues file editing instructions to the file editing system 70 and receives edited files. Note that the information processing system 10 may have some or all of the functions of the cloud fax system 60 or the file editing system 70.

[0026] The devices 20 are various electronic devices used by users. The devices 20 may be called scanners, image processing devices, image forming devices, or MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals). Some of the devices 20 are electronic devices that receive and transmit faxes. In this embodiment, the cloud fax system 60 receives and transmits faxes. However, the device 20 may execute a workflow by receiving a fax. In this case, the device 20 executes a workflow triggered by receiving a fax, and saves a fax document in the cloud fax system 60 during this workflow.

[0027] It is preferable that the device 20 can execute a web browser. A user can use the cloud fax system 60 by operating the web browser. In other words, the user operates the device 20, but the actual fax transmission can be performed by cloud fax. Furthermore, the device 20 may be any device that can run a web browser. The device 20 may be, for example, a personal computer (PC), an electronic whiteboard, a video conference terminal, a projector, or the like. Furthermore, the device 20 may be a system in which a scanner is connected to a PC. A user can use various services (applications) provided by the information processing system 10 or the external service system 40 using the device 20.

[0028] In the following description, when the multiple devices 20 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be referred to using subscripts such as "device 20A" and "device 20B."

[0029] The terminal device 30 is, for example, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like used by an administrator or a user. A web browser runs on the terminal device 30. The administrator can operate the terminal device 30 to create a workflow and assign workflow usage authority to users. The administrator or user can operate the terminal device 30 to use various services provided by the information processing system 10 or the external service system 40, and can also configure applications.

[0030] A user can operate the terminal device 30 to connect to the information processing system 10 and issue instructions such as "check a file received by fax," "edit a fax document," and "send a fax document by fax."

[0031] In the following description, when the multiple terminal devices 30 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be referred to using subscripts such as "terminal device 30A" and "terminal device 30B."

[0032] The external service system 40 is one or more information processing devices that provide services by storing, reading, or processing data when the information processing system 10 executes an application. The "external" in the external service system 40 means that it is a system separate from the information processing system 10. In many cases, it is operated by a different company. For example, even the same user has different accounts in the external service system 40 and the information processing system 10.

[0033] Examples of the external service system 40 include a cloud service, an ASP (Application Service Provider), and the like, and may include various external services provided via a network. For example, an example of a service is a storage service. The external service system 40 may exist on the Internet or on-premise.

[0034] In the following description, when the multiple external service systems 40 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be referred to as "external service systems 40A, 40B" as shown in the figure.

[0035] <Hardware configuration example> The hardware configurations of the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30 included in the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036] <<Information Processing System 10 and Terminal Device>> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30 are constructed by a computer 500, and include a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, a HD (Hard Disk) 504, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, an external device connection I / F (Interface) 508, a network I / F 509, a bus line 510, a keyboard 511, a pointing device 512, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514, and a media I / F 516.

[0037] Among these, the CPU 501 controls the overall operation of the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30. The ROM 502 stores a program such as an IPL used to drive the CPU 501. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls the reading or writing of various data from the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501. The display 506 displays various information such as a cursor, a menu, a window, a character, or an image. The external device connection I / F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, the external device is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a printer. The network I / F 509 is an interface for data communication using the network N2. The bus line 510 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] Moreover, the keyboard 511 is a type of input means having a plurality of keys used for inputting characters, numbers, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 512 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc. The DVD-RW drive 514 controls reading and writing of various data from a DVD-RW 513 as an example of a removable recording medium. Note that the DVD-RW drive 514 is not limited to a DVD-RW, and may be a DVD-R or the like. The media I / F 516 controls reading and writing (storing) of data from a recording medium 515 such as a flash memory.

[0039] <<Equipment>> 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus, which is an example of the device 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950.

[0040] Of these, the controller 910 has a CPU 901 which is the main part of the computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907 which is a storage unit, an HDD controller 908, and an HD 909 which is also a storage unit, and is configured such that the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

[0041] Among these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the image forming apparatus. The NB 903 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 901 with the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0042] The MEM-P 902 is composed of a ROM 902a which is a memory for storing programs and data for implementing the various functions of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b which is used for developing the programs and data, and as a drawing memory during memory printing, etc. The programs stored in the RAM 902b may be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD in the form of an installable or executable file.

[0043] The SB904 is a bridge for connecting the NB903 to a PCI device and a peripheral device. The ASIC906 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing purposes having hardware elements for image processing, and plays the role of a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, the PCI bus 922, the HDD controller 908, and the MEM-C907. The ASIC906 is composed of a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C907, a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic, and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931, the printer unit 932, and the facsimile unit via the PCI bus 922. The ASIC906 may have a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

[0044] The MEM-C907 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer. The HD909 is a storage for storing image data, font data used during printing, and forms. The HD909 controls the reading and writing of data from and to the HD909 under the control of the CPU901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphic processing, and by directly accessing the MEM-P902 at high throughput, the graphics accelerator card can be made faster.

[0045] Further, the short-range communication circuit 920 is provided with a short-range communication circuit antenna 920a. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0046] Furthermore, the engine control unit 930 has a scanner unit 931, a printer unit 932, and a facsimile unit 933. The operation panel 940 has a panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel that displays current setting values, a selection screen, etc., and receives input from an operator. The operation panel 940 has hard keys 940b consisting of a numeric keypad that receives setting values ​​for image formation conditions such as density setting conditions, and a start key that receives a copy start instruction. The controller 910 controls the entire image forming apparatus, and controls, for example, drawing, communication, and input from the operation panel 940. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

[0047] The image forming apparatus can sequentially switch and select among the document box function, copy function, printer function, and facsimile function using the application switching key on the operation panel 940. The image forming apparatus goes into document box mode when the document box function is selected, into copy mode when the copy function is selected, into printer mode when the printer function is selected, and into facsimile mode when the facsimile mode is selected.

[0048] The network I / F 950 is an interface for performing data communication using the network N2. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via a PCI bus 922.

[0049] <About the function> Next, a functional configuration of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment.

[0050] <<Information Processing System>> The information processing system 10 has a communication unit 11, a screen generation unit 12, a file display unit 13, a file storage unit 14, and a file transmission / reception unit 15. Each functional unit of the information processing system 10 is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 3 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the information processing system 10.

[0051] The information processing system 10 also has a fax data storage unit 19. The storage units of the information processing system 10 are constructed in the RAM 503, HD 504, etc. shown in Fig. 3. These storage units may be constructed in the external service system 40 instead of the information processing system 10.

[0052] The communication unit 11 transmits and receives various information between the device 20 and the terminal device 30. In this embodiment, the communication unit 11 transmits application screen information to the device 20. The communication unit 11 receives user instructions for the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70.

[0053] The screen generator 12 and the terminal device 30 execute a Web app. A Web app is an application that runs as a result of cooperation between a program written in a programming language (e.g. JavaScript (registered trademark)) that runs on a Web browser and a program on the Web server side. In contrast, an application that cannot be executed unless it is installed on the terminal device 30 is called a native app. In this embodiment, too, the application executed on the terminal device 30 may be a Web app or a native app. Furthermore, the terminal device 30 may execute both a Web app and a native app, and the two may cooperate to accept the execution of a workflow. The device 20 can also execute a Web app.

[0054] The screen generation unit 12 generates a screen (Web page) for the user to display, edit, and reply to a received fax document, and transmits the screen to the terminal device 30 via the communication unit 11. As an example of a display method, the screen generation unit 12 generates screen information for the terminal device 30 to display a screen of a Web application. The screen information is a program written in HTML, XML, a scripting language, CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), etc., and the structure of the Web page is mainly specified by HTML, the operation of the Web page is defined by the scripting language, and the style of the Web page is specified by CSS.

[0055] The file display unit 13 reads out the fax document stored in the file storage unit 14 in accordance with an instruction from the user, opens the file (fax document), and passes an image of the file to the screen generation unit 12.

[0056] The file transmitting / receiving unit 15 transmits and receives fax documents to and from the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70 in accordance with instructions from a user. The first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 transmits and receives fax documents to the cloud fax system 60. The second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 transmits the edited content and the fax document to the file editing system 70 and receives the edited fax document.

[0057] The file storage unit 14 stores fax documents and edited fax documents received by the cloud fax system 60 in the fax data storage unit 19, and reads out the stored fax documents and edited fax documents from the fax data storage unit 19.

[0058] The fax data storage unit 19 is a storage unit that stores fax documents received by the cloud fax system 60 and edited fax documents. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] <<Fax data storage section>> FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fax document table stored in the fax data storage unit 19. The file management table is associated with a tenant that has made a contract to have the information processing system 10 perform fax transmission and reception operations. A tenant is identified by an account. The fax document table also has a fax number of the tenant. This corresponds to the destination of a fax document received by the cloud fax system 60, and makes it possible to identify which tenant's fax document the cloud fax system 60 has received. It is sufficient that the information processing system 10 and the cloud fax system 60 have tenant identification information in advance, and the fax number is not necessary. Note that a user belonging to a tenant logs in to the information processing system 10 using an account, and can display fax documents addressed to the tenant.

[0060] The fax document table has the following fields: ID, sender, sender fax number, file name, edited file name, received date and time, and reply result.

[0061] The ID is identification information that uniquely identifies a fax document received by the cloud fax system 60. The ID may be assigned by the cloud fax system 60 or the information processing system 10.

[0062] The sender is the name of the business partner or the like that sent the fax document. The sender is provided by the cloud fax system 60. If the sender also uses the cloud fax system 60, the cloud fax system 60 stores the correspondence between fax numbers and names, so it is possible to identify the name of the business partner from the sender's fax number and provide it to the information processing system 10. Therefore, the sender item may be blank.

[0063] The sender fax number is the fax number of the business partner or the like that sent the fax document. The sender fax number is provided by the cloud fax system 60. The sender fax number is used when the user replies by fax, such as for a purchase order acknowledgement. The sender fax number may be an email address (in the case of Internet fax).

[0064] The file name is the file name of the fax document. The fax document is sent and received as a PDF file, for example. The file name may be assigned by the cloud fax system 60 or the information processing system 10.

[0065] The edited file name is the file name of the fax document edited by the user. The edited file name may be given by the file editing system 70, the information processing system 10, or the user.

[0066] The received date and time is the date and time when the cloud fax system 60 received the fax document.

[0067] The reply result is set when the user has a fax to reply to, such as a purchase order confirmation, and includes the date and time of the fax reply, the success or failure of the fax transmission, etc.

[0068] <<Terminal Device>> The terminal device 30 has a communication unit 21, a display control unit 22, and an operation reception unit 23. Each of these functional units is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 shown in Fig. 3 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the terminal device 30. For example, the communication unit 21, the display control unit 22, and the operation reception unit 23 are realized by a Web browser.

[0069] The communication unit 21 transmits and receives various information to and from the information processing system 10. In this embodiment, the communication unit 21 receives a list of fax documents, an image of a fax document, editing of a fax document, and screen information related to sending of a fax document from the information processing system 10. The communication unit 21 transmits the edited contents of a fax document, a request to send a fax document, and the like to the information processing system 10.

[0070] The display control unit 22 interprets screen information of various screens and displays it on the display 506. The operation receiving unit 23 receives various operations on the various screens displayed on the display 506 by the user.

[0071] <An example of a fax document> Fig. 7 is an image diagram of a purchase order, which is an example of a fax document. A user (tenant) who uses the cloud fax system 60 or the file editing system 70 receives a purchase order such as that shown in Fig. 7 from his / her business partner. The cloud fax system 60 receives the purchase order on behalf of the device 20 held by the user. In the comparative technology, the user can connect a terminal device 30 to the cloud fax system 60 and display a fax document such as that shown in Fig. 7.

[0072] FIG. 8 is an image diagram of an edited fax document (purchase order acknowledgment) after the user has edited the fax document. In the comparative technology, the user can connect the terminal device 30 to a file editing system 70 and edit the fax document. The user generates the edited fax document shown in FIG. 8 by displaying and editing the fax document in the file editing system 70. In FIG. 8, text 240 stating "Received. Will be delivered on XX month XX day" has been added to the bottom of the fax document.

[0073] Then, in the comparative technology, the user connects the terminal device 30 to the cloud fax system 60 again, and causes the cloud fax system 60 to send a purchase order acknowledgment as shown in Fig. 8 to the sender. This allows the sender to confirm that the purchase order has been accepted.

[0074] <Sending and receiving fax documents in comparison technology> The flow of sending and receiving a fax document in the comparative technique will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process in which a user edits a fax document received by the cloud fax system 60 using the file editing system 70 and returns the document.

[0075] S1: A business partner sends a fax transmission request for a purchase order to the cloud fax system 60. The business partner may send the request using the fax function of the device 20, or may send the request using the cloud fax system 60.

[0076] S2: The user receives a notification of receipt of the fax document from the cloud fax system by email or the like, and connects the terminal device 30 to the cloud fax system 60.

[0077] S3: When the user performs an operation to download the fax document on the terminal device 30, the cloud fax system 60 transmits the fax document to the terminal device 30.

[0078] S4: Next, the user connects the terminal device 30 to the file editing system 70 in order to edit the fax document and create a purchase order acknowledgment. The terminal device 30 transmits the fax document to the file editing system 70, and the user edits the fax document using a Web application displayed by the file editing system 70.

[0079] S5: The file editing system 70 transmits the edited fax document to the terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 receives the edited fax document (order confirmation).

[0080] S6: Next, the user connects the terminal device 30 to the cloud fax system 60 in order to return the purchase order confirmation to the sender. The terminal device 30 transmits the edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60.

[0081] S7: The user inputs, to the terminal device 30, a fax number and an operation to send a purchase order acknowledgment to the cloud fax system 60. The terminal device 30 sends a file transmission request to the cloud fax system 60.

[0082] S8: The cloud fax system 60 transmits the edited fax document (purchase order acknowledgment) to the business partner in response to a request from the user.

[0083] As such, in the comparison technology, the user needs to use two tools, the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70, and two switches occur: from the cloud fax system 60 to the file editing system 70, and then from the file editing system 70 to the cloud fax system 60.

[0084] <Fax Documents, Reception, Editing, and Transmission in This Embodiment> Next, the flow of receiving, editing, and sending a fax document in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram explaining the process in which a user edits a fax document received by the cloud fax system 60 in the file editing system 70 and returns the fax document via the cloud fax system 60.

[0085] S11: The business partner uses the fax function of the device 20 or the cloud fax system 60 to send a purchase order, as an example of a file, to the supplier (in this embodiment, a user or tenant of the information processing system 10). Since the user has a contract with the cloud fax system 60, the cloud fax system 60 receives the purchase order. The cloud fax system 60 stores the fax document received by the cloud fax system 60 in association with the user's account (account in the cloud fax system 60), user identification information (user identification information in the cloud fax system 60), or fax number.

[0086] S12: The cloud fax system 60 transmits the fax document to the first file transmission / reception unit 16. For example, the cloud fax system 60 transfers the fax document received by the cloud fax system 60 to the information processing system 10 periodically or in response to a transfer request from the first file transmission / reception unit 16, triggered by the receipt of the fax document. Here, in the cloud fax system 60, an account, user identification information or a user's fax number is registered in advance in association with destination information to which the fax document is to be transferred. The destination information is information such as an account, user identification information, and a storage area such as a folder in the information processing system 10. Note that, when the fax document is transferred in response to a transfer request from the information processing system 10, the transfer request may include destination information to which the fax document is to be transferred. In this case, the transfer request may be transmitted from the terminal device 30 by the user accessing the cloud fax system 60 from the terminal device 30, or may be transmitted from the information processing system 10 to the cloud fax system 60 by the user accessing the information processing system 10.

[0087] Furthermore, the destination information may be information such as an email address. This email address is addressed to the information processing system 10, and is prepared for each user of the information processing system 10. In this case, the information processing system 10 can obtain a fax document attached to an email sent to that email address, and identify the user (or tenant) based on the email address.

[0088] The cloud fax system 60 may also transmit to the information processing system 10 information associated with the fax document and indicating the sender of the fax document (the sender and sender fax number in FIG. 6).

[0089] S13: The first file transmission / reception unit 16 receives the fax document and requests the file storage unit 14 to store the fax document received from the cloud fax system 60.

[0090] S14: The file storage unit 14 stores the fax document in the fax data storage unit 19. Here, the file storage unit 14 can store the fax document by linking it to a user account (which may be user identification information) or the like. The file storage unit 14 assigns an ID and stores in the fax data storage unit 19 the sender (which may be unknown), the sender fax number, the file name, and the date and time of reception.

[0091] S15: The user becomes aware of the receipt of the fax through an email or the like, and operates the terminal device 30 to cause the information processing system 10 to display the purchase order. The operation reception unit 23 receives the operation. Note that when the user uses the information processing system 10, a login process is performed in advance. The login process authenticates the user and identifies the account, making it possible to display fax documents linked to the user (or tenant). Alternatively, the file storage unit 14 may obtain the unread fax number from the fax data storage unit 19. The user can specify an ID and request the display of the file (purchase order) by selecting the desired file from the list of fax documents.

[0092] S16: The communication unit 11 of the information processing system 10 receives the request to display the purchase order specified by the ID, and the screen generation unit 12 requests the file display unit 13 to display the purchase order by specifying the ID.

[0093] S17: The file display unit 13 designates the ID and requests the file storage unit 14 to acquire the fax document.

[0094] S18, S19: The file storage unit 14 reads out the fax document identified by the ID from the fax data storage unit 19. Note that the file storage unit 14 may receive information about the storage area in which the fax document is stored (for example, a URL indicating the file storage destination in the external service system) from the cloud fax system 60, rather than the file itself. In this case, the file storage unit 14 can obtain the file by accessing the storage area based on the information.

[0095] S20: The file storage unit 14 transmits the fax document to the file display unit 13.

[0096] S21: The file display unit 13 opens the fax document using a function of an application such as PDF, and passes it to the screen generation unit 12.

[0097] S22: The screen generator 12 creates a Web application including screen information for displaying the fax document (an example of first screen information; see FIG. 11), and transmits the Web application to the terminal device 30 via the communication unit 11.

[0098] S23: The communication unit 21 of the terminal device 30 receives the Web application including the fax document, and the display control unit 22 displays the fax document (see FIG. 11). The user edits the purchase order and performs an operation on the terminal device 30 to request editing of the edited content (see FIG. 12). The operation acceptance unit 23 accepts the operation, and the communication unit 21 transmits the editing request together with the edited content to the information processing system 10. The communication unit 11 of the information processing system 10 receives the editing request.

[0099] In step S23, the second file transmission / reception unit 17 of the information processing system 10 can obtain function information published by the file editing system 70 in cooperation with the file editing system 70. The function information is information on file editing related functions that the file editing system 70 can execute and setting items that can be set. The file editing related functions are, for example, deletion, addition, change, font and size change of existing characters, figures, photos, etc. Setting items may be, for example, addition of comments, insertion position of comments, change of file name, fax transmission date and time designation, destination, etc. Based on the function information, the screen generation unit 12 of the information processing system 10 creates an editing screen 210 including various interfaces such as a button for a user to request editing, a comment input field, and a setting input field. In step S23, such an editing screen 210 is displayed on the terminal device 30.

[0100] S24: The screen generating unit 12 requests editing of the fax document to the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17. Note that information required to access the file editing system 70 (such as URL, user ID, and login information including password) is assumed to be registered in advance in the information processing system 10, and when editing of the fax document is requested, the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 can access and log in to the file editing system 70 based on the information.

[0101] S25: The second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 requests the file editing system 70 to edit the fax document. At this time, the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 can transmit information about the fax document or the storage area of ​​the fax document (for example, a URL indicating the file storage destination in the information processing system 10) to the file editing system 70. The request also includes information indicating the editing content accepted in step S23 (inserted text / inserted position).

[0102] The second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 transmits the following data to the file editing system 70, and the file editing system 70 edits the file. The data transmitted from the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 to the file editing system 70 is as follows: Fax documents Inserted text (added comment) -Insertion position information (x and y coordinates from the top left corner of the file) The second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 may also notify the ID of the fax document together with the editing of the fax document. When the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 receives a notification of the completion of editing from the file editing system 70, the ID is also attached, so that it is possible to determine which fax document has been edited.

[0103] S26: The file editing system 70 edits the fax document according to the editing contents of the user. An example of the editing method of the file editing system 70 is as follows. Example 1: The file editing system 70 directly processes the fax document (processes the PDF data) and inserts text at the appropriate position. Example 2: The file editing system 70 creates a layer using the insertion text and overlays it at the corresponding insertion position in the PDF file.

[0104] In addition to the above method, a method such as sending an image file and inserting specified text into the image file can also be considered.

[0105] S27: The file editing system 70 transmits the edited fax document (order confirmation) to the second file transceiver 17. At this time, the file editing system 70 returns the edited fax document as a response to the editing request in step S25. That is, the edited fax document is saved in a URL indicating the file storage destination in the information processing system 10. The file editing system 70 can transmit identification information (e.g., the ID of the fax document) that can identify which request received from the information processing system 10 the response is for. The identification information may be added to the file in the form of metadata or the like.

[0106] In order for the file editing system 70 to return the ID, it is necessary to modify the program on the file editing system 70 side so that the file editing system 70 returns the ID. Therefore, the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 may determine which request received from the information processing system 10 the reply is to, based on the file name. That is, the second file transmitting / receiving unit 17 receives a notification of the file name of the edited file from the file editing system 70, compares it with the file name in the fax data storage unit 19, and determines which fax document editing has been completed. In the case of the file name, it can often be obtained without modifying the program of the file editing system 70. In addition, in order to avoid duplication of file names, a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) ​​or the like may be added to the file name so that the file storage unit 14 does not duplicate the file name.

[0107] S28: The second file transmitting / receiving section 17 requests the file storing section 14 to store the edited fax document.

[0108] S29: The file storage unit 14 stores the edited fax document in the fax data storage unit 19. The file storage unit 14 may assign an edited file name to the edited fax document. The file storage unit 14 can store the edited fax document in association with the unedited fax document acquired in step S19. For example, based on the identification information (ID) acquired in step S27, the file storage unit 14 identifies the unedited fax document corresponding to the identification information, and stores the fax document in association with the acquired edited fax document in the fax data storage unit 19.

[0109] S30: The file storage unit 14 transmits the edited purchase order acknowledgment, which is a fax document, to the file display unit 13.

[0110] S31: The file display unit 13 opens the purchase order receipt using a function of an application such as PDF, and passes it to the screen generation unit 12.

[0111] S32: The screen generation unit 12 creates a Web application including screen information for displaying the purchase order acknowledgment (an example of the second screen information; see FIG. 13), and transmits the Web application to the terminal device 30 via the communication unit 11.

[0112] S33: The communication unit 21 of the terminal device 30 receives the purchase order acknowledgment, and the display control unit 22 displays the purchase order acknowledgment. The user operates the terminal device 30 to send the purchase order acknowledgment by fax (see FIG. 13). At this time, it is preferable that the fax number of the destination is entered automatically. Alternatively, the user may enter the fax number of the destination. The operation acceptance unit 23 of the terminal device 30 accepts the operation, and the communication unit 21 sends a request to send the purchase order acknowledgment by fax to the information processing system 10.

[0113] S34: Since the communication unit 11 of the information processing system 10 has received the fax transmission request for the purchase order acknowledgment, the screen generator 12 requests the first file transmitter / receiver 16 to fax the edited fax document.

[0114] S35: The first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 requests the file storing unit 14 to obtain the edited fax document.

[0115] S36, S37: The file storage unit 14 reads the edited fax document from the fax data storage unit 19.

[0116] S38: The file storage unit 14 transmits the edited fax document to the first file transmitting / receiving unit 16.

[0117] S39: The first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 uploads the edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60. Note that information required to access the cloud fax system 60 (such as URL, user ID, and login information including password) is assumed to be registered in advance in the information processing system 10, and the cloud fax system 60 can be accessed and logged in based on that information when an upload request is sent.

[0118] S40: The first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 requests the cloud fax system 60 to send a fax. At this time, the first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 can transmit information on the sender fax number entered in step S33 to the cloud fax system 60. The sender fax number entered in step S33 may be the fax number acquired in step S12.

[0119] S41: The cloud fax system 60 sends the purchase order acknowledgement by fax to the business partner. That is, the cloud fax system 60 sends the edited fax document to the sender fax number. It is preferable that the cloud fax system 60 sends a reply result (success or failure of fax transmission, transmission date and time, etc.) to the information processing system 10. The fax transmission request and the reply result are associated with each other using a number indicating that the fax transmission request has been accepted, which is received by the first file transmitting / receiving unit 16 from the cloud fax system 60 in step S40. The file storage unit 14 can manage the fax transmission results in the fax data storage unit 19 in association with the unedited fax document and the edited fax document.

[0120] The information processing system 10 may cooperate with the cloud fax system 60 to acquire bibliographic information of files stored in the cloud fax system 60. In this case, the information processing system 10 displays a file list based on the bibliographic information. Then, when a user selects a desired file from the file list, the information processing system 10 can acquire the file from the cloud fax system 60. The information processing system 10 can execute the processes from step S15 onward based on the acquired file.

[0121] Furthermore, the information processing system 10 can search for unedited fax documents and edited fax documents in response to a request from a user. Here, the information processing system 10 can display the unedited fax documents, the edited fax documents, and the fax transmission results in association with each other.

[0122] In this manner, in the sequence of FIG. 10, the user can check the received fax document, edit the fax document, and send the edited fax document by using only the screen generator 12 of the information processing system 10.

[0123] <Fax documents displayed on the terminal device, edited fax documents, etc.> Fax documents and the like displayed by the terminal device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 11 to Fig. 13. Fig. 11 shows a purchase order display screen 200 displayed by the terminal device 30 in step S22 of the sequence diagram in Fig. 10. A preview 201 of the purchase order is displayed on the purchase order display screen 200, allowing the user to confirm what type of purchase order it is.

[0124] The purchase order display screen 200 in Fig. 11 has a start editing button 209 (operation component) for starting editing the purchase order. When the start editing button 209 is pressed, the purchase order display screen 200 transitions to an editing screen 210 shown in Fig. 12. The start editing button 209 is displayed on the same screen as the preview (on the right side of Fig. 11).

[0125] The user can simply press the edit start button 209 to transition to the edit screen 210 without having to access the file editing system 70, omitting other operations for starting it, or operations for screen transitions.

[0126] Fig. 12 shows an edit screen 210 for the purchase order displayed by the terminal device 30 in step S23 of the sequence diagram in Fig. 10. On the edit screen 210, a preview 202 of the purchase order is displayed on the left side, and the user can input comments to be inserted into the fax document in an input field 203 on the right side. When the user presses an edit button 204 after inputting the comments, the edited fax document with the comments attached is sent to the information processing system 10.

[0127] In addition, in Fig. 12, the user has not specified the insertion position, so the insertion is made at a fixed position, but the user can also specify the insertion position. In that case, it is conceivable to select positions such as "top right", "bottom right", "top left", and "bottom left" with buttons, and to provide an input field in which the coordinate position can be specified. Comments and insertion position are examples of setting items related to file editing, and other setting items may be displayed so that the user can select or input them.

[0128] After inputting the setting items, the user can press the edit button 204 to transmit the setting items and the fax document to be edited to the file editing system 70 via the information processing system 10. Thereafter, in response to the terminal device 30 receiving the edited fax document from the file editing system 70, the edit screen 210 can automatically transition to the fax transmission screen 220 of Fig. 13. This allows the user to transition to the fax transmission screen 220 simply by pressing the edit button 204, and does not require any other operation or screen transition to access or start the file editing system 70 or the information processing system 10.

[0129] Fig. 13 shows a fax transmission screen 220 of the purchase order acknowledgment displayed by the terminal device 30 in step S33 of the sequence diagram in Fig. 10. On the fax transmission screen 220, a preview 211 of the purchase order acknowledgment is displayed on the left side, and an input field 212 for the destination fax number is provided on the right side. When the user presses the fax transmission button 214 after inputting the destination fax number, the information processing system 10 causes the cloud fax system 60 to fax the purchase order acknowledgment to the destination fax number.

[0130] In step S12, if the information processing system 10 has received a sender fax number from the cloud fax system 60, the screen generator 12 may generate a screen in which the sender fax number is automatically input into the fax number input field 212. However, this is not limited to the above, and the sender fax number may simply be displayed as a destination candidate in a position adjacent to the fax number input field 212, or may be automatically input into the fax number input field 212 only when a user request is received.

[0131] Furthermore, on the fax transmission screen 220, in response to a request from the user, an unedited fax document corresponding to the edited fax document being displayed can be displayed.

[0132] In this way, the user can upload the edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60 simply by pressing the fax send button 214, without having to perform any operations or screen transitions to access or start up the cloud fax system 60.

[0133] <Major Effects> As described above, the information processing system 10 of this embodiment can link the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing system 70. Furthermore, a user can connect the terminal device 30 to the information processing system 10, and receive fax documents, edit the fax documents, and send the edited documents by fax on the information processing system 10. Therefore, the information processing system 10 of this embodiment can reduce the burden on a user of switching between multiple tools when performing work using the cloud fax system 60.

[0134] <Example of Workflow App settings> The processes in steps S13 to S41 can be realized by one workflow application in the information processing system .

[0135] First, components constituting a workflow application will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a workflow application and its constituent components.

[0136] An administrator can create a workflow application 110 that combines processes (components) that execute each process as a workflow and executes that series of processes. Here, examples of components include an IN component that executes processes related to input, generation, and acquisition of data, a PROCESS component that executes predetermined processes such as data processing and conversion, and an OUT component that executes processes related to data output and transmission. A workflow application can be composed of multiple IN components, multiple PROCESS components, and multiple OUT components, and one workflow application can also be composed of multiple components.

[0137] The IN component includes a process of acquiring data to be processed from the device 101 (such as the equipment 20 or the terminal device 30). For example, if the device 101 is an MFP or a camera, the process includes a process of acquiring electronic data by scanning or photographing a document or a subject. If the device 101 is a projector or a display, the process includes a process of acquiring image data being displayed. If the device 101 is a sensor, the process includes a process of acquiring a detection value of the sensor. If the device 101 is a storage server or a storage medium, the process includes a process of receiving or reading data. The IN component can acquire data in the information processing system 10 that realizes the workflow application, but may also acquire data from a storage device such as another workflow application or a server. For example, the IN component can request data managed by an application 103 other than the workflow application or a system 102 other than the information processing system 10 that realizes the workflow application from the application 103 or the system 102. In response to the request, the application 103 can acquire data managed by the application or a server corresponding to the application, and transmit the data to the requesting IN component. The IN component also includes a process for generating data by converting the data format, such as generating text data from image data.

[0138] The OUT component includes a process of outputting data from the device 101. For example, if the device 101 is an MFP, the process includes a process of printing electronic data on a medium. If the device 101 is a projector or a display, the process includes a process of displaying image data or outputting audio. If the device 101 is a storage server or a storage medium, the process includes a process of transmitting or storing data. In addition, the OUT component includes a process of notifying a predetermined destination of data or a result of processing. The OUT component can output data into the information processing system 10 that realizes the workflow application, but may also output data to an application 103 other than the workflow application or a system 102 other than the information processing system 10 that realizes the workflow application. For example, the OUT component can request the other application 103 or the other system 102 to manage the data or the result of processing in the other application 103 or the other system 102. In response to the request, the other application 103 can manage the received data or the result of processing, or transmit the data or the result of processing to be stored in a server corresponding to the other application 103.

[0139] For example, by combining multiple components, a Workflow App can achieve the following functions:

[0140] In the IN component, the MFP scans a document to generate image data. The PROCESS component performs character recognition processing on the image data to convert it into data such as numerical values ​​or text. The OUT component sends the converted data to a business management system, which is an example of another system. The business management system can generate management data by classifying data received from a workflow application or organizing it based on a preset input format. Note that in the PROCESS component, the information processing system 10 may classify data and generate management data. In this case, the OUT component transmits the classification results and management data to the business management system, and the business management system simply stores the classification results and management data received from the workflow application in a specified area.

[0141] The IN component also acquires data managed by the task management system. For example, the IN component acquires data such as setting information, numerical values, or text. Here, the IN component may request specific data from the task management system according to the setting, or may receive specific data managed by the task management system according to a request from the task management system. The PROCESS component generates management data by organizing or processing numerical values ​​or text based on the setting information. The OUT component transmits the management data to the task management system. The task management system stores the management data received from the workflow application in a specific area.

[0142] The work management system and the workflow application may be provided by different businesses and may be configured by different servers. Therefore, when the workflow application transmits or receives data to or from the work management system, the workflow application can transmit or receive data by communicating with the server that constitutes the work management system.

[0143] Here, the IN component obtains a fax number from the cloud fax system 60, and the OUT component transmits an edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60. The PROCSSS component can generate and display a screen, receive a user request, and transmit and receive a fax document to the file editing system 70. However, the PROCSSS component may execute part or all of the fax transmission and reception function of the cloud fax system 60 and the file editing function of the file editing system 70.

[0144] In addition, when the OUT component uploads the edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60 in step S39, the OUT component may transmit and store the edited fax document not only to the cloud fax system 60 but also to other cloud storage services, email addresses, etc.

[0145] 10 may be realized by multiple workflow applications (hereinafter referred to as a first application and a second application). In this case, an IN component of the first application acquires a file from the cloud fax system 60, and an OUT component transmits the file to the file editing system 70. An IN component of the second application acquires an edited fax document from the file editing system 70, and an OUT component transmits the edited fax document to the cloud fax system 60. At this time, by setting the second application to start processing in response to a reply to the file transmitted by the first application to the file editing system 70 as a trigger, the first application and the second application can be executed successively.

[0146] <Other application examples> The above describes the best mode for carrying out the present invention using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0147] For example, the cloud fax system 60 may be located on-premise rather than on the cloud.

[0148] The file editing system 70 may also be a file creation system, which allows the user to create a file from scratch, or to create a new file by adding comments, etc., based on a fax document.

[0149] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user manually edits the fax document, but the file editing system 70 may automatically edit the file. For example, a user may add a simple fixed phrase such as "Received" to the fax document. The information processing system 10 automatically transmits the received fax document to the file editing system, and the file editing system returns the edited fax document with the fixed phrase added to the information processing system 10. The information processing system 10 causes the cloud fax system 60 to fax the edited fax document.

[0150] In addition, in this embodiment, the terminal device 30 is used for sending, receiving, and editing faxes, but the device 20 may be used for sending, receiving, and editing faxes.

[0151] Moreover, the configuration examples in Fig. 5 and the like are divided according to main functions in order to facilitate understanding of the processing by the terminal device 30 and the information processing system 10. The present invention is not limited by the manner in which the processing units are divided or the names of the processing units. The processing by the terminal device 30 and the information processing system 10 can be divided into even more processing units depending on the processing content. Also, it can be divided so that one processing unit includes even more processes.

[0152] Additionally, the devices described in the examples are merely illustrative of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the information processing system 10 includes a plurality of computing devices, such as a server cluster, configured to communicate with each other via any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, and the like, and to implement the processes disclosed herein.

[0153] Furthermore, the information processing system 10 can be configured to share the processing steps disclosed in this embodiment, such as those shown in FIG. 10, in various combinations. For example, a process executed by a specific unit can be executed by multiple information processing devices included in the information processing system 10. Also, the information processing system 10 may be integrated into one server device, or may be divided into multiple devices.

[0154] Each function of the above-described embodiments can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to execute each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, and a device such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a conventional circuit module designed to execute each function described above.

[0155] <Additional Notes> [Appendix 1] An information processing system capable of communicating with a cloud fax system that transmits and receives faxes and a file editing system that edits files, a first file transceiver that acquires fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system; a communication unit that transmits first screen information for displaying the fax document data to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device; a second file transmitting / receiving unit that requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to an editing request for the fax document data from the terminal device, the communication unit transmits to the terminal device second screen information displaying the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmission / reception unit from the file editing system; an information processing system, characterized in that, in response to a request to transmit the edited fax document data from the terminal device, the first file transceiver requests the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data. [Appendix 2] the second file transmitting / receiving unit attaches identification information of the fax document data when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data; When acquiring the edited fax document data from the file editing system, acquiring identification information of the fax document data; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: identifying the fax document data corresponding to the edited fax document data based on identification information of the fax document data. [Appendix 3] the second file transmitting / receiving unit, when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data, attaches a file name of the fax document data to which a unique file name has been assigned; An information processing system as described in Appendix 1, which, when obtaining the edited fax document data from the file editing system, receives the file name and identifies the fax document data corresponding to the edited fax document data based on the file name. [Appendix 4] the second file transmitting / receiving unit transmits a URL in which the fax document data is stored to the file editing system when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the edited fax document data stored at the URL is acquired from the file editing system. [Appendix 5] When acquiring the fax document data from the cloud fax system, the first file transmitting / receiving unit acquires a fax number of a sender of the fax document data; The information processing system according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that when requesting the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data, the fax number of the sender that has been obtained is specified as a destination. [Appendix 6] a screen generating unit that generates the first screen information for the terminal device to display the fax document data; the screen generation unit generates the first screen information having an operation component capable of accepting editing, based on executable file editing-related functions published by the file editing system; 5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the first screen information to the terminal device. [Appendix 7] 6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the first screen information includes a comment input field for a user to input a comment. [Appendix 8] a screen generating unit that generates the second screen information for the terminal device to display the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmitting / receiving unit from the file editing system; The information processing system according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, wherein the screen generating unit places a fax number of the sender of the fax document data, which has been acquired by the first file transmitting / receiving unit, in the second screen information. [Appendix 9] the second screen information has a fax transmission button, the communication unit receives a request to transmit the edited fax document data from the terminal device when the fax transmission button is pressed; The information processing system described in Appendix 7, characterized in that the first file transmitting / receiving unit requests the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data to the fax number of the sender of the fax document data placed in the second screen information. [Appendix 10] The first file transmitting / receiving unit obtains, from the cloud fax system, a fax number of a user who is a destination of the fax document data, together with the fax document data; The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a file storage unit that stores the fax document data in association with the fax number of the user. [Appendix 11] In the cloud fax system, an email address of the information processing system is registered in advance, The first file transmitting / receiving unit acquires the fax document data transmitted to the email address from the cloud fax system, The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a file storage unit that stores the fax document data in association with a user account associated with the email address. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 10. Information Processing Systems 20 equipment 30 Terminal Equipment 40 External Service Systems 60 Cloud Fax System 70 File Editing System 100 Service Delivery System [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0157] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-145665 A

Claims

1. A cloud fax system that transmits and receives faxes, a file editing system that edits files, and an information processing system that can communicate with a terminal device, a first file transceiver that acquires fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system; a communication unit that transmits first screen information for displaying the fax document data to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device; a second file transmitting / receiving unit that requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to an editing request for the fax document data from the terminal device, the communication unit transmits to the terminal device second screen information displaying the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmission / reception unit from the file editing system; an information processing system, characterized in that, in response to a request to transmit the edited fax document data from the terminal device, the first file transceiver requests the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data.

2. the second file transmitting / receiving unit attaches identification information of the fax document data when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data; When acquiring the edited fax document data from the file editing system, acquiring identification information of the fax document data; The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the fax document data corresponding to the edited fax document data is identified based on identification information of the fax document data.

3. the second file transmitting / receiving unit, when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data, attaches a file name of the fax document data to which a unique file name has been assigned; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the edited fax document data is obtained from the file editing system, the file name is received, and the fax document data corresponding to the edited fax document data is identified based on the file name.

4. the second file transmitting / receiving unit transmits a URL where the fax document data is stored to the file editing system when requesting the file editing system to edit the fax document data; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the edited fax document data stored at the URL is acquired from the file editing system.

5. When acquiring the fax document data from the cloud fax system, the first file transmitting / receiving unit acquires a fax number of a sender of the fax document data; The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when requesting the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data, the acquired fax number of the sender is specified as a destination.

6. a screen generating unit that generates the first screen information for the terminal device to display the fax document data; the screen generation unit generates the first screen information having an operation component capable of accepting editing, based on executable file editing-related functions published by the file editing system; The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit transmits the first screen information to the terminal device.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the first screen information includes a comment input field for a user to input a comment.

8. a screen generating unit that generates the second screen information for the terminal device to display the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmitting / receiving unit from the file editing system; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the screen generating unit arranges, in the second screen information, a fax number of a sender of the fax document data, which is acquired by the first file transmitting / receiving unit.

9. the second screen information has a fax transmission button, the communication unit receives a request to transmit the edited fax document data from the terminal device when the fax transmission button is pressed; The information processing system according to claim 8, characterized in that the first file transmitting / receiving unit requests the cloud fax system to transmit the edited fax document data by fax, with the fax number of the sender of the fax document data placed in the second screen information as the destination.

10. The first file transmitting / receiving unit obtains, from the cloud fax system, a fax number of a user who is a destination of the fax document data, together with the fax document data; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a file storage unit for storing the fax document data in association with the fax number of the user.

11. In the cloud fax system, an email address of the information processing system is registered in advance, The first file transmitting / receiving unit acquires the fax document data transmitted to the email address from the cloud fax system, 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a file storage unit for storing the fax document data in association with a user account associated with the email address.

12. A cloud fax system that transmits and receives faxes, a file editing system that edits files, and an information processing system that can communicate with a terminal device, a first file transceiver that acquires fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system; a communication unit that transmits first screen information for displaying the fax document data to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device; a second file transmitting / receiving unit that requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to an editing request for the fax document data from the terminal device; the communication unit transmits to the terminal device second screen information displaying the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmission / reception unit from the file editing system; The program, characterized in that, in response to a request from the terminal device to transmit the edited fax document data, the first file transceiver requests the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data.

13. A fax document data processing method performed by a cloud fax system that transmits and receives faxes, a file editing system that edits files, and an information processing system that can communicate with a terminal device, comprising: A process in which a first file transmitting / receiving unit obtains fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system; a process in which a communication unit transmits, in response to a request from a terminal device, first screen information for displaying the fax document data to the terminal device; a process in which a second file transmitting / receiving unit requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to an editing request for the fax document data from the terminal device; a process in which the communication unit transmits to the terminal device second screen information displaying edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmission / reception unit from the file editing system; a process in which the first file transceiver requests the cloud fax system to fax the edited fax document data in response to a transmission request for the edited fax document data from the terminal device; 13. A method for processing fax document data, comprising:

14. A service providing system having an information processing system capable of communicating with a cloud fax system that transmits and receives faxes and a file editing system that edits files, and a terminal device that communicates with the information processing system via a network, The information processing system includes: a first file transceiver that acquires fax document data received by the cloud fax system from the cloud fax system; a communication unit that transmits first screen information for displaying the fax document data to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device; a second file transmitting / receiving unit that requests the file editing system to edit the fax document data in response to an editing request for the fax document data from the terminal device, the communication unit transmits to the terminal device second screen information displaying the edited fax document data acquired by the second file transmission / reception unit from the file editing system; in response to a request to transmit the edited fax document data from the terminal device, the first file transceiver requests the cloud fax system to transmit the edited fax document data by fax; The terminal device displaying a screen based on the first screen information received from the information processing system, and accepting edits to the fax document data; A service providing system that displays a screen based on the second screen information received from the information processing system and accepts an operation to send the edited fax document data by fax.

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