Information processing system, service provision system, and setting method

Abstract

To provide an information processing system which transmits screen information of a second screen for accepting a setting regarding a first screen input by an end user to a second terminal.SOLUTION: The information processing system provides information regarding an application set on the first screen displayed on a first terminal to a device 20 to execute the application by a request from the device, and comprises a communication unit which transmits screen information of the second screen for accepting a setting regarding the first screen of the application to a second terminal 30A on the basis of a setting item of the application.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] There are known services that provide applications that combine multiple functions (for example, scanning, saving to a folder, sending by email, etc.). When a user runs this application, the device scans the document and sends the resulting electronic file (image data) to an information processing system. The information processing system can then perform a specified process on the electronic file, and then send it by email or save it in a folder.

[0003] A technique for improving the development efficiency of such applications has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing system that accepts settings related to an application operation screen from a setting screen. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the conventional technology has a problem in that the screen information of the second screen, which accepts the settings for the first screen entered by the end user, is not transmitted to the second terminal device. In other words, the end user sets necessary settings such as application default values ​​on the first screen, but in the case of an application with many setting items, the end user must enter the settings into the setting items simply arranged on the first screen, which reduces usability.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an information processing system that transmits screen information of a second screen that accepts settings related to a first screen input by an end user to a second terminal device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention is an information processing system that provides a device with information regarding an application set on a first screen displayed by a first terminal device and executes the application upon request from the device, and is characterized by having a communication unit that transmits screen information of a second screen that accepts settings regarding the first screen of the application to a second terminal device based on setting items of the application. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] It is possible to provide an information processing system that transmits screen information of a second screen that accepts settings related to a first screen input by an end user to a second terminal device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a relationship between screens on which an application developer and an end user input information. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an example of a service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 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. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an example of a service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of application information managed by an application management unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of settings related to a My Page managed by a My Page setting management unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow screen provided by a WF development tool and displayed on a terminal device. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input item setting screen provided by a WF development tool and displayed on a terminal device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page setting screen provided by a WF development tool and displayed on a terminal device. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page displayed by the terminal device when the My Page setting screen is set as in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page setting screen on which settings related to My Page have been made. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page displayed by the terminal device when the My Page setting screen is set as in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page displayed by the terminal device when the My Page setting screen is set as in FIG. 11. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution screen displayed by the device. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page setting screen having a message prompting the user to make settings related to My Page. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in which a screen providing unit switches whether or not to display a message on a My Page setting screen. [Figure 17] 10 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure in which an application developer operates a terminal device to set a My Page setting screen and register settings related to My Page in an information processing system. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a My Page setting screen in which setting items are grouped by component. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a My Page setting screen in which setting items are grouped according to display settings for end-user input items. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A service providing system and a setting 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] <Outline of operation> First, some examples of screens used in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the screens on which the application developer 9 and the end user 8 input data.

[0011] (1) First, the application developer 9 runs a development tool on terminal device 30A (a developer terminal; an example of a second terminal device) and develops an application on process flow screen 300 and my page setting screen 310. Process flow screen 300 accepts the creation of a process flow by combining multiple functions (e.g., scanning, printing, sending email, etc.). Furthermore, my page setting screen 310 (an example of a second screen) accepts the display format of my page (the display order and grouping of setting items).

[0012] (2) The end user 8 can set default values ​​and the like required for the application from My Page 320 displayed on the terminal device 30B (user terminal; an example of a first terminal device). My Page 320 is, for example, a screen on which the end user 8 sets default values ​​that are displayed when the application is launched. If the application's processing is to send email, the default values ​​are, for example, settings for the destination email address. My Page 320 (an example of a first screen) is set in a display format that is easy to input using the My Page setting screen 310, so it is easy for the end user 8 to set My Page 320.

[0013] (3) When the device 20 displays the application execution screen 330, the default values ​​set in the My Page 320 are set. Therefore, the end user 8 only needs to enter a few items when executing the application.

[0014] In this way, the application developer 9 can set the display format of the my page 320 on the my page setting screen 310 to make it easier for the end user 8 to use the my page 320.

[0015] <Terminology> The application developer 9 is a person who has the authority to create an application. The application developer 9 is mainly a person involved in the company that provides the information processing system 10 or a person in charge of an affiliated company. For example, the application developer 9 may be an employee of a dealer that installs the information processing system for a customer.

[0016] The end user 8 is a customer who uses the application. The end user 8 may be a customer administrator or a general employee.

[0017] An application is software developed and used for a specific function or purpose, and is not for operating a computer itself. In this embodiment, the application will be described as a web application.

[0018] A configuration item is an item that allows the user to set a value that is passed to an application, and the application runs based on this value.

[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] 2 includes an information processing system 10 and a device 20, and is communicatively connected to a terminal device 30 via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet. The service providing system 100 can also communicate with an external service system 40, which is an external system.

[0021] The information processing system 10 is realized by one or more information processing devices, and provides various services via a network N1 that are realized by a series of processes in cooperation with an external service system 40, such as a cloud service. 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 regard to specific hardware resources. The information processing system 10 may exist on the Internet or on-premise. A series of processes is provided by a single application, and such a series of processes is also referred to as a "processing flow" or "workflow."

[0022] The devices 20 are various electronic devices used by users. The devices 20 are, for example, image forming devices such as MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals), PCs (Personal Computers), projectors, electronic whiteboards, video conference terminals, digital cameras, etc. The devices 20 are connected to the network N2. End users can use the devices 20 to utilize various services provided by the information processing system 10 or the external service system 40.

[0023] In the following description, when the plurality of devices 20 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be referred to using subscripts such as "device 20A" and "device 20B."

[0024] 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 an end user. The terminal device 30 is connected to the network N2. 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. In addition, the end user can use the terminal device 30 to use various services provided by the information processing system 10 or the external service system 40.

[0025] 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."

[0026] The external service system 40 is one or more information processing devices that provide services by executing applications via the network N1. Data is saved or read by executing the applications. 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 for the same user, the external service system 40 and the information processing system 10 have different accounts.

[0027] 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, a storage service is an example of a service. The external service system 40 may exist on the Internet or on-premise.

[0028] In the following description, when the plurality of 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.

[0029] <Hardware configuration example> The hardware configuration 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 FIG.

[0030] <<Information processing system and terminal device>> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30 are constructed by a computer, and include a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, a HD (Hard Disk) 504, an 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.

[0031] Of these, the CPU 501 controls the overall operation of the information processing system 10 and the terminal device 30. The ROM 502 stores programs, 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 and writing of various data from and to the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501. The display 506 displays various information, such as a cursor, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, external devices include, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memories and printers. 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 the components, such as the CPU 501, shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] The keyboard 511 is a type of input means having multiple keys used to input 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, which is an example of a removable recording medium. 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.

[0033] Although the device 20 is one of the devices that executes applications, the hardware configuration of the device 20 is not described here because it is not a feature of this embodiment.

[0034] <About the function> Next, the functional configuration of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of an example of the service providing system 100 according to this embodiment. Note that, in this embodiment, the execution of an application by the device 20 is not a distinctive feature, so a description of the functions of the device 20 will be omitted. Also, in this description, the terminal device 30A will be described as a terminal device (developer terminal) operated by the application developer 9, and the terminal device 30B will be described as a terminal device (user terminal) operated by the end user 8.

[0035] <<Administrator terminal>> The terminal device 30A has a first communication unit 31a, a display control unit 32a, and an operation reception unit 33a. Each of these functional units is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 executing instructions contained in one or more programs installed in the terminal device 30A. Note that this program may be a web browser or dedicated software.

[0036] The first communication unit 31a transmits and receives various types of information to and from the information processing system 10. In this embodiment, the first communication unit 31a receives various types of screen information and the like from the information processing system 10, and transmits information set by the application developer 9 to the information processing system 10.

[0037] The display control unit 32a interprets screen information of various screens and displays it on the display 506. The operation receiving unit 33a receives various operations by the user on the various screens displayed on the display 506. Note that the screen information is a program written in HTML, XML, a scripting language, CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), etc., with the structure of the web page being primarily defined by HTML, the behavior of the web page being defined by the scripting language, and the style of the web page being defined by CSS.

[0038] <<User device>> The terminal device 30B has a second communication unit 31b, a display control unit 32b, and an operation reception unit 33b. Each of these functional units is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 executing instructions contained in one or more programs installed in the terminal device 30B. The programs may be a web browser or dedicated software.

[0039] The second communication unit 31b transmits and receives various information to and from the information processing system 10. In this embodiment, the second communication unit 31b receives screen information of the My Page 320 and the like from the information processing system 10, and transmits information set by the end user 8 to the information processing system 10.

[0040] The display control unit 32b interprets screen information of various screens and displays it on the display 506. The operation receiving unit 33b receives various operations by the end user 8, mainly on the My Page 320 displayed on the display 506.

[0041] <<Information Processing System>> The information processing system 10 has a communication unit 11, a Web application control unit 12, a WF development tool 13 (WF is an abbreviation for Workflow), a user setting tool 14, and an input / output service 15. Each functional unit of the information processing system 10 is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the information processing system 10.

[0042] The communication unit 11 transmits and receives various types of information to and from the terminal devices 30A and 30B. In this embodiment, the communication unit 11 transmits screen information of various screens to the terminal devices 30A and 30B, and receives various settings from the terminal devices 30A and 30B.

[0043] The Web application control unit 12 executes an application in response to a request from the device 20. In this embodiment, the application is provided as a Web application. The term "Web application" is used in contrast to a native application that can be executed only by the device. A Web application refers to software or its mechanism that runs on a Web browser and operates through cooperation between a program written in a programming language (for example, JavaScript (registered trademark)) that runs on a Web browser and a program on the Web server side.

[0044] The Web application control unit 12 has a screen configuration unit 21 and an application execution unit 22. Screen configuration information and processing flow for each Web application are managed by the application management unit 29 of the input / output service 15, and the screen configuration unit 21 sends the screen configuration information of the Web application (the application execution screen) to the device 20. The application execution unit 22 executes processing on image data scanned by the device 20, received faxes, emails, etc., based on the processing flow (each process, such as scanning, OCR, or email transmission, and the order of execution). Each process has a corresponding component, and the I / O logic processing unit 28 calls and executes the component.

[0045] The WF development tool 13 is a tool that allows an application developer to create an application that runs on the device 20 via a web browser executed by the terminal device 30A. The tool is a program (mainly a web page or web application) that has a series of functions. As will be described later, an application connects various processes (components), and the information processing system 10 executes each process in sequence. Only application developers 9 with application development authority can access the WF development tool 13 and develop applications.

[0046] The WF development tool 13 has a screen providing unit 24, an application registration unit 23, and a My Page setting information registration unit 25. The screen providing unit 24 provides a process flow screen 300 and an input item setting screen 340 (described later) to the terminal device 30A, and accepts settings (process flow definition, user input items, etc.) related to the application from the application developer 9. The screen providing unit 24 also generates and provides a My Page setting screen 310 (described later) to the terminal device 30A, and accepts settings related to the My Page (an example of a second screen providing unit).

[0047] The application registration unit 23 registers the application-related settings (processing flow definition, user input items, etc.) received by the screen providing unit 24 in the application management unit 29. The my page setting information registration unit 25 registers the settings and user input items, etc., received by the screen providing unit 24 in the my page setting management unit 19.

[0048] The user setting tool 14 is a tool that can set the settings (for example, default values) of an application created by the WF development tool 13 for each tenant or end user.

[0049] The user setting tool 14 has a screen providing unit 26 and a setting registration unit 27. The screen providing unit 26 acquires settings related to the My Page 320 from the My Page setting management unit 19 and generates screen information for the My Page. The screen providing unit 26 provides the screen information for the My Page 320 to the terminal device 30B and accepts default value settings for the My Page 320 from the end user 8 (an example of a first screen providing unit).

[0050] The setting registration unit 27 registers the default value settings and the like for the My Page 320 accepted by the screen providing unit 26 in the application management unit 29 .

[0051] The input / output service 15 saves values ​​set by the WF development tool 13 and the user setting tool 14. The input / output service 15 also executes various processes defined in the application (OCR, sending email, saving to a folder, etc.).

[0052] The input / output service 15 has an I / O logic processing unit 28, an application management unit 29, and a my page setting management unit 19. The application management unit 29 manages application information (processing flow of each application, user input items, default values, screen configuration information, etc.).

[0053] The My Page setting management unit 19 holds settings related to the My Page 320 for each tenant or user. The I / O logic processing unit 28 calls a component corresponding to the processing requested by the application execution unit 22, and executes the processing corresponding to the component such as OCR included in the application.

[0054] 5 shows an example of application information managed by the application management unit 29. The application information has a processing flow and default values ​​associated with an application ID. The processing flow is an arrangement of components in the order of execution set by the application developer 9, such as component 1 → component 2 → component 3 ...

[0055] The default values ​​are set values ​​that are displayed immediately after the application screen is displayed when the end user 8 executes an application on the device 20 or the terminal device 30. The default values ​​are set by the end user 8 on the My Page 320.

[0056] The setting items of each component are user input items set by the application developer ("required" and "optional" input items, which will be described later). Screen configuration information for displaying each setting item is prepared in a screen definition, such as an HTML label.

[0057] Fig. 6 shows an example of settings related to my page 320 managed by my page setting management unit 19. Settings related to my page 320 are managed in association with an application ID. Fig. 6 shows settings related to my page 320 in an application that performs OCR → email transmission. Each item will be explained below. Components are components contained in an application. All setting items are all of the setting items that the component has. All setting items of the component are determined in advance. The user input items are settings related to the display and input of each setting item of the application, set by the application developer 9 among all setting items. In other words, setting items set as "required" or "optional" in parentheses following the setting item are displayed on the application execution screen 330, and setting items set as "not allowed" are not displayed. This setting is also common to the My Page 320. The user input items are set by the application developer 9. A group is a grouping of setting items. One or more grouped setting items can be switched between display and non-display all at once on My Page 320. Multiple groups may be set for one component. Groups are set by the app developer 9 (or may be set automatically). Members are setting items that belong to a group. Each setting item is assigned a number, which indicates the display order on My Page 320.

[0058] <Example of screen displayed on terminal device> Next, screens displayed by the terminal devices 30A and 30B will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0059] 7 shows an example of a process flow screen 300 displayed on the terminal device 30A and provided by the WF development tool 13. The process flow screen 300 has a process list field 301 and an editor field 302. The process list field 301 displays a list of components that can be executed by an application as icons. The editor field 302 is divided into a mesh.

[0060] The application developer 9 selects the icon of a component that they want to incorporate into the application from the process list column 301 and drags and drops it into the editor column 302. By repeating this process, the application developer 9 can define a series of process flows. In the example of Fig. 7, Execute OCR 303, Upload File 304, and Send Email 305 are defined in this order. Each process corresponds to a component.

[0061] 8 is an example of an input item setting screen 340 displayed on the terminal device 30A and provided by the WF development tool 13. The input item setting screen 340 is a screen on which the application developer 9 sets input items, such as which input items the user is to enter on the device 20, based on the created process flow 341. The input item setting can be set for each input item (sometimes called a parameter) of each component included in the process flow.

[0062] In FIG. 8, the components Scan 341a, OCR Execution 341b, and Email Send 341c are displayed. When the application developer 9 selects one component, an input item setting screen 340 appears. In FIG. 8, OCR Execution 341b is selected. The input item setting screen 340 accepts which input item of the OCR component corresponding to OCR Execution 341b the end user 8 is to input. For example, the OCR component has input items such as OCR language and output file format. For this input item name 342, the input item setting screen 340 has user input settings 343, input type settings 344, and parameter value settings 345.

[0063] The user input setting 343 accepts a setting as to whether or not to prompt the end user for input. For example, if the application developer 9 sets the input item of the OCR component, OCR language (which language to use for OCR) to "Yes (Required)," a field for the end user 8 to specify the OCR language is displayed on the application execution screen 330, and the application cannot be executed unless the end user 8 sets it. The user input setting 343 also has "Optional" and "No." With "Optional," the input item is displayed on the application execution screen 330, but the application can be executed without the end user 8 setting it. With "No," the input item is not displayed on the application execution screen 330.

[0064] Note that setting items set to "Do not allow" in the user input settings are not displayed on My Page 320. User input settings 343 are common to My Page 320 and application execution screen 330. On the other hand, all setting items of the component are displayed on My Page settings screen 310 regardless of the setting value of the user input settings.

[0065] The input type setting 344 accepts a setting as to whether the input items displayed on the application execution screen 330 are in a selection format, a numeric input format, or a character input format. The parameter value setting 345 accepts a setting as to which options to display when the input items are in a selection format, along with the number of options (for example, if there are a total of 20 OCR languages, a list of approximately 3 to 5 OCR languages ​​that the end user can use).

[0066] 9 is an example of a My Page setting screen 310A provided by a WF development tool and displayed on the terminal device 30A. In the description of the My Page setting screen 310, different aspects of the My Page setting screen 310 will be denoted by symbols A to E.

[0067] The My Page settings screen 310 is a screen where the application developer 9 sets the display format of the My Page 320. The display format refers to, for example, the display order of setting items and the grouping of setting items. Figure 9 shows the My Page settings screen 310A of an application that executes an OCR component and an email sending component. These components have the following setting items 311 as shown in Figure 6.

[0068] ■OCR component OCR Language Output file format Output file size ·Blank page removal ■ Email sending component Destination address Email title Email body File name These setting items are all the setting items that a component has. However, an actual component may have many more setting items, and for the sake of convenience in this specification, each component will be assumed to have a total of four setting items.

[0069] First, for comparison, My Page setting screen 310A in Fig. 9 shows a state in which no settings have been made for My Page 320. When no settings have been made for My Page 320, it means that each setting item of the component is simply displayed in a list.

[0070] Fig. 10 shows My Page 320 displayed by terminal device 30B when My Page setting screen 310 is set as in Fig. 9. My Page 320 has the setting items ("Required" and "Optional") that are set when the user inputs them on input item setting screen 340 in Fig. 8. Therefore, in accordance with the user input items for the My Page settings in Fig. 6, an OCR language field 321, an output file format field 322, an output file size field 323, a blank page removal field 324, a destination address field 325, an email title field 326, an email body field 327, and a file name field 328 are displayed.

[0071] Because no settings have been made for My Page 320, My Page 320 simply lists the setting items, as shown in Fig. 10. The number of setting items that an actual component has can be several tens of times more than the number of setting items in Fig. 10, which could reduce usability.

[0072] Fig. 11 is an example of a My Page settings screen 310B on which settings related to My Page 320 have been made. The explanation of Fig. 11 will mainly focus on the differences from Fig. 9. On the My Page settings screen 310B, the application developer 9 can change the display order of the setting items on My Page 320 and group them. In Fig. 11, groups called "OCR settings group" 312 and "email settings group" 313 have been created.

[0073] The application developer 9 creates a group by pressing the group creation button 314. The application developer 9 enters a group name and groups the setting items by clicking to select the setting items to belong to the group.

[0074] As shown in Figure 11, grouped setting items are indented under the group name. In Figure 11, OCR language, output file format, and output file size are displayed. The setting items are grouped into an "OCR setting group" 312, and the destination address, email title, and email body are grouped into an "email setting group" 313. The grouped setting items can be easily switched between display and non-display on My Page 320. In addition, the application developer 9 can set for each group whether to expand and display the setting items immediately after My Page is displayed, or to hide them.

[0075] Furthermore, the application developer 9 can change the display order of each setting item by dragging and dropping it. The display order on the My Page setting screen 310 will be the display order of the setting items on the My Page 320.

[0076] 11, the settings are grouped by component, but the application developer 9 can group any combination of setting items. For example, the application developer 9 can separate setting items that are set less frequently from setting items that are set more frequently into different groups, and set the group that is set more frequently to be expanded and displayed immediately after My Page 320 is displayed, and hide the group that is set less frequently.

[0077] 12 and 13 show My Page 320 displayed on terminal device 30B when My Page setting screen 310 is set as in Fig. 11. In Fig. 12, the setting items for "OCR setting group" 312 and "Email setting group" 313 are not displayed (not expanded). Therefore, two group names, an ungrouped file name field 328, and a blank page removal field 324 are displayed.

[0078] 13 shows the display (expanded) state of the setting items in the "OCR setting group" 312 and the "email setting group" 313. Therefore, below the "OCR setting group" 312, a grouped OCR language column 321, an output file format column 322, and an output file size column 323 are displayed, and below the "email setting group" 313, a grouped destination address column 325, an e-mail title column 326, and an e-mail body column 327 are displayed.

[0079] In this way, by the application developer 9 configuring the settings related to my page 320 on the my page setting screen 310, the layout of my page 320 displayed on the terminal device 30B becomes easier to input, improving usability and the visibility of my page 320.

[0080] <<Application execution screen>> Fig. 14 is an example of an execution screen 330 displayed by the device 20. For simplicity, Fig. 14 assumes that only the OCR language is selected (either required or optional) as an input item to be set by the end user 8 on the input item setting screen 340, and that "Do not allow" is selected for the other input items. For this reason, the execution screen 330 has an OCR language selection field 331. In addition, the OCR language selection field 331 displays the default value (Japanese) set by the end user.

[0081] <Processing when there are many setting items on My Page> When there are a large number of setting items on my page 320, it is preferable that the screen providing unit 24 prompts the application developer 9 to group them, etc. In this way, when the number of setting items on my page 320 is equal to or greater than a threshold, the application developer 9 can group the setting items on my page setting screen 310 or change the display order, thereby providing a my page 320 with good usability.

[0082] Figure 15 is an example of a My Page setting screen 310C that has a message prompting the user to make settings related to My Page 320. The explanation of Figure 15 will mainly focus on the differences from Figure 11. The My Page setting screen 310C in Figure 15 displays a message 315 that reads, "There are many setting items, so we recommend grouping them." Message 315 enables the application developer 9 to recognize that settings related to My Page 320 are required.

[0083] FIG. 16 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the screen providing unit 24 switches whether or not to display the message 315 on the My Page setting screen 310. In the example shown in FIG.

[0084] An application developer 9 develops an application (processing flow) on a processing flow screen 300 (S101). In addition, the application developer 9 sets input items (mandatory, optional, not allowed) to be input by an end user 8 on an input item setting screen 340 (S102).

[0085] The screen providing unit 24 determines whether the number of setting items displayed on the My Page 320 is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S103).

[0086] The number of setting items displayed on My Page 320 is the number of setting items (mandatory or optional) that are set when the user inputs them out of all setting items included in the application.

[0087] If the determination in step S103 is Yes, the screen providing unit 24 displays a message 315 saying "There are many setting items, so we recommend grouping them" on the My Page setting screen 310 (S104).

[0088] The application developer 9 performs settings related to the my page 320 on the my page setting screen 310C (S105). The application developer 9 can perform settings related to the my page 320 regardless of whether or not a message is displayed.

[0089] <Operation procedure> FIG. 17 is an example of a sequence diagram showing a procedure in which the application developer 9 operates the terminal device 30A to set the My Page setting screen 310 and register the settings related to the My Page 320 in the information processing system 10. In FIG.

[0090] S1: First, the application developer 9 operates the terminal device 30A to cause the terminal device 30A to communicate with the information processing system. When the application developer 9 inputs an operation to display the process flow screen 300, the operation acceptance unit 33a accepts the operation, and the first communication unit 31a requests the process flow screen 300 from the screen providing unit 24 of the WF development tool 13.

[0091] S2: The screen providing unit 24 transmits the screen information of the process flow screen 300 to the terminal device 30A.

[0092] S3: The first communication unit 31a of the terminal device 30A receives the screen information of the process flow screen 300, and the display control unit 32a displays the process flow screen 300. The application developer 9 places icons corresponding to components in the editor field 302 to create an application (process flow).

[0093] S4: Next, when the application developer 9 inputs an operation to display the input item setting screen 340, the operation receiving unit 33a receives it, and the first communication unit 31a requests the input item setting screen 340 from the screen providing unit 24 of the WF development tool 13.

[0094] S5: The screen providing unit 24 transmits screen information of the input item setting screen 340 to the terminal device 30A.

[0095] S6: The first communication unit 31a of the terminal device 30A receives screen information of the input item setting screen 340, and the display control unit 32a displays the input item setting screen 340. The application developer 9 sets the input items (mandatory, optional, not allowed) to be entered by the user, etc.

[0096] S7: Next, when the application developer 9 inputs an operation to display the My Page setting screen 310, the operation receiving unit 33a receives it, and the first communication unit 31a requests the My Page setting screen 310 from the screen providing unit 24 of the WF development tool 13.

[0097] S8: The screen providing unit 24 determines whether the number of setting items displayed on the My Page 320 is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the number is less than the threshold, the screen providing unit 24 transmits screen information of the My Page setting screen 310, which does not include the message 315, to the terminal device 30A.

[0098] S9: If the number is equal to or greater than the threshold, the screen providing unit 24 adds a message 315 to the screen information of the My Page setting screen 310 and transmits it to the terminal device 30A.

[0099] S10: The first communication unit 31a of the terminal device 30A receives screen information of the My Page setting screen 310, and the display control unit 32a displays the My Page setting screen 310. The application developer 9 performs grouping of setting items, change of display order, etc. on the My Page setting screen 310.

[0100] S11 to S13: When the settings on the My Page setting screen 310 are completed, the first communication unit 31a of the terminal device 30A transmits the processing flow and user input items of the application to the information processing system 10. The communication unit 11 of the information processing system 10 receives these, and the application registration unit 23 registers the processing flow of the application and the input items to be displayed when the application is executed in the application management unit 29.

[0101] S14 to S16: When the settings on the My Page setting screen 310 are completed, the first communication unit 31a of the terminal device 30A transmits the settings related to My Page 320 to the information processing system 10. The communication unit 11 of the information processing system 10 receives the settings related to My Page 320, and the My Page setting management unit 19 registers the settings related to My Page 320 in the My Page setting management unit 19.

[0102] S17, S18: The end user displays My Page 320 on terminal device 30B. The screen providing unit 26 of the user setting tool 14 acquires information about My Page 320 from the My Page setting management unit 19, and generates screen information for My Page 320, including user input items that are set as "required" or "optional," and for which grouping and display order are set. The communication unit 11 sends the screen information for My Page 320 to terminal device 30B.

[0103] S19: The end user sets default values, etc. for the My Page. The default values ​​are registered in the application management unit 29 as part of the application information.

[0104] When the device 20 executes the application, an application execution screen 330 is displayed in which the default values ​​registered in the application management unit 29 are displayed in the user input fields.

[0105] <Grouping Variations> 11, it has been explained that the application developer 9 performs the grouping, but the grouping may also be performed by the screen providing unit 24. In this case, the setting items for each component are displayed in a grouped state on the My Page setting screen 310, and the application developer 9 can further edit the group state.

[0106] Fig. 18 is an example of a My Page setting screen 310D in which setting items are grouped by component. In Fig. 18, the setting items are grouped by component. The screen providing unit 24 groups all setting items of each component managed by the My Page setting management unit 19 by component. This reduces the workload of the application developer 9 in grouping.

[0107] Additionally, the input items of the end user 8 may be grouped according to whether they are "required," "optional," or "not allowed." Figure 19 is an example of a My Page setting screen 310E in which setting items are grouped according to the display setting of the input items of the end user 8. For example, the screen providing unit 24 may divide the items into one group for "required" and "optional," and another group for "not allowed." Also, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed that blank page removal is set to "not allow" user input. For this reason, in Figure 19, the groups "display item group" 316 and "hidden group" 317 are displayed.

[0108] In this way, the screen providing unit 24 groups the setting items based on the user input items of each component managed by the my page setting management unit 19. By doing so, the application developer 9 does not need to set the display order of setting items that are not displayed on the my page 320 or the application execution screen 330 in the first place.

[0109] <Major Effects> As described above, the service providing system of this embodiment allows the application developer 9 to set the display format of the my page 320 on the my page setting screen 310, thereby improving usability when the end user 8 sets the my page 320. Furthermore, even if the number of setting items on the my page 320 is large, visibility can be improved.

[0110] <Other application examples> The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above 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.

[0111] For example, in the present embodiment, the application is described as a web application, but the application may be a native application.

[0112] In this embodiment, the application is executed from the device 20, but the terminal device 30 may also execute the application.

[0113] Furthermore, the configuration examples in Fig. 4 and the like are divided according to main functions to facilitate understanding of the processing by the terminal device 30, the device 20, and the information processing system 10. The method of dividing the processing units and the names thereof do not limit the present invention. The processing by the terminal device 30, the device 20, and the information processing system 10 can be divided into even more processing units depending on the processing content. Furthermore, the processing can be divided so that one processing unit includes even more processes.

[0114] 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, information processing system 10 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster, configured to communicate with each other via any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., and to perform the processes disclosed herein.

[0115] Furthermore, the information processing system 10 can be configured to share the processing steps disclosed in this embodiment, such as those shown in FIG. 17, 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. Furthermore, the information processing system 10 may be integrated into a single server device, or may be divided into multiple devices.

[0116] 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 perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to perform each of the above-described functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 10 Information Processing Systems 20 equipment 30 Terminal Equipment 100 Service Delivery System [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0118] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-208064

Claims

1. 1. An information processing system that provides information about an application set on a first screen displayed by a first terminal device to a device and executes the application in response to a request from the device, a communication unit that transmits screen information of a second screen that accepts settings related to the first screen of the application based on the setting items of the application to a second terminal device; An information processing system comprising:

2. the communication unit receives a setting for the first screen that is set on the second screen, a setting management unit that stores settings related to the first screen in association with the application; a first screen providing unit that provides the first screen to the first terminal device based on settings related to the first screen; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. An information processing system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein when the number of setting items of the application displayed on the first screen is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the communication unit transmits screen information of the second screen to the second terminal device together with a message prompting the user to set the display format of the first screen.

4. The application executes a plurality of components in sequence, a second screen providing unit that generates the second screen in which setting items of the application are grouped by component, An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication unit transmits screen information of the second screen, on which the setting items of the application are grouped by the component, to the second terminal device.

5. The setting item of the application is set to be displayed or not displayed on the first screen, a second screen providing unit that generates the second screen in which setting items of the application are grouped according to whether or not they are to be displayed; An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication unit transmits screen information of the second screen, which is displayed in groups based on whether or not the setting items of the application are displayed, to the second terminal device.

6. the second screen displays a list of settings for the application; 6. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a second screen providing unit that accepts grouping of setting items of the application.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the second screen providing unit accepts a setting for a display order of the setting items of the application.

8. 7. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the setting items of the grouped applications can be switched between display and non-display for each group on the first screen.

9. A service providing system including: an information processing system that provides information about an application set on a first screen displayed by a first terminal device to a device and executes the application in response to a request from the device; and a second terminal device, The information processing system includes: a communication unit that transmits screen information of a second screen that accepts settings related to the first screen of the application to a second terminal device based on setting items of the application, The second terminal device A service providing system that displays the second screen based on screen information of the second screen received from the information processing system.

10. 1. A setting method performed by an information processing system that provides information about an application set on a first screen displayed by a first terminal device to a device and executes the application in response to a request from the device, comprising: a setting method comprising transmitting screen information of a second screen that accepts settings related to the first screen of the application to a second terminal device based on the setting items of the application.

Images