Information processing device and program

Abstract

To make it possible to achieve a specific function while a plurality of applications are cooperated and operated without requiring a user to make setting regarding cooperation of applications when achieving the specific function while the plurality of applications are cooperated.SOLUTION: When achieving a specific function while cooperating a plurality of applications, a control unit 34 operates a plurality of applications in cooperation on the basis of a setting, stored in a setting storage unit 35, regarding cooperation of a previously set plurality of applications, and an operation parameter being input by a user via a system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an RPA device that executes a first process of obtaining a first output from a first software based on RPA that corresponds to the operation result of the first software, and a second process of generating a second output that corresponds to the operation result of the second software based on RPA by operating the second software based on the first output. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-003905 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and program that enable a user to operate multiple applications in cooperation with each other to realize a specific function without having to make any settings related to the application cooperation when the multiple applications are cooperated to realize a specific function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] [program] Claim 1 The present invention relates to a method for allowing a user to One Entered in the file Multiple Set the value, No. 1 Operational parameters that govern the behavior of the application and operational parameters that govern the operation of the second application. and accepting the Execute each process for the form No. 1 application and the second applicationWhen implementing a specific function by linking No. 1 application and the second application Based on the settings related to the cooperation and the operation parameters, No. 1 application and the second application and a step of operating the above in cooperation with each other, The previously set No. 1 application and the second application The above settings related to the linkage of The one Entered in the file Used as an operation parameter that defines the operation of the first application Setting Value and a setting value used as an operation parameter for defining the operation of the second application, If there is an error in each It is a program, a setting regarding how to process. Effect of the Invention

[0012] Claim 1 According to the present invention, a program can be provided that enables a user to operate multiple applications in cooperation with each other to process a form, without having to make any settings related to the application cooperation, by simply inputting setting values ​​into a file. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of RPA 41 within the terminal device 10. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the RPA 41 links three applications, a document digitization application, a file naming application, and a cloud storage processing application. [Figure 4] This is a diagram for explaining how the setting items for the RPA 41 include a large number of setting items that can only be set by developers or people with specialized knowledge. [Diagram 5]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how a user sets operation parameters as setting values ​​for setting items in a setting file 60. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a setting file 60 shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining how the RPA 41 acquires operating parameters from the setting file 60 when three applications are operated in cooperation with each other. [Figure 8] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a terminal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a terminal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form in which processing is executed by operating three applications in a coordinated manner. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how the RPA 41 uses a file naming application to perform OCR processing on a digitized file to obtain various information about the form. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a CSV file generated by the RPA 41 based on various information acquired from a digitalized file. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a digitized file to which a file name has been assigned by the RPA 41. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram for explaining a hierarchical structure that the RPA 41 generates in a designated storage destination folder of the cloud server 50 using a cloud storage processing application. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] 1, an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which a terminal device 10 and an image forming device 20 are connected by an in-house network 30, and the in-house network 30 is further connected to a cloud server 50 via the Internet 40. Here, the image forming device 20 is a device called a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile function. The terminal device 10 is an information processing device that executes various processes on forms using the image forming device 20.

[0017] The terminal device 10 has installed therein a robotics process automation (RPA) 41 that is generated so as to realize a specific function by linking a plurality of application programs (hereinafter, abbreviated as applications or apps).

[0018] Here, RPA41 is a routine task automation support program that is generated to automate the processing of routine tasks using various apps and web browsers, as shown in Figure 2, and to automatically execute specific routine tasks without user operation.

[0019] By using such RPA41, tasks that were previously performed by users can be carried out by robots using software programs, reducing human error and improving work efficiency and productivity.

[0020] For example, Figure 3 shows an example of the RPA 41 linking three apps: a document digitization app, a file naming app, and a cloud storage processing app.

[0021] Here, the document digitization application has a function of automatically digitizing various documents by scanning the documents with the image forming device 20. The file naming application has a function of assigning a preset file name to the digitized document data. The cloud storage processing application has a function of automatically generating a folder for the storage destination when storing the digitized document data in a designated storage destination of the cloud server 50, and sorting and saving the document data into the folder according to the attributes assigned to the document data.

[0022] By linking multiple applications like this, it is possible to automate the process of simply reading a document using the image forming device 20, assigning a preset file name to the read document data, and saving it in a storage location within the cloud server 50 in a preset sorting method.

[0023] However, to realize such cooperation between multiple applications, it is necessary to set the settings related to the cooperation between multiple applications and the operation parameters for the RPA 41. For example, to cooperate with three applications as shown in Fig. 3, it is necessary to execute the settings related to the cooperation between multiple applications and the operation parameters for the RPA 41.

[0024] However, as shown in Figure 4, the configuration items for the RPA 41 include a large number of configuration items that can only be set by developers or people with specialized knowledge. This makes it difficult for general users to understand what setting values ​​should be set for which configuration items in order to link multiple applications. In the first place, these configuration items are in a format that the RPA 41 can understand, so general users without IT skills cannot understand the content.

[0025] Therefore, when using RPA41, a software program that helps automate routine tasks, to link multiple apps to achieve a specific function, it is difficult for general users to configure the settings related to the linkages in RPA41.

[0026] Here, the setting related to the cooperation of multiple applications is, for example, a processing method for an error that may occur when multiple applications are operated in cooperation with each other, a processing method for an unexpected situation, etc. In order to operate multiple applications in cooperation with each other, a processing method corresponding to a case where prohibited characters are used in the file name of file data to be processed, or a processing method corresponding to a case where a folder with a specified name does not exist in a location specified as a storage destination must be set in advance as a setting related to the cooperation of multiple applications.

[0027] Furthermore, in order to operate multiple applications in cooperation with each other, it is necessary to set operation parameters that define the operation of the applications. Here, the operation parameters refer to various information such as numerical values ​​and characters that determine the operation of the applications, and specifically, the information corresponds to information that defines various operations of the applications, such as what file name to give to the digitized form, where to transfer the digitized file after processing, and in what storage location and in what hierarchy to store the file.

[0028] Therefore, in the information processing system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a user can execute a specific function by executing multiple applications in cooperation with each other, simply by inputting the minimum necessary operating parameters into a configuration file 60, without having to configure the complex application cooperation settings as described above.

[0029] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which, for example, a file in Excel format, which is a spreadsheet software sold by Microsoft, is used as the setting file 60. Note that the setting file 60 is not limited to such an Excel format file, and any file format can be used as long as the user can input setting values.

[0030] 5, the user sets only the operation parameters "1 hour", "order form", and "use date and time" as the setting values ​​for the setting items "repeat time", "document type", and "file name" in the setting file 60. The RPA 41 then reads and acquires the operation parameters set by the user from the setting file 60, and realizes an operation in which multiple applications are linked based on the acquired operation parameters and preset settings related to linkage.

[0031] An example of such a setting file 60 is shown in Fig. 6. The setting file shown in Fig. 6 shows how operation parameters related to the setting of the file name to be uploaded to the storage destination and the setting of the storage location when storing the file in the storage destination are set.

[0032] Specifically, the file name to be uploaded to the storage destination is set to the following values: "client name," "issue date," "document name," and "document number," and a "hyphen" is set to be used as the file name separator.

[0033] In other words, the operating parameters of the configuration file shown in Figure 6 are set up so that the file name that will be assigned to the digitized file will be "client name-issue date-document name-document number."

[0034] In addition, when setting the storage location for a file, the number of levels of folders to be created at the storage destination is set to "3," and the folder names "Fiscal year," "Client name," and "Document name" are set as the level names.

[0035] In other words, the operating parameters of the configuration file shown in Figure 6 are set up to create a three-level folder hierarchy named "Fiscal year," "Client name," and "Document name," and store files in them.

[0036] When a plurality of applications are operated in cooperation with each other as shown in FIG. 3, the RPA 41 acquires operation parameters from the setting file 60 and performs the cooperation operation as shown in FIG.

[0037] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0038] 8, the image forming apparatus 10 has a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices via a network 30, and a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 including a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 16.

[0039] The CPU 11 is a processor that executes a predetermined process based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13 to control the operation of the terminal device 10. Note that, in this embodiment, the CPU 11 is described as reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but it is also possible to provide the program to the CPU 11 by storing it on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device 10 realized by executing the above control program.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device 10 of this embodiment includes an operation input unit 31, a display unit 32, a data transmission / reception unit 33, a control unit 34, a setting value storage unit 35, and an operation parameter acquisition unit 36.

[0042] Various pieces of operational information performed by a user are input to the operation input unit 31. The display unit 32 is controlled by the control unit 34 and displays various pieces of information to the user.

[0043] The data transmission / reception unit 33 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the image forming apparatus 20 and the cloud server 50.

[0044] The operation parameter acquisition unit 36 ​​accepts and acquires operation parameters input by a user via the system. The operation parameters acquired by the operation parameter acquisition unit 36 ​​are stored in the setting value storage unit 35. In addition, the setting value storage unit 35 also stores setting values ​​and the like related to the cooperation of multiple RPAs that have been set in advance.

[0045] The control unit 34 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10, and when functioning as the RPA 41, it operates a plurality of applications in cooperation with each other to realize various functions.

[0046] When the control unit 34 links multiple apps to realize a specific function, the control unit 34 links and operates the multiple apps based on the settings related to the linkage of the multiple apps that are preset and stored in the setting value storage unit 35, and the operating parameters input by the user via the system.

[0047] Here, the operating parameters input by the user via the system are specifically set values ​​input by the user into a file such as the setting file 60.

[0048] Next, the operation of the terminal device 10 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0049] In the following, we will explain how three apps work together as shown in Figure 3, to achieve the following process: various documents are read and digitized by the document digitization app using the image forming device 20, a file name is assigned to the digitized document data by the file naming app, and the digitized document data is stored on the cloud server 50 by the cloud storage processing app.

[0050] It is also assumed that the user has set operation parameters as shown in FIG. 6 in the setting file 60 when these three applications are operated in cooperation with each other.

[0051] Figure 10 shows an example of a form in which three applications work together to execute a process.

[0052] When the three applications are operated in cooperation as described above, the RPA 41 first uses the application for document digitization to read the document with the image forming device 20 and convert it into a digitized file. Then, the RPA 41 uses the application for file naming to execute OCR (Optical Character Reading) processing on the digitized file and acquire various information on the document.

[0053] FIG. 11 shows how the RPA 41 uses the file naming application to perform OCR processing on the digitized file to obtain various information about the form.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 11, the RPA 41 uses a file naming application to obtain various information from a digitized file, such as the document name, document number, issue date, client name, contact person name, and billing amount.

[0055] Then, the RPA 41 converts the various pieces of information acquired from the electronic file into a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

[0056] Furthermore, the RPA 41 generates and assigns file names to the digitized form files using a file assignment application based on the operation parameters of the setting file 60 as shown in FIG.

[0057] In the example of the configuration file 60 shown in FIG. 6, the values ​​"client name," "issue date," "document name," and "document number" are set, and a setting is made to use a "hyphen" as a file name delimiter.

[0058] Therefore, the RPA 41 uses a file name assignment application to assign the file name “ABC Co., Ltd.-20200508-Invoice-12345678” to the electronic file of the form from which the CSV file shown in FIG. 12 has been generated.

[0059] An example of a digitized file to which a file name has been assigned in this manner is shown in FIG.

[0060] Next, RPA41 uses a cloud storage processing app to execute a process of storing the digitized file thus named in the specified storage location based on the operational parameters set in the configuration file 60 shown in FIG. 6.

[0061] In the configuration file 60 shown in FIG. 6, the settings related to the storage location when storing a file are set as follows: the number of levels of folders to be created at the storage destination is set to "3", and the folder names "Fiscal year", "Client name", and "Document name" are set as the level names.

[0062] Therefore, the RPA 41 uses the cloud storage processing application to generate lower folders in a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 14 within the designated storage destination folder of the cloud server 50.

[0063] Specifically, RPA41 creates "year" folders for 2018, 2019, and 2020 within the specified storage folder, and below these "year" folders it creates "client name" folders for ABC Co., Ltd. and XYZ Co., Ltd., and below these "client" folders it creates "document name" folders for quotations and invoices.

[0064] Then, using a cloud storage processing app, the RPA 41 stores, for example, an digitized file called "ABC Co., Ltd.-20200508-Invoice-12345678" in a folder called "Invoice" in a folder called "ABC Co., Ltd." in a folder called "Fiscal Year 2020."

[0065] In this way, even a general user without specialist knowledge can realize a specific function by operating multiple apps in conjunction with each other, simply by setting the file name, file name delimiter, number of hierarchies, and operating parameters of the hierarchical name in the configuration file 60 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0066] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0067] In addition, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor, but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0068] [Variations] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which multiple RPAs, which are routine task automation support programs that each execute processing on forms, operate in cooperation with each other. However, the present invention can also be similarly applied to a case in which multiple software programs other than RPAs operate in cooperation with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10 Terminal Equipment 11 CPU 12. Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Control Bus 20 Image forming device 30 Internal Network 31 Operation input section 32 Display section 33 Data transmission and reception unit 34 Control section 35 Setting value memory section 36 Operation parameter acquisition unit 40 Internet 41 RPA 50 Cloud Servers 60 Configuration files

Claims

[Claim 1] accepting a plurality of setting values ​​input by a user into one file as operation parameters defining an operation of a first application and an operation parameter defining an operation of a second application; A program for causing a computer to execute a step of operating a first application and a second application, each of which executes processing on a form, in cooperation with each other to realize a specific function, the step of operating the first application and the second application in cooperation with each other based on a preset setting related to the cooperation between the first application and the second application and on the operation parameters, the program comprising: the setting related to the cooperation between the first application and the second application that is preset is a setting related to each processing method when an error occurs in a setting value used as an operation parameter for defining the operation of the first application and a setting value used as an operation parameter for defining the operation of the second application, both of which are input by a user to the one file; program.

Images