Information processing device and information processing program

Abstract

To permit the use of an operator selected out of user-associated operators or work step-associated operators when one or more users perform work on object data in a plurality of work steps on a display screen.SOLUTION: User-associated buttons associated with users, document-associated buttons associated with electronic documents, and worksite-associated buttons associated with worksites are registered with a customize button database 48 in a document management server 14. When the user accesses a worksite from a user terminal 12 to perform work on the electronic document on a display screen displayed on a display 24, a display controller 58 causes the display to display customize buttons selected from user-associated buttons for the user, document-associated buttons for the electronic document, and worksite-associated buttons for the worksite on the display screen on the basis of the customize button database 48 in accordance with default display settings or in response to an instruction from the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, when working on target data on a display screen, instructions regarding the target data are input by operating controls displayed on the display screen. Furthermore, conventionally, techniques have been proposed that allow the controls displayed on the display screen to be changed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing device that can customize controls displayed on a display screen and allows a user to select controls to be displayed on the display screen from among controls corresponding to the current editing mode of an application that edits target data. Patent Document 2 also discloses an information processing device that can switch controls to be displayed on the display screen depending on the operation mode of the device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-51427 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2005-284559 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, there are cases where one or more users work on target data in multiple work processes on a display screen. In such cases, it is conceivable to provide user-related operators associated with the users and work-process-related operators associated with the work processes.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to enable the use of selected operators from among user-related operators or work-process-related operators when one or more users work on target data in multiple work processes on a display screen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention of claim 1 is an information processing device including a processor, the processor including: a user-related operator, which is an operator for inputting an instruction related to target data and is an operator associated with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user; and a user-related operator, which is an operator for inputting an instruction related to target data and is associated with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user; is stored, and a plurality of users cooperate to perform work on the target data. work place The task of uniquely identifying place The operation that is the operator associated with the ID place a user-related operator associated with a user ID of a user who operates the information processing device based on an operator database in which the user-related operator and the user-related operator are stored; or The workspace currently accessed by the user Work place The activity associated with the ID place Select at least one of the related controls, and then of The information processing device is characterized by displaying the information on a display screen. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the processor controls the user-related operator or the task in response to an instruction from the user. place 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the related operators is selected. 。 request request 3 The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the work areas are provided for performing different tasks, and the work area-related operator is an operator for inputting instructions corresponding to the tasks to be performed at the work areas associated with the work area-related operator. 1 The information processing device is described in Claim 4The invention relates to a method for operating a user-related operation, and the user-related operation includes a user-related history operation determined based on a usage history of an operation of the user corresponding to the user-related operation. place The related operator is place The operation corresponding to the related operator place The operation is determined based on the history of use of the controls in place 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a related history operator. Claim 5 The invention relates to a method for operating a user, and the user-related history operator is an operator determined based on the number of times the operator is used by the user. place The related history operator place the operator is determined based on the number of times the operator is used in the 4 The information processing device is described in Claim 6 The invention relates to the user-related history operation means a series of operation means used in order by the user, and place The related history operator place a series of controls used in sequence in 4 The information processing device is described in Claim 7 The invention relates to a method for operating a user-related history operator, which is an operator next to an operator used immediately before by the user in the order of use of a series of operators used in order by the user, and place The related history operator place In the order of use of the series of controls used in the place and a control element next to the control element used immediately before in the 6 The information processing device is described in Claim 8 The invention relates to the processor, place The operation, along with the associated history operator, place displaying information indicating users who have previously used the related history operator on a display screen; The present invention is characterized in that 4The information processing device is described in Claim 9 The invention relates to the user-related operation, and the user-related operation includes a user-related registered operation that corresponds to the user-related operation and that is registered by the user. place The related operator is place The operation corresponding to the related operator place Work registered by the user who performed the work in place a user-related registration operator, and the processor is configured to: place Related registration operators and the above operations place and a related history operator is displayed on the display screen. 4 The information processing device is described in Claim 10 In the invention according to the present invention, the processor, in response to an operation by the user on the display screen, selects the user-related registration operation or the work operation associated with the same instruction as the instruction associated with the user-related history operation displayed on the display screen. place Registering a related registration operator or performing the operation displayed on the display screen in response to the user's operation on the display screen. place The user-related registration operation or the operation to which the same instruction as the instruction associated with the related history operation is associated place and registering a related registration operator. 9 The information processing device is described in Claim 11 The invention relates to the user's operation on the display screen, and place 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operation is a drag-and-drop operation of a related history operator onto a specific area on the display screen. 10 The information processing device is described in Claim 12 In the invention, the processor is place2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switching operator for switching the operator displayed on the display screen between the operator and a related operator is displayed on the display screen. Claim 13 The invention relates to the processor, place 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein related operators are displayed on the display screen in a display manner that allows them to be distinguished from one another. Claim 14 The invention according to claim 1 is an information processing device, characterized in that the user-related operator is an operator for inputting an instruction specific to the user corresponding to the user-related operator. Claim 15 The invention relates to a user-related operator, which is an operator for inputting instructions relating to target data into a computer and is associated with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user, and a user-related operator, which is an operator for inputting instructions relating to the target data, and is stored, and a plurality of users cooperate to perform work on the target data. work place The task of uniquely identifying place The operation that is the operator associated with the ID place a user-related operator associated with a user ID of a user who operates the computer based on an operator database storing related operators; or The workspace currently accessed by the user Work place The activity associated with the ID place The information processing program is characterized in that it allows a user to select at least one of the related operators and causes the selected operator to be displayed on a display screen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Claim 1 or 15 According to the invention, when one or more users work on target data in multiple work processes on a display screen, they can use selected operators from among user-related operators or work-process-related operators. According to the invention of claim 2, the user can use the operator selected by the user from among the user-related operators and the work process-related operators. 。 request request 3 According to the invention, the user can input instructions according to the work to be performed in the workplace by operating the workplace-related operator. Claim 4 According to the invention, a user can input instructions related to operators that the user has used in the past by operating a user-related history operator, and can input instructions related to operators that the user has used in the past in the work process by operating a work process-related history operator. Claim 5 According to the invention, a user-related history operator can be determined based on the number of times the operator is used by the user, and a work-process-related history operator can be determined based on the number of times the operator is used in the work process. Claim 6 According to the invention, a series of operators used in sequence by the user can be regarded as user-related history operators, and a series of operators used in sequence in the work process can be regarded as work-process-related history operators. Claim 7 According to the invention, the operator next to the operator used most recently by the user in the order of the user-related history operator string can be set as the user-related history operator, and the operator used most recently in the work process in the order of the work process-related history operator string can be set as the work process-related history operator. Claim 8 According to the invention, a user can know other users who have used the work process related history operator in the past. Claim 9 According to the invention, a user can input instructions related to an operator registered by the user by operating a user-related registered operator, and can input instructions related to an operator registered in the work process by operating a work process-related registered operator. Claim 10According to the invention, a user-related history operator can be registered as a user-related registration operator on the display screen, or a work-process-related history operator can be registered as a work-process-related registration operator. Claim 11 According to the invention, a user-related history operator can be registered as a user-related registration operator, or a work process-related history operator can be registered as a work process-related registration operator, by a drag-and-drop operation on the display screen. Claim 12 According to the invention, the user can switch the operators displayed on the display screen between the user-related operators and the work-process-related operators by operating the switching operator. Claim 13 According to the invention, the user can distinguish between the user-related operator and the work-process-related operator. Claim 14 According to the invention, a user can input a command specific to that user by operating a user-related operator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a user terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a document management server. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a document management application. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a registration DB. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a history DB. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the names of each customization button. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display of user-related buttons. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of how a switching button is displayed. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display of document-related buttons. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing display examples of modified examples of user-related buttons and switching buttons. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a button switching window. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display in which a user-related history button and a document-related history button are simultaneously displayed. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation for registering a history button as a registration button. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a document management server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system 10 according to this embodiment. The information processing system 10 includes a user terminal 12 used by a user and a document management server 14 as an information processing device. Although FIG. 1 shows only one user terminal 12, the information processing system 10 may include multiple user terminals 12 used by multiple users. The user terminal 12 and the document management server 14 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication line 16, which may include, for example, an Internet line or a LAN (Local Area Network). As will be described in more detail below, the document management server 14 is an information processing device that provides buttons as operators displayed on a display screen for inputting instructions related to target data to a user who accesses the document management server 14 using the user terminal 12.

[0011] In this embodiment, the document management server 14 is a server that provides document management services to users. That is, in this embodiment, the information processing system 10 is a document management system that manages electronic documents as target data. The document management service is a service that manages electronic documents sent from users and provides the managed electronic documents to the users in response to their requests. Furthermore, the document management service allows each user to perform operations (such as editing, saving, or sending) on ​​the managed electronic documents. Specifically, the document management server 14 provides the user with a document management application for processing the managed electronic documents. When the document management application is executed on the user terminal 12, the above-mentioned button is displayed on the execution screen of the document management application.

[0012] The information processing device included in the information processing system 10 is not limited to the document management server 14. In other words, the information processing system 10 is not limited to a document management system. The information processing device may be any device as long as it can provide the user with buttons to be displayed on a display screen for inputting instructions related to target data. For example, the information processing device may be a server that manages image data or music data as target data, and that provides the user with buttons to be displayed on a display screen for inputting instructions related to the target data.

[0013] 2 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the user terminal 12. The user terminal 12 is, for example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal such as a smartphone, but the user terminal 12 may be any computer as long as it performs the functions described below.

[0014] The communication interface 20 includes, for example, a network adapter, etc. The communication interface 20 performs a function of communicating with the document management server 14 via the communication line 16.

[0015] The input interface 22 includes, for example, a touch panel, buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, etc. The input interface 22 is used to input user instructions to the user terminal 12.

[0016] The display 24 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel. Various display screens are displayed on the display 24. In particular, the display 24 displays buttons provided by the document management server 14 and display screens related to the document management service (both of which will be described in detail later).

[0017] The memory 26 includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an embedded multi-media card (eMMC), a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM), etc. A document management application provided by the document management service (i.e., the document management server 14) is installed in the memory 26.

[0018] Processor 28 refers to a processor in a broad sense and includes at least one of a general-purpose processor (such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) and a dedicated processing device (such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or programmable logic device). Processor 28 may not be a single processing device, but may be configured by the cooperation of multiple processing devices located in physically separate locations. Processor 28 controls each section of user terminal 12.

[0019] 3 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the document management server 14. The document management server 14 is configured, for example, by a server computer. Note that the document management server 14 may be configured by multiple computers. In other words, the functions performed by the document management server 14 described below may be realized by the cooperation of multiple computers.

[0020] The communication interface 40 includes, for example, a network adapter, etc. The communication interface 40 performs the function of communicating with the user terminal 12 via the communication line 16.

[0021] The memory 42 includes, for example, an HDD, an SSD, an eMMC, a ROM, or a RAM. The memory 42 stores an information processing program for causing each unit of the document management server 14 to function. The memory 42 also stores a document management application provided to the user. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the memory 42 stores a user DB (Data Base) 44, a document DB 46, and a customization button DB 48.

[0022] The user DB 44 stores information about users who have registered with the document management service provided by the document management server 14. For example, the user DB 44 stores a user ID that uniquely identifies a user and authentication information (such as a password) of the user in association with each other. The information stored in the user DB 44 is transmitted by the user from the user terminal 12 to the document management server 14 during user registration processing.

[0023] The document DB 46 stores information about electronic documents managed by the document management service. For example, the document DB 46 stores an electronic document, a document ID that uniquely identifies the electronic document, and information indicating the workspace where the electronic document is stored, all in association with each other. The electronic document stored in the document DB 46 is transmitted by a user, for example, from the user terminal 12 to the document management server 14.

[0024] In this specification, a workspace refers to a directory (or folder) defined in memory 42 and provided to a user by the document management service. A workspace structure (directory structure) used by the document management service can be defined in memory 42, and electronic documents managed by the document management service can be stored in the defined workspace. Each workspace is assigned information such as a workspace name (directory name) or a path indicating the location of the workspace in memory 42, which allows the workspace to be uniquely identified.

[0025] A user can access each workspace from the user terminal 12 and work on electronic documents stored in that workspace. A workspace may include a collaborative workspace that can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously and allows the multiple users to work together. In such a collaborative workspace, multiple users can work together on electronic documents (document editing, document management, etc.). A workspace may also include a personal workspace that can be accessed only by specific users.

[0026] Roles can be defined in advance for each work area. For example, in the "Invoice" work area, various invoices are stored, and rules can be established so that users can access this work area to work on each invoice. Also, for example, in the "Primary Approval" work area, invoices sent from the "Invoice" work area are stored, and rules can be established so that a primary approver (such as a section manager) can access this work area to perform primary approval work for each invoice. Furthermore, for example, in the "Final Approval" work area, invoices sent from the "Primary Approval" work area that have been primarily approved are stored, and rules can be established so that a final approver (such as a department manager) can access this work area to perform final approval work for each invoice.

[0027] Furthermore, the document management service may be capable of defining a series of tasks (called workflows) performed in multiple work areas for one or more electronic documents. The workflows defined in this manner are stored in memory 42. An example of a workflow is the one described above, which includes a first work step in which a requester works on an electronic document "invoice" in the work area "invoice" and sends the electronic document "invoice" to the work area "primary approval," a second work step in which a primary approver works on an electronic document "invoice" sent from the work area "invoice" in the work area "primary approval," and sends the electronic document "invoice" to the work area "final approval," and a third work step in which a final approver works on an electronic document "invoice" sent from the work area "primary approval" in the work area "final approval." While the same electronic document is worked on in each work step in this workflow, a workflow may also be configured such that different electronic documents are worked on in each work step.

[0028] As described above, in this embodiment, a "work process" refers to a process of performing work related to a certain electronic document in a certain workplace. Therefore, in this embodiment, a "work process" is a concept that includes at least one of an electronic document or a workplace.

[0029] The above-mentioned workplaces, the roles of each workplace, and the workflow may be user definable.

[0030] The customized button DB 48, which serves as an operator database, stores information about customized buttons. In the document management application, a user can input various instructions related to electronic documents. The document management application is provided with a plurality of buttons associated with each instruction, and the user can input instructions to the document management application by operating a button displayed on the display screen that corresponds to the desired instruction. Here, a customized button is a button available in the document management application that is customized for each user or task, in other words, a button associated with a user or task. Customized buttons are conceptually contrasted with normal buttons, which are always displayed on the display screen in the same way regardless of the user or task (in other words, they are always displayed on the display screen in the same way regardless of who opens the document management application, in which task, and with which electronic document).

[0031] 3, the customize button DB 48 includes a registration DB 50 and a history DB 52. Details of the customize button DB 48 will be described later together with the processing of the processor 54 (particularly the registration processing unit 60 and the history management unit 62).

[0032] The processor 54 refers to a processor in a broad sense and includes at least one of a general-purpose processor (e.g., a CPU) and a dedicated processing device (e.g., a GPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a programmable logic device). The processor 54 may not be a single processing device, but may be configured by the cooperation of multiple processing devices located in physically separate locations. The processor 54 performs the functions of a document management unit 56, a display control unit 58, a registration processing unit 60, and a history management unit 62 in accordance with an information processing program stored in the memory 42.

[0033] The document management unit 56 authenticates a pre-registered user through an authentication process, and then provides a document management service to the authenticated user. Specifically, the document management unit 56 executes processes related to electronic documents (e.g., editing electronic documents, storing electronic documents in each workplace, transmitting electronic documents to the user terminal 12, etc.) in response to instructions from the user.

[0034] The display control unit 58 displays a display screen related to the document management service on the display 24 of the user terminal 12 used by a user who has accessed the document management service. Specifically, when a user accesses the document management service and is authenticated, the display control unit 58 displays a display screen of the document management application on the display 24 of the user terminal 12.

[0035] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a document management application displayed on the display 24 of the user terminal 12 by the display control unit 58. FIG. 4 shows an example of a document management window 70 that is displayed when a user accesses a certain workspace. Thumbnails T of electronic documents stored in the workspace are displayed in the document management window 70. When the user operates (e.g., double-clicks) a desired thumbnail T, the display control unit 58 causes the display 24 to display an editing screen (described below) for the electronic document corresponding to the thumbnail T.

[0036] The display control unit 58 also displays the above-mentioned customize button together with the edit screen for the electronic document on the display 24 of the user terminal 12. The display control process for the customize button by the display control unit 58 will be described later.

[0037] The registration processing unit 60 registers a user-related registration button as part of the user-related operation controls in response to a user's instruction. The user-related registration button is a customized button registered by the user and associated with the user. The user can select one or more buttons corresponding to instructions that can be input into the document management application and register them as user-related registration buttons. While not limited to this, for example, the user can register a button for inputting instructions specific to the user as a user-related registration button. An example of a user-specific instruction is an instruction to add a stamp with the user's name to an electronic document. Alternatively, the user can register a button associated with an instruction that the user frequently inputs as a user-related registration button. The registration processing unit 60 associates the user's user ID with the user-related registration button selected by the user and stores the association in the registration DB 50.

[0038] In addition, the registration processing unit 60 registers a document-related registration button as part of the target data-related operator in response to a user instruction. The document-related registration button is a customized button registered by the user and associated with a certain electronic document stored in the document DB 46. The user can select one or more buttons corresponding to instructions that can be input into the document management application and register them as document-related registration buttons. For example, and not limited to this, the user can register a button associated with instructions that multiple users, including the user, are likely to input for the electronic document as the document-related registration button. The registration processing unit 60 associates the document ID of the electronic document with the document-related registration button selected by the user and stores them in the registration DB 50.

[0039] Furthermore, the registration processing unit 60 registers a workplace-related registration button as part of the workplace-related operation controls in response to a user instruction. A workplace-related registration button is a customized button registered by the user and associated with a workplace defined in the document management service. The user can select one or more buttons corresponding to instructions that can be input into the document management application and register them as workplace-related registration buttons. While not limited to this, for example, the user can register a button for inputting instructions corresponding to the work performed in the workplace as a workplace-related registration button. For example, if a workflow is defined in which an electronic document from the workplace "Invoice" is sent to the workplace "Primary Approval," the user can register a button for sending to the workplace "Primary Approval" as a workplace-related registration button in the workplace "Invoice." Alternatively, the user can register a button associated with instructions that multiple users, including the user, are likely to frequently input in the workplace as a workplace-related registration button. The registration processing unit 60 stores in the registration DB 50 information that uniquely identifies the workshop (for example, the workshop name or path) and the workshop-related registration button selected by the user in association with each other.

[0040] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the "work process" is a concept that includes at least one of an electronic document or a workplace, and therefore at least one of the document-related registration button as a target data-related operator or the workplace-related registration button as a workplace-related operator corresponds to a work process-related operator.

[0041] To register the user-related registration button, document-related registration button, and workplace-related registration button (collectively referred to as "registration button"), for example, the user can use a button registration window provided by the document management application. In the button registration window, the user can select an instruction (which may also be called a command) that can be entered in the document management application, and can also select whether to register the button corresponding to the selected instruction as a user-related registration button, document-related registration button, or workplace-related registration button. By selecting the instruction and the type of button to register, the user can register the button corresponding to the desired instruction as a user-related registration button, document-related registration button, or workplace-related registration button.

[0042] As described above, a registration button can be registered for each user and each work process (i.e., each electronic document and each workplace). Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the contents of the registration DB 50. Of the registration buttons shown in Fig. 5, the button associated with the user indicated by "User U001" or "User U002" is a user-related registration button, the button associated with the electronic document indicated by "Document D001" or "Document D002" is a document-related registration button, and the button associated with the workplace indicated by "Workplace 'Invoice'" or "Workplace 'Primary Approval'" is a workplace-related registration button.

[0043] The history management unit 62 registers the usage history of buttons (including normal buttons and customized buttons) that users have used in the document management service in the past in the history DB 52. In particular, the history management unit 62 registers the button usage history by distinguishing between each user and each work process (i.e., each electronic document and each work area).

[0044] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of the history DB 52. As shown in FIG. 6, the history DB 52 records the time when a button was used and the button that was used for each user, document, and workplace. The contents of the history DB 52 shown in FIG. 6 indicate that in the workplace "Invoice," user U001, as part of work on document D001, used the sticky note button to attach a sticky note to the electronic document at 1:00 PM on May 18, 2021, the date stamp button to attach a date stamp to the electronic document at 1:10 PM, and the Send to Workplace "Primary Approval" button to send the electronic document to the workplace "Primary Approval" at 1:32 PM. The table also shows that, later, in the "First Approval" workspace, user U002, working on document D001, used the "Approval Stamp" button at 14:07 to affix an approval stamp to the electronic document, and the "Send to Final Approval" button at 14:09 to send the electronic document to the "Final Approval" workspace. Furthermore, the table also shows that, later, in the "Final Approval" workspace, user U003, working on document D001, used the "Approval Stamp" button at 14:30 and the "Print" button at 14:47 to print the electronic document.

[0045] The history DB 52 is used to indicate user-related history buttons as part of the user-related controls. The user-related history buttons are customized buttons registered by the history management unit 62 and associated with users. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the user-related history buttons associated with user U001 can be a sticky note button, a date stamp button, and a button for sending to the workspace "primary approval," the user-related history buttons associated with user U002 can be a stamp of approval button and a button for sending to the workspace "final approval," and the user-related history buttons associated with user U003 can be a stamp of approval button and a print button.

[0046] The history DB 52 is also used to indicate document-related history buttons as part of the target data-related operators. The document-related history buttons are customized buttons that are registered by the history management unit 62 and associated with electronic documents. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the document-related history buttons associated with document D001 can be a sticky note button, a date stamp button, a send to work area "primary approval" button, an approval stamp button, a send to work area "final approval" button, and a print button.

[0047] Furthermore, the history DB 52 is used to indicate workplace-related history buttons as part of the workplace-related controls. The workplace-related history buttons are customized buttons registered by the history management unit 62 and associated with the workplaces. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the workplace-related history buttons associated with the workplace "Invoice" can be a sticky note button, a date stamp button, and a send to workplace "Primary Approval" button, the workplace-related history buttons associated with the workplace "Primary Approval" can be an approval stamp button and a send to workplace "Final Approval" button, and the user-related history buttons associated with the workplace "Final Approval" can be an approval stamp button and a print button.

[0048] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the "work process" is a concept that includes at least one of an electronic document or a workplace, so at least one of the document-related history button as a target data operator or the workplace-related history button as a workplace-related operator corresponds to a work process-related operator.

[0049] It is not necessary that all of the buttons registered in the history DB 52 be user-related history buttons, document-related history buttons, and work-site-related history buttons (collectively referred to as "history buttons"). For example, a user-related history button for a particular user may be determined based on the number of times the user has used a button in the past. The method for determining history buttons based on the history DB 52 will be described later.

[0050] In the following explanation, the concept including the user-related registration button and the user-related history button will be called the user-related button, the concept including the document-related registration button and the document-related history button will be called the document-related button, and the concept including the workshop-related registration button and the workshop-related history button will be called the workshop-related button. The relationship between the names of each customized button is summarized in Figure 7.

[0051] The display control process of the customized button by the display control unit 58 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 8 to 14. In the following description, it is assumed that the contents shown in Figure 5 are registered in the registration DB 50, and the contents shown in Figure 6 are registered in the history DB 52.

[0052] When a user who has logged in to the document management service operates a thumbnail T in the document management window 70 (see FIG. 4), the display control unit 58 displays an editing screen for the electronic document on the display 24 of the user terminal 12 of that user. Here, it is assumed that the user is user U001 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the electronic document is document D002 shown in FIG. 5, and the workspace where work on the electronic document is performed is workspace "invoice" shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0053] 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a customize button is displayed on an edit screen for an electronic document. The display control unit 58 displays the edit screen for an electronic document and also refers to the customize button DB 48 to display the customize button on the display screen of the display 24 of the user terminal 12.

[0054] Here, there are various types of customized buttons as shown in Fig. 7, but which buttons are displayed as the default display (i.e., the display when the electronic document editing screen is opened) can be set in advance by the user. The example in Fig. 8 is an example in which user-related buttons are set as the default display setting. The display control unit 58 refers to the default display setting, selects a user-related button based on the customized button DB 48, and displays the selected user-related button 72, in particular the user-related registration button 74 and the user-related history button 76, on the display screen.

[0055] Specifically, the display control unit 58 identifies the user ID of the user based on the user's login information, and then refers to the registration DB 50 and selects the user-related registration button 74 associated with the identified user ID. Referring to FIG. 5, the urgent button, confirmed button, and send back button associated with user U001 in the registration DB 50 are selected. The display control unit 58 also refers to the history DB 52 and selects the user-related history button 76 associated with the identified user ID. Referring to FIG. 6, the sticky note button, date stamp button, and send to workspace "primary approval" button associated with user U001 in the history DB 52 are selected. The selected user-related registration button 74 and user-related history button 76 are then displayed on the display screen.

[0056] 8, the display control unit 58 displays both the user-related registration button 74 and the user-related history button 76 as the user-related buttons 72, but it may be configured to display only one of them. Also, the display control unit 58 may switch whether to display the user-related registration button 74 or the user-related history button 76, or whether to display both, in response to a user instruction.

[0057] In the example of Figure 8, the display control unit 58 displays the user-related button 72 as the default display, but of course, depending on the default display setting, the display control unit 58 may select and display a document-related button (at least one of the document-related registration button or the document-related history button) or a workplace-related button (at least one of the workplace-related registration button or the workplace-related history button) based on the customization button DB48.

[0058] The display control unit 58 displays a pinned icon 78 near each registration button (in the example of FIG. 8, each user-related registration button 74). The pinned icon 78 is an icon that indicates that the button nearby is a registration button. The pinned icon 78 allows the user to know that the button is a registration button.

[0059] The history button is determined based on the history DB 52, and as described above, several methods can be used to determine the history button based on the history DB 52. Here, various methods for determining the history button based on the history DB 52 will be described.

[0060] In the first method, the display control unit 58 sets all of the buttons that have been used in the past by the user and that are registered in the history DB 52 as the user-related history buttons 76.

[0061] Similarly, the display control unit 58 can set all buttons that have been used in the past for the electronic document and that are registered in the history DB 52 as document-related history buttons, and can set all buttons that have been used in the past in the workplace as workplace-related history buttons.

[0062] The second method is a method in which the display control unit 58, based on the time of use of the buttons registered in the history DB 52, selects as user-related history buttons 76 a predetermined number of buttons that the user has used in the past, going back from the current time, or buttons that the user has used within a predetermined time period going back from the current time.

[0063] Similarly, the display control unit 58 can set as document-related history buttons, among the buttons that have been used in the past for the electronic document, a predetermined number of buttons going back from the current time, or buttons that have been used for the electronic document within a predetermined time going back from the current time, and can set as workplace-related history buttons, among the buttons that have been used in the past for the workplace, a predetermined number of buttons going back from the current time, or buttons that have been used in the workplace within a predetermined time going back from the current time.

[0064] In the third method, the display control unit 58 determines the user-related history buttons 76 based on the number of times each button has been used by the user in the past. Specifically, the display control unit 58 sets the buttons that the user has used most frequently in the past as the user-related history buttons 76. For example, the display control unit 58 sets the user-related history buttons 76 to a predetermined number of buttons that the user has used most frequently in the past, or to buttons that the user has used a predetermined number of times or more in the past.

[0065] Similarly, the display control unit 58 can determine a document-related history button based on the number of times each button has been used in the past for the electronic document, and can determine a workplace-related history button based on the number of times each button has been used in the past in the workplace.

[0066] A fourth method is a method in which the display control unit 58 sets a series of buttons that the user has used in order in the past as the user-related history buttons 76. For example, if the user has used a specific number of buttons in a specific order many times in the past, the display control unit 58 can set the multiple buttons as the user-related history buttons 76. In more detail, the display control unit 58 analyzes the user's past button usage patterns based on the history DB 52, and sets a series of buttons included in a usage pattern that has a high frequency of use (specifically, that has occurred a predetermined number of times or more) as the user-related history buttons 76. For example, if a certain user has frequently used the sticky note button → date stamp button → send to workspace "primary approval" button in that order in the past, the sticky note button, date stamp button, and send to workspace "primary approval" button can be set as the user-related history buttons 76 for the user.

[0067] Similarly, the display control unit 58 can set a series of buttons that have been used in the past in order for the electronic document as document-related history buttons, and can set a series of buttons that have been used in the past in order for the workplace as workplace-related history buttons.

[0068] In the fifth method, the display control unit 58 stores the button most recently used by the user, and in the order of use of a series of buttons that the user has used in the past in order, obtained from the history DB 52, the button next to the button most recently used by the user is set as the user-related history button 76. For example, if a certain user has frequently used the sticky note button → date stamp button → send to workspace "primary approval" button in that order in the past, and if the user most recently used the date stamp button, the send to workspace "primary approval" button can be set as the user-related history button 76 for the user.

[0069] Similarly, the display control unit 58 can store the button that was most recently used for the electronic document, and set the button next to the button that was most recently used for the electronic document as the document-related history button in the order of use of a series of buttons that were used in the past in order for the electronic document, obtained from the history DB 52. Furthermore, the display control unit 58 can store the button that was most recently used in the workplace, and set the button next to the button that was most recently used for the workplace as the workplace-related history button in the order of use of a series of buttons that were used in the past in order for the workplace, obtained from the history DB 52.

[0070] When the first method described above is adopted, the number of buttons displayed as history buttons may become large, cluttering the display screen. In such a case, by adopting the second to fifth methods described above, buttons that are likely to be used by the user can be selected and displayed as history buttons. This makes it possible to prevent the display screen from becoming cluttered. Which of the above methods is adopted as the method for determining the history button may be determined in advance by an administrator of the document management server 14, or may be changeable by the user.

[0071] In addition, the display control unit 58 may determine the user-related history button, document-related history button, and workplace-related history button according to the content of the instructions associated with each customized button registered in the history DB 52.

[0072] For example, a date stamp or approval stamp applied to an electronic document by operating a date stamp button or approval stamp button may contain the user's personal information (such as name or job title). If such a button for inputting user-specific instructions is displayed as a document-related history button or a workplace-related history button, other users may also be able to input instructions specific to that user. Therefore, even if the date stamp button or approval stamp button is associated with an electronic document or a workplace in the history DB 52, the display control unit 58 should not include the date stamp button or approval stamp button in the document-related history button or the workplace-related history button. In other words, a button for inputting user-specific instructions should be included only in the user-related history button.

[0073] For example, in a workflow in which, after completing a task in the "Invoice" workspace, an electronic document related to the task is sent to the "First Approval" workspace, it is meaningful to display the "Send to First Approval" button to the user working in the "Invoice" workspace, but it is not meaningful to display it to the user working in the "First Approval" workspace. In other words, in this case, the "Send to First Approval" button can be considered a button for inputting instructions specific to the task being performed in the "Invoice" workspace. In such a case, even if the "Send to First Approval" button is associated with a user or an electronic document in the history DB 52, the display control unit 58 may not include the "Send to First Approval" button in the user-related history buttons and the document-related history buttons. In other words, buttons for inputting instructions specific to a particular task may be included only in the "Workplace-related History" buttons. In other words, buttons for inputting instructions specific to a particular task may be included only in the "Workplace-related History" buttons.

[0074] The display control unit 58 may select the customizable buttons to be displayed on the display screen in response to an instruction from the user. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, when a user-related button 72 is displayed, the display control unit 58 displays a switching button 80 on the display screen for switching the customizable buttons displayed on the display screen among the user-related button 72, the document-related button, and the work-site-related button. In the example of Fig. 9, a switching button 80a for displaying the document-related button and a switching button 80b for displaying the work-site-related button are displayed as the switching buttons 80.

[0075] In FIG. 9, when the user operates the switching button 80a, an instruction to display the document-related buttons is transmitted from the user terminal 12 to the document management server 14. In response to the instruction from the user, the display control unit 58 identifies the document ID of the electronic document currently displayed on the editing screen (here, document D002, as described above), and then refers to the registration DB 50 to select the document-related registration button associated with the identified document ID. Referring to FIG. 5, the print button associated with document D002 in the registration DB 50 is selected. The display control unit 58 also refers to the history DB 52 and selects the document-related history button associated with the identified document ID. Although the history related to document D002 is omitted in FIG. 6, it is assumed here that the "Go to next step" button and the "Extract differences" button are selected. The display control unit 58 then displays the selected document-related registration button and document-related history button on the display screen in place of the user-related button 72.

[0076] 10 is a diagram showing how the document-related button 82 is displayed on the display screen. Here, too, the display control unit 58 displays both the document-related registration button 84 and the document-related history button 86 as the document-related button 82, but it may be configured to display only one of them. Furthermore, when the switching button 80a (see FIG. 9) is operated, the display control unit 58 may display the document-related history button 86 instead of the user-related history button 76, while leaving the user-related registration button 74 displayed as is. In this case, a combination of the user-related registration button 74 and the document-related history button 86 is displayed on the display screen.

[0077] When the document-related history button 86 (or the workplace-related history button) is displayed as the history button, the display control unit 58 may display information indicating the user who previously used the history button on the display screen. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, when the user points the cursor Cu to the difference extraction button, which is the document-related history button 86, the display control unit 58 displays on the display screen a tooltip 88 including the user ID (or user name) of the user who previously used the difference extraction button for that document and the time of use by that user.

[0078] In FIG. 10, when the user operates the switching button 80b, an instruction to display the workplace-related buttons is transmitted from the user terminal 12 to the document management server 14. In response to the instruction from the user, the display control unit 58 identifies the workplace currently accessed by the user (here, as described above, the workplace "Invoice"), and then refers to the registration DB 50 to select a workplace-related registration button associated with the identified workplace. Referring to FIG. 5, the workplace "Send to Primary Approval" button associated with the workplace "Invoice" in the registration DB 50 is selected. The display control unit 58 also refers to the history DB 52 to select a workplace-related history button associated with the identified workplace. Referring to FIG. 6, the sticky note button, date stamp button, and send to workplace "Primary Approval" button associated with document D002 in the history DB 52 are selected. The display control unit 58 then displays the selected workplace-related registration button and workplace-related history button on the display screen instead of the document-related button 82.

[0079] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the display of a user-related button 72′ and a switching button 80′ according to a modified example. In the example of FIG. 11, only a user-related registration button 74′ is shown as the user-related button 72′. A switching button 80′ is displayed next to the user-related button 72′. Each time the user operates the switching button 80′, the display control unit 58 switches the displayed customization button in the following order: document-related button → workplace-related button → user-related button. It is also advisable to display a tab 90 indicating the type of customization button currently being displayed. This allows the user to understand the type of customization button currently being displayed.

[0080] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a button switching window 92. The display control unit 58 may display the button switching window 92 shown in Fig. 12 on the display screen in response to a user instruction, instead of or in addition to the switching button 80. In the button switching window 92, the user can select the customized buttons to be displayed on the display screen. In the example of Fig. 12, the button switching window 92 has check boxes associated with user-related buttons, document-related buttons, and work-area-related buttons, and the user can select the customized buttons to be displayed by checking the desired check boxes.

[0081] According to the selection method using the button switching window 92, the user can select multiple customized buttons to display from the user-related buttons, document-related buttons, and work-area-related buttons. For example, the user-related buttons and document-related buttons can be selected.

[0082] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display in which the user-related history button 76 and the document-related history button 86 are displayed simultaneously. When the user selects the user-related button and the document-related button in the button switching window 92, the display control unit 58 causes the user-related button and the document-related button to be displayed simultaneously on the display screen, as shown in Fig. 13. In the example of Fig. 13, the user-related registration button 74, the user-related history button 76, and the document-related history button 86 are displayed, but in addition to these, the document-related registration button 84 (see Fig. 10) may also be displayed, or only the user-related history button 76 and the document-related history button 86 may be displayed.

[0083] When a plurality of buttons from among the user-related button, the document-related button, and the work area-related button are displayed on the display screen, the display control unit 58 may display the user-related button, the document-related button, and the work area-related button on the display screen in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from one another. In the example of Fig. 13, the display control unit 58 displays an identification icon 94 to distinguish the user-related history button 76 and the document-related history button 86. Specifically, the display control unit 58 displays an identification icon 94a in the shape of a user near the user-related history button 76, and an identification icon 94b in the shape of a document near the document-related history button 86.

[0084] When a history button is displayed on the display screen, the registration processing unit 60 may register the history button displayed on the display screen as a registration button in response to a user operation on the display screen.

[0085] For example, consider the case where a user-related history button 76 is displayed on the display screen as shown in Fig. 14. In this case, the registration processing unit 60 registers the user-related history button 76 as a user-related registration button, a document-related registration button, or a workshop-related registration button in response to a user's operation on the display screen. When the document-related history button is displayed on the display screen, the registration processing unit 60 registers the document-related history button as a user-related registration button, a document-related registration button, or a workshop-related registration button in response to a user's operation on the display screen. Furthermore, when the workshop-related history button is displayed on the display screen, the registration processing unit 60 registers the workshop-related history button as a user-related registration button, a document-related registration button, or a workshop-related registration button in response to a user's operation on the display screen.

[0086] The user's operation on the display screen to register the history button as a registration button may be any operation, for example, an operation of dragging and dropping the registration button to a specific area on the display screen.

[0087] 14, the display control unit 58 displays a registration button 96 on the display screen together with the user-related history button 76. When the user operates the registration button 96, the display control unit 58 displays icons 98 as specific areas corresponding to the user-related registration button, the document-related registration button, and the workshop-related registration button on the display screen. Specifically, an icon 98a corresponding to the user-related registration button, an icon 98b corresponding to the document-related registration button, and an icon 98c corresponding to the workshop-related registration button are displayed.

[0088] Then, when the user drags and drops the desired user-related history button 76 (a date stamp button in the example of Figure 14) onto the desired icon 98 using the cursor Cu on the display screen, the registration processing unit 60 registers the user-related history button 76 as a registration button in the registration DB 50.

[0089] For example, if a user drags and drops a date stamp button as the user-related history button 76 onto icon 90a, the registration processing unit 60 registers the date stamp button as the user-related registration button for that user. Also, for example, if a user drags and drops a date stamp button as the user-related history button 76 onto icon 90b, the registration processing unit 60 registers the date stamp button as the document-related registration button for the electronic document currently displayed on the editing screen. Also, for example, if a user drags and drops a date stamp button as the user-related history button 76 onto icon 90c, the registration processing unit 60 registers the date stamp button as the workshop-related registration button for the workshop accessed by that user.

[0090] Even when the document-related history button or the workplace-related history button is displayed, the user can drag and drop the document-related history button or the workplace-related history button onto icon 98 in the same manner as described above, and the registration processing unit 60 will register the document-related history button or the workplace-related history button as a user-related registration button, a document-related registration button, or a workplace-related registration button.

[0091] The outline of the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. The flow of processing by the document management server 14 will now be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0092] In step S10, when a user who has logged in to the document management service operates a thumbnail T in the document management window 70 (see FIG. 4), the display control unit 58 displays an editing screen for the electronic document on the display 24 of the user terminal 12 of the user.

[0093] In step S12, the display control unit 58 refers to the default display settings and displays on the display screen a customizable button selected from the customizable button DB 48. Here, it is assumed that a user-related button is displayed.

[0094] In step S14, the display control unit 58 determines whether or not a display switching instruction for the customized button has been received from the user. For example, the display control unit 58 determines whether or not the user has operated the switching buttons 80, 80' (see FIGS. 9 to 11), or whether or not the user has issued a display switching instruction by operating the button switching window 92 (see FIG. 12). If there is no display switching instruction from the user, the display control unit 58 continues to display the customized button (user-related button in this example) displayed in step S12. If there is a display switching instruction from the user, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0095] In step S16, the display control unit 58 determines what type of customization button has been instructed by the user to be displayed.

[0096] If an instruction to display the document-related button is received from the user, the process proceeds to step S18, where the display control unit 58 displays the document-related button on the display screen instead of the user-related button. If an instruction to display the work-related button is received from the user, the process proceeds to step S20, where the display control unit 58 displays the work-related button on the display screen instead of the user-related button. Here, it is assumed that an instruction to display the document-related button is received from the user, and the display control unit 58 displays the document-related button on the display screen instead of the user-related button in step S18.

[0097] In step S22, the display control unit 58 determines whether or not an instruction to end the display of the electronic document editing screen has been received from the user. If an instruction to end the display has not been received, the process returns to step S14. If an instruction to switch the display is received from the user again in step S14 and an instruction to display user-related buttons is received again from the user in step S16, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the display control unit 58 again displays the user-related buttons on the display screen in place of the document-related buttons. If an instruction to end the display is subsequently received in step S22, the process proceeds to step S26.

[0098] In step S26, the display control unit 58 ends the display of the electronic document editing screen and the customize button.

[0099] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0100] For example, in this embodiment, the user DB 44, document DB 46, and customized button DB 48 are stored in the memory 48 of the document management server 14, but these DBs may also be stored in the memory of other devices accessible from the document management server 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10 Information processing system, 12 User terminal, 14 Document management server, 16 Communication line, 20, 40 Communication interface, 22 Input interface, 24 Display, 26, 42 Memory, 28, 54 Processor, 44 User DB, 46 Document DB, 48 Customized button DB, 50 Registration DB, 52 History DB, 56 Document management unit, 58 Display control unit, 60 Registration control unit, 62 History management unit.

Claims

1. An information processing device including a processor, The processor: based on an operator database storing user-related operators, which are operators for inputting instructions related to target data and which are associated with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user, and workplace-related operators, which are operators for inputting instructions related to target data and which are associated with a workplace ID that uniquely identifies a workplace where the target data is stored and where multiple users work together to perform work on the target data, at least one of the user-related operators associated with the user ID of the user operating the information processing device or the workplace-related operators associated with the workplace ID of the workplace currently accessed by the user is selected, and the selected operator is displayed on a display screen; 1. An information processing device comprising:

2. the processor selects at least one of the user-related operator and the workplace-related operator in response to an instruction from the user.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. A plurality of the work stations are provided, each performing a different task, The workplace-related operator is an operator for inputting instructions corresponding to the work to be performed in the workplace associated with the workplace-related operator.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

4. the user-related operators include a user-related history operator determined based on a usage history of an operator corresponding to the user-related operator; the workplace-related operators include a workplace-related history operator determined based on a usage history of an operator in the workplace corresponding to the workplace-related operator; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

5. the user-related history operator is an operator determined based on the number of times the operator has been used by the user; The workplace-related history operator is an operator determined based on the number of times the operator has been used in the workplace.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

6. The user-related history controls are a series of controls used in sequence by the user; The workplace-related history operator is a series of operators that have been used in sequence in the workplace.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

7. the user-related history operator is an operator next to an operator used immediately before by the user in the order of use of a series of operators used in sequence by the user; The workplace-related history operator is an operator next to an operator that was used immediately before in the workplace in the order of use of a series of operators that were used in sequence in the workplace.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

8. the processor displays, on a display screen, information indicating a user who has previously used the workplace-related history operator together with the workplace-related history operator; 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

9. the user-related operation includes a user-related registered operation that corresponds to the user-related operation and that is registered by the user; the workplace-related operators include workplace-related registered operators registered by users who have performed work in the workplace corresponding to the workplace-related operators; The processor: displaying both the user-related registration operator and the user-related history operator, or both the work site-related registration operator and the work site-related history operator on the display screen; 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

10. The processor: registering the user-related registration operator or the workshop-related registration operator associated with an instruction that is the same as the instruction associated with the user-related history operator displayed on the display screen in response to an operation by the user on the display screen, or registering the user-related registration operator or the workshop-related registration operator associated with an instruction that is the same as the instruction associated with the workshop-related history operator displayed on the display screen in response to an operation by the user on the display screen; 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9,

11. the user's operation on the display screen is an operation of dragging and dropping the user-related history operator or the workplace-related history operator to a specific area on the display screen; 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

12. The processor: displaying, on the display screen, a switching operator for switching the operators displayed on the display screen between the user-related operator and the work place-related operator; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

13. The processor: displaying the user-related operators and the workplace-related operators on the display screen in a display manner that allows them to be distinguished from each other; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

14. the user-related operator is an operator for inputting an instruction specific to the user corresponding to the user-related operator; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

15. On the computer, based on an operator database storing user-related operators, which are operators for inputting instructions related to target data and which are associated with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user, and workplace-related operators, which are operators for inputting instructions related to target data and which are associated with a workplace ID that uniquely identifies a workplace where the target data is stored and where a plurality of users cooperate to perform work related to the target data, at least one of the user-related operators associated with the user ID of the user who operates the computer and the workplace-related operators associated with the workplace ID of the workplace currently accessed by the user is selected, and the selected operator is displayed on a display screen; An information processing program characterized by:

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