Document Management Apparatus Reusing Past Operation Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document management systems restrict the recirculation of electronic documents with affixed electronic seals to only the original sealer, limiting the flexibility in designating new circulation destinations.

Innovation Solution

A document management apparatus that allows users to set operation settings for circulation and email notifications by reutilizing settings from past operations on similar or different types of objects, including access rights and access histories, to easily designate new circulation destinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system recirculates a document with an electronic seal to the original sealer only, then the reliability of the sealing process is maintained, but the adaptability of circulation destinations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing process reliabilityVSAvoidcirculation destination flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation destination selection is segmented into two modes: original sealer designation (for reliability) and new destination designation (for adaptability). The system divides the circulation process into seal verification stage and destination selection stage, allowing different rules to apply at different stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circulation destination rule is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically switches between 'original sealer only' mode and 'new destination' mode based on whether the document requires seal verification or can be circulated to new destinations, providing flexibility while maintaining reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows free designation of circulation destinations, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the complexity of setting circulation rules increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecirculation destination flexibilityVSAvoidsetting rule complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining circulation rules and destination groups. Users can pre-set multiple circulation destinations and rules in advance, so when actual circulation is needed, the system can automatically apply these pre-configured settings, reducing the complexity of on-the-spot decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system copies existing circulation settings and destination groups to new circulation operations. Once a circulation rule is established, it can be copied and reused for similar documents, eliminating the need to reconfigure settings each time and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If the system requires manual setting of circulation destinations each time, then the precision of destination selection is maintained, but the productivity of document circulation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestination selection accuracyVSAvoiddocument circulation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically suggesting circulation destinations based on document properties, user roles, and historical circulation patterns. The system can automatically select destinations without requiring manual intervention, maintaining accuracy through intelligent algorithms while significantly improving circulation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from past circulation operations to improve future destination selections. By analyzing historical circulation data, user preferences, and document characteristics, the system learns and adjusts its destination recommendations, maintaining high precision while reducing manual setting requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7720865B2Document management apparatus, document management method, and storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A document management apparatus for managing an object includes an input unit that inputs setting of an operation related to an object, an execution unit that executes a predetermined operation related to the object, based on the setting, a setting selection unit that selects setting of an operation related to a past-executed object, and an object selection unit that designates an object to which the setting selected by the setting selection unit is applied, wherein the setting of the operation related to the object is performed by utilizing the content of past setting of an operation related to another object of the same or a different type.