Document Processing Apparatus with Function Group Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems lack efficient methods for managing and tracking document data processing operations across multiple users and devices, leading to difficulties in maintaining process history and progress visibility.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a first accepting unit for document data, a second accepting unit for processing functions, a process performing unit, and a memory that stores and associates document data with processing function groups, enabling the display of executed tools and tool groups, and transferring process history information to a server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If document data and processing functions are managed separately without association, then system simplicity is maintained, but process history tracking and progress visibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess history trackingVSAvoiddata management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges document data with processing function groups by storing association information that links documents to their corresponding processing functions. This integration enables comprehensive process history tracking while maintaining a unified data management structure that improves visibility without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary association information structure that mediates between document data and processing functions. This intermediary layer enables tracking of process history and progress visibility while maintaining separate but connected data structures, resolving the contradiction between information tracking and system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If processing functions are not grouped and associated with documents, then operational flexibility is maintained, but collaboration efficiency and progress visibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration efficiencyVSAvoidprogress visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments processing functions into distinct processing function groups that can be independently associated with specific documents. This segmentation enables selective grouping of related functions, improving collaboration efficiency while maintaining clear progress visibility through document-specific function associations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary grouping of processing functions into predefined function groups before document processing. This preliminary organization enables efficient collaboration by pre-establishing functional relationships, while also ensuring progress visibility is maintained through pre-associated document-function mappings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If tool execution history is not maintained, then system simplicity is preserved, but process tracking and accountability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess accountabilityVSAvoidhistory management mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that automatically record and maintain execution history of processing functions. The system feeds back execution information to the association data structure, enabling process tracking and accountability while managing complexity through automated history maintenance rather than manual recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9665316B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a first accepting unit, a second accepting unit, a process performing unit, a memory, and a display controller. The first accepting unit accepts specified document data. The second accepting unit accepts a specified processing function to be executed on the document data. The process performing unit performs, on the document data, a process corresponding to the accepted processing function. The memory stores information about processing function groups each constituted by plural processing functions indicating processes to be performed on document data, and stores, in association with each other, the accepted document data and a processing function group to which the accepted processing function belongs. The display controller performs control to display, in a case where the first accepting unit accepts again the specified document data, the processing function group that is stored in the memory in association with the specified document data.