Document Processing History Tracking via Server Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems lack efficient methods to track and display the execution history of processing functions on document data across multiple users and devices, leading to difficulties in managing document workflows and sharing process progress.
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 displays processing function groups, allowing identification of executed tools and their sequence, and transfers history information to a server for centralized management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If document processing history is tracked and stored for each user and device, then transparency and collaboration are improved, but system complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that centralizes the storage and management of processing history information. Instead of each device maintaining its own complex history tracking system, the server acts as a mediator that receives, stores, and provides access to processing history data from multiple devices and users, thereby reducing individual device complexity while maintaining comprehensive history tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The server is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various aspects of processing history management simultaneously - storing history data, managing user permissions, providing access interfaces, and supporting multiple document types and processing functions. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single system, reducing overall complexity compared to having separate specialized systems for each function.
2Productivity
If processing function groups and execution history are stored in memory, then workflow management is improved, but memory requirements and storage overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage of processing history information from the local device memory to an external server storage system. Only essential data structures and access logic remain in device memory, while the bulk of historical data is stored externally. This extraction reduces local memory requirements while maintaining workflow management capabilities through server-based history access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from local, device-bound storage to a networked, distributed storage architecture. Processing history data is moved from a single-dimension local storage model to a multi-dimensional networked storage model that can be accessed from multiple devices simultaneously, thereby reducing the storage burden on any single device while improving workflow management across the network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users access and edit the same document data across different devices, then collaboration capability is improved, but data consistency and synchronization challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the server continuously monitors and tracks processing history and document state changes from multiple users. This feedback information is used to maintain data consistency by detecting conflicts, managing version control, and coordinating updates across different devices. The feedback loop ensures that collaboration activities are tracked and reconciled to maintain reliable data state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing a centralized server-based history storage structure and access protocols before collaborative editing begins. User permissions, document states, and processing function definitions are pre-configured and stored on the server, enabling seamless multi-user access while maintaining data consistency from the outset of collaboration rather than attempting to resolve conflicts after they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes the following units. A first accepting unit accepts specified document data. A second accepting unit accepts a specified processing function to be executed on the document data. A process performing unit performs, on the document data, a process corresponding to the accepted processing function. A memory stores information about processing function groups each constituted by plural processing functions, and stores, in association with one another, the accepted document data, a processing function group to which the accepted processing function belongs, and a processing function that has been executed on the document data. A display controller performs control to display, in a case where the first accepting unit accepts again the specified document data, the processing function group stored in the memory in association with the specified document data in such a manner that the executed processing function is identifiable.