Document Transfer Interface for Business Applications

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Solution Overview

Problem

In workflow management systems, users authorized to use one business assistance application cannot transfer electronic documents to applications they are not authorized to use, limiting document transferability.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that displays and allows selection of authorized business assistance applications as transfer destinations, enabling users to transfer electronic documents between applications they have access to, even if the receiving application is not initially visible on their screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system displays only business assistance applications that the user is authorized to use as transfer destinations, then the security and authorization control is improved, but the document transferability to applications the user cannot directly access deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthorization controlVSAvoiddocument transferability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the user can specify a transfer destination application through which the document will ultimately reach the target application. This intermediary application acts as a bridge, allowing the user to transfer documents to applications they cannot directly access while maintaining authorization control. The system accepts the specified transfer destination even if it's not in the authorized list, and the intermediary application facilitates the actual transfer to the final destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system restricts transfer destinations to authorized applications only, then the system security is improved, but the operational flexibility and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by allowing the user to specify any application as a transfer destination, not just authorized ones. Instead of filtering what the user can select, the system accepts any specification and handles the authorization validation differently - by using an intermediary application that the user is authorized to access as a conduit to reach the ultimate destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the screen displays only authorized business assistance applications, then the interface simplicity is improved, but the transfer destination selection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidtransfer destination selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transfer process into two distinct parts: the intermediary application selection (which must be authorized) and the final transfer destination specification (which can be any application). This segmentation allows the interface to remain simple by displaying only authorized applications for the intermediary role, while still enabling versatile destination selection through the separate destination specification field.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11290605B2Information processing apparatus for transferring document between business assistance applications, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to display information on a screen that accepts a setting of a transfer destination for an electronic document prepared in a first application that a first user is authorized to use. The information accepts selection of a second user as a candidate for the transfer destination.