Job Ticket Extraction from Collaboration Messages for Workflow Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a demand for a mechanism that allows users to easily confirm job tickets on message exchange services, particularly in remote work scenarios where workflow tickets are transmitted via collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack, to manage job requests efficiently.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that includes a specifying unit to identify messages with job tickets, an acquisition unit to acquire job ticket information, and a display control unit to list job tickets on the collaboration tool, enabling easy management and execution of workflow tickets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If job tickets are transmitted via message exchange service, then users can receive job requests through collaboration tools, but users cannot easily confirm or manage multiple job tickets embedded in messages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of confirming job ticketVSAvoidvisibility of job ticket information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts job ticket information from embedded messages and presents it in a separate, dedicated display area. The list display unit extracts ticket IDs, senders, and other key information from received messages and displays them in a structured list format, making job ticket information visible and manageable without losing it within the message flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary component (the list display unit and management functionality) between the message exchange service and the user. This intermediary captures job ticket information from messages, processes it, and presents it in a manageable format, serving as a bridge that solves the visibility problem without requiring users to manually search through messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple job tickets are transmitted through messages, then users can handle multiple job requests, but users miss job requests due to difficulty in tracking them among numerous messages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob request handling efficiencyVSAvoidtime to locate job tickets

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments job ticket information from the general message flow and displays it separately in a dedicated list. By dividing the information presentation into distinct sections (messages vs. job ticket list), users can efficiently locate and manage job tickets without sifting through unrelated messages, reducing time loss and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) by displaying job ticket information in a distinct format and location from regular messages. The list display unit presents job tickets with unique visual characteristics that make them stand out, allowing users to quickly identify and track multiple job requests among numerous messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If job tickets are embedded in messages, then integration with collaboration tools is achieved, but information becomes difficult to detect and measure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration with collaboration toolVSAvoiddetectability of job ticket

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system automatically detects job tickets in messages, processes them, and provides visual feedback through the list display unit. This feedback loop continuously updates the user on received job tickets, making them easy to detect and track without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12393382B2Information processing apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes: a specifying unit configured to specify, of messages received by a message exchange service between users, a message to which a job ticket for executing a job is attached; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information of the job ticket attached to the message specified by the specifying unit; and a display control unit configured to display, in the message exchange service, a list of information of the job ticket acquired by the acquisition unit.