Workflow Setting Change Screen Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing workflow management systems require users to perform cumbersome actions to display and change settings, making the process inefficient for users.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that automatically displays a setting change screen in response to a user's specifying action for a workflow, allowing users to change settings without additional actions, and optionally executes the workflow based on confirmed settings, with options for different operation modes and application rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user performs an action to display the setting change screen separately, then the settings can be changed, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of setting changeVSAvoidtime for displaying setting screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the setting change screen display function with the workflow execution initiation action. When the user specifies a workflow to execute on selected electronic data, the setting change screen is automatically displayed as part of the same operation flow, eliminating the need for separate actions to access settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The setting change screen is displayed in advance during the workflow specification phase, before the actual workflow execution begins. This allows users to configure settings beforehand, so that when execution starts, everything is ready to go, reducing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the setting change screen is automatically displayed, then user effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of setting screen displayVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines when to display the setting change screen based on the user's workflow specification action and the current state of settings. The system serves itself by intelligently detecting the need to show settings without requiring explicit user commands, thereby reducing user effort while managing complexity through automated logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If settings are changed for selected electronic data, then processing efficiency improves, but it becomes unclear whether settings apply to other users' data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow processing efficiencyVSAvoidclarity of setting application scope

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The setting change screen provides feedback information to the user about the scope of setting application. The system informs users whether their setting changes will apply only to their selected electronic data or also to other users' data, giving users visibility and control over the impact of their configuration changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4246297A1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2023.09.20 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

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AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to, in response to a specifying action performed by a user to specify a workflow that executes a process on electronic data selected by the user, cause a display to display a setting change screen to be used for changing settings of the workflow.