# US 2014/0195585 A1 · Process executing system, process executing method, and information processing device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0195585 A1
- Document ID: US20140195585A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/104,010
- Filed: 2013-12-12
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Ayumi MIHARA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195585A1

## CPC

- H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46)
- G06F 9/5038: {considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks, e.g. taking priority or time dependency constraints into consideration (scheduling strategies G06F9/4881 and subgroups)}
- G06Q 10/103: {Workflow collaboration or project management}
- H04N 1/00217: {only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP (communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00)}
- H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)}
- H04N 1/00331: {with an apparatus performing optical character recognition (character recognition G06V30/10)}
- H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A process executing system includes a first device and a second device connected via a network. The second device includes a receiving unit configured to receive process definition information and process object data from the first device, a control unit configured to analyze the process definition information and determine whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, a process execution unit configured to execute the next process on the process object data when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, an updating unit configured to update the process definition information by changing a definition of a process, which is defined to be processed after the next process according to the execution order, to be a new next process, and a sending unit configured to send the process definition information and the process object data to another second device other than the self-device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process executing system comprising:
a first device configured to receive a plurality of processes and a setting of an execution order of the plurality of processes; and
at least one second device configured to execute the plurality of processes, wherein
the first device and the at least one second device are connected via a network, wherein
the first device includes a first sending unit configured to send, to the at least one second device, process definition information defining process contents of each of the plurality of processes and a next process to be executed subsequently in the plurality of processes, and process object data or instruction information of the process object data, and
the at least one second device includes
a receiving unit configured to receive the process definition information and the process object data or the instruction information of the process object data,
a process execution control unit configured to analyze the process definition information and determine whether the next process is to be executed at a self-device, which is the at least one second device in which the process execution control unit is included,
a process execution unit configured to execute the next process on the process object data when the process execution control unit determines that the next process is to be executed at the self-device,
a definition information updating unit configured to update the process definition information by changing a definition of one of the plurality of processes, which is defined to be processed after the next process according to the execution order, to be a new next process, and
a second sending unit configured to send the process definition information and the process object data to an other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process executing system according to claim 1, wherein in the process definition information,
identification information of the at least one second device to execute one of the plurality of processes, is associated with each of the plurality of processes, and
the process execution control unit determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, based on whether the identification information of the at least one second device to execute the next process matches the identification information of the self-device, and whether the next process matches one of the plurality of processes with which the identification of the self-device is associated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process executing system according to claim 1, wherein
the process execution control unit determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device again, after the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data and the definition information updating unit updates the process definition information, and
when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the second sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The process executing system according to claim 2, wherein
when the process execution control unit determines that the other one of the at least one second device to execute the next process is outside a firewall, the process execution control unit creates second process definition information defining, as the next process, a monitoring process of monitoring execution of the next process performed by the other one of the at least one second device,
the second sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other one of the at least one second device to execute the next process,
the process execution control unit of the at least one second device which is the self-device determines whether the next process in the second process definition information is to be executed at the self-device, and
when the process execution control unit determines that the next process is to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the monitoring process as the next process.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process executing system according to claim 4, wherein
the at least one second device which is the self-device executes the monitoring process, and receives, from the other one of the at least one second device, the process definition information in which the next process is updated and the process object data,
the process execution control unit of the at least one second device which is the self-device determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, and when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the second sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process executing system according to claim 1, wherein
user information of a user operating the first device is described in the process definition information,
the at least one second device includes an authentication unit configured to determine whether user authentication is established, based on whether user information read from a user information storage unit storing user information matches the user information described in the process definition information,
when the user authentication is established, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
the definition information updating unit updates the process definition information, and the process execution control unit updates the user information in the process definition information to user information that is used for the user authentication by the authentication unit of the at least one second device to execute the next process.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process executing system according to claim 6, wherein
the at least one second device includes per-device user information in which the user information that is used for the user authentication by the authentication unit is registered in association with each of the at least one second device, and
the process execution control unit updates the user information in the process definition information, according to the user information associated with the at least one second device to execute the next process in the per-device user information.

### Claim 8

A process executing method performed by a process executing system including
a first device configured to receive a plurality of processes and a setting of an execution order of the plurality of processes, and
at least one second device configured to execute the plurality of processes, wherein
the first device and the at least one second device are connected via a network, the process executing method comprising:
sending, from the first device to the at least one second device, process definition information defining process contents of each of the plurality of processes and a next process to be executed subsequently in the plurality of processes, and process object data or instruction information of the process object data;
receiving, by the at least one second device, the process definition information and the process object data or the instruction information of the process object data;
analyzing, by the at least one second device, the process definition information and determining, by the at least one second device, whether the next process is to be executed at a self-device, which is the at least one second device performing the determining;
executing, by the at least one second device, the next process on the process object data when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device;
updating, by the at least one second device, the process definition information by changing a definition of one of the plurality of processes, which is defined to be processed after the next process according to the execution order, to be a new next process; and
sending, by the at least one second device, the process definition information and the process object data to an other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process executing method according to claim 8, wherein in the process definition information,
identification information of the at least one second device to execute one of the plurality of processes, is associated with each of the plurality of processes, and
the determining includes determining whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, based on whether the identification information of the at least one second device to execute the next process matches the identification information of the self-device, and whether the next process matches one of the plurality of processes with which the identification of the self-device is associated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process executing method according to claim 8, wherein
the determining includes determining whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device again, after the next process is executed on the process object data and the process definition information is updated, and
when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the next process is executed on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the process definition information and the process object data are sent to the other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The process executing method according to claim 9, wherein
when the other one of the at least one second device to execute the next process is determined to be outside a firewall, second process definition information is created, which defines, as the next process, a monitoring process of monitoring execution of the next process performed by the other one of the at least one second device,
the sending includes sending the process definition information and the process object data to the other one of the at least one second device to execute the next process,
the determining includes determining, by the at least one second device which is the self-device, whether the next process in the second process definition information is to be executed at the self-device, and
when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the monitoring process is executed as the next process.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The process executing method according to claim 11, wherein
the executing includes executing, by the at least one second device which is the self-device, the monitoring process, and receiving, by the at least one second device which is the self-device from the other one of the at least one second device, the process definition information in which the next process is updated and the process object data,
the determining includes determining, by the at least one second device which is the self-device, whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, and when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the next process is executed on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the process definition information and the process object data are sent to the other one of the at least one second device other than the self-device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The process executing method according to claim 8, further comprising:
determining, by the at least one second device, whether user authentication is established, based on whether user information read from a user information storage unit storing user information matches user information of a user operating the first device described in the process definition information, wherein
when the user authentication is established, the next process is executed on the process object data, and
the process definition information is updated, and the user information in the process definition information is updated to user information that is used for the user authentication by the at least one second device to execute the next process.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process executing method according to claim 13, wherein
the at least one second device includes per-device user information in which the user information that is used for the user authentication is registered in association with each of the at least one second device, and
the user information in the process definition information is updated, according to the user information associated with the at least one second device to execute the next process in the per-device user information.

### Claim 15

An information processing device comprising:
a communicating unit configured to communicate, via a network, with a first device that receives a plurality of processes and a setting of an execution order of the plurality of processes;
a receiving unit configured to receive process definition information defining process contents of each of the plurality of processes and a next process to be executed subsequently in the plurality of processes, and process object data or instruction information of the process object data;
a process execution control unit configured to analyze the process definition information and determine whether the next process is to be executed at a self-device, which is the information processing device in which the process execution control unit is included;
a process execution unit configured to execute the next process on the process object data when the process execution control unit determines that the next process is to be executed at the self-device;
a definition information updating unit configured to update the process definition information by changing a definition of one of the plurality of processes, which is defined to be processed after the next process according to the execution order, to be a new next process; and
a sending unit configured to send the process definition information and the process object data to an other information processing device other than the self-device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein
in the process definition information, identification information of the information processing device to execute one of the plurality of processes, is associated with each of the plurality of processes, and
the process execution control unit determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, based on whether the identification information of the information processing device to execute the next process matches the identification information of the self-device, and whether the next process matches one of the plurality of processes with which the identification of the self-device is associated.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein
the process execution control unit determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device again, after the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data and the definition information updating unit updates the process definition information, and
when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other information processing device other than the self-device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The information processing device according to claim 16, wherein
when the process execution control unit determines that the other information processing device to execute the next process is outside a firewall, the process execution control unit creates second process definition information defining, as the next process, a monitoring process of monitoring execution of the next process performed by the other information processing device,
the sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other information processing device to execute the next process,
the process execution control unit of the information processing device which is the self-device determines whether the next process in the second process definition information is to be executed at the self-device, and
when the process execution control unit determines that the next process is to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the monitoring process as the next process.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The information processing device according to claim 18, wherein
the information processing device which is the self-device executes the monitoring process, and receives, from the other information processing device, the process definition information in which the next process is updated and the process object data,
the process execution control unit of the information processing device which is the self-device determines whether the next process is to be executed at the self-device, and when the next process is determined to be executed at the self-device, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
when the next process is determined not to be executed at the self-device, the sending unit sends the process definition information and the process object data to the other information processing device other than the self-device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein
user information of a user operating the first device is described in the process definition information,
the information processing device includes an authentication unit configured to determine whether user authentication is established, based on whether user information read from a user information storage unit storing user information matches the user information described in the process definition information,
when the user authentication is established, the process execution unit executes the next process on the process object data, and
the definition information updating unit updates the process definition information, and the process execution control unit updates the user information in the process definition information to user information that is used for the user authentication by the authentication unit of the information processing device to execute the next process.