Workflow system, workflow executing device, workflow executing method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with workflow executing program

A workflow executing device capable of executing a workflow,

• the workflow executing device comprising
• a communication unit to communicate with a first external device and a second external device, and
• a controller, the controller executing:
• a workflow specifying step of specifying a workflow that defines a plurality of processes, wherein at least one of the plurality of processes is an external process to be executed by the first external device;
• a workflow executing step of executing the plurality of processes defined by the specified workflow;
• an external process specifying step of specifying the external process to be processed by a first external device;
• a device specifying step of, when the external process is specified, specifying the second external device that stores user account information requested by the first external device to allow the first external device to execute the external process;
• a sub-workflow generating step of generating a sub-workflow that defines a login process of logging into the first external device using the user account information stored in the second external device, a request process of allowing the first external device to execute the external process, and an execution result output process of transmitting an execution result of the external process by the first external device to the workflow executing device;
• and
• a workflow changing step of changing the external process in the workflow to a workflow transmitting process of transmitting the sub-workflow to the second external device through the communication unit and an execution result receiving process of receiving the execution result of the external process from the second external device through the communication unit, in order to allow the second external device to execute the generated sub-workflow,
• the workflow executing step including a step of, when the external process is specified in the external process specifying step, executing the workflow changed in the workflow changing step in place of the specified workflow.

A workflow executing method performed in a workflow executing device including a communication unit to communicate with a first external device and a second external device, the method comprising:

• a workflow specifying step of specifying a workflow that defines a plurality of processes, wherein at least one of the plurality of processes is an external process to be executed by the first external device;
• a workflow executing step of executing the plurality of processes defined by the specified workflow;
• an external process specifying step of specifying the external process to be processed by the first external device;
• a device specifying step of, when the external process is specified, specifying the second external device that stores user account information requested by the first external device to allow the first external device to execute the external process;
• a sub-workflow generating step of generating a sub-workflow that defines a login process of logging into the first external device using the user account information stored in the second external device, a request process of allowing the first external device to execute the external process, and an execution result output process of transmitting an execution result of the external process by the first external device to the workflow executing device;
• and
• a workflow changing step of changing the external process in the workflow to a workflow transmitting process of transmitting the sub-workflow to the second external device through the communication unit and an execution result receiving process of receiving the execution result of the external process from the second external device through the communication unit, in order to allow the second external device to execute the generated sub-workflow,
• the workflow executing step including a step of, when the external process is specified in the external process specifying step, executing the workflow changed in the workflow changing step in place of the specified workflow.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a workflow executing program executed in a computer that controls a workflow executing device including a communication unit to communicate with a first external device and a second external device, the program causing the computer to execute:

• a workflow specifying step of specifying a workflow that defines a plurality of processes, wherein at least one of the plurality of processes is an external process to be executed by the first external device;
• a workflow executing step of executing the plurality of processes defined by the specified workflow;
• an external process specifying step of specifying the external process to be processed by a first external device;
• a device specifying step of, when the external process is specified, specifying the second external device that stores user account information requested by the first external device to allow the first external device to execute the external process;
• a sub-workflow generating step of generating a sub-workflow that defines a login process of logging into the first external device using the user account information stored in the second external device, a request process of allowing the first external device to execute the external process, and an execution result output process of transmitting an execution result of the external process by the first external device to the workflow executing device;
• and
• a workflow changing step of changing the external process in the workflow to a workflow transmitting process of transmitting the sub-workflow to the second external device through the communication unit and an execution result receiving process of receiving the execution result of the external process from the second external device through the communication unit, in order to allow the second external device to execute the generated sub-workflow,
• the workflow executing step including a step of, when the external process is specified in the external process specifying step, executing the workflow changed in the workflow changing step in place of the specified workflow.