JP7839591B2 - Information processing system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing device, and a program.

Technologies that support the handover between personnel (e.g., sales representatives and workers) based on entered work details and handover information have existed for some time (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-079158

However, when transferring information agreed upon with a client during a visit between staff members, handwritten notes taken by the staff member at the client's location are often used. In this case, the risk of information leakage and duplicate work due to the loss of the notes, as well as the risk of disputes with the client due to discrepancies between the notes' content and the client's understanding, are unavoidable.

The objective of this invention is to reduce the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and customer disputes during the handover of information agreed upon with a customer at a client's site between personnel.

The invention described in claim 1 is an information processing system characterized by comprising: management means for managing progress information for each customer that indicates the progress status of each of a plurality of tasks constituting a predetermined business; imaging control means for controlling imaging of a medium on which a document indicating the content of an agreement between the person in charge of the first task among the plurality of tasks and the customer is formed; acquisition means for acquiring instruction information relating to an instruction to update the progress information of the second task among the plurality of tasks, which includes at least the addition of the content of the agreement with the customer and the addition of image data of the imaged image of the medium; and update means for updating the progress information managed by the management means based on the acquired instruction information.
The invention described in claim 2 is an information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the agreement with the customer is an agreement between the person in charge of the first task among the plurality of tasks and the customer, and is an instruction to update the progress information of the second task.
The invention described in claim 3 is an information processing system according to claim 2, further characterized in that it acquires output control means that controls the formation and output of a document indicating the content of the agreement on a medium at the time the content of the agreement is agreed upon.
The invention described in claim 4 is an information processing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the management means classifies and manages the data of the captured image as progress information in a plurality of layers based on predetermined classification criteria.
The invention described in claim 5 is an information processing device characterized by comprising: a management means for managing progress information for each customer that indicates the progress status of each of a plurality of tasks constituting a predetermined business; an imaging control means for controlling imaging of a medium on which a document indicating the content of an agreement between the person in charge of the first task among the plurality of tasks and the customer is formed; an acquisition means for acquiring instruction information relating to an instruction to update the progress information of the second task among the plurality of tasks, which includes at least the addition of the content of the agreement with the customer and the addition of image data of the imaged image on the medium; and an update means for updating the progress information managed by the management means based on the acquired instruction information.
The invention described in claim 6 is an information processing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the content of the agreement with the customer is an agreement between the person in charge of the first task among the plurality of tasks and the customer, and is an instruction to update the progress information of the second task.
The invention described in claim 7 is an information processing device comprising: a receiving means for receiving an operation to input the content of an agreement between a person in charge of a first task and a customer as progress information indicating the progress status of each of a plurality of tasks constituting a predetermined business; an imaging control means for controlling the imaging of a medium on which a document indicating the content of the agreement is formed; and a transmission control means for controlling the transmission of instruction information relating to an instruction to update the progress information of a second task among the plurality of tasks, which includes at least the addition of data of the image generated by the imaging, to another information processing device.
The invention described in claim 8 is an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further characterized by acquiring output control means that controls the formation and output of a document indicating the content of the agreement on a medium at the time the content of the agreement is agreed upon.
The invention described in claim 9 is a program for a computer to implement: a function for managing progress information for each customer that shows the progress status of each of a plurality of tasks that constitute a predetermined business; an imaging control means for controlling imaging of a medium on which a document showing the content of an agreement between the person in charge of the first of the plurality of tasks and the customer is formed; a function for acquiring instruction information relating to an instruction to update the progress information of the second of the plurality of tasks, which includes at least the addition of the content of the agreement with the customer and the addition of image data of the image on the medium; and a function for updating the managed progress information based on the acquired instruction information.

According to claim 1 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that reduces the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 2 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that reduces the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 3 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that reduces the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 4 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that reduces the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 5 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device that can reduce the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 6 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device that can reduce the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 7 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device that can reduce the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 8 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device that can reduce the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.
According to claim 9 of the present invention, a program can be provided that reduces the risk of information leakage, duplicate work, and trouble with customers when handing over the contents agreed upon with the customer at the customer's location between personnel.

This figure shows an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system to which this embodiment is applied. This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of a management server as an information processing device to which this embodiment is applied. This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of a user terminal, which serves as an information processing device to which this embodiment is applied. This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of a portable image forming apparatus, which is part of the information processing system shown in Figure 1. This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the control unit of the management server. This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the control unit of a user terminal. This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow of the management server. This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow of a user terminal operated by the first user. This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow of a user terminal operated by a second user. This figure shows a specific example of a user interface displayed on the user terminal's display when the first user performs an input operation to instruct the user to update progress information. This figure shows a specific example of a user interface displayed on the user terminal's display when the first user performs an input operation to instruct the user to update progress information. This figure shows a specific example of paper output from a portable image forming apparatus. This figure shows a specific example of the user interface displayed on the user terminal's display when the first user takes an image of the "meeting sheet" for their records. This figure shows a specific example of the user interface displayed on the user terminal's display when a second user checks the details of an agreement with a customer that has been registered as progress information.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.
(Configuration of the information processing system)
Figure 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system 1 to which this embodiment is applied.
The information processing system 1 is configured by connecting a management server 10, user terminals 30-1 to 30-n (where n is an integer value of 2 or more), and a portable image forming apparatus 50 via a network 90. The network 90 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, etc. When it is not necessary to explain each of the user terminals 30-1 to 30-n individually, they are collectively referred to as user terminal 30.

The portable image forming apparatus 50 only needs to be connected to the user terminal 30; connection to the network 90 is not essential. For example, a system configuration that directly connects the user terminal 30 and the portable image forming apparatus 50 using communication methods such as infrared communication, visible light communication, proximity wireless communication, Bluetooth®, or RFID® is also possible.

The management server 10 is an information processing device that manages the entire information processing system 1. For example, the management server 10 stores information indicating the progress status of each of the multiple tasks constituting a predetermined business (hereinafter referred to as "progress information") in a database and manages it for each customer. The management server 10 also acquires information regarding instructions for updating progress information (hereinafter referred to as "instruction information") transmitted from the user terminal 30, including at least an instruction to add the agreed-upon details with the customer to the progress information, and updates the progress information stored in the database based on this instruction information. Furthermore, the management server 10 acquires information regarding inquiries about progress information (hereinafter referred to as "inquiry information") transmitted from the user terminal 30 and controls the provision of progress information. Details of these processes performed by the management server 10 will be described later.

The user terminal 30 is an information processing device such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal operated by the user. For example, the user terminal 30 displays a predetermined user interface on the display unit 36 (see Figure 3). Furthermore, for example, the user terminal 30 displays information transmitted and received from the management server 10 or an external source on the user interface. Examples of information displayed on the user interface include progress information for each customer.

Furthermore, for example, the user terminal 30 controls the formation and output of a document outlining the agreement with the customer, and controls the imaging of the document formed on the outputted paper. Specifically, the user terminal 30 transmits the data of the document outlining the agreement to the portable image forming apparatus 50, and the imaging unit 37 (see Figure 3), described later, images the document outlining the agreement formed on the paper output from the portable image forming apparatus 50.

Furthermore, for example, the user terminal 30 receives input information entered into the user interface and transmits it to the management server 10. Examples of input information transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the management server 10 include instruction information and inquiry information. Among these, the instruction information includes instructions to add the image data of a document indicating the agreed-upon content, generated by imaging by the imaging unit 37, to the progress information. Details of these processes performed by the user terminal 30 will be described later.

The portable image forming apparatus 50 forms and outputs a document on paper that represents the agreement with the customer. Specifically, the portable image forming apparatus 50 acquires data of the document representing the agreement with the customer, transmitted from the user terminal 30, and forms and outputs that document data on paper. The paper output from the portable image forming apparatus 50 is then handed over from the user to the customer as a copy of the agreement.

The above-described processes for each of the components constituting the information processing system 1—the management server 10, the user terminal 30, and the portable image forming apparatus 50—are merely examples; the information processing system 1 as a whole only needs to have the functionality to implement the above-described processes. Therefore, some or all of the functions for implementing the above-described processes may be shared or performed collaboratively within the information processing system 1.

In other words, some or all of the functions of the management server 10 may be assigned to the user terminal 30 or the portable image forming apparatus 50, or some or all of the functions of the user terminal 30 may be assigned to the management server 10 or the portable image forming apparatus 50. Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the portable image forming apparatus 50 may be assigned to the management server 10 or the user terminal 30. In addition, some or all of the functions of the management server 10, which constitutes the information processing system 1, may be transferred to other servers (not shown). This facilitates processing for the entire information processing system 1 and also allows for complementary processing.

(Management server hardware configuration)
Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the management server 10 as an information processing device to which this embodiment is applied.
The management server 10 includes a control unit 11, a memory 12, a storage unit 13, a communication unit 14, an operation unit 15, and a display unit 16. These units are connected by a data bus, an address bus, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, and the like.

The control unit 11 is a processor that controls the functions of the management server 10 through the execution of various software such as the OS (operating system) and application software. The control unit 11 is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 12 is a storage area that stores various software and data used for its execution, and is used as a work area during calculations. The memory 12 is composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory).

The storage unit 13 is a storage area that stores input data for various software and output data from various software. The storage unit 13 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or semiconductor memory used to store programs and various setting data. The storage unit 13 also stores a database for various information, such as a customer database 131 containing progress information for each customer.

The communication unit 14 transmits and receives data between the user terminal 30 and the outside world via the network 90. The operation unit 15 consists of, for example, a keyboard, mouse, mechanical buttons, and switches, and accepts input operations. The operation unit 15 also includes a touch sensor that, together with the display unit 16, forms a touch panel. The display unit 16 consists of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display used for displaying information, and displays image and text data, etc.

(User terminal hardware configuration)
Figure 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of a user terminal 30, which is an information processing device to which this embodiment is applied.
The user terminal 30 has hardware configurations corresponding to the control unit 11, memory 12, storage unit 13, communication unit 14, operation unit 15, and display unit 16 of the management server 10 shown in Figure 2, as well as an imaging unit 37. These units are connected by a data bus, address bus, PCI bus, etc.

In other words, the user terminal 30 has a control unit 31 composed of a processor such as a CPU, a memory 32 composed of a storage area such as RAM, and a storage unit 33 composed of a storage area such as an HDD, SSD, or semiconductor memory. It also has a communication unit 34 that transmits and receives data to and from the management server 10 and external sources via the network 90.

Furthermore, the user terminal 30 has an operation unit 35 consisting of a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., and a display unit 36 consisting of a liquid crystal display or organic EL display, etc. It also has an imaging unit 37, which consists of a camera, etc., and functions as a camera viewfinder, capturing images of subjects displayed on the display unit 36 and acquiring them as image data. The imaging unit 37, either in response to input operations or automatically, assists the user's imaging operations by controlling the light illuminating the subject and controlling the orientation of the subject displayed via the display unit 36.

(Hardware configuration of portable image forming apparatus)
Figure 4 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the portable image forming apparatus 50 in the information processing system shown in Figure 1.
The portable image forming apparatus 50 has hardware configurations corresponding to the control unit 11, memory 12, storage unit 13, communication unit 14, operation unit 15, and display unit 16 of the management server 10 shown in Figure 2, as well as an image forming unit 57. These units are connected by a data bus, address bus, PCI bus, etc.

In other words, the portable image forming apparatus 50 has a control unit 51 composed of a processor such as a CPU, a memory 52 composed of a storage area such as RAM, and a storage unit 53 composed of a storage area such as an HDD, SSD, or semiconductor memory. It also has a communication unit 54 that transmits and receives data to and from the management server 10 and external sources via the network 90.

Furthermore, the user terminal 30 has an operation unit 55 consisting of a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., and a display unit 56 consisting of a liquid crystal display or organic EL display, etc. It also has an image forming unit 57 that forms an image based on image data on the printed surface of the paper used as a recording medium, using methods such as electrophotography or inkjet. In this embodiment, the image data could be, for example, text data showing the content of an agreement with a customer.

(Functional configuration of the control unit of the management server)
Figure 5 shows an example of the functional configuration of the control unit 11 of the management server 10.
The control unit 11 of the management server 10 functions as an information management unit 101, an instruction information acquisition unit 102, a progress information update unit 103, and a transmission control unit 104.

The Information Management Unit 101 stores and manages various types of information in a database. For example, the Information Management Unit 101 stores the progress information of each of the multiple tasks constituting a predetermined business process in the Customer DB 131 and manages it for each customer. Specifically, for example, the Information Management Unit 101 classifies and manages the data of images of documents showing the agreed-upon content, captured by the user terminal 30, into multiple hierarchical levels based on predetermined classification criteria. For example, classifications such as major, medium, and minor categories are performed.

The instruction information acquisition unit 102 acquires instruction information related to instructions for updating progress information transmitted from the user terminal 30. This "instruction information" includes, for example, instructions to add the details of an agreement with the customer to the progress information. Examples of "instructions to add the details of an agreement with the customer to the progress information" include an agreement between the customer and the person responsible for the first task (hereinafter referred to as the "first user"), an instruction to update the progress information for the second task, and an instruction to add image data of a document showing the details of the agreement, captured by the user terminal 30.

The progress information update unit 103 updates the progress information stored in the customer DB 131 based on the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 102.
The transmission control unit 104 controls the transmission of various information to the user terminal 30, the portable image forming apparatus 50, or an external source via the communication unit 14 (see Figure 2). For example, the transmission control unit 104 controls the transmission of progress information to the user terminal 30. The transmission control unit 104 also controls the transmission of progress information to the user terminal 30.

(Functional configuration of the user terminal's control unit)
Figure 6 shows an example of the functional configuration of the control unit 31 of the user terminal 30.
The control unit 31 of the user terminal 30 functions as follows: information acquisition unit 301, display control unit 302, input operation reception unit 303, output control unit 304, image capture control unit 305, and transmission control unit 306.

The information acquisition unit 301 acquires various types of information. For example, the information acquisition unit 301 acquires customer-specific progress information transmitted from the management server 10.
The display control unit 302 controls the display of various information on the display unit 36 (see Figure 3). For example, the display control unit 302 controls the display of a user interface on the display unit 36. The user interface can be displayed by launching user-facing application software pre-installed on the user terminal 30, or by accessing a user-facing website.

The user interface displays, for example, progress information for each customer. It also displays input fields for entering instructions and inquiries. Specific examples of the information displayed on the user interface will be discussed later, referring to Figure 10.

The input operation reception unit 303 accepts user input operations as a means of reception. User input operations include touch operations with fingers and mouse operations. The input operation reception unit 303 accepts input operations to launch application software. Furthermore, the input operation reception unit 303 accepts various information entered via the user interface displayed on the display unit 36 upon launch of the application software.

Information entered via the user interface includes, for example, instruction information and inquiry information for displaying progress information. The operation to enter instruction information is performed as an input operation to instruct the first user to update the progress information of a second task, which is one of several tasks that constitute the business process.

The output control unit 304 controls the formation and output of a document containing the agreement with the customer on paper. Specifically, based on input operations to the user interface, the output control unit 304 transmits data of the document containing the agreement with the customer to the portable image forming apparatus 50, and controls the portable image forming apparatus 50 to form and output the document containing the agreement with the customer on paper.

The imaging control unit 305 controls the imaging of the document containing the agreement with the customer. Specifically, the imaging control unit 305 controls the imaging unit 37 (see Figure 3) to image the document containing the agreement with the customer, which is formed on a sheet of paper output from the portable image forming apparatus 50.

The transmission control unit 306 controls the transmission of various information to the management server 10 or an external source via the communication unit 34 (see Figure 3). For example, the transmission control unit 306 controls the transmission of instruction information received by the input operation reception unit 303 to the management server 10. The instruction information transmitted to the management server 10 includes, for example, an instruction to add data of an image of a document showing the agreement with the customer to the progress information. The transmission control unit 306 also controls the transmission of inquiry information to the management server 10.

(Processing flow of the management server)
Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow of the management server 10. In the following, the operation of user terminal 30-1 will be performed by the first user, and the operation of user terminal 30-2 will be performed by the person in charge of the second task (hereinafter referred to as the "second user").
The management server 10 stores progress information for each of the multiple tasks that constitute a predetermined business in a database and manages them for each customer (step 701). Specifically, the management server 10 associates the progress information with information that can uniquely identify a customer (for example, the customer's name, customer number, etc.) and stores and manages it in the customer DB 131 (see Figure 2) of the storage unit 13.

When the management server 10 receives instruction information from the user terminal 30-1 (YES in step 702), it acquires the received instruction information (step 703) and updates the progress information stored in the database based on the acquired instruction information (step 704). Conversely, if no instruction information has been received (NO in step 702), the management server 10 repeats step 702 until instruction information is received.

When the management server 10 receives inquiry information from the user terminal 30-2 (YES in step 705), it retrieves the received inquiry information (step 706) and sends the progress information updated in step 704 to the user terminal 30-2 (step 707). If no inquiry information has been received (NO in step 705), step 705 is repeated.

(Processing flow at the user terminal)
Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow of user terminal 30-1 operated by the first user.
When an input operation to start the application software is performed on the user terminal 30-1 (YES in step 801), the user terminal 30-1 accepts the input operation (step 802) and displays the user interface on the display unit 36 (see Figure 3) (step 803). Conversely, if no input operation to start the application software is performed (NO in step 801), the user terminal 30 repeats step 801 until an input operation to start the application software is performed.

When an input operation is performed on the user interface to output the customer agreement (YES in step 804), the user terminal 30-1 accepts the input operation (step 805) and controls the system to form and output a document representing the customer agreement on paper (step 806). Specifically, based on the input operation on the user interface, the user terminal 30-1 transmits data of the document representing the customer agreement to the portable image forming apparatus 50 and controls the system to form and output the document representing the customer agreement on paper. Conversely, if no input operation to output the customer agreement has been performed (NO in step 804), the user terminal 30-1 repeats step 804 until an input operation to output the customer agreement is performed.

When an input operation is performed on the user interface to capture a document representing the customer agreement (YES in step 807), the user terminal 30-1 accepts the input operation (step 808) and captures a document representing the customer agreement (step 809). Specifically, the user terminal 30-1 controls the imaging unit 37 (see Figure 3) to capture a document on which the document representing the customer agreement is printed or written, which has been output from the portable image forming apparatus 50. If, however, no input operation is performed to capture a document representing the customer agreement (NO in step 807), the user terminal 30-1 repeats step 807 until an input operation is performed to capture a document representing the customer agreement.

When an input operation is performed on the user interface to instruct the updating of progress information (YES in step 810), the user terminal 30-1 accepts the input operation (step 811) and transmits the accepted information as instruction information to the management server 10 (step 812). If no input operation to instruct the updating of progress information is performed (NO in step 810), the user terminal 30-1 repeats step 810.

Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow of user terminal 30-2 operated by the second user. Note that each of the processes in steps 901 to 903 in Figure 9 is the same as those in steps 801 to 803 in Figure 8, and therefore their explanation is omitted.

When an input operation to display progress information is performed on the user interface (YES in step 904), the input operation is accepted (step 905), and the accepted information is sent to the management server 10 as query information (step 906). If no input operation to display progress information is performed (NO in step 904), the user terminal 30-2 repeats step 904.

(Specific example)
Figures 10 and 11 show specific examples of the user interface displayed on the display unit 36 of the user terminal 30 when the first user performs an input operation to instruct the updating of progress information. In the following, the operation of user terminal 30-1 is performed by the first user, and the operation of user terminal 30-2 is performed by the second user.

Here, as a specific example, suppose that User 1, a sales representative for a water heater manufacturer, visits a customer as part of their first task, and during the meeting, the customer expresses concern about the noise from the water heater they had delivered. At this point, because User 1 is a sales representative and the water heater is installed at a high location, it is agreed that User 2, a technician from the same manufacturer, will handle the issue on a later date. Furthermore, it is assumed that User 1 has brought a portable image forming apparatus 50 with them to the customer's location.

In such cases, the first user immediately confirms the agreement at the client's location and, in order to preserve the existence of the agreement, performs an input operation on the user terminal 30-1 to output the details of the agreement with the client. Specifically, the first user operates the user terminal 30-1 to launch the application software and display the user interface shown in Figure 10(A).

The user interface shown in Figure 10(A) includes an information display area R1 where user notifications and other information are displayed, a button B1 labeled "Today's Work Instructions," a button B2 labeled "Continuing Work Instructions," a button B3 labeled "Next Case," a button B4 labeled "Photo (Equipment/Paper Document Photography)," and a button B5 labeled "Create/Print Meeting Sheet."

Information display area R1 displays information that should be made known to the user. Button B1 is pressed by the user to confirm the tasks to be performed that day. Button B2 is pressed by the user to confirm the details of the tasks related to them. Button B3 is pressed by the user to confirm the details of the tasks related to them. Button B4 is pressed by the user to perform imaging. Button B5 is pressed by the user to register the details of the agreement with the customer as progress information, print the details on paper, and output it from the portable image forming apparatus 50.

When the first user presses button B1, the user interface shown in Figure 10(B) is displayed. The user interface in Figure 10(B) displays an information display area R2. The information display area R2 displays "work instruction information," which includes the work instruction number, installation location number, work category, and work detail category, representing the tasks and duties the user must perform that day. Note that the user interface shown in Figure 10(B) may be displayed alongside the user interface shown in Figure 10(A), or they may be displayed separately.

When the user interface shown in Figure 10(B) is displayed, and button B5 located on the user interface shown in Figure 10(A) is pressed, the user interface shown in Figure 11 will be displayed. Figure 11(A) shows a specific example of the user interface when the tab button B11 labeled "Basic Case" is pressed. The user refers to the information such as "Work Order Number," "Customer Number," "Customer Name," "Scheduled Work Date," and "Work Time Slot" displayed on the user interface shown in Figure 11(A), and enters the content of the consultation received from the customer at the visit into the input field R11 labeled "Request Details." Specifically, for example, the user enters a sentence such as, "I'm concerned about the noise from the water heater, so I'd like you to take a look at it." The user also enters a phone number in the "Our Store's Contact Phone Number" field.

Next, the user clicks the tab button B12 labeled "Meeting Details." This displays the user interface shown in Figure 11(B). The user then enters the details agreed upon with the customer during the visit into the input field R12 labeled "Meeting Details" on the user interface shown in Figure 11(B). Specifically, the user might enter a sentence such as, "Because the water heater installation location is high up, I will bring a four-step ladder."

The user presses button B13, labeled "Register," after completing these input operations. This registers the agreement with the customer as progress information. At this point, button B13 may be kept inactive until the required information, "Meeting Details," is entered into input field R11. Once the "Meeting Details" information is entered, button B13 becomes active again. This prevents the loss of information when printing the document.

Next, the user prints a document from the portable image forming apparatus 50. Specifically, the user prints the document from the portable image forming apparatus 50 by pressing the printout button B14. This allows the user to immediately confirm the agreed-upon contents at the visited location. Figure 12 shows an example of a document printed from the portable image forming apparatus 50.

Figure 12 shows a specific example of paper output from the portable image forming apparatus 50.
Figure 12 shows a specific example of a form output from the portable image forming apparatus 50, called "Meeting Sheet T." Meeting Sheet T has the following information printed on it: "Customer Number,""Name,""Next Visit Schedule," and "Items to Prepare." It also has fields R21 labeled "Request Details," R22 labeled "Meeting Details," and R23 labeled "Customer Signature." To the right of the label labeled "Person in Charge," the name of the first user is printed.

Of the information printed on Meeting Sheet T, the "Customer Number" and "Customer Name" fields reflect the "Customer Number" and "Customer Name" fields displayed in the user interface shown in Figure 11(A) above. Furthermore, the "Next Visit Schedule" field on Meeting Sheet T reflects the "Scheduled Work Date" and "Work Time Slot" fields displayed in the user interface shown in Figure 11(A) above. Finally, the "Items to Prepare" field on Meeting Sheet T reflects the information pre-assigned to each task identified by the "Work Instruction Number" field displayed in the user interface shown in Figure 11(A) above.

Furthermore, of the information printed on the meeting sheet T, the information printed in column R21, "Request Details," reflects the "Request Details" information displayed on the user interface in Figure 11(A) above. Similarly, the information printed in column R22, "Meeting Details," reflects the "Meeting Details" information displayed on the user interface in Figure 11(B) above. The first user hands the meeting sheet T, output from the portable image forming apparatus 50, to the customer for immediate confirmation of this information.

If, after the customer confirms that there are no problems with the contents of the meeting sheet T, the customer is asked to sign in the section R23 labeled "Customer Signature," and the meeting sheet T with the customer's signature is then imaged. At this time, the display unit 36 of the user terminal 30-1 displays a dialog box containing information to assist with handling the printed meeting sheet T at the client's location, as well as a button to proceed to the next step. This enables the first user to provide smooth and comprehensive customer service.

The dialog box displays "information to support the handling of the meeting sheet T at the client's location." Examples of such information include, although not illustrated, a message such as, "The meeting sheet has been printed. Please obtain a signature from the client and take a photograph of the entire meeting sheet for your records." When the first user clicks the button in the dialog box to proceed to the next step, a user interface for photographing the meeting sheet T is displayed. Figure 13 shows an example of this interface.

Figure 13 shows a specific example of the user interface displayed on the display unit 36 of the user terminal 30-1 when the first user takes an image of the "Meeting Sheet T" for record-keeping purposes.
The user interface shown in Figure 13(A) displays tab buttons B11 and B12 as shown in the example in Figure 11 above, as well as a tab button B15 labeled "Reserve". When tab button B15 is pressed, the user interface shown in Figure 13(A) is displayed. When button B16 is pressed, the system switches to the shooting mode shown in Figure 13(B), and the meeting sheet T is photographed. During imaging, the user can adjust the amount of light illuminating the meeting sheet T as the subject, and the orientation of the meeting sheet T, by pressing the light button B19 and the orientation adjustment button B20.

If a user wishes to complete the registration of the agreed-upon details with the client as progress information without taking a picture of the meeting sheet T, they press button B17, labeled "Do not photograph a copy of the meeting sheet," as shown in Figure 13(A). Button B17 can also be used when the first user wishes to save the content of the conversation with the client or observations made during the visit as personal notes. In this case, the user registers the meeting sheet, prints it, and stores it as personal notes.

Figure 14 shows a specific example of the user interface displayed on the display unit 36 of the user terminal 30-2 when a second user confirms the details of an agreement with a customer that has been registered as progress information.
When a second user wants to check the details of an agreement with a customer that has been registered as progress information, they operate the user terminal 30-2 and press button B4, labeled "Photo (Equipment/Paper Document Photography)," located on the user interface shown in Figure 10(A) above. This displays the user interface shown in Figure 14(A). The user interface shown in Figure 14(A) displays button B21 labeled "Meeting Sheet," and below it, the registered information for the customer name, work order number, installation location number, work category, and work detail category.

When the user presses button B21, the user interface shown in Figure 14(B) is displayed. The user interface in Figure 14(B) displays a button B24 labeled "Photo Function," and below it, the registered information for each of the following: customer name, work order number, customer number, scheduled work date, work time slot, print, case handling network, contact phone number, request details, meeting details, and copy of the photo. By reviewing this information displayed on the user interface, the user can easily confirm the agreement between the first user and the customer. The user can also press button B21 to display the user interface shown in Figure 14(A) again.

The user can also register other paper documents (e.g., contracts) besides the meeting sheet T shown in Figure 12 as part of the agreement with the customer. In this case, the user sets the classification of the paper document to be photographed by selecting the "Major Category" and "Subcategory" in the "Subject to Photograph" column shown in Figure 14(A). For example, suppose the paper document to be photographed is a "Sales Contract." In this case, the user would select "Contract Documents" as the major category by pressing dropdown button B22, and then select "Sales Contract" as the subcategory by pressing dropdown button B23.

The above describes this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in this embodiment. For example, the configuration of the information processing system 1 shown in Figure 1, and the hardware configurations of the management server 10, user terminal 30, and portable image forming apparatus 50 shown in Figures 2 to 4 are merely illustrative examples for achieving the objectives of the present invention and are not particularly limited. Similarly, the functional configuration of the management server 10 shown in Figure 5 and the functional configuration of the user terminal 30 shown in Figure 6 are also merely illustrative examples and are not particularly limited. It is sufficient that the information processing system 1 in Figure 1 is equipped with the functionality to execute the above-described processing as a whole, and the functional configuration used to realize this functionality is not limited to the examples in Figures 5 and 6.

Furthermore, the order of processing steps for the management server 10 shown in Figure 7, and the order of processing steps for the user terminal 30 shown in Figures 8 and 9, are merely illustrative examples and not particularly limiting. Processing is not limited to the chronological order shown in the diagrams; it may also be performed in parallel or individually. Similarly, the specific examples shown in Figures 10 to 14 are merely examples and not particularly limiting.

1…Information Processing System, 10…Management Server, 11…Control Unit, 30…User Terminal, 31…Control Unit, 50…Portable Image Forming Apparatus, 90…Network, 101…Information Management Unit, 102…Instruction Information Acquisition Unit, 103…Progress Information Update Unit, 104…Transmission Control Unit, 301…Information Acquisition Unit, 302…Display Control Unit, 303…Input Operation Reception Unit, 304…Output Control Unit, 305…Imaging Control Unit, 306…Transmission Control Unit

Claims (2)

The system comprises a first user terminal operated by a first user who is responsible for a first task among several tasks, connected via a network; a second user terminal operated by a second user who takes over from the first user and is responsible for a second task among the several tasks; a management server; and a portable image forming device that forms and outputs predetermined text onto a medium.
The first user terminal is,
An input operation receiving means that accepts an operation to input the details of the agreement between the first user and the customer,
The portable image forming apparatus includes an output control means that controls the forming and output of a document indicating the agreed-upon content on the medium,
An imaging means for capturing an image of the medium on which the customer's signature has been written after output,
A transmission means that transmits instruction information relating to an instruction to update progress information, including an instruction to add the agreed content to the progress information indicating the progress status of the second work managed by the management server, to the management server, together with the captured image of the medium,
Equipped with,
The aforementioned management server
A management means for managing progress information for each of the aforementioned multiple tasks, which shows the progress status of each of the aforementioned tasks,
An instruction acquisition means for acquiring the instruction information and the captured image transmitted from the first user terminal ,
An update means that updates the progress information of the second operation by adding the captured image based on the acquired instruction information,
An inquiry acquisition means for acquiring inquiry information relating to the inquiry about the progress information of the second work transmitted from the second user terminal,
A transmission means for transmitting the progress information of the second operation to the second user terminal,
A feature comprising :
Information processing system. The management means is characterized by classifying the captured image data into multiple layers based on predetermined classification criteria as progress information for the second operation , and managing it for each customer .
The information processing system according to claim 1 .