JP2008047056A - Image processing apparatus, management method of application, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to use application installed in a main image processing apparatus while the surely checking the presence of license even when the user uses an image processing apparatus other than the main image processing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 2 includes a license acquisition part 213 which acquires, from other image processing apparatus, information showing application installed in other image processing apparatus whose license is given to a user who logs in this image processing apparatus 2, a screen display control part 211 which displays a screen showing the information, an application acquisition part 216 which acquires the application from the outside when the application which the user selects is not installed, and an application deletion part 218 which deletes the application when the user completes using of the acquired application. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an MFP, an application management method in the image processing apparatus, and the like.

  An image processing apparatus called an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) or a multi-function machine having various functions such as a copy, a scanner, and a fax machine is widely used in offices.

  In recent years, the performance of CPUs used in image processing apparatuses has improved, and large-capacity memories have been provided at low prices. Accordingly, various processes in the image processing apparatus can be easily realized by an application program (hereinafter referred to as “application”).

  Furthermore, in recent years, network functions have been provided in image processing apparatuses. Accordingly, image processing apparatuses have come to be used with other apparatuses such as personal computers in intranets.

  When there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses in the intranet, the user normally uses one of the image processing apparatuses as a main. For example, a user who is an employee of a company having a plurality of branches usually uses an image processing apparatus installed in the branch to which the user belongs in the company intranet.

  Further, when a business trip is made to another branch office, the user uses an image processing apparatus installed in the other branch office. At that time, if the same application installed in the main image processing apparatus is also installed in the image processing apparatus of the other branch office, the user can use the application. However, there is a case where it is necessary to confirm whether or not the license of the application is given to the user in the license agreement.

Therefore, it is conceivable to apply a method for centrally managing information related to licenses as described in Patent Document 1 by a server.
JP-A-2005-25616

  However, in the conventional method, even if it is proved that the user is licensed for the application installed in the main image processing apparatus, other image processing installed in the business trip destination in the first place. If the application is not installed on the device, the application cannot be used.

  In addition, if any problem occurs in the server that manages the license information, there is a possibility that the application cannot be used. Or, there is a possibility that an unlicensed user may be allowed to use the application by mistake.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention makes it possible to confirm whether or not there is a license more securely than in the past even when the user uses an image processing apparatus other than the main image processing apparatus. It is an object to make it possible to use an application installed in an image processing apparatus.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that executes processing relating to an image based on an application, and includes any one of an application storage unit that stores an application and an application installed in another image processing apparatus. The license presence inquiry means for inquiring of the other image processing apparatus whether the license of the application is given to the user who has logged in to the image processing apparatus, and the answer obtained by the license presence inquiry means, An available application presenting means for presenting an available application, which is an application licensed to the user, for the user to select, and the available application selected by the user When the application is not stored in the application storage unit, the user acquires the application that is acquired by downloading the application, and the user ends the use of the application that is acquired by the application acquisition unit. After that, it has an application deletion means for deleting the usable application from the application storage means.

  Preferably, the application execution availability determination unit that determines whether or not the usable application selected by the user can be executed in the image processing device, and the application acquisition unit is usable in the image processing device. If the application execution determination unit determines that the application cannot be executed, a version of the usable application corresponding to the image processing apparatus is acquired from an application server that provides various versions of the application and executed. If it is determined that the application can be performed, the usable application is acquired from the other image processing apparatus.

  Or you may comprise as follows. An application storage means for storing an application and a license of a desired application, which is an application that is desired to be used by a user who has logged in to the image processing apparatus and is installed in another image processing apparatus, is given to the user Whether the license of the desired application is given to the user in the answer obtained by the license presence / absence inquiry means and the license presence / absence inquiry means. If indicated, the user is permitted to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus, and if not indicated, the user refuses to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus. Use permission decision And when the desired application selected by the user is not stored in the application storage means, the desired application acquired by downloading the desired application and the desired acquired by the application acquiring means And an application deleting means for deleting the desired application from the application storage means after the user has finished using the application.

  According to the present invention, even when the user uses an image processing apparatus other than the main image processing apparatus, the user can check whether the license is present or not, and is installed in the main image processing apparatus. You can make an application available.

  1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the network 1, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing device 2, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image processing device 2. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network 1 includes an image processing device 2, a terminal device 3, an application distribution server 4, an application execution server 5, a communication line 6, and the like.

  The image processing device 2, the terminal device 3, the application distribution server 4, and the application execution server 5 can be connected to each other via a communication line 6. As the communication line 6, the Internet, a LAN line, a public line, a dedicated line, or the like is used.

  This network 1 is used by an organization such as a company or a government office having a plurality of bases. Further, one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses 2 and terminal apparatuses 3 are installed at each base. The image processing device 2, the terminal device 3, the application distribution server 4, and the application execution server 5 are assigned unique IP addresses.

  Hereinafter, a case where the network 1 is used in the company X having two bases of the A sales office and the B sales office will be described as an example. One image processing apparatus 2 is installed at each of the A and B sales offices. The image processing apparatuses 2 installed in the A sales office and the B sales office may be described separately from “image processing apparatus 2A” and “image processing apparatus 2B”.

  An employee of the company X (hereinafter referred to as “user”) determines one image processing apparatus 2 to be mainly used (that is, main). Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus 2 used mainly by the user is referred to as “home MFP”. A user usually uses the image processing apparatus 2 installed at a sales office as his / her assignment destination. Therefore, the user assigned to the A sales office usually determines the image processing apparatus 2A as the home MFP, and the user assigned to the B sales office determines the image processing apparatus 2B as the home MFP.

  The image processing apparatus 2 is an image processing apparatus that performs various processes related to an image by integrating various functions such as copy, scanner, fax, network printing, file transfer, e-mail, and document server. Sometimes called a multi-function peripheral or MFP (Multi Function Peripherals).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 20a, a RAM 20b, a ROM 20c, a hard disk 20d, a control circuit 20e, an operation panel 20f, a scanner 20g, a printing device 20h, a communication interface 20j, and the like.

  The scanner 20g is an apparatus that optically reads an image such as a photograph, a character, a picture, or a chart drawn on a document sheet to generate image data. The printing device 20h is a device that prints on a sheet an image reproduced by the scanner 20g or an image reproduced based on image data transmitted from the terminal device 3 or the like.

  The operation panel 20f is a touch panel panel, a screen for giving a message or an instruction to the user, a screen for inputting a processing type and a processing condition desired by the user, and processing executed by the CPU 20a. A screen showing the result of the is displayed. Further, the user can give a command to the image processing apparatus 2 or specify processing conditions by touching a predetermined position on the operation panel 20f. As described above, the operation panel 20f serves as a user interface of a user who operates the image processing apparatus 2.

  The communication interface 20j is a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a modem for communicating with the image processing device 2, the terminal device 3, the application distribution server 4, the application execution server 5, and the like via the communication line 6.

  The control circuit 20e is a circuit for controlling devices such as the hard disk 20d, the scanner 20g, the printing device 20h, the communication interface 20j, and the operation panel 20f.

  The hard disk 20d stores programs and data for realizing functions such as the local user license processing unit 201, the remote user license processing unit 202, the application storage unit 203, and the license information database 204 shown in FIG. . These programs and data are read into the RAM 20b as necessary, and the programs are executed by the CPU 20a. Some or all of these programs or data may be stored in the ROM 20c. A part or all of the functions of the local user license processing unit 201 or the remote user license processing unit 202 may be realized by the control circuit 20e.

  Returning to FIG. 1, an application program and a driver for performing processing in cooperation with the image processing device 2 are installed in the terminal device 3. As the terminal device 3, a personal computer, a workstation, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like is used.

  The application distribution server 4 stores various applications such as Pull Print and Scan to Netware that can be executed by the image processing apparatus 2, and when requested by the image processing apparatus 2, the requested application is stored. Is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 2.

  The application execution server 5 performs processing such as Pull Print or Push Scan in cooperation with the image processing apparatus 2 as necessary.

  4 is a diagram showing an example of the license information table TB2, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the local user license processing unit 201, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the remote user license processing unit 202, Is a diagram showing an example of a user information table TB1, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a use-permitted application table TB3, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an application selection screen HG. Hereinafter, functions of each unit of the image processing apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. 3 will be described in detail.

  The application storage unit 203 of the image processing apparatus 2 stores various applications that can be executed by the image processing apparatus 2 itself. That is, a version (version, edition) application corresponding to the image processing apparatus 2 itself is stored. Some applications are constantly stored in the application storage unit 203, and some applications are acquired by an application acquisition unit 216 described later and temporarily stored in the application storage unit 203.

  The license information database 204 has a license information table TB2. As shown in FIG. 4, the license information table TB2 stores and manages license information DT2, which is information about the license, for each application that is constantly stored in the application storage unit 203.

  The application can be used only for a user who has been previously granted a license (access right). Further, the number of users who can use one application that is always installed in the image processing apparatus 2 at the same time is limited. Hereinafter, this number will be referred to as “the number of licenses used simultaneously”. Therefore, even if a user is licensed for an application, if the number of users currently using the application has reached the number of concurrent licenses, until someone has finished using the application, The application cannot be used. This can happen when the number of licensed users exceeds the number of concurrent licenses.

  The license information DT2 includes the name of the application, that is, the application name, the number of licenses used at the same time, the number of remaining licenses indicating how many users can start using the application, and the users who are given the licenses Each user ID (usable user ID) is shown. However, in the usable user ID, only the user ID of the home user is shown, and the user ID of the guest user is not shown.

  The default value of the number of remaining licenses is the same value as the number of concurrent use licenses of the application. The number of remaining licenses is counted down by “1” every time the user starts using the application, and is incremented by “1” every time the user ends use.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the local user license processing unit 201 includes a user account database 210, a screen display control unit 211, a user authentication unit 212, a license information acquisition unit 213, an application presence / absence determination unit 214, an application execution determination unit 215, an application Consists of an acquisition unit 216, an application execution control unit 217, an application deletion unit 218, and a use end notification unit 219, and relates to a license of a user who uses the image processing apparatus 2 at the installation location (that is, a so-called local user). Process.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the remote user license processing unit 202 includes a licensed application information providing unit 221, an application transmission unit 222, and a remote user license management unit 223, and uses the other image processing apparatus 2. Processing related to licenses of existing users.

  In FIG. 5, the user account database 210 of the local user license processing unit 201 has a user information table TB1. As shown in FIG. 7, the user information table TB1 stores (stores) user account information DT1 of a user who uses the image processing apparatus 2 as a home MFP, that is, a home user. One user account information DT1 is given to one home user. The user account information DT1 indicates the user ID and password of the user who is given it.

  The screen display control unit 211 performs a process for displaying a predetermined screen on the operation panel 20f at a predetermined timing. For example, when no one is logged in to the image processing apparatus 2, a login screen for inputting a user ID and a password is displayed.

  The user authentication unit 212 performs processing for determining whether or not a user who intends to use the image processing apparatus 2 is a legitimate user (that is, user authentication processing) by the following method. .

  When the user inputs a user ID and password while the login screen is displayed, the user authentication unit 212 uses the user account information DT1 indicating the user ID as a user in the user account database 210 of his / her own (that is, the local). Search is made from the information table TB1 (see FIG. 7). If the user account information DT1 can be retrieved, the password entered by the user is checked against the password indicated in the user account information DT1. And when both correspond, it discriminate | determines that the user is a regular user. Moreover, when both match, it can be determined that the user is a home user for the image processing apparatus 2.

  If the user account information DT1 indicating the user ID input by the user is not stored in the local user account database 210, the user is considered to have the other image processing apparatus 2 as the home MFP. Therefore, the user account information DT1 is acquired from the user account database 210 of the other image processing apparatus 2, and it is determined whether or not the user is a regular user by performing password verification similar to that described above. Further, when both passwords match, it can be determined that the user is a guest user for the image processing apparatus 2 and that the user's home MFP is the other image processing apparatus 2. If the two passwords do not match, it can be determined that the user is suspected of using the image processing apparatus 2 illegally.

  A user who is determined to be a legitimate user by the user authentication unit 212 can use the image processing apparatus 2 until user authentication is given and the user logs out. The processing content while the home user is logged in to the image processing apparatus 2 is the same as the conventional one. Hereinafter, the processing content while the guest user is logged in to the image processing apparatus 2 will be described, and the processing content while the home user is logged in will not be described.

  The license information acquisition unit 213 performs processing for acquiring information related to applications that are currently available to the guest user from the logged-in guest user's home MFP. That is, processing for acquiring information related to the license of the logged-in guest user is performed. Such processing is performed in the following procedure in cooperation with the licensed application information providing unit 221 (see FIG. 6) of the remote user license processing unit 202 of the home MFP.

  The license information acquisition unit 213 requests information regarding the guest user's license by notifying the logged-in guest user's home MFP of the user ID of the guest user.

  Then, in the home MFP, licensed application information providing unit 221 searches and extracts license information DT2 indicating the notified user ID from license information table TB2 in license information database 204. Alternatively, license information DT2 that indicates the notified user ID and the number of remaining licenses is “1” or more is extracted. Then, an available application table TB3 that is a list of applications related to the searched license information DT2 as shown in FIG. 8 is generated and transmitted to the request source.

  In this way, the license information acquisition unit 213 acquires information related to the license of the logged-in guest user, that is, the usable application table TB3.

  When the license information acquisition unit 213 acquires the usable application table TB3, an application selection screen HG as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the operation panel 20f by the above-described screen display control unit 211 based on the usable application table TB3. The Here, the guest user selects and specifies an application that he / she wants to use.

  The application presence / absence determining unit 214 determines whether or not the application designated by the guest user is stored in the local application storage unit 203.

  When the application presence / absence determination unit 214 determines that the application specified by the guest user is not stored in the application storage unit 203 of the image processing apparatus 2 itself, the application acquisition unit 216 Request and obtain the application distribution server 4 to transmit the application. This processing is performed according to the following procedure in cooperation with the application execution determination unit 215 of the image processing apparatus 2 itself and the application transmission unit 222 (see FIG. 6) of the remote user license processing unit 202 of the home MFP. Is called.

  In principle, the application acquisition unit 216 acquires an application designated by the guest user from the home MFP of the logged-in guest user. However, if the model or OS of the image processing apparatus 2 itself and the home MFP are different, the application acquired from the home MFP may not be executed on the image processing apparatus 2. This is because even if the home MFP has an application designated by the user, the application may be a version that does not support the image processing apparatus 2.

  Therefore, when the application execution determination unit 214 determines that the application specified by the guest user is not stored in the local application storage unit 203, the application execution determination unit 214 determines that the version of the application that the home MFP has is stored. It is determined whether or not the image processing apparatus 2 can execute the process.

  For example, the model names of the image processing apparatus 2 and the home MFP are compared with each other, and if they match, the application designated by the guest user of the home MFP is displayed on the image processing apparatus 2. It is determined that it can be executed. Or you may discriminate | determine by comparing each OS version.

  As a result, when it is determined that the application can be executed in the image processing apparatus 2, the application acquisition unit 216 requests the home MFP to transmit the application.

  Then, in the home MFP, the application transmission unit 222 extracts the application from the application storage unit 203 of the home MFP itself and transmits the application to the image processing device 2 in response to a request from the image processing device 2.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the application cannot be executed in the image processing apparatus 2, the application acquisition unit 216 sends the guest of the version corresponding to the image processing apparatus 2 to the application distribution server 4. Request to send the application specified by the user.

  Then, the application distribution server 4 transmits the application to the image processing apparatus 2 in response to a request from the image processing apparatus 2.

  The application acquired (downloaded) from the home MFP or the application distribution server 4 by the application acquisition unit 216 as described above is temporarily stored in the local application storage unit 203.

  The application execution control unit 217 causes the application specified by the guest user, which is stored permanently or temporarily stored in the application storage unit 203, to be executed in the following procedure.

  The home MFP is inquired about the number of remaining licenses of the application. Then, the remote user license management unit 223 of the remote user license processing unit 202 of the home MFP refers to the license information table TB2 managed in the license information database 204 of the home MFP itself, and the remaining application related to the inquiry Answer the number of licenses.

  When receiving an answer that the number of remaining licenses of the application is “1” or more, the application execution control unit 217 starts execution of the application.

  On the other hand, when the reply that the number of remaining licenses is “0” is received, the execution of the application is stopped. In this case, if the application is acquired from the home MFP or application distribution server 4 by the application acquisition unit 216, the application is deleted from the application storage unit 203. That is, uninstall. Alternatively, after the home MFP waits for the number of remaining licenses of the application to be “1” or more, execution of the application is started.

  If the application is temporarily stored in the application storage unit 203 when the guest user ends the use of the application, the application deletion unit 218 deletes the application from the application storage unit 203. Alternatively, the guest user may use the application again during login. Therefore, deletion may be performed after the guest user logs out.

  When the guest user ends the use of the application, the use end notification unit 219 transmits use end information SG indicating the fact to the home MFP of the guest user. Alternatively, the use end information SG may be transmitted when the user logs out from the image processing apparatus 2.

  On the other hand, when the home MFP replies that the number of remaining licenses of the application is “1” or more, the license information of the application stored in the license information table TB 2 of the local license information database 204. The number of remaining licenses of DT2 is counted down by “1”. When the use end information SG is received, the number of remaining licenses in the license information DT2 of the application related to the use end information SG is counted up by “1”.

  FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts for explaining an example of the overall processing flow of the image processing apparatus 2A when used by a local user. FIG. 12 shows the image processing apparatus 2A when the user uses the image processing apparatus 2B. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of the whole process.

  Next, the flow of license management processing in the image processing apparatus 2A will be described with reference to a flowchart, taking as an example the case where the user U who is on a business trip from the B sales office to the A sales office uses the image processing apparatus 2A. To do.

  When the user ID and password are input by the user U, the image processing apparatus 2A performs user authentication processing for the user U (# 1 in FIG. 10). At this time, user account information DT1 of the user U is used. When the user account information DT1 is stored in the local user account database 210, the user U is a home user for the image processing apparatus 2A. Can be determined. On the other hand, if it is stored in the user account database 210 of the image processing apparatus 2B, it can be determined that the user U is a guest user who uses the image processing apparatus 2B as a home MFP.

  If it is determined that the user U is a legitimate user as a result of the user authentication process (Yes in # 2), the user U is permitted to log in to the image processing apparatus 2A (# 3). Thereafter, the user U can use the image processing apparatus 2A until logging out.

  If the user U is a home user of the image processing apparatus 2A (No in # 4), the image processing apparatus 2A performs a conventional process in response to a command from the user U (# 5).

  If it is determined that the user U is a guest user (Yes in # 4), the image processing apparatus 2A performs the process of using the application by the user U as follows.

  The user U's home MFP, that is, the image processing apparatus 2B is inquired about the application licensed to the user U (# 6), and an application selection screen HG (see FIG. 9) describing the result is displayed (#). 7). Here, the user U selects and designates an application desired by the user U.

  When receiving the designation by the user U (Yes in # 8), the image processing apparatus 2A checks whether or not the application related to the designation is already installed in the image processing apparatus 2A itself (# 9).

  If it is not installed (No in # 9), the application is downloaded from the image processing apparatus 2B or the application distribution server 4. When an application installed in the image processing apparatus 2B that is the same as the application specified by the user U (for example, an application having the same product name as the application specified by the user U) can be executed also in the image processing apparatus 2A ( (Yes in # 10), the application is downloaded from the image processing apparatus 2B (# 11). If it cannot be executed (No in # 10), a version of the application corresponding to the image processing apparatus 2A is downloaded from the application distribution server 4 (# 12). Whether or not it can be executed can be determined by comparing the model names of the image processing apparatus 2A and the image processing apparatus 2B.

  Proceeding to FIG. 11, the image processing apparatus 2A installs the application downloaded from the image processing apparatus 2B or the application distribution server 4 (# 13).

  The image processing apparatus 2B is inquired about the current number of remaining licenses of the application (# 14). When the number of remaining licenses is “1” or more (Yes in # 14), the user U is permitted to execute the application and starts the application (# 15). If it is “0” (No in # 14), the execution is permitted and started until another user who is currently using the application ends the use and the remaining number of licenses becomes “1” or more. wait. Alternatively, the use may be immediately refused and the application may be deleted (uninstalled).

  After the user U finishes using the application (Yes in # 16), this is notified to the image processing apparatus 2B (# 17). If the application is downloaded from the image processing apparatus 2B or the application distribution server 4 (Yes in # 18), the application is uninstalled (# 19).

  The image processing apparatus 2A performs processing related to the license of the home user for the image processing apparatus 2A logged in to another image processing apparatus 2 as appropriate in parallel with the processes of FIGS. 10 and 11 as shown in FIG. Follow the procedure.

  Hereinafter, the case where the user V who is on a business trip from the A sales office to the B sales office uses the image processing apparatus 2B will be described as an example.

  When the image processing apparatus 2A receives an inquiry about the license of the user V from the image processing apparatus 2B (Yes in # 31 in FIG. 12), the image processing apparatus 2A searches the license information table TB2 (see FIG. 4) (# 32), Information indicating the application to which the license is given, that is, the use permission application table TB3 (see FIG. 7) is generated and transmitted to the image processing apparatus 2B (# 33).

  Alternatively, when an application request is received from the image processing apparatus 2B (Yes in # 34), the application is called and transmitted to the image processing apparatus 2B (# 35, # 36).

  Alternatively, when an inquiry about the number of remaining licenses of the application is received from the image processing apparatus 2B (Yes in # 37), the number of remaining licenses indicated in the license information DT2 of the application is checked (# 38), and this is checked with the image processing apparatus 2B. (# 39). If the remaining license number is “1” or more (Yes in # 40), the remaining license number is counted down by “1” (# 41).

  Alternatively, when an application end notification is received from the image processing apparatus 2B (Yes in # 42), the number of remaining licenses of the application is incremented by “1” (# 43).

  According to the present embodiment, even when the user uses an image processing apparatus that is not the home MFP, the image processing is performed on the application installed in the home MFP while confirming the presence or absence of the license more reliably than before. It can also be used in the apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 2 presents to the guest user a list of applications for which the guest user is licensed in his home MFP. Then, the application selected by the guest user was downloaded and executed as necessary. However, the application may be managed in the following procedure.

  That is, the image processing apparatus 2 allows the guest user to specify a desired application without presenting a list of applications licensed to the guest user. The guest MFP is inquired of whether or not the license of the application is given to the guest user. If an answer to the effect is given, the application is downloaded and executed as necessary.

  The language for describing the application may be a machine language corresponding to the CPU 20a, or may be a high-level language such as JAVA (registered trademark).

  The application may be acquired directly from the application distribution server 4 or may be acquired via the guest user's home MFP.

  In addition, the configuration of the entire image processing apparatus 2 or each unit, processing contents, processing order, table configuration, and the like can be appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the example of the whole structure of a network. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a functional structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a license information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of a local user license process part. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of a remote place user license process part. It is a figure which shows the example of a user information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a use permission application table. It is a figure which shows the example of an application selection screen. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of the image processing apparatus when a local user logs in. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of the image processing apparatus when a local user logs in. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of the whole process of the said image processing apparatus at the time of use of the other image processing apparatus of a user.

Explanation of symbols

2 Image processing device 203 Application storage unit (application storage means)
211 Screen display control unit (available application presentation means)
213 License information acquisition unit (license presence inquiry means)
215 Application execution availability determination unit (application execution availability determination means)
216 Application acquisition unit (application acquisition means)
218 Application deletion unit (application deletion means)

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus that executes processing related to an image based on an application,
Application storage means for storing the application;
A license presence / absence inquiry means for inquiring of the other image processing apparatus which application license of the applications installed in the other image processing apparatus is given to a user who has logged into the image processing apparatus; ,
An available application presenting means for presenting an available application, which is an application licensed to the user, shown in the answer obtained by the license presence / absence inquiry means;
An application acquisition unit that acquires the usable application selected by the user by downloading the usable application when the usable application is not stored in the application storage unit;
An application deleting means for deleting the usable application from the application storing means after the user has finished using the usable application acquired by the application acquiring means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Application executability determination means for determining whether or not the usable application selected by the user can be executed in the image processing apparatus;
When the application execution means determines that the usable application cannot be executed in the image processing apparatus, the application acquisition means determines whether or not the image processing apparatus from an application server that provides various versions of the application. If it is determined that the usable application of the version corresponding to the above can be obtained and executed, the usable application is obtained from the other image processing device.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. An image processing apparatus that executes processing related to an image based on an application,
Application storage means for storing the application;
Whether or not a license of a desired application, which is an application that is desired to be used by a user who has logged in to the image processing apparatus and is installed in another image processing apparatus, is given to the user. A license presence / absence inquiry means for inquiring to the image processing apparatus of
When the answer obtained by the license presence / absence inquiry means indicates that the user is licensed for the desired application, the user is advised to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus. Permission to use, if not indicated, use permission determination means for rejecting the user from using the desired application in the image processing apparatus;
An application acquisition means for acquiring the desired application selected by the user by downloading the desired application when the desired application is not stored in the application storage means;
An application deleting means for deleting the desired application from the application storing means after the user has finished using the desired application acquired by the application acquiring means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: An application management method in an image processing apparatus,
Prepare an application storage means to store the application,
Queries the other image processing apparatus which application license of the applications installed in the other image processing apparatus is given to the user who has logged into the image processing apparatus,
An available application, which is an application licensed for the user, shown in the answer obtained from the other image processing apparatus, is presented for the user to select,
If the usable application selected by the user is not stored in the application storage means, it is obtained by downloading the usable application,
After the user finishes using the acquired usable application, the usable application is deleted from the application storage means.
An application management method characterized by the above. An application management method in an image processing apparatus,
Prepare an application storage means to store the application,
Whether or not a license of a desired application, which is an application that is desired to be used by a user who has logged in to the image processing apparatus and is installed in another image processing apparatus, is given to the user. Inquiries to other image processing devices,
If the answer obtained from the other image processing apparatus indicates that the user is licensed for the desired application, the user is advised to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus. If not allowed, the user refuses to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus,
When the desired application selected by the user is not stored in the application storage means, the desired application is acquired by downloading,
After the user finishes using the acquired desired application, the desired application is deleted from the application storage means;
An application management method characterized by the above. An application management program used in an image processing apparatus that has an application storage unit that stores an application and executes processing related to an image based on the application,
A process for inquiring the other image processing apparatus about which application license of the applications installed in the other image processing apparatus is given to the user who has logged into the image processing apparatus. Let the processor run,
Processing for presenting the user to select an available application, which is an application licensed to the user, shown in the answer obtained from the other image processing device. To run
When the usable application selected by the user is not stored in the application storage unit, the image processing apparatus is caused to execute a process of obtaining the downloaded application by downloading the usable application,
After the user finishes using the acquired usable application, the image processing apparatus is caused to execute a process of deleting the usable application from the application storage unit.
An application management program characterized by that. An application management program used in an image processing apparatus that has an application storage unit that stores an application and executes processing related to an image based on the application,
Whether or not a license of a desired application, which is an application that is desired to be used by a user who has logged in to the image processing apparatus and is installed in another image processing apparatus, is given to the user. Process for inquiring of the image processing apparatus is executed by the image processing apparatus,
If the answer obtained from the other image processing apparatus indicates that the user is licensed for the desired application, the user is advised to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus. If not permitted, the image processing apparatus is caused to execute a process for refusing the user to use the desired application in the image processing apparatus.
When the desired application selected by the user is not stored in the application storage unit, the image processing apparatus is caused to execute processing to be acquired by downloading the desired application,
After the user finishes using the acquired desired application, the image processing apparatus is caused to execute a process of deleting the desired application from the application storage unit.
An application management program characterized by that.