JP2012150577A - Image processing device, and movement processing method and movement processing program for application of the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move an application which is not used any more by an image processing device to another image processing device in such a case.SOLUTION: A user of an image processing device 1 sets a registered application not to be used (S101). When a user of an image processing device 2 performs an operation to connect with the image processing device 1 (S81), the image processing device 2 sends a request to log in to the image processing device 1 (S91). When the user of the image processing device 2 is allowed to log in, and selects an application (S82), the image processing device 2 transmits a request to acquire the application to the image processing device 1 (S93). The image processing device 1 after transmitting the specified application to the image processing device 2 (S106) deletes the transmitted application (S107), and informs a terminal device of the user of a license key (S108). The user of the image processing device 2 inputs the license key to the image processing device 2 (S83).

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of acquiring and installing an application from a server, an application movement processing method executed by the apparatus, and a movement processing program for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the movement processing method. .

  For example, as an image processing apparatus including a multi-function digital multifunction peripheral called MFP (Multi Function Peripherals), a predetermined application can be acquired from a server based on a license and the acquired application can be installed and used. An image processing apparatus is known.

  However, even if an application is installed in the image processing apparatus, the application may not be used thereafter due to various circumstances. In addition, there is a case where a request for using the application is generated in another image processing apparatus installed in another place.

  However, conventionally, as shown in the network system of FIG. 12, when the image processing apparatus 201 acquires an application from the server 205 and installs the application, even if the license is valid, The image processing apparatuses 202 to 204 cannot be moved to any of the image processing apparatuses 202 to 204, and the other image processing apparatuses 202 to 204 have only a method of individually acquiring applications as indicated by an arrow C from the server 105. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 206 denotes a terminal device owned by a user or the like, and reference numeral 207 denotes a network connecting the image processing apparatuses 201 to 204, the server 205, and the terminal apparatus 206.

  In Patent Document 1, a mobile terminal performs license authentication for an application installed on a client PC instead of a server to give a temporary use right. During the temporary use, the mobile terminal gives the client PC a license. Instead, a formal license authentication is performed to obtain a formal usage right, and the usage right information is passed to the client PC, so that the application installed on the client PC that cannot communicate with the server that authenticates the application can be obtained. There has been proposed a license authentication system that enables authentication.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a content distribution system that allows a user who has once received a license to use content across a plurality of devices while preventing unauthorized use of the content.

JP 2009-175853 A JP 2004-227283 A

  Thus, conventionally, even when an application acquired from a server by an image processing device based on a license or the like is no longer used, it is not possible to move this application to another image processing device and use it in another image processing device. could not. For this reason, it is not convenient for the user who uses the application.

  The techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above cannot provide a solution to the above problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and the application is not used in an image processing apparatus that acquires an application from a server and installs the application based on a license or the like. In this case, an image processing apparatus capable of moving an application to another image processing apparatus is provided, and further, an application movement processing method executed on the apparatus, and a computer of the image processing apparatus executing the movement processing method It is an object of the present invention to provide a movement processing program for causing a problem.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) An installation unit that acquires and installs an application from a server, and a reception unit that receives a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installation unit. The other image processing apparatus that has accepted the connection by the accepting means determines whether or not the application can be installed, and the other image processing apparatus can install the application by the determination means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the application to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to an acquisition request from the other image processing apparatus.
(2) Provided with setting means capable of setting the application installed by the installation means to an unusable state, and the transmission means is only when the application is set to an unusable state by the setting means. The image processing apparatus according to item 1, wherein the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus.
(3) A registration unit for registering a movable application is provided, and the transmission unit is provided only when an application requested for acquisition from another image processing apparatus is registered in the registration unit as a movable application. 3. The image processing apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the application is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus.
(4) The image processing apparatus according to (3), wherein the registration unit registers the application as a movable application when the application is not used for a certain period.
(5) The image processing apparatus according to (3), wherein when the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit value, the registration unit registers an application with a low usage rate as a movable application.
(6) The image processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes the application when the transmission unit transmits the application.
(7) When an application is transmitted to the request source image processing apparatus by the transmission unit, a license key for enabling use of the application in the request source image processing apparatus is obtained as a request source image processing apparatus. 7. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 6, further comprising notification means for notifying a predetermined destination of the user.
(8) An installation step of acquiring and installing an application from a server, and a reception step of accepting a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installation step. The other image processing apparatus that has received a connection in the receiving step determines whether or not the application can be installed. In the determining step, the other image processing apparatus can install the application. A transmission step for transmitting the application to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus when it is determined that the application is in the image processing apparatus. Method of moving and Deployment.
(9) an installation step of acquiring and installing an application from a server; and an accepting step of accepting a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installation step. The other image processing apparatus that has received a connection in the receiving step determines whether or not the application can be installed. In the determining step, the other image processing apparatus can install the application. An application for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute a transmission step of transmitting the application to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus Shon movement processing program.
(10) The computer further executes a setting step capable of setting the application installed in the installation step to an unusable state. In the sending step, the application is set to an unusable state in the setting step. 10. The application migration processing program according to item 9 above, which causes the computer to execute a process of transmitting the application to the requesting image processing apparatus only when the application is present.
(11) The computer further executes a registration step for registering a movable application, and in the transmission step, an application requested to be acquired from another image processing apparatus is registered as a movable application in the registration step. 11. The application movement processing program according to item 9 or 10, which causes the computer to execute a process of transmitting the application to the other image processing apparatus only when the application is present.
(12) The application migration processing program according to item (11), wherein in the registration step, the computer executes a process of registering the application as a movable application when the application is not used for a certain period of time.
(13) If the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit, the registration step causes the computer to execute a process of registering an application with a low usage rate as a movable application. The application move processing program described in 1.
(14) The application migration processing program according to any one of Items 9 to 13, wherein when the application is transmitted in the transmission step, the computer further executes a deletion step of deleting the application.
(15) When the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus in the transmission step, a license key for enabling the use of the application by the requesting image processing apparatus is obtained from the requesting image processing apparatus. 15. The application migration processing program according to any one of 9 to 14 above, further causing the computer to execute a notification step of notifying a predetermined destination of the user.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, if there is a connection for moving an application from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application acquired from the server is installed, this is accepted. It is determined whether the image processing apparatus can install the application. When it is determined that the installation is possible, the application is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus as a request source in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus. That is, since the image processing apparatus itself in which the application is installed functions as a server, the application can be moved to another image processing apparatus, so that the convenience of the user who uses the application can be improved.

  According to the invention described in (2) above, an application that is not used is wasted because the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus only when the installed application is set to an unusable state. It can be prevented from being left, and applications can be used effectively.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, an application requested to be acquired from another image processing apparatus is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus only when it is registered in the registration means as a movable application. Therefore, the inconvenience that an application that cannot be moved is transmitted to another image processing apparatus can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in item (4), when an application is not used for a certain period, the application is registered as a movable application.

  According to the invention described in item (5) above, when the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit value, an application with a low usage rate is registered as a movable application.

  According to the invention described in item (6) above, when an application is transmitted to another image processing apparatus, the application is deleted, so that the application is installed and used in two or more image processing apparatuses. Inconvenience can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in item (7), the user can use the transmitted application by inputting the notified license key to the requesting image processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in item (8) above, since the image processing apparatus itself in which the application is installed functions as a server, the application can be moved to another image processing apparatus. Convenience can be improved.

  According to the invention described in (9) above, if there is a connection for moving an application from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application acquired from the server is installed, this is accepted, and the other When the image processing apparatus determines whether the application can be installed and determines that the application can be installed, the application is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus as a request source in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus. The processing to be performed can be executed by the computer of the image processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in (10) above, it is possible to cause a computer to execute a process of transmitting an application to a requesting image processing apparatus only when the installed application is set to an unusable state. .

  According to the invention described in item (11) above, the application is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus only when the application requested for acquisition from the other image processing apparatus is registered as a movable application. Processing can be executed by the computer.

  According to the invention described in item (12) above, it is possible to cause a computer to execute processing for registering an application as a movable application when the application is not used for a certain period of time.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (13), when the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit value, a process of registering an application with a low usage rate as a movable application is executed in the computer Can be made.

  According to the invention described in item (14), when an application is transmitted, it is possible to cause the computer to execute processing for deleting the application.

  According to the invention described in item (15) above, when an application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus, a license key for enabling the use of the application is determined by the user of the requesting image processing apparatus. It is possible to cause the computer to further execute processing for notifying the destination.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system in which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the application registration table stored in the image processing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image processing apparatus when the image processing apparatus acquires an application from a server and moves the application to another image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the application acquisition process performed when the user of an image processing apparatus performs the instruction | indication which acquires an application from a server with respect to an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process which checks the usage condition of an application regularly. It is a flowchart of an application server operation | movement check process. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an application transmission process executed when an application acquisition request is received from another image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of an image processing apparatus and a server when an image processing apparatus acquires and installs an application from a server. 10 is a flowchart for explaining operations of an image processing apparatus and another image processing apparatus when an application installed in the image processing apparatus is moved to another image processing apparatus. It is for demonstrating other embodiment of this invention, and is a flowchart of an application server operation | movement check process. It is a block diagram of the network system for demonstrating a prior art.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system in which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

  In this network system, a plurality of image processing devices 1 to 4, a server 5, and a terminal device 6 owned by a user or the like are connected to each other via a network 7.

  In this embodiment, the image processing apparatuses 1 to 4 are configured by an MFP which is the above-described multifunction digital image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.

  The server 5 is loaded with one or more applications. In other words, the server 5 functions as an application server, and each of the image processing apparatuses 1 to 4 can access the server 5 from its own device and acquire and install a predetermined application from the server based on a license or the like. Yes.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown by the arrow A, when one image processing apparatus 1 acquires a predetermined application from the server and installs the application, the arrow B As shown in the figure, this application can be moved to any other image processing apparatus, for example, the image processing apparatus 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing apparatuses 1 to 4. Since the configurations of the image processing apparatuses 1 to 4 are the same, the configuration of the image processing apparatus 1 will be described, and the description of the configurations of the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 will be omitted.

  The image processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an automatic document feeder 11, a document reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation panel 15, and the like.

  The control unit 10 controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 1, and includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an EEPROM 104, a storage unit 105, a facsimile unit 106, a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit). 107), a card interface unit (denoted as a card I / F unit) 108, and the like.

  The CPU 101 operates in accordance with an operation program, thereby controlling the entire image processing apparatus 1 and controlling basic functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. In this embodiment, the server 5 is accessed to acquire one or a plurality of predetermined applications, and the acquired applications are stored in the storage unit 105 and installed. Furthermore, the acquired application is registered in the EEPROM 104, or the use of the application is set to be unavailable. Further, when the installed application is no longer used, the device functions as an application server, and when an application acquisition request is made from any of the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, an acquisition request In addition to accepting a connection for the above, control is performed such as moving the application to the image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 that requested acquisition, and the detailed operation will be described later.

  The ROM 102 is a memory for storing an operation program of the CPU 101 and the like.

  The RAM 103 is a memory that provides a work area when the CPU 101 operates according to an operation program.

  The EEPROM 104 is a storage medium in which data can be written / erased. In this embodiment, the application acquired and installed from the server is registered in the EEPROM 104. It is supposed to be registered with. In addition, when an unusable setting is set for an arbitrary application, the setting state is also registered. Furthermore, a use history when the user uses the image processing apparatus 1 is stored.

  The storage unit 105 is configured by a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), for example. The installed application, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 12, and other image formation Data transmitted from the device or the user terminal 6 is stored.

  The facsimile unit 106 performs facsimile transmission / reception with an external facsimile apparatus.

  The communication interface unit 107 functions as a communication unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from the server 5, other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, the terminal device 6, and the like via the network 7.

  The card interface unit 108 is an interface unit for connecting external elements such as the flash memory 8.

  The automatic document feeder 11 automatically conveys a document placed on a document placement unit (not shown) to a reading position of the document reading unit 12.

  The document reading unit 12 is a reading unit that reads a document transported from the automatic document transport device 11 or a still document image placed on a document table (not shown) and outputs image data.

  The image forming unit 13 instructs the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 12 or the print data transmitted from the terminal device 6 to the printing paper fed from the paper feeding unit 14 by the user. According to the specified mode.

  The operation panel 15 is used for various input operations and the like, and includes a display unit 151 made of a touch panel type liquid crystal for displaying a message, an operation screen, and the like, a numeric keypad, a start key, a stop key, and the like. An operation unit 152 is provided.

  The server 5 is composed of a general-purpose personal computer (personal computer), and includes various applications, and can transmit and receive applications and other data to and from the image processing apparatuses 1 to 4 and the terminal device 6 through the network.

  The terminal device 6 is also a general-purpose personal computer.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an application registration table stored in the EEPROM 104 of the image processing apparatus 1. In the following description and drawings, the application is also simply referred to as “application”.

  The application registration table is a table for registering an application acquired from the server 5 based on a license and currently installed in the image processing apparatus 1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, eight applications 1 to 8 are currently registered. Further, in this embodiment, it is possible to set unusable for each application based on the user's operation from the operation panel 15, and information on the application for which unusable setting is made is also registered. . FIG. 3 shows that the applications 1 and 4 in which the item “unusable setting” is marked with a circle are set to unusable.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 1 periodically checks whether or not the application acquired from the server 5 has been used for a certain period, and information on the application that has not been used for a certain period is registered as a movable application. It has come to be. In FIG. 3A, applications 2, 4 and 6 in which “Moveable application” is marked with a circle are registered as movable applications.

  Further, in this embodiment, an upper limit value of the number of applications to be managed other than the movable application can be set, and for example, an upper limit value of 5 is set. When an application is acquired exceeding the upper limit value, the application with the lowest usage rate is registered as a movable application based on the usage history of the image processing apparatus stored in the EEPROM 104. For example, in FIG. 3A, the number of applications other than the movable application is five and has already reached the upper limit. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), when a new application 9 is acquired and installed, the upper limit is exceeded. Therefore, the usage rate is the lowest among applications other than the movable application. Application 3 is registered as a movable application.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 when the image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 acquires an application from the server 5 and moves the application to any of the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described with reference to the following flowchart.

  This operation is executed by the CPU 101 of the image processing apparatus 1 operating according to an operation program recorded on a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

  The image processing apparatus 1 executes an initialization process in step S1, and shifts to an idle state in step S2. Next, in step S3, scheduled processing is performed. In step S4, an input event, for example, a request for using the image processing apparatus 1 by the user, a print request from the terminal apparatus 6, an application acquisition request from the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, and the like Judge whether there is.

  If there is an input event (YES in step S4), after performing various processes corresponding to the input event in step S5, the process returns to step S3. If there is no input event (NO in step S4), the process directly returns to step S3.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an application acquisition process when the user of the image processing apparatus 1 gives an instruction to acquire an application from the server 5 to the image processing apparatus 1 as an input event.

  After acquiring an application from the server 5 based on the user operation in step S11, the number of applications other than the movable application among the applications registered in the application registration table (FIG. 3) of the EEPROM 104 is the upper limit in step S12. Check if the value is reached. If the upper limit value has been reached (YES in step S12), the usage rate of the application other than the movable app is checked based on the usage history of the image processing apparatus 1 stored in the EEPROM 104 in step S13. Register the lowest application as a mobile app. In step S14, the acquired application is newly registered in the application registration table.

  If the number of applications other than the movable application has not reached the upper limit value in step S12 (NO in step S12), the process proceeds to step S14 as it is, and the acquired application is registered in the application registration table.

  Next, after the application registered in step S15 is installed and usable, the process returns.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for periodically checking the usage status of the application, which is executed in the scheduled processing in step S3 of FIG. This process is a process of registering an application that has not been used for a predetermined period as an application that can be moved to another image processing apparatus.

  In step S21, it is determined whether or not a check cycle has arrived. If not (NO in step S21), the process returns without doing anything. When it arrives (YES in step S21), an application usage history is taken out in step S22, and in step S23, it is determined whether an application other than the movable application registered in the application registration table is not used for a predetermined period.

  If not unused (NO in step S23), the process directly returns. If it is not used for a predetermined period set in advance (YES in step S23), in step S24, the application is registered in the application registration table as a movable application, and then the process returns.

  The processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 is used for a predetermined period of time when the number of applications other than the movable applications registered in the application registration table reaches the upper limit, or for a predetermined period. Applications that do not exist are registered in the application registration table as applications that can be moved to other image processing apparatuses.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the application server operation check process executed in the scheduled process in step S3 of FIG.

  This process is a process for determining whether the image processing apparatus 1 itself functions as an application server.

  In step S31, it is determined whether at least one application is registered in the application registration table. If registered (YES in step S31), it is determined in step S32 whether the application is a movable application. If it is a movable application (YES in step S32), the function as an application server is determined in step S33. After starting, return. That is, if there is an application acquisition request from any of the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, the designated application is sent to the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, so that it is the same as the server 5. The function is demonstrated.

  If the application is not registered in the application registration table (NO in step S31), or if it is registered but is not a movable application (NO in step S32), there is no application that can be moved to another image processing apparatus. In step S34, it is determined whether the application server function is being activated. If not activated (NO in step S34), the process directly returns. If activated (YES in step S34), the application server function is stopped in step S35, and the process returns.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an application transmission process executed when there is an application acquisition request from another image processing apparatus 2 to 4 as an input event in step S4 of FIG.

  In step S41, it is determined whether there is a login request from the other image processing apparatuses 2-4. If not (NO in step S41), the process returns. If there is a login request (YES in step S41), in step S42, the requesting image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 are requested to prove that they are image processing apparatuses (MFPs). This proof determines whether the application can be installed.

  In step S43, it is checked whether a certificate has been received. If not received (NO in step S43), the process returns. When received (YES in step S43), in step S44, the code of the image processing apparatus included in the proof is checked, and in step S45, it is determined whether or not the image processing apparatus is indeed (appropriate).

  If not proper (NO in step S45), the process returns. If it is appropriate (YES in step S45), login is permitted in step S46.

  Next, in step S47, it is determined whether an application acquisition request has been made. If no application acquisition request is made (NO in step S47), the process returns. In this case, if it is a request other than the application acquisition request, processing according to the request is performed.

  If an application acquisition request is made (YES in step S47), the designated application is transmitted in step S48, and the application transmitted in step S49 is deleted. Thereby, the inconvenience that the application exists simultaneously in the image processing apparatus 1 and the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 can be solved, and the significance of the license system can be secured. The user of the requesting image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 may easily select the application that the user desires to acquire by informing the requesting image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 of the types of applications that can be moved.

  Next, in step S50, the license key is notified by e-mail or other methods to a predetermined destination such as the terminal device 6 of the user who operates the requesting image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, and the process returns. To do.

  A user who operates the requesting image processing apparatuses 2 to 4 can install and use an application by inputting the notified license key to the image processing apparatuses 2 to 4.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the image processing apparatus 1 in which the application is installed functions as a server, the application can be moved to the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4. Even if the applications 2 to 4 do not acquire the application from the server 5, the application can be used in the same manner as acquired, and the convenience of the user who uses the application can be improved.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the image processing apparatus 1 and the server 5 when the image processing apparatus 1 acquires and installs an application from the server 5.

  When the user of the image processing apparatus 1 performs a connection operation to the server 5 in step S51, the image processing apparatus 1 makes a login request to the server 5 in step S61.

  When the server 5 requests the image processing apparatus 1 to prove that it is an image processing apparatus (MFP) in step S71, the image processing apparatus 1 transmits the certification to the server 5 in step S62 in response to the request.

  In step S72, the server 5 checks the code of the image processing apparatus included in the certificate, and if appropriate, permits the login in step S73.

  When the user of the image processing apparatus 1 selects an application to be installed in step S52, the image processing apparatus 1 transmits an application acquisition request to the server 5 in step S63.

  In response to this acquisition request, the server 5 transmits the specified application to the image processing apparatus 1 in step S74, and then notifies the license key to the user terminal device 6 by e-mail or the like in step S75. When the license key notified by the user of the image processing apparatus 1 is input to the image processing apparatus 1 in step S53, the image processing apparatus 1 executes application installation in step S64.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the image processing apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2 when an application installed in the image processing apparatus 1 is moved to another image processing apparatus 2.

  In step S101, the user of the image processing apparatus 1 performs a non-use setting for the registered application as necessary. If there is a movable application, the image processing apparatus 1 activates the application server function in step S102.

  When the user of the image processing apparatus 2 performs a connection operation to the image processing apparatus 1 in step S81, the image processing apparatus 2 requests the image processing apparatus 1 to log in in step S91. In step S103, the image processing apparatus 1 that has received this request requests the image processing apparatus 2 to prove that it is an image processing apparatus (MFP). In response to the request, the image processing apparatus 2 transmits a proof to the image processing apparatus 1 in step S92.

  In step S104, the image processing apparatus 1 checks the code of the image processing apparatus included in the proof, and if it is appropriate, permits the login in step S105.

  When the user of the image processing apparatus 2 selects an application to be installed in step S82, the image processing apparatus 2 transmits an application acquisition request to the image processing apparatus 1 in step S93.

  In response to this acquisition request, the image processing apparatus 1 transmits the specified application to the image processing apparatus 2 in step S106, and then deletes the transmitted application in step S107. Next, in step S108, the license key is notified to the user terminal device 6 by e-mail or the like. When the user of the image processing apparatus 2 inputs a license key to the image processing apparatus 2 in step S83, the image processing apparatus 2 executes application installation in step S94.

  In this way, the application is moved between the image processing apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2.

  In the above embodiment, when the application is registered in the movable application table, the registered application can be transmitted to another image processing apparatus. A configuration may be adopted in which movement to another image processing apparatus 2 is permitted only when it is registered in the movable application table and the application is set to be unusable.

  A flowchart of the application server operation check process in this case is shown in FIG. This process is a process of determining whether or not the image processing apparatus 1 itself functions as an application server, and corresponds to the process of FIG.

  In step S111, it is determined whether at least one application is registered in the application registration table. If registered (YES in step S111), it is determined in step S112 whether the application is a movable application. If it is a movable application (YES in step S112), the application cannot be used in step S113. Determine if is set.

  If unusable is set (YES in step S113), the function as the application server of the image processing apparatus 1 is activated in step S114, and then the process returns. That is, if there is an application acquisition request from any of the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, the designated application is sent to the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, so that it is the same as the server 5. The function is demonstrated.

  If the application is not registered in the application registration table (NO in step S111), if registered, it is not a movable application (NO in step S112), and further, if the application is not disabled (step) No in S113), since there is no application that can be moved to the other image processing apparatuses 2 to 4, the process proceeds to step S115, and it is determined whether the application server function is activated. If it is not activated (NO in step S115), the process directly returns. If it is activated (YES in step S115), the application server function is stopped in step S116, and the process returns.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 11, even if it is registered as a movable app, it cannot be moved to another image processing device 2 to 4 unless it is disabled, so a certain period of time as in the processing of FIG. Compared to the case where the application can be moved if it is a non-use application, in addition to being a non-use application for a certain period of time, in addition to confirming the user's intention that it cannot be used, the application is transferred to another image processing apparatus 2-4. And can be more careful about moving applications.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, if the application is not used for a predetermined period, the application is registered as a movable application. However, regardless of whether the application has not been used for a predetermined period, an application that has been disabled is registered as a movable application. It is good also as a structure.

  Further, even if the application is not registered as a movable application, an application permitted by the user of the image processing apparatus 1 may be moved. An application that has not been used for a predetermined period without registration or an unusable setting may be used. It is good also as a structure which moves the application made by other image processing apparatuses.

1-4 Image processing device 5 Server 6 Terminal device 7 Network 15 Operation panel 10 Control unit 101 CPU
102 ROM
104 EEPROM
105 storage unit 107 communication interface unit

Claims (15)

Installation means to obtain and install the application from the server;
Accepting means for accepting a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installing means;
A determination unit that determines whether the other image processing apparatus that has received a connection by the reception unit can install the application;
When the determination unit determines that the other image processing apparatus can install the application, the application is transferred to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to an acquisition request from the other image processing apparatus. A transmission means for transmitting;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Comprising setting means capable of setting the application installed by the installation means to an unusable state;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the application to the requesting image processing apparatus only when the setting unit sets the application to an unusable state. A registration means for registering a movable application;
The transmission unit transmits the application to the other image processing apparatus only when an application requested to be acquired from another image processing apparatus is registered in the registration unit as a movable application. Or the image processing apparatus of 2.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the registration unit registers the application as a movable application when the application is not used for a certain period.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit value, the registration unit registers an application with a low usage rate as a movable application.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the application when the transmitting unit transmits the application.   When the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus by the transmitting unit, a license key for enabling the use of the application in the requesting image processing apparatus is obtained from the user of the requesting image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a predetermined destination. An installation step to get and install the application from the server;
An accepting step of accepting a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installing step;
A determination step of determining whether or not the other image processing apparatus that has received a connection in the reception step can install the application;
In the determination step, when it is determined that the other image processing apparatus can install the application, the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus. Sending step to
A method for moving an application in an image processing apparatus, comprising: An installation step to get and install the application from the server;
An accepting step of accepting a connection for moving the application made from another image processing apparatus in a state where the application is installed by the installing step;
A determination step of determining whether or not the other image processing apparatus that has received a connection in the reception step can install the application;
In the determination step, when it is determined that the other image processing apparatus can install the application, the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus in response to a request from the other image processing apparatus. Sending step to
For moving an application to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the program. A setting step capable of setting the application installed in the installation step to an unusable state, and further causing the computer to execute,
10. The application according to claim 9, wherein the transmission step causes the computer to execute a process of transmitting the application to a request source image processing apparatus only when the application is set to an unusable state in the setting step. Move processing program. Causing the computer to further perform a registration step of registering the movable application;
In the transmission step, the process of transmitting the application to the other image processing apparatus is performed only when the application requested for acquisition from the other image processing apparatus is registered as a movable application in the registration step. The application migration processing program according to claim 9 or 10, which is executed by a computer.   12. The application migration processing program according to claim 11, wherein the registration step causes the computer to execute a process of registering the application as a movable application when the application is not used for a certain period of time.   12. The computer according to claim 11, wherein when the number of applications acquired from the server exceeds a preset upper limit value, the registration step causes the computer to execute a process of registering an application with a low usage rate as a movable application. Application move processing program.   The application migration processing program according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein when an application is transmitted in the transmission step, the computer further executes a deletion step of deleting the application.   When the application is transmitted to the requesting image processing apparatus in the transmission step, a license key for enabling the use of the application by the requesting image processing apparatus is assigned to the user of the requesting image processing apparatus. The application migration processing program according to claim 9, further causing the computer to execute a notification step of notifying the destination of the application.

Images