JP2015176480A - Distribution method of shared data, processing device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent important address information from being missed when distributing an address book with a number of address information items registered thereon to a different type of address book with less address information items registered thereon.SOLUTION: A first processing device 201 exports an address book 205 to a server device 203. The server device 203 sets priorities for each class tag of address information items registered on the address book 205 and successively selects address information items to which class tags are set in an order according to the priorities, thereby generating an address book on which address information items are recorded in an order of the selection. The generated address book is then imported to an address book 206 of a second processing device 202. Thus, even in the case where the number of address information items registered on the address book 206 is less than that on the address book 205, address information of a high priority is prevented from being missed on the address book 206.

Description

  The present invention prevents leakage of important shared data when distributing shared data such as address information (address book) held by a plurality of devices to another device holding a file having a small recording capacity. Regarding technology.

  Some processing devices such as office equipment used in offices have a data processing function and a communication function for transmitting data to an external device. Such a processing apparatus generally holds an address book in which address information such as a communication address and a name of an external apparatus that is a data transmission destination is recorded.

  Some processing devices have an address book import function and an export function. The import function is a function for saving an address book received from the outside. The export function refers to a function for saving an address book held in the apparatus to the outside. For example, it is assumed that a new processing apparatus is additionally installed in the office. In such a case, by using the import function and the export function to distribute the address book, the address book held by the existing processing device can be used by the new processing device.

  As described above, it is desirable that the same address book as that possessed by the existing processing apparatus can be used even if the processing apparatus is changed or added in the office. That is, it is desirable for the user to be able to import / export the address book regardless of the type of processing apparatus.

  In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for sharing address information corresponding to an address book among a plurality of devices. Specifically, a level that can be disclosed is added to the address information, and only address information to which a level that can be disclosed is added can be imported and exported.

JP 2004-240586 A

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is not considered that the number of registered address information differs among a plurality of devices. For this reason, when an address book is exported from a device having a large number of registered address information to a device having a small number of registered information, some address information may be lost on the importing device side. At this time, if the number of registered address information is large, it may be difficult for the user to identify which address information is missing.
Such a problem occurs not only in the address book, but also in the case of distributing files in which shared data that can be shared among a plurality of devices is distributed.

  The present invention provides a data distribution technology capable of solving such problems and preventing loss of important data when files having different recording capacities of shared data are distributed among a plurality of devices. The main task is to do.

In the present invention, the first device sets a type tag corresponding to the type of the shared data and a predetermined priority for each of the two or more types of shared data that can be shared with other devices. The type tag is specified in the order according to the priority order, and the process of generating the first file on the recording medium is executed by sequentially selecting and recording the data set with the specified type tag on the recording medium To do.
The other apparatus acquires the first file, and selects the shared data recorded in the acquired first file in the order in which they are recorded. And the process which records in the 2nd file whose recording capacity of the said shared data is smaller than the said 1st file is performed.

  According to the present invention, the first device distributes the shared data recorded in the order in which the high-priority type tags are set to other devices. Therefore, even when the recording capacity of the shared data in the other apparatus is smaller than that of the first apparatus, it is possible to prevent important data having a high priority from being lost.

The hardware block diagram of the processing apparatus of this embodiment. The functional block diagram of a processing apparatus. (A) is explanatory drawing of login history, (b) is content explanatory drawing of each log | history information. The figure which shows the example of the content of an address book. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a reference | standard which determines the priority between individual users. Explanatory drawing of a procedure of address information selection processing. Explanatory drawing of a login history determination process. The figure which shows the example of the content of a temporary address book. The conceptual explanatory drawing of the process in the system containing a server apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the address book of the import destination when priority is not considered. Explanatory drawing of the address book of the import destination when considering the priority.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an example of an address book distribution system that distributes address books (files) with a plurality of processing apparatuses installed in an office will be described. Each processing apparatus is an apparatus mounted on office equipment having a communication function installed in an office or the like, and transfers address books using an import function and an export function. Address information including the communication address of the communication destination is registered in the address book. The number of pieces of address information that can be registered in the address book held by the processing device is determined for each processing device.

[Hardware configuration of processor]
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of the processing apparatus. The processing device 100 includes an external device connection unit 102. The external device connection unit 102 is a connection interface with a LAN (Local Area Network), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a telephone line, etc. (not shown). The external device connection unit 102 can exchange the address book between the own device and another device. Other devices include communication devices and memory devices as well as processing devices and server devices of the same type.

  The processing apparatus 100 also includes an image processing unit 103 and an operation unit 104 that have functions of an image conversion unit, a printing unit, and a reading unit. An image processing unit 103 performs image processing such as color space conversion and color density on image data input through a reading unit such as an image reader, and prints the processing result on a paper medium or through an external device connection unit 102. Send to external device. The operation unit 104 includes a user interface such as a key and a display panel, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp. The user interface accepts various requests from the user. The LED lamp notifies the user of the state of the processing apparatus 100 and the like according to the lighting state.

The processing apparatus 100 further includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 105, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 106, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 107. Furthermore, a storage unit 108 such as a hard disk and a power supply unit 109 are also provided.
The CPU 105 implements various functions in the processing device 100 by reading and executing computer programs and data stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 107, for example. The CPU 105 also includes a timer, and provides time information when storing the login history. The RAM 106 is a work area of the CPU 105, and temporarily stores data necessary for realizing processing or functions by the CPU 105. The ROM 107 stores data such as variables and functions referred to by the CPU 105 in addition to the computer program and data described above.
The storage unit 108 is a nonvolatile recording medium. In the present embodiment, history information, an address book, a temporary address book, a priority order table, a priority order list, and the like are stored. The power supply unit 109 supplies power to the components in the processing apparatus 100.

[Functional configuration of processing equipment]
FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the processing apparatus 100 realized by the cooperation of the CPU 105 and the computer program. That is, the processing device 100 operates as a login management unit 1011, an address book management unit 1012, an import processing unit 1013, an export processing unit 1014, and a main control unit 1015. The import processing unit 1013 performs processing for importing the address book from the outside. The export processing unit 1014 performs processing for exporting the address book to the outside. The main control unit 1015 comprehensively controls the operations of the processing units including the external device connection unit 102, the image processing unit 103, and the operation unit 104 shown in FIG.

  When the user (apparatus user) intends to use the processing apparatus 100, the login management unit 1011 acquires authority information necessary for determining the validity of the user's access from the operation unit 104. Authority information used for determining validity is stored in the ROM 107 or the storage unit 108 in advance. The login management unit 1011 also monitors the frequency of login by the user and whether or not the address book is used. After the user has logged in properly, the login management unit 1011 generates history information including the time acquired from the timer of the CPU 105. Is stored in the storage unit 108.

  An example of the history information is shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows that history information is generated at every login. FIG. 3B shows an example of contents included in individual history information. Each history information 1 to N includes items of user information, time information, presence / absence of address book use, and login frequency. The user information is a name or ID unique to the user. The presence / absence of the address book is information indicating whether or not the user has used the address book at the time of login. The login frequency is the number of logins of the user during a specific period. In the example shown in the figure, it is shown that there have been five logins in the last week.

  The address book management unit 1012 performs management such as generation / change / deletion of an address book (file), import or export of an address book, and registration or reading of address information in the address book. Further, when data is transmitted through the external device connection unit 102, address information of a destination is selected from the address book, and communication to the destination is enabled. Here, “address information” refers to a communication address, a destination name or ID of the communication address, and an attribute of the communication address. The “attribute” of the address information can identify whether the address information to be registered belongs to a specific individual user, a plurality of individual users belonging to a group, or a common information among a plurality of users. Information. These pieces of information are input by the user through the operation unit 104, but may be input from an external processing device by import.

  When the address book is generated internally, the address book management unit 1012 assigns an ID for identifying a destination and a user who uses the address for each communication address. A type tag is set for each address information. In the present embodiment, three types of tags “shared”, “group”, and “individual user” are set. A communication address in which the “shared” type tag is set represents that all users can use it (first type). A communication address in which a “group” type tag is set represents that a plurality of grouped users can use it (second type). The communication address in which the “individual user” type tag is set represents that only one or a plurality of specific users can be used (third type).

  Thus, the address book in which the type tag is set for each type of communication address is stored in the storage unit 108. An example of the stored address book is shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, two pieces of address information set with a “shared” type tag and user 1 and user 4 set with a “personal user” type tag are recorded in the order of registration. After that, there are a plurality of communication addresses set with a “shared” type tag, two address information set with a “personal user” type tag, and two address information set with a “group” type tag. It is recorded.

  The address book management unit 1012 also sets a selection priority for each type tag. The “selection priority” is the order of the address information selected when exporting. Address information set with a type tag having a higher priority is selected earlier. The priority is set according to the following setting rules.

(1) Priority level for each type tag A priority level is set in the order of “shared”, “group”, and “individual user”.
(2) Priority in the same type tag When there are a plurality of pieces of address information in which the same type tag is set, for example, the newer the log history, the higher the priority is set. If the login history cannot be compared, the priority is set higher as the login frequency is higher when a certain threshold is exceeded, for example, when one week has passed since the last login.
(3) Priority among individual users The higher priority is set for address information for users who are more likely to use the address book. Therefore, in addition to the login history described above, the high availability of the address book is estimated based on the usage history of the address book, and the priority of the estimated address information for the highly available user is relatively set. Set high. The estimation method will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference example for determining the priority order of the address information set with the type tag “individual user”.
In the example of FIG. 5, the contents of the login history are represented by two time series charts. The address book use presence chart 501 shows history information on the use of the address book. The address book non-use chart 502 shows history information of no address book use.
In the illustrated example, “User 2” has the latest login history, but login by “User 2” does not use the address book. In this case, in this embodiment, the possibility of using the address book is estimated. That is, it is determined whether or not the time difference with “user 1” in the address book use presence chart 501 which is the next candidate for the login history is a predetermined threshold, for example, one week or more. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold, it is estimated that “user 2” is more likely to use the address book than “user 1”. Then, the priority order of the address information for “user 2” is set higher than that of “user 1”. As a result, the priority order for the address information in which the “individual user” type tag is set increases in the order of “user 2”, “user 1”, “user 3”, and “user 4”.

  Among the setting rules for setting the priority order as described above, the priority order for each type tag of “shared”, “group”, and “individual user” is defined as a priority order table. Further, the priority order of the type tags for which “individual user” is set is determined in the order stored in the priority order list. These priority order table and priority order list are stored in the storage unit 108.

Next, an example of a processing procedure when exporting from the processing apparatus 100 to another processing apparatus will be described.
The address book management unit 1012 generates a temporary address book having the same contents (structure and number of registrations) as the address book having the contents shown in FIG. 4 and temporarily stores it in the RAM 106 or the storage unit 108. Then, address information to be registered in the temporary address book is sequentially selected from the address information recorded in the address book, and recorded, that is, registered in the selected order.
Specifically, this process is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, the address book management unit 1012 refers to the column of the address book type tag and the priority table. In the following procedure, for convenience, the notation described in “Type” or “Type” column is used for the type tag.
First, the type that is not set and has the highest priority is set as a registration target (S101). In the example of FIG. 4, “shared” is set as the type of registration target. When the type is “individual user”, that is, when “shared” or “group” is already set and only “individual user” is set, the process proceeds to a login history determination process described later (S102: No).

  If the type is not “individual user”, the address information is referred to (S102: Yes, S103), and it is determined whether the type is a registration target type (S104). Even if the priority level is high, it is excluded from the target if it is explicitly excluded from the target by the user, or if the address information does not exist even if the type is set to a higher priority level. In this case, the process proceeds to S108 (S104: No). If it is a registration target type, the address information is selected as a registration target and registered in the temporary address book (S104: Yes, S105).

  The address book management unit 1012 refers to whether there is a vacancy in the number of registered temporary address books (S106). If there is a vacancy, it is referred to whether there is next address information in which the type is set (S106: Yes, S108). If there is no space, the process is terminated (S106: No). If there is the next address information, the processing after S103 is repeated (S108: Yes).

  When there is no address information for which the current type is set, the address book management unit 1012 returns to the process of S101 and repeats the same process for the unset type in the next priority order (S109: Yes). If there are no unset types, the process ends (S109: No).

  When the type is “individual user” in S102, the address book management unit 1012 executes a login history determination process. And the priority order between users in an individual user is determined, and it preserve | saves in the priority order list | wrist (S102: Yes, S110). The detailed procedure of the login history determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The address book management unit 1012 refers to the priority order list in the storage unit 108, and sets an unset one with the highest priority as a “personal user” to be registered (S111). Then, the address information of the “individual user” is referred to (S112), and it is determined whether or not it is a “personal user” to be registered (S113). If the address information is incorrect, it will be excluded. If it is a “personal user” to be registered, the address information for that user is selected as a registration target and registered (S113: Yes, S114).

  Thereafter, the address book management unit 1012 refers to whether or not there is a vacancy in the number of registrations in the temporary address book (S115). If there is a vacancy, it is determined whether or not there is next address information for the “individual user” (S116). If there is no space, the process is terminated (S115: No).

  In S113, if it is not the “personal user” to be registered, the address book management unit 1012 determines whether there is address information of the next “individual user” (S116). If there is next address information, the process returns to S112 and subsequent steps (S116: Yes). When there is no next address information, the address book management unit 1012 determines whether there is an unset user in the priority order of the user in “individual user” (S116: No, S117). If there is, the process after S111 is repeated (S117: Yes), and if not, the process proceeds to S109 (S117: No).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of detailed procedures in the login history determination process (S110).
The address book management unit 1012 refers to the stored login history (history information) (S201), and determines whether the user is an “individual user” that has been added to the priority order list (S202). If it is not an added “individual user”, the address book management unit 1012 determines whether there is an address book usage history in the history information (S202: No, S203). If there is a usage history, the user of the history information is added to the priority order list (S203: Yes, S206).

  If there is no usage history, the address book management unit 1012 calculates a time difference from the next usage history, and determines whether or not it is greater than a predetermined value (threshold value or more) (S203: No, S204). If it is above a certain level, the address book management unit 1012 adds the user of the history information to the priority order list (S204: Yes, S206).

  If it is determined in S204 that the log-in frequency of history information is not less than a certain value (S204: No, S205), the address book management unit 1012 determines whether the log-in frequency of history information is not less than a certain value (a threshold value or more). If it is above a certain level, the address book management unit 1012 adds the user of the history information to the priority order list (S205: Yes, S206).

  If it is not more than a certain value in S205, the address book management unit 1012 returns to the process of S202, and determines whether there is next history information in the login history (S205: No, S207). If there is the next history information, the address book management unit 1012 refers to it (S207: Yes, S201), and if not, ends the processing (S207: No).

  Thus, in the login history determination process (S10), the priority order for “individual user” dynamically changes according to the usage history. “Dynamically changing” means changing without being set in advance.

  By performing the selection process according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the contents of the address book shown in FIG. 4 change in the temporary address book as shown in FIG. That is, of the address information in the address book, the address information classified as “shared” is registered with the highest priority in the temporary address book, and then the address information classified as “group” is registered. In the address book of FIG. 4, “User 1” and “User 4” are registered in this order, but “User 2” and “User 3” are registered higher in the temporary address book by the above selection process. Has been.

  At the time of export, the re-registered temporary address book is output to another processing apparatus and imported. As a result, even when the address book of the processing device at the delivery destination has a smaller number of registrations than the address book of the processing device 100, that is, even when the address information has a small recording capacity, To be imported. For address information with the “personal user” type tag set, the address information of users who are highly likely to use the address book is imported, so the convenience of the address book is guaranteed for such users. improves.

[Address book distribution via server]
The embodiment described so far is an example in which the processing apparatus 100 directly exports to another processing apparatus, and the processing apparatus 100 executes the address information selection process. When a large number of processing devices are installed in an office, it is more reasonable for one server device to perform the processing than to make all the processing devices operate like the processing device 100 described above. Therefore, an example of an address book distribution system that distributes address books via a server device will be described below.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of address book delivery in the address book distribution system according to this example. In the illustrated example, the first processing device 201 and the second processing device 202 are connected to the server device 203 via a bidirectional communication path. These devices 201 to 203 all have the function of the address book management unit 1012 described above. That is, an address book in which address information is recorded for each type can be generated.

  The first processing device 201 has an address book 205, and the second processing device 202 has an address book 206. The address book 205 stores 1000 pieces of address information, while the address book 206 can register only 200 pieces of address information at the maximum. That is, the recording capacity of the address book 206 is smaller than that of the address book 205. For this reason, the second processing device 202 cannot store all of the address book 205 of the first processing device 201 in the address book 206.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when address information corresponding to the maximum number of registrations is selected from the top of the address book 205 and registration is attempted in the address book 206, the types “user 2” and “ “Group” address information is excluded. Therefore, in the second processing device 202, users belonging to “user 2” or “group” cannot use the address information registered in the address book 205.

  Therefore, the server apparatus 203 performs the above selection process on the address book 205 to avoid the above situation. The server device 203 is operated by the user 204, and does not include the image processing unit 103 in the processing device 100 illustrated in FIGS. Instead, the address book list 207 is stored in a large-capacity memory. In the address book list 207, the address book 205 imported from the first processing device 201 is stored. A new address book may be created. The address book list 207 also stores a priority table and priority list similar to those described above, that is, priority setting rules.

Here, the operation of the server device 203 when distributing the address book 205 of the first processing device 201 to the second processing device 202 will be described.
The server device 203 sends an export request for the address book 205 to the first processing device 201 by the operation of the user 204. The first processing apparatus 201 transmits (exports) its own address book 205 to the server apparatus 203 in response to this export request. The server device 203 stores the address book 205 transmitted from the first processing device 201 in the address book list 207 in association with the identification data.

  The server device 203 specifies the second processing device 202 that is the distribution destination of the address book 205 of the first processing device 201 from the address book list 207 by the operation of the user 204. Then, the address book 206 of the second processing device 202 is specified, a temporary address book having the same registration number as that address book 206 is generated, and this is stored in the address book list 207.

Thereafter, in each address information recorded in the address book of the first processing device 201, a type tag corresponding to the type and a priority order according to the setting rules defined in the priority order table and the priority order list are set (setting). means). Further, the address information set with the type tag is selected in the order according to the set priority, and the address information is recorded in the temporary address book in order from the selected address information (recording means).
When the address information is recorded in the temporary address book, the server device 203 specifies the second processing device 202 that is the distribution destination from the address book list 207. Then, an import request is sent to the second processing device 202.
The second processing device 202 receives the temporary address book from the server device 203 in response to the import request (the server device 203 functions as an output unit that outputs the temporary address book).

  As a result, the address book 206 in the second processing device 202 shown in FIG. 10 is changed to the contents of the address book 208 shown on the right side of FIG. That is, among the address information in the address book 205, the one belonging to “shared” is selected with the highest priority, and then the one belonging to “group” is selected. Also, address information of “user 2” is selected and registered instead of “user 1” selected in FIG. Therefore, in the address book 208, the address information of the user 2 who is highly likely to use the second processing device 202 is registered, and convenience is improved.

By distributing the address book with the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the first processing device 201 simply transmits its own address book 205 to the server device 203, while the second processing device 202 transmits the server device 203. Can be distributed simply by receiving the address book 208 from the Internet.
For this reason, for example, the address book distribution method in an office where a large number of processing devices are installed is standardized, and the usability can be greatly improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when distributing the address book, appropriate address information is preferentially registered even for a processing device having a small recording capacity of address information. The situation where the address information is not registered can be avoided.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which selection based on the priority order for each type of address information is performed by the processing device 100 on the distribution side or the server device 203. However, this is performed by the processing device on the reception side. May be.
In this case, the address book with a large number of registrations imported from other devices, the address book of the own device, and the setting rules (priority table and priority order list) are temporarily recorded in the storage unit of the processing device on the receiving side. deep. Then, address information is sequentially selected from this address book by the procedure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and recorded (registered) in the selected order in the address book of its own apparatus in which the number of registered items is relatively small.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which three types (type tags) for setting priority orders are described, but two types or four or more types may be set. That is, two or more types may be used.

  In this embodiment, an example of address information has been described as shared data. However, the present invention can be applied to all shared data that can be shared by a plurality of processing apparatuses.

  Further, although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that the computer program that enables the above processing is stored in the ROM 107 of the processing apparatus 100, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it can be recorded and distributed on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD. Further, it is possible to record the computer program in a program server and download and use it as appropriate. By installing such a computer program in a general-purpose computer, the processing device 100 and the server device 203 described above can be realized.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 201,202 ... Processing apparatus, 102 ... External apparatus connection part, 108 ... Memory | storage part, 1011 ... Login management part, 1012 ... Address book management part, 203 ... Server apparatus 205, 206, 208 Address book.

Claims (9)

The first device sets a type tag corresponding to the type of the shared data and a predetermined priority for each of the two or more types of shared data that can be shared with other devices, and the set priority. Identifying the type tag in the order according to the rank, sequentially selecting the data set with the specified type tag and recording it on the recording medium, thereby executing a process of generating the first file on the recording medium,
The other device acquires the first file, selects the shared data recorded in the acquired first file in the order in which they are recorded, and has a second recording capacity of the shared data smaller than that of the first file. It is characterized by executing processing to record in a file,
How to distribute shared data. The priority order includes a first type tag for one shared data shared by a plurality of users among the shared data, a second type tag for a plurality of grouped shared data, and for a specific user. The content is to set a third type tag in the shared data, and set a higher priority in the order of the first type tag, the second type tag, and the third type tag.
The distribution method according to claim 1. The first device is a device that stores history information representing a login history of a user to the first device and a usage history of the shared data,
For the shared data in which the third type tag is set, the level of availability of the shared data is estimated based on the usage history of the shared data and the login history of the device, and the estimated availability Set a higher priority for users with higher heights,
The distribution method according to claim 2. The priority for the user changes dynamically according to the contents of the usage history.
The distribution method according to claim 3. The first device and the other device are devices each having a communication function,
The shared data is address information including a communication address of a communication destination,
The first file is an address book having the same content as the first address book in which all of the address information is registered,
The second file is a second address book having a smaller number of registrations than the first address book.
The distribution method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Holding means for holding two or more types of shared data that can be shared by a plurality of devices, a first file for recording the shared data, and a rule for setting a predetermined priority;
A setting means for setting a type tag corresponding to the type and a priority order according to the setting rule for each of the held shared data,
Recording means for selecting the shared data in which the type tag is set in the order according to the set priority, and recording the selected shared data in the first file in order.
Output means for outputting the first file toward a device holding a second file having a recording capacity of the shared data smaller than that of the first file.
Processing equipment. A first file in which two or more types of shared data that can be shared by a plurality of devices are recorded, a second file in which the recording capacity of the shared data is smaller than the first file, and a setting rule for setting a predetermined priority order. Means,
Setting means for setting a type tag corresponding to the type and a priority order according to the setting rule for each of the held shared data of the first file,
Recording means for selecting the shared data in which the type tag is set in the order according to the set priority and recording the selected shared data in the second file in order.
Processing equipment. An acquisition means for acquiring a first file in which two or more types of shared data that can be shared by a plurality of devices are recorded from the first device, and holding the first file;
Holding means for holding a second file having a recording capacity of shared data smaller than that of the first file and a rule for setting a predetermined priority;
Setting means for setting a type tag corresponding to the type and a priority order according to the setting rule for each of the held shared data of the first file,
Recording means for selecting the shared data in which the type tag is set in the order according to the set priority, and recording the selected shared data in the second file in order.
Output means for outputting the second file toward a second device different from the first device,
Processing equipment.   A computer program for causing a computer to function as the processing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

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