JP4239951B2 - Service providing system and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a service providing system for providing a plurality of types of services to user terminal devices in a network by communication, and a program used therefor.

  Conventionally, as a service providing system, when there is a request from a user terminal device, data related to the service corresponding to the request is transmitted to the user terminal device to provide the service (information providing service, etc.) There are known devices that provide services related to data processing by acquiring data related to services from user terminal devices and processing the data (translation services or the like).

In addition, as a system for providing services to user terminal devices, functions that digital copiers and multifunction machines do not have are provided in a host computer connected to a digital copier (multifunction machine) via a network. Is known to be realized by a host computer and the processing result is given to a digital copying machine (multifunction machine) (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP-A-9-238215 JP 2003-288336 A

  By the way, when a user wants to receive a service from a service providing system that provides a plurality of types of services through his / her terminal device, any service is provided because a plurality of similar services are provided. You may be at a loss as to whether or not you want to receive it. For example, if the service providing system provides multiple types of translation services using translation software from different manufacturers, it is not known which manufacturer's translation software can be used to obtain favorable translation results. , You may get lost in the choice of services.

  In such a case, for example, referring to articles related to the above-mentioned services such as magazines, postings on Internet sites, etc., a service (translation software) suitable for itself will be selected, and the optimum service will be received. It takes time and effort.

  On the other hand, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems on the user side, if the service providing system operator side carefully selects the service to be provided, the user side has no room to select the service. Some users will be dissatisfied. Therefore, in the above-described service providing system, it is convenient to provide evaluation information of each service effective at the time of service selection to the user terminal device.

  In addition, as a system that provides service evaluation information at the time of selection, conventionally, each web page published on the Internet is evaluated by the degree to which it is linked from other sites, and input from the user side at the search site When displaying a list of web pages including a keyword that has been specified, there is known one that displays the list in descending order of evaluation value.

  However, the above-mentioned conventional method is a method for estimating the popularity of a site in a disorderly and huge system such as the Internet, and provides a service constituted by a closed system operated by a company or the like. It cannot be applied effectively to the system.

  Therefore, as a method of estimating the popularity of the user, evaluating each service, and providing this information to the user terminal device with the above-described service providing system, for example, a questionnaire is taken and this is totaled. A method of estimating popularity can be considered. However, it is difficult to update the evaluation information of each service frequently and provide appropriate evaluation information to the user terminal device. In addition, it is difficult to estimate the true popularity in the questionnaire because there is a possibility that the vote is biased.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and a first object thereof is to enable each service to be appropriately evaluated in a service providing system that provides a plurality of types of services. A second object is to improve the convenience of the service providing system by providing the evaluation result to the user terminal device.

The service providing system according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve such an object, is connected to a network including a plurality of user terminal devices, and is capable of communicating with the plurality of user terminal devices via the network. A plurality of communication devices and a service providing means for providing a service to each user terminal device are provided for each type of service provided to the user terminal device, and the service providing means for each type is used. Provide multiple types of services to user terminal devices .
In concrete, the service providing means, upon receiving the offer request signal service from the user terminal device via the network, by communicating with the source of the user terminal device, the transmission source user terminal device Provide a service corresponding to the provision request signal .

In addition, each user terminal device has operation means that can be operated by the user, so that the user can receive the service provided by the service providing means of the service providing system by the user through the operation means. The history information of the performed operation is generated by the history generation means.

In addition, the service providing system includes history acquisition means and evaluation means, and the history information generated by the history generation means of each user terminal device is acquired from each user terminal device via the network. We get at.
Then, for each type of service that the service providing system provides by the service providing unit , the evaluation unit calculates the service based on history information about the service acquired by the history acquisition unit from a plurality of user terminal devices. Evaluate whether the service is used frequently or not .
Further, each type of service providing means, history acquisition means, and evaluation means is mounted on any one of the above-described one or a plurality of communication devices constituting the service providing system.

  As described above, in the service providing system of the present invention, the history information of the operation performed by the user on the user terminal device to receive the service is acquired from the user terminal device, and each service is based on the history information. Rather than taking a questionnaire and evaluating each service based on the aggregated result in order to evaluate the services provided by the providing means, each service can be evaluated quickly and appropriately from the viewpoint of user popularity. it can.

  If the service providing system is provided with evaluation result providing means for transmitting the evaluation result of the evaluation means to each user terminal device via the network, the evaluation result is provided to each user terminal device. The user can select an optimum service from a plurality of types of services without hesitation, and can receive this at the user terminal device (claim 2).

  In addition, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to update the evaluation result more frequently and provide it to the user terminal device, rather than taking a questionnaire and evaluating the service as in the prior art. Therefore, according to the present invention, the convenience of the service providing system can be improved.

Further, the service providing system according to claim 3 receives the list request received from the user terminal device via the network when receiving a list request signal for requesting a list of services provided by the service providing system. Service list information indicating a list of services requested by the signal, and information indicating an evaluation result by the evaluation means for each of the services indicated by the service list information , are transmitted to the user terminal that is the source of the list request signal A list transmission means for transmitting to the apparatus.

  According to this service providing system, the information indicating the evaluation result is provided to the user terminal device together with the service list information. Therefore, the user terminal device displays the information indicating the evaluation result together with the list of services on the display means (monitor). ) Or when displaying a list of services, the arrangement of service identification information (such as a character string representing the title name) can be changed based on the information representing the evaluation result, and the service can be Can be easily selected. The arrangement change of the service identification information may be realized on the service providing system side.

5. The service providing system according to claim 4, wherein the list generating means arranges the identification information of a plurality of types of services provided by the service providing system according to a predetermined rule based on the evaluation result of each service by the evaluation means. Then, service list information reflecting the evaluation result of the evaluation means is generated. Further, via the network, from the user terminal device, when receiving the list request signal requesting a list of services provided by the service providing system, a list of service requested by the list request signal received The service list information generated by the list generation unit is transmitted to the user terminal device that is the source of the list request signal by the list transmission unit.

  According to the present invention, the process of generating service list information reflecting the evaluation result is executed on the service providing system side. Therefore, a list of services is arranged on the user terminal device based on the information indicating the evaluation result. Even if there is no function to display instead, the user can easily select the service. The list generation means may be configured to arrange the service identification information in the descending order of evaluation, for example, as the “predetermined rule”.

  Moreover, transmission / reception of the history information between the user terminal device and the history acquisition means may be realized as described in claim 5, for example. In the service providing system according to claim 5, when each user terminal device receives a request signal for history information from the history acquisition unit via the network, the history generation unit of the own device is directed to the history acquisition unit. Assuming that the generated history information is configured to be transmitted, the history acquisition means transmits a request signal for history information to each user terminal device, so that each user terminal device can receive a network. The history information is obtained via the network.

  According to this service providing system, since the collection timing of history information can be determined from the system (history acquisition means) side, on the other hand, than the system in which the history information is transmitted from the user terminal device, It is easy to manage the collected history information and update the evaluation results of each service.

  The history acquisition means in the service providing system according to claim 5 may be configured to operate according to an input operation of an administrator of the service providing system and acquire history information from each user terminal device. Conveniently configured as described in FIG.

  That is, the history acquisition means in the service providing system periodically transmits a request signal for history information to each user terminal device, and the history information of each user terminal device is sent from each user terminal device. It is good to make it the structure which acquires (Claim 6). If the history acquisition means is configured in this way, history information can be automatically collected regardless of the input operation by the administrator.

  In addition, the service providing system that actively collects history information from the history acquisition unit side has been described above. However, history information is actively transmitted from the user terminal device, and the history acquisition unit is connected to the user terminal device. It may be configured to receive history information that is actively transmitted from.

  The service providing system according to claim 7 is based on the premise that each user terminal device is configured to voluntarily transmit history information generated by the history generation unit of the own device to the history acquisition unit. The history acquisition means is configured to be capable of sequentially receiving history information transmitted spontaneously from each user terminal device. According to this service providing system, since history information can be acquired from each user terminal device without transmitting a request signal for history information from the history acquisition means, network traffic can be suppressed.

  The evaluation unit may be configured to sequentially evaluate each service every time the history acquisition unit receives the history information. However, based on the history information accumulated by the history acquisition unit, the evaluation unit may periodically or irregularly. The service may be evaluated.

  In addition, each time a new history information is generated by the history generation unit of the own device, each user terminal device voluntarily transmits the new history information generated by the history generation unit to the history acquisition unit. It may be configured (claim 8). When each user terminal device is configured to transmit the history information each time new history information is generated by the history generation means, each evaluation is performed using the latest history information at the time of evaluation by the evaluation means. Service evaluation can be performed appropriately and quickly. Therefore, according to the service provision system of Claim 7, an appropriate evaluation result can be smoothly provided to each user terminal device.

  Further, when the evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the service periodically / irregularly based on the history information accumulated by the history acquisition unit, the history acquisition unit is configured as described in claim 9. Good.

History acquiring means in the service providing system according to claim 9 has a history information storage means for storing the respective history information received from the user terminal device receives the history information from the user terminal device, The history information is stored in the history information storage means in association with the identification information of the transmission source user terminal device.

  If the history acquisition means is configured in this way, the evaluation by the evaluation means can be performed more appropriately than when history information is simply stored. That is, as described in claim 9, if the identification information of the transmission source device and the history information are stored in association with each other, the same history information is repeatedly transmitted from the same transmission source device. It is possible to evaluate each service by eliminating the duplicated history information, and rather than simply accumulating history information regardless of the transmission source and evaluating each service based on the accumulated information. Can be defeated.

The service providing system can be applied to a network in which each user terminal device has a bookmark registration unit as the history generation unit.
The service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the user terminal device that provides the service receives the identification information of the registration target service and the registration target service when an instruction to register the service is input from the operation means by the user's operation. Bookmark information is generated by associating destination information for transmitting a service provision request signal to a service providing means for providing a service, and the bookmark information is stored in a storage means built in the apparatus itself. Registration means, and bookmark information is transmitted to the history acquisition means as the history information.

  Further, when a service usage instruction corresponding to the registered bookmark information is input from the operation unit, the user terminal device reads the destination information associated with the identification information of the service from the storage unit, Based on the transmission destination information, a service provision request signal is transmitted to a service providing unit that provides a service to be used.

  That is, in the service providing system according to the tenth aspect, the history acquisition unit collects bookmark information of each user terminal device, and the evaluation unit evaluates each service based on the bookmark information. Based on the bookmark information, the future service availability can be appropriately evaluated, and the popularity of each service user can be appropriately quantified.

  Therefore, according to this service providing system, each service can be appropriately evaluated from the viewpoint of popularity, and if this information (evaluation result) is provided to the user terminal device, it is popular with the user. A high degree of service can be shown appropriately. Therefore, according to the present invention, the convenience of the service providing system can be improved as compared with the prior art.

In addition, the service providing system can be applied to a network in which each user terminal device has a usage count recording unit as the history generation unit.
12. The service providing system according to claim 11, wherein the user terminal device that provides the service transmits a service provision request signal in accordance with an instruction input from the operation means by the user's operation, whereby each service providing means Use frequency recording means for generating the usage frequency information indicating the number of received services for each type of service, and storing the usage frequency information in the storage means built in the device itself, as the history information, The usage count information generated by the usage count recording means is transmitted to the history acquisition means.

  That is, in the service providing system according to claim 11, the history acquisition means collects the usage count information for each service from each user terminal device, and based on the usage count information, the evaluation means To evaluate.

  Based on the usage frequency information, the popularity of each service user can be quantified appropriately. According to this service provision system, each service can be evaluated appropriately from the viewpoint of popularity. Can do. Therefore, if this information (evaluation result) is provided to the user terminal device, a highly popular service can be appropriately shown to the user, and the convenience of the service providing system can be further improved. it can.

  The service providing system may be applied to a network in which each user terminal device has both the bookmark registration unit and the usage count recording unit as the history generation unit.

  The service providing system according to claim 12, wherein the user terminal device that provides the service includes, as the history information, bookmark information generated by the bookmark registration unit and usage number information generated by the usage number recording unit, When the service use instruction corresponding to the generated bookmark information is input from the operation means, the destination information associated with the identification information of the service is stored. The service providing request signal is transmitted to the service providing means that provides the service to be used and is based on the transmission destination information.

  That is, in the service providing system according to claim 12, the history acquisition means collects bookmark information and usage count information from each user terminal device, and based on the bookmark information and usage count information, the evaluation means , Evaluate each service.

  Thus, in the service providing system according to the twelfth aspect, each service is evaluated based on a plurality of types of information related to the popularity of the user. Therefore, the evaluation of each service is performed based on one type of information. Also, each service can be evaluated appropriately. Therefore, if this evaluation result is provided to the user terminal device, a highly popular service can be shown to the user more appropriately, and the convenience of the service providing system can be further improved.

  The invention described in claim 13 is a program for causing a computer to realize the functions as history acquisition means and evaluation means in the service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

  If this program is installed in a server device connected to the network, the same effects as those of the service providing system according to claims 1 to 12 can be obtained. Further, in addition to the history acquisition unit and the evaluation unit, the program may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the function as the evaluation result providing unit according to claim 2. In addition to the history acquisition unit and the evaluation unit, the program may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the function as the list transmission unit according to claim 3, and the history acquisition unit and the evaluation unit include In addition, it may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the functions as the list generation unit and the list transmission unit according to claim 4. In addition, the program may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system 1 to which the present invention is applied.
The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of digital multifunction peripherals (hereinafter simply referred to as “multifunction peripherals”) 10, a directory server 20, and a function server 30. These include a wide area network NT (specifically, Are connected to each other via the Internet. Specifically, the multifunction machine 10, the directory server 20, and the function server 30 are connected to the wide area network NT via routers 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

  The multi-function device 10 is configured as a multi-function device having a telephone (voice communication) function, a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like. Configured to be available.

  In response to a request from the multifunction device 10, the function server 30 executes processing necessary for providing the plurality of types of services (a service providing process (FIG. 10B) described later), and requests the requesting multifunction device 10. To provide services. That is, the multi-function device 10 communicates with the function server 30 and executes a process for receiving the above-described plural types of services (a service reception process (FIG. 10A) described later). receive. For example, the multi-function device 10 prints out print data obtained from the function server 30 by using the printer function (recording unit 14) in data communication related to service provision.

In addition, the directory server 20 is configured to be able to provide information about services that can be used by each MFP 10 (services that can be provided by the function server 30) to the MFP 10.
Next, detailed configurations of the multifunction machine 10, the directory server 20, and the function server 30 will be described. The multifunction machine 10 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a reading unit 13, a recording unit 14, a communication unit 15, a storage unit 16, a sound input unit 17, a sound output unit 18, and a display unit 19. The control unit 11 includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit constituting the multifunction machine 10. The ROM stores a program for causing the CPU to execute various processes described later.

  The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of keys (not shown) that can be operated by the user, obtains user operation information via these keys, and transmits the operation information (various commands, etc.) to the control unit 11. To enter. The reading unit (scanner) 13 is configured to read an image recorded (for example, printed) on a document and generate image data representing the image. In addition, the recording unit (printer) 14 is configured to form (print) an image based on the print data on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, and the communication unit 15 as a communication device is connected via the wide area network NT. It is configured to perform electrical processing for transmitting / receiving data to / from nodes such as the directory server 20 and the function server 30.

  The storage unit 16 has a nonvolatile memory (not shown) and is configured to store data in the nonvolatile memory. In addition, the sound input unit 17 is configured to collect sound from a microphone provided in a handset (not shown) included in the multifunction machine 10 and generate sound data (PCM data) representing the sound. The sound output unit 18 Sound based on data (PCM data) is output from a speaker provided in the handset or a speaker (not shown) provided in the main body of the multifunction device 10. The display unit 19 includes a display 19a, and is configured to display information to the user via the display 19a.

  Next, the directory server 20 will be described. The directory server 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage unit 23. The control unit 21 includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit constituting the directory server 20. The ROM stores a program for causing the CPU to execute processing to be described later.

  The communication unit 22 is configured to perform electrical processing for transmitting and receiving data via the wide area network NT, and the storage unit 23 includes a hard disk (not shown) and stores data in the hard disk. ing. Specifically, the storage unit 23 is provided with a service definition information storage unit 24 for storing service definition information 25, a user database 26, a service use information database 27, and an evaluation table 28 which will be described later.

  The service definition information 25 is used to provide information about services that can be executed by the function server 30 (service type, service request destination URL information, and the like) to the MFP 10. Specifically, when the user operates the operation unit 12 and a command is input from the operation unit 12, the control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10 receives the service definition information 25 from the directory server 20 through the communication unit 15. get. When the service definition information 25 is acquired, the control unit 11 displays a service selection screen (FIG. 2) indicating the type of service on the display 19a of the display unit 19 based on the service definition information 25, and the multifunction device. Ten users are prompted to select a service.

  In the directory server 20, services that can be executed by the function server 30 are classified and managed in a plurality of categories such as “print service”, “copy application service”, and “information provision service”. First, the plurality of categories are displayed (FIG. 2A). Further, when one of the plurality of categories is selected by operating the operation unit 12 by the user, next, the subcategory under the selected category is displayed (FIG. 2B). Furthermore, when any of the subcategories is selected, services belonging to the selected subcategory are displayed (FIG. 2C).

  In order to realize such processing, the service definition information storage unit 24 stores, as the service definition information 25, service definition information (hereinafter ““ "Higher-level service definition information") 25a, service definition information (hereinafter referred to as "middle-level service definition information") 25b corresponding to a service selection screen (Fig. 2B) that prompts selection of a subcategory, Stored is service definition information (hereinafter referred to as “subordinate service definition information”) 25c corresponding to a service selection screen (FIG. 2C) that prompts selection of a service included in the subcategory.

  3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams illustrating configuration examples of the service definition information 25. Specifically, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the higher-level service definition information 25a, and FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration example of the service definition information 25b for the “copy application service” that is one of the above categories. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the service definition information 25c for “translation copy”, which is one of the subcategories under “copy application service”.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the service definition information 25 is described in XML (extensible Markup Language). The definition of each tag used here is as shown in Table 1.

上位のサービス定義情報２５ａ（図３）が複合機１０で受信されると、ディスプレイ１９ａには、図２（ａ）に示すサービス選択用画面が表示される。具体的には、タイトル（Ｔｉｔｌｅ）として「ディレクトリサービス」の文字がディスプレイ１９ａにおける上部のタイトル表示領域に表示され、その下のリスト表示領域には、選択可能なカテゴリを表す項目（Ｌｉｎｋ＿Ｔｉｔｌｅ）として、「印刷サービス」、「コピー応用サービス」及び「情報提供サービス」の文字が表示される。

When the higher-level service definition information 25a (FIG. 3) is received by the multifunction machine 10, a service selection screen shown in FIG. 2 (a) is displayed on the display 19a. Specifically, the characters “directory service” are displayed as titles (Titles) in the title display area at the top of the display 19a, and items (Link_Title) representing selectable categories are displayed in the list display area below the titles. The characters “print service”, “copy application service”, and “information provision service” are displayed.

  Each item is associated with the ID of the medium-level service definition information 25b corresponding to the category (Link_Location), and a signal for confirming selection of the item from the operation unit 12 in the state shown in FIG. When (operation information) is input, the control unit 11 displays a service selection screen showing subcategories under the selected category based on the service definition information 25b of the ID corresponding to the item for which selection has been confirmed. 19a is displayed.

  For example, when “copy application service” is selected on the service selection screen shown in FIG. 2A, a service selection screen corresponding to the copy application service shown in FIG. 2B is displayed on the display 19a. The

  Specifically, the characters “Copy Application Service” are displayed as a title (Title) in the title display area at the top of the display 19a, and an item (Link_Title) representing a selectable subcategory is displayed in the lower list display area. Characters such as “translation copy”, “watermark copy”, “speech reading”, “voice text conversion”, and “image conversion” are displayed. If all items cannot be displayed at once due to the size of the display 19a, the service selection screen is configured to be scrollable and some items are displayed.

  Each item is associated with the ID of the lower-level service definition information 25c corresponding to the subcategory (Link_Location), and a signal for confirming item selection from the operation unit 12 in the state shown in FIG. When (operation information) is input, the control unit 11 displays a service selection screen indicating services belonging to the selected subcategory based on the service definition information 25c with the ID corresponding to the item whose selection is confirmed. 19a is displayed.

For example, when “translation copy” is selected on the service selection screen shown in FIG. 2B, the service selection screen shown in FIG. 2C is displayed on the display 19a.
Specifically, the characters “translation copy” are displayed in the title display area at the top of the display 19a as a title (Title), and an item (Link_Title) representing a selectable service is displayed in the list display area below it. “Translation copy (Company A)” corresponding to translation copy service using Company A translation software, “Translation copy (Company B)” corresponding to translation copy service using Company B translation software, Company C translation software used “Translation copy (Company C)” corresponding to the translated copy service and “Translation copy (Company D)” corresponding to the translation copy service using the D company translation software are displayed. If all items cannot be displayed at once due to the size of the display 19a, the service selection screen is configured to be scrollable and some items are displayed.

  Each item is associated with URL information for calling the service (URL information of the service provider) (Link_Location), and the user selects the item by operating the operation unit 12. Then, the control unit 11 accesses the URL destination corresponding to the item via the communication unit 15 and receives a service provided by the URL destination server device (function server 30).

  Next, the function server 30 will be described. The function server 30 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, and a storage unit 33. The control unit 31 includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit constituting the function server 30. The ROM stores a program for causing the CPU to execute various processes described later.

  The communication unit 32 is configured to perform electrical processing for transmitting and receiving data via the wide area network NT, and the storage unit 33 includes a hard disk (not shown), and stores various data in the hard disk. Has been. Specifically, the storage unit 33 includes a service I / F information storage unit 34 for storing service I / F (interface) information 36, a service software storage unit 35 for storing service software 37, and the like. It has been.

  Specifically, the service software storage unit 35 stores service software 37 that is a program for causing the CPU of the control unit 31 to implement a service providing process related to the service for each type of service provided by the function server 30. The control unit 31 executes each service software 37 on the CPU, thereby providing a service corresponding to the service software 37 to the multifunction machine 10 as the user terminal device.

  The service I / F information 36 is for requesting parameter information necessary for executing the service to the multifunction device 10. The service I / F information storage unit 34 stores a plurality of types of service I / F information 36 corresponding to each of a plurality of types of services that can be executed by the function server 30.

  Upon receiving the service I / F information 36, the multifunction device 10 displays a parameter input screen (FIG. 6) indicating parameters to be set on the display 19a based on the received service I / F information 36, and displays the composite The user of the machine 10 is prompted to set parameters.

  Here, a specific example of the service I / F information 36 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the service I / F information 36. Specifically, image data about a document to be translated using the reading unit 13 of the multifunction machine 10 is converted into an OCR (Optical Character Reader). ) Of the service I / F information 36 corresponding to a service (translation copy service) that translates the result, generates print data indicating the translation result, and causes the recording unit 14 of the multifunction machine 10 to print the print data. It is a figure showing an example of composition.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the service I / F information 36 is described in the same markup language as the service definition information 25 described above, and the definition of each tag used in FIG. is there. The basic data in Table 2 is the same as the basic data (Table 1) of the service definition information 25 described above.

図７に示すサービスＩ／Ｆ情報３６が複合機１０側で受信されると、複合機１０が備えるディスプレイ１９ａには、図６（ａ）に示すパラメータ入力用画面が表示される。具体的には、表示用タイトル（Ｔｉｔｌｅ）として「翻訳コピー（Ａ社）」の文字がディスプレイ１９ａにおける上部のタイトル表示領域に表示され、その下の入力項目表示領域には、入力項目名（Ｄｉｓｐ＿Ｎａｍｅ）として、「言語選択」の文字が表示され、更にその下の入力画面表示領域には、入力項目「言語選択」について選択可能なパラメータの値を表す選択項目（Ｄｉｓｐ＿Ｓｅｌｅｃｔ）として、英語から日本語への翻訳を指定するための「英語→日本語」との文字、日本語から英語への翻訳を指定するための「日本語→英語」との文字、が表示される。

When the service I / F information 36 shown in FIG. 7 is received by the multifunction device 10, the parameter input screen shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the display 19 a included in the multifunction device 10. Specifically, the characters “Translation copy (Company A)” are displayed in the title display area at the top of the display 19a as the display title (Title), and the input item name (Disp_Name) is displayed below the input item display area. ) Is displayed as “language selection”, and in the input screen display area below that, a selection item (Disp_Select) representing a value of a parameter that can be selected for the input item “language selection” is displayed from English to Japanese. A character “English → Japanese” for designating a translation into Japanese and a character “Japanese → English” for designating a translation from Japanese to English are displayed.

  Note that input items (Disp_Name) related to “translation copy (Company A)” include “print selection” and “comment” in addition to “language selection” (see FIG. 7), but the size of the display 19a. For this reason, all the input items cannot be displayed on the display 19a at a time.

  For this reason, the multi-function device 10 is configured to display left and right arrows (triangle marks) on the left and right sides of the input item display area on the display 19a so that the parameter input screen can be scrolled left and right. In this state, when a scroll command is input through the operation unit 12, a parameter input screen corresponding to another input item is displayed on the display 19a in accordance with the command.

  Specifically, when a command for instructing rightward scrolling is input through the operation unit 12, a parameter input screen for the input item “print setting” is displayed on the display 19a as shown in FIG. 6B. Is displayed.

  In the parameter input screen for the input item “print setting”, the characters “print setting” are displayed as the input item name (Disp_Name) in the input item display area, and the input screen display area below the input item display area. As a selection item (Disp_Select) representing a parameter value that can be selected for the input item “print setting”, “normal” for designating printing at the standard resolution, and for designating printing at the high resolution The characters “high definition” are displayed.

  In addition, on the parameter input screen (not shown) for the input item “comment”, the characters “comment” are displayed as the input item name (Disp_Name) in the input item display area, and the input screen display below that is displayed. An input field for inputting a comment is displayed in the area, and characters (comments) input by the user through the operation unit 12 are displayed in the input field.

  In addition, when the confirmation signal is input through the operation unit 12 by the user's operation, the value of the parameter input on each parameter input screen (including the character string input in the input field) is displayed. The URL (Action) destination program that operates upon receipt of the value (service software 37 of the function server 30) is transmitted.

  In the present embodiment, HTTP 1.1 (HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol) is adopted as a communication protocol for the MFP 10, the directory server 20, and the function server 30 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. The directory server 20 and the function server 30 send a command and a response to the command with each other by a message accompanying the HTTP request and the response.

  Next, processing performed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the multifunction machine 10, the directory server 20, and the function server 30 will be described. First, the MFP processing performed by the control unit 11 of the MFP 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this multifunction peripheral processing is started as soon as the multifunction peripheral 10 is powered on.

  When the MFP processing is started, the control unit 11 first performs initialization processing of the MFP 10 in S101. Subsequently, in S102, a command input to the multifunction machine 10 is accepted. Here, the command input to the multi-function device 10 is an input for causing the multi-function device 10 to execute some processing, such as a key input from the operation unit 12 or a command input from a personal computer (not shown). It is done.

  Subsequently, in S103, it is determined whether or not the command input received in S102 is a command input for instructing a shift to the service mode. If it is determined in S103 that the command input is not an instruction to shift to the service mode (No in S103), the control unit 11 proceeds to S104 and performs other processing (for example, a personal computer) according to the input received in S102. Output processing of the print data input from step S102), and the process proceeds to S102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S103 that the command input is an input for instructing the transition to the service mode, the control unit 11 proceeds to S105 and selects from the list as a method for determining the service requested to the function server 30. A selection screen for inquiring the user as to which of the method and the method of directly inputting the URL information of the service request destination is displayed on the display 19a. And it waits for a user's instruction | command to be input through the operation part 12. FIG. When a command is input, it is determined whether or not a service requested to the function server 30 is selected from the list according to the contents.

  If it is determined in S105 that the service requested from the function server 30 is selected from the list, the control unit 11 proceeds to S106, transmits a service list request signal, and requests the directory server 20 for a list of services. Specifically, the directory server 20 is requested to transmit the upper service definition information 25 (FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that URL information for requesting the higher-level service definition information 25 is stored in the storage unit 16 in advance in the multifunction machine 10. When the service list request signal is transmitted, the device ID and IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to the multifunction device 10 are stored in the signal, and the device ID and IP address of the multifunction device 10 are stored in the directory. The server 20 is notified.

  After the process of S106, the control unit 11 receives the upper service definition information 25a transmitted from the directory server 20 in response to the request in S106 via the communication unit 15 (S107). Further, in S108, a service selection screen based on the service definition information 25 received in S107 (or a service selection screen based on the service definition information 25 received in S117 described later) is displayed on the display 19a of the display unit 19 ( 2), the process proceeds to S110. When the service selection screen is displayed, a character string (Link_Title) representing a selection item is arranged and displayed in the order of description of the Link tag in the service definition information 25 (except for a modification described later).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S105 that the service requested to the function server 30 is not selected from the list, the process proceeds to S109, and an address input screen (not shown) for directly inputting URL information is displayed on the display unit 19. Are displayed on the display 19a, and the process proceeds to S110.

  In S110, the process waits until an input operation by the user based on the service selection screen or the address input screen is performed via the operation unit 12, and when operation information based on the input operation is input from the operation unit 12, S111 is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the input operation by the user is an operation for selecting a link. Specifically, when the selection operation is normally performed based on the information displayed in S108, or when the URL information is normally input on the address input screen displayed in S109, the input operation is the link selection. It is determined that this is an operation for.

  If it is determined that the input operation is not an operation for link selection (No in S111), the control unit 11 proceeds to S112, and determines whether the input operation received in S110 is an operation for instructing bookmark registration. . If operation information (command) instructing bookmark registration is input from the operation unit 12, the input operation received in S110 is determined to be an operation instructing bookmark registration, and the process proceeds to S113.

  When the process proceeds to S113, the control unit 11 executes bookmark registration processing (see FIG. 13; details will be described later) for the service of the selected item when operation information (command) instructing bookmark registration is input. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S110. When the operation information (command) instructing bookmark registration is input, if the selected item is an item representing a category or a subcategory, the bookmark registration process is not executed in S113, and a reject sound (Beep, etc.) is sounded and the process proceeds to S110.

  If it is determined in S112 that the input operation received in S110 is not an operation for instructing bookmark registration, the control unit 11 proceeds to S114, and the input operation received in S110 is stopped for ending the service mode. It is determined whether or not the operation. If it is determined that the operation is for stopping the service mode, the process proceeds to S102. That is, the processing as the service mode ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in S114 that the operation is not a stop operation for ending the service mode, the control unit 11 proceeds to S115, sounds a rejection sound, and then proceeds to S110. That is, in S115, the invalid operation is notified to the user by a rejection sound.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S111 that the input operation is an operation for link selection, the control unit 11 proceeds to S116 and determines whether or not the selected link is represented by the URL information of the service. to decide.

  If it is determined that the URL is not represented by the service URL information (the ID of the service definition information 25b, 25c or the URL information of the directory server 20), the control unit 11 proceeds to S117. Based on the IDs of the service definition information 25b and 25c indicated by the Link_Location tag (or URL information when URL information is directly input), the directory server 20 is requested to transmit the corresponding service definition information 25, and the request The service definition information 25 is received from the directory server 20. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S108, and a new service selection screen is displayed on the display 19a of the display unit 19.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S116 that the link is represented by the URL information of the service, the control unit 11 proceeds to S118, executes a usage history recording process (see FIG. 11 and described later in detail), and performs an input operation. The usage history of the service based on is recorded in a usage history file (see FIG. 12; details will be described later), and then the process proceeds to S120. In S120, the URL information of the selected link (the URL information described in the Link_Location tag of the service definition information 25 or the directly input URL information) is set as an argument, and a service reception process (FIG. 10 (a)) is executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S102.

  Subsequently, before describing the above-described service reception processing, usage history recording processing, and bookmark registration processing, a service list request (service list request signal) transmitted in S106 and service definition information transmitted in S117 The operation of the directory server 20 that receives 25 transmission requests will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing directory server processing repeatedly executed by the control unit 21 of the directory server 20.

  When the directory server process is executed, the control unit 21 of the directory server 20 waits until an HTTP request is received in S201. When the HTTP request is received, the control unit 21 proceeds to S202. In S202, it is determined whether or not the HTTP request received in S201 is a service list request signal. If it is determined that the HTTP request is a service list request signal, the process proceeds to S203, and the device ID and the ID included in the service list request signal are determined. The IP address is associated and registered in the user database 26 of the storage unit 23, and the upper service definition information 25a is read from the service definition information storage unit 24 of the storage unit 23 in S204.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S208, and an HTTP response including the read service definition information 25a is transmitted to the transmission source (multifunction device 10) of the HTTP request. When the process in S208 is completed, the control unit 21 ends the directory server process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S202 that the signal is not a service list request signal, the control unit 21 proceeds to S205, and determines whether or not the HTTP request received in S201 is a transmission request for service definition information output in S117. to decide. If it is determined that the request is a transmission request for service definition information, the process proceeds to S206, and the service definition information 25 specified by the transmission request is read from the service definition information storage unit 24 of the storage unit 23. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S208, and an HTTP response including the read service definition information 25 is transmitted to the HTTP request transmission source (multifunction device 10), and then the directory server process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S205 that the HTTP request is not a transmission request for service definition information, the control unit 21 proceeds to S207, executes a predetermined process corresponding to the HTTP request received in S201, and displays the processing result. An HTTP response including the indicated information is transmitted (S208). Thereafter, the directory server process ends.

  Next, the service reception process executed in S120 of the MFP process (FIG. 8) will be described using the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing service reception processing executed by the control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 10B shows that when the “service activation command” transmitted to the function server 30 based on the URL information set in the argument is received in the service reception process executed by the control unit 11, It is a flowchart showing the service provision process implement | achieved by the service software 37 corresponding to the said URL which the control part 31 performs. Specifically, FIG. 10B shows a service providing process for the translation copy service.

  When the service reception process is started, the control unit 11 transmits a “service activation instruction” (HTTP request) via the communication unit 15 to the URL destination according to the URL information set in the argument in S301, The service providing process for the selected service is executed by the function server 30 at the URL destination.

  After that, when a “parameter request command” for requesting parameter information is received from the URL-destination function server 30 in S302, the above-described processing is performed based on the service I / F information 36 included in the “parameter request command”. A parameter input screen is displayed on the display 19a (S303). Specifically, when the “service activation instruction” is transmitted to the URL for which the service providing process for “translation copy (Company A)” is executed, the service I / F information 36 is obtained from the function server 30. Service I / F information 36 shown in FIG. 7 is transmitted. Then, in the MFP 10 that receives this, a parameter input screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display 19a.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 transmits the parameter information input from the operation unit 12 through the parameter input screen to the function server 30 (S304). After the parameter information is transmitted, when the “input job start command” is received from the function server 30 (S305), the input device (reading unit 13 or sound input unit 17) designated by the “input job start command” is driven. Then, the data (image data or sound data) generated by the input device is transmitted as input data to the function server 30 (S306).

  After the processing of S306, when output data (print data or sound data) is transmitted from the function server 30, it is received via the communication unit 15 (S307), and the received data (print data or print data) The sound data is printed out or voiced using the output device (the recording unit 14 in the case of print data, and the sound output unit 18 in the case of sound data) (S308). Thereafter, the service reception process ends.

  However, for a service reception process related to a service that does not need to provide input data to the function server 30, after the process of S304, the processes of S305 to S306 are skipped and the process of S307 is executed. Perform audio output. Thereafter, the service reception process ends.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 31 of the function server 30 receives the “service activation instruction” transmitted from the MFP 10 in S301 and executes the service providing process for the service corresponding to the destination URL, first, in S401, A “parameter request command” with service I / F information for the corresponding service is transmitted to the MFP 10 that is the transmission source of the “service start command”. Thereafter, parameter information is received from the multi-function device 10 in S402, and in S403 and thereafter, specific processing related to service provision is performed based on the received parameter information.

  Specifically, in the case of the service providing process for the translation copy service, in S403, in order to acquire the image data to be translated, an “input job activation command” specifying the reading unit 13 as the input device is “ The service start command "is transmitted to the multifunction machine 10 that is the transmission source, and then image data (input data) to be translated is received from the multifunction machine 10 in S404.

  When receiving the image data to be translated, the control unit 31 converts the image data into text data, and uses a predetermined translation software (for example, translation software of company A) for the sentence indicated by the text data. The translated text data is converted into print data according to the parameter information (S405). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S406, where the generated print data is transmitted to the multifunction machine 10 as output data, and the service providing process ends.

  Next, the usage history recording process executed by the control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10 in S118 and the configuration of the usage history file updated by the process will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a usage history recording process executed by the control unit 11, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a usage history file stored in the storage unit 16. As shown in FIG. 12, the usage history file is described in a markup language, and the definition of each tag is as shown in Table 3.

利用履歴ファイルは、一つ又は複数のＨｉｓｔｏｒｙタグにて構成され、各Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙタグの間（即ち、文字列＜Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ＞と、文字列＜／Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ＞との間）には、Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ＿Ｔｉｔｌｅタグと、Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ＿ＵＲＬタグと、Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ＿Ｃｏｕｎｔタグと、が設けられている。

The usage history file is composed of one or a plurality of History tags. Between each History tag (that is, between the character string <History> and the character string </ History>), there is a History_Title tag and a History_URL. A tag and a History_Count tag are provided.

  The History_Count tag indicates the service usage count n specified by the URL information of the service providing destination indicated by the History_URL tag in the same History tag. The value representing the number of uses n is counted up every time the service reception process for the service is executed in S120. The History_Title tag indicates the name of the service corresponding to the URL information indicated by the History_URL tag in the same History tag.

  When the usage history recording process shown in FIG. 11 is executed, the control unit 11 first reads the usage history file stored in the storage unit 16 and temporarily stores it in the RAM in S501. When the processing in S501 is completed, the control unit 11 proceeds to S502, where the URL information of the link (service) selected in S110 (or the URL information corresponding to the selection item specified in S653) is the same. It is determined whether or not a History tag having a History_URL tag in which URL information is described exists in the read usage history file.

  If the control unit 11 determines that there is a History tag having a History_URL tag in which the same URL information is described, the control unit 11 proceeds to S503 and the same URL information in the usage history file temporarily stored in the RAM is described. In addition, the usage count of the History_Count tag included in the History tag is counted up (added by 1) and updated.

  After that, the control unit 11 overwrites the updated usage history file temporarily stored in the RAM with the usage history file stored in the storage unit 16 and updates the usage history file stored in the storage unit 16. (S510). Thereafter, the usage history recording process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S502 that there is no History tag having a History_URL tag in which the same URL information is described, the control unit 11 proceeds to S504 and adds a new History tag to the usage history file temporarily stored in the RAM. In S505, the Link_Title tag of the service definition information corresponding to the selected link (or the Bookmark_Title tag corresponding to the selection item specified in S653) is indicated between the newly generated History tags. A History_Title tag describing the name of the service is generated. If link selection is performed by inputting URL information through the address input screen, the service name cannot be determined, so an empty History_Title tag (that is, a character string <History_Title> </ History_Title>) is generated. To do.

  When the processing of S505 is completed, the control unit 11 inputs the URL information corresponding to the selected link (the URL information indicated by the Link_Location tag of the service definition information or the address input screen) in the new History tag. URL information, or a History_URL tag that describes the URL information indicated by the Bookmark_URL tag corresponding to the selection item specified in S653 is generated (S506), and a value “ 1 ”is generated (that is, the character string <History_Count> 1 </ History_Count>) is generated (S507).

  When the processing in S507 is completed, the process proceeds to S510, where the usage history file in the RAM updated in the processing in S504 to S507 described above is overwritten on the storage unit 16, and the usage history file stored in the storage unit 16 is stored. Is updated (S510). Thereafter, the usage history recording process is terminated.

  Next, the bookmark registration process executed by the control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10 in S113 and the configuration of the bookmark file updated by the process will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the bookmark registration process executed by the control unit 11, and FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16. As shown in FIG. 14A, the bookmark file is described in a markup language, and the definition of each tag is as shown in Table 3 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the bookmark file includes one or a plurality of Bookmark tags, and is between each Bookmark tag (that is, between the character string <Bookmark> and the character string </ Bookmark>). Are provided with a Bookmark_Title tag and a Bookmark_URL tag.

  The Bookmark_URL tag describes the URL information of the service providing destination, and the Bookmark_Title tag indicates the name of the service specified by the URL information indicated by the Bookmark_URL tag in the same Bookmark tag.

  When the bookmark registration process shown in FIG. 13 is executed, the control unit 11 first reads the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 in S601 and temporarily stores it in the RAM. When the processing in S601 ends, the control unit 11 proceeds to S602, and when the operation information (command) instructing bookmark registration is input, the Link_Title tag of the service definition information corresponding to the selected item is displayed. It is determined whether or not a bookmark mark having a bookmark name and a bookmark mark indicating the same service name exists in the read bookmark file.

  Then, when determining that there is a Bookmark tag having a Bookmark_Title tag indicating the same service name, the control unit 11 proceeds to S603, and URL information indicated by the Bookmark_URL tag of the Bookmark tag in the bookmark file temporarily stored in the RAM, When the operation information (command) instructing the bookmark registration is input, it is rewritten to the URL information indicated by the Link_Location tag of the service definition information corresponding to the selected item.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 overwrites the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 with the updated bookmark file temporarily stored in the RAM, and updates the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 (S610). . When the processing of S610 is completed, the control unit 11 temporarily displays a message indicating that the bookmark registration is completed on the display 19a, and then returns the display of the display 19a to the display of the original service selection screen. (S611), the bookmark registration process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the operation information (command) instructing bookmark registration is input in S602, the service name indicated by the Link_Title tag of the service definition information corresponding to the selected item is the Bookmark_Title tag indicating the same service name. If it is determined that the bookmark mark having “” does not exist in the read bookmark file, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S604 and generates a new book mark tag in the bookmark file temporarily stored in the RAM.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S605, and when the operation information (command) for instructing bookmark registration is input between the newly generated Bookmark tags in S604, the service definition information corresponding to the selected item is displayed. A Bookmark_Title tag describing the service name indicated by the Link_Title tag is generated.

  When the process of S605 is completed, the control unit 11 generates a Bookmark_URL tag in which the URL information indicated by the Link_Location tag of the service definition information corresponding to the item is described in the new Bookmark tag (S606).

  When the process of S606 is completed, the process proceeds to S610, and the bookmark file in the RAM updated in the process of S604 to S606 described above is overwritten on the storage unit 16, and the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 is updated. To do. Thereafter, a message indicating that the bookmark registration is completed is temporarily displayed on the display 19a. After the display, the display of the display 19a is returned to the original service selection screen (S611), and the bookmark registration processing is performed. finish.

  Note that the bookmark file shown in FIG. 14A is a bookmark display connection process executed as one of other processes in S104 when a bookmark display command is input from the operation unit 12 by a user's operation. Read out. FIG. 14B is a flowchart showing bookmark display connection processing executed by the control unit 11.

  When the bookmark display connection process is executed, the control unit 11 reads the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 (S651), and based on the information of the Bookmark tag described in the bookmark file, the name of the service indicated by each Bookmark_Title tag Is displayed on the display 19a of the display unit 19 (S652).

  And it waits until a connection command or an end command is inputted from operation part 12 by operation of a user, and if an end command is inputted (Yes in S654), the bookmark display connection processing will be ended. On the other hand, when a connection command is input from the operation unit 12 (Yes in S653), the usage history recording process illustrated in FIG. 11 is performed using information indicated by the Bookmark_Title tag and the Bookmark_URL tag corresponding to the selection item specified together with the connection command. Is executed (S655). In S656, the URL information indicated by the Bookmark_URL tag corresponding to the selection item specified together with the connection command is read from the bookmark file, and this is set as an argument to execute the service reception process (FIG. 10A). Execute. Thereafter, the bookmark display connection process is terminated.

  Next, in order to provide the directory server 20 with the information described in the usage history file and bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16, a service usage information transmission process executed by the control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10, and this service The service usage information generation process executed in the usage information transmission process will be described. FIG. 15A is a flowchart showing service usage information transmission processing executed by the control unit 11. This service usage information transmission process is repeatedly executed continuously during the operation of the multifunction machine 10.

  FIG. 15B is a flowchart showing service usage information generation processing executed by the control unit 11. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of service usage information generated by this service usage information generation process. This service usage information is described in a markup language, and each tag is as shown in Table 3 above.

  When the service usage information transmission process shown in FIG. 15A is executed, the control unit 11 first receives a service usage information request signal from the directory server via the communication unit 15 or stores it in the storage unit 16. When the service usage information request signal is received from the directory server via the communication unit 15, it is determined as Yes in S701, and the process proceeds to S710. Execute service usage information generation processing.

  Even if the service usage information request signal is not received, if any one of the usage history file and the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16 is updated, YES is determined in S702, and the process proceeds to S710. Execute service usage information generation processing.

  When the service usage information generation process is executed, the control unit 11 secures a service usage information generation area in the RAM in S711, and adds an ID tag describing the device ID of the own device to the service usage information generation area. Write (S712). When this process is finished, the control unit 11 proceeds to S713, and reads the bookmark file stored in the storage unit 16. Then, the number of Bookmark tags described in the bookmark file is detected (S714).

  When the processing in S714 is completed, the control unit 11 generates a Num_Bookmark tag describing the number of the Bookmark tag detected in S714, and writes this in the service usage information generation area (S715). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S716, and the contents of the bookmark file are written in the area following the Num_Bookmark tag in the service usage information generation area.

  When the process in S716 ends, the control unit 11 proceeds to S717 and reads the usage history file stored in the storage unit 16. Then, the number of History tags described in the read usage history file is detected (S718). When the process in S718 is completed, the control unit 11 generates a Num_History tag describing the number of detected History tags, and writes this in the service usage information generation area (S719). Thereafter, the contents of the read usage history file are written in the area following the Num_History tag in the service usage information generation area (S720). When this process is finished, the control unit 11 finishes the service usage information generation process, and proceeds to S730 (FIG. 15A).

  In S730, the control unit 11 reads the completed service usage information in the service usage information generation area, generates a transmission signal storing the service usage information, and transmits this to the directory server 20. Thereafter, the control unit 11 ends the service usage information transmission process.

  Next, usage information collection processing that is performed in order for the directory server 20 to voluntarily acquire service usage information from the multifunction machine 10 will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing usage information collection processing executed by the control unit 21 of the directory server 20. The control unit 21 continuously and repeatedly executes this usage information collection process during the operation of the directory server 20.

  When the usage information collection process is executed, the control unit 21 waits until a predetermined designated time arrives at S801, and when the designated time arrives, the control unit 21 proceeds to S802 and the user database that the storage unit 23 has. 26, the device ID (first ID) having the smallest number is selected as a processing target from the group of device IDs registered in 26, and the information on the IP address of the MFP 10 corresponding to the processing target device ID is used. From the operator database 26.

  Thereafter, a service usage information request signal is transmitted to the read IP address through the communication unit 22 (S803), and thereafter, usage information reception registration processing shown in FIG. 18 is executed (S804). Note that the service use information request signal transmitted in S803 is received via the network NT by the multifunction device 10 corresponding to the IP address (in other words, the multifunction device 10 corresponding to the processing target device ID). Also, service usage information is transmitted from the MFP 10 to the directory server 20 in S730 described above.

  FIG. 18 shows the usage information reception registration process executed by the control unit 21 in order to receive this service usage information and register the contents of the received service usage information in the service usage information database 27 stored in the storage unit 23. It is a flowchart showing.

  When the usage information reception registration process is executed, the control unit 21 waits until the service usage information is received from the outside through the communication unit 22 (S901). When the service usage information is received, the control unit 21 proceeds to S902 and uses the service usage information. Based on the ID tag included in the information, the device ID of the service usage information transmission source is determined.

  When the processing in S902 is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S903, determines whether the usage content data for the determined device ID is registered in the service usage information database 27 of the storage unit 23, and determines If it is determined that the usage content data for the device ID is not registered in the service usage information database 27, a data storage area for the determined device ID is secured in the service usage information database 27 (S904). Based on the received service usage information, usage content data of the device ID is written in the data storage area (S905).

  FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the service usage information database 27 stored in the storage unit 23. As shown in FIG. 19, in the service usage information database 27, for each device ID, a data group (bookmark data group) about the service registered in the bookmark file provided in the multifunction machine 10 corresponding to the device ID and the above-mentioned Weighted usage for services registered in one of a bookmark file and usage history file, and usage content data consisting of a data group (usage history data group) for services registered in the usage history file of the MFP 10 The number of times N (see FIG. 21; details will be described later) and the number of repeats rp (see FIG. 21; details will be described later) are described.

  The bookmark data referred to here is the service name and service providing destination URL information for each service (in other words, each Bookmark tag) registered in the bookmark file. The usage history data is the service name, the URL information of the service providing destination, and the information on the number of times of use n for the service (in other words, each History tag) registered in the usage history file.

  In S905, based on the information of each Bookmark tag included in the service usage information, the corresponding bookmark data is written in the data storage area of the determined device ID, and information on each History tag included in the service usage information Based on the above, each usage history data corresponding thereto is written into the data storage area of the determined device ID. When the process of S905 is completed, the control unit 21 ends the usage information reception registration process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S903 that the usage content data for the determined device ID is registered in the service usage information database 27 of the storage unit 23, the control unit 21 proceeds to S906 and corresponds to the device ID. The usage content data to be deleted is temporarily deleted from the service usage information database 27 to empty the data storage area for the determined device ID. Thereafter, the control unit 21 proceeds to S907, and writes the usage content data of the device ID in the data storage area based on the service usage information received in S901. Thereafter, the usage information reception registration process is terminated. In S905 and S907, the processing ends without writing any information in the write area of the weighted usage count N and the repeat count rp in the data storage area.

  When the use information reception registration process in S804 is completed in this way, the control unit 21 proceeds to S805 and performs the processes in S803 to S804 described above for all device IDs registered in the user database 26. Is determined, and if it is determined that the processing of S803 to S804 has not been executed for all the device IDs, the process proceeds to S806, and the previous device ID group registered in the user database 26 is selected. A device ID next to the processed device ID is selected as a processing target, and information on the IP address of the device ID is read from the user database 26. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S803, where a service use information request signal is transmitted to the IP address read in S806, and subsequent processing is executed.

  If it is determined in S805 that the processes in S803 to S804 have been executed for all the device IDs, the control unit 21 proceeds to S807 and executes the service evaluation process shown in FIG. When this service evaluation process is completed, the usage information collection process is terminated.

  The control unit 21 of the directory server 20 according to the present embodiment is configured to continuously and repeatedly execute a process that realizes the same process as the use information reception registration process illustrated in FIG. 18 described above during the operation of the directory server 20. Through this process, service usage information spontaneously transmitted from each multifunction device 10 (when determined Yes in S702) is received and registered in the service usage information database 27.

  Next, service evaluation processing executed by the control unit 21 will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a service evaluation process executed by the control unit 21. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing pre-evaluation processing executed by the control unit 21.

  When the service evaluation process is executed, the control unit 21 first executes a pre-evaluation process in S1000. When the pre-evaluation process is executed, the control unit 21 selects the device ID (first ID) having the smallest number from the device ID groups registered in the service usage information database 27 as a processing target ID in S1001. The usage content data of the processing target ID is read from the service usage information database 27.

  When the processing in S1001 is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1002 and selects the usage history data located at the head of the usage history data group constituting the usage content data of the processing target ID as the processing target data. Based on the processing target data, the number of uses n in the MFP 10 corresponding to the processing target ID of the service corresponding to the processing target data is grasped. Specifically, information on the number of uses n included in the processing target data is extracted.

  After that, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1003, and sets the value of the grasped usage number n to the weighted usage number N of the service corresponding to the processing target data of the processing target ID. The setting operation is completed by writing the value of the usage count n as the value of the weighted usage count N of the service corresponding to the processing target data of the processing target ID in the service usage information database 27 (see FIG. 19). ).

  When the processing in S1003 is finished, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1004 and determines whether or not the value of the number of times of use n grasped in S1002 is 2 or more. If it is determined that the number is 2 or more, the value of the repeat number rp of the service corresponding to the processing target data of the processing target ID is set to “1” (S1005), and then the process proceeds to S1007. On the other hand, when determining that the value of the usage count n is not 2 or more (that is, the usage count n is 1 or 0), the control unit 21 proceeds to S1006 and sets the value of the repeat count rp to “0”. After that, the process proceeds to S1007.

  When the process proceeds to S1007, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the processes after S1003 have been executed for all the usage history data included in the usage content data of the process target ID. Then, the next processing target data (usage history data) is selected from the usage history data group constituting the usage content data of the processing target ID, and the above processing of the service corresponding to the processing target data based on the usage history data The number of uses n in the MFP 10 corresponding to the target ID is grasped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1003, where the value of the grasped usage count n is set as the weighted usage count N of the service corresponding to the processing target data of the processing target ID, and further subsequent processing is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1007 that the processing after S1003 has been executed for all usage history data included in the usage content data of the processing target ID, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1009 and determines the future availability. Judge whether to evaluate. Here, if the setting value for whether or not to evaluate the future availability indicates “ON”, it is determined that the future availability is evaluated, and the setting value indicates “OFF”. And decide not to evaluate future availability. Note that ON / OFF switching of the setting value is realized by an operation of the administrator of the directory server 20.

If it is determined in S1009 that future availability is not evaluated, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1020. If it is determined to evaluate future availability, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1010.
After shifting to S1010, the control unit 21 selects the bookmark data located at the head of the bookmark data group constituting the usage content data of the processing target ID as the processing target data, and the service corresponding to the processing target data is selected. It is determined whether usage history data is included in the usage content data of the processing target ID (S1011).

  If the service usage history data corresponding to the processing target data is determined to be included in the usage content data of the processing target ID, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1012 and performs processing of the processing target ID. As the weighted usage count N of the service corresponding to the data, a value obtained by adding the value of the usage count n for the service and the predetermined value α is set. That is, a value satisfying the relational expression “weighted usage count N = use count n + predetermined value α” is written in the service usage information database 27 as the weighted usage count N value (see FIG. 19). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1014. Various values are conceivable as the predetermined value α. FIG. 19 shows an example in which α = 1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1011 that the usage history data of the service corresponding to the processing target data (bookmark data) is not included in the usage content data of the processing target ID, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1013, A predetermined value α is set as the value of the weighted usage count N of the service corresponding to the processing target data. That is, the predetermined value α is written in the service usage information database 27 as the value of the weighted usage count N. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1014.

  After shifting to S1014, the control unit 21 sets the repeat number rp of the service corresponding to the processing target data of the processing target ID in the service usage information database 27 to the value “1”. When the process in S1014 is finished, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1015.

  When the process proceeds to S1015, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the processes after S1011 have been executed for all bookmark data included in the usage content data of the process target ID, and if it is determined that the process is not executed, the process proceeds to S1016. Then, the next processing target data (bookmark data) is selected from the bookmark data group constituting the usage content data of the processing target ID. Thereafter, the control unit 21 determines whether the usage history data of the service corresponding to the processing target data is included in the usage content data of the processing target ID (S1011), and further executes subsequent processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1015 that the processing after S1011 has been executed for all bookmark data included in the usage content data of the processing target ID, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1020 and is registered in the service usage information database 27. It is determined whether or not the processing after S1002 has been executed for all the device IDs. If it is determined that the processing after S1002 has not been executed for all the device IDs, the process proceeds to S1021, and the service usage information database 27 is entered. The next processing target ID is selected from the registered device ID group, and the usage content data is read out. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1002, and the usage history data located at the head is selected as the processing target data from the usage history data group constituting the usage content data of the processing target ID selected in S1021, and the subsequent processing is executed. .

If it is determined in S1020 that the processing after S1002 has been executed for all device IDs registered in the service usage information database 27, the pre-evaluation processing is terminated.
When the pre-evaluation process in S1000 is completed in this way, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1100, reads the evaluation table 28 having the configuration shown in FIG. 22 from the storage unit 23, and is registered in the evaluation table 28. From the list of services (service list), the service at the top of the list is selected as the processing target service. Also, the bookmark total S_Bk, usage total S_N, and repeat count sum S_rp as parameters of the processing target service are initialized to zero. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the evaluation table 28.

  When the processing in S1100 is completed, the control unit 21 selects the first device ID among the device ID groups registered in the service usage information database 27 as the processing target ID (S1101), and then the processing target service. It is determined whether or not bookmark registration has been made in the multifunction device 10 corresponding to the processing target ID (S1103). Specifically, in S1103, it is determined whether or not the bookmark data for the processing target service exists in the usage content data of the processing target ID. If there is, the bookmark registration for the processing target service is registered as the processing target ID. It is determined that it is performed by the multifunction device 10 corresponding to the above.

  If it is determined that the bookmark registration for the processing target service is performed by the MFP 10 corresponding to the processing target ID, 1 is added to the value of the total bookmark number S_Bk for the processing target service (S1104). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1105. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1103 that the bookmark registration for the processing target service has not been performed in the MFP 10 corresponding to the processing target ID, the processing of S1104 is skipped and the processing proceeds to S1105.

  In S1105, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the value of the weighted usage count N for the processing target service is written in the data storage area of the processing target ID in the service usage information database 27. Is added to the value of the total usage S_N, the value of the weighted usage count N written in the data storage area of the processing target ID is added to update the value of the total usage S_N (S1106).

  When the processing of S1106 is completed, the control unit 21 sets the repeat count rp for the processing target service written in the data storage area of the processing target ID to the repeat count total S_rp together with the weighted usage count N. Addition is performed to update the value of the repeat number sum S_rp (S1107). Thereafter, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1108.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1105 that the value of the weighted usage count N for the processing target service is not written in the data storage area of the processing target ID in the service usage information database 27, the control unit 21 performs the processing of S1106 to S1107. Without proceeding to S1108.

  When the process proceeds to S1108, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the above-described processes after S1103 have been executed for all the device IDs registered in the service usage information database 27. Then, the next processing target ID is selected from the device ID group registered in the service usage information database 27. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1103, and it is determined whether or not a bookmark for the processing target service is registered in the MFP 10 corresponding to the processing target ID.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1108 that the processing after S1103 has been executed for all device IDs registered in the service usage information database 27, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1110, and the total number of bookmarks S_Bk, usage The evaluation value E for the processing target service is calculated according to a predetermined arithmetic expression E = f (S_Bk, S_N, S_rp) having the total number S_N and the repeat number sum S_rp as variables.

As the arithmetic expression f (S_Bk, S_N, S_rp), for example, the following arithmetic expression can be used (where the constant β is an arbitrary real number including zero).
f (S_Bk, S_N, S_rp) = S_N · (1 + S_rp / 10) + β · S_Bk
When the processing in S1110 is finished, the control unit 21 evaluates the calculated evaluation value E, the total number of bookmarks S_Bk, the total number of usages S_N, and the total number of repeats S_rp used when calculating the evaluation value E. The data is written in the data storage area for the processing target service in the table 28 (S1120).

  Thereafter, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1121 and determines whether or not the above-described processing after S1101 has been executed for all services registered in the service list of the evaluation table 28, and determines that it has not been executed. , The process proceeds to S1122, and the next service is selected as the processing target service from the service list. Also, the bookmark total S_Bk, usage total S_N, and repeat count sum S_rp as parameters of the processing target service are initialized to zero.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1101, and the first device ID among the device IDs registered in the service usage information database 27 is selected as the processing target ID, and the subsequent processing is executed.
On the other hand, if it is determined in S1121 that the processes after S1101 have been executed for all services registered in the service list of the evaluation table 28, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1130, and the service illustrated in FIG. Execute definition information update processing. Thereafter, the service evaluation process ends.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing service definition information update processing executed by the control unit 21. FIG. 24A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the service definition information after the update by the service definition information update process.

  When the service definition information update process is executed, the control unit 21 selects one of the lower-level service definition information 25c from the service definition information group included in the service definition information storage unit 24 as a processing target (S1201). The service definition information 25c is read from the storage unit 23 and temporarily stored in the RAM (S1202). Thereafter, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1203, and reads the evaluation value E of the service corresponding to each Link tag described in the service definition information 25c to be processed from the evaluation table 28.

  Then, based on the service evaluation value E corresponding to each read Link tag, the Link tags of the read service definition information 25c are rearranged in the descending order of the evaluation value E, and each Link tag in the service definition information 25c is sorted. Is changed (S1204). Thereafter, the changed service definition information 25c is written in the service definition information storage unit 24, and the service definition information 25c to be processed is updated (S1205).

  When the processing of S1205 is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1206 and determines whether or not the processing after S1201 has been executed for all of the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24, If it is determined that it has not been executed, the process proceeds to S1201, the unprocessed service definition information 25c is selected as a processing target, and the processing target service definition information 25c is read from the service definition information storage unit 24 (S1202). Execute subsequent processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1206 that the processing after S1201 has been executed for all the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24, the control unit 21 ends the service definition information update processing. .

  When this service definition information update process is completed, all the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24 is configured as service definition information 25c in which Link tags are arranged in descending order of evaluation value E. For example, when the service definition information 25c before update stored in the service definition information storage unit 24 has the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the evaluation value of the service corresponding to each Link tag described in the service definition information 25c When E shows the value shown in FIG. 22, the updated service definition information 25c based on the evaluation value E is configured as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a service selection screen based on the service definition information 25c shown in FIG. If the service selection screen display process based on the updated service definition information 25c is performed in S108 of the MFP process, the display order of the Link tags on the display 19a, that is, the evaluation value E is high. In order, a character string representing the service name indicated in the Link_Title tag is arranged and displayed as a character string representing the selection item.

  The configuration of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment has been described above. In the directory server 20, the service definition information 25c is updated so that the evaluation value E can be displayed on the display 19a on the multifunction machine 10 side. May be. Below, the Example (modification) about this is described.

[Modification]
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a modified service definition information update process executed by the control unit 21 of the directory server 20, and FIG. 26A shows a service generated by the service definition information update process shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the structural example of the definition information 25c. FIG. 26B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a service selection screen based on the service definition information 25c illustrated in FIG.

  In addition, in FIG. 27, in order to display the service selection screen illustrated in FIG. 26B on the display 19a based on the service definition information 25c illustrated in FIG. , Is a flowchart showing a screen display process executed in S108.

  When the service definition information update process shown in FIG. 25 is executed, the control unit 21 of the directory server 20 first stores the service definition information 25c of the lower level from the service definition information group included in the service definition information storage unit 24 in S1301. One is selected as a processing target (S1301), and the service definition information 25c is read from the storage unit 23 and temporarily stored in the RAM (S1302). Thereafter, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1303, selects one link tag to be processed from the link tag group described in the service definition information 25c to be processed, and then, in S1304, selects the process target link tag. The evaluation value E of the service corresponding to the Link tag is read from the evaluation table 28.

  When the processing of S1304 is finished, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1305, and the value of the evaluation value E read out in S1304 during the processing target Link tag in the processing target service definition information 25c temporarily stored in the RAM. Write a Link_Evaluation tag that describes

  Specifically, when the value of the evaluation value E is “30”, a character string <Link_Evaluation> 30 </ Link_Evaluation> is written between the Link tags. The Link_Evaluation tag is defined in advance as a tag in which the value of the evaluation value E is described. In addition, when the Link_Evaluation tag is already written in the service definition information 25c to be processed before the processing of S1305, the control unit 21 reads in S1304 instead of the Link_Evaluation tag already written in S1305. A Link_Evaluation tag describing the evaluation value E is written.

  When the processing in S1305 is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1306, and determines whether or not the processing after S1304 described above has been executed for all the Link tags described in the service definition information 25c to be processed. If it is determined that it has not been executed, the process proceeds to S1303, where one of the unprocessed Link tags described in the service definition information 25c to be processed is selected as the link tag to be processed, and subsequent processing is performed. Execute.

  If the control unit 21 determines in S1306 that the processes after S1304 have been executed for all the Link tags described in the service definition information 25c to be processed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1307 and performs the process in S1305 described above. The service definition information 25c to be processed temporarily stored in the RAM updated by the process is written in the service definition information storage unit 24, and the service definition information 25c to be processed is updated.

  When the process of S1307 is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to S1308 and determines whether or not the processes after S1302 have been executed for all the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24. If it is determined that the service definition information has not been executed, the process proceeds to S1301, and one unprocessed service definition information 25c is selected as a processing target from the lower-level service definition information group stored in the service definition information storage unit 24. Then, the processing after S1302 is executed. If the control unit 21 determines in S1308 that the processes after S1302 have been executed for all the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24, the control unit 21 ends the service definition information update process.

  When this service definition information update processing is finished, all the lower-level service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24 is described with the latest evaluation value E in each Link tag, as shown in FIG. The Link_Evaluation tag is provided.

  Next, the screen display process shown in FIG. 27 will be described. When the control unit 11 of the MFP 10 executes the screen display process in S108, the character indicated by the Title tag is displayed in the title display area of the display 19a based on the service definition information 25 received in S107 or S117 in S1401. Display columns.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1402, and it is determined whether or not the Link_Evaluation tag is present in the received service definition information 25. If it is determined that the Link_Evaluation tag is not present, the process proceeds to S1404, and the link tags are listed in the service definition information 25 in the order of description. The character string of the selection item indicated by the Link_Title tag (character string representing the category, subcategory, or service) is displayed in the list display area of the display 19a (see FIG. 2). Thereafter, the screen display process ends.

  In contrast, if it is determined in S1402 that the Link_Evaluation tag is present in the received service definition information 25, the control unit 11 proceeds to S1403, and the evaluation value use flag stored in the MFP 10 is ON. It is determined whether or not Note that ON / OFF of an evaluation value use flag and a rearrangement flag, which will be described later, can be switched by a setting operation on the MFP 10 by a user through a setting screen (not shown) and the operation unit 12. This setting operation is realized in S104.

  If it is determined in S1403 that the evaluation value utilization flag is not turned on (that is, turned off), the control unit 11 proceeds to S1404, and if it is determined that the evaluation value utilization flag is turned on, S1405. Migrate to Then, it is determined whether or not the rearrangement flag is turned on.

  If the control unit 11 determines in S1405 that the rearrangement flag is not turned on (that is, turned off), the control unit 11 proceeds to S1406, and the Link tags are listed in the description order of the Link tags of the received service definition information. The character strings (character strings representing services) indicated by the Link_Title tag provided are arranged and displayed in the list display area of the display 19a, and the evaluation value E indicated by the Link_Evaluation tag corresponds to the evaluation value E on the display 19a. Displayed in the area to the right of the character string of the selected item. Thereafter, the screen display process ends.

  That is, when the evaluation value E of the service corresponding to each Link tag described in the service definition information 25c is the value shown in FIG. 26, the service selection screen based on the evaluation value E is shown in FIG. ) Is displayed.

  In addition, if it is determined in S1405 that the rearrangement flag is ON, the control unit 11 proceeds to S1407, and the character string of the selection item indicated by the Link_Title tag included in each Link tag of the received service definition information 25 (Character strings representing services) are displayed from the top in the descending order of the evaluation value E indicated by the Link_Evaluation tag included in the Link tag and displayed in the list display area of the display 19a. Thereafter, the screen display process ends.

  If the evaluation value E of the service corresponding to each Link tag described in the service definition information 25c is the value shown in FIG. 26, the service selection screen based on the evaluation value E is shown in FIG. ) Is displayed.

  The embodiment of the present invention including the modification has been described above. In the communication system 1 of the present embodiment, the function server 30 sends a “service activation command” (provided request signal of the present invention) addressed to the URL corresponding to each service. The service software 37 corresponding to the service is executed, and the service providing process (FIG. 10) for providing the service is performed with respect to the MFP 10 that is the transmission source of the “service activation command”. The multi-function device 10 receives a service provided from the function server 30 through communication by executing a service reception process (FIG. 10).

  Further, the multifunction machine 10 bookmarks operation history information that is an operation performed by the user on the own apparatus through the operation unit 12 and is used to receive a service provided by each service software 37 on the own apparatus. The service usage information that is generated in the file and the usage history file (see the usage history recording process shown in FIG. 11 and the bookmark registration process shown in FIG. 13) and stores the contents of the bookmark file and the usage history file is stored in the directory server 20. (Refer to service usage information transmission processing and service usage information generation processing shown in FIG. 15).

  In addition, the directory server 20 acquires service usage information from the multifunction peripheral 10 via the network NT by periodically transmitting a service usage information request signal in usage information collection processing (FIG. 17). The service usage information transmitted spontaneously in the service usage information transmission process of the multifunction machine 10 is sequentially received via the network NT by continuously and repeatedly executing the usage information reception registration process shown in FIG. It is configured.

  Further, the directory server 20 associates the usage content data representing the content of the received service usage information with the device ID that is the identification information of the multifunction machine 10 that is the service usage information transmission source, and uses the service usage data for each multifunction machine 10. It is stored in the information database 27 (corresponding to the history information storage means of the present invention), the service evaluation process (FIG. 20) is executed at the timing when the usage information collection process is executed, or at other timings, and the communication system 1 Each service provided by the function server 30 is evaluated, and the evaluation result is recorded in the evaluation table 28.

  Further, by updating the service definition information 25c stored in the service definition information storage unit 24 based on the evaluation value E shown in the evaluation table 28, information indicating the evaluation result is changed to a Link_Evaluation tag or a Link. It is included in the service definition information 25c in the form of a tag arrangement order (see service definition information update processing in FIGS. 23 and 25).

  Then, by transmitting the service definition information 25c to the multifunction device 10, the information representing the evaluation result is provided to the multifunction device 10, and the information representing the evaluation result is displayed when the service selection screen is displayed. The information is notified to the user in the form of the arrangement order of the selection items or in the form of displaying a numerical value representing the evaluation value E.

  As described above, in the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, service usage information including the history information of operations performed by the user on the multifunction device 10 in order to receive the service is acquired from the multifunction device 10. Rather than taking a questionnaire to evaluate each service provided by the function server 30 and evaluating each service based on the aggregated result, each service can be quickly and Can be evaluated appropriately.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the evaluation result is included in the service definition information 25c representing the list of services in the subcategory, and when this is requested, the service definition information 25c is transmitted via the network NT. Since the service selection screen based on the service definition information 25c that reflects the contents of the evaluation result is displayed on the multifunction device 10, the user can use the service selection screen to perform the service. Can be selected from a plurality of types of services, and this can be received by the multifunction device 10.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the convenience of the service providing system can be improved. The “list request signal for requesting a list of services” in the present invention corresponds to a transmission request signal for service definition information transmitted in S117 of the multi-function peripheral 10.

  Further, according to the present embodiment (except for the modification), the Link tag constituting the service definition information 25c used when displaying the service selection screen based on the evaluation value E shown in the evaluation table 28, Since the service definition information 25c is updated by arranging in a predetermined rule (in descending order of evaluation value) (refer to the service definition information update process shown in FIG. 23), the MFP 10 selects items based on the service definition information 25c. Even without providing a function for rearranging (service) and displaying a service selection screen, selection items can be displayed on the display 19a on the multifunction device 10 side in descending order of evaluation values.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the user can easily select a service while providing the multifunction machine 10 at a low cost. The list generation means described in claim 4 is realized by the service definition information update process of FIG. 23 executed by the control unit 21, and the list transmission means is realized by the process of S206. The “service identification information” here corresponds to a Link tag.

  In addition, in this embodiment, a service use information request signal (corresponding to a request signal for history information in the present invention) is periodically transmitted to each multi-function peripheral 10 registered in the user database 26, and the composite When receiving the service usage information request signal, the machine 10 generates service usage information based on the contents of the bookmark file and usage history file at that time, and provides the service usage information to the directory server 20. The server 20 can actively obtain the latest service usage information, and can appropriately evaluate each service periodically.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, whenever new information is generated in the usage history file or bookmark file by the usage history recording process or the bookmark registration process, the new information is transmitted in the service usage information transmission process (FIG. 15A). Since the multifunction peripheral 10 is configured to voluntarily transmit the service usage information reflecting the above information to the directory server 20, the directory server 20 uses the latest information at the time of evaluation by the service evaluation process. Therefore, each service can be evaluated appropriately and promptly. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide each MFP 10 with an appropriate evaluation result. Although not described in detail above, the directory server 20 of the above-described embodiment can execute the service evaluation process at an arbitrary timing in response to an instruction by the administrator in addition to S807. It can be configured.

  In this embodiment, each service can be evaluated based on both the bookmark data and the usage history data. Therefore, each service is based on one type of information (only one of the bookmark data and the usage history data). It is possible to appropriately evaluate each service rather than evaluating the service. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a highly popular service can be appropriately shown to the user, and the convenience of the service providing system can be greatly improved.

  Note that the bookmark registration means of the present invention is realized by bookmark registration processing executed by the control unit 11, and “identification information of a registration target service” corresponds to information of a Bookmark_Title tag, and “registration target service”. The “destination information for transmitting a service provision request signal toward the service providing means for providing the service information” corresponds to the information of the Bookmark_URL tag. Note that “bookmark information” obtained by associating these pieces of information corresponds to information of a Bookmark tag having a Bookmark_Title tag and a Bookmark_URL tag. The “service use instruction corresponding to bookmark information” corresponds to a connection command input from the operation unit 12 by designating a selection item displayed on the bookmark selection screen.

  The usage count recording means of the present invention is realized by usage history recording processing executed by the control unit 11, and the “use count information” is a history tag described in the usage history file for each type of service. It corresponds to information.

The service providing system and program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms.
In the above-described embodiment, as an example of service selection screen, the selection items are arranged on the display 19a in descending order of evaluation value (see FIG. 24), and the numerical value of the evaluation value E is displayed adjacent to the selection item (see FIG. 24). 26), for example, the MFP 10 may be configured to display the numerical value of the evaluation value E adjacent to the selection item while arranging the selection items in descending order of the evaluation value.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication system 1 of a present Example. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a service selection screen displayed on the display unit 19. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a structure of the high-order service definition information 25a. It is explanatory drawing showing the structural example of the middle level service definition information 25b. It is explanatory drawing showing the structural example of the low-order service definition information 25c. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a parameter input screen displayed on the display unit 19. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of service I / F information 36. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a multifunction machine process performed by a control unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10. It is a flowchart showing the directory server process which the control part 21 performs. It is a flowchart showing the service reception process (a) which the control part 11 performs, and the service provision process (b) which the control part 31 performs. It is a flowchart showing the use history recording process which the control part 11 performs. It is explanatory drawing showing the structural example of the usage log file which the memory | storage part 16 memorize | stores. It is a flowchart showing the bookmark registration process which the control part 11 performs. It is explanatory drawing (a) showing the structural example of the bookmark file which the memory | storage part 16 memorize | stores, and the flowchart showing the bookmark display connection process which the control part 11 performs. It is the flowchart (a) showing the service usage information transmission process which the control part 11 performs, and the flowchart (b) showing the service usage information generation process. It is explanatory drawing showing the structural example of service utilization information. It is a flowchart showing the utilization information collection process which the control part 21 performs. It is a flowchart showing the utilization information reception registration process which the control part 21 performs. It is explanatory drawing showing the service utilization information database 27 which the memory | storage part 23 memorize | stores. It is a flowchart showing the service evaluation process which the control part 21 performs. It is a flowchart showing the pre-evaluation process which the control part 21 performs. It is explanatory drawing showing the evaluation table 28 which the memory | storage part 23 memorize | stores. It is a flowchart showing the service definition information update process which the control part 21 performs. It is explanatory drawing (a) showing the structural example of the service definition information 25c after an update, and explanatory drawing (b) showing the structure of the screen for service selection displayed based on the information. It is a flowchart showing the service definition information update process of a modification. It is explanatory drawing (a) showing the structural example of the service definition information 25c after an update, and explanatory drawing (b) showing the structure of the screen for service selection displayed based on the information. It is a flowchart showing the screen display process which the control part 11 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 2, 3, 4 ... Router, 10 ... Multifunction machine, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Reading part (scanner), 14 ... Recording part (printer), 15 ... Communication part, 16 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Storage part, 17 ... Sound input part, 18 ... Sound output part, 19 ... Display part, 19a ... Display, 20 ... Directory server, 21 ... Control part, 22 ... Communication part, 23 ... Storage part, 24 ... Service definition information Storage unit, 25 ... service definition information, 26 ... user database, 27 ... service use information database, 28 ... evaluation table, 30 ... function server, 31 ... control unit, 32 ... communication unit, 33 ... storage unit, 34 ... service I / F information storage unit, 35 ... service software storage unit, 36 ... service I / F information, 37 ... service software, NT ... network

Claims (13)

It is connected to a network including a plurality of user terminal devices, and includes one or a plurality of communication devices that can communicate with the plurality of user terminal devices via the network, and provides services to the plurality of user terminal devices. Service providing means for providing is provided for each type of service provided to the user terminal device , and a plurality of types of services are provided to the plurality of user terminal devices using the service providing means for each type. A service providing system to provide,
Each of the service providing means for each type receives a service provision request signal from the user terminal device via the network, and communicates with the user terminal device of the transmission source to transmit the user terminal device of the transmission source. To provide a service corresponding to the provision request signal ,
Each of the plurality of user terminal devices has an operation unit that can be operated by the user, and receives a service provided by the service providing unit for each type included in the service providing system. Having history generation means for generating history information of operations performed by the user through the operation means ;
The service providing system further includes:
The history information the history generating means has generated the respective said user terminal device has, from each of the user terminal device, a history acquisition unit that acquires via the network,
For each type of service provided by the service providing system by the service providing system, the service is determined based on the history information about the service acquired by the history acquisition unit from the plurality of user terminal devices. Evaluation means for evaluating whether it is used frequently ,
Equipped with a,
The service providing means for each type, the history obtaining means, and the evaluation means are each mounted on one of the one or a plurality of communication devices constituting the service providing system. Service providing system. The service providing system according to claim 1 , further comprising: an evaluation result providing unit that transmits an evaluation result of the evaluating unit to the plurality of user terminal devices via the network. When a list request signal for requesting a list of services provided by the service providing system is received from the user terminal device via the network, the list of services requested by the received list request signal List transmitting means for transmitting to the user terminal device that is the transmission source of the list request signal, the service list information indicating the information and the information indicating the evaluation result by the evaluation means for each of the services indicated in the service list information The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: A service reflecting the evaluation result of the evaluation means by arranging identification information of a plurality of types of services provided by the service providing system according to a predetermined rule based on the evaluation result of the service for each type by the evaluation means List generation means for generating list information;
When a list request signal for requesting a list of services provided by the service providing system is received from the user terminal device via the network, the list of services requested by the received list request signal the service list information indicating a list transmitting unit that transmits the service list information the list generating means has generated, to the transmission source of the user terminal device of the list request signal,
The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: When each of the user terminal devices receives a request signal for the history information from the history acquisition unit via the network, the history generated by the history generation unit of the own device is directed toward the history acquisition unit. Configured to send information,
The history acquisition unit, towards each of the user terminal device, by transmitting the request signal of the history information, from each of the user terminal device, via the network, acquires the history information The service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the system is provided. The history acquisition means periodically transmits the request signal for the history information to each of the user terminal devices, so that the history information is transmitted from each of the user terminal devices via the network. 6. The service providing system according to claim 5, wherein information is acquired. Each of the user terminal devices is configured to voluntarily transmit the history information generated by the history generation unit of the own device toward the history acquisition unit,
The history acquisition unit, said history information that is spontaneously transmitted from each of the user terminal device, that it is sequentially receivable configured to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The service provision system described . Each of the user terminal devices voluntarily directs the new history information generated by the history generation unit to the history acquisition unit each time new history information is generated by the history generation unit of the own device. 8. The service providing system according to claim 7, wherein the service providing system transmits the data. The history acquisition means includes
History information storage means for storing each of the history information received from each of the user terminal devices ;
Has, upon receiving the history information from the user terminal device, the history information in association with identification information of the transmission source user terminal device, and wherein the to be stored in the history information storage unit according The service provision system in any one of Claims 1-8. Each of the user terminal devices, as the history generation means,
When a registration instruction for a service to be registered is input from the operation unit by a user's operation, the service providing unit provides identification information for the registration target service and the service providing unit for providing the registration target service. Bookmark registration means for generating bookmark information in association with transmission destination information for transmitting the provision request signal of the apparatus, and storing the bookmark information in a storage means built in the apparatus itself,
And, as the history information, the bookmark information is transmitted to the history acquisition means, and when an instruction to use a service corresponding to the registered bookmark information is input from the operation means, The destination information associated with the service identification information is read from the storage means, and based on the destination information, the service provision request signal is sent to the service providing means for providing the service to be used. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service providing system is configured to transmit. Each of the user terminal devices, as the history generation means,
Usage number information indicating the number of services received from the service providing unit according to an instruction input from the operating unit by a user's operation, thereby indicating the number of services received from the service providing unit. The number-of-uses recording means for storing the number-of-uses information in a storage means built in the device itself,
The usage frequency information generated by the usage frequency recording unit is transmitted to the history acquisition unit as the history information. The service provision system described. Each of the user terminal devices, as the history generation means,
When a registration instruction for a service to be registered is input from the operation unit by a user's operation, the service providing unit provides identification information for the registration target service and the service providing unit for providing the registration target service. Bookmark registration means for generating bookmark information in association with transmission destination information for transmitting the provision request signal, and storing the bookmark information in a storage means built in the device itself;
Usage number information indicating the number of services received from the service providing unit according to an instruction input from the operating unit by a user's operation, thereby indicating the number of services received from the service providing unit. And a usage count recording means for storing the usage count information in the storage means built in the device itself,
The history information is configured to transmit the bookmark information and the usage count information to the history acquisition unit, and further, the operation unit issues a service usage instruction corresponding to the registered bookmark information. When input, the destination information associated with the identification information of the service is read from the storage means, and the service is provided to the service providing means for providing the service of the use instruction target based on the destination information. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service providing system is configured to transmit a provision request signal.   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the function as the said log | history acquisition means and the said evaluation means in the service provision system in any one of Claims 1-12.

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