JP6703782B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method thereof, and a program.

A system in which electronic manuals of the image forming apparatus are held in the image forming apparatus and the Web server function of the image forming apparatus is used to refer to the manuals with a Web browser is under study. In order to refer to the manuals, for example, a customer's PC or a web browser installed in an external controller or a web browser of the image forming apparatus can be used. Patent Document 1 discloses that an external device performs authentication when accessing a Web server on the image forming apparatus. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-242242 describes that authentication is not performed when a Web server on an image forming apparatus is accessed from a Web browser of the image forming apparatus.

In this way, the system described in Patent Document 1 has two logins to the image forming apparatus and to log in to the Web server using the Web browser when the Web server and the Web browser are on the same image forming apparatus. Control not to perform the login operation of.

JP, 2011-191888, A

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems.

In the authentication of the conventional technology, person authentication is not performed when accessing the Web server from the Web browser of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, anyone can access the Web application on the Web server by using the Web browser of the image forming apparatus. In order to restrict the persons who can access the Web application on the Web server, it is necessary to perform authentication that is different from the authentication of the related art. For example, it is necessary to provide a new mechanism in order to prevent persons other than the service person from accessing the manuals (Web application) by providing authentication for the service person, and there is a problem that the corresponding cost increases. .. On the other hand, if there is no restriction on access to the manuals held by the image forming apparatus, there is a security problem that anyone can access the manuals.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and restricts the user with respect to the reference of the service manual using the Web server function and the use of the maintenance application for the service, and the authentication at the time of the use. The purpose is to provide a mechanism for simplification.

The present invention is an information processing device having a web server function and providing screen information to a web browser of an external device, and accepting means for accepting user input, and accepting the input of a predetermined key by the accepting means, and operating the operation. who certify that a service person has the authority to initiate the service mode for performing maintenance of the information processing apparatus detects that the operator has instructed the start of the service mode to the information processing apparatus When the detection means detects that the start of the service mode is instructed, the content provided by the web server function is authenticated as a service person from the web browser of the external device. And a control means for performing control for permitting the use of the device without the need .

According to the present invention, it is possible to limit the user in reference to a service manual using the Web server function and use of a maintenance application for a service, and to simplify authentication when using the service.

The whole figure of the information processing system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an MFP 101 according to this embodiment. The figure which shows the control structure of the information processing system which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the service maintenance application displayed on the web browser which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the error log screen of the service maintenance application displayed on the terminal 105 which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation|movement of the information processing system which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation|movement of the information processing system which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation|movement of the information processing system which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solving means of the present invention. .

<System configuration>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, an overall system configuration including an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present system, the MFP 101, the external server 104, and the client terminal 105 are connected by a network configured by a LAN (Local Area Network) 102 and the Internet 103. Further, the client terminal 105 has a web browser function capable of connecting to an external web service and operating a web application. Further, it has a VNC (Virtual Network Computing) function for connecting to the MFP 101 and displaying a screen on the operation panel.

The MFP 101 is an image forming apparatus that is an example of an information processing apparatus, and has a copy function of scanning a paper medium, forming an image on a sheet based on the scan data, and printing the image. Further, the MFP 101 includes a web server unit having a website function that can provide an application that can be accessed and operated from a client terminal. Similarly, the external server 104 also includes a Web server unit having a Web site function that can provide an application that can be accessed and operated from the client terminal 105.

<MFP configuration>
Next, the configuration of the MFP 101 will be described with reference to FIG. The MFP 101 includes a controller unit 200 capable of connecting the scanner 213 and the printer 214, and also connecting the operation display unit 211, the operation input unit 212, and the LAN 102. The controller unit 200 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 that executes various control programs. The CPU 201 activates the system based on a boot program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203. Then, on this system, the control program stored in the HDD (hard disk device) 204 is read and a predetermined process is executed using the RAM (Random Access Memory) 202 as a work area.

Various control programs are stored in the HDD 204. Further, the HDD 204 stores scan data read from the scanner 213 and data acquired from outside the device via the network I/F 207. The operation unit output I/F 205 controls data output communication to the operation display unit 211.

The operation unit input I/F 206 controls data input communication from the operation input unit 212. The network I/F 207 is connected to the LAN 102 and controls input/output of information via the LAN 102. The scanner I/F 208 inputs image data from the scanner 213 and inputs/outputs scanner control data. The printer I/F 209 outputs output image data to the printer 214 and inputs/outputs printer control data. The devices 201 to 209 described above are arranged on the system bus 210.

The operation input unit 212 is an instruction input interface from a user, which includes an input device such as a touch panel and hard keys. The operation display unit 211 is a display interface for the user, which includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The scanner 213 includes an optical reading device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and has a function of optically operating a paper medium to read it as electronic image data. The printer 214 has a function of forming electronic image data as an image on a recording medium such as paper.

<Control configuration>
Next, the control configuration of the entire system including the MFP 101 will be described with reference to FIG. Each functional unit illustrated in FIG. 3 is realized by the CPU 201 in the MFP 101 reading and executing the control program stored in the ROM 203 or the HDD 204. Here, the external server 104 may also have a control configuration in which the internal CPU reads the control program stored in the ROM or the HDD to execute each function, and thus the description of the external server 104 will be omitted.

The MFP 101 has a Web server unit 301 and the above-mentioned network network I/F 207. The network I/F 207 communicates to provide a web service to the external client terminal 105. Further, it communicates with an external client terminal 105 in order to provide the VNC with a screen operation on the operation panel of the MFP 101.

Here, the external client terminal 105 has a web browser 150 to receive the provision of the web service. Further, it has a VNC 151 in order to receive a screen operation service provided on the operation panel of the MFP 101. Specifically, the Web server unit 301 transmits a request message to the Web server unit 301 that provides a Web service, receives a response message transmitted from the Web server unit 301, and displays a screen on the Web browser 150.

The web browser 150 of the client terminal 105 can use the web services of these applications to display a manual stored in the MFP 101 having a web server described later. Further, it is also possible to refer to the content for the application stored in the MFP 101 having the web server described later and operate each menu provided from the content for the application with the web browser 150. Furthermore, it is possible to operate the MFP 101 having a Web server.

Further, the VNC 151 requests a screen to be displayed on the operation panel of the MFP 101 via the input/output control unit 320 described later. Further, the VNC 151 receives the screen displayed on the operation panel transmitted from the MFP 101, and displays the screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP 101 on the VNC 151. By using the VNC 151, the operator can perform the same operation as the operation of the MFP 101 using the operation display unit 211 and the operation input unit 212.

Next, the configuration of the Web server unit 301 will be described. The web server unit 301 includes a web service processing unit 310 and a CGI processing unit 312. The Web service processing unit 310 is accessible from the Web browser 150, which is a client, and has a function as an HTTP service that accepts a request message and determines which Web application service to communicate with in accordance with the request message. Specifically, the URL and parameters are accepted as a request message, the URL and parameters are analyzed, and the request is specified. Then, processing is performed according to the request, and the response is returned to the Web browser 150 that is the client.

The CGI processing unit 312 is called by the Web service processing unit 310 described above and receives a request message from the Web service processing unit 310. After that, in order to provide the Web service, the service mode control unit, which will be described later, is instructed to generate error information in the MFP 101 based on the request message described above.

The service maintenance application content 311 is content for providing a screen including each function menu that can be operated by the Web browser 150. The service maintenance application content 311 is described in HTML format, for example, and can be read by the Web service processing unit 310. Specifically, when there is a screen display request for the service maintenance application from the web browser 150, the screen of the requested content is acquired from the web service processing unit 310 and transmitted to the web browser 150. Here, the service maintenance application content 311 can be stored in the RAM 202 or the HDD 204 area. Therefore, the RAM 202 or the HDD 204 is an example of a storage unit.

The manual data 314 is data such as a service manual for maintaining the MFP 101. Similarly, the manual data 314 is described in HTML format, for example, and can be read by the Web service processing unit 310. Specifically, when there is a screen display request for the manual data 314 from the Web browser 150, the requested manual screen is acquired from the Web service processing unit 310 and transmitted to the Web browser 150. Here, the manual data 314 can be stored in the RAM 202 or the HDD 204 area described above.

The service information 313 is information related to the service mode, and is data that stores the status of the MFP 101 and error log information. Here, for example, the error log information is error information that has occurred in the past and at the present time in the MFP 101, and can include an error occurrence date and time, an error code, and its contents. The service information 313 is collected and generated by the service mode control unit 321 described later. The service information 313 is described in, for example, the JSON format, and can be read by the web service processing unit 310. Specifically, when there is a screen display request for the service information 313 from the web browser 150, the screen of the requested service information is acquired from the web service processing unit 310 and transmitted to the web browser 150. Here, the service information 313 can be stored in the RAM 202 or the HDD 204 area described above.

The input/output control unit 320 transmits the generated operation screen to the operation panel of the MFP 101 or the VNC 151, and receives an operation instruction on the operation screen. Specifically, the screen to be displayed on the operation panel of the MFP 101 is displayed on the operation display unit 211 via the operation unit output I/F 205. At the same time, if there is a VNC 151 connection request, it is displayed on the VNC 151 via the network I/F 207.

Further, the operation instruction of the user in the operation input unit 212 is received via the operation unit input I/F 206. Furthermore, the user's operation instruction in the VNC 151 is received via the network I/F 207. Further, the input/output control unit 320 determines whether the operation instruction from the operation panel of the MFP 101 is a normal mode operation or a service mode operation.

Here, the operation in the normal mode will be described. The operation in the normal mode is an operation for selecting and instructing a menu that can be operated by a general user or an administrator user by using the operation menu displayed on the operation display unit 211 or the buttons arranged. This operation includes operation of various menus for setting and managing the device of the MFP 101. Further, it includes operation of an execution menu by selecting various menus such as printing, copying, reading, and saving. These operations can also be performed using the VNC 151.

The types of operators such as general users and administrator users are distinguished by the authentication processing of the MFP 101. This authentication processing is executed by the input/output control unit 320. Specifically, an authentication screen (login screen) is displayed on the operation display unit 211, and the operation input unit 212 receives an operator's input. Next, the operator's authentication information (login information) input from the operation input unit 212 is sent to the input/output control unit 320 to perform authentication processing. If the authentication is OK, the input/output control unit 320 instructs the normal mode processing unit 322 to perform the operation processing according to the authentication information.

The normal mode processing unit 322 operates the various menus for setting and managing the above-described devices and operating the execution menu by selecting various menus such as printing, copying, reading, and saving according to the authentication information. .. Specifically, the menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 211 is generated, and the operation menu input from the operation input unit 212 is accepted. Further, as a process for the above-mentioned operation menu, various menus are executed. In the present embodiment, an example of determining whether the user is a general user or an administrator user by login authentication has been described, but such login authentication may not be performed.

Next, the operation in the service mode will be described. The operation in the service mode is an operation for selecting and instructing a menu that can be operated by a service person using an operation menu displayed on the operation display unit 211 or buttons arranged. Unlike the menu in the normal mode, the menu that can be operated by the service person includes various menu operations for performing various settings and management for the service person of the device of the MFP 101. Further, output of an error log, printing, operation of an execution menu by selecting various menus for various adjustments of the MFP 101, and the like are included. These operations can also be performed using the VNC 151. The service mode can be started either when a general user is logged in to the information processing apparatus 101 or when an administrator user is logged in to the information processing apparatus 101.

Here, the types of the service person and the above-described general user and administrator user are distinguished by the authentication processing of the MFP 101. This authentication process is similarly executed by the input/output control unit 320.

Specifically, the operation input unit 212 receives an input of one or more hard keys arranged on the operation display unit 211. Here, only the service person knows which hard key should be operated for authentication. Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 101 detects that an input is made from one or more predetermined hard keys, the information processing apparatus 101 authenticates that the person operating the information processing apparatus 101 is a service person. Next, the input/output control unit 320 determines whether or not the received one or more hard key operations are an instruction to start a service mode for performing an operation for a service person. When it is determined that the instruction is to start the service mode, the input/output control unit 320 instructs the service mode control unit 321 to perform an operation in accordance with the operation menu for the service person together with an instruction that the service mode has been started. Instruct to perform processing. In this way, the service mode control unit 321 detects that the operator who has the authority to start the service mode for performing maintenance of the information processing apparatus 101 has instructed the information processing apparatus 101 to start the service mode. .. The state in which the information processing apparatus 101 detects that the service mode start instruction has been issued can be estimated to be a state in which the service person has started maintenance on the information processing apparatus 101. Similarly, the input/output control unit 320 determines whether or not the received one or more hard key operations are instructions for ending the operation for the service person. When it is determined that the operation for the service person is finished, the input/output control unit 320 instructs the service mode control unit 321 to perform the operation end process together with the instruction that the service mode is finished. To do.

The service mode control unit 321 operates the various menus for performing the above-mentioned various settings and management for the service person along with the service mode start instruction. Specifically, a menu screen to be displayed on the operation display unit 211 is generated, and the operation menu input from the operation input unit 212 is accepted. Further, as a process for the above-mentioned operation menu, various menus are executed.

Further, the service mode control unit 321 receives an instruction to generate error information in the MFP 101, such as an error log, from the CGI processing unit 312 described above. When the service mode control unit 321 receives the instruction to generate the service information such as the error information, the service mode control unit 321 collects the service information such as the error information generated in the past and the current time managed by the MFP 101, and outputs it as the service information 313 to a file or the like. To do. Further, the service mode control unit 321 can make the Web service processing unit 310 able to refer to the area in which the manual data 314, the service maintenance application content 311 and the service information described above are stored or can not be referred to. ..

<Service maintenance application>
Next, the service maintenance application displayed on the web browser 150 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 400 shows an example of an initial screen of the web browser 150 and the service maintenance application content 311 displayed there. Reference numeral 401 shows an example of an operation button for calling a service manual. When the operator presses the service manual button 401, the web browser 150 transmits a manual data display request to the web service processing unit 310 via the network I/F 207. The web service processing unit 310 acquires a screen for manual data from the manual data 314 and sends it to the web browser 150. In this way, the operator can refer to the service manual.

Similarly, 402 shows an example of an operation button for displaying the error log information. When the operator presses the error log button 402, the web browser 150 transmits an error log generation and error log display request to the web service processing unit 310 via the network I/F 207. In the instruction to generate the error log, the Web service processing unit 310 instructs the service mode control unit via the CGI processing unit 312 to generate the error log. The error log is generated as service information 313. Further, in the instruction to display the error log, the Web service processing unit 310 acquires a screen for error log data from the generated service information 313 and sends it to the Web browser 150. In this way, the operator can refer to the error log.

<Error log>
Next, a display example of the error log of the service maintenance application displayed on the Web browser 150 described in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The screen is displayed on the Web browser 150 when the error log button 402 on the initial screen 400 is pressed. 501 shows an example in which the contents of the error log are displayed in a table format. As shown in FIG. 5, the error log includes, for each error that has occurred, a number, a date when the error occurred, a time when the error occurred, an error code number, and details of the contents.

<Input/output control>
Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a processing procedure for an operation instruction in the input/output control unit 320 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The processing described below is realized by the CPU 201 reading the control program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 204, or the like into the RAM 202 and executing the control program. In the following, as described above, the input/output control unit 320 controls the operation instruction from the operator authenticated by the authentication information (login information) of the operator input from the operation input unit 212. The operator is classified into a service person, a general user, or an administrator user by the above authentication.

In step S601, the input/output control unit 320 receives an operation instruction from the operation input unit 212 or the VNC 151. Subsequently, in step S602, the input/output control unit 320 determines whether the operation mode of the operation instruction received in step S601 is the service mode or the normal mode. Here, in order to determine the operation mode, for example, when the service mode is started by the operation input unit 212 receiving an input of one or more predetermined hard keys in S601, the service mode The start flag may be validated. Further, when the end of the service mode is instructed, the start flag can be invalidated. It can be determined that the operation mode is valid while the start flag is valid, and that the operation mode is the normal mode while the start flag is invalid. Further, for example, it may be performed by determining the division of the operator. For example, the login authentication may determine whether the operator who logs in is a general user, an administrator user, or a service person. If the operator is a service person, it may be judged as the service mode, and if it is a general user or an administrator user, it may be judged as the normal mode. If it is determined in S602 that the operation mode is the service mode, the process proceeds to S603, and if it is determined that the operation mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to S604.

In step S603, the input/output control unit 320 instructs the service mode control unit 321 to perform an operation process according to the operation menu for the service person along with an instruction that the service mode has been started, and ends the process. .. On the other hand, in step S604, the input/output control unit 320 instructs the normal mode processing unit 322 to perform an operation process according to an operation menu for general users or administrators, which is different from the service mode process, and executes the process. finish.

<Control of service mode>
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a processing procedure regarding service mode start and end processing of the service mode control unit 321 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The process described below is realized by the CPU 201 reading the control program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 204, or the like into the RAM 202 and executing the control program.

In step S<b>701, the service mode control unit 321 receives the input instruction from the input/output control unit 320. Further, the input instruction from the CGI processing unit 312 is accepted. Subsequently, in step S702, the service mode control unit 321 determines whether the input instruction received in step S701 is a service mode start or a service mode end, or another instruction related to the service mode. If it is determined in S702 that the input instruction is to start the service mode, the process proceeds to S703 and the service mode start process is performed.

In the service mode start processing, for example, an initial menu screen of the service mode displayed on the operation display unit 211 is generated, and initialization processing regarding each service mode menu is performed. Further, the service mode start state for determining whether or not the service mode has been started is set to start and the state is held. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S704, and the service mode control unit 321 performs content link registration processing. After the content link registration is performed in S704, the process proceeds to S701 to accept the next input instruction.

Here, the content link registration process will be described. Each of the above-mentioned service maintenance application content 311, service information 313, and manual data 314 can be stored in the HDD 204 area. In that case, the storage location of the data file is, for example,
It can be a home folder/SMADATA/folder of each data file.

On the other hand, when the web service processing unit 310 makes a screen display request regarding each data from the web browser 150, for example,
Home folder/WWWDATA
Browse to the folder.

Since each data file described above is stored in the SMADATA folder, the Web service processing unit 310 cannot refer to each data file described above. Here, in the content link registration processing in S704, a link to the SMADATA folder is set in the WWWDATA folder so that the Web service processing unit 310 can refer to each of the above-mentioned data files. In other words, the WWWDATA folder holds a link whose link destination is set to the SMADATA folder. The link can be set by using a system command for linking the system activated by the CPU 201, for example.

In this way, the service maintenance application stored in the SMADATA folder can be used from the web browser of the external device via the web service processing unit 310.

If it is determined in S702 that the input instruction of S701 is the service mode end, the process proceeds to S706, and the service mode control unit 321 performs the service mode end process. In the service mode end processing, for example, the service mode menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 211 is ended, or the end processing regarding each service mode menu is performed. Further, the service mode start state for determining whether or not the service mode is started is set to end and the state is held. Succeedingly, in S707, a content link releasing process is performed. Then, the service mode is ended.

Here, the content link cancellation processing will be described. As described above, in the SMADATA folder in which each data file is stored in S704, the link is set to the WWWDATA referred to by the Web service processing unit 310. In the content link cancellation processing of S704, this link setting is canceled. The link release setting can be set, for example, by using a system command for releasing the link of the system activated by the CPU 201. When the link release setting is performed, the Web service processing unit 310 cannot refer to each of the above-mentioned data files.

If it is determined in S702 that the input instruction in S701 is not the start or end of the service mode, the process proceeds to S705, and the service mode control unit 321 performs various service mode processes. The processing of various service modes includes, for example, generation of a service mode menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 211. In addition, setting and execution processing for the operation menu of the service mode input from the operation input unit 212 are performed. Further, when an instruction to generate information such as error information is received by an instruction from the CGI processing unit 312, error information generated in the past and at the present time managed by the MFP 101 is collected and output as a service information 313 to a file or the like. To do. After the processing of various service modes is performed in S705, the process proceeds to S701 to accept the next input instruction.

Although the link registration processing and the link cancellation processing have been described here, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the present invention, when it is determined that the service mode start processing is performed, the setting for permitting the use of the service maintenance application may be performed instead of registering the link. When the use of the application is set to be permitted, each of the above-mentioned data files may be made usable. That is, the example of registration and cancellation of the link is an example of the present invention, and may be any method that can switch whether or not the use of the application is permitted.

<Sequence>
Next, an operation sequence of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, an example in which the screen of the service maintenance application is displayed on the web browser 150 will be described. Further, an example will be described in which error log information is displayed when the operator presses the error log button 402 in FIG. 4 described above. The process of the web browser 150 described below is realized by the CPU included in the client terminal 105 reading out the control program stored in the ROM, the HDD, or the like into the RAM and executing the control program. The processing of the Web service processing unit 310, the CGI processing unit 312, and the service mode control unit 321 described below is realized by the CPU 201 reading the control program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 204, or the like into the RAM 202 and executing the control program. To be done.

In step S<b>801, the web browser 150 receives the relevant URL information designated by the operator to call the service maintenance application screen. Subsequently, in step S802, the web browser 150 requests the web service processing unit 310 to acquire the content for the service maintenance application screen according to the received URL information.

Next, in step S<b>803, the Web service processing unit 310 determines whether the link to home folder/SMADATA is registered (set) in home folder/WWWWDATA described in step S<b>704 of FIG. 7. If the link to the home folder/SMADATA is not registered in the home folder/WWWDATA in S803, the process proceeds to S804.

In step S804, the web service processing unit 310 returns to the web browser 150 an error screen indicating that the service maintenance application content 311 cannot be referenced. This error screen may be 404 NotFound specified by HTTPD.

On the other hand, if a link to the home folder/SMADATA is registered in the home folder/WWWWDATA in S803, the process proceeds to S805. In step S805, the Web service processing unit 310 refers to the service maintenance application content 311 as the content for the service maintenance application screen, and acquires the corresponding screen content.

Next, in step S806, the web service processing unit 310 transmits the acquired screen content to the web browser 150 as screen information. In step S<b>807, the web browser 150 displays the initial screen 400 of the service maintenance application of FIG. 4 on the operation display unit 211 according to the acquired screen information.

Next, in step S808, the web browser 150 receives an instruction to acquire service information by the operator pressing the error log button 402 displayed on the initial screen 400. Subsequently, in step S809, the web browser 150 makes a service information generation request to the web service processing unit 310 to instruct generation of an error log. This service information generation request can be made using POST defined in HTTPD.

In step S810, the web service processing unit 310 receives the service information generation request from the web browser 150 in step S809, and sends the service information generation request to the CGI processing unit 312. Subsequently, in step S811, the CGI processing unit 312 instructs the service mode control unit 321 to generate service information.

Next, in step S812, the service mode control unit 321 determines whether the service mode is currently being started. The determination here is performed with reference to the service mode start state set and held in S703 or S706 of FIG. If it is determined that the service mode start state is started in S812, the process proceeds to S813, and the service mode control unit 321 generates service information. For example, in the case of error log information, service information such as error information generated in the past and at the present time managed by the MFP 101 is collected and output as a service information 313 to a file or the like. Then, the process proceeds to S814. On the other hand, when determining in S812 that the service mode start state has ended, the service mode control unit 321 proceeds to S814 without generating service information.

In step S<b>814, the service mode control unit 321 notifies the CGI processing unit 312 of a service information generation completion notification indicating that the service information generation process has ended. Subsequently, in step S815, the CGI processing unit receives the service information generation completion notification acquired in step S814, and transmits the service information generation completion notification to the web service processing unit. In step S<b>816, the web service processing unit 310 similarly transmits a service information generation completion notification to the web browser 150.

Next, in step S<b>817, the web browser 150 makes a service information acquisition request to the web service processing unit 310 in order to acquire the display screen of the generated service information. Here, the service information acquisition request is automatically made in the Web browser 150 without an operator's instruction. For example, a script is described in HTML as an action when the error log button 402 is pressed in S808. This script is an instruction to first make a service information generation request and then make the service information acquisition request. The service information acquisition request in S817 can be automatically made by executing the action in which such a script is described.

Next, in S818, the Web service processing unit 310 determines whether or not the link to the home folder/SMADATA is registered (set) in the home folder/WWWWDATA described in S704 of FIG. If the link to the home folder/SMADATA is not registered in the home folder/WWWDATA in S818, the process proceeds to S819. In step S819, the web service processing unit 310 returns to the web browser 150 an error screen indicating that the service information 313 cannot be referenced. This error screen may be 404 NotFound specified by HTTPD.

On the other hand, if the link to the home folder/SMADATA is registered in the home folder/WWWWDATA in S818, the process proceeds to S820. In step S820, the web service processing unit 310 refers to the service information 313 and acquires the corresponding screen content. Subsequently, in S821, the Web service processing unit 310 transmits the acquired screen content to the Web browser 150 as screen information. In S822, the web browser 150 displays the acquired screen.

As described above, the information processing apparatus such as the MFP according to the present embodiment has the Web server function and provides the screen information to the Web browser of the external apparatus. Receives and analyzes instructions from the operator. The information processing device controls the use of the content used in the service mode if the analyzed instruction is the service mode start process. According to the present embodiment, instead of the login operation for using the maintenance application, it is determined whether or not the service mode is set, and if the service mode is set, the maintenance application is used from the Web server of the external device. Register the link for. Alternatively, it can be realized by generating service information. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the service person uses the maintenance application of the apparatus, the maintenance application can be used only by performing a service mode start operation in the information processing apparatus. That is, it is possible to save the trouble of separately performing a login operation for using the maintenance application, and it is possible to provide a user-friendly operation system. In addition, since the service person who uses the Web server function and the maintenance application for the service can use the service application only while the image forming apparatus is being operated by the service person, it is not possible to refer from an unspecified number of operators. Can be improved. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a new mechanism for the authentication for the service person by using the mechanism of the existing image forming apparatus, and it is possible to cope with the cost at a low cost.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

101: MFP, 102: LAN, 103: Internet, 104: External server, 105: Client terminal, 150: Web browser, 301: Web server unit

Claims (8)

An information processing device having a web server function and providing screen information to a web browser of an external device,
Accepting means for accepting user input,
Accepting an input of a predetermined key by said receiving means, certify that the operator is a service engineer having the authority to initiate the service mode for performing maintenance of the information processing apparatus, the operator of the service mode Detection means for detecting that the information processing device is instructed to start,
When the detection means detects that the start of the service mode is instructed, the content provided by the web server function needs to be authenticated as a service person from the web browser of the external device. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that performs control for permitting use without any use. A web service processing unit accessible from a web browser of the external device;
A storage unit for storing the content,
The control means is
When the detection unit detects an instruction to start the service mode, a registration unit that registers a link from the Web service processing unit to the storage unit to permit the use of the content from the Web browser of the external device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The control means is
When the service mode start process is accepted, the system further includes an execution unit that provides the external device with screen information of the service mode using the content stored in advance at the link destination of the link registered by the registration unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The detection means further detects that the operator has instructed the information processing device to end the service mode,
The control means is
The canceling means for canceling the registration of the link, when the detecting means detects that the operator has instructed the information processing apparatus to end the service mode, further comprising: The information processing device described in 1. The control means is
The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a generation unit that generates service information related to the service mode to permit use of the content when the detection unit detects an instruction to start the service mode. Processing equipment. The control means is
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising an execution unit that receives the service mode start process and provides the external apparatus with screen information of the service mode by using the service information generated by the generation unit. The information processing device described. A method of controlling an information processing device, which has a web server function and provides screen information to a web browser of an external device,
A receiving step in which the receiving means receives a user input;
Sensing means, said receiving an input of a predetermined key at the reception step, certify that the operator is a service engineer having the authority to initiate the service mode for performing maintenance of the information processing apparatus, the operator A detection step of detecting that the information processing device is instructed to start the service mode;
When the control means detects in the detection step that the start of the service mode has been instructed, the content provided by the web server function is authenticated from the web browser of the external device as a service person. And a control step of performing control for permitting the use of the information processing device without the need for the information processing device. It has a Web server function, a program for executing the respective steps in a computer in the control method of an information processing apparatus for providing screen information to the Web browser of the external device, the control method,
A receiving step in which the receiving means receives a user input;
Sensing means, said receiving an input of a predetermined key at the reception step, certify that the operator is a service engineer having the authority to initiate the service mode for performing maintenance of the information processing apparatus, the operator A detection step of detecting that the information processing device is instructed to start the service mode;
When the control means detects in the detection step that the start of the service mode has been instructed, the content provided by the web server function is authenticated from the web browser of the external device as a service person. And a control step of performing control for permitting use without requiring the program.

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