JP7452102B2 - Information processing device and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing program.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system that is configured with one or more computers and manages a plurality of devices connected via a network. In this system, a server device maintains device correspondence information in which model information, installation location information, setting information, and counter information are associated with each other for each unique device code of a plurality of devices. The server device holds, for each device management code, device status correspondence information that associates the device status, device code, and scheduled installation device code. The server device associates and stores the device code and management code, and when replacing a device, deletes the device code of the old device and newly manages the device code of the replaced device (device code to be installed). Associate with code.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-174374

By the way, before replacing the first device (for example, an old model device) with a second device (for example, a new model device), the first device coexists with a second device to which the setting data has been transferred from the first device. If the second device performs communication with the third device, device information (specifically, an address) indicating the second device is recorded in the third device.

Therefore, after the coexistence state, if the second device rewrites the device information indicating itself to the first device's device information indicating itself and then withdraws the first device, the third device will communicate with the second device. It may become impossible to do so.

An object of the present invention is to enable communication from a third device to a second device even when the second device rewrites the device information indicating itself to the device information of the first device indicating itself.

A first aspect includes a processor, and when a second device to which setting data has been transferred from the first device and the first device coexist, the second device is configured to transfer the configuration data from the first device to the third device. A stop control is performed on the second device to stop a recording function in which device information indicating the execution source device itself is recorded in the third device among the functions executed between the devices.

In a second aspect, the processor performs the stop control on the second device to stop a function executable in the first device among the recording functions.

In a third aspect, the processor acquires function information of functions executable in the first device from the first device, and selects a function corresponding to the recording function among the functions executable in the first device. The stop control for stopping is performed on the second device.

In a fourth aspect, the processor further performs presentation control on the second device to present disablement information indicating that execution of the recording function is disabled.

In a fifth aspect, when the recording function is executable by the first device, the processor controls the presentation control to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device together with the inability information. This is performed on the second device.

In a sixth aspect, the processor receives withdrawal information from the first device indicating that the first device has been withdrawn.

In a seventh aspect, when the processor receives the withdrawal information from the first device, the processor controls the second device to cancel the suspension of the recording function.

In an eighth aspect, when a second device to which setting data has been transferred from the first device and the first device coexist in the computer, the second device executes the communication with the third device. Among the functions, the information processing program is an information processing program for causing the second device to perform a stop control to stop a recording function in which device information indicating itself of the device that is the execution source is recorded in the third device. .

According to the configuration of the first aspect, even if the second device rewrites the device information indicating itself to the device information indicating itself of the first device, the third device can communicate with the second device.

According to the configuration of the second aspect, the recording function that can be executed by the first device can be stopped by the second device.

According to the configuration of the third aspect, the recording function that can actually be executed by the first device can be stopped in the second device.

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the user can recognize that the recording function cannot be executed in the second device.

According to the configuration of the fifth aspect, the user can recognize that a recording function that cannot be performed on the second device can be performed on the first device.

According to the configuration of the sixth aspect, it is possible to save the user the trouble of inputting withdrawal information into the second device.

According to the configuration of the seventh aspect, the recording function of the second device becomes usable after the first device is withdrawn.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the second device concerning this embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of information processing executed by the information processing system according to the present embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on which disability information is presented on the display unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in which information indicating that execution is possible on the first device is presented together with inability information on the display unit according to the present embodiment.

An example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.
(Information processing system 10)
First, an example of the configuration of the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system 10 according to this embodiment.

The information processing system 10 is a system that processes information, and includes a first device 11, a second device 12, a third device 13, and a server device 14, as shown in FIG. .

The specific configurations of the first device 11, second device 12, third device 13, and server device 14 will be described below.

(Server device 14)
The server device 14 shown in FIG. 1 has at least a function of acquiring information (that is, data) transmitted from each of the first device 11 and the second device 12 and storing the information.

In addition, the server device 14 communicates with each of the first device 11, second device 12, and third device 13 (hereinafter, these devices are collectively referred to as “devices 11 to 13”) using a wireless or wired communication function. , are said to be able to communicate with each other.

(First device 11, second device 12 and third device 13)
Each of the devices 11 to 13 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, an execution device that executes a process instructed by a user. Specifically, each of the devices 11 to 13 is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process instructed by a user.

More specifically, each of the devices 11 to 13 is a multifunction device capable of performing various functions (ie, various services) such as copying, facsimile, scanning, and printing. Note that each of the devices 11 to 13 is not limited to a multifunction device, and may be, for example, a printer capable of executing a print function, or an image forming apparatus other than a multifunction device may be used. Further, each of the devices 11 to 13 is not limited to an image forming apparatus, but may be a personal computer or the like, or an execution device other than the image forming apparatus may be used. Note that the user is a person who uses each of the devices 11 to 13.

The second device 12 is a device that replaces the first device 11. Specifically, the second device 12 is a device that takes over information from the first device 11. More specifically, the second device 12 is a device that is used after information such as setting data is transferred from the first device 11.

The first device 11 is a device that is replaced with the second device 12 and then withdrawn. Specifically, the first device 11 is a device that is removed after a coexistence period with the second device 12. The coexistence period starts when, in addition to the first device 11, the second device 12 to which information such as setting data is transferred from the first device 11 is installed. Note that during the coexistence period, information indicating the second device 12 itself (hereinafter referred to as "second device information") is rewritten to information indicating itself in the first device 11 (hereinafter referred to as "first device information"). The process ends when the first device 11 is withdrawn. In other words, when starting the coexistence period, the second device information is not rewritten to the first device information. As an example, the second device 12 is a new model device, and the first device 11 is an old model device.

The third device 13 is a device that can communicate with each of the first device 11 and the second device 12 by wireless or wired communication functions, and is an unspecified number (i.e., singular or plural) exist. The communication includes communication via the server device 14 and serverless communication. Serverless communication is communication that is performed directly without going through the server device 14. Specifically, serverless communication is performed within a predetermined distance using wireless communication functions such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example.

More specifically, the third device 13 can perform functions such as IP fax, Internet fax, and mail print with each of the first device 11 and the second device 12 through the communication. It has become.

By communicating with each other, each of the devices 11 to 13 records information indicating the device with which it communicates. In other words, each of the devices 11 to 13 stores information indicating the destination of the device with which it communicates (hereinafter referred to as "destination information") by communicating with each other.

Examples of destination information include an IP address, FQDN (Host name+Domain name), FAX number, email address, and SIP address used for IP fax.

(Hardware configuration of second device 12)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the second device 12. The second device 12 includes a display section 57 and an information processing device 50. The display unit 57 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information.

The information processing device 50 has a function as a computer, and as shown in FIG. It has a communication interface 55. The display section 57 and each section of the information processing device 50 are connected to each other via a bus 59 so that they can communicate with each other.

The CPU 51 is a central processing unit that executes various programs including information processing programs and controls each section. That is, the CPU 51 reads a program from the ROM 52 or the storage 54 and executes the program using the RAM 53 as a work area.

The ROM 52 stores various programs and data. The RAM 53 temporarily stores programs or data as a work area. The storage 54 is constituted by a storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data. The communication interface 55 is an interface (communication unit) for communicating with other devices such as the first device 11, the third device 13, and the server device 14.

The information processing device 50 uses the above hardware resources to implement various functions when executing the above programs. The functional configuration realized by the information processing device 50 will be described below. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing device 50 has, as a functional configuration, an acquisition section 50A, a stop control section 50B, a presentation control section 50C, a reception section 50D, and a cancellation section 50E. . Each functional configuration is realized by the CPU 51 reading and executing an information processing program stored in the ROM 52 or the storage 54.

The acquisition unit 50A acquires information such as setting data transferred from the first device 11 to the second device 12 (hereinafter referred to as "migration information"). The acquisition unit 50A also acquires information on functions executable by the first device 11 (hereinafter referred to as “function information”) from the first device 11.

When the second device 12 to which the setting data has been transferred from the first device 11 and the first device 11 coexist, the stop control unit 50B controls whether the second device 12 is connected to the third device 13 or not. Among the functions to be executed, the second device performs control (hereinafter referred to as "stop control") to stop the function (hereinafter referred to as "recording function") in which device information indicating the self of the execution source device is recorded in the third device 13. Do this for 12.

Specifically, the stop control unit 50B performs stop control on the second device 12 to stop functions executable in the first device 11 among the recording functions. More specifically, the stop control unit 50B controls the second device to stop the function that corresponds to the recording function among the functions executable in the first device 11 based on the function information acquired by the acquisition unit 50A. Do this for 12. Furthermore, the stop control unit 50B controls the second device 12 to stop a function that corresponds to the recording function among the functions executable in the first device 11 based on the function information acquired by the acquisition unit 50A. This is done for the execution unit that executes various functions.

The presentation control unit 50C further controls the second device 12 to present information (hereinafter referred to as "impossibility information") indicating that the recording function cannot be performed (hereinafter referred to as "presentation control"). Specifically, if the recording function is executable by the first device 11, the presentation control unit 50C performs presentation control to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device 11 together with the inability information. This is performed for two devices 12.

The reception unit 50D receives information indicating that the first device 11 has been withdrawn (hereinafter referred to as “withdrawal information”) from the first device 11. The release unit 50E controls the execution unit of the second device 12 to release the stoppage of the recording function when the reception unit 50D receives withdrawal information from the first device 11.

(Actions according to this embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of information processing executed by the information processing system 10. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing executed by the information processing device 50.

This process is performed by the CPU 51 of the information processing device 50 in the second device 12 reading an information processing program from the ROM 52 or storage 54 and executing it. In this embodiment, this process is started when the first device 11 and the second device 12 to which the setting data has been transferred from the first device 11 coexist. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when an information transfer instruction is issued to transfer transfer information such as setting data from the first device 11 to the second device 12 (step S100), this process is executed. will be started.

The information migration instruction is given to each of the first device 11 and the second device 12 by the administrator. More specifically, the information transfer instruction includes a transmission instruction issued to the first device 11 (step S100(A)) and an acquisition instruction issued to the second device 12 (step S100(A)). Contains. The transmission instruction is an instruction to transmit migration information to the server device 14. The acquisition instruction is an instruction to acquire migration information from the server device 14.

Therefore, it can be said that execution of this process is started when an acquisition instruction to acquire migration information from the first device 11 is given to the second device 12. Note that, upon receiving the transmission instruction, the first device 11 transmits migration information to the server device 14 (step S101).

When this process is started, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the CPU 51 of the second device 12 acquires from the server device 14 the migration information sent by the first device 11 to the server device 14 (step S102). Note that at this time, the CPU 51 does not rewrite the second device information to the first device information (see symbol XA in FIG. 4).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the CPU 51 acquires function information of functions executable in the first device 11 from the first device 11, for example, through communication (step S104). In other words, the CPU 51 acquires information about the functions operated in the first device 11, for example, through communication. Therefore, the CPU 51 does not acquire information about the functions whose operation is stopped in the first device 11 (that is, the functions which are not executed even if there is an instruction).

The functions include, for example, copying, scanning, IP faxing, Internet faxing, and mail printing. The communication includes communication via the server device 14 and serverless communication. Serverless communication is communication that is performed directly without going through the server device 14. Specifically, serverless communication is performed using wireless communication functions such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (registered trademark), as an example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 51 determines whether the functions executable by the first device 11 include a recording function (step S106). Examples of the recording function include IP fax, Internet fax, and mail print.

When the CPU 51 determines that the executable functions of the first device 11 include the recording function (step S106: YES), the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the CPU 51 determines that the recording function is not included in the functions executable by the first device 11, it ends this process.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in step S108, the CPU 51 performs stop control on the execution unit of the second device 12 to stop the recording function included in the functions executable in the first device 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 51 determines whether or not withdrawal information indicating that the first device 11 has been withdrawn has been received from the first device 11 (step S110). If it is determined that the data has been received from one device 11 (step S110: YES), the stoppage of the recording function is canceled (step S112), and this process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the withdrawal information has not been received from the first device 11 (step S110: NO), step S110 is repeated.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, the withdrawal information is transmitted from the first device 11 to the second device 12 when the administrator instructs the first device 11 to withdraw (step S120). Further, when the administrator instructs the first device 11 to withdraw (step S120), for example, the first device information is transmitted from the first device 11 to the second device 12, and the second device information is transmitted to the second device 12. The device information is rewritten to one device information (step S122).

In addition, during the stop period in which the recording function is stopped, if there is a display instruction to display functions executable in the second device 12 on the display unit 57, the CPU 51 determines that the recording function cannot be executed. Presentation control is performed on the display section 57 of the second device 12 to present disablement information indicating the following (step S130). The display instruction corresponds to, for example, an instruction to display operation buttons for operating various functions.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the display screen of the display unit that presents the disability information. In FIG. 6, the display shows that the operation buttons of the Internet fax cannot be operated.

In step S130, specifically, when the recording function is executable by the first device 11, the CPU 51 executes presentation control to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device 11 together with the inability information. This is performed for the second device 12.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the display screen of the display unit that presents information indicating that the first device 11 can execute the process together with the inability information. In FIG. 7, information that Internet fax is in operation on the first device 11 and information that Internet fax cannot be used on the second device 12 are displayed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the second device 12 to which the setting data has been transferred from the first device 11 and the first device 11 coexist, the CPU 51 controls whether the second device 12 Among the functions executed with the third device 13, a stop control is performed on the second device 12 to stop the recording function in which device information indicating the self of the executing device is recorded in the third device 13 (step S108)

In this way, since the recording function is stopped, the second device information is not recorded in the third device 13, and the second device information is rewritten to the first device information in the second device 12, and the first device 11 is withdrawn. Even in this case, communication is possible from the third device 13 to the second device 12.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the CPU 51 performs stop control on the second device 12 to stop functions executable in the first device 11 among the recording functions (step S108).

Therefore, the recording function that can be executed by the first device 11 can be stopped by the second device 12.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the CPU 51 acquires function information of the functions executable in the first device 11 from the first device 11 (step S104), and , performs stop control on the second device 12 to stop the function corresponding to the recording function (step S108).

In this way, since the stop control is performed based on the function information directly acquired from the first device 11, the recording function that can actually be executed by the first device 11 can be stopped by the second device 12.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, during the stop period in which the recording function is stopped, if there is a display instruction to display executable functions in the second device 12 on the display section 57, the CPU 51 executes the function shown in FIG. Presentation control is performed on the display section 57 of the second device 12 to present disablement information indicating that the recording function is disabled so that the recording function cannot be executed (step S112).

Therefore, the user can recognize that the second device 12 is unable to perform the recording function.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, if the recording function is executable by the first device 11, the CPU 51 performs presentation control to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device 11, along with the inability information. is performed on the second device 12.

Therefore, the user can recognize that a recording function that cannot be executed by the second device 12 can be executed by the first device 11.

Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU 51 receives withdrawal information indicating that the first device 11 has been withdrawn from the first device 11 (step S110).

This allows the user to save time and effort in inputting withdrawal information into the second device 12.

Further, in this embodiment, when the CPU 51 receives withdrawal information from the first device 11, the CPU 51 releases the stoppage of the recording function (step S112).

As a result, the recording function of the second device 12 becomes usable after the first device 11 is removed.

(Modified example)
In the present embodiment, the CPU 51 performs stop control to stop the function corresponding to the recording function among the functions executable in the first device 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 51 may stop a recording function that is not executable in the first device 11. In other words, the CPU 51 may stop the recording function regardless of whether it is executable in the first device 11 or not.

In the present embodiment, when the recording function is executable by the first device 11, the CPU 51 performs presentation control to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device 11 together with the inability information. It is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 51 may perform control to present incapacity information and not present information indicating that the first device 11 is executable. That is, the CPU 51 should at least present the inability information.

In this embodiment, the withdrawal information is notified from the first device 11 to the second device 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second device 12 may make an inquiry to the first device 11, and the second device 12 may receive withdrawal information.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the modified examples shown above may be configured by combining a plurality of them as appropriate.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes a general-purpose processor (for example, the aforementioned CPU), a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA). : Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

Further, the operation of the processor in the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor, but also by a plurality of processors located at physically separate locations working together. Further, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

10 Information processing system 11 First device 12 Second device 13 Third device 14 Server device 50 Information processing device 50A Acquisition section 50B Stop control section 50C Presentation control section 50D Reception section 50E Release section 54 Storage 55 Communication interface 57 Display section 59 Bus

Claims (8)

Equipped with a processor,
The processor includes:
When a second device whose configuration data has been transferred from the first device coexists with the first device, among the functions that the second device executes with the third device, the device that executes the function An information processing device that performs stop control on the second device to stop a recording function in which device information indicating itself is recorded in the third device. The processor includes:
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop control for stopping a function executable by the first device among the recording functions is performed on the second device. The processor includes:
acquiring function information of a function executable in the first device from the first device;
The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the stop control for stopping a function corresponding to the recording function among the functions executable in the first device is performed on the second device. The processor includes:
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising controlling the second device to present disabling information indicating that the recording function cannot be executed. The processor includes:
If the recording function is executable by the first device, the presentation control is performed on the second device to present information indicating that the recording function is executable by the first device together with the inability information. The information processing device according to item 4. The processor includes:
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein withdrawal information indicating that the first device has been withdrawn is received from the first device. The processor includes:
The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein when the withdrawal information is received from the first device, the second device is controlled to cancel the stoppage of the recording function. to the computer,
When a second device whose configuration data has been transferred from the first device coexists with the first device, among the functions that the second device executes with the third device, the device that executes the function An information processing program for causing the second device to perform a process of stopping a recording function in which device information indicating itself is recorded in the third device.