JP2004287622A - Information processor, image forming apparatus, and program adding method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, an image forming apparatus, and a program adding method for adding a program to a recording medium for program start which can be inserted/pulled out while securing the safety of a program recorded in the recording medium for program start. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor 31 for adding the program to the recoding medium 141 for program start is provided with an adding means 68 for making an external computer terminal 160 display the selection picture of a program which can be added to the recording medium 141 for starting the program, and for receiving the program addition request of a program selected from the selection screen, and for, when receiving the program addition request, transmitting the preparation request of a file for application addition necessary for adding the program to the recording medium 141 for program start to an external server 150, and for receiving the file for application addition from the server 150, and for adding the program to the recording medium 141 for program start. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program adding method, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program adding method for adding a received program to a program starting recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer executes various types of information processing by executing one or more programs respectively corresponding to information processing. In addition, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a multifunction machine) as an application example of an information processing apparatus includes a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in a single housing, and supports a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner, respectively. In this case, four types of programs are provided, and the programs are switched to operate as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a scanner. Patent Literature 1 describes an example of the above-described fusion machine.
[0003]
In such an information processing apparatus or a multifunction peripheral, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and a boot loader (Boot Loader) are activated after the power is turned on. The boot loader develops an operating system (OS) and a root file system on a RAM (Random Access Memory) and starts the OS. Then, the OS mounts the root file system. Here, mounting means starting the file system, peripheral devices, and the like in an accessible state.
[0004]
After the OS is started, a start program for starting a program such as an application (hereinafter, referred to as an application) is started. The activation program is a process that is first activated in the information processing apparatus or the multifunction peripheral.
[0005]
The start program mounts a file system according to a predetermined setting file, and is necessary for the operation of the information processing apparatus or the multifunction peripheral recorded on a program start recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or an SD (Secure Digital) card. The program has been started according to a predetermined setting file.
[0006]
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for easily adding a program for an information processing device or a multifunction machine to a program starting recording medium.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-84383
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since a program start-up recording medium that can be inserted and removed, such as an SD card, can be used in a personal computer or the like, it is easy for the program recorded on the program start-up recording medium to be falsified, such as falsification or duplication.
[0009]
Therefore, in a removable program starting recording medium, a program newly added to the program starting recording medium may be illegally added to an information processing apparatus or a multifunction peripheral without a right (license) to add the program. was there.
[0010]
Therefore, when a program is added to a program start-up recording medium that can be inserted into and removed from an information processing device or a multifunction machine, a mechanism is provided to prevent unauthorized use of the program recorded on the program start-up recording medium, and the security of the program is improved. There was a problem that it had to be secured.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an information processing apparatus capable of adding a program to a program start-up recording medium while ensuring the safety of the program recorded on the pluggable program start-up recording medium, An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus and a program adding method.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention has a slot in which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and removed, and an external program is added to a program starting recording medium inserted in one of the slots. The computer terminal displays a selection screen of a program that can be added to the recording medium for program startup, receives a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen, and receives a program addition request. Additional means for transmitting a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to a recording medium to an external server, receiving the application addition file from the server, and adding the program to the program activation recording medium It is characterized by having.
[0013]
Further, the present invention has a slot in which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and withdrawn, and an operation panel includes the program activation recording medium for adding a program to a program activation recording medium inserted in one of the slots. Displaying a selection screen of a program that can be added to the medium, and adding a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen, while receiving a program addition request, for adding a program to the program start recording medium, It has an additional unit for transmitting a request for creating a required application addition file to an external server, receiving the application addition file from the server, and adding a program to the program starting recording medium.
[0014]
According to the present invention, a server for creating a file for adding an application necessary for adding a program to a recording medium for program activation, an external computer terminal operated by an operator, and a program are added to the recording medium for program activation. A method for adding a program to a system having an information processing device, wherein the information processing device displays, on an external computer terminal, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program starting recording medium, and selects from the selection screen. Receiving the program addition request of the program, and upon receiving the program addition request, sends a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program activation recording medium to an external server, Upon receiving the application addition file from the server, And having a step of adding a program to use the recording medium.
[0015]
In addition, the present invention provides a program addition system for a system having a server for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to a program startup recording medium, and an information processing apparatus for adding a program to the program startup recording medium. The method, wherein the information processing apparatus displays, on an operation panel, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the recording medium for starting the program, and obtains a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen. When receiving a program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file required to add a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a program starting recording medium. The features.
[0016]
According to the present invention, a server for creating a file for adding an application necessary for adding a program to a recording medium for program activation, an external computer terminal operated by an operator, and a program are added to the recording medium for program activation. A method for adding a program to a system having an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus displays, on an external computer terminal, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program starting recording medium, and selects from the selection screen. Receiving the program addition request of the program, and upon receiving the program addition request, sends a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program activation recording medium to an external server, Upon receiving the application addition file from the server, And having a step of adding a program to use the recording medium.
[0017]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program addition system for a system having a server for creating an application addition file required for adding a program to a program startup recording medium and an image forming apparatus for adding a program to the program startup recording medium. The method, wherein the image forming apparatus displays, on an operation panel, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the recording medium for starting the program, and obtains a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen. When receiving a program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file required to add a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a program starting recording medium. The features.
[0018]
According to the present invention, the program selected from the selection screen can be added to the program starting recording medium, and the program to be added to the program starting recording medium is created so that it can be used only by one program starting recording medium. It is possible to prevent programs from being illegally added to multiple program start-up recording media, and to ensure the safety of programs recorded on removable program start-up recording media, and to make program start-up extremely easy. A program can be added to a recording medium.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The information processing device 1 is configured to include a software group 2, an activation unit 3, and hardware resources 4.
[0021]
The activation unit 3 is executed first when the information processing apparatus 1 is powered on, and activates a program activation unit described later. The program activation unit activates the software group 2 of the information processing device 1. The program activating unit of the activating unit 3 reads the programs of the SD card control unit 11, the program adding unit 12, and the applications 14-1 to 14-n from the auxiliary storage device or the SD card, and transfers the read programs to the memory device. And start.
[0022]
The hardware resources 4 include hardware resources such as an input device, a display device, an auxiliary storage device, a memory device, an interface device, and an SD card slot. Further, the software group 2 includes programs of the SD card control unit 11, the program addition unit 12, and the applications 14-1 to 14-n which are activated on an OS such as UNIX (registered trademark). The OS controls the programs of the SD card control unit 11, the program addition unit 12, and the applications 14-1 to 14-n in parallel as processes.
[0023]
An API (Application Program Interface) 15 is used to receive requests from the applications 14-1 to 14-n by using a function defined in advance. The engine I / F 16 is used to transmit a request for the hardware resource 4 using a function defined in advance. The details of the SD card control unit 11, the program adding unit 12, and the program starting unit will be described later.
[0024]
Next, a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0025]
2 includes an input device 21, a display device 22, an auxiliary storage device 23, a memory device 24, an arithmetic processing device 25, an interface device 26, and an SD card slot 27, which are mutually connected by a bus B. It is comprised so that it may have.
[0026]
The input device 21 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is used to input various operation instructions. The display device 22 displays various windows and data necessary for the operation. The interface device 26 is an interface for connecting the information processing device 1 to a network or a computer terminal, and includes a modem, a router, or a device that conforms to various interface standards.
[0027]
The SD card slot 27 is capable of inserting and removing an SD card, and performs an interrupt corresponding to insertion or removal of the SD card to an SD card driver described later. The auxiliary storage device 23 stores various files and data.
[0028]
The SD card inserted into the SD card slot 27 or the auxiliary storage device 23 stores programs such as the SD card control unit 11, the program addition unit 12, and the applications 14-1 to 14-n for performing the processes related to the information processing device 1. And various files and data required for processing the program.
[0029]
The memory device 24 includes the SD card control unit 11, the program addition unit 12, the applications 14-1 to 14-n, etc., from the SD card or the auxiliary storage device 23 inserted into the SD card slot 27 when the information processing device 1 is started. Is read and stored. Then, the arithmetic processing unit 25 executes processing according to programs such as the SD card control unit 11, the program addition unit 12, and the applications 14-1 to 14-n stored in the memory device 24.
[0030]
Next, a configuration of the multifunction device 31 will be described as an application example of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the processing of the MFP 31 will be mainly described, but the processing of the information processing apparatus 1 is the same.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. The multifunction device 31 is configured to include a software group 32, a multifunction device activation unit 33, and hardware resources.
[0032]
The software group 32 includes an application layer 35 and a platform 36 running on an OS such as UNIX (registered trademark). The hardware resources 34 include a monochrome laser printer (B & W LP) 41, a color laser printer (Color LP) 42, and other hardware resources 43 such as a scanner and a facsimile.
[0033]
The application layer 35 includes a printer application 51, a copy application 52, a fax application 53, a scanner application 54, and a net file application, each of which performs a process unique to a user service related to image formation such as a printer, a copy, a fax, and a scanner. 55.
[0034]
Further, the platform 36 interprets the processing request from the application layer 35 and generates a request to acquire the hardware resource 34, and manages the hardware resource 34 and acquires the acquisition request from the control service layer 37. And a handler layer 38 for managing the hardware resources 34 in response to an acquisition request from the SRM 69.
[0035]
The control service layer 37 includes a network control service (NCS) 61, a delivery control service (DCS) 62, an operation panel control service (OCS) 63, a fax control service (FCS) 64, an engine control service (ECS) 65, and a memory control service. It is configured to include one or more service modules, such as (MCS) 66, user information control service (UCS) 67, and system control service (SCS) 68.
[0036]
Note that the platform 36 is configured to have the API 81. The OS executes each software of the application layer 35 and the platform 36 in parallel as a process.
[0037]
The process of the NCS 61 distributes data received from the network according to each protocol to each application, and mediates transmission of data from each application to the network. For example, the NCS 61 controls data communication with a computer terminal connected to the MFP 31 via a network or the like.
[0038]
The process of the DCS 62 controls distribution of document data stored in the multifunction peripheral. The process of the OCS 63 controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control.
[0039]
The FCS64 process provides an API from the application layer 35 for performing facsimile transmission / reception using a PSTN or ISDN network, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed in a backup memory, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and the like. I do.
[0040]
The process of the ECS 65 controls the engine units such as the black and white laser printer 41, the color laser printer 42, and the hardware resources 43. The process of the MCS 66 performs memory control such as acquisition and release of a memory, use of an HDD, and compression and decompression of image data. The process of the UCS 67 manages user information.
[0041]
The process of the SCS 68 performs processes such as application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, hardware resource management, and interrupt application control. The process of the SRM 69, together with the SCS 68, controls the system and manages the hardware resources 34. For example, the process of the SRM 69 performs arbitration in accordance with an acquisition request from an upper layer using the hardware resources 34, and controls execution.
[0042]
Specifically, the process of the SRM 69 determines whether the hardware resource 34 requested for acquisition is available (whether it is not used by another acquisition request). The upper layer is notified that the resource 34 is available.
[0043]
Also, the process of the SRM 69 performs scheduling for using the hardware resources 34 in response to an acquisition request from the upper layer, and the content of the request (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory reservation, file generation, etc.). Is implemented directly.
[0044]
The handler layer 38 includes a fax control unit handler (FCUH) 70 that manages a fax control unit (FCU) described later, and an image memory handler (IMH) that allocates a memory area to a process and manages a memory area allocated to the process. 71. The SRM 69 and the FCUH 70 make processing requests to the hardware resources 34 by using the engine I / F 82. With the configuration of FIG. 3, the multi-function peripheral 31 can unify processing required by each application on the platform 36 in a unified manner.
[0045]
Next, the hardware configuration of the MFP 31 will be described. FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
[0046]
The MFP 31 includes a controller 100, an operation panel 120, an FCU 121, an engine unit 122, and a plotter 123. The controller 100 includes a CPU 101, a system memory 102, a north bridge (NB) 103, a south bridge (SB) 104, an ASIC 106, a local memory 107, an HDD 108, a network interface card (NIC) 109, and an SD card. Slot 110, a USB device 111, an IEEE 1394 device 112, and a Centronics 113.
[0047]
The operation panel 120 is connected to the ASIC 106 of the controller 100. Further, the FCU 121, the engine unit 122, and the plotter 123 are connected to the ASIC 106 of the controller 100 via the PCI bus 124.
[0048]
In the controller 100, the local memory 107, the HDD 108, and the like are connected to the ASIC 106, and the CPU 101 and the ASIC 106 are connected via the NB 103 of the CPU chipset. The controller 100 connects the CPU 101 and the ASIC 106 via the NB 103 to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 101 is not disclosed. The ASIC 106 and the NB 103 are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 105.
[0049]
As described above, in order to control the execution of one or more processes forming the application layer 35 and the platform 36 shown in FIG. 3, the ASIC 106 and the NB 103 are connected not through the low-speed PCI bus but through the AGP 105 to prevent a decrease in performance. In.
[0050]
The CPU 101 controls the entire MFP 31. For example, the CPU 101 activates and executes the NCS 61, the DCS 62, the OCS 63, the FCS 64, the ECS 65, the MCS 66, the UCS 67, the SCS 68, the SRM 69, the FCU H 70, and the IMH 71 as processes on the OS. The application 52, the fax application 53, the scanner application 54, and the net file application 55 are activated and executed.
[0051]
The NB 103 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 101, system memory 102, SB 104, ASIC 106, NIC 109, SD card slot 110, USB device 111, IEEE 1394 device 112, and Centronics 113.
[0052]
The SB 104, NIC 109, SD card slot 110, USB device 111, IEEE 1394 device 112, and Centronics 113 are connected to the NB 103 via a PCI bus 114. The SB 104 is a bridge for connecting the PCI bus 114 to a ROM, peripheral devices, and the like.
[0053]
The system memory 102 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the MFP 31. The local memory 107 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.
[0054]
The ASIC 106 is an IC for image processing that has a hardware element for image processing. The HDD 108 is an example of a storage (auxiliary storage device) that stores image data, document data, programs, font data, forms, and the like.
[0055]
The NIC 109 is an interface device that connects the MFP 31 to a network. The SD card slot 110 is capable of inserting and removing an SD card, and performs an interrupt corresponding to insertion or removal of the SD card to an SD card driver described later. The USB device 111, the IEEE 1394 device 112, and the Centronics 113 are interfaces conforming to respective standards.
[0056]
The operation panel 120 is an operation unit that receives input operations from the operator and performs display for the operator. Note that the FCU 121 has a memory. The memory of the FCU 121 is used, for example, to temporarily store facsimile data received when the power of the MFP 31 is OFF.
[0057]
3 is executed first when the power of the MFP 1 is turned on, and starts the application layer 35 and the platform 36. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of the multifunction peripheral starting unit. The multifunction peripheral activation unit 33 includes a ROM monitor 130 and a program activation unit 131.
[0058]
The BIOS and the ROM monitor 130 as a boot loader are executed when the power is turned on, and perform initialization of hardware, diagnosis of the controller 100, initialization of software, and the like. The ROM monitor 130 expands the OS and the root file system on the system memory 102 and starts the OS. Then, the OS mounts the root file system.
[0059]
The program starting unit 131 is called from the OS, and secures a memory area on the system memory 102 and the local memory 107. The program starting unit 131 is a process that is started first in the MFP 1, and mounts a file system according to a predetermined setting file.
[0060]
The program activating unit 131 reads out the programs of the application layer 35 and the platform 36 necessary for the operation of the multi-function peripheral 31 from the HDD 108, the SD card, the ROM, or the like according to a predetermined setting file, and reads the read out programs from the system memory 102 and the local memory 107. It is developed in the memory area secured above to start the processes of the application layer 35 and the platform 36.
[0061]
Further, the processing of the program starting unit 131 will be described. The program starting unit 131 reads a predetermined master setting file at the time of starting, and mounts a file system and starts a process according to the read master setting file. If the read master setting file includes a description of the mount, the program starting unit 131 executes the mount process according to the description of the mount.
[0062]
Further, the program launching unit 131 performs a predetermined setting when a predetermined setting file exists at the root of the mounted file system or when a predetermined directory including a file having a predetermined extension exists at the root of the mounted file system. A file or a file having a predetermined extension is read and a file system is mounted.
[0063]
Note that the file system that can be mounted by the program activation unit 131 includes “gzromfs”. The file system “gzromfs” expands the gzip-compressed ROMFS format file on the RAM and mounts it.
[0064]
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a program received from a server is added to an application starting SD card as a program starting recording medium will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0065]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example for explaining a program adding method according to the first and second embodiments according to the present invention. In the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, among the configurations of the multi-function machine 31, components necessary for description are shown, and components not required for description are omitted.
[0066]
The multifunction device 31 has an application starting SD card 141 inserted into one of the SD card slots 110. The multifunction device 31 is connected to the server 150 via a network 200 such as the Internet or a LAN.
[0067]
Further, the multifunction device 31 is connected to the computer terminal 160 using various interface standards such as IEEE1284, USB, IEEE1394, and Bluetooth. Note that the multifunction peripheral 31 may be connected to the computer terminal 160 via a network such as the Internet or a wired / wireless LAN. Hereinafter, the processing of the MFP 31, the server 150, and the computer terminal 160 of FIG. 6 will be described in detail.
[0068]
(First embodiment)
The program addition method of the first embodiment according to the present invention is an example in which a program is added to an application starting SD card in response to a request from a computer terminal connected to the multifunction device 31 directly or via a network. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of processing of the multifunction peripheral, server, and computer terminal.
[0069]
In FIG. 7A, an operator operating the computer terminal 160 transmits information of an application to be added to the multifunction device 31 to the NCS 61 as a request application name. Specifically, the operator can use the screen as shown in FIG. 8 displayed on the display device of the computer terminal 160 to transmit information of an application to be added to the MFP 31 to the NCS 61 as a request application name.
[0070]
FIG. 8 is an image diagram of an example of a screen displayed on the computer terminal. An operator who wants to add an application to the multifunction device 31 activates a dedicated application installed in the computer terminal 160 in advance, thereby causing the display device of the computer terminal 160 to display the setting screen 1000.
[0071]
The setting screen 1000 includes a list 1001 of devices connected to the computer terminal 160, a device information button 1002 for displaying device information, and a new application addition button 1003 for adding a new application to the device. When the operator selects a device to which a new application is to be added from the list 1001 of the setting screen 1000 and presses a new application addition button 1003, the computer terminal 160 displays the information acquisition standby screen 1100 on the display device. Further, the computer terminal 160 acquires information of the app that can be added from the MFP 31.
[0072]
When the information of the app that can be added is acquired, the computer terminal 160 displays a selection screen 1200 for selecting an app to be added to the MFP 31 on the display device. The selection screen 1200 includes a list of applications that can be added to the MFP 31. On the selection screen 1200, a section whose head is "+" is a section, which can be expanded or closed.
[0073]
When the operator selects an application to be added to the multi-function peripheral 31 from the list on the selection screen 1200, the computer terminal 160 displays an installation standby screen 1300 on the display device. In addition, the computer terminal 160 transmits information of the application selected by the operator from the list on the selection screen 1200 to the NCS 61 as a request application name.
[0074]
Returning to FIG. 7, in FIG. 7B, the NCS 61 supplies the requested application name received from the computer terminal 160 to the SCS 68. When the requested application name is supplied from the NCS 61, the SCS 68 checks whether or not the application corresponding to the requested application name exists in the application activation SD card 141.
[0075]
If it is determined that the application corresponding to the request application name does not exist in the application activation SD card 141, the SCS 68 proceeds to the process in FIG. In FIG. 7C, the SCS 68 requests the SD card control unit 133 to acquire the serial ID (hereinafter, referred to as SD serial ID) of the application activation SD card 141. The SD card control unit 133 acquires the SD serial ID from the application activation SD card 141 and supplies the SD serial ID to the SCS 68.
[0076]
In FIG. 7D, the SCS 68 creates a message digest (hereinafter, referred to as MD) from the requested application name, SD serial ID, model number and user information by using the electronic authentication check library 132, and Is encrypted with a public key to create an electronic signature on the device side. The model number is a number for identifying the MFP 31. The user information is information for identifying the user of the MFP 31.
[0077]
In FIG. 7E, the NCS 61 transmits the request application name, the SD serial ID, the model number, the user information, and the electronic signature of the device supplied from the SCS 68 to the server 150 via the network 200. The server 150 performs a user authentication check using the requested application name, the SD serial ID, the model number, the user information, and the electronic signature on the device side received from the NCS 61. The user authentication check is performed, for example, as in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0078]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of a process of a user authentication check. In step S1, the server 150 creates a message digest (hereinafter, referred to as MD) 1 of the requested application name, SD serial ID, model number, and user information received from the NCS 61.
[0079]
Proceeding to step S2, the server 150 decrypts the electronic signature on the device side received from the NCS 61 with the secret key to create MD2. Proceeding to step S3, the server 150 determines whether MD1 and MD2 are equal. If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are equal (YES in S3), server 150 proceeds to step S4 and performs a user authentication check.
[0080]
If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are not equal (NO in S3), server 150 ends the process without checking user authentication. If MD1 and MD2 are not equal, the requested application name, SD serial ID, model number, user information, and electronic signature on the device side are likely to have been tampered with.
[0081]
If it is determined in step S4 that the user authentication check is OK, the server 150 creates an application addition file necessary for adding an application to the application activation SD card 141, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0082]
In step S10, the server 150 selects a request application, an electronic signature of the application, and a setting file from the model number and the request application name supplied from the SCS 68. Proceeding to step S11, the server 150 creates the SD serial ID supplied from the SCS 68 and the MD of the setting file selected in step S10.
[0083]
Proceeding to step S12, the server 150 encrypts the MD created in step S11 with a secret key and creates an electronic signature of the setting file. Then, the process proceeds to step S13, where the server 150 creates an application addition file using the request application, the electronic signature and the setting file of the application selected in step S10, and the electronic signature of the setting file created in step S12.
[0084]
Returning to FIG. 7, in FIG. 7F, the server 150 transmits the application addition file including the request application, the electronic signature of the application, the setting file, and the electronic signature of the setting file to the SCS 68 via the NCS 61.
[0085]
In FIG. 7G, the SCS 68 performs an authentication check of the requested application and the setting file using the electronic authentication check library 132 in order to confirm the validity of the application addition file received from the server 150. For example, the authentication check of the request application is performed as in the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of a process of authentication check of a request application.
[0086]
In step S20, the SCS 68 acquires the model number. Proceeding to step S21, the SCS 68 creates the MD1 from the model number acquired in step S20 and the request application received via the NCS 61. Proceeding to step S22, the SCS 68 decrypts the electronic signature of the application received via the NCS 61 with the public key to create the MD2.
[0087]
Proceeding to step S23, the SCS 68 determines whether MD1 and MD2 are equal. If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are equal (YES in S23), the SCS 68 proceeds to step S24, and makes the authentication check of the request application OK. If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are not equal (NO in S23), the SCS 68 proceeds to step S25, and makes the authentication check of the request application NG. If MD1 and MD2 are not equal, the request application received via NCS 61 is likely to have been tampered with.
[0088]
The authentication check of the setting file performed by the SCS 68 is performed, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of the process of the authentication check of the setting file.
[0089]
In step S30, the SCS 68 acquires the SD serial ID from the application activation SD card 141. Proceeding to step S31, the SCS 68 creates the MD1 from the SD serial ID acquired in step S30 and the setting file received via the NCS 61. Proceeding to step S32, the SCS 68 decrypts the electronic signature of the setting file received via the NCS 61 with the public key to create the MD2.
[0090]
Proceeding to step S33, the SCS 68 determines whether or not MD1 and MD2 are equal. If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are equal (YES in S33), the SCS 68 proceeds to step S34, and the authentication check of the setting file is OK. If it is determined that MD1 and MD2 are not equal (NO in S33), the SCS 68 proceeds to step S35, and makes the authentication check of the setting file NG. This is because if MD1 and MD2 are not equal, the setting file received via the NCS 61 is likely to have been tampered with.
[0091]
After confirming the validity of the application addition file received from the server 150, the SCS 68 proceeds to the processing in FIG. In FIG. 7H, the SCS 68 requests the SD card control unit 133 to install the application addition file received from the server 150, and the SCS 68 obtains the request application, the electronic signature of the application, the setting file, and the electronic signature of the setting file. Is written to the application activation SD card 141.
[0092]
According to the processing in FIG. 7, it is possible to create the application activation card 141 as shown in FIG. 13 in which the request application, the electronic signature of the application, the setting file, and the electronic signature of the setting file are written.
[0093]
FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an example of an application starting SD card to which a program has been added. In the example of FIG. 13, “apl.cnf” under the directory “init.d” indicates a setting file, and “apl.lic” indicates an electronic signature file used for authentication check of the setting file. Further, “apl.mod” under the directory “module” indicates the request application, and “apl.mac” indicates the electronic signature of the application.
[0094]
In the installation standby screen 1300 displayed on the display device of the computer terminal 160, for example, a character string such as “the server and the device are being authenticated” is displayed as follows according to the processing state of the MFP 31 as follows. Change.
[0095]
During the processing of FIGS. 7A to 7E, a character string “the server and the device are being authenticated” is displayed on the installation standby screen 1300. When the processing of FIGS. 7F to 7G is being performed, a character string “Downloading a file” is displayed on the installation standby screen 1300. When the process of FIG. 7H is being performed, a character string “Updating the application” is displayed on the installation standby screen 1300.
[0096]
When the processing in FIGS. 7A to 7H is completed, the computer terminal 160 displays an installation completion screen 1400 on the display device. The installation completion screen 1400 includes a character string indicating that the installation has been completed and a character string indicating that the MFP 31 needs to be restarted in order to validate the newly added application.
[0097]
When the installation completion screen 1400 is displayed on the display screen of the computer device 160, the operator can add the request application to the MFP 31 by restarting the MFP 31.
[0098]
(Second embodiment)
The program addition method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which a program is added to an application starting SD card in response to a request from the operation panel 120 of the multi-function peripheral 31. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the processing of the multifunction peripheral, the server, and the computer terminal.
[0099]
In FIG. 14A, the operator operates the operation panel 120 to transmit information of an application to be added to the MFP 31 to the SCS 68 as a request application name. Specifically, the operator can use the screen as shown in FIG. 15 displayed on the operation panel 120 to transmit information of an application to be added to the multi-function peripheral 31 to the SCS 68 as a request application name.
[0100]
FIG. 15 is an image diagram of an example of a screen displayed on the operation panel of the multifunction peripheral. An operator who wants to add an application to the MFP 31 operates the operation panel 120 to display the setting screen 2000. The setting screen 2000 includes a new application addition button 2001 for adding a new application to the MFP 31. When the operator presses a new application addition button 2001 on the setting screen 2000, the operation panel 120 displays an initial screen 2100.
[0101]
The initial screen 2100 includes a character string to start installation and an installation start button 2101. When the operator presses the installation start button 2101 on the initial screen 2100, the SCS 68 acquires information on an app that can be added and causes the operation panel 120 to display the application selection screen 2200.
[0102]
The application selection screen 2200 is a screen for selecting an application to be added to the MFP 31 and includes a large classification list of applications that can be added to the MFP 31 (for example, a printer, a copy, a scanner, and the like). When the operator selects a major category of the application to be added to the multifunction machine 31 from the major category list on the application selection screen 2200, the operation panel 120 displays an application selection screen 2300.
[0103]
The application selection screen 2300 is a screen for selecting an application to be added to the multifunction device 31 and includes a small classification list of applications that can be added to the multifunction device 31 (for example, RPCS, RPDL, PS, etc.). When the operator selects an application to be added to the MFP 31 from the small classification list on the application selection screen 2300, the operation panel 120 displays a confirmation screen 2400.
[0104]
The confirmation screen 2400 includes a character string for confirming the selected application, a “Yes” button 2401, and a “No” button 2402. When the operator presses “Yes” button 2401 on confirmation screen 2400, operation panel 120 displays confirmation screen 2500. When the operator presses “No” button 2402 on confirmation screen 2400, operation panel 120 displays, for example, application selection screen 2200 again.
[0105]
The confirmation screen 2500 includes a character string for printing out a license agreement describing disclaimers and the like, a character string for prompting consent to the agreement, an “Agree” button 2501, and a “Disagree” button 2502. Including. When the operator presses “agree” button 2501 on confirmation screen 2500, operation panel 120 displays confirmation screen 2600. The SCS 68 prints out the license agreement via the ECS 65.
[0106]
The screen displayed on the operation panel 120 is displayed by the SCS 68 using the OCS 63. Returning to FIG. 14A, when the operator presses the “agree” button 2501 on the confirmation screen 2500, the SCS 68 checks whether the application corresponding to the requested application name exists on the application activation SD card 141.
[0107]
If it is determined that the application corresponding to the request application name exists in the application activation SD card 141, the SCS 68 proceeds to the process in FIG. Note that the processing in FIGS. 14B to 14G is the same as the processing in FIGS. 7C to 7H, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0108]
According to the processing in FIG. 14, the application starting card 141 as shown in FIG. 13 in which the request application, the electronic signature of the application, the setting file, and the electronic signature of the setting file are written can be created.
[0109]
In the confirmation screen 2600 displayed on the operation panel 120, for example, the character string “downloading” changes as follows according to the processing state of the MFP 31.
[0110]
When the processing of FIGS. 14A to 14E is being performed, a character string “DOWNLOADING” is displayed on the confirmation screen 2600. While the processing of FIGS. 14F to 14G is being performed, the confirmation screen 2600 displays a character string “installing”. For example, the number “*” displayed on the confirmation screen 2600 indicates the progress of the process.
[0111]
Then, when the processing of FIGS. 14A to 14G ends, the operation panel 120 displays an end screen 2700. The end screen 2700 includes a character string indicating that the installation has been completed and a character string urging the MFP 31 to restart (off → on).
[0112]
When the end screen 2700 is displayed on the operation panel 120, the operator can add the request application to the MFP 31 by restarting the MFP 31.
[0113]
In the present embodiment, the processing of the MFP 31 has been mainly described, but application to the information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is easy. Further, the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.
[0114]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to add a program to a program starting recording medium while ensuring the safety of the program recorded on the pluggable program starting recording medium.
[0115]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of a multifunction peripheral starting unit.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example for explaining a program adding method according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of processing of a multifunction peripheral, a server, and a computer terminal.
FIG. 8 is an image diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a computer terminal.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a user authentication check process;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of creating an application addition file.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an authentication check process of a request application.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an authentication check process of a setting file.
FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an example of an application starting SD card to which a program is added.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of processing of the multifunction peripheral, the server, and the computer terminal.
FIG. 15 is an image diagram of an example of a screen displayed on an operation panel of the multifunction peripheral.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Information processing device
2,32 software group
3 Starter
4 Hardware resources
11,133 SD card control unit
12 Program addition section
27,110 Slot for SD card
31 Fusion machine
33 Fusion machine starter
34 Hardware Resources
61 NCS
63 OCS
65 ECS
68 SCS
110 SD card slot
120 Operation Panel
131 Program Launcher
132 Electronic Authentication Check Library
141 SD card for application launch
150 servers
160 computer terminal
200 Network

Claims (28)

An information processing apparatus having a slot into which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and with which a program is added to a program starting recording medium inserted into one of the slots,
On an external computer terminal, display a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium, while receiving a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen,
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. An information processing apparatus comprising an additional unit for adding a program to a boot recording medium. An information processing apparatus having a slot into which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and with which a program is added to a program starting recording medium inserted into one of the slots,
On the operation panel, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium is displayed, and a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen is added.
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. An information processing apparatus comprising an additional unit for adding a program to a boot recording medium. The adding unit includes: identification information of the recording medium for program activation; a name of a program to be added to the recording medium for program activation; identification information of the information processing device; user information of the information processing device; The identification information of the boot recording medium, the name of the program to be added to the program boot recording medium, the identification information of the information processing apparatus, and the electronic signature of the information processing apparatus created from the user information of the information processing apparatus, 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the server together with a request for creating an application addition file. The application addition file is a program to be added to the program start-up recording medium, an electronic signature of the application created from the program and identification information of the information processing apparatus, a setting file, the setting file, and the program. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an electronic signature of the setting file created from identification information of the boot recording medium. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit performs an authentication check of the application addition file received from the server, and adds the application addition file to a program starting recording medium according to a result of the authentication check. 3. The information processing device according to 1 or 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection screen includes a list of programs that can be added to the program start recording medium, and a selection unit that selects a program from the list. The selection screen includes a screen for selecting a program that can be added to the recording medium for program startup by a classification item, and a screen for selecting a program from a list of programs included in the selected classification item. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein after the program is selected from the selection screen, the adding unit causes the computer terminal to display a confirmation screen including a character string according to a processing status of the information processing apparatus. Processing equipment. 3. The information according to claim 2, wherein after the program is selected from the selection screen, the adding unit displays a confirmation screen including a character string according to a processing status of the information processing apparatus on the operation panel. Processing equipment. 2. The computer terminal according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit causes the computer terminal to display a completion screen including a character string for prompting a restart of the information processing apparatus after adding the program to the program starting recording medium. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the adding unit displays, on the operation panel, a completion screen including a character string for prompting a restart of the information processing apparatus after adding the program to the program starting recording medium. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program starting recording medium is hot-swappable. An image forming apparatus having a slot into which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and removed, and adding a program to a program starting recording medium inserted into one of the slots,
On an external computer terminal, display a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium, while receiving a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen,
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. An image forming apparatus comprising an additional unit for adding a program to a start-up recording medium. An image forming apparatus having a slot into which a plurality of recording media can be inserted and removed, and adding a program to a program starting recording medium inserted into one of the slots,
On the operation panel, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium is displayed, and a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen is acquired.
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. An image forming apparatus comprising an additional unit for adding a program to a start-up recording medium. The adding means includes identification information of the recording medium for program activation, a name of a program to be added to the recording medium for program activation, identification information of the image forming apparatus, user information of the image forming apparatus, The identification information of the start-up recording medium, the name of the program to be added to the program start-up recording medium, the identification information of the image forming apparatus, and the electronic signature of the image forming apparatus created from the user information of the image forming apparatus. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the request is transmitted to the server together with a request for creating a file for adding an application. The file for adding an application is a program to be added to the recording medium for starting the program, an electronic signature of the application created from the program and identification information of the image forming apparatus, a setting file, the setting file, and the program. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: an electronic signature of the setting file created from identification information of the recording medium for activation. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit performs an authentication check of the application addition file received from the server, and adds the application addition file to a program activation recording medium according to a result of the authentication check. 15. The image forming apparatus according to 13 or 14. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the selection screen includes a list of programs that can be added to the program start recording medium, and a selection unit that selects a program from the list. The selection screen includes a screen for selecting a program that can be added to a program start-up recording medium by the classification item from the selection screen, and a screen for selecting a program from a list of programs included in the selected classification item. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: 14. The image according to claim 13, wherein, after a program is selected from the selection screen, the adding unit causes the computer terminal to display a confirmation screen including a character string according to a processing status of the image forming apparatus. Forming equipment. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein after the program is selected, the adding unit displays a confirmation screen including a character string according to a processing status of the image forming apparatus on the operation panel. 14. The computer according to claim 13, wherein the adding unit causes the computer terminal to display a completion screen including a character string for prompting a restart of the image forming apparatus after adding the program to the program starting recording medium. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adding unit displays, on the operation panel, a completion screen including a character string for prompting a restart of the image forming apparatus after adding the program to the program starting recording medium. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the program starting recording medium is hot-swappable. It has a server for creating a file for adding an application necessary for adding a program to a recording medium for program activation, an external computer terminal operated by an operator, and an information processing apparatus for adding a program to the recording medium for program activation. A method for adding a system program,
The information processing device, on an external computer terminal, to display a selection screen of a program that can be added to the recording medium for program startup, receiving a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen,
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a start-up recording medium. A program addition method for a system having a server that creates an application addition file necessary for adding a program to a program startup recording medium and an information processing device that adds a program to the program startup recording medium,
The information processing apparatus, on an operation panel, displays a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium, and obtains a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen,
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a start-up recording medium. It has a server for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to a program starting recording medium, an external computer terminal operated by an operator, and an image forming apparatus for adding a program to the program starting recording medium. A method for adding a system program,
The image forming apparatus, on an external computer terminal, to display a selection screen of a program that can be added to the recording medium for program startup, receiving a program addition request of the program selected from the selection screen,
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a start-up recording medium. A program addition method for a system having a server that creates an application addition file necessary for adding a program to a program startup recording medium, and an image forming apparatus that adds a program to the program startup recording medium,
The image forming apparatus displays, on an operation panel, a selection screen of a program that can be added to the program start recording medium, and obtains a program addition request for the program selected from the selection screen.
Upon receiving the program addition request, a request for creating an application addition file necessary for adding a program to the program start-up recording medium is transmitted to an external server, and the application addition file is received from the server to receive the program addition request. Adding a program to a start-up recording medium.

Images