JP2004362550A - Information processor, information processing method, information processing program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor for acquiring and managing user information from an information managing server such as an LDAP server and an information processing method for reflecting the change of user information managed by the information managing server on user information managed by an information processor. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor is provided with an information managing means for managing user information acquired from an information managing server which manages user information. The information managing means is able to manage the user information acquired from the information managing server, and managed as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information processor by linking it to user information managed by the information managing server as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information managing server, and update the user information managed so as to be linked to the user information managed by the information managing server based on the link by starting update according to an update start operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information device having an information processing function as a main function, such as a personal computer and a workstation, and an electric device having an information processing function as a subordinate function, such as a copy, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, a multifunction peripheral, and a multifunction peripheral. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing program, and a recording medium having an information processing function as a main function or a sub function.

  In recent years, various electric devices have been equipped with an information processing function. For example, a mobile phone that manages information such as e-mail addresses and telephone numbers input by a user, a satellite tuner that manages information such as channel settings input by a user, and information such as recipes obtained via the Internet Microwave oven. In order to realize such an information processing function, the electric device includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a HDD, a MODEM, a NIC, and the like. In other words, it can be said that this is the conversion of electrical equipment to information equipment.

  Examples of information devices include personal computers, workstations, and the like. Examples of electrical devices that are becoming information devices include, in addition to the above examples, copiers, printers, scanners, facsimiles, multifunction devices, and multifunction devices. And the like. A multifunction device or a multifunction device is a device that realizes functions as a copier, printer, scanner, and facsimile with one device.

  Among the functions of information devices and electric devices, there are functions that require “user information”. For example, when a mobile phone functions as a mail terminal or a telephone, "user information" such as a mail address and a telephone number is required. For example, when a multifunction device or a multifunction device functions as a scanner or a facsimile, “user information” such as a mail address and a facsimile telephone number is required. Information devices and electrical devices often have a function to manage these user information, but information devices and electrical devices also have a function to acquire these user information from the "information management server". It is convenient if they are provided. An example of such an “information management server” is an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server used for managing employee information, customer information, resident information, and the like.

  In the LDAP server, a person or an organization is regarded as an “object”. Information about each object is stored by an "entry" of each object. The entry stores “object class” which is information on the type of the object, “attribute” which is information on the property of the object, and the like. Attributes are "attribute types" such as c (country) o (organization) ou (organization unit) cn (first and last name) sn (last name) givenName (first name) mail (email address) telephoneNumber (telephone number) facsimile TelephoneNumber (facsimile telephone number) , C: Japan, o: Ricoh, ou: R & D department, cn: Suzuki Taro, sn: Suzuki, givenName: Taro, etc. Since each entry is hierarchized by an object class, the identifier (DN) of each entry is formed by arranging the relative identifier (RDN) of each entry derived from one attribute (identification attribute) of each entry in the hierarchical order. Is done.

  Various "requests" and "responses" are repeated between the LDAP client and the LDAP server. In LDAP, authentication-related operations such as binding and unbinding, query-related operations such as search and compare, addition, deletion, and modification are performed. Update operations such as are provided. For example, when a "search operation" is requested from the LDAP client to the LDAP server, a "search result" is returned from the LDAP server to the LDAP client.

  When an information device or an electric device acquires and manages user information from an LDAP server, the user information managed by the LDAP server may be changed after acquiring the user information from the LDAP server. For example, there is a case where a mail address, a telephone number, or a facsimile telephone number is changed due to a personnel change or an address change. In such a case, it is convenient if the change of the user information managed by the LDAP server can be reflected on the user information managed by the information device or the electric device.

  Therefore, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that acquires and manages user information from an information management server such as an LDAP server, and changes a user information managed by the information management server to a user managed by the information processing apparatus. It is an object to propose a method to reflect the information.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus including an information management unit that manages user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information, wherein the information management unit includes User information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is managed by the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. It is possible to link and manage the user information, and by starting the update in response to the update start operation, it is possible to link the user information managed by the information management server with the user information managed by the information management server. , Can be updated based on the link.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus stores user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information and user information other than user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information. An information processing apparatus comprising information management means for storing and managing in the same entry, wherein the information management means is obtained from the information management server, and is used as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus. The user information to be managed can be linked to the user information managed by the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server, and can be managed, and in response to an update start operation. By starting the update, the user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the information management server is linked to the link. It can be updated based.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 3 is an information processing apparatus including an information management unit that manages user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information, the information processing apparatus being acquired from the information management server. The user information managed by the information management means as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is managed by the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. Link operation means for linking to the user information, and update start operation means for executing an update start operation for starting update of the user information managed by the information management means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus stores user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information and user information other than user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information. An information processing apparatus comprising information management means for storing and managing information in the same entry, wherein the information management means is obtained from the information management server and managed by the information management means as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus. Link operation means for linking the user information to be performed to the user information managed by the information management server as item values of predetermined management items in the information management server, and the information management means manages the An update start operation unit for executing an update start operation for starting updating of user information is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the second or fourth aspect, the information management means includes a user information other than the user information acquired from the information management server. Can be managed as user information that is not discarded when new user information is acquired from the information management server.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the information management means may include a user acquired from the information management server. A part of the information is managed by linking it to the user information managed by the information management server, and a part of the user information obtained from the information management server is managed by the information management server. It is possible to manage without linking to the user information that has been set.

  An invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 7 is the invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an update start operation means for executing the update start operation.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 8 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information management unit is managed by the information management server. The user information related to the information management server selected as the update target by the information management server selection operation among the user information managed by linking to the user information can be updated based on the link.

  An invention (information processing apparatus) according to a ninth aspect relates to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the eighth aspect, further comprising an information management server selection operation unit for executing the information management server selection operation.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 10 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information relating to the information management server selected as an update target by the information management server selection operation is stored in the information processing apparatus. An information management server display unit is provided for displaying information while waiting for update.

  An invention (information processing device) according to claim 11 is the information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information management unit is managed by the information management server. It is possible to update, based on the link, the user information relating to the management item selected as the update target by the management item selection operation from the user information managed by linking to the user information.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the invention (information processing apparatus), the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the eleventh aspect includes a management item selection operation means for executing the management item selection operation.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 13 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein information related to the management item selected as the update target by the management item selection operation is updated. There is provided a management item display means for displaying during standby.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the information management unit is managed by the information management server. It is possible to update, based on the link, the user information relating to the user selected as the update target by the user selection operation from the user information managed by linking to the user information.

  An invention (information processing apparatus) according to a fifteenth aspect is directed to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the fourteenth aspect, further comprising a user selection operation unit for executing the user selection operation.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, information on a user selected as an update target by the user selection operation is waiting for the update. And a user display means for displaying in.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention (information processing apparatus), the information management means manages an updated version of the user information with respect to the first aspect of the invention (information processing apparatus).

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 18 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the information management unit manages an update history of user information.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 19 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the user information is updated by the information management unit after the user information is updated. Update history display means for displaying an update history of information is provided.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 20, according to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the user information is updated after the information management unit updates the user information. Update content display means for displaying the update content of the information is provided.

  The invention (information processing device) according to claim 21 is the invention (information processing device) according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the information management server is an LDAP server.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 22 is an image forming apparatus according to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

  According to a twenty-third aspect of the invention (information processing apparatus), the image processing apparatus according to the twenty-second aspect performs an image forming process using user information managed by the information management means.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 24 transmits an image using the user information managed by the information management means, with respect to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 22.

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 25 is an information processing method including an information management step of managing user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information, wherein the information management step includes the step of: User information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is managed by the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. It is possible to link and manage the user information, and by starting the update in response to the update start operation, it is possible to link the user information managed by the information management server with the user information managed by the information management server. , Can be updated based on the link.

  According to the invention (information processing method) of claim 26, the user information obtained from the information management server that manages the user information and the user information other than the user information obtained from the information management server that manages the user information are An information processing method comprising an information management step of storing and managing in the same entry, wherein the information management step is obtained from the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus. The user information to be managed can be linked to the user information managed by the information management server as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server, and can be managed, and in response to an update start operation. By starting the update, the user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the information management server is linked. It can be updated based on.

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 27 is an information processing method including an information management step of managing user information obtained from an information management server that manages user information, wherein the information processing method is provided from the information management server. The user information managed by the information management step as the item value of the predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is managed by the information management server as the item value of the predetermined management item in the information management server. Providing link operation means for linking to user information, and providing update start operation means for executing an update start operation for starting updating of the user information managed by the information management step. .

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 28 is characterized in that user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information and user information other than user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information An information processing method comprising an information management step of storing and managing in the same entry, wherein the information management step is performed by the information management step as an item value of a predetermined management item acquired from the information management server and managed by the information processing apparatus. Providing link operation means for linking the user information to be performed to the user information managed by the information management server as item values of predetermined management items in the information management server; and Providing an update start operation means for executing an update start operation for starting update of the managed user information.

  According to the invention (information processing method) according to claim 29, in the information processing method according to claim 26 or 28, the information management step includes the step of determining user information other than the user information acquired from the information management server. Can be managed as user information that is not discarded when new user information is acquired from the information management server.

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 30 is the information processing method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the information management step includes the step of: A part of the information is managed by linking it to the user information managed by the information management server, and a part of the user information obtained from the information management server is managed by the information management server. It is possible to manage without linking to the user information that has been set.

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 31 relates to the invention (information processing method) according to any one of claims 25 to 30, using user information managed in the information management step. An image forming process is executed.

  The invention (information processing method) according to claim 32 relates to the invention (information processing method) according to any one of claims 25 to 30, using user information managed in the information management step. Send the image.

  An invention (information processing program) according to claim 33 is an information processing program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 25 to 32.

  An invention (recording medium) according to a thirty-fourth aspect is a recording medium recording an information processing program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of the twenty-fifth to thirty-second aspects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the information management server starts updating in response to an update start operation and updates the user information managed by the information management apparatus based on the link. The change in the managed user information can be reflected in the user information managed by the information processing device.

  In the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the eighth aspect, an information management server to be updated can be set as an update target.

  According to the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the tenth aspect, it is possible to grasp the update target, the number of the update targets, and the like according to the display content while waiting for the update. For example, it can be used to determine whether or not to cancel the update while waiting.

  In the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the eleventh aspect, a management item to be updated can be set as an update target.

  In the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the thirteenth aspect, it is possible to grasp the update target and the quantity thereof in accordance with the display content while waiting for the update. For example, it can be used to determine whether or not to cancel the update while waiting.

  In the invention (information processing device) according to claim 14, a user who wants to be an update target can be set as an update target.

  In the invention (information processing apparatus) according to the sixteenth aspect, the update target and the quantity thereof can be grasped according to the display content while waiting for the update. For example, it can be used to determine whether or not to cancel the update while waiting.

  In the invention (information processing device) according to the nineteenth aspect, after the user information is updated, the update history of the user information can be confirmed. For example, it can be used to determine whether to return the user information to the state before the update.

  According to the twentieth aspect (information processing apparatus), after the user information is updated, the updated content of the user information can be confirmed. For example, it can be used to determine whether to return the user information to the state before the update.

  The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 22 can execute image forming processing, such as transmitting an image, using user information managed by the information management apparatus as the image forming apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, regarding an information processing apparatus that acquires and manages user information from an information management server such as an LDAP server, the information processing apparatus manages a change in user information managed by the information management server. It proposes a method to reflect on the existing user information.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 30 illustrates an information processing apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 11 in FIG. 30 includes various hardware 21, various software 22, and an activation unit 23.

  The hardware 21 includes an information processing unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like, a communication unit including a MODEM and an NIC, an operation unit including a keyboard and a mouse, a display, and the like. There is a display unit and the like.

  As the software 22, there are various applications 31 and various platforms 32. As the platform 32, a module for controlling the information processing unit, a module for mediating for the communication unit, a module for controlling the operation unit and the display unit, a module for controlling user information management, and a control for system management Modules exist. These are executed in parallel in process units by an OS (operating system) such as UNIX (registered trademark).

  The activation unit 23 is executed first when the information processing apparatus 11 is powered on. As a result, an OS such as UNIX (registered trademark) is started, and the application 31 and the platform 32 are started.

  As an example of the information processing apparatus 11 in FIG. 30, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, a multifunction peripheral, and a multifunction peripheral can be given. Hereinafter, the multifunction peripheral 101 which is an example of the information processing apparatus 11 will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a multifunction peripheral 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction peripheral 101 in FIG. 1 includes various hardware 111, various software 112, and a multifunction peripheral starting unit 113.

  The hardware 111 includes an imaging unit 121, a printing unit 122, and other hardware 123. The imaging unit 121 is hardware for acquiring an image (image data) from a document. The printing unit 122 is hardware for printing an image (image data) on printing paper or the like.

  As the software 112, there are various applications 131 and various platforms 132. These are executed in parallel in process units by an OS (operating system) such as UNIX (registered trademark).

  The applications 131 include a copy application 141 that is a copy application, a printer application 142 that is a printer application, a scanner application 143 that is a scanner application, a facsimile application 144 that is a facsimile application, and a network. A network file application 145 that is a file application and an initial setting application 146 that is an initial setting application exist.

  The platform 132 includes various control services 151, a system resource manager 152, and various handlers 153. The control services 151 include a network control service (NCS) 161, a facsimile control service (FCS) 162, a delivery control service (DCS) 163, an engine control service (ECS) 164, and a memory control service (MCS) 165. , An operation panel control service (OCS) 166, a user directory control service (UCS) 167, and a system control service (SCS) 168. As the handler 153, a facsimile control unit handler (FCUH) 171 and an image memory handler (IMH) 172 exist.

  The process of the NCS 161 mediates network communication. The FCS 162 process provides a facsimile API. The process of the DCS 163 controls the distribution process of the stored document. The process of the ECS 164 controls the imaging unit 121 and the printing unit 122. The process of the MCS 165 controls the memory and the hard disk drive. The process of the OCS 166 controls the operation panel. The process of the UCS 167 controls the management of user information. The process of the SCS 168 controls the management of the system.

  The multifunction peripheral starting unit 113 is executed first when the multifunction peripheral 101 is powered on. As a result, an OS such as UNIX (registered trademark) is started, and the application 131 and the platform 132 are started. These programs are stored in the hard disk drive, reproduced from the hard disk drive, and activated in the memory.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the hardware 111 of the MFP 101 of FIG. The hardware 111 includes a controller 201, an operation panel 202, a facsimile control unit (FCU) 203, an imaging unit 121, and a printing unit 122.

  The controller 201 includes a CPU 211, ASIC 212, NB 221, SB 222, MEM-P 231, MEM-C 232, HDD (hard disk drive) 233, memory card slot 234, NIC (network interface controller) 241, and USB It comprises a device 242, an IEEE 1394 device 243, and a Centronics device 244.

  The CPU 211 is an IC for various information processing. The ASIC 212 is an IC for various image processing. The NB 221 is a north bridge of the controller 201. The SB 222 is a south bridge of the controller 201. The MEM-P 231 is a system memory of the MFP 101. The MEM-C 232 is a local memory of the MFP 101. The HDD 233 is a storage of the multifunction peripheral 101. The memory card slot 234 is a slot for setting a memory card 235. The NIC 241 is a controller for network communication using a MAC address. The USB device 242 is a device for providing a USB standard connection terminal. The IEEE 1394 device 243 is a device for providing a connection terminal of the IEEE 1394 standard. The Centronics device 244 is a device for providing a connection terminal of the Centronics specification.

  The operation panel 202 is hardware (operation unit) for the operator to input data to the multifunction peripheral 101 and hardware (display unit) for the multifunction peripheral 101 to output data to the operator.

  FIG. 3 shows an appearance of the multifunction peripheral 101 of FIG. FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the imaging unit 121, the position of the printing unit 122, and the position of the operation panel 202. FIG. 3 further shows a document setting unit 301 for setting a document, a paper feeding unit 302 as a paper feeding destination, and a paper discharging unit 303 as a printing paper discharging destination.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 202 includes a touch panel 311, numeric buttons 312, a start button 313, a reset button 314, and an initialization button 315.

  The touch panel 311 is hardware (touch operation unit) for the operator to perform an input to the multifunction peripheral 101 by a touch operation, and hardware (screen display unit) for the multifunction peripheral 101 to output to the operator by screen display. It is. The number buttons 312 are hardware for the operator to input numbers to the multifunction peripheral 101 by button operations. The start button 313 is hardware for performing a start operation by button operation. The reset button 314 is hardware for performing a reset operation by button operation. The initial setting button 315 is hardware for displaying an initial setting screen by button operation.

(User information)
Management of user information in the multifunction peripheral 101 of FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the multifunction peripheral 101 shown in FIG. 1, user information is accumulated and managed in the HDD 233 (see FIG. 2) by the UCS 167 (see FIG. 1), and mainly the scanner application 143 (see FIG. 1) and the facsimile application 144 (see FIG. 1). 1). This is because when the multifunction peripheral 101 functions as a scanner or a facsimile, user information such as a mail address and a facsimile telephone number is required. The multifunction peripheral 101 uses the user information stored in the HDD 233 and managed by the UCS 167 to perform image forming processing such as transmitting an image to another device via a network or the like (for example, as a copy, a printer, a scanner, or a facsimile). Process) can be performed. Here, the user information is stored and managed in the HDD 233, but may be stored and managed in the memory card 235 (see FIG. 2) set in the memory card slot 234 (see FIG. 2). Good. The memory card slot 234 and the memory card 235 are, for example, an SD memory card slot and an SD memory card.

  In the MFP 101 of FIG. 1, user information is managed by the UCS 167 in an address book 501 as shown in FIG. That is, the user (entry) is managed based on the user ID (entry ID), and the user information is the item value of the management item such as “name”, “display name”, “yomigana”, “mail address”, “FAX address”, etc. Is managed as The data structure of the user information of each user is a tree structure 601 as shown in FIG. That is, the management items “name” and “display name” are parent items, and the management items “mail destination” and “FAX destination” are child items. The user information of one user is usually stored and managed in one entry, but may be stored and managed in a plurality of entries.

  The MFP 101 of FIG. 1 can acquire and manage user information from an LDAP server via a network or the like. As shown in FIG. 7, the MFP 101 is connected to three LDAP servers 701 (LDAP servers A, B, and C) via the LAN 711, and the three LDAP servers 701 (LDAP servers A, B, and C). ) Can be obtained and managed via the LAN 711.

  This will be specifically described with reference to the system diagram and the flow chart of FIGS. The scanner application 143 and the facsimile application 144 display a scanner screen 721 and a facsimile screen 722 as shown in FIG. 7 on the touch panel 311 (see FIG. 4). When an operation for acquiring (retrieving) user information from the LDAP server 701 is input through these screens, a server information acquisition request is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S1). In response, the server information is provided from the UCS 167 to the scanner application 143 or the like (S2).

  The server information is information on the LDAP server 701 connected to the multifunction peripheral 101, and is stored in the HDD 233 and managed by the UCS 167. The management items of the server information are “server name”, “port number”, “IP address” and the like. The server information can be registered and changed on an initial setting screen 901 as shown in FIG. Specifically, when the initial setting button 315 (see FIG. 4) is pressed, the screen changes from the scanner screen 721 or the like to the initial setting screen 901, and the “system initial setting button 911” is touched on the initial setting screen 901. Then, the screen moves to a system initial setting screen 902, and when the “LDAP server registration / change button 921” is touched on the system initial setting screen 902, the screen moves to an LDAP server registration / change screen 903, and the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 is displayed. When the server information is input on the change screen 903 and the “setting button 931” is touched, the server information is registered / changed. Note that these screens are displayed on the touch panel 311 by the SCS 168 (see FIG. 1).

  Subsequently, when an operation for acquiring (searching) desired user information from the desired LDAP server 701 based on the server information is input, a search request for user information is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S3). The search operation is requested from the UCS 167 to the LDAP server 701 (S4), and the search result is returned from the LDAP server 701 to the UCS 167 (S5). A search end notification of the user information is transmitted to the application 143 or the like (S6).

  Subsequently, a request for obtaining user information is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S7), and the user information is provided from the UCS 167 to the scanner application 143 or the like in response to the request (S8).

  This will be described with reference to the screen change diagram of FIG. Screen A is the screen 721 for the scanner in FIG. When the “loupe button 1001” is touched on the screen A, the screen moves to the screen B. When “LDAP search button 1002” is touched on screen B, the screen moves to screen C. When the “LDAP server selection button 1011” is touched on the screen C, the screen shifts to the screen D, and when the “LDAP search condition input button 1012” is touched on the screen C, the screen shifts to the screen E. When the LDAP server is selected on the screen D and the “OK button 1021” is touched, the screen returns to the screen C. When the LDAP search condition is input on the screen E and the “OK button 1022” is touched, the screen F is displayed. The screen shifts to, and the user information is eventually displayed.

  Note that the operation of touching the “LDAP search button 1002” on the screen B corresponds to an operation of acquiring (searching) user information from the LDAP server 701, and the user selects the LDAP server on the screen D and clicks the “OK button 1021”. And the operation of inputting the LDAP search condition on the screen E and touching the “OK button 1022” correspond to the operation of acquiring (searching) desired user information from the desired LDAP server 701. .

  FIG. 11 illustrates a search result returned from the LDAP server 701 to the UCS 167 (S5), that is, user information acquired from the LDAP server 701. The acquisition items of the user information are “cn”, “sn”, “givenName”, “mail”, “fasimile TelephoneNumber” and the like. This is because the LDAP server 701 manages the user information as item values (attribute values) of management items (attributes) such as "cn", "sn", "givenName", "mail", and "facilile TelephoneNumber". To be more precise, in the LDAP server 701, characters other than ASCII characters such as Japanese are described after being encoded in Base64 format, but are omitted in FIG. 11 for convenience.

  In the MFP 101 of FIG. 1, the data structure of the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 is S5-6 between S5 and S6 as shown in FIGS. Is converted into a data structure as shown in FIG. At this time, the UCS 167 replaces the acquisition item of the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 with the management item of the user information managed by the MFP 101. This is because the management items of the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 are different from the management items of the user information managed by the MFP 101. For example, in the LDAP server 701, the mail address is managed in the management item “mail” (see FIG. 11), but in the multifunction peripheral 101, the mail address is managed in the management item “mail destination” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Is done.

  The screen change diagram of FIG. 12 is a screen change diagram following the screen change diagram of FIG. The screen is changed from the screen F in FIG. 10 to the screen G in FIG.

  On the screen G, the user information provided (S8) from the UCS 167 to the scanner application 143 or the like is displayed. This user information is a search result returned from the LDAP server 701 to the UCS 167 (S5), that is, user information acquired from the LDAP server 701. However, the user information is not the user information obtained from the LDAP server 701 as it is, but the UCS 167 replaces the obtained item (see FIG. 11) with the management item (see FIGS. 5 and 6) (S5-6). For example, the acquisition item “mail” has been replaced by the management item “mail destination”. The reason why a large number of user information of the user “Suzuki **” is displayed on the screen G in FIG. 12 is that the LDAP search condition “Name” was input as “Suzuki” with a forward match on the screen E in FIG. is there.

  When the user “Taro Suzuki” is touched on the screen G and the “Details button 1201” is touched, the screen moves to the screen H. On the screen H, details of the user information of the user “Taro Suzuki” are displayed. After all, the acquired items have been replaced by management items. When the “detail close button 1202” is touched on the screen H, the screen returns to the screen G.

  When the MFP 101 acquires and manages user information from the LDAP server 701, the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 may be changed after acquiring the user information from the LDAP server 701. For example, there is a case where a mail address or a facsimile telephone number is changed due to a personnel change or an address change. In such a case, it is convenient if the change of the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 can be reflected on the user information managed by the multifunction peripheral 101. This will be dealt with in the embodiments described later.

  Note that the multifunction peripheral 101 not only manages the user information (referred to as “first user information” as appropriate) acquired from the LDAP server 701, but also manages user information other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 (appropriate “ 2nd user information). For example, “user billing information” relating to billing to a user using the multifunction peripheral 101 and “user restriction information” relating to restrictions on a user using the multifunction peripheral 101 are usually user information of a kind acquired from the LDAP server 701. It is not. It is convenient to centralize and manage such user information. This is also dealt with in the embodiments described later.

(Example)
An embodiment according to the MFP 101 of FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the MFP 101 of FIG. 1, the UCS 167 (see FIG. 1) includes user information (first user information) acquired from the LDAP server 701 and user information (second user information) other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701. The user information is stored in the same entry and managed, so that it can be managed in a unified manner.

  It has been described that the user information is managed by the UCS 167 in the address book 501 as shown in FIG. 5, but in this embodiment, the user information is managed by the UCS 167 in the address book 501 as shown in FIG. That is, the user information is managed by being classified into four types of “identification information”, “storage information”, “search information”, and “additional information”. In other words, the management items of the user information are classified into four types of management items. Although it has been described that the data structure of the user information of each user has a tree structure 601 as shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the tree structure 601 as shown in FIG. 14 is described in more detail. In this embodiment, the “identification information”, “storage information”, “search information”, and “additional information” of one user are stored and managed in the same entry.

  The additional information is user information (second user information) other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701. For example, there are user billing information, user restriction information, user group information, server information, and the like. That is, input information input to the MFP 101 based on an input operation using the operation panel 202 (see FIG. 2) or the like, generation information generated in the MFP 101, and the like are included. In the MFP 101 of FIG. 1, the UCS 167 manages the additional information as user information that is not discarded when new user information is acquired from the LDAP 701 server.

  When acquiring and managing user information from the LDAP server 701, the conventional multifunction peripheral 101 discards the user information acquired and managed from the LDAP server 701 when acquiring new user information from the LDAP server 701. Resulting in. Therefore, the user information (first user information) acquired from the LDAP server 701 and the user information (second user information) other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 are stored and managed in separate entries. You. This is because user information (second user information) other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 is not discarded.

  In the case where the MFP 101 of FIG. 1 also acquires and manages user information from the LDAP server 701, when acquiring new user information from the LDAP server 701, the MFP 101 acquires the user information from the LDAP server 701 except for an update described later. Destroys the user information that is managed. However, the user information (first user information) obtained from the LDAP server 701 and the user information (second user information) other than the user information obtained from the LDAP server 701 are stored and managed in the same entry. You. This is because the user information (second user information) other than the user information acquired from the LDAP server 701 is managed as additional information, so that the user information does not need to be discarded.

  The search information is user information (first user information) acquired from the LDAP server 701, and is managed without being linked to the user information managed by the LDAP server 701. Which user information of the first user information is to be used as the search information may be automatically determined, but here, it can be selected based on a selection operation. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, “display name”, “yomigana”, etc., which are relatively unlikely to be changed, are search information.

  The storage information is user information (first user information) acquired from the LDAP server 701, and is user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the LDAP server 701. Which user information of the first user information is to be stored information may be automatically determined, but here, it is possible to select based on a selection operation. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, “mail destination”, “FAX destination”, and the like, which are relatively likely to be changed, are stored information.

  The identification information is user information (first user information) acquired from the LDAP server 701, and is user information serving as user identification information (entry identification information) for user identification (entry identification). The identification information is used for linking the stored information with the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 and managing the linked information. Which user information of the first user information is used as the identification information may be automatically determined, but here, it can be selected based on a selection operation. In FIGS. 13 and 14, “name”, “user code”, and the like, which are considered to be appropriate as user identification information for user identification, are identification information. For your information, the name alone will have the same name, and the user code alone will have the finiteness of the combination.

  In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, which user information is set as “additional information”, “search information”, “storage information”, and “identification information” is set in common for all users. It may be set individually for each user.

(1) Selection of identification information / storage information / retrieval information With reference to FIG. 15, a selection operation for selecting which user information among the first user information is identification information for all users will be described. When the “user identification information setting button 932” is touched on the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. 9, the screen moves to the user identification information setting screen 1501 in FIG.

  On the user identification information setting screen 1501 in FIG. 15, the user identification information can be set by inputting the management items (attributes) of the user information managed by the LDAP server 701. For example, to input “cn” and “employeeNumber”, touch “selection button” on the user information setting screen 1501 in FIG. 15 and “cn” and “employeeNumber” on the attribute selection screen 1502 in FIG. The touch operation of touching is executed.

  Thus, the user information managed as the item value of the management item “name” replaced with the management item “cn”, and the user information managed as the item value of the management item “user code” replaced with the management item “employeeNumber” Is commonly selected as identification information for all users.

  In a case where which user information of the first user information is to be used as the identification information is individually selected for each user, for example, the user can be selected on the user identification information setting screen 1501 in FIG. What should I do?

  With reference to FIG. 16, a description will be given of a selection operation of commonly selecting which user information of the first user information is to be stored information for all users. When the “address book registration / change button 922” is touched on the system initial setting screen 902 in FIG. 9, the screen moves to the address book registration / change screen 1601 in FIG.

  In the address book registration / change screen 1601 shown in FIG. 16, the management items (attributes) of the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 are input to the user information management items managed by the multifunction peripheral 101. The user information managed by the device 101 can be linked to the user information managed by the LDAP server 701. For example, in order to input “mail” in the “mail destination” column, touch the “selection button” in the “mail destination” column in FIG. 16 and touch “mail” in the attribute selection screen 1602 in FIG. Perform the touch operation of performing.

  In this way, the user information managed as the item value of the management item “mail destination” to be replaced from the management item “mail” is commonly selected as the save information for all users.

  In order to individually select which user information of the first user information is to be stored information for each user, for example, when the user is selected on the address book registration / change screen 1601 in FIG. You should be able to do it.

  Incidentally, the first user information not selected as the identification information or the storage information is automatically determined as the search information.

(2) Update of Storage Information As described above, the UCS 167 manages the storage information by linking it to the user information managed by the LDAP server 701. More specifically, the storage information managed as an item value of a predetermined management item (for example, a mail destination) in the multifunction peripheral 101 is managed as an item value of a predetermined management item (for example, mail) in the LDAP server 701. It is managed by linking to the user information. Then, the UCS 167 can update the storage information based on the link by starting the update of the storage information in response to an operation to start updating the storage information (update start operation). Thus, the change of the user information managed by the LDAP server 701 can be reflected on the user information (stored information) managed by the UCS 167. In particular, here, instead of updating the user information irrespective of the management items as in the case of commercially available groupware, a “link” that associates the management items in the multifunction peripheral 101 with the management items in the LDAP server 701 is used. , The user information is updated, so that a more precise update process can be realized.

  This will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When an operation to start updating storage information is input via the scanner screen 721 or the facsimile screen 722 in FIG. 7, a request to start updating storage information is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S101). Is done. In response, the UCS 167 starts updating the stored information (S102). As a part of this updating process, the UCS 167 requests the LDAP server 701 to perform a search operation related to the stored information (S102-1), and the LDAP server 701 returns a search result related to the stored information to the UCS 167 (S102-2). . In this way, the UCS 167 executes the process of updating the stored information. Subsequently, the UCS 167 transmits a save information update end notification to the scanner application 143 or the like (S103).

  Thereafter, when an operation for displaying the updated content of the storage information is input, a request to acquire user information relating to the user (entry) whose storage information has been updated is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S104). You. In response, the UCS 167 extracts a user (entry) whose storage information has been updated from among the users (entries) stored and managed in the HDD 233 (see FIG. 2) (S105). Subsequently, the UCS 167 provides the scanner application 143 or the like with user information relating to the user (entry) whose storage information has been updated (S106). In response, the scanner application 143 or the like displays the updated content of the stored information on the touch panel 311 (see FIG. 4) (S107). Further, when an operation for displaying the update history of the storage information is input, the scanner application 143 or the like displays the update history of the storage information on the touch panel 311 (S108).

  This situation will be described with reference to the screen change diagrams of FIGS.

  FIG. 18 is a screen change diagram before updating. The screen I is the scanner screen 721 in FIG. When the “update start button 1801” is touched on the screen I, the update of the storage information is started, and the screen is changed to a screen J indicating that the update is in a standby state, and it is notified that the update of the storage information is finished. Will be displayed. If the “cancel button 1803” is touched while waiting for the update, the update is canceled during the standby. Note that an operation of touching the “update start button 1801” on the screen I corresponds to an operation to start updating the stored information.

  FIG. 19 is a screen change diagram after updating. When the update of the stored information is completed, the screen changes from the screen J in FIG. 18 to the screen K in FIG. When the “update content confirmation button 1901” is touched on the screen K, the screen moves to the screen L. On the screen L, a list of users (entries) whose storage information has been updated is displayed. When the user “Taro Suzuki” is touched on the screen L, the screen moves to the screen M. On the screen M, the updated content of the saved information relating to the user “Taro Suzuki” is displayed. Here, it is displayed that the item value of the management item “mail destination” has been updated from “taro@r.co.jp” to “mgr-taro@r.co.jp”. When the “update history confirmation button 1902” related to the management item “mail destination” is touched on the screen M, the screen moves to the screen N. On the screen N, the update history of the item value of the management item “mail destination” is displayed. If a “Return to before update button 1903” related to the management item “mail destination” is touched on the way, the item value of the management item “mail destination” is returned to before the update. Note that an operation of touching the “update content confirmation button 1901” on the screen K corresponds to an operation of displaying the update content of the save information. Further, an operation of touching the “update history confirmation button 1902” on the screen M corresponds to an operation of displaying the update history of the stored information.

  Here, the relationship between the update of the stored information and the management of the user information will be described. The data structure of the user information of each user (each entry) has a tree structure 601 as shown in FIG. Below each management item 2001 are an item value 2011, an item value update history 2012, an attribute 2013, server information 2014, option information 2015, and the like. Below the item value update history 2012, there are an update history number, an update history A, an update history B, an update history C, and the like. Below the update histories A, B, and C, there are previous values, subsequent values, updated versions, and the like.

  For example, regarding the management item 2001 “mail destination” related to the user “Taro Suzuki”, the item value 2011 includes “mgr-taro@r.co.jp” and the item value update history 2012 of the update history A of the item value update history 2012. "Taro@r.co.jp", "mgr-taro@r.co.jp", and "2003/4/21" as the previous value, the later value, and the updated version, and the previous value and the later value of the update history B And the updated version include “taro@RD21G.r.co.jp”, “taro@r.co.jp” and “2002/10/21”, and the previous value and the subsequent value of the update history C and the updated version “Taro@RD11G.r.co.jp”, “taro@RD21G.r.co.jp”, and “2001/12/12” are stored. The MFP 101 can display the update content and the update history of the save information on the screen M and the screen N in FIG. 19 by using these. The update version stores information for specifying the version of the update, such as the date and time when the storage information was updated.

  For example, regarding the management item 2001 “mail destination” related to the user “Taro Suzuki”, “mail” is included in the attribute 2013, “LDAP server A” is included in the server information 2014, and “storage information” is included in the option information 2015. Is stored. This is because the user information managed as the item value 2011 of the management item 2001 “mail destination” is linked to the user information managed as the item value of the management item “mail” by the LDAP server A and managed. This indicates that the information is stored information. The UCS 167 can update the stored information based on the link by using these. In the above example, the user information managed as the item value 2011 of the management item 2001 “mail destination” is updated to the user information managed as the item value of the management item “mail” by the LDAP server A. Can be. Note that the option information 2015 stores four types of classification: identification information, storage information, search information, and additional information.

  The update version 2002 of the entry stores the update version of the entire entry. Here, the date and time when the storage information stored in the entry was last updated are stored. The UCS 167 can execute the process of S105 in FIG. 17 (the process of extracting the user (entry) whose storage information has been updated) in FIG. 17 by extracting the entry whose updated version 2002 is the latest version.

  The option information 2003 of an entry stores information on whether the entry is an entry (link entry) related to the LDAP server 701 or an entry not related (original entry). In the case of the original entry, the option information 2015 of all the management items 2001 of the entry becomes invalid, and the storage information stored in the entry is not updated at the time of updating. That is, by becoming the original entry, all links of that entry are treated as canceled. The option information 2003 of the entry may be changed when the entry is edited, or automatically changed to the original entry when the option information 2015 of a specific management item 2001 (e-mail address or the like) is changed to additional information. May be performed.

  Although the data structure of the user information of each user (each entry) has a tree structure 601 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 14 for the management items as well, FIG. It is abbreviated for convenience of description.

  Here, a modified example of FIG. 20 will be described. The update information of the storage information may be managed in a form added to the server information. In this case, the data structure of the server information of each server has a tree structure 601 as shown in FIG. Each management item 2001 of stored information exists in a form added to server information such as a server ID, a server name, a port number, an IP address, a search start position, an SSL setting, and an authentication setting. Below each management item 2001 of the storage information, there are a link entry ID, an attribute 2013, an item value update history 2012, and the like. Below the link entry ID, there are the number of link entries, link entry IDa, link entry IDb, link entry IDc, and the like. Below the item value update history 2012, there are an update history number, an update history A, an update history B, an update history C, and the like. Below the update histories A, B, and C, there are an update date, update time, failure information, success information, and the like. Below the failure information are the number of entries, entry IDa, entry IDb, entry IDc, and the like. Below the success information are the number of update information, update information A, update information B, update information C, and the like. Below the update information A, B, and C, there are an entry ID, a previous value, and the like. Note that the item value update history 2012 may exist below the link entry IDs ab.

  FIG. 32 is a screen change diagram when registering the update information addition setting for managing the update information of the storage information by adding it to the server information. When the “scroll button” is touched on the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. 9, the screen moves to the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. Here, the attribute 2013 positioned below the management item 2001 of the storage information can be selected. When the change button 933 is touched on the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. 32, the screen moves to an update information addition setting screen 3201. Here, it is possible to select whether to register the update information addition setting and what kind of link entry ID is positioned below the management item 2001 of the storage information. When an “add button” is touched on the update information addition setting screen 3201, the screen moves to a link entry selection screen 3202. Here, a link entry (link entry ID) positioned below the management item 2001 of the storage information can be selected.

  When the “setting button” is touched on the link entry selection screen 3202, the screen returns to the update information addition setting screen 3201. When the “setting button” is touched on the update information addition setting screen 3201, the screen returns to the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. When the setting button 931 is touched on the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. 32, the above update information addition setting is registered.

  As described so far, the UCS 167 can update the stored information based on the link. Further, the UCS 167 not only updates all the stored information in a batch, but also saves the stored information relating to the LDAP server selected as the update target by the server selection operation, and selects the storage information as the update target by the item selection operation. It is also possible to update the stored information relating to the performed management item and the stored information relating to the user selected as the update target by the user selection operation. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 21 is a screen change diagram when an LDAP server to be updated is selected. When the “update target button 1802” is touched on the screen I in FIG. 18, the screen moves to an update target selection screen 2101. When the “server button 2111” is touched on the update target selection screen 2101, the screen moves to a server selection screen 2102 for selecting an LDAP server to be updated. The server selection screen 2102 displays a list of LDAP servers for which server information has been registered on the LDAP server registration / change screen 903 in FIG. When an LDAP server to be updated is selected on the server selection screen 2102 and the "update start button 2121" is touched, the update is started and a screen J1 indicating that the update is in a standby state (screen J in FIG. 18) Screen), and a message indicating that the update of the saved information has been completed is displayed. On the screen J1, the number of LDAP servers selected as an update target by the server selection operation is displayed. The operation of selecting an LDAP server to be updated on the server selection screen 2102 corresponds to a server selection operation.

  In the update, the storage information related to the LDAP server 701 selected as the update target is updated. For example, when the LDAP server A is selected as the update target, referring to FIG. 20, the server information 2014 indicates “LDAP server A” and the option information 2015 indicates “storage information”. 2011 will be updated.

  An advantage of being able to select an LDAP server to be updated is that an LDAP server that is in an inaccessible state, such as being down, can be excluded from the update target. The multifunction peripheral 101 may automatically check whether or not the LDAP server is inaccessible. As a technique therefor, ping (Packet Internet Grouper) and the like can be mentioned. In this case, information on whether or not the LDAP server is inaccessible may be displayed on the server selection screen 2102. The LDAP server in an inaccessible state may not be selectable as an update target, may be selected as an update target, and may not be selected as an update target, or may be listed on the server selection screen 2102 as a list. It may not be displayed.

  FIG. 22 is a screen change diagram when a management item to be updated is selected. When the “update target button 1802” is touched on the screen I in FIG. 18, the screen moves to an update target selection screen 2101. When the “item button 2112” is touched on the update target selection screen 2101, the screen moves to an item selection screen 2103 for selecting a management item to be updated. On the item selection screen 2103, a list of management items of user information managed by the multifunction peripheral 101 is displayed. When the management item to be updated is selected on the item selection screen 2103 and the "update start button 2121" is touched, the update is started, and a screen J2 indicating that the update is waiting is performed (screen J in FIG. 18). Screen), and a message indicating that the update of the saved information has been completed is displayed. On the screen J2, the number of management items selected to be updated by the item selection operation is displayed. Note that an operation of selecting a management item to be updated on the item selection screen 2103 corresponds to an item selection operation.

  In the update, the storage information related to the management item selected as the update target is updated. For example, when a mail destination is selected as an update target, the item value 2011 of the management item 2001 “mail destination” is updated on condition that “save information” is stored in the option information 2015 in FIG. Will be done.

  The item selection screen 2103 displays the management items of the user information. However, only the management items of the storage information may be displayed, or a check box may be displayed only before the management item of the storage information. May be performed.

  FIG. 23 is a screen change diagram when an LDAP server to be updated and a management item are selected. When the “update target button 1802” is touched on the screen I in FIG. 18, the screen moves to an update target selection screen 2101. When the “server & item button 2113” is touched on the update target selection screen 2101, the screen first moves to a server selection screen 2102 for selecting an LDAP server to be updated. When an LDAP server to be updated is selected on the server selection screen 2102, the screen moves to an item selection screen 2103 for selecting a management item to be updated next. When the management item to be updated is selected on the item selection screen 2103 and the “update start button 2121” is touched, the update is started, and a screen J3 indicating that the update is on standby (screen J in FIG. 18) Screen), and a message indicating that the update of the saved information has been completed is displayed. On the screen J3, the number of management items selected to be updated by the item selection operation is displayed.

  In the update, the LDAP server 701 selected as the update target and the storage information related to the management item are updated. For example, when the LDAP server A and the mail destination are selected as the update targets, in FIG. 20, the condition is that “LDAP server A” is stored in the server information 2014 and “save information” is stored in the option information 2015. Then, the item value 2011 of the management item 2001 “mail destination” is updated.

  FIG. 24 is a screen change diagram when a user to be updated is selected. When the user “Taro Suzuki” is selected on the screen I in FIG. 18, the screen changes to a screen I ′. When the “update start button 1801” is touched on the screen I ′, the update is started with the user “Taro Suzuki” as an update target, and a screen J4 (corresponding to the screen J in FIG. 18) indicating that the update is on standby The screen moves to ()), and a message indicating that the update of the stored information has been completed is displayed. On the screen J4, the number of users (the number of entries) selected to be updated by the user selection operation (entry selection operation) is displayed. Note that an operation of selecting a user (entry) on the screen I and touching the “update start button 1801” corresponds to a user selection operation (entry selection operation).

  In the update, the storage information related to the user selected as the update target is updated. For example, when Taro Suzuki is selected as an update target, referring to FIG. 20, regarding the user information related to the user “Taro Suzuki”, the item value 2011 of the management item 2001 in which “save information” is stored in the option information 2015 Will be updated.

  Note that, by selecting a plurality of users (a plurality of entries) on the screen I of FIG. 18 and touching the "update start button 1801", a plurality of users (a plurality of entries) can be set as an update target. .

  FIG. 25 is a screen change diagram when a user to be updated and a management item are selected. When the user “Taro Suzuki” is selected on the screen I in FIG. 18, the screen changes to a screen I ′. When the “update target button 1802” is touched on the screen I ′, the screen moves to an item selection screen 2103 for selecting a management item to be updated. When the management item to be updated is selected on the item selection screen 2103 and the "update start button 2121" is touched, the update is started with the user "Taro Suzuki" as the update target, and the update is waiting. The screen changes to the screen J5 shown (corresponding to the screen J in FIG. 18), and a message indicating that the update of the saved information has been completed is displayed. The screen J5 displays the number of users (the number of entries) selected as an update target by the user selection operation (entry selection operation) and the number of management items selected as the update target by the management item selection operation. Note that an operation of selecting a user (entry) on the screen I and touching the “update target button 1802” corresponds to a user selection operation (entry selection operation).

  In the update, the storage information relating to the user selected as the update target and the management item is updated. For example, in the case where Taro Suzuki and the mail destination are selected as the objects to be updated, referring to FIG. 20, regarding the user information relating to the user “Taro Suzuki”, the condition is that “save information” is stored in the option information 2015. The item value 2011 of the management item 2001 “mail destination” is updated.

  In addition to the examples of FIGS. 21 to 25, there are examples in which an LDAP server to be updated and a user can be selected, and examples in which an LDAP server to be updated, a user, and a management item can be selected.

  Here, a case where the update start operation is “remote operation” will be described. The UCS 167 may start updating stored information in response to a remote update start operation from a PC (personal computer) connected to the multifunction peripheral 101. In this case, the update start request of the storage information may be described in XML (extensible Markup Language) as shown in FIG. 33 and may be transmitted and received by SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). The XML data in FIG. 33 includes servers and users (entries) to be updated. As a result, the same update target selection as in the examples of FIGS. 21 to 25 is realized.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart relating to remote update of stored information. When a remote update start operation is input from the PC connected to the multifunction peripheral 101, the PC sends a request to start updating storage information to the NCS 161 (S111), and in response, updates the storage information from the NCS 161 to the UCS 167. A start request is transmitted (S112). In response, the UCS 167 analyzes the XML data (S113) and starts a process of updating the stored information (S102). Subsequently, the UCS 167 transmits a storage information update end notification to the NCS 161 (S121), and in response, the NCS 161 transmits a storage information update end notification to the PC (S122). In response, the PC displays the update result of the storage information (S123).

  Based on the above description, the details of the “storage information update process” of S102 in FIG. 17 will be described. FIG. 26 is a flowchart relating to the “storage information update process” of S102 in FIG.

  First, when there is an entry to be updated among the entries stored and managed in the HDD 233 (S201), one entry to be updated is extracted (S202). If there is no entry to be updated, the process of updating the stored information (S102 in FIG. 17) ends.

  Subsequently, when the option information 2003 of the extracted entry is a link entry (S203), and when the update target management item 2001 exists in the extracted entry (S204), the update target management item 2001 is used. Is extracted (S205). If the option information 2003 of the extracted entry is not a link entry, and if the management item 2001 to be updated does not exist in the extracted entry, the process proceeds to S213.

  Subsequently, when the option information 2015 of the extracted management item 2001 is the storage information (S206), and when the server information 2014 of the extracted management item 2001 is the LDAP server to be updated (S207), it is extracted. An LDAP search related to the attribute 2013 of the management item 2001 is executed (S208). That is, the UCS 167 requests the LDAP server 701 for a search operation related to the attribute 2013 (S102-1 in FIG. 17), and the LDAP server 701 responds to the UCS 167 with the search result related to the attribute 2013 (S102-2 in FIG. 17). ) Is done. If the option information 2015 of the extracted management item 2001 is not storage information, or if the server information 2014 of the extracted management item 2001 is not an LDAP server to be updated, the process proceeds to S212.

  Subsequently, the item value 2011 of the extracted management item 2001 is compared with the LDAP search result (S209), and when it is determined that they are different (S210), the item value 2011 of the extracted management item 2001 is changed to the LDAP search result. (S211), and updates the update version 2002 of the extracted entry and the update history 2012 of the item value of the extracted management item 2001. If it is determined that they are not different, the process proceeds to S212.

  Subsequently, when there is another management item 2001 to be updated in the extracted entry (S212), the process returns to S205. If there is no other management item 2001 to be updated in the extracted entry, the process proceeds to S213.

  Subsequently, when there is another entry to be updated among the entries stored and managed in the HDD 233 (S213), the process returns to S202. If there is no other entry to be updated, the storage information update process (S102 in FIG. 17) ends.

  Note that in the storage information update process (S102 in FIG. 17), when a request to start updating the storage information (S101 in FIG. 17) is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167, the storage information is updated by a predefined function. The API 133 (see FIG. 1) that receives the update start request of the API 133 is used. At this time, the number of LDAP servers to be updated and the server ID, the number of entries to be updated and the entry ID, the number of management items to be updated, and the like are transmitted and received as parameters.

(3) Creation, Editing, and Deletion of Entry Creation of an entry in the MFP 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart relating to the creation of an entry. When the user information provided (S8) from the UCS 167 to the scanner application 143 or the like is displayed as in a screen G in FIG. 12, an operation to create an entry of a user using the user information is input. Then, a request to create an entry for the user is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S11). Here, when the selection operation for selecting which user information is to be the identification information is not executed on the user identification information setting screen 1501 in FIG. 15 (S12), the UCS 167 requests the scanner application 143 or the like to execute the selection operation. Is transmitted (S13), and the selection result is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S14), and the process proceeds to the next step. Subsequently, the UCS 167 requests the LDAP server 701 to perform a search operation related to the user (S15), and the LDAP server 701 responds to the UCS 167 with the search result related to the user (S16). Then, the UCS 167 creates an entry for the user (S17), and in response, the UCS 167 transmits the creation result to the scanner application 143 or the like (S18).

  With reference to FIG. 28, editing of an entry in the multifunction peripheral 101 will be described.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart for editing an entry. When an operation to edit an entry is input via the scanner screen 721 in FIG. 7 or the like, a request to edit the entry is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S21). Subsequently, except for the case where the edit target is additional information (S22), the UCS 167 requests the LDAP server 701 to perform a search operation related to the entry (S23). In response, the LDAP server 701 requests the UCS 167 to search for the entry. The search result is returned (S24). Then, the UCS 167 edits the entry (S25), and in response, the UCS 167 transmits the editing result to the scanner application 143 or the like (S26).

  The deletion of an entry in the multifunction peripheral 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart relating to entry deletion. When an operation to delete an entry is input via the scanner screen 721 or the like in FIG. 7, a request to delete the entry is transmitted from the scanner application 143 or the like to the UCS 167 (S31). Then, the UCS 167 deletes the entry (S32), and in response, the UCS 167 transmits a deletion result to the scanner application 143 or the like (S33). It should be noted that the deleted entry is not completely deleted, but is stored as a deleted entry. It is assumed that the user information stored in the deleted entry is stored for the identification information and the additional information. It is assumed that the storage information and the search information are stored according to the settings.

(Modification)
1 is an example of the embodiment of the “information processing apparatus” according to the present invention, and the information processing executed by the MFP 101 of FIG. 1 is the same as the “information processing method” according to the present invention. It is an example of an embodiment. A computer program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method is an example of an embodiment of the “information processing program” according to the present invention, and includes a CD-ROM in which the computer program that causes the computer to execute the information processing method is recorded. A computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD-ROM and a flash memory card is an example of an embodiment of the “recording medium” according to the present invention.

1 shows a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows hardware of the multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. 2 shows an appearance of the fusion machine of FIG. 1. Represents the operation panel. 5 shows an address book relating to user information managed by the multifunction peripheral. 4 shows a tree structure related to user information managed by the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a system diagram relating to a request and a response between the MFP and the LDAP server. FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to a request and a response between the MFP and the LDAP server. It shows an initial setting screen, a system initial setting screen, and an LDAP server registration / change screen. FIG. 7 is a screen change diagram relating to a request and a response between the MFP and the LDAP server. Represents the user information obtained from the LDAP server. It is a screen change figure following the screen change figure of FIG. 5 shows an address book relating to user information managed by the multifunction peripheral. 4 shows a tree structure related to user information managed by the multifunction peripheral. 13 shows a user identification information setting screen and an attribute selection screen. Shows the address book registration / change screen and attribute selection screen. FIG. 9 is a flowchart relating to updating of stored information. It is a screen change figure before update. It is a screen change figure after update. 4 shows a tree structure related to user information managed by the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen change when an LDAP server to be updated is selected. FIG. 11 is a screen change diagram when a management item to be updated is selected. FIG. 11 is a screen change diagram when an LDAP server to be updated and a management item are selected. It is a screen change figure at the time of selecting a user to be updated. It is a screen change figure at the time of selecting a user to be updated and a management item. FIG. 18 is a flowchart relating to “storage information update processing” of S102 in FIG. 17. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for creating an entry. FIG. 11 is a flowchart relating to editing of an entry. FIG. 14 is a flowchart relating to deletion of an entry. 1 illustrates an information processing apparatus that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows a tree structure related to server information managed by the multifunction peripheral. It is a screen change figure at the time of registering update information addition setting. It represents the XML data relating to the update start request of the storage information. It is a flowchart concerning remote update of save information.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Information processing apparatus 21 Hardware 22 Software 23 Starting part 31 Application 32 Platform 101 Multifunction machine 111 Hardware 112 Software 113 Multifunction machine starting part 121 Imaging part 122 Printing part 123 Other hardware 131 Application 132 Platform 133 Application program interface 134 Engine Interface 141 Copy application 142 Printer application 143 Scanner application 144 Facsimile application 145 Network file application 146 Initial setting application 151 Control service 152 System resource manager 153 Handler 161 Network control service 162 Facsimile control service 163 Delivery Cement roll service 164 an engine control service 165 a memory control service 166 operation panel control service 167 user directory control service 168 system control service 171 a facsimile control unit handler 172 image memory handler 201 controller 202 an operation panel 203 facsimile control unit 211 CPU
212 ASIC
221 NB
222 SB
231 MEM-P
232 MEM-C
233 HDD
234 Memory card slot 235 Memory card 241 NIC
242 USB device 243 IEEE 1394 device 244 Centronics device 301 Original set unit 302 Paper feed unit 303 Paper discharge unit 311 Touch panel 312 Numeric buttons 313 Start button 314 Reset button 315 Initial setting button 321 ADF
322 flatbed 323 flatbed cover 501 address book 601 tree structure 701 LDAP server 711 LAN
721 Scanner screen 722 Facsimile screen 901 Initial setting screen 902 System initial setting screen 903 LDAP server registration / change screen 911 System initial setting button 921 LDAP server registration / change button 922 Address book registration / change button 923 Timer setting button 931 Setting button 932 user identification information setting button 933 change button 1001 loupe button 1002 LDAP search button 1011 LDAP server selection button 1012 LDAP search condition input button 1021 OK button 1022 OK button 1201 detail button 1202 detail close button 1501 user identification information setting screen 1502 attribute selection screen 1601 Address book registration / change screen 1602 Attribute selection screen 1801 Update start button 1802 Update target Button 1803 cancel button 1901 update contents confirmation button 1902 update history confirmation button 1903 button to revert to before update 2001 management item 2002 entry update version 2003 entry option information 2011 item value 2012 item value update history 2013 attribute 2014 server information 2015 option information 2101 Update target selection screen 2102 Server selection screen 2103 Item selection screen 2111 Server button 2112 Item button 2113 Server & item button 2121 Update start button 3201 Update information addition setting screen 3202 Link entry selection screen

Claims (34)

An information processing apparatus including an information management unit that manages user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information,
The information management means, the user information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing device, the information as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server It is possible to link and manage the user information managed by the information management server, and to start the update in response to the update start operation, thereby linking to the user information managed by the information management server. An information processing apparatus characterized in that managed user information can be updated based on the link. Information management means for storing and managing user information obtained from an information management server for managing user information and user information other than user information obtained from an information management server for managing user information in the same entry. An information processing apparatus comprising:
The information management means, the user information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing device, the information as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server It is possible to link and manage the user information managed by the information management server, and to start the update in response to the update start operation, thereby linking to the user information managed by the information management server. An information processing apparatus characterized in that managed user information can be updated based on the link. An information processing apparatus including an information management unit that manages user information acquired from an information management server that manages user information,
User information obtained from the information management server and managed by the information management means as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus; and the information as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. Link operation means for linking to user information managed by a management server, and update start operation means for executing an update start operation for starting update of user information managed by the information management means An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. Information management means for storing and managing user information obtained from an information management server for managing user information and user information other than user information obtained from an information management server for managing user information in the same entry. An information processing apparatus comprising:
User information obtained from the information management server and managed by the information management means as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus; and the information as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. Link operation means for linking to user information managed by a management server, and update start operation means for executing an update start operation for starting update of user information managed by the information management means An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The information management means can manage user information other than the user information acquired from the information management server as user information that is not discarded when new user information is acquired from the information management server. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided.   The information management unit manages a part of the user information acquired from the information management server by linking the user information to the user information managed by the information management server, and acquires the information from the information management server. The information according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a part of the user information can be managed without being linked to the user information managed by the information management server. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an update start operation unit configured to execute the update start operation.   The information management means, among the user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the information management server, the user information related to the information management server selected as an update target by the information management server selection operation. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information can be updated based on the link.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an information management server selection operation unit for executing the information management server selection operation.   9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising information management server display means for displaying information on the information management server selected as an update target by the information management server selection operation while waiting for the update. .   The information management means, among the user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the information management server, the user information relating to the management item selected as an update target by a management item selection operation, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information processing apparatus can be updated based on a link.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a management item selection operation unit for performing the management item selection operation.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a management item display unit configured to display information on a management item selected as an update target by the management item selection operation while waiting for the update.   The information management means, among the user information managed by linking to the user information managed by the information management server, the user information related to the user selected as an update target by a user selection operation, to the link 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus can be updated based on the information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a user selection operation unit for performing the user selection operation.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a user display unit configured to display information about a user selected as an update target by the user selection operation while waiting for the update.   17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit manages an updated version of the user information.   17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit manages an update history of the user information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an update history display unit that displays an update history of the user information after the user information is updated by the information management unit.   17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an update content display unit that displays an update content of the user information after the user information is updated by the information management unit.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the information management server is an LDAP server.   22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image forming process is performed using user information managed by the information management unit.   23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image is transmitted using user information managed by the information management unit. An information processing method comprising an information management step of managing user information obtained from an information management server that manages user information,
In the information management step, the user information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is used as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. It is possible to link and manage the user information managed by the information management server, and to start the update in response to the update start operation, thereby linking to the user information managed by the information management server. An information processing method, wherein managed user information can be updated based on the link. An information management step of storing and managing the user information obtained from the information management server managing the user information and the user information other than the user information obtained from the information management server managing the user information in the same entry. An information processing method comprising:
In the information management step, the user information acquired from the information management server and managed as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus is used as the item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. It is possible to link and manage the user information managed by the information management server, and to start the update in response to the update start operation, thereby linking to the user information managed by the information management server. An information processing method, wherein managed user information can be updated based on the link. An information processing method comprising an information management step of managing user information obtained from an information management server that manages user information,
User information obtained from the information management server and managed by the information management step as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus; and the information as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. Providing link operation means for linking to user information managed by a management server, and an update start operation for executing an update start operation for starting update of user information managed by the information management step An information processing method comprising providing means. An information management step of storing and managing the user information obtained from the information management server managing the user information and the user information other than the user information obtained from the information management server managing the user information in the same entry. An information processing method comprising:
User information obtained from the information management server and managed by the information management step as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information processing apparatus; and the information as an item value of a predetermined management item in the information management server. Providing link operation means for linking to user information managed by a management server, and an update start operation for executing an update start operation for starting update of user information managed by the information management step An information processing method comprising providing means.   In the information management step, it is possible to manage user information other than the user information obtained from the information management server as user information that is not discarded when new user information is obtained from the information management server. The information processing method according to claim 26 or 28, wherein   In the information management step, a part of the user information obtained from the information management server is managed by linking it to the user information managed by the information management server, and the information is obtained from the information management server. The information according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein a part of the user information can be managed without being linked to the user information managed by the information management server. Processing method.   31. The information processing method according to claim 25, wherein an image forming process is performed using user information managed in the information management step.   31. The information processing method according to claim 25, wherein an image is transmitted using user information managed in the information management step.   An information processing program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 25 to 32.   A recording medium on which an information processing program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 25 to 32 is recorded.

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