JP2006040262A - Application management device, job processor, application management method, job processing method, image forming apparatus license management method of application, and computer-readable program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of continuing a work without restarting an application even in case that a license is invalidated while a user performs the work by use of the application. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device comprises a platform 206 for executing the application managed by the license. The platform transmits a license update report to the application when the license of the application is updated. The application stops the processing of a job (S305) when the license is invalidated during processing of the job, and displays information urging update of the license. Thereafter, a Web browser 205 is automatically started to access a license server (S307-S310). When the license update report is received from the platform 206 (S311), the processing of the job is restarted (S316) after confirming that the license is validated (S314). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an application management apparatus and an application management method for managing an application based on a unique license, a job processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus including the application management apparatus, a job processing method, and the application management method or job processing. The invention relates to a computer readable program for performing the method. Further, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, a license management method for an application executed by the image forming apparatus, a computer-readable program and a storage medium for executing the license management method.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus capable of adding / deleting a function by installing or uninstalling an application is already known. Some of such image forming apparatuses have a function of managing a group of applications operating on the apparatus based on a unique license.

  Examples of information for managing an application included in the license include an application name, a version, a provider, an expiration date, and a usable number of times. These pieces of information are generally held in a storage device in the image forming apparatus and used as needed to manage the operation of the application.

  As a conventional example of a platform for executing an application managed by the above-mentioned license, when executing an application, first, the license information is referred to, and if it is within the expiration date, it is executed as it is. Similarly, even when the number of usable times is managed, the license information is first referred to, and if the usable number of times remains, it is executed as it is.

  However, when the expiration date of the application is expired during the operation of the application, or when the number of usable times is exhausted, the operation of the application is usually restricted or disabled immediately after that. In order to return the application to the normal operation state from this state, the license update procedure is performed, a new license is obtained, the license information in the image forming apparatus is updated based on the license, and the application is updated by the user. Rebooting has become commonplace.

A technology to avoid system interruption due to license expiration is to prompt the user to update the license from a certain period before the license expires by displaying a warning message about the remaining period until the expiration date of the program Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 05-197542 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, when the user is used to the update operation of the license due to the user getting used to the warning message issued for a certain period before the license expires, the license expires during the operation of the application. There was a risk of occurrence.

  If the license expires during the operation of the application, once the application is terminated, as described above, the user accesses the license server from a personal computer, etc., and performs a license update procedure to obtain a new license. Then, it is necessary to update the license information in the image forming apparatus based on the license, and to restart the application.

  The reason why it is necessary to obtain a new license by performing a license renewal procedure from a personal computer or the like in this way is sufficient to access the external license server directly from the image forming apparatus and perform the license renewal procedure and its acquisition. This is because there is no means.

  The reason that the application needs to be restarted even though the license information has been updated is that the platform only checks the application license information when the application is started. This is because there is no means for the application itself to know that the information has been updated. Therefore, in order to avoid the work of restarting the application, there may be a method in which the application itself operates while periodically checking the license information. However, this method does not always update the license immediately. Therefore, it becomes very inefficient in operation and cannot be adopted.

  From these points, if the license expires while the user is working with the application (for example, if it expires during copying), the license could be updated immediately However, there is still a problem that the application needs to be restarted and the user needs to restart the work. Obviously, the severity of this problem increases in proportion to the amount and importance of the work the user has been doing.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention enables an image forming apparatus to automatically access a license server and update a license even when a license expires while a user is working using an application. An application management apparatus, a job processing apparatus, an application management method, a job processing method, an image forming apparatus, and an application license management method that allow a user to continue working without restarting the application while on the spot An object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable program and a storage medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an application management apparatus that manages an application based on a unique license, and has a platform that executes the application managed by the license, and the platform updates the license of the application. And a means for notifying the application of a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated.

  The present invention provides an application management apparatus that manages an application based on a unique license, and includes a platform that executes an application managed by the license, and an access unit that accesses an external apparatus that issues a license, The platform includes means for notifying the application of a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated when the license is updated based on access to the external device by the access means. And

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job processing apparatus that includes the application management apparatus according to claim 1 and processes a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus. Means for determining whether or not the license has been invalidated, means for stopping the processing of the job when the license becomes invalid, and notifying information for prompting the update of the license, and when the license is updated, Means for receiving the license update notification from the platform of the application management apparatus and confirming that the license is valid; and means for resuming processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job processing apparatus that includes the application management apparatus according to claim 2 and that processes a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus. Means for determining whether or not the license has been invalidated, means for stopping the processing of the job and notifying information prompting the license to be updated, and means for accessing the application management apparatus. A means for accessing an external device that issues a license; and when the license is updated based on access to the external device, the license update notification is received from the platform of the application management device, and the license is Means for confirming that it has been enabled, and After confirming the effectiveness of the license, and further comprising a resuming means the processing of the job.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job processing apparatus that includes the application management apparatus according to claim 2 and that processes a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus. A means for determining whether or not the license has been invalidated, and when the license becomes invalid, the processing of the job is stopped, and the access means of the application management apparatus is used to automatically issue a license to an external apparatus. And when the license is updated based on access to the external device, the license update notification is received from the platform of the application management device to confirm that the license is valid Means, and after confirming the validity of the license, Characterized in that a resume means processing job.

  The present invention also provides an application management method for managing the application based on a unique license using a platform for executing the application, wherein the license is updated when the license of the application is updated. A license update notification indicating is sent to the application by the platform.

  The present invention is also a job processing method for processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus, the step of determining whether or not a license is invalidated during job processing, and the license is invalidated The process of stopping the processing of the job when it becomes the time, informing the information prompting the update of the license, the step of receiving the license update notification from the platform, and confirming that the license is valid; And a step of resuming processing of the job after the validity of the license is confirmed.

  The present invention also provides a computer-readable program for executing an application management method for managing an application based on a unique license using a platform for executing the application, wherein the license of the application is updated. The license update notification indicating that the license has been updated is sent to the application by the platform that executes the application.

  The present invention is also a computer-readable program for executing a job processing method for processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus, and whether or not a license is invalidated during job processing. Determining whether or not the license is invalidated, stopping the processing of the job and notifying information prompting to update the license, receiving the license update notification from the platform, A step of confirming that the license is valid, and a step of resuming the processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, a license information storing unit for storing license information relating to an application executed on the image forming apparatus, and a license stored in the license information storing unit. A license management unit that manages information in association with the application, and the license management unit detects that the license of the application has become invalid during the execution of the application. Notification means for notifying invalidity, and the application temporarily stops execution of the application based on a notification from the notification means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a license management method for an application executed by an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the license information storing step storing license information related to the application executed by the image forming apparatus in a storage unit; A license management step for managing the license information stored in the storage unit in association with the application, an application execution step for executing the application, and a license for the application during execution of the application in the license management step. A notification step of notifying the application that the license is invalid when it is detected that the license is invalid, and the application execution step temporarily executes the application based on the notification in the notification step. In Characterized in that it stop.

  The present invention also provides a computer-readable program for executing a license management method for an application executed by an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the license relating to the application executed by the image forming apparatus A license information storage step for storing information in the storage means, a license management step for managing the license information stored in the storage means in association with the application, an application execution step for executing the application, and the license A notification step of notifying the application of the invalidity of the license when the management step detects that the license of the application has become invalid during execution of the application, Application executing step, characterized by temporarily stopping the execution of the application based on the alert by the notification step.

  According to the above configuration, even if the license is invalidated while the user is working with the application, the work is continued without restarting the application by updating the license. It becomes possible. As a result, the user's work risk can be reduced and the convenience of the user can be improved.

  In addition, when the license is invalidated while the user is working using the application, the access unit is used to access the external device that issues the license to update the license. Will be able to continue working without having to restart the application. This further improves user convenience.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction machine as an application example of an image forming apparatus equipped with an application management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, the multi-function device 100 is integrally provided with scanner, printer, copy, and facsimile functions. The MFP 100 is connected to an external license server 20 and a client computer 11 via a network 15 such as the Internet, and is connected to another communication device (not shown) via a public line network 16. .

  The multifunction peripheral 100 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be a digital copying machine or a printer with a copy function, and the number of peripheral devices connected to the network 15 is not limited to the illustrated example. The image forming apparatus is not limited to the multifunction peripheral 100, and includes a printing apparatus such as a facsimile or a printer, a single-function apparatus (such as a scanner apparatus) that can form an image, and includes a controller built in each apparatus. Including.

  The multi-function device 100 mainly includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3. The reader unit 1 is connected to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3, reads an image of a document, and outputs the read image data to the printer unit 2 or the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 prints the image data output from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the external network 15 or the public line network 16 to input / output image data, and to store information such as usage when the user uses the multifunction device 100. Further, it analyzes and controls a job (print command or the like) from the client computer 11 connected to the network 15.

  The image input / output control unit 3 includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a storage device 6, a network interface unit 7, a PDL formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, and a core unit 10. The facsimile unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 and the public network 16, decompresses the compressed image data received from the public network 16, and transmits the decompressed image data to the core unit 10. Further, the image data transmitted from the core unit 10 is compressed, and the compressed image data is transmitted to the public line network 16 via the public line.

  The file unit 5 is connected to the core unit 10 and the storage device 6, compresses the image data transmitted from the core unit 10, and stores the compressed image data in the storage device 6 together with a keyword for searching the compressed image data. In the present embodiment, for example, a hard disk drive is used as the storage device 6, but it is of course not limited to this. Further, the file unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the storage device 6 based on the keyword transmitted from the core unit 10, reads out the compressed image data, decompresses it, and transmits it to the core unit 10. To do. The storage device 6 can store not only image data but also application programs executed by the CPU 17, information such as user usage status, number of copies, number of printed sheets, number of scanned pages, and the like, as well as application license information, which will be described later. It is.

  The network interface unit 7 is an interface between the license server 20 and the client computer 11 connected via the external network 15 and the core unit 10. Transmission and reception of job control data and image data from the client computer 11 are performed via the network interface unit 7.

  Here, examples of the job control data include a job control command transmitted together with the PDL data. For example, the job control data may be one in which the PDL data is expanded and printed as image data, and then stapled and discharged.

  The formatter unit 8 is connected to the core unit 10 and develops PDL data transmitted from the client computer 11 into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2. The image memory unit 9 is for temporarily storing image information read from the reader unit 1 and image information sent from the client computer 11 or the like via the network interface unit 7.

  The core unit 10 analyzes the job control data as well as the data flowing between the reader unit 1, the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, and the formatter unit 8 described above. Control is performed so that information such as the usage status, the number of copies, the number of prints, the number of scans, etc. is stored in the RAM 18 or the storage device 6. The core unit 10 also performs image processing such as scaling, rotation, resolution conversion, and format conversion on the image data. The CPU 17 in the core unit 10 performs various types of overall control of the image input / output control unit 3 by loading an application program stored in the ROM 19 or the storage device 6 into the RAM 18 and executing it. Furthermore, various software modules constituting the features of the present embodiment described later with reference to FIG. 2 are executed.

  In addition, a real-time clock (RTC) module 22 and a counter 24 are connected to the core unit 10. The RTC module 22 is a module for managing time, and accesses time information by accessing an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server outside the multi-function peripheral 100 via the network periodically or at any timing as necessary. It is also possible to obtain and correct at the correct time.

  The counter 24 counts and stores the operations of the multifunction device 100 (such as the number of copies, the number of scans, the number of prints, the number of facsimile transmissions, and the number of image processing). Although details will be described later, the counter 24 also counts the number of operations of the MFP 100 under application execution, and notifies the license information database 209 of the count information, thereby checking the license expiration of the application described later. Can be used.

  The license server 20 is a Web server that issues licenses necessary for using various applications including the application (A) 204. The client computer 11 includes a personal computer or a workstation, has a Web browser, and can access the multi-function device 100 via the network 15.

<Software configuration>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The ROM 19 or the storage device 6 in the core unit 10 in the MFP 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes, as software modules, an operation display control application 202, a user interface application 203, an application (A) 204, a Web browser 205, A platform 206 and a license information database 209 are stored.

  As an interface between the user 201 and the multifunction device 100, the multifunction device 100 is provided with a liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13. The liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13 is controlled by the operation display control application 202.

  Further, the user interface application 203 provides a function as an interface among the operation display control application 202, the application (A) 204, and the Web browser 205. An application (A) 204 is an example of an application whose operation is managed by a license.

  The platform 206 provides a function as an execution environment to one or more applications such as the application (A) 204, and is configured using, for example, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine. The platform 206 includes an application management service 208 that manages the operation of the application (A) 204 and a license management service 207 that manages the license of the application (A) 204. All information included in the license of the application (A) 204 is managed by the license information database 209. It is assumed that the license information database 209 is stored in the storage device 6 of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the license information includes the expiration date of the application (generally, the date and time is set) or the operation of the MFP 100 under the application (copy, scan, print, facsimile transmission). The upper limit of the number of operations such as image processing or a plurality of operations among these operations and the current number of operations are set. The current number of operations can be set in the license information by obtaining the count value from the counter 24.

  The license management service 207 checks the license information regarding the application from the license information database 209 and the real-time clock module 22 as necessary when the application is activated or activated. Then, it is determined whether the license has expired, that is, whether the license has expired, that is, the validity / invalidity of the license, by determining whether the license has expired or the upper limit of the number of operations of the multifunction device 100 under the execution of the application has been reached.

  The user interface application 203 has a communication function for communicating with the application (A) 204 and the web browser 205, and is necessary for the user 201 in response to a request from the application (A) 204 or the web browser 205. It is possible to present information.

  The application (A) 204 and the web browser 205 have a communication function for communicating with the application management service 208 and the license management service 207, and the application management service 208 uses the communication function to apply the application (A) 204. And management of operations such as installation, uninstallation, execution, and stop of the Web browser 205.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in order to install and uninstall the application (A) 204, the operation is performed from the computer 11 via the network 15, and the operation is performed from the liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13. There is.

  Also, the license management service 207 uses the communication function to transmit / receive license information to / from the application (A) 204, notify the license update to the application (A) 204 (notify that the license has been updated), and the like. Making it possible.

  Furthermore, the application management service 208 and the license management service 207 also have a communication function for communicating with each other, and the application management service 208 refers to the license information when managing the operation of the application (A) 204. This communication function is also used when the license management service 207 accesses an external Web server and executes a Web browser to present the Web page.

  The license management service 207 has a function of communicating with the license information database 209 and can perform operations such as creation, addition, correction, and deletion of license information. The license information in the license information database 209 can be updated via the license management service 207 by operating the liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13 or operating from the computer 11 via the network 15.

  Note that the software configuration of the multifunction device 100 is such that a license update operation can be performed from the multifunction device 100 to the application (A) 204 and an appropriate function for notifying that the license has been updated is presented. It is not limited to the software configuration described above.

<Application operation>
Next, the operation of the application according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a job executed based on the application (A) 204 by the core unit 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a screen diagram illustrating a display screen example when the job according to the present embodiment is temporarily stopped. FIG. 5 is a screen diagram illustrating a screen example when the Web browser 205 accesses the license server 20. It is. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram illustrating an example of a screen when the license update is completed in the Web browser 205. FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the job according to the present embodiment is canceled and the job is resumed. It is a screen figure which shows the example of a screen at the time.

  When, for example, the application (A) 204 displayed on the liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13 is executed, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started.

  First, in step S301, the application (A) 204 receives an execution command. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S302, and the job of the application (A) 204 is started.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the license has been invalidated due to the expiration of the license during the execution of the job, or the number of times of use has expired. Proceeding to step S304, the job of the application (A) 204 ends normally.

  Cases where the license expires during the execution of a job include when the expiration date of the application is reached while the MFP 100 is operating the job while the application is running, There may be a case where the upper limit number of job executions permitted for the application is reached while the multifunction peripheral 100 is operating.

  If the license becomes invalid during execution of the job, the process proceeds to step S305, where the license management service 207 notifies the application (A) 204 that the license has become invalid, and the application (A) 204 Responds to the notification from the license management service 207. Accordingly, the operation of the application (A) or the execution of the job of the multifunction peripheral 100 related to the application (A) is temporarily stopped, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  As another method for suspending the application (A), the license management service 207 notifies the application management service 208 that the license of the application (A) has become invalid, and the application management service 208 notifies the application (A). Alternatively, a pause instruction may be issued.

  In step S306, as shown in the screen example of FIG. 4, the user is notified that “the license has expired”, a job status screen list 403 indicating jobs that have been canceled due to the license being expired, and “ A pop-up 401 including an instruction to “cancel job or cancel license” is presented, and the process proceeds to step S307. In addition, in the pop-up 401, the user can cancel the job by pressing the cancel button 402. A “license update” button 404 is a button for instructing to activate the Web browser 205 and access the license server 20 in order to perform a license update operation. If “automatic access to the license server” described later is set in step S307, the “license update” button 404 is not displayed.

  In step S307, the license management service 207 checks the license information of the application (A) 204, and determines whether or not the setting for automatically accessing the license server 20 has been made. If automatic access is set, the process advances to step S308 to activate the web browser 205 via the application management service 208, and the process advances to step S309.

  On the other hand, if the setting for automatically accessing the license server is not made in step 307, the process proceeds to step S318, and it is determined whether or not the license update button 404 has been pressed. If the license update button 404 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S308. If it is determined in step S318 that the license update button has not been pressed, the process advances to step S319 to determine whether the cancel button 402 has been pressed. If the cancel button 402 is pressed in step S319, the process proceeds to step S311. If the cancel button 402 is not pressed, the process returns to step S318 again.

  In step S309, the URL of the license server 20 is acquired from the information described in the license file of the application (A) 204, and the Web browser 205 updates the license on the license server 20 in the next step S310. Access the page.

  When the Web browser 205 accesses a page for updating the license, the Web page 504 of the license server 20 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13 on a screen as shown in FIG. In other words, the page 504 of the Web browser 501 on the screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel operation display unit 13 is provided with an input area 504a for issuing a license for the application product to be used. By inputting the license access number of application (A) 204, the license of application (A) 204 is issued. An area 502 in FIG. 5 displays a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a Web page accessed by the Web browser.

  If the setting for automatically accessing the license server 20 has not been made, the process proceeds to step S311 to wait for the user to manually update the license while the screen remains in the display state of FIG. Here, as another method in which the user manually updates the license, there is a method in which the user manually accesses the license server 20 from the Web browser of the client computer 11 to acquire the license and update the license in the MFP 100. .

  The user 201 recognizes the “information for prompting license update” displayed on the screen of FIG. 4 and performs an operation for updating the license (automatic update using the screen of FIG. 5; When update by pressing the “update” button 404 or manual update on the client computer 11 with the screen of FIG. 4 being performed, the license update is completed as shown in the license update end display page 601 of FIG. Is displayed, the license is downloaded from the license server 20 into the multifunction peripheral 100, and the license information in the license information database 209 is updated through the license management service 207. Then, after updating the license information, the license management service 207 sends a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated to the application (A) 204.

  During the suspension, the application (A) 204 proceeds to step S 311 and is in a standby state until a license update notification is notified from the license management service 207. If the user 201 cancels the job in this state (YES in step S317), the process advances from step S317 to step S304, and the execution of the job ends.

  On the other hand, if the application (A) 204 receives the license update notification in step S311, the process advances to step S312 to determine whether the Web browser 205 is activated. If the web browser 205 is not activated, the process proceeds to step S314 as it is, and if it is activated, the process proceeds to step S313 to terminate the web browser 205 and then proceeds to step S314.

  In step S314, for example, the information necessary for the license to be valid written in the license update notification is confirmed. In the next step S315, the license information can be confirmed. A transition is made to the stop screen (FIG. 4), and the process further proceeds to step S316, where the application management service 208 releases the suspension of job execution. As a result, as shown in the screen example when canceling the suspension of the job (FIG. 7), the remaining processing of the job is resumed, and after all the processing of the job is completed, the process proceeds to step S304 and the job ends.

  According to the present embodiment, since the function of notifying that the license has been updated is provided as a platform, the application can check the license information when receiving the license update notification. Therefore, if the license expires while the user is working with the application (for example, the license expires during copying), the application itself periodically monitors the license information. The restart of the application can be avoided more efficiently than the method. Furthermore, when the license expires while using the application, the license server 20 can be automatically accessed using the web browser 205, so that the license can be easily updated while the user is on the spot.

  As a result, it is possible to continue work without restarting the application, and it is possible to reduce the restart of the application, so that it is possible to reduce the risk in the work of the user and the convenience for the user. Will improve.

  Each of the above embodiments is merely an example of the implementation of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the main features.

  The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or an apparatus constituted by one device.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus as a storage medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the stored program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an application example of an image forming apparatus equipped with an application management apparatus according to an embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a multifunction peripheral. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the job performed based on with an application by the core part. It is a screen figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of a job suspension. It is a screen figure which shows the example of a screen at the time of accessing a license server with a web browser. It is a screen figure which shows the example of a screen at the time of updating a license with a web browser. It is a screen figure which shows the example of a screen at the time of cancellation | release of a job suspension.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 6 Storage device 7 Network interface part 10 Core part 11 Client computer 13 Liquid crystal panel operation display part 100 Multifunction machine 201 User 202 Operation display part control application 203 User interface application 204 Application ( A)
205 Web browser 206 Platform 207 License management service 208 Application management service 209 License information database

Claims (24)

In an application management device that manages an application based on a unique license,
A platform for executing an application managed by the license;
The platform is
An application management apparatus comprising: means for notifying the application of a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated when the license of the application is updated. In an application management device that manages an application based on a unique license,
A platform for executing an application managed by the license;
Access means for accessing an external device that issues a license;
The platform is
When the license is updated based on the access to the external device by the access means, the application management further comprises means for notifying the application of a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated. apparatus. A job processing apparatus having the application management apparatus according to claim 1 and processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus.
The application is
Means for determining whether the license has become invalid during job processing;
Means for stopping the processing of the job when the license becomes invalid, and notifying information for prompting the update of the license;
Means for receiving the license update notification from the platform of the application management device when the license is updated, and confirming that the license is valid;
A job processing apparatus comprising: means for resuming processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. A job processing apparatus having the application management apparatus according to claim 2 and processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus.
The application is
Means for determining whether the license has become invalid during job processing;
Means for stopping processing of the job when the license becomes invalid, and notifying information for prompting the update of the license;
Means for accessing an external device issuing a license using the access means of the application management device;
Means for receiving the license update notification from the platform of the application management device when the license is updated based on access to the external device and confirming that the license is valid;
A job processing apparatus comprising: means for resuming processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. A job processing apparatus having the application management apparatus according to claim 2 and processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus.
The application is
Means for determining whether the license has become invalid during job processing;
Means for stopping processing of the job when the license becomes invalid and automatically accessing an external device that issues a license using the access means of the application management device;
Means for receiving the license update notification from the platform of the application management device when the license is updated based on access to the external device and confirming that the license is valid;
A job processing apparatus comprising: means for resuming processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. An application management method for managing the application based on a unique license using a platform for executing the application,
When the license of the application is updated, a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated is notified to the application by the platform. A job processing method for processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus according to claim 1,
Determining whether the license has become invalid during job processing;
Stopping the processing of the job when the license becomes invalid, and informing information for prompting the update of the license;
Receiving the license update notification from the platform and confirming that the license is valid;
And a step of resuming the processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. A computer readable program for executing an application management method for managing an application based on a unique license using a platform for executing the application,
A computer-readable program that, when a license of the application is updated, notifies the application of a license update notification indicating that the license has been updated by a platform that executes the application. A computer-readable program for executing a job processing method for processing a job of an application managed by the application management apparatus according to claim 1,
Determining whether the license has become invalid during job processing;
Stopping the processing of the job when the license becomes invalid, and notifying information for prompting the update of the license;
Receiving the license update notification from the platform and confirming that the license is valid;
And a step of resuming processing of the job after confirming the validity of the license. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
A license information storage unit that stores license information related to an application executed in the image forming apparatus;
License management means for managing the license information stored in the license information storage means in association with the application;
The license management means, when detecting that the license of the application has become invalid during the execution of the application, a notification means for notifying the application of the invalidity of the license,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the application temporarily stops execution of the application based on a notification from the notification unit. The operation of the application is associated with the operation of the image forming apparatus,
The temporary stop of the execution of the application based on the notification from the notification unit includes a temporary stop of the operation of the image forming apparatus associated with the application. Image forming apparatus.   Based on the fact that the license management unit detects that the license of the application is invalid during execution of the application, the license management unit accesses an external license management apparatus and starts a license acquisition application for acquiring an updated license. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an application management unit. The license management means updates the license information stored in the license information storage means based on the fact that the license acquisition application has acquired an updated license from the license management apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the notification unit notifies the application that the license information has been updated.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the application resumes execution of the application that has been temporarily stopped based on a notification from the notification unit regarding that the license information has been updated. . It has a user interface that displays the operation screen and accepts operation input from the user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the user interface displays a message indicating that the application is temporarily stopped based on the temporary stop of the application.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the user interface displays a message prompting to update a license of the application.   16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the user interface instructs activation of a license acquisition application for accessing an external license management apparatus when receiving a key input for license update. . When the user interface receives input of license update information, the user interface notifies the license management means of the updated license information,
16. The license management unit according to claim 15, wherein the license management unit acquires the updated license information notified from the user interface and updates the license information stored in the license information storage unit. Image forming apparatus. A license acquisition application for accessing an external license management device and acquiring an updated license;
A user interface that displays an operation screen and receives an operation input from a user;
Setting value storage means for storing a setting as to whether or not to automatically start the license acquisition application when an application license becomes invalid;
When the setting stored in the setting value storage means is a setting for starting the license acquisition application, the license acquisition application is started based on a temporary stop of the execution of the application, and the setting is 11. If the setting is such that the license acquisition application is not started, a message prompting the user interface to update the license is displayed on the user interface based on a temporary stop of the execution of the application. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the license information includes information related to an expiration date of the application.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the license information includes an upper limit value of the number of operations of the image forming apparatus associated with the application that operates under execution of the application. An application license management method executed by an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
A license information storage step of storing in the storage means license information relating to an application executed by the image forming apparatus;
A license management step of managing the license information stored in the storage means in association with the application;
An application execution step for executing the application;
A notification step of notifying the application of the invalidity of the license when the license management step detects that the license of the application has become invalid during execution of the application;
An application license management method characterized in that the application execution step temporarily stops execution of the application based on the notification in the notification step. A computer-readable program for executing an application license management method executed by an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
A license information storage step for storing in the storage means license information relating to an application executed in the image forming apparatus;
A license management step for managing the license information stored in the storage means in association with the application;
An application execution step for executing the application;
A notification step of notifying the application of the invalidity of the license when the license management step detects that the license of the application has become invalid during the execution of the application;
The application execution step temporarily stops execution of the application based on the notification in the notification step.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program of claim 23.

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