JP2007122161A - Information processor, setting changing method and setting changing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, a setting changing method and a setting changing program for enabling a user to move information set by a device before change to a device after change by a simple operation even when the IP address of a device to be used or an information processor is changed according as the device is replaced or the user moves to a living room, and for updating the setting information of the information processor, and for making the device available in the same way as the device before change. <P>SOLUTION: The setting information of a device which is being used at present and the IP address of an information processor itself are backed up to the information processor before the device is replaced or a user moves to a living room. Then, after the device is replaced or the user moves to the living room, the change of the IP address of the information processor itself is reflected on the backed-up setting information of the device, and the setting of a new device is operated based on the setting information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a setting change method, and a setting change program, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus that uses a device such as a multifunction peripheral and a setting change method that uses the information processing apparatus.

  Devices such as multifunction peripherals are equipped with a large number of information that can be customized by users, such as confidential boxes, job flows, and destination tables, as the functionality increases. Information processing devices such as PCs (Personal Computers) and LANs By connecting via a wired / wireless network such as (Local Area Network), the information processing device can use these functions, such as using information stored in a confidential box. It has been broken.

  By the way, in order to connect the information processing apparatus and the device and use them, it is necessary to set a driver or the like. For example, the IP (Internet Protocol) of the device is installed in the printer driver after being installed in the information processing apparatus. There has been proposed a method of automatically reflecting the setting in the scanner driver by setting the address (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, a method has been proposed in which version information and model information are acquired from a device and an appropriate printer driver is selected from a plurality of programs (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-171327 A JP-A-9-152946

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to set both the printer driver and the scanner driver with a single operation. However, as the device is replaced or the user moves to the room, the model of the device is reached. When things changed, I had to start over from driver installation.

  In the method described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to select an appropriate printer driver even if the model is changed. However, since the setting related to the device configuration such as the presence or absence of the finisher is not updated, the device configuration is not changed. The dependent function could not be used.

  In addition, if the IP address of the information processing device is changed due to moving to the room, or if the box number of the confidential box is different before and after the device change, the change is reflected in the settings of the confidential box and job flow, Even when it is necessary to maintain consistency between device setting information and information processing apparatus setting information, processing for maintaining consistency could not be performed.

  Therefore, in the present invention, even when the IP address of the device to be used or the information processing apparatus is changed due to the replacement of the device or the movement of the user's room, the user can change the device to the device before the change with a simple operation. Provides information processing apparatus, setting change method, and setting change program that can move the information that has been set to the changed device, update the setting information of the information processing apparatus, and use the device as before the change The purpose is to do.

  In the present invention, in an information processing apparatus that connects to a device and performs processing using the device, an old device accepting unit that accepts designation of an old device that has been used so far, and a device that acquires setting information of the old device Based on setting information acquisition means, device information update means for reflecting its own setting information in the setting information of the old device, new device acceptance means for accepting designation of a new device to be used, and setting information of the old device Device setting information setting means for setting the setting information in the new device, and setting information adjustment means for changing its own setting information according to the new device, before stopping the use of the old device, Execute at least the old device accepting unit and the device setting information obtaining unit, and connect to the new device After a, and executes at least the a new device receiving means, and the device setting information setting means.

  Next, the present invention includes an information processing apparatus that connects to a device and performs processing using the device, and accepts designation of the old device before stopping the use of the old device that has been used so far. Means for acquiring the setting information of the old device by the device setting information acquiring means, reflecting the setting information of the old device to the setting information of the old device by the device information updating means, and connecting to the new device to be newly used. The new device accepting means accepts the designation of the new device after it becomes possible, sets the setting information to the new device by the device setting information setting means based on the setting information of the old device, The processing for changing the setting information by the setting information adjusting means is performed by the information processing apparatus.

  In the present invention, there is also a setting change program for controlling an information processing apparatus that is connected to a device and performs processing using the device, and before the use of the old device that has been used so far is stopped. Is received by the old device accepting means, the setting information of the old device is obtained by the device setting information obtaining means, the setting information of the old device is reflected in the setting information of the old device by the device information updating means, and is newly used. After the connection with the new device is enabled, the new device accepting means accepts the designation of the new device, sets the setting information in the new device based on the setting information of the old device by the device setting information setting means, According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus is caused to execute a process of changing its own setting information by the setting information adjusting means according to the new device.

  In the present invention, setting information set in the device and the information processing apparatus can be updated while maintaining consistency.

  The best mode for carrying out an information processing apparatus, a setting change method, and a setting change program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a setting information setting unit 10, a setting information backup unit 11, a setting information adjustment unit 12, a device setting information acquisition unit 13, and a device setting information update. Unit 14, device setting information setting unit 15, storage unit 16 including HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and RAM (Random Access Memory), operation terminal such as keyboard and mouse, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc. An operation / display unit 17 including a display, a communication interface (I / F) 18, and a control unit 19 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs processing for controlling the entire information processing apparatus are configured. ing.

  Here, the setting information setting unit 10 performs processing for setting setting information such as an IP address in the information processing apparatus.

  The setting information backup unit 11 performs a process for backing up setting information (such as an IP address) of the information processing apparatus in the storage unit.

  The setting information adjustment unit 12 has consistency between the information processing apparatus setting information (printer driver and its setting information, scanner driver and its setting information, etc.) associated with the previously used device and the newly used device. Update the setting information of the information processing device so that it can be taken. (If the IP address has changed, the printer driver output destination and the scanner driver input source have been changed. For example, replacement with a printer driver and a scanner driver).

  The device setting information acquisition unit 13 acquires setting information such as a confidential box and job flow set in the device, and performs processing for storing the setting information in the storage unit.

  When the setting information of the information processing apparatus is changed, the device setting information updating unit 14 performs a process for updating the device setting information stored in the storage unit by reflecting the change as necessary. .

  The device setting information setting unit 15 performs processing for setting the device setting information stored in the storage unit to the designated device.

  Using the above-described configuration, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment first requests a user to input information such as an IP address for designating a device that has been used before device replacement or room movement. User Interface) is displayed on the operation / display unit 17, and when a device is designated, a list of setting information such as a confidential box and a job flow set in the designated device is displayed on the operation / display unit 17.

  Next, when setting information used in a new device is selected, such as selecting only the user's own confidential box information, the selected information is transmitted from the device to SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). ) And the like using the device setting information acquisition unit 13 and stored in the storage unit 16.

  Also, setting information such as an IP address set in the setting information setting unit 10 is acquired by the setting information backup unit 11 and stored in the storage unit 16 for backup.

  Then, after device replacement or room movement, the device setting information update unit 14 compares the information processing device setting information backed up in the storage unit 16 with the current information processing device setting information, and the IP address is If there is a change in the setting information such as different, it is determined whether or not the device setting information stored in the storage unit 16 needs to be updated.

  Here, if the previous IP address of the information processing device is specified in the job flow, it is necessary to change to the current IP address. Therefore, the stored device setting information is updated.

  Further, a UI for requesting the user to input information such as an IP address for designating a new device to be used is displayed on the operation / display unit 17. When the device is designated, the device setting information setting unit 15 performs EWS (Engineering Workstation ), SOAP, etc., the device setting information stored in the storage unit 16 is set in the designated device.

  Then, the setting information adjustment unit 12 searches the setting information of the information processing apparatus associated with the previously used device such as the printer driver and the setting information thereof, the scanner driver and the setting information thereof, and the IP address and the device information. Check consistency with the newly used device such as the model, and if consistency is not achieved, if the IP address has changed, change the printer driver output destination or scanner driver input source, If it has changed, the setting information of the information processing apparatus is adjusted and updated so as to maintain consistency, for example, by replacing with a printer driver or scanner driver suitable for the model.

  The setting information setting unit 10, the setting information backup unit 11, the setting information adjustment unit 12, the device setting information acquisition unit 13, the device setting information update unit 14, and the device setting information setting unit 15 are parts realized by software or the like. is there.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the information processing apparatus before device replacement and user room movement in this embodiment.

  First, the user is requested to input the IP address of the current device that has been used up to now via a UI or the like, and the user ID is accepted (step 100). Information (box name, personal identification number, automatic deletion setting, associated job flow, etc.) is acquired and stored (step 101).

  Also, the user's own job flow is acquired / stored from the device of the input user ID (step 102), and the current IP address of the information processing terminal is acquired / stored from the setting information (step 103).

  Whether a confidential box or the like is the user's own setting information is determined by referring to the setting information of the information processing apparatus, or by displaying information on the display unit and determining by the user's own selection. Any method can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the information processing apparatus after device replacement and user room movement in this embodiment.

  First, it is determined whether or not the job flow of the device stored in the information processing apparatus includes an instruction to transfer a document or the like to the previous IP address of the information processing apparatus (step 200).

  If it is determined that a transfer instruction to the previous IP address of the information processing apparatus is not included (NO in step 200), an input request for the IP address of a new device is displayed on the UI (step 201).

  If it is determined in step 200 that a transfer instruction to the previous IP address of the information processing apparatus is included (YES in step 200), the instruction is changed to a transfer instruction to the current IP address (step 202). Then, an input request for the IP address of the new device is displayed on the UI or the like (step 201).

  Next, when the IP address is input, a confidential box is added to the device of the input IP address based on the setting information acquired and stored from the previously used device (step 203). A job flow is registered (step 104).

  Here, it is determined whether or not the information processing apparatus has a printer icon whose output destination is a previously used device (step 205), and it is determined that there is no printer icon (NO in step 205). Then, it is determined whether or not the new device is different from the device used before (step 206).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 205 that there is a printer icon (YES in step 205), the output destination is changed to a new device (step 207), and then the new device is different from the device used before. It is determined whether or not (step 206).

  If it is determined that the device models are the same (not different) (NO in step 206), it is determined whether or not there is a confidential box reference setting in which the previously used device is a reference destination. (Step 208).

  If it is determined in step 206 that the device model is different (YES in step 206), the printer driver of the printer icon is replaced with a printer driver corresponding to the new device (step 209) and then used previously. It is determined whether or not there is a confidential box reference setting for which the device is a reference destination (step 208).

  Here, if it is determined that there is no confidential box reference setting in which the device used before is the reference destination (NO in step 208), the job flow reference in which the device used previously is the reference destination It is determined whether there is a setting (step 210).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 208 that there is a confidential box reference setting in which the previously used device is a reference destination (YES in step 208), the reference destination is added as a new device IP address. After changing to the confidential box number (step 211), it is determined whether or not there is a job flow reference setting in which the previously used device is the reference destination (step 210).

  If it is determined that there is no job flow reference setting for which the previously used device is the reference destination (NO in step 210), it is determined whether the scanner driver is compatible (step 212).

  If it is determined in step 210 that there is a job flow reference setting in which the device used before is a reference destination (YES in step 210), the reference destination is set to the IP address, serial number, and After changing to the newly registered job flow ID (step 213), it is determined whether or not the scanner driver is compatible (step 212).

  If the scanner driver is compatible (YES in step 212), the process is terminated. If the scanner driver is not compatible (NO in step 212), the scanner driver is updated to the corresponding scanner driver (step 214). ), The process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information (print setting, box document acquisition setting, scan document transfer setting) in the device and information processing apparatus before replacement or moving to a room (before update).

  As shown in the figure, a printer icon is registered on the information processing apparatus side for printing from the information processing apparatus to the device.

  The printer icon includes a printer driver for model XXX that matches the output destination device, an IP address 111.111.111.111 of the output destination device, and a designation according to the configuration of the output destination device (Finisher =, memory = 128 MB ) Etc. are set.

  In the box document acquisition setting, the information processing apparatus side and the device side are set in a consistent manner in order to capture a document stored in a box on the device or a FAX reception document into the information processing apparatus.

  On the information processing apparatus side, in order to manually acquire a document from the confidential box, the scanner driver for model XXX that matches the reference destination device, the IP address 111.111.111.111 of the reference destination device, and the box number of the reference destination 10 is set.

  A confidential box having a box number 10 is registered on the device side, and a secret number ***, automatic deletion = Yes, and the like are set in the confidential box.

  In the scan document transfer setting, a job flow is registered on the device side in order to automatically transfer a document scanned by the device to the information processing apparatus.

  In the job flow, Owner UserID = MMM, SMB transfer destination information processing apparatus name = AAA, user name used for SMB transfer = aaa, and the like are set.

  On the information processing apparatus side, a shared folder is prepared on the information processing apparatus side as a destination where the device writes a document, and writing by the user aaa is permitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information (print setting, Box document acquisition setting, Scan document transfer setting) in the device after the replacement or moving to the room (after updating) and the information processing apparatus.

  If the user who used the device in the state shown in FIG. 4 can no longer use the device due to moving to another room, etc., in order to be able to use printing and scanning on the other device as before, As shown in FIG. 5, the setting needs to be updated as follows. First, in the printer icon (print setting), in order to enable printing, the printer driver is replaced with a printer driver for the model YYY of the device to be newly used, and the output destination IP address and device configuration are adjusted to the new device. Update.

  In the Box document acquisition setting, in order to use the confidential box, a new confidential box is registered in the device, and the scanner driver on the information processing apparatus side is replaced to update the setting of the reference destination IP address and box number. .

  In the scan document transfer setting, a new job flow is registered in the device in order to automatically transfer the scanned document. At this time, if the information processing device name or the user name on the information processing device side has changed, it is necessary to update the contents of the job flow.

<Update procedure>
Here, a processing procedure for setting information update at the time of device replacement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described.

<< Before moving rooms >>
1) Let the user input the IP address (111.111.111.111) of the device that has been used so far (cannot be used due to moving in the room).
Instead of inputting an IP address, a device may be searched to display a list, and the user may select it.
The number of devices to be specified / selected may be one or plural. In the case of plural devices, the processes (2) to (4) are repeated one by one.
It is also possible to target all searched devices without specifying / selecting by the user. Alternatively, a device (or devices) in which a printer icon or confidential box reference exists in the information processing apparatus may be targeted.
2) Save print settings, Box document acquisition settings, and Scan document transfer settings.

<< After moving to living room >>
3) Let the user input the IP address (111.222.111.222) of the device to be newly used.
Instead of inputting an IP address, a device may be searched to display a list, and the user may select it. At this time, it may be checked whether there is a function used in the previous device, such as whether the device supports the job flow.
When there are a plurality of devices that have been used before, a replacement device may be designated for each device.
4) Update print settings, Box document acquisition settings, and Scan document transfer settings.

<Update print settings>
In the setting information update at the time of device replacement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a processing procedure when updating print settings will be described.

<< Save >>
1) Save the IP address (111.111.111.111) of the device used so far, which is input by the user.

<< Update >>
2) Obtain model information (YYY) from the newly used device.
3) The printer icon whose output destination is the IP address (111.111.111.111) stored in (1) is searched.
4) It is determined whether the printer driver (for model XXX) used by the printer icon searched in (3) can be used with the model (YYY) acquired in (2).
5) If the models are different, update the printer icon as follows.
5.1) Save print settings (2up, duplex, etc.).
5.2) Replace the printer driver for model YYY. At this time, the print setting is the default.
5.3) Configuration information (Finisher = none, memory = 256 MB) is acquired from the newly used device, and set as a printer icon.
5.4) Reset the print settings saved in (5.1) to the printer icon.
5 ′) If the models are the same, the printer icon is updated as follows.
5′.1) Configuration information (Finisher = none, memory = 256 MB) is acquired from a newly used device, and set as a printer icon.
6) The printer icon output destination is changed to the IP address of the new device (111.222.111.222).

<Updating Box Document Acquisition Settings>
In the setting information update at the time of device exchange shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a processing procedure when updating the Box document acquisition setting will be described.

<< Save >>
1) The confidential box reference setting for the device (111.11.11.11.111) used so far is searched.
2) The setting information (such as automatic deletion) of the confidential box (Box number = 10) referred to by the confidential box reference setting searched in (1) is acquired from the device and stored. At this time, the stored confidential box may be deleted from the device.

<< Update >>
3) Add a confidential box to a new device (111.222.111.222), set a password, and set it according to the setting information saved in (2) (password, automatic deletion, etc.) .
4) If the model is different, replace it with a scanner driver for model YYY.
5) Change the reference destination IP address of the confidential box reference setting to 111.222.111.222, and change the reference destination Box number to the Box number added in (3).

<Scan document transfer settings>
In the setting information update at the time of device exchange shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a processing procedure when updating the Scan document acquisition setting will be described.

<< Save >>
1) Let the user input the UserID (MMM: ID on the device) in the device (111.11.11.11.111) used so far.
Or, if the correspondence between the user name (aaa) on the information processing apparatus and the UserID (MMM) on the device is managed, the UserID (MMM) is automatically acquired from the login user name (aaa) of the information processing apparatus To do.
Then, the job flow file in the device is searched using the ID as a key.
If the device is not managed by UserID (in the case of Auditron Off), a list of job flows is displayed and the user is allowed to select a job flow to be saved.
2) A job flow having the UserID (MMM) input in (1) as Owner is acquired from the device and stored. At this time, the saved job flow may be deleted from the device.

<< Update >>
3) The transfer destination information processing device name of the job flow saved in (2) is changed to a new information processing device name (BBB), and the user name used at the time of transfer is changed to a new login user name (bbb). .
4) The job flow changed in (3) is registered in the new device (111.222.111.222).
5) The writable user of the SMB transfer shared folder is changed to the user name (bbb) set in the job flow in (4).

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when a device to be used is changed in accordance with replacement of a device or movement of a user's room, settings necessary for a newly used device can be easily performed.

  Further, backup of information necessary for device replacement and replacement to a newly used device can be performed in a batch, thereby preventing omissions.

  Furthermore, since the device settings and the information processing apparatus settings are updated together, consistency can be maintained.

It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the information processing apparatus before device replacement and user room movement in the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the information processing apparatus after device replacement or user room movement in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information in the device before a replacement or a room movement, and information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information in the device and information processing apparatus after replacement or moving to a living room.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Setting information setting part 11 ... Setting information backup part 12 ... Setting information adjustment part 13 ... Device setting information acquisition part 14 ... Device setting information update part 15 ... Device setting information setting part 16 ... Memory | storage part 17 ... Operation / display part 18 ... Communication I / F
19 ... Control unit

Claims (3)

In an information processing apparatus that connects to a device and performs processing using the device,
Old device accepting means for accepting designation of the old device used so far,
Device setting information acquisition means for acquiring setting information of the old device;
Device information update means for reflecting its own setting information in the setting information of the old device;
A new device accepting means for accepting designation of a new device to be newly used;
Device setting information setting means for setting setting information in the new device based on the setting information of the old device;
Comprising setting information adjustment means for changing its own setting information according to the new device,
Before stopping the use of the old device, at least the old device receiving means and the device setting information acquiring means are executed, and after the connection with the new device is enabled, at least the new device receiving means, and the device An information processing apparatus that executes setting information setting means. An information processing apparatus that connects to a device and performs processing using the device;
Before stopping the use of the old device used until now, accept the designation of the old device by the old device accepting means,
Acquire the setting information of the old device by device setting information acquisition means,
Reflect own setting information in the setting information of the old device by the device information update means,
After the connection with the new device to be newly used becomes possible, the designation of the new device is accepted by the new device accepting means,
Based on the setting information of the old device, set the setting information in the device setting information setting means to the new device,
A setting change method characterized in that the information processing apparatus performs a process of changing its own setting information by setting information adjustment means in accordance with the new device. A setting change program for controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a device and performing processing using the device,
Before stopping the use of the old device used until now, accept the designation of the old device by the old device accepting means,
Acquire the setting information of the old device by device setting information acquisition means,
Reflect own setting information in the setting information of the old device by the device information update means,
After the connection with the new device to be newly used becomes possible, the designation of the new device is accepted by the new device accepting means,
Based on the setting information of the old device, set the setting information in the device setting information setting means to the new device,
A setting change program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a process of changing its own setting information by a setting information adjusting means in accordance with the new device.

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