JP2007279792A - Storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch the start environment of an application program capable of executing specific processing adaptively to the processing of an image formation apparatus, adaptively to the processing history of an application program requested by a user. <P>SOLUTION: This image formation apparatus is provided with a storage means for storing application programs capable of executing specific processing adaptively to the processing of a compound machine 400 so that those application programs are rearrangeable. Then, a processing history information management means 410 manages the processing history information of an application program stored in the storage means. Then, a management agent 401 controls the start or stop of the application program for each time zone, based on the use circumstances of the application program in each of the past time zone from the processing history information managing means 410. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to execution processing of a specific processing application program that can be incorporated into an image forming apparatus in an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a server apparatus can communicate.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions of apparatuses such as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner are housed in a single casing is known. In this multi-function peripheral, a platform capable of mounting, for example, a plurality of hard disks with applications that perform processing unique to each user service, such as a printer, a copy, or a facsimile, is provided.

  Conventionally, a hard counter with a mechanical structure was generally used as a mechanism for counting the total number of outputs of a multi-function device. However, a soft counter that can realize a large number of counters at low cost and space is available. Proposed. The soft counter is a soft counter that stores a count value in a semiconductor memory. The soft counter can prepare a soft counter for each function or application to be counted and can hold accurate count information for each function or application (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, applications installed in the multifunction peripheral are managed by licenses. In a multi-function peripheral, it is possible to limit the upper limit value of application usage by a license. Furthermore, in a system environment with multiple multifunction peripherals, it is possible to make maximum use of the license by redistributing the available amount for each application in the multiple multifunction peripherals in the form of usage right information. (See Patent Document 2).

Further, in an environment where a plurality of programs possessed by the multi-function peripheral exists, program activation control is performed in accordance with the usage status of resources such as memory. As a result, it is possible to improve the stability of the system of the multifunction peripheral by avoiding that the program cannot be executed depending on the resource status (see Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-92779 A JP 2004-139148 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-030601

  A situation is assumed in which a plurality of multifunction peripherals are installed and a plurality of applications are installed in one multifunction peripheral. For example, this is a case where a plurality of multifunction peripherals are installed in a company. In enterprises and the like, the business contents differ from department to department. Therefore, the applications used in the multifunction peripherals differ depending on the department / location where the multifunction peripheral is installed.

  For example, in the general affairs department, it is possible to copy the paper document of the distribution, or scan the application form and convert it to a PDF file as an electronic file.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable that the development department prints created documents (electronic files) such as specifications.

  In recent years, various applications can be installed as options in a multi-function peripheral. These applications are license-managed for each multi-function peripheral. For this reason, if an application license is uniformly purchased for all multifunction peripherals installed in a company, a license for an application that is not used depending on the department in which the multifunction peripheral is installed may also be purchased.

  Therefore, it is desirable for an administrator of a company that an application having a need is appropriately installed and used for each MFP.

  Further, from the viewpoint of security such as information leakage, it is desirable for a company administrator to be able to manage “which user used which application and what operation was performed in a multifunction device in the company”.

  In order to satisfy the above requirement, information such as “which user used which application how much” is required. With this information, it is possible to arrange an appropriate application, and it is also possible to acquire information such as what user has performed as security management.

  However, in the conventional technique described above, the number of times the application itself is used can be counted by a counter, but information such as which user has performed what operation and how many times cannot be acquired.

  Further, when a plurality of applications are installed in one multifunction device, the number of applications that can be activated by one multifunction device is limited due to the limitation of resources such as memory of the multifunction device.

  In such a case, an application that a user wants to use cannot be used, or even if it can be used, sufficient resources cannot be secured and processing is slow.

  According to Patent Document 3, a technology is provided for determining whether or not an application can be activated based on the resource used by the application and the state of the resource of the device, and for ensuring the stability of the MFP that executes the application.

  However, with this technology, depending on resource conditions, an application that the user wants to use cannot always be activated when the user wants to use it.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a startup environment for an application program capable of executing specific processing in conformity with processing of the image forming apparatus incorporated in the image forming apparatus. To provide a mechanism capable of switching in accordance with the processing history of an application program requested by a user.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for managing processing history information of each application program managed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses and setting an optimum application program start schedule for each image forming apparatus from a server apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server device,
Storage means for reversibly storing an application program capable of executing specific processing adapted to the processing of the image forming apparatus;
Processing history information management means for managing processing history information of the application program stored in the storage means;
Based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone from the processing history information management means, application management means for controlling the start or stop of the application program for each time zone;
It is characterized by having.

  The server device of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.

A server device that manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Processing history information integrated management means for acquiring and managing processing history information of an application program capable of executing specific processing in accordance with processing of the image forming device stored in each image forming device;
It is characterized by having.

  The program management method of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.

A program management method in an image forming apparatus, comprising storage means for reversibly storing an application program capable of executing specific processing adapted to the processing of the image forming apparatus, and capable of communicating with a server device,
A process history information management step for managing process history information of the application program stored in the storage means;
Based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone from the processing history information management step, application management step for controlling the start or stop of the application program for each time zone;
It is characterized by having.

A program management method in a server device that manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
A process history information integrated management step for acquiring and managing process history information of an application program capable of executing a specific process adapted to the process of the image forming apparatus stored in each image forming apparatus;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to adaptively switch the activation environment of an application program that can execute specific processing in accordance with the processing of the image forming apparatus incorporated in the image forming apparatus, according to the processing history of the application program requested by the user. it can.

  In addition, it is possible to manage the processing history information of each application program managed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and to set an optimum application program start schedule for each image forming apparatus from the server apparatus.

  Furthermore, it is possible to obtain processing history information such as “which user used which application how much” for each image forming apparatus, and provide the processing history information as information for security management to a company administrator. Can do.

  In addition, the manager of the company can consider appropriate application placement from the processing history information.

  In addition, even when an application is installed beyond the resource limit of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to start or stop an appropriate number of applications in an appropriate time zone, and the user can more stably operate the application of the MFP. It can be used.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system to which the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment can be applied. This example is a system example in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are managed by the integrated management server 100 via the network 102. In the present embodiment, an example of a multifunction peripheral including a printer unit, a scanner unit, a data communication function processing unit, and the like is shown as an example of an image forming apparatus. Even so, the present invention is applicable.

  In addition, in this example, it is possible to manage processing history information of a plurality of multifunction peripherals, and a system configuration that can integrally manage start or stop of an application that starts in a time zone for each multifunction peripheral It is an example which shows.

  In FIG. 1, an integrated management server 100, which is a server device, and a plurality of multifunction peripherals 101 (1), 101 (2),..., 101 (M) are connected via a network 102 so as to be communicable using a predetermined protocol. Yes.

  The network 102 may be another network system such as the Internet or an intranet. Further, in this embodiment, in order to simplify the description, when any one of the plurality of multifunction peripherals 101 (1), 101 (2),... 101 (X).

  In the present embodiment, the integrated management server 100 is assumed to be a PC, a server, or the like, but the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) itself may satisfy the functions of the integrated management server 100.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the integrated management server 100 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the integrated management server 100 to which the present invention can be applied is a so-called information processing apparatus, and the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) may satisfy the functions of the integrated management server 100 as described above.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) that controls the calculation and control of the information processing apparatus. Reference numeral 202 denotes a random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as RAM), which functions as an execution area and data area of an execution program as the main memory of the CPU 201.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores the operation processing procedure of the CPU 201.

  The ROM 203 includes a program ROM that records basic software (OS), which is a system program that controls the equipment of the information processing apparatus, and a data ROM that records information necessary for operating the system. Depending on the device, an HDD 209 described later may be used instead of the ROM 203.

  Reference numeral 204 denotes a network interface (hereinafter referred to as NETIF), which performs control for transferring data between information processing apparatuses via the network and diagnoses connection status.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes a video RAM (hereinafter referred to as VRAM), which develops an image to be displayed on the screen of the CRT 206 indicating the operating state of the information processing apparatus, which will be described later, and controls its display. Reference numeral 206 denotes a display device such as a display (hereinafter referred to as CRT).

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a controller (hereinafter referred to as KBC) for controlling an input signal from the external input device 208. Reference numeral 208 denotes an external input device (hereinafter referred to as KB) for accepting an operation performed by the user. For example, a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse is used.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD), which is used for storing application programs and various data.

  The application program in this embodiment is a software program that executes various processing means in this embodiment and a software program that provides other various functions.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes an external input / output device (hereinafter referred to as FDD), which inputs and outputs a removable disk such as a flexible disk drive and a CD-ROM drive, and is used for reading from the above-described application program medium. .

  Reference numeral 213 denotes a magnetic recording medium (for example, a flexible disk or an external hard disk) read by the FDD 210. The drive configuration is changed depending on the type of recording medium. For this reason, available recording media include the following recording media.

  Removable data recording devices (removable media) such as optical recording media (for example, CD-ROM), magneto-optical recording media (for example, MO), semiconductor recording media (for example, memory cards) (hereinafter referred to as FD) Write down).

  Note that application programs and data stored in the HDD 209 can be stored in the FDD 210 and used.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes a controller (hereinafter referred to as PRTC) for controlling an output signal to the PRT 212 described later.

  Reference numeral 212 denotes a printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as PRT), for example, LBP (Laser Beam Printer) or the like.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a transmission bus (address bus, data bus, input / output bus, and control bus) for connecting the above-described units.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) in the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an image input device that converts a document into image data (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit). The document image is photoelectrically read by a CCD linear image sensor or the like, converted into digital image data, and output. .

  Reference numeral 302 denotes an image output device (hereinafter referred to as a printer) that has a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes and outputs image data from the reader unit 301 as a visible image on the recording paper in response to a print command input from the reader unit 301. . Reference numeral 303 denotes an operation unit that issues a print instruction to the reader unit 301 and a process for an external device 304 that is electrically connected to the reader unit 301.

  The external device 304 includes a core unit 305 that controls the following functions, and includes a fax unit 306, a file unit 307, and an external storage device 308 such as a hard disk connected to the file unit 307. The external device 304 also includes a formatter unit 309 for making image data information a visible image, and a network interface unit 310 for connecting to a network.

  The core unit 305 includes a fax unit 306, a file unit 307, and an external storage device 308 that are components of the external device 304. The core unit 305 performs state management, command input / output control, and image data input / output control of the formatter unit 309 and the network interface unit 310.

  The external storage device 308 is used for storing application programs and various data.

  The application program in the present embodiment is a software program that executes various processing means in the present embodiment and a software program that provides various other functions, like the integrated management server 100. Normally, an application program is started in a resident state when the MFP is started.

  Reference numeral 300 denotes a transmission bus (address bus, data bus, input / output bus, and control bus) for connecting the above-described reader unit 301, printer unit 302, operation unit 303, and external device 304.

  The image forming apparatus configured as described above has the following characteristic configuration.

  Each image forming apparatus is configured to be able to communicate with the integrated management server 100 as a server apparatus via the network 102.

  For example, an external storage device 308 is provided as a storage unit that recombinably stores an application program that can execute specific processing in accordance with processing of the image forming apparatus.

  Here, the application program capable of executing the specific processing is an application in which OCR processing is performed on the image data read by the reader unit 301 and converted into a PDF file or an application file. The application that can be incorporated into the platform is not limited to this, and any application can be incorporated based on the business process.

  A processing history information management unit 410 that manages processing history information of application programs stored in the external storage device 308 is provided. A management agent 401 that executes an application management function process for controlling the start or stop of the application program for each time zone based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone from the processing history information management means 410. Is provided.

  In addition, the management agent 401 ranks application programs in descending order of frequency of use of application programs in each past time zone, starts the upper application program, and stops the lower application program.

  Furthermore, the management agent 401 gives a priority to the application program for each time slot based on the usage status of the application program in each past time slot. A priority information management function for controlling activation or stop of the application program according to the assigned priority is provided.

  In addition, the management agent 401 has a first program activation control function that activates or stops an application program for each time period in accordance with information managed by the priority information management function.

  Furthermore, the management agent 401 has a second program activation function that activates a stopped application program in response to a user request and temporarily stops the activated application program.

  Further, the management agent 401 has a third program activation control function that stops an application program activated in response to a user request after a certain period of time and restarts the stopped application program.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a function group for realizing processing that operates in the multi-function peripheral 101 (X) shown in FIG. 1 and a storage unit group for storing information to which the present invention can be applied. is there.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes the multifunction machine itself. Reference numeral 401 denotes a management agent for managing a processing history of an application in the multifunction peripheral by a processing history information management unit 410 described later.

  402 (1), 402 (2),..., 402 (N) are application programs executed in the multifunction peripheral, and each provide different functions and services. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, the application 402 is shown when any one of the plurality of application programs 402 (1), 402 (2),..., 402 (N) is shown. (Y).

  A processing history information management unit 410 manages a processing history of the application 402 (Y). Reference numeral 411 denotes an ID that uniquely indicates the application 402 (Y) in the multifunction peripheral, and is uniquely assigned when the application is installed in the multifunction peripheral.

  Reference numeral 412 denotes processing contents that the application 402 (Y) leaves as a history, and is information indicating processing executed by the application 402 (Y) independently from processing using functions of the multifunction peripheral itself such as copying and scanning.

  Reference numeral 413 denotes a user ID of a user who uses the application 402 (Y). Reference numeral 414 denotes the date and time when the application 402 (Y) executed the process. Reference numeral 415 denotes other information that can be arbitrarily left by the application 402 (Y).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a functional group for realizing the processing that operates in the integrated management server 100 shown in FIG. 1 and a storage unit group for storing information, to which the present invention can be applied.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes the integrated management server itself. Note that the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) may realize the functions of the integrated management server 100.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes an integrated management application that communicates with the management agent 401 in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) and acquires processing history information managed in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X). Then, the usage status and processing contents of the application 402 (Y) in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) are displayed to an administrator or the like.

  Reference numeral 510 denotes processing history information integrated management means for managing processing history information collected by the integrated management application 501 from the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  Reference numeral 511 denotes a multifunction machine ID, which is uniquely assigned on the network to the multifunction machine 101 (X) to be managed.

  An ID 512 uniquely indicates the application 402 (Y) in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X), and is uniquely assigned when the application is installed in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  Reference numeral 513 denotes processing contents that the application 402 (Y) leaves as a history, and is information indicating processing executed by the application 402 (Y) independently from processing using functions of the multifunction peripheral itself such as copying and scanning.

  Reference numeral 514 denotes a user ID of a user who uses the application 402 (Y). Reference numeral 515 denotes the date and time when the application 402 (Y) executed the process. Reference numeral 516 denotes other information, which can be arbitrarily left by the application 402 (Y).

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of processing to which the present invention can be applied and processing history information is collected in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) shown in FIG. 1 and an application program to be activated is determined using the collected processing history information. is there.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that all application programs installed in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) are activated.

  Also, it is assumed that an application program called a login application (LGAP) is included in one of the application programs.

  The login application always displays a user ID and password input screen on the operation unit 303 of the multifunction machine 101 (X) when the user intends to use the multifunction machine 101 (X). The application program (AP) performs user authentication based on the user ID and password input by the user.

  It is assumed that login information of the user after user authentication by LGAP can be referred to from all APs in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, processing history information is collected in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X), and processing for determining an AP to be activated using the collected processing history information is as follows.

  When the user uses the application 402 (Y) of the multifunction machine 101 (X), the user inputs a user ID and a password and receives user authentication by LGAP. Thereafter, the application 402 (Y) is operated from the operation unit 303 and used.

  Each time the application 402 (Y) executes a copy process, a scan process, or an arbitrary application process, the application 402 (Y) notifies the management agent 401 of an application ID, a process content, and other information as a process history information registration request.

  Upon receiving the processing history information registration request, the management agent 401 acquires login information, and registers the application ID, processing content, user ID, execution date, and other information in the processing history information management unit 410. In this way, the processing history information in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) is accumulated in the external storage device 308 shown in FIG. 3 or the like in response to processing history information registration requests from a plurality of applications 402 (Y).

  The management agent 401 uses the processing history information accumulated in the external storage device 308 to determine an application program to be started periodically (for example, every hour), and stops or starts the application according to the determination. A method for determining an application to be activated is as follows.

  The management agent 401 refers to the processing history accumulated in the processing history information management unit 410, for example. Then, a predetermined number (for example, five) of frequently used application programs are started in the same time period of the previous day (for example, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM), and the remaining application programs are stopped.

  As described above, the application program in the activated state changes adaptively according to the usage status of the multifunction device for each time period. As a result, it is possible to reduce a situation in which an application that the user wants to use cannot be used due to a shortage of resources such as memory resources of the multifunction peripheral.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of processing when the processing history information of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) is collected in the integrated management server 100 shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied. As in FIG. 6, in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X), a processing history registration request is notified to the management agent 401 every time the application 402 (Y) executes an arbitrary process.

  In FIG. 7, the management agent 401 that has received the processing history registration request acquires the login information when the management agent 401 receives the processing history information registration request. Then, the application ID, processing content, user ID, execution date and time, and other information are registered in the processing history information management unit 410.

  In this way, the processing history information is stored in the processing history information management unit 410 in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  The integrated management application 501 in the integrated management server 100 notifies a processing history acquisition request to the management agent 401 in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) via the network. The management agent 401 that has received the processing history acquisition request from the integrated management application 501 acquires the processing history information accumulated from the processing history information management unit 410 and transmits it to the integrated management application 501 via the network.

  The integrated management application 501 that has received the processing history information from the management agent 401 sends the MFP ID of the MFP 101 (X) in which the management agent 401 that has transmitted the processing history information is operating to the processing history information integrated management unit 510. Store. Further, the integrated management application 501 stores the application ID, processing content, user ID, execution date and time, and other information stored in the processing history information in the processing history information integrated management unit 510.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of processing history information collected by the integrated management application 501 shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied. This screen is displayed on the CRT 206 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 800 denotes a display target selection area for selecting which MFP 101 (X) processing history information is to be displayed.

  If “all” is selected as in the display example of the display target selection area 800, the integrated management application 501 acquires and displays all the processing history information of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) from the processing history information integrated management unit 510. .

  When any one MFP 101 (X) such as “MFP_A” is selected, the integrated management application 501 acquires only the processing history information of the specified MFP 101 (X) from the processing history information integrated management unit 510. And display.

  Reference numeral 801 denotes a display item list of processing history information. Reference numeral 802 denotes an MFP ID or MFP name, 803 an application ID or application name, and 804 an operation content such as copying or scanning.

  Reference numeral 805 denotes an operated user, 806 denotes an operation date and time, and 807 denotes other information that can be arbitrarily left by the application.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of statistical data acquired from the processing history information collected by the integrated management application 501 shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied. This screen is displayed on the CRT 206 shown in FIG. Further, this example is an example of display of information obtained by processing history information, such as which operation of which application 402 (Y) has been executed and how many times in which MFP 101 (X). It should be noted that each item can be sorted and displayed by selecting a display target.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 900 denotes a display target selection area for selecting which MFP 101 (X) processing history information is to be displayed. As shown in the display example in the display target selection area 900, an arbitrary multi-function peripheral 101 (X) such as “MFP_A” is selected. As a result, the integrated management application 501 acquires only the processing history information of the designated multifunction peripheral 101 (X) from the processing history information integrated management unit 510 and displays information such as which application has been executed for each time period. .

  Reference numeral 901 denotes a list of display items of statistical data. Reference numeral 902 denotes a time zone in which the operation is performed, and reference numeral 903 denotes an application ID or application name executed in the operation time zone 902. Reference numeral 904 denotes the number of times the application 903 is executed in the operation time zone 902.

  As described above, the integrated management server 100 acquires processing history information such as “which user used which application how much”, and the application 402 (Y) to be activated on the MFP 101 (X) based on the processing history information. It becomes possible to control.

  Further, it is possible to present processing history information to a user (particularly an administrator), and the administrator can realize security management such as which user has performed what operation by which application.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when determining the application 402 (Y) to be activated in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X), a priority may be assigned to each application program. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described in detail.

  When it is requested to use an application program that has not been activated by a user operation, the application program with the lower priority can be stopped and the application program requested by the user can be activated.

  As a result, it is possible to provide a stable operating environment for application programs even in a multi-function peripheral, which has fewer memory resources than a PC or the like and has a low CPU processing capability.

  Further, when the processing history information accumulated in the processing history information management unit 410 in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) increases, a relatively long-term usage situation such as the past one month to several months can be acquired as statistical data. .

  Processing such statistical data, determining the application 402 (Y) to be activated, and assigning priority may take time for the processing itself.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is not a realistic process to determine an application program to be started at that time and stop or start the application according to the determination.

  Therefore, for example, a schedule of which application program is started at which time zone at a medium- to long-term interval such as once a day, once a week, once a month, and the priority at that time. Perform the setting process. Then, it is conceivable that the application program is started or stopped at each time period based on the schedule setting.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of priority information management means in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) according to the second embodiment to which the present invention can be applied. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a function group for realizing processing for starting and stopping an application program in each time zone based on the above-described schedule setting processing and schedule setting, and a storage means group for storing information will be described. It is an example.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 400 denotes the multifunction machine itself as in FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes a management agent as in FIG. 4, a function for accumulating processing histories in the processing history information management means 410, and schedule setting processing and start / stop of application programs at each time zone based on schedule settings. It has a function to execute.

  Reference numeral 1010 denotes priority information management means for managing activation control such as which application program is activated with which priority in which time zone, or which priority is not activated.

  Reference numeral 1011 denotes a time zone subject to the activation control of the application 402 (Y) in the priority information management unit 1010. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an application ID of the application 402 (Y) in the priority information management unit 1010. Reference numeral 1013 denotes the priority of the application 402 (Y) in the priority information management unit 1010. Reference numeral 1014 denotes a flag indicating whether or not the application 402 (Y) can be activated in the priority information management unit 1010.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following characteristic configuration.

  That is, the management agent 401 has a third program start control function for stopping an application program started in response to a user request after a certain period and restarting the stopped application program.

  Further, the management agent 401 has a prioritizing function for prioritizing application programs in descending order of frequency of use of application programs in each past time zone.

  In addition, the management agent 401 starts a stopped application program in response to a user request, and instead selects a low priority application program from the running application programs when stopping the running application program. And a fourth program starting function for stopping.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment to which the present invention can be applied. Note that FIG. 11A corresponds to the processing when the schedule is set in the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. FIG. 11B corresponds to processing in which the application of the multifunction peripheral controls activation / stop of the application according to the schedule setting. Note that S1101 to S1104 and S1111 to S1114 correspond to data processing of the application of the multifunction peripheral. Each step is realized by the CPU of the core unit 305 loading and executing a control program in the RAM.

  A flowchart of processing when the schedule is set in FIG. 11A will be described.

  First, in step S1101, the management agent 401 acquires information on all applications 402 (Y) installed in the multifunction machine 101 (X). In the example shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that four application programs “App A”, “App B”, “App C”, and “App D” are installed.

  Next, in step S1102, the management agent 401 acquires processing history information for a certain past period (for example, for one month) from the processing history information management unit 410. The time zone is divided every unit time (for example, 1 hour), and the processing history information of the application 402 (Y) used by the user in the same time zone is calculated.

  In step S1103, the management agent 401 calculates the usage frequency of each application 402 (Y) from the processing history information of the application 402 (Y) used by the user in each time period. In the example shown in FIG. 11, “App A” is used twice, “App B” is used five times, “App C” is used seven times, and “App D” is used ten times during the time period from 10:00 to 11:00. Shall.

  In step S1104, the management agent 401 gives priority from the application 402 (Y) that is frequently used in each time slot.

  Here, the higher the priority, the smaller the value. Also, whether or not the application 402 (Y) can be activated is determined in descending order of priority.

  Here, a threshold value for the number of application programs to be activated systematically may be set, and activation may be made from a high priority to a threshold value. In FIG. 11, in the time zone from 10:00 to 11:00, the priority of “App A” is 4, the priority of “App B” is 3, the priority of “App C” is 2, and the “App D” is “App D”. The priority is 1.

  Also, it is assumed that an application program that can be started up to three programs having the highest priority. For this reason, “App A” cannot be activated in the time zone from 10:00 to 11:00, and “App B”, “App C”, and “App D” other than that can be activated.

  Next, a flowchart of processing for controlling the activation of the application 402 (Y) according to the schedule setting set in FIG. 11A shown in FIG. 11B will be described.

  First, in step S <b> 1111, the management agent 401 acquires information on the currently active application 402 (Y) from the priority information management unit 1010. In the example shown in FIG. 11, if the current time is 11:00, there are three currently activated application programs “App B”, “App C”, and “App D”.

  In step S <b> 1112, the management agent 401 acquires information on the application 402 (Y) to be started next from the priority information management unit 1010. In the example shown in FIG. 11, assuming that the current time is 11:00, there are three application programs to be started in the future, “App A”, “App B”, and “App C”.

  In addition, the priority is “App A” is 2, “App B” is 1, “App C” is 3, and “App D” with priority 4 is an application program to be stopped.

  In step S1113, the management agent 401 stops the application 402 (Y) that should be stopped based on the information acquired in step S1112. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the application program “App D” is stopped.

  Next, in step S1114, the management agent 401 starts the application 402 (Y) to be started based on the information acquired in step 2 above. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the application programs “App A”, “App B”, and “App C” are started. If it is already running, you do not need to do anything.

  As described above, the management agent 401 sets the schedule of the application 402 (Y) to be started / stopped from the processing history information in the multifunction peripheral 101 (Y), and controls the startup of the application 402 (Y) according to the schedule setting. Do.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an operation screen display example of the operation unit 303 of the multifunction machine 101 (Y) shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied.

  In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1200 denotes an operation panel that is actually operated by the user, and shows an example in which the copy function of the multifunction peripheral 101 (Y) is used.

  Reference numerals 1201 to 1204 denote buttons for switching the operation panel display to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y).

  Reference numeral 1201 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION A”. When the user presses the button 1201, the operation panel 1200 is switched to the operation panel display of “application A”.

  Reference numeral 1202 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION B”. When the user presses the button 1202, the operation panel 1200 is switched to the operation panel display of “application B”.

  Reference numeral 1203 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) called “application C”. When the user presses the button 1203, the operation panel 1200 is switched to the operation panel display of “application C”.

  Reference numeral 1204 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) called “application D”. When the user presses the button 1204, the operation panel 1200 is switched to the operation panel display of “application D”.

  Further, the arrangement order of the buttons 1201 to 1204 can be arranged from the left in the order of the priority of the application 402 (Y).

  In the example of the display screen shown in FIG. 12, four applications 402 (Y) of “application A”, “application B”, “application C”, and “application D” are activated, and “application A” is in descending order of priority. In this state, “,“ application B ”,“ application C ”, and“ application D ”are displayed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen display example of the operation unit 303 of the multifunction machine 101 (Y) shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied. This display screen is a display example of the operation unit 303 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) when the display screen state shown in FIG. 12 is switched to the state set as follows.

(Schedule setting example)
In this embodiment, priorities are set in the order of “App D”, “App C”, “App A”, “App B”, and “App D”, “App C”, “App A” It is assumed that activation is possible and “application B” is set as activation impossible.

  In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1300 denotes an operation panel that is actually operated by the user as in the case of 1200, and shows an example when the copy function of the multifunction peripheral 101 (Y) is used.

  Reference numerals 1301 to 1304 denote buttons for switching the operation panel display to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y).

  Reference numeral 1301 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION D”. Then, when the user presses the button 1301, the operation panel 1300 is switched to the operation panel display of “application D”.

  Reference numeral 1302 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION C”. When the user presses the button 1302, the operation panel 1300 is switched to the operation panel display of “application C”.

  Reference numeral 1303 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION A”. When the user presses the button 1303, the operation panel 1300 is switched to the operation panel display of “application A”.

  Reference numeral 1304 denotes a button for switching to the operation panel display of the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION B”. However, the button 1304 is grayed out, and the application 402 (Y) “APPLICATION B” is not activated.

  On the display screen shown in FIG. 13, three applications 402 (Y) of “application D”, “application C”, and “application A” are activated. Here, the application 402 (Y) “application B” is not activated, and the priority is “application D”, “application C”, “application A”, and “application B” in descending order of priority. State.

  In the second embodiment, in the display state illustrated in FIG. 13, the application 402 (Y) “statistically“ application B ”is the application 402 (Y) that is less frequently used in that time period.

  However, the user is not not using it at all. In some cases, a user may want to use an application 402 (Y) called “application B” that is not activated.

  Even in such a case, in the second embodiment, activation control of the application 402 (Y) called “application B” is performed by the processing sequence as shown in FIG. Then, resources such as the memory and CPU of the multifunction machine 101 (X) are efficiently used to ensure stable operation of the application 402 (Y).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a sequence example of processing when the application 402 (Y) that is not activated in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment to which the present invention can be applied is activated by a user request.

  In the operation screen illustrated in FIG. 13, when the user presses a button 1304, a user request is notified to the management agent 401 to activate the application 402 (Y) “application B”. Then, the management agent 401 receives this user request. As a result, the priority information management unit 1010 is referred to, the application 402 (Y) having the lowest priority among the active applications 402 (Y) is obtained and stopped (in the display screen example shown in FIG. A ").

  Instead, the application 402 (Y) requested by the user is activated (“application B” in the display example shown in FIG. 13).

  As a result, the operation panel 1300 is switched to the operation panel display of “application B”. In addition, the button 1304 is activated from the grayout, and the button 1303 is grayed out.

  The management agent 401 stops the application 402 (Y) activated by the user request after a certain period of time has elapsed after the end of the user operation. Then, the application 402 (Y) that has been stopped due to low priority is restarted and returned to the original state (in the display example illustrated in FIG. 13, “App B” is stopped and “App A” is restarted. To do).

  As described above, the schedule of the application 402 (Y) to be activated is set according to the time zone in consideration of the use frequency from the processing history information, and the activation of the application 402 (Y) is controlled. This makes it possible to operate the application 402 (Y) stably by efficiently using resources such as the memory and CPU of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

[Third Embodiment]
In both the first and second embodiments, the management agent 401 automatically determines the application 402 (Y) to be activated in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  However, the application 402 (Y) that is automatically determined and activated is not necessarily the application 402 (Y) that matches the needs of the user.

  For example, it is considered that the administrator wants to change the schedule setting that is automatically determined in the second embodiment. In addition, since the administrator must manage a plurality of multifunction peripherals 101 (X), it is desirable that the administrator can change the schedule settings in an integrated manner.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, an environment is assumed in which the priority information management unit 1010 is provided in the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) as in the second embodiment. The integrated management application 501 provides a mechanism that allows an administrator to change schedule settings of a plurality of multifunction peripherals 101 (X) in an integrated manner.

  In the third embodiment, the processing when a processing history request is transmitted from the integrated management application 501 to the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) in FIG. 7 is changed as follows.

  A processing history request is transmitted from the integrated management application 501 to the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X). When receiving the processing history request, the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) acquires processing history information from the processing history information management unit 410.

  Next, the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) acquires from the priority information management unit 1010 settings (schedule settings) related to the activation and priority of the application 402 (Y) in each time zone.

  The management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) transmits the acquired processing history information and schedule settings to the integrated management application 501 as a response to the processing history request.

  Then, the integrated management application 501 that has received the processing history information and the schedule setting stores the processing history information in the processing history information integrated management unit 510, and stores the schedule setting in the schedule setting management unit 1510 in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a function group and a storage unit group for storing information in the integrated management server 100 shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied. In this example, a function group in the integrated management server 100 and a storage unit group for storing information for realizing processing for changing and managing the schedule setting of each MFP 101 (X) are described. This is an example.

  In FIG. 15, reference numeral 500 denotes the integrated management server itself as in FIG. Further, the integrated management application 501 is an integrated management application as in FIG. 5, and has a function of accumulating the processing history in the processing history information integrated management means 510. The integrated management application 501 has a function of storing schedule setting information in the schedule setting management unit 1510 and changing / managing it. Further, the integrated management application 501 has a function of notifying the changed schedule setting information to the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  Reference numeral 1510 denotes schedule setting management means for managing the availability and priority of the application 402 (Y) in each time zone in each MFP 101 (X).

  Reference numeral 1511 denotes a management target time zone, 1512 denotes a management target multifunction peripheral 101 (X), and 1513 denotes a management target application ID. Reference numeral 1514 denotes the priority of the application 402 (Y) having the application ID 1513 in the time zone 1511. Reference numeral 1515 denotes a flag indicating whether or not the application 402 (Y) having the application ID 1513 can be activated.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when the administrator illustrated in FIG. 1 to which the present invention can be applied performs schedule setting of an arbitrary multifunction peripheral 101 (X) by the integrated management application 501.

  In FIG. 16, reference numeral 1600 denotes a multi-function peripheral selection area for designating the multi-function peripheral 101 (X) as a schedule setting target.

  Reference numeral 1610 denotes a schedule setting area. The schedule setting area 1610 includes a time zone selection area 1611 for designating a time zone, and an application selection area 1612 for designating the application 402 (Y).

  The schedule setting area 1610 includes a priority selection area 1613 for designating the priority of the designated application 402 (Y) in the designated time zone.

  The schedule setting area 1610 includes a setting button 1614 for instructing to reflect the set schedule on the multifunction peripheral 101 (X) designated in the multifunction peripheral selection area 1600.

  The administrator sets the time zone, application program, and priority in the schedule setting area 1610 and presses a setting button 1614. As a result, the integrated management application 501 instructs the management agent 401 of the multifunction machine 101 (X) to change the schedule setting of the multifunction machine 101 (X).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a processing sequence between the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1 and the integrated management server 100 to which the present invention can be applied. This example shows a processing sequence from when the administrator presses the setting button 1614 until the schedule setting change is reflected on the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  As shown in FIG. 17, the administrator selects an arbitrary multifunction machine 101 (X), sets the priority of the application 402 (Y) in a certain time zone, and presses a setting button 1614. Then, a schedule notification is transmitted from the integrated management application 501 to the management agent 401 of the multifunction peripheral 101 (X).

  The schedule notification includes the time zone set by the administrator, the application ID of the application program, the priority, and availability of activation.

  The management agent 401 that has received the schedule notification refers to the schedule notification and changes the priority of the application in the time zone designated by the priority information management means 1010 and whether or not it can be activated.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the administrator can change the schedule setting automatically determined in the second embodiment.

  In addition, the administrator can change and manage schedule settings of a plurality of multifunction peripherals 101 (X) in an integrated manner.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIG. 11 in this embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, the storage medium storing the software program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

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

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. Then, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, based on an instruction of the program code, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Further, 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. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  While various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to the specific descriptions in the present specification by those skilled in the art.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment can be applied. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the integrated management server shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a multifunction peripheral in the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a function group for realizing processing that operates in the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1 and a storage unit group for storing information. It is a figure for demonstrating the storage means group for storing the function group and information which implement | achieve the process which operate | moves within the integrated management server shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of processing for determining processing to collect an application program to be started using the collected processing history information in the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of processing when collecting processing history information of a multifunction peripheral in an integrated management server shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the process history information collected with the integrated management application shown in FIG. 1 which can apply this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the statistical data acquired from the process history information collected with the integrated application shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of priority information management means in the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sequence example of processing when an application that is not activated in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is activated by a user request. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the storage means group for storing the function group and information in the integrated management server shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when the administrator illustrated in FIG. 1 performs schedule setting for an arbitrary multifunction peripheral (X) using an integrated management application. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a processing sequence between the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. 1 and an integrated management server. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read with the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

400 management agent 402 (1) to 402 (N) application 410 processing history information management means

Claims (17)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server device,
Storage means for reversibly storing an application program capable of executing specific processing adapted to the processing of the image forming apparatus;
Processing history information management means for managing processing history information of the application program stored in the storage means;
Based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone from the processing history information management means, application management means for controlling the start or stop of the application program for each time zone;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The application management means ranks application programs in descending order of frequency of use of application programs in respective past time zones, starts upper application programs, and stops lower application programs. The image forming apparatus according to 1. The application management means includes
Priority information management means for giving priority to the application program for each time zone based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone, and controlling the start or stop of the application program according to the priority,
First program start control means for starting or stopping an application program for each time period according to information managed by the priority information management means;
A second program activation unit that activates a stopped application program in response to a user request, and temporarily stops the activated application program;
Third program starting means for stopping an application program started in response to a user request after a certain period of time and restarting the stopped application program;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The application management means includes
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a prioritizing unit that prioritizes the application programs in descending order of frequency of use of the application programs in each past time zone. The application management means includes
A fourth program that starts a stopped application program in response to a user request, and selects and stops an application program with a lower priority among the active application programs instead of stopping the active application program The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an activation unit. A server device that manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Processing history information integrated management means for acquiring and managing processing history information of an application program capable of executing specific processing in accordance with processing of the image forming device stored in each image forming device;
The server apparatus characterized by having. The server device
Schedule setting management means for acquiring and managing priority information for each user for determining a program activation order managed by the image forming apparatus;
Setting means for setting a program activation order by a user who logs in the image forming apparatus based on priority information for each user managed by the schedule setting management means;
Notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the schedule setting set by the setting means;
The server apparatus characterized by having. A system of an image forming apparatus that manages an application program capable of executing a specific process adapted to an image forming process through communication between a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a server apparatus,
The server device
Schedule setting management means for acquiring and managing priority information for each user for determining a program activation order managed by the image forming apparatus;
Setting means for setting a program activation order by a user who logs in the image forming apparatus based on priority information for each user managed by the schedule setting management means;
Notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the schedule setting set by the setting means,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Priority information management means for giving priority to the application program for each time zone based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone, and controlling the start or stop of the application program according to the priority,
Program management means for changing the content of the priority information management means based on the schedule setting notified from the server device;
An image forming apparatus management system comprising: A program management method in an image forming apparatus, comprising storage means for reversibly storing an application program capable of executing specific processing adapted to the processing of the image forming apparatus, and capable of communicating with a server device,
A process history information management step for managing process history information of the application program stored in the storage means;
Based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone from the processing history information management step, application management step for controlling the start or stop of the application program for each time zone;
A program management method comprising:   The application management step ranks application programs in descending order of frequency of use of application programs in respective past time zones, starts an upper application program, and stops lower application programs. 9. The program management method according to 9. The application management step includes
A priority information management step that gives priority to the application program for each time zone based on the usage status of the application program in each past time zone, and controls start or stop of the application program according to the priority,
A first program start control step for starting or stopping an application program for each time period according to the information managed by the priority information management step;
A second program starting step of starting a stopped application program in response to a user request, and temporarily suspending the started application program;
A third program starting step of stopping the application program started in response to a user request after a certain period of time and restarting the stopped application program;
10. The program management method according to claim 9, further comprising: The application management step includes
4. The program management method according to claim 3, further comprising a prioritizing step of prioritizing the application programs in descending order of frequency of use of the application program in each past time zone. The application management step includes
A fourth program that starts a stopped application program in response to a user request, and selects and stops an application program with a lower priority among the active application programs instead of stopping the active application program 4. The program management method according to claim 3, further comprising an activation step. A program management method in a server apparatus for managing a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
A process history information integrated management step for acquiring and managing process history information of an application program capable of executing a specific process adapted to the process of the image forming apparatus stored in each image forming apparatus;
A program management method comprising: The server device
A schedule setting management step of acquiring and managing priority information for each user for determining a program activation order managed by the image forming apparatus;
A setting step for setting a program activation order by a user who logs in the image forming apparatus based on priority information for each user managed in the schedule setting management step;
A notification step of notifying the image forming apparatus of the schedule setting set by the setting step;
A program management method comprising:   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the program management method according to claim 9.   A program for causing a computer to execute the program management method according to any one of claims 9 to 15.

Images