JP2011191941A - License distribution system, control method, image forming apparatus, and distribution server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer a license, in a distribution system which distributes a license and validates an optional function to the other image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A first image forming apparatus being a transfer source of the license includes: a transfer reception means to receive the transfer instruction of the license to the function it has; an issuance means to invalidate the function corresponding to the license which has received the transfer instruction and issues the invalidation information which shows that effect; and a request means to transmit a transfer request including the invalidation information to a distribution server 133. A second image forming apparatus being a transfer destination of the license includes: a validation reception means to receive a validation instruction to the function it has; a validation request means to require the license for validating the function to the distribution server 133; a license obtaining means to obtain the license for validating the function from the distribution server 133; a validation means to validate the function based on the obtained license. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a license distribution system and a control method for distributing a license for an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, there is a system technology for updating firmware by storing firmware in a rewritable storage device such as a flash memory and distributing the firmware via the Internet using means such as e-mail. Similarly, a system technology has been devised for enabling an optional function by distributing a license.

  Also, a technique for preventing licenses for a plurality of functions included in a program package as an integrated product including a plurality of functions (hereinafter referred to as an integrated product) from being individually transferred to another image forming apparatus is devised. Has been. For example, a technology has been devised that waits until licenses of all functions belonging to the same group of integrated products are acquired, and permits licenses of all the functions to be installed at the transfer destination (patents). Reference 1 etc.).

JP 2009-031851

  In the distribution system for transmitting a license and enabling an optional function as described above, when the license has to be transferred to another image forming apparatus due to poor arrival of the image forming apparatus, the distribution system However, there was a problem that it could not be transferred. As a transfer method in this case, the user obtains the invalidation key from the image forming apparatus as the transfer source, invalidates the optional function, and transmits the invalidation key from the PC to the license server. Then, a series of operations for inputting the obtained license key in the transfer destination image forming apparatus is necessary. Also, the transfer of the license for the integrated product cannot be executed without the invalidation keys of all the optional products, and it is necessary to extract all the invalidation keys. For this reason, there has been a problem that a workload is imposed on the transfer of the integrated product.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has the following configuration. A license distribution system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and is a license transfer source of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The first image forming apparatus invalidates a transfer accepting unit that accepts a license transfer instruction for a function that the first image forming apparatus has, and a function corresponding to the license for which the transfer instruction has been accepted by the transfer accepting unit. A second image forming apparatus serving as a transfer destination of the license among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and an issuing unit that issues a transfer request including the invalidation information to the distribution server Is an activation accepting unit that accepts an activation instruction for a function that the device itself has, and for validating the function to the distribution server. An activation request means for requesting a license, a license acquisition means for acquiring a license for activating the function from the distribution server, and an validity for activating the function based on the license acquired by the license acquisition means And the distribution server includes a managing unit that manages license information for the disabled function in response to the transfer request received from the first image forming apparatus, and the second image forming unit. In response to a request for a license for enabling the function received from the apparatus, a license for the function disabled by the first image forming apparatus is managed by the management unit. And license distribution means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus.

  In a system that transmits a license and activates an optional function, the license can be transferred when the license has to be transferred to another image forming apparatus due to poor arrival of the image forming apparatus. Further, even when the destination image forming apparatus is indefinite, batch transfer and transfer of integrated products to a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be performed without taking time and effort.

The figure which shows the system configuration | structure which concerns on this invention. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a host computer and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The hardware block diagram of the monitoring apparatus which concerns on this invention. The software block diagram of each apparatus which concerns on the delivery system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map structure of a centralized monitoring device, a monitoring device, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows cooperation between the apparatuses which concern on 1st embodiment. The figure which shows cooperation between the apparatuses which concern on 2nd, 3rd embodiment. The figure of the processing flow of validation / invalidation of a license concerning the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a software configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

<First embodiment>
[System configuration]
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall system diagram in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a plurality of sales company systems including a system 101 and a system 106 are connected to the management system. Databases 103 and 108 are also included in the system for storing information related to sales information and management systems of the respective jurisdictions and customers.

  The sales company systems 101 and 106 also include PCs (Personal Computers) 104 and 109 for controlling data registration and correction in the databases 103 and 108. Data is browsed by accessing a website provided by the monitoring center host 111 of the PCs 104 and 109. The hosts 102 and 107 include an operation unit (not shown) and a display unit (not shown), and can also serve as the PCs 104 and 109. The host 102, the database 103, and the PC 104 are connected via a LAN 105. In addition, the host 107, the database 108, and the PC 109 are connected via a LAN 110. In FIG. 1, each system on the sales company side is shown to be composed of a plurality of devices. However, what is necessary is to achieve each function described later. For example, the databases 103 and 108 may physically exist in the hosts 102 and 107, respectively. Further, as long as access from the hosts 102 and 107 is possible, the host 102 and 107 may exist in another place via the Internet 132. That is, it may be configured from a plurality of devices or may be configured from one device.

  Next, a monitoring center host 111 exists between the sales company side and the customer side. The database 112 is a database as history storage means for accumulating information for monitoring, counters of image forming apparatuses collected from customers, failure history information, failure pattern tables, and the like. The monitoring center host 111 and the database 112 are connected by a LAN 113, and the LAN 113 can be connected to the Internet 132. The database 112 may physically exist in the monitoring center host 111. Furthermore, as long as it can be accessed from the monitoring center host 111, it may exist in another place via the Internet 132.

  The monitoring center host 111 collects, accumulates and processes information on the image forming apparatus as a monitoring target and information indicating the operating state (including fault information) from the monitoring apparatuses 117, 122, 123 and the image forming apparatus 131, and warns. Has the function of providing the outside. For example, it has a function of distributing such information to the hosts 102 and 107 of the sales company. As the operating state, for example, the status information shown includes, for example, out of toner, door open, drum replacement, no cartridge, cooling fan abnormality, substrate abnormality, platen glass contamination, stapling, insufficient paper feed sensor light quantity, etc. I can do it. In addition, font memory overflow, rendering error, fixing device abnormality, counter abnormality, duplex unit abnormality, paper jam, and the like can also be mentioned. Further, as counter information, there are a billing counter subject to billing by a sales company, a department counter counted by customer department, a size-by-size counter counted by paper size, a parts counter that indicates the degree of wear of parts in the image forming apparatus, and the like. Can be mentioned.

  The billing counter indicates the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus, and the department counter indicates the number of printed sheets for each department set by the customer. For example, in the case of a component such as a drum, the number of rotations of the component counter is a counter, and in the case of a component such as a scanner lamp, time (seconds) is a counter. Information indicating these pieces of operation information is operation information.

  Furthermore, the information regarding the image forming apparatus to be monitored and the setting related to monitoring can be registered in the monitoring center host 111 from the respective hosts 102 and 107 of the sales company. The monitoring center host 111 can collectively manage monitoring target image forming apparatuses registered from each sales company host and settings related to monitoring. It is also possible to make monitoring settings for the monitoring devices 117, 122, 123 and the image forming apparatus 131.

  Here, the service by this management system is provided based on the contract between the sales company and the customer. Therefore, only the image forming apparatus determined by the sales company as the monitoring target based on the contract is set as the monitoring target of the management system. The monitoring center host 111 provides a WEB page for browsing information stored in the database 112 or processed information to a PC connected via the Internet 132. This WEB page is provided with limited browsing contents by sales company, customer, and user authority by user authentication. Furthermore, some data can be changed from the WEB page.

  Next, a distribution server 133 exists between the sales company side and the customer side. The database 134 is a database serving as a history storage unit that stores firmware, applications, software license information, and the like to be applied to the image forming apparatus. The distribution server 133 and the database 134 are connected by a LAN 135, and the LAN 135 can be connected to the Internet. Note that the database 134 may physically exist in the distribution server 133. Furthermore, as long as it can be accessed from the distribution server 133, it may exist in another place via the Internet. The LAN 113 and the LAN 135 may be the same, and the database 134 and the database 112 may share data.

  FIG. 1 shows only one monitoring center host 111 and database 112, and one distribution server 133 and one database 134. However, in practice, there are cases where a plurality of monitoring center hosts and databases are distributed to collect information from many image forming apparatuses and monitoring apparatuses and to distribute the load of firmware distribution.

  Next, the system configuration on the customer side will be described. There are several different customer environments. In FIG. 1, customer systems 114, 119, 129 are shown. In the customer system 114 (Company A X office), the image forming apparatuses 115 and 116 connected to the LAN 118 connected to the Internet 132 are monitored by the monitoring apparatus 117, and the monitoring apparatus 117 is monitored by the monitoring center host via the Internet 132. 111 is communicating. On the other hand, in the customer system (company A, Y office), the image forming apparatuses on the LAN 128 are managed by the monitoring apparatuses 122 and 123. The monitoring apparatus 122 manages the image forming apparatuses 120, 121, 124, and 125, and the monitoring apparatus 123 manages the image forming apparatuses 126 and 127, respectively. Each of the monitoring devices 117, 122, and 123 is connected to a database (not shown). The monitoring device 117 accumulates information collected from the image forming devices 115 and 116, saves processing results of the accumulated data, and also saves settings related to image forming device monitoring in a database (not shown). The database (not shown) here is connected on the LAN 118 and may exist independently of the monitoring device. Furthermore, as long as it can be accessed from the monitoring devices 117, 122, and 123, it may exist in another place via the Internet 132. Each time the monitoring apparatus receives status information (for example, occurrence of a failure) of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, the monitoring apparatus transmits it to the monitoring center host 111.

  In the customer system 129 (Company B), the image forming apparatus 131 itself connected to the LAN 130 connected to the Internet 132 communicates directly with the monitoring center host 111 via the Internet 132. The image forming apparatus 131 actively transmits its own information (for example, occurrence of counter information or failure) to the monitoring center host 111. By using a PC equipped with a WEB browser, it is possible to connect to the monitoring center host 111 not only from the customer environment but also directly via the Internet 132 and browse the WEB page provided by the monitoring center host 111. In the system configuration according to the present invention, the following points need to be noted.

  (1) The HTTP / SOAP protocol can be used for communication via the Internet in the configuration described above. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol for calling data and services of another computer from one computer based on XML (eXtended Markup Language). In the present embodiment, SOAP is implemented on HTTP. In SOAP communication, a SOAP message in which incidental information is added to an XML document is exchanged. Therefore, a computer that supports SOAP includes a SOAP message generation unit that generates a SOAP message and a SOAP message interpretation unit that interprets the SOAP message. In this embodiment, the status information of the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the monitoring center host 111 by a SOAP message.

  (2) It has been described that each image forming apparatus in Company A communicates with the monitoring center host 111 via the monitoring apparatus. However, by changing the setting, it is possible to communicate with the centralized monitoring apparatus without using the monitoring apparatus as with the image forming apparatus 131 installed in the B company.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 2A is a hardware configuration diagram of the monitoring center host 111 according to the present embodiment. The hardware configurations of the distribution server 133 and the hosts 102 and 107 are the same. In FIG. 2A, the first CPU 201 and the second CPU 202 control each process on this apparatus. A non-rewritable ROM 203 stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus. The RAM 204 can electrically store temporary data related to each process of the present apparatus and can be rewritten.

  The first HDD 205 and the second HDD 206 store programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, temporary data, information about the image forming apparatus to be monitored according to the present invention, information collected from the image forming apparatus, and the like. For example, a parts counter, billing counter, department counter, etc. are stored on the hard disk. The input device 207 is a keyboard or a pointing device that receives an instruction input to the apparatus. The display unit 208 displays the operation status of the apparatus and information output by each program operating on the apparatus. A network I / F 209 connects to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside. The external device I / F 210 connects an external storage device or the like. These elements are connected by the system bus 211 to exchange data.

  FIG. 2B is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatuses 115, 116, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 127, 131 according to the present embodiment. Specifically, as an image forming apparatus, a printer (including an electrophotographic system and an ink jet system) that receives and prints data from a multifunction machine, a PC, and the like that are integrated with a printer and a facsimile function, a scanner, For example, a facsimile. In the drawing, a configuration of a multifunction peripheral is shown as an example of an image forming apparatus.

  The image reader 502 reads a document with the document feeding unit 501. The image reader 502 and the image forming unit 503 convert the read original or data received via the network into a print image and print out the print image. A paper discharge unit 504 discharges the printed paper and performs processing such as sorting and stapling. A network I / F 505 is connected to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside. The CPU 506 manages each process on this apparatus. The operation state of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a specific event such as a failure occurs, state information indicating the state is transmitted to a predetermined destination. The destination is, for example, the monitoring center host 111 or a monitoring device.

  A ROM 507 serving as a non-volatile storage unit stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus. A rewritable RAM 508 electrically stores temporary data related to each process of the apparatus. The HDD 509 stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, temporary data, user data transmitted to the apparatus, and the like. The operation unit 510 receives an instruction input to the apparatus. A display unit 511 displays information related to the operation status of the apparatus and operations on the operation unit 510. These are connected by a system bus 512 to exchange data.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 131 having a function of actively transmitting monitoring information by the device itself holds programs and data related to the monitoring data transmission processing in the ROM 507 or the HDD 509.

  FIG. 3A is a hardware configuration diagram of the monitoring devices 117, 122, and 123 according to the present embodiment. Further, it can be applied to the hardware configuration diagram of the PCs 104, 109, and 134. The CPU 301 manages each process on this apparatus. The ROM 302 stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus and cannot be rewritten. The RAM 303 can electrically store temporary data related to each process of the apparatus and can be rewritten. The monitoring device 117 stores in the HDD 304 programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, temporary data, information about the image forming apparatus to be monitored, information collected from the image forming apparatus, and the like. In the PCs 104, 109, and 134, a WEB browser or the like is stored in the HDD 304. The input device 305 is a keyboard or a pointing device that receives an instruction input to the apparatus. A display unit 306 displays the operation status of the apparatus and information output by each program operating on the apparatus. A network I / F 307 is connected to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside. The external device I / F 308 connects an external storage device or the like. They are connected by a system bus 309 and exchange data.

  FIG. 3B is a hardware configuration diagram of a form different from FIG. 3A of the monitoring devices 117, 122, and 123 according to the present embodiment. The CPU 401 manages each process on this apparatus. The ROM 402 stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, and cannot be rewritten. The flash ROM 403 stores data and temporary data related to each process of the apparatus, information about the image forming apparatus to be monitored, information collected from the image forming apparatus, and the like. In the serial I / F 404, the program on the apparatus outputs an error or a log, and a terminal can be connected using a serial cable. A network I / F 405 is connected to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside. They are connected by the system bus 406 and exchange data.

  The hardware configuration of each device described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is an example and is not limited to this. That is, the configuration may be changed as long as various processes described below can be realized.

Software configuration
FIG. 4A is a software configuration diagram of a portion related to the image forming apparatus management system in the monitoring center host 111 and the distribution server 133 according to the present embodiment. The SOAP communication unit 601 passes the SOAP data received from the monitoring device 117 or the image forming device 131 via the Network I / F 209 to the SOAP message analysis unit 602. In addition, the SOAP data created by the SOAP message creation unit 603 is transmitted to the monitoring device 117 or the image forming device 131 via the network I / F 209.

  The collected information processing unit 604 stores the information received from the monitored monitoring device 117 or the image forming device 131 as it is or after processing and stores the information in the database 112 and the database 134 via the database access unit 606.

  Further, the collected information processing unit 604 realizes functions related to the remote monitoring system. For example, based on the information received from the monitored monitoring device 117 or the image forming device 131 and the data stored in the database 112 and the database 134, the counter service, Notify customer administrator.

  A monitoring control unit 605 performs schedule management for obtaining information on the monitoring device 117 or the image forming apparatus 131 and controls monitoring contents and methods. Further, if necessary, an instruction is transmitted to the monitored monitoring device 117 or the image forming device 131 via the SOAP message creation unit 603, the SOAP communication unit 601, and the Network I / F 209.

  FIG. 4B is a software configuration diagram of a portion related to the image forming apparatus monitoring system in the monitoring apparatuses 117, 122, and 123 according to the present embodiment. The SOAP communication unit 701 passes the SOAP data received from the monitoring center host 111 via the network I / Fs 307 and 405 to the SOAP message analysis unit 703. Also, the SOAP data created by the SOAP message creation unit 702 is transmitted to the monitoring center host 111 and the distribution server 133 via the network I / Fs 307 and 405.

  The monitoring control unit 704 updates monitoring image forming apparatus information held in the information storage unit according to monitoring settings from the monitoring center host 111 described later, acquires information on the image forming apparatuses 115 and 116, and performs schedule management. The device information processing unit 705 displays information such as counter information, service calls, jams, and toner out actively collected from the image forming apparatuses 115 and 116 by the apparatus according to the schedule managed by the monitoring control unit 704, as an information storage unit. Accumulate in 706. Alternatively, this accumulation is performed according to the state of the image forming apparatuses 115 and 116.

  The data stored in the information storage unit 706 is passed directly to the SOAP message creation unit 702 via the device information processing unit 705 and transmitted to the monitoring center host 111. Alternatively, it may be interpreted and processed in the device information processing unit 705 and then transferred to the SOAP message creation unit 702 and transmitted to the monitoring center host 111.

  FIG. 4C is a software configuration diagram of a portion related to the image forming apparatus management system in each of the image forming apparatuses 115, 116, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 127, 131 according to the present embodiment. The SOAP communication unit 801 passes the SOAP data received from the monitoring center host 111 and the distribution server 133 via the Network I / F 505 to the SOAP message analysis unit 803. Also, the SOAP data created by the SOAP message creation unit 802 is transmitted to the monitoring center host 111 and the distribution server 133 via the Network I / F 505.

  The network information acquisition unit 804 can automatically acquire the IP address, DNS server, and gateway address in the DHCP environment. If network information input from the operation unit 510 and stored in the HDD 509 exists, the information is acquired. The device information collection unit 805 acquires counter information stored in the MFP according to a schedule inside the MFP or an instruction from the monitoring center host 111. Also, a service call, jam, toner out, etc. Get information.

  The acquired data is transferred to the SOAP message creation unit 802 as it is and sent to the monitoring center host 111, and is stored, interpreted, and processed in the device information collection unit 805, and then passed to the SOAP message creation unit 802 to the monitoring center host 111. May be sent.

[Memory map]
FIG. 5 illustrates the memory in the monitoring center host 111, the distribution server 133, the monitoring devices 117, 122, 123, or the image forming devices 115, 116, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 127, 131 according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of a map. When executing the processing program according to the present invention, the monitoring center host 111 is loaded on the RAM 204, each monitoring device 117 is loaded on the RAM 303 or the Flash ROM 403, and each image forming device is loaded on the RAM 508. .

  The memory map includes a basic I / O program 901, a system program 902, various processing programs 903 including the processing program of this embodiment, an area 904 for storing related data, and a work area 905 for the program. The basic I / O program 901 controls input / output on this apparatus. The system program 902 provides an operating environment for each processing program. If the above-described areas are insufficient due to capacity restrictions, the first HDD 205 or the second HDD 206 can be handled as part of the RAM 204, the HDD 304 can be handled as the RAM 303, and the HDD 509 can be handled as part of the RAM 508.

[Processing flow]
6 to 10 are diagrams illustrating an image diagram, a flow, an interface, and the like of the license distribution system of the image forming apparatus characterizing the present invention. The processing flow of this invention is demonstrated using these. Unless otherwise specified, the subsequent processing flow is performed by the update control unit in FIG. This is read from the HDD 509 in FIG. 2B into the RAM 508 and operated by the CPU 506. 6 and 7, the distribution server and the license server are described as different configurations, but they may be physically present in the same apparatus. The invalidation key here is invalidation information indicating information on the invalidated function. Based on this information, it is determined whether or not the function is invalidated. In addition, the image forming apparatus serving as a transfer source is also referred to as a first image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus serving as a transfer destination is also referred to as a second image forming apparatus.

  Further, the license server 151 manages the functions of each of the plurality of connected image forming apparatuses, and a license is issued for which function of which image forming apparatus, and the function may be enabled / disabled. They are also managed. Similarly, it is also managed in association with which user each function is valid / invalid. The specific configuration of the management information includes, for example, an identifier (such as a serial number) for uniquely identifying each image forming apparatus, function information (information on function validity / invalidity, invalidation key issuance status, version information) Etc.), and managing license numbers, user information, etc. in association with each other. Note that the information to be managed is not limited to the items listed in this embodiment, and may include other items.

  After enabling the optional function of the image forming apparatus by the distribution system, if the license has to be transferred to another image forming apparatus due to poor arrival, etc., first, the image forming apparatus has received a license transfer instruction. A determination process (S1401) is performed. This is a transfer process by the image forming apparatus, for example, a process for determining whether or not the transfer button 1501 in FIG. 9A is pressed. When the user transfers an optional function, the activated optional function listed in area 1502 is selected. Further, if the transfer destination image forming apparatus has already been determined, a process of inputting the transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier in the area 1503 and pressing the transfer button 1501 is performed. As a result, the transfer is accepted. Here, it is assumed that option A is selected, “ZZZ00001” is input as the identifier of the transfer destination image forming apparatus, and the transfer button 1501 is pressed. The identifier here is identification information for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus, and is assigned and managed by the monitoring center host 111, for example. If there is a transfer instruction (YES in S1401), the process proceeds to S1402. If not (NO in S1401), the process proceeds to S1406.

  In S1402, a process for determining whether there is an input of a transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier is performed. In this case, it is determined whether or not the transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier to which the optional function is transferred is input before the transfer button 1501 is pressed. If there is an input of the transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier (YES in S1402), the process proceeds to S1403. If there is no input (NO in S1402), the process proceeds to S1404. In step S1403, transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier acquisition processing is performed. In the present embodiment, the input destination image forming apparatus identifier (ZZZ00001) is acquired.

  Subsequently, an invalidation key issuance process is performed in S1404. When transferring an optional function to another image forming apparatus, the optional function must be invalidated in the image forming apparatus that is the transfer source. For this purpose, this process is a process for performing an invalidation process for an optional function and issuing an invalidation key necessary for issuing a license key in the transfer destination image forming apparatus. Subsequently, in S1405, transfer request processing to the distribution server is performed. This is a process of transmitting the transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier and invalidation key acquired earlier to the distribution server. Here, as described above, transmission is performed by the HTTP / SOAP protocol. This corresponds to S1001 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the transferred option function is validated on the transfer destination image forming apparatus side (NO in S1401), for example, the user presses the validation button 1602 on the UI as shown in FIG. 9B. As a result, the validation is accepted. In this UI, an area 1601 for inputting the transfer identifier is an identifier that is input when the transfer destination is not determined (NO in S1402). Since the transfer identifier will be described later, in this embodiment, the enable button 1602 is pressed without inputting. Based on the instruction from the user, it is determined in S1406 that there is an instruction to validate the transfer option function (YES in S1406), and the process proceeds to S1407. If there is no activation instruction (NO in S1406), the process flow ends.

  In S1407, an activation request process to the distribution server is performed. This is a process of issuing a request to the distribution server 133 to validate the already transferred optional function. Here, as described above, transmission is performed by the HTTP / SOAP protocol. This corresponds to S1004 in FIG. 6A, and is transmitted to the distribution server 133 together with the image forming apparatus identifier. Here, “ZZZZ00001” is transmitted as the image forming apparatus identifier.

  In response to this transmission, the distribution server 133 transmits the acquired invalidation key and transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier to the license server 151 (S1002), and acquires a license (S1003). At this time, the license server 151 manages that the transfer destination is not specified. The distribution server 133 transmits the license acquired from the license server 151 to the transfer destination image forming apparatus based on the request (S1004) from the transfer destination image forming apparatus. Then, on the transfer destination image forming apparatus side, a license is acquired by a license acquisition process (S1408).

  Subsequently, an optional function validation process is performed in the transmission destination image forming apparatus (S1409). This is processing for validating the license acquired from the distribution server 133. With this series of processing, the optional function transferred via the distribution server 133 becomes effective in the transfer destination image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the optional functions of a plurality of image forming apparatuses are transferred, the same processing is enabled. Here, the optional functions of the transfer source image forming apparatuses A and B are collectively enabled in accordance with the transfer destination image forming apparatus activation request (S1105). In the distribution server 133, the optional function is managed by the image forming apparatus identifier, and a plurality of licenses are issued according to the activation request from the transfer destination image forming apparatus. As a result, the already transferred optional functions are collectively activated in response to the activation request of the transfer destination image forming apparatus.

  As described above, in a system that transmits a license and activates an optional function, it is possible to easily transfer a license when the license must be transferred to another image forming apparatus due to poor arrival of the image forming apparatus. And It is also possible to transfer a license from a plurality of transfer source image forming apparatuses to a single transfer destination image forming apparatus.

<Second Embodiment>
Unlike the first embodiment, there may be a case where the transfer destination image forming apparatus is not determined at the time of transfer. This case will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIG. As in the first embodiment, the optional function is transferred using the UI shown in FIG. 9A. However, since the transfer destination image forming apparatus is not determined here, the transfer destination image forming apparatus from the user is determined. No identifier is entered. When the transfer button 1501 is pressed here, an invalidation key is formed on the transfer source image forming apparatus side, and only the invalidation key is transmitted to the distribution server 133 (S1201). This corresponds to the transition of NO in S1402 of FIG. 8 described in the first embodiment.

  Upon receiving the invalidation key from the transfer source image forming apparatus, the distribution server 133 issues a transfer identifier associated with the invalidation key and transmits it to the transfer source image forming apparatus (S1202). Here, it is assumed that “00001” is transmitted as the transfer identifier. This transfer identifier is used in a later transfer destination image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, when the transferred option function is validated on the transfer destination image forming apparatus side, the validation button 1602 is pressed from the UI as shown in FIG. 9B. Here, it is assumed that the user inputs the transfer identifier (00001) issued from the distribution server 133 in the area 1601 and the enable button 1602 is pressed.

  Then, the transfer identifier and the image forming apparatus identifier are transmitted to the distribution server (S1203). Thereafter, the distribution server 133 receives this, searches for the associated invalidation key, and transmits the invalidation key and the image forming apparatus identifier to the license server 151 (S1204). In response to this, the license server 151 issues a license to the distribution server 133 (S1205). Thereafter, the distribution server 133 transmits the issued license to the transfer destination image forming apparatus (S1206).

  As described above, even when the transfer destination image forming apparatus is not determined at the time of transfer, it is possible to transfer the optional function from the transfer source image forming apparatus and to enable the transfer destination image forming apparatus.

<Third embodiment>
Unlike the first and second embodiments, integrated product licenses can be transferred collectively from the transfer source image forming apparatus, and the functions of the integrated products can be collectively enabled in the transfer destination image forming apparatus. Conceivable. This case will be described with reference to FIG. 7B as a third embodiment.

  As in the first embodiment, option functions are transferred using the UI shown in FIG. 9A. Here, it is assumed that options A, B, and C shown in the area 1502 are integrated products. In this case, when option A is selected, option B and option C are also selected because they are associated internally. That is, when one optional function is selected, an optional function necessary for transfer is automatically selected. When the user presses the transfer button 1501 in this selected state, an invalidation key is formed on the transfer source image forming apparatus side, and the plurality of invalidation keys and transfer destination image forming apparatus identifiers are transmitted to the distribution server 133. (S1301).

  On the other hand, in the transfer destination image forming apparatus, when the transferred option function is enabled, the enable button 1602 is pressed from the UI as shown in FIG. 9B, as in the first embodiment. Here, since the transfer destination image forming apparatus has been determined, it is not necessary to input the transfer identifier, and it is assumed that the enable button 1602 is pressed without input.

  Accordingly, the validation request and the image forming apparatus identifier are transmitted to the distribution server 133 (S1304). The distribution server 133 receives the request, and transmits the multiple invalidation key and the transfer destination image forming apparatus identifier to the license server 151. (S1302). In response to this, the license server 151 issues a plurality of licenses to the distribution server 133 (S1303). The distribution server 133 transmits a plurality of issued licenses based on the validation request from the transfer destination image forming apparatus (S1304) (S1305). In the transfer destination image forming apparatus, the function is automatically activated by all the received licenses.

  As described above, the license transfer of the integrated product is performed at a time from the transfer source image forming apparatus, and the function of the integrated product can be enabled at the same time in the transfer destination image forming apparatus.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (7)

A license distribution system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.
Of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, a first image forming apparatus that is a license transfer source is:
Transfer acceptance means for accepting a license transfer instruction for the function of the device;
Issuing means for invalidating the function corresponding to the license for which the transfer instruction has been received by the transfer receiving means, and issuing invalidation information indicating that effect;
Requesting means for transmitting a transfer request including the invalidation information to the distribution server;
Of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, a second image forming apparatus that is a transfer destination of the license is:
An activation acceptance means for accepting an activation instruction for a function of the device;
Validation request means for requesting a license for validating the function to the distribution server;
License acquisition means for acquiring a license for activating the function from the distribution server;
An activation unit that activates the function based on the license acquired by the license acquisition unit;
The distribution server
Management means for managing license information for the disabled function in response to the transfer request received from the first image forming apparatus;
In response to a request for a license for enabling the function received from the second image forming apparatus, the function managed by the management unit with respect to the function disabled by the first image forming apparatus A license distribution system comprising license distribution means for transmitting a license to the second image forming apparatus. In the first image forming apparatus,
The transfer receiving means further receives identification information for identifying the second image forming apparatus that is a transfer destination of the license;
The request means transmits the identification information together with the transfer request to the distribution server,
In the distribution server,
The management means manages the invalidation information and the identification information in association with each other,
The license distribution means distributes the license for the disabled function in response to a license request for enabling the function from the second image forming apparatus identified by the identification information. The license distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: In the first image forming apparatus,
The issuing means invalidates other functions related to the function corresponding to the license for which the transfer instruction has been accepted by the transfer accepting means, and further invalidates information related to the invalidated function. The license distribution system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information is issued. The license transfer source of the plurality of image forming apparatuses included in a license distribution system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image forming apparatus,
Transfer acceptance means for accepting a license transfer instruction for the function of the device;
Issuing means for invalidating the function corresponding to the license for which the transfer instruction has been received by the transfer receiving means, and issuing invalidation information indicating that effect;
An image forming apparatus comprising: request means for transmitting a transfer request including the invalidation information to the distribution server. The license transfer destination of the plurality of image forming apparatuses included in the license distribution system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for the functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image forming apparatus,
An activation acceptance means for accepting an activation instruction for a function of the device;
Validation request means for requesting a license for validating the function to the distribution server;
License acquisition means for acquiring a license for activating the function from the distribution server;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an activation unit that activates the function based on a license acquired by the license acquisition unit. A distribution server included in a license distribution system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A management unit that manages license information for a disabled function in response to a transfer request received from the image forming apparatus that is a transfer source of the license;
In response to a license request for enabling the function received from the image forming apparatus that is the transfer destination of the license, it is invalidated by the image forming apparatus that is managed by the management unit and that is the transfer source of the license A distribution server comprising: a license distribution unit configured to transmit a license for the converted function to an image forming apparatus that is a transfer destination of the license. A control method of a license distribution system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a distribution server that distributes licenses for functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, in the first image forming apparatus serving as a license transfer source,
A transfer receiving step in which the transfer receiving unit of the first image forming apparatus receives a license transfer instruction for a function of the first image forming apparatus;
An issuing step in which the issuing unit of the first image forming apparatus invalidates a function corresponding to the license for which the transfer instruction has been received in the transfer receiving step, and issues invalidation information indicating that effect;
The requesting unit of the first image forming apparatus includes a requesting step of transmitting a transfer request including the invalidation information to the distribution server;
Among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, in the second image forming apparatus that is the transfer destination of the license,
An activation accepting step in which the validation accepting unit of the second image forming apparatus accepts an validation instruction for a function of the second image forming apparatus;
An activation requesting step of requesting an activation request of the second image forming apparatus to request a license for activating the function from the distribution server;
A license acquisition step in which a license acquisition unit of the second image forming apparatus acquires a license for activating the function from the distribution server;
The validation unit of the second image forming apparatus has a validation step of validating the function based on the license acquired in the license acquisition step;
In the distribution server,
A management step in which the managing means of the distribution server manages license information for the disabled function in response to the transfer request received from the first image forming apparatus;
The first image formation managed by the management step in response to a license request for enabling the function received from the second image forming apparatus by a license distribution unit of the distribution server And a license distribution step of transmitting a license for the function invalidated by the apparatus to the second image forming apparatus.

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