JP2013012897A - Management server, program for management server, and network system having management server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management server, a program for the management server, and a network system having the management server which can display information targeted at a user who is using an image forming apparatus on a display section of the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A management server 30 having a storage section 32 for storing management information 32d on an MFP managed for each user of the MFP includes: modification information reception means 31a for receiving modification information for modifying the management information 32d from the MFP; management information modification means 31b for modifying the management information 32d according to the modification information received by the modification information reception means 31a; user information reception means 31c for receiving user information 32b about a user who is using the MFP from the MFP; and display information transmission means 31d for transmitting display information for display on the display section of the MFP to the MFP. The display information transmission means 31d transmits display information based on the management information 32d about the user corresponding to the user information 32b received by the user information reception means 31c.

Description

  The present invention relates to a management server that stores information related to an image forming apparatus and managed for each user of the image forming apparatus, a management server program, and a network system including the management server.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information received from an external apparatus is known (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is an image forming apparatus connected to a host device as an external device. This image forming apparatus stores a unique message such as an error message and a user-defined message such as an error message created by the user on the host device. When a message display request is received, the unique message and user-defined message are stored. Any one of the messages is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus itself.

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is a multifunction peripheral connected to a host computer as an external apparatus. This multifunction device displays a message registered in the host computer on the screen of the multifunction device itself.

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine connected to a PC as an external apparatus. This image forming apparatus displays messages such as schedule information such as conference guidance, message information, and weather forecasts created by a user on a PC on the display of the image forming apparatus itself.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-249781 JP 2001-358877 A JP 2004-345161 A

  However, the conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that the information received from the external apparatus and displayed on the display unit is the same for all users.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a management server, a management server program, and a network system including a management server that can display information addressed to a user who is using the image forming apparatus on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. For the purpose.

  The management server of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores management information that is information related to an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information and is managed for each user of the image forming apparatus. Change information receiving means for receiving change information, which is information for changing the management information, from the image forming apparatus; and the management information based on the change information received by the change information receiving means. Management information changing means for changing, user information receiving means for receiving user information, which is identification information of the user who is using the image forming apparatus, from the image forming apparatus, and for displaying on the display unit Display information transmitting means for transmitting display information as information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the display information transmitting means is received by the user information receiving means. And transmitting the display information based on the management information of the user corresponding to the use's information.

  With this configuration, the management server of the present invention transmits display information based on user management information corresponding to user information received from the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus. Information addressed to the user can be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, the storage unit of the management server of the present invention may store the management information that is collectively managed with respect to the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  With this configuration, the management server of the present invention can display display information based on management information collectively managed for a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The management server of the present invention further includes a login execution unit that executes a process for logging in the user to the image forming apparatus based on the user information received by the user information receiving unit. May be.

  With this configuration, the management server of the present invention can transmit display information to the image forming apparatus based on the user information received from the image forming apparatus in order to execute processing for login.

  A management server program according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores management information that is information related to an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information and is managed for each user of the image forming apparatus. A change information receiving step for receiving change information, which is information for changing the management information, from the image forming apparatus, and the change information received by the change information receiving step. A management information changing step for changing the management information, a user information receiving step for receiving from the image forming apparatus user information which is identification information of the user who is using the image forming apparatus, and the display unit. A display information transmission step of transmitting display information, which is information for display on the image forming apparatus, to the image forming apparatus, and the display information transmission step Characterized in that it is a step of transmitting the display information based on the management information of the user corresponding to the user information received by the user information receiving step.

  With this configuration, the management server that executes the management server program of the present invention transmits display information to the image forming apparatus based on the user management information corresponding to the user information received from the image forming apparatus. Information addressed to a user who is using the image forming apparatus can be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The network system of the present invention includes a management server and the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus uses an operation unit to which an operation by the user is input, and the use while using the image forming apparatus. User information transmitting means for transmitting the user information of the user to the management server in response to an operation input to the operation unit, display information receiving means for receiving the display information from the management server, and Display control means for controlling display by the display section, wherein the display control means is adapted to send the display information received by the display information receiving means to the user who is using the image forming apparatus. In the case of information, the display information is displayed on the display unit.

  With this configuration, the network system of the present invention transmits display information based on user management information corresponding to user information received from the image forming apparatus by the management server to the image forming apparatus. Information addressed to the user in use can be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  A network system including a management server, a management server program, and a management server according to the present invention can display information addressed to a user who is using the image forming apparatus on a display unit of the image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the management server shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the management server shown in FIG. 3 when executing processing for login of the MFP user to the MFP (hereinafter referred to as “login processing”). 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the management server shown in FIG. 3 when transmitting display information to an MFP. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when displaying display information. It is a figure which shows an example of the information for a display displayed on the display part shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the network system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network system 10 includes a plurality of MFPs including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 that is an image forming apparatus, and a management server 30 that is a computer. The MFP and the management server 30 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the entire MFP 20, a storage unit 22 that is a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various data, and a user. An operation unit 23 that is an input device such as a button for inputting various operations according to, a display unit 24 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information, and a print that performs printing on paper The printer 25 is a device, the scanner 26 is a reading device that reads an image from a document, and a fax device that performs fax communication with an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line. And Akkusu communication unit 27, and a network communication unit 28 is a network communication device for communicating with an external device via the network 11.

  The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22.

  The storage unit 22 stores an image forming apparatus program 22 a that is a program for the MFP 20. The storage unit 22 can store display information 22b to be displayed on the display unit 24.

  The image forming apparatus program 22a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be installed from a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or from the network 11 on the MFP 20. It may be additionally installed.

  The control unit 21 executes the image forming apparatus program 22 a stored in the storage unit 22, whereby the user information of the user who is using the MFP 20 is managed according to the operation input to the operation unit 23. 30 functions as a user information transmission unit 21 a that transmits to the display 30, a display information reception unit 21 b that receives the display information 22 b from the management server 30, and a display control unit 21 c that controls display by the display unit 24.

  Note that the configuration of MFPs other than the MFP 20 among the plurality of MFPs of the network system 10 is the same as that of the MFP 20.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the management server 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the management server 30 includes a control unit 31 that controls the entire management server 30, and a storage unit 32 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores programs and various types of data. An operation unit 33 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for inputting various operations by the user, a display unit 34 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and an external device via the network 11 A network communication unit 35 that is a network communication device that communicates with the network.

  The control unit 31 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 32.

  The storage unit 32 includes a management server program 32a that is a program for the management server 30, user information 32b that is identification information of an MFP user (hereinafter referred to as "MFP user"), and login of the MFP user. The password 32c for use is stored. The user information 32b and the password 32c are stored in the storage unit 32 for each MFP user. The storage unit 32 can store management information 32d that is information about the MFP and is managed for each MFP user. The management information 32d includes, for example, the amount currently billed to the MFP user regarding the use of the MFP, the remaining number of pages that the MFP user is currently allowed to print on the MFP, and the currently used MFP among the functions of the MFP. This is information such as functions that are permitted to be used by the user. The management information 32d is managed collectively for a plurality of MFPs.

  The management server program 32a may be installed in the management server 30 at the manufacturing stage of the management server 30, or may be additionally installed in the management server 30 from a storage medium such as a CD or DVD, or from the network 11. May be.

  The control unit 31 executes a management server program 32a stored in the storage unit 32, thereby changing information receiving means 31a for receiving change information, which is information for changing the management information 32d, from the MFP. Management information changing means 31b for changing the management information 32d based on the changing information received by the changing information receiving means 31a, and usage for receiving user information as identification information of the MFP user who is using the MFP from the MFP. User information receiving means 31c, display information transmitting means 31d for transmitting display information 22b, which is information to be displayed on the display unit of the MFP, and user information received by the user information receiving means 31c. Based on this, it functions as login execution means 31e for executing login processing of the MFP user to the MFP.

  Next, the operation of the network system 10 will be described.

  In the following, the operations of the MFP 20 and the management server 30 will be described, but the same applies to the operations of the MFP other than the MFP 20 and the management server 30.

<MFP user login>
When a combination of user information and password is input via the operation unit 23, the user information transmission unit 21 a of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 transmits the input combination of user information and password via the network communication unit 28. To the management server 30.

  The user information receiving unit 31 c of the control unit 31 of the management server 30 receives the combination of user information and password from the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the management server 30 when executing the login process of the MFP user to the MFP 20.

  When the combination of user information and password is received by the user information receiving unit 31c, the login executing unit 31e of the control unit 31 executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the login execution unit 31 e includes a combination of user information and password received by the user information receiving unit 31 c and a combination of user information 32 b and password 32 c registered in advance in the storage unit 32. Based on the above, a login process is executed (S101). Here, in the login execution unit 31e, the combination of the user information and the password received by the user information receiving unit 31c matches the combination of the user information 32b and the password 32c registered in advance in the storage unit 32. In this case, the login of the MFP user to the MFP 20 is permitted. On the other hand, when the login execution unit 31e does not match the combination of user information and password received by the user information receiving unit 31c with the combination of user information 32b and password 32c registered in the storage unit 32 in advance. The MFP user is not permitted to log in to the MFP 20.

  Next, the login execution unit 31e determines whether or not the login executed in S101 is successful (S102). Here, the login execution unit 31e determines that the login is successful when the MFP user login to the MFP 20 is permitted in S101. On the other hand, if the login execution unit 31e does not permit the MFP user to log in to the MFP 20 in S101, the login execution unit 31e determines that the login has failed.

  When the login execution unit 31e determines that the login is successful in S102, the login execution unit 31e notifies the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35 of the login success (S103), and ends the process shown in FIG. Therefore, the MFP 20 permits the MFP user to execute a function that can be used upon successful login.

  If the login execution unit 31e determines in S102 that the login has failed, the login execution unit 31e notifies the MFP 20 of the login failure via the network communication unit 35 (S104), and ends the process illustrated in FIG. Therefore, the MFP 20 does not allow the MFP user to execute a function that can be used by a successful login.

<Display information for display>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the management server 30 when the display information 22 b is transmitted to the MFP 20.

  When the login execution unit 31e determines in S102 that the login is successful, the display information transmission unit 31d of the control unit 31 of the management server 30 executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the display information transmitting unit 31d is an MFP corresponding to the user information received by the user information receiving unit 31c and used for the login process from the management information 32d stored in the storage unit 32. User management information is extracted (S121).

  Next, the display information transmitting unit 31d generates display information 22b for the MFP user based on the management information extracted in S121 (S122). Here, the display information transmitting unit 31d generates display information 22b that associates the user information 32b of the logged-in MFP user.

  Then, the display information transmitting unit 31d transmits the display information 22b generated in S122 to the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35 (S123), and ends the processing illustrated in FIG.

  The display information receiving unit 21 b of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 receives the display information 22 b from the management server 30 via the network communication unit 28.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when displaying the display information 22b.

  When the display information receiving unit 21b receives the display information 22b from the management server 30 via the network communication unit 28, the control unit 21 executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display information receiving means 21b stores the received display information 22b in the storage unit 22 (S141).

  Next, the display control unit 21c of the control unit 21 determines whether the display information 22b stored in S141 is information addressed to the logged-in MFP user (S142). Here, when the user information 32b associated with the display information 22b is the user information 32b of the logged-in MFP user, the display control unit 21c displays the MFP user whose logged-in information 22b is logged in. It is determined that the information is addressed. On the other hand, when the user information 32b associated with the display information 22b is not the user information 32b of the logged-in MFP user, the display control unit 21c is addressed to the logged-in MFP user. It is determined that the information is not.

  If the display control unit 21c determines in S142 that the display information 22b is information for the logged-in MFP user, the display control unit 21c displays the display information 22b stored in S141 on the display unit 24 (S143), and FIG. The process shown in FIG.

  If the display control unit 21c determines in S142 that the display information 22b is not information addressed to the logged-in MFP user, the process illustrated in FIG. 5 ends.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display information 22b displayed on the display unit 24 in S143.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the display information 22b may be displayed on the display unit 24 so as to overlap the already displayed screen. Further, the display information 22b may be displayed in a translucent state, for example. The display information 22b shown in FIG. 7 includes a close button 41. According to the display information 22b shown in FIG. 7, Taro Yamada, who is an MFP user, says, “I am charged for 9500 yen for all MFPs in the same group at the moment, and 254 sheets can be printed. , “Print and copy functions are permitted”.

  When the MFP user presses the close button 41 via the operation unit 23, the display control unit 21c ends the display of the display information 22b on the display unit 24.

<Change management information>
When the management information 32d needs to be changed by being used by an MFP user, the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 sends change information, which is information for changing the management information 32d, via the network communication unit 28. To the management server 30.

  The change information receiving unit 31 a of the control unit 31 of the management server 30 receives the change information from the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35.

  When the change information is received by the change information receiving unit 31a, the management information changing unit 31b of the control unit 31 is stored in the storage unit 32 based on the change information received by the change information receiving unit 31a. Management information 32d is changed.

  Therefore, the display information transmitting unit 31d can always transmit the display information 22b based on the latest management information to the MFP 20.

  As described above, the management server 30 transmits the display information 22b based on the MFP user management information 32d corresponding to the user information received from the MFP to the MFP (S121 to S123). Information addressed to the currently used MFP user can be displayed on the display unit of the MFP.

  In the management server 30, the storage unit 32 stores management information 32d that is collectively managed for a plurality of MFPs. Therefore, display information 22b based on the management information 32d that is collectively managed for a plurality of MFPs is stored. It can be displayed on the display unit of the MFP.

  The management server 30 may have a configuration in which the storage unit 32 stores management information 32d managed for each MFP. In this configuration, the management server 30 can display the display information 22b based on the management information 32d of the target MFP on the display unit of the target MFP.

  The management server 30 includes login execution means 31e for executing a login process of the MFP user to the MFP based on the user information received by the user information reception means 31c. The display information 22b can be transmitted to the MFP 20 based on the user information received from the MFP.

  In the above description, the management server 30 is configured to transmit the display information 22b to the MFP when the MFP user logs in. However, the management server 30 transmits the display information 22b to the MFP when not logged in. May be. For example, the management server 30 may periodically send the display information 22b to the MFP, or send the display information 22b to the MFP in response to a request from the MFP user via the MFP. It may be like this.

  In the above description, the management server 30 acquires user information from the MFP when the MFP user logs in. However, the management server 30 acquires user information from the MFP at times other than during login. Also good. For example, the management server 30 may acquire user information of the logged-in MFP user from the MFP every time the display information 22b is transmitted to the MFP.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine.

10 network system 20 MFP (image forming apparatus)
21a User information transmission means 21b Display information reception means 21c Display control means 22b Display information 23 Operation section 24 Display section 30 Management server 31a Change information reception means 31b Management information change means 31c User information reception means 31d Display information Transmission means 31e Login execution means 32 Storage section 32a Management server program 32b User information 32d Management information

Claims (5)

A storage unit for storing management information that is information related to an image forming apparatus including a display unit for displaying information and is managed for each user of the image forming apparatus;
Change information receiving means for receiving change information, which is information for changing the management information, from the image forming apparatus; and the management information based on the change information received by the change information receiving means. Management information changing means for changing, user information receiving means for receiving user information, which is identification information of the user who is using the image forming apparatus, from the image forming apparatus, and for displaying on the display unit Display information transmitting means for transmitting display information that is information to the image forming apparatus,
The display information transmitting unit transmits the display information based on the management information of the user corresponding to the user information received by the user information receiving unit.   The management server according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the management information that is collectively managed with respect to the plurality of image forming apparatuses.   2. A login execution unit that executes a process for logging in the user to the image forming apparatus based on the user information received by the user information receiving unit. Or the management server of Claim 2. A management server including a storage unit that stores management information that is information related to an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information and is managed for each user of the image forming apparatus.
The change information receiving step for receiving change information, which is information for changing the management information, from the image forming apparatus, and the management information based on the change information received by the change information receiving step. A management information changing step for changing, a user information receiving step for receiving user information, which is identification information of the user who is using the image forming apparatus, from the image forming apparatus, and a display unit for displaying the information. A display information transmission step of transmitting display information that is information to the image forming apparatus,
The display information transmitting step is a step of transmitting the display information based on the management information of the user corresponding to the user information received by the user information receiving step. Management server program. A management server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus includes: an operation unit to which an operation by the user is input; and the management server in accordance with an operation input to the user unit the user information of the user who is using the image forming apparatus. User information transmitting means for transmitting to, display information receiving means for receiving the display information from the management server, and display control means for controlling display by the display section,
The display control unit displays the display information on the display unit when the display information received by the display information receiving unit is information addressed to the user who is using the image forming apparatus. A network system characterized by causing

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