JP2015149729A - Electronic apparatus, use restriction method and use restriction program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve flexibility on a use restriction function.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus includes: request reception means for receiving a request with an operation screen on a program installed in the electronic apparatus as a display object; determining means for determining whether transition of the display object is possible or not in accordance with the request which the request reception means receives; and control means for switching the operation screen to the operation screen on the program in response to information stored in accordance with identification information of the program on the request when the determining means determines that the transition is possible. When the determining means determines that the transition is not possible, the control means switches the display object in response to priority of the programs.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a usage restriction method, and a usage restriction program.

  Conventionally, the use restriction function is realized in various forms for embedded devices such as image forming apparatuses. As a typical example of the use restriction function, there is an authentication function (for example, Patent Document 1). That is, in the authentication function, the use of all or part of the function is restricted for an unauthenticated user.

  However, conventionally, as for the use restriction function, a so-called ready-made mechanism that is pre-installed in a device is generally used. In particular, for a device having a low degree of freedom regarding software implementation compared to a general-purpose computer, it is difficult to relatively easily implement a user-specific use restriction function in accordance with circumstances specific to the user.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an electronic device, a usage restriction method, and a usage restriction program capable of improving flexibility relating to a usage restriction function.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the electronic device includes a request receiving unit that receives a request for displaying an operation screen related to a program installed in the electronic device, and a display target in response to the request received by the request receiving unit. Based on the information stored in association with the identification information of the program related to the request when the determination unit determines that the transition is possible, Control means for switching a display target on an operation screen related to the program, and when the determination means determines that the transition is not possible, the control means displays the display based on the priority between the programs. Switch target.

  In addition, in order to solve the above-described problem, the usage restriction method executed by the electronic device includes a procedure in which the request receiving unit receives a request to display an operation screen related to a program installed in the electronic device, In response to the request received by the request receiving means, a procedure for determining whether or not a display target can be changed, and when the control means determines that the transition is possible in the determining means, And switching the display target to an operation screen related to the program based on information stored in association with the program identification information, and the control means determines that the transition is not possible by the determination means If so, the display object is switched based on the priority order between the programs.

  With such an electronic device or usage restriction method, the flexibility regarding the usage restriction function can be improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the softness | flexibility regarding a use restriction function can be improved.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process sequence of the use restriction process by a main body authentication part. It is a figure which shows an example of the management form of the screen information by a panel control part. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process sequence of a use restriction process when a use restriction application is installed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or LP is used as an example of an electronic apparatus will be described. However, the present embodiment may be applied to electronic devices other than the image forming apparatus, such as various home appliances.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes hardware such as a controller 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a modem 14, an operation panel 15, a network interface 16, and an SD card slot 17.

  The controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a RAM 112, a ROM 113, an HDD 114, and the like. The ROM 113 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 112 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 111 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 112. The HDD 114 records programs and various data used by the programs.

  The scanner 12 is hardware for reading image data from a document. The printer 13 is hardware for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 15 is hardware including input means for accepting input from a user, input means such as a touch panel, and display means such as a liquid crystal screen. The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program recorded on the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, not only the program recorded in the ROM 113 but also the program recorded in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed. However, for example, a storage medium other than the SD card 80 such as a USB memory or a CD-ROM may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a standard application 221, an SDK application 223, an SDK platform 224, a control service 225, an OS 226, and the like.

  The OS 226 is a so-called OS (Operating System). Each software on the image forming apparatus 10 is activated as a process or thread on the OS 226.

  The standard application 221 is a set of application programs that are mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 in a standard manner (in advance at the time of shipment). In the figure, a scan application 2211, a print application 2212, a copy application 2213, and a FAX application 2214 are illustrated. The scan application 2211 executes a scan job. The print application 2212 executes a print job. The copy application 2213 executes a copy job. The FAX application 2214 executes a FAX transmission job or reception job.

  The control service 225 includes a software module group that implements functions commonly used by the applications, functions for controlling the operations of the applications, functions for controlling various hardware resources, and the like. In the figure, as a part of the control service 225, a system control unit 2251, a panel control unit 2252, and a main body authentication unit 2253 are shown. In the present embodiment, the system control unit 2251 performs control for switching an application to be displayed (operation object) on the operation panel 15. In the present embodiment, two or more applications on the operation panel 15 cannot be displayed simultaneously. The application here includes both the standard application 221 and the SDK application 223. Therefore, when any application is displayed on the operation panel 15, the application is any one standard application 221 or any one SDK application 223.

  The panel control unit 2252 controls display of the operation screen of each application on the operation panel 15 in accordance with display target switching control by the system control unit 2251. The main body authentication unit 2253 implements an off-the-shelf use restriction function incorporated in advance in the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, the main body authentication unit 2253 authenticates the user of the image forming apparatus 10 and restricts the use of a predetermined application or the like only to the authenticated user. Although details are omitted, the main body authentication unit 2253 can also be customized. For example, a server used as an authentication engine can be switched. However, the customization range is limited to a predetermined range (setting item).

  The SDK application 223 is an application program that is additionally installed as a plug-in for expanding the functions of the image forming apparatus 10 after the image forming apparatus 10 is shipped. In the present embodiment, the SDK application 223 is implemented in the Java (registered trademark) language and distributed in the form of an intermediate code (executable code) called Java (registered trademark) bytecode. The SDK application 223 displays a display component (GUI (Graphical User Interface)) such as a screen on the operation panel 15 of the image forming apparatus 10 and is used via the display component. In the figure, as the SDK application 223, a use restriction application 223a, a B application 223b, and a C application 223c are illustrated. The usage restriction application 223a is an SDK application 223 in which a user's unique usage restriction function is implemented. The user-specific use restriction function is a use restriction function that does not use the main body authentication unit 2253. The degree of freedom related to the mounting of the SDK application 223 is much higher than the degree of freedom related to customization of the ready-made functions of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, the content of the use restriction function by the use restriction application 223a is not specified as a predetermined one. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the usage restriction application 223a is an SDK application 223 in which a user-specific authentication function is implemented.

  The SDK platform 224 is an application platform for the SDK application 223 that provides an execution environment for the SDK application 223. Each SDK application 223 is developed using an API (Application Program Interface) provided by the SDK platform 224. The API of the SDK platform 224 is open to the public, and the SDK application 223 can be developed by a third vendor or the like. Specifically, the API is a set of functions or methods. In a broad sense, the API includes a mechanism for notifying the SDK application 223 of events that occur asynchronously.

  When viewed from the control service 225, the SDK platform 224 appears as one application in the same row as each standard application 221. More specifically, each standard application 221 is activated by the OS 226 as an independent process. The SDK platform 224 is also activated by the OS 226 as one process. Therefore, when viewed from the control service 225, each standard application 221 and the SDK platform 224 appear as processes.

  On the other hand, each SDK application 223 is activated as a thread in the SDK platform 224 which is one process. That is, a thread is generated for each SDK application 223.

  As is clear from such a configuration, the SDK application 223 is hidden from the control service 225 by the SDK platform 224. Therefore, the control service 225 cannot directly control each SDK application 223. Only the SDK platform 224 can directly control each SDK application 223. Further, the control service 225 is hidden from each SDK application 223 by the SDK platform 224.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. First, usage restriction processing by the main body authentication unit 2253 will be described. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing procedure of the use restriction process by the main body authentication unit. Note that the processing in FIG. 3 is executed in a state where the usage restriction application 223a is not installed.

  When the image processing apparatus 10 is started, each module of the control service 225 (system control unit 2251, panel authentication unit, main body authentication unit 2253, etc.), standard application 221, and SDK platform 224 are started as processes by the OS 226, respectively. Is done. In addition, the SDK platform 224 activates the installed SDK application 223 that is set for automatic activation as a thread. Note that the SDK application 223 can be set to automatic activation or manual activation. The automatic activation refers to an activation form that is automatically activated when the image forming apparatus 10 is activated. The manual activation refers to an activation form activated in response to an instruction input by the user via the management screen displayed by the SDK platform 224.

  Each standard application 221 and SDK platform 224 receive their fixed identification information (hereinafter referred to as “application ID”) and identification information (process ID) for inter-process communication in response to activation. 2251 is registered (S101).

  Subsequently, each standard application 221 and the SDK platform 224 register their own application ID and screen information (screen data) of their own operation screen in the panel control unit 2252 (S102). The panel control unit 2252 manages the application ID and the screen information in association with each other. As a result, information as shown in FIG. 4 is managed by the panel control unit 2252.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen information management form by the panel control unit. As shown in the figure, the panel control unit 2252 manages the screen information of the standard application 221 for each standard application 221. On the other hand, regarding the SDK platform 224, when any of the SDK applications 223 is a display target, the screen information of the SDK application 223 is registered. That is, the screen information of the SDK platform 224 is updated every time the SDK application 223 to be displayed is switched. “Active” in the figure means a state that is a display target. Note that the screen information registered by the SDK platform 224 at the stage of step S102 is, for example, the screen information of the SDK application 223 having the highest display priority among the automatically activated SDK applications 223. Alternatively, empty screen information may be registered.

  Steps S111 and after are executed not only when the image forming apparatus 10 is activated (immediately after activation) but also when switching an active application. The active application can be switched by a hard key (hereinafter referred to as “function selection key”) arranged on the operation panel 15. A function selection key exists for each standard application 221 and SDK platform 224. Therefore, in this embodiment, there are five function selection keys.

  In step S111, the system control unit 2251 requests the standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224 that is the display target to transition to the display target. The display target immediately after startup is determined based on the priority order for display that is set in advance for the system control unit 2251. When the active application is switched, the pressed function selection key is displayed. Note that pressing of the function selection key is detected by the panel control unit 2252. The panel control unit 2252 manages the key code of the function selection key and the application ID of each application in association with each other in advance. Therefore, the panel control unit 2252 identifies the application ID corresponding to the key code based on the key code of the pressed function selection key. The panel control unit 2252 notifies the identified application ID to the system control unit 2251. The system control unit 2251 can identify the switching destination (transition destination) application based on the notification.

  The standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224 that has received the transition request to the display target from the system control unit 2251 returns a response indicating the approval of the transition to the display target if the transition to the display target is possible (S112). Whether or not the transition to the display target is possible is determined based on, for example, the state of hardware resources used by the standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224.

  When the system control unit 2251 receives a response indicating the approval of the transition to the display target, the system control unit 2251 designates the display target application ID and makes a screen display request to the panel control unit 2252 (S113). The panel control unit 2252 displays an operation screen on the operation panel 15 based on the screen information associated with the application ID specified in the display request (S114). Therefore, the operation screen of any standard application 221 or any SDK application 223 is displayed.

  In step S112, when a response indicating rejection of the transition to the display target is received, the system control unit 2251 does not switch the display target. However, immediately after activation, for example, step S111 and subsequent steps are repeated for the standard application 221 and the like having the next priority.

  On the other hand, the standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224 that is the display target makes a login screen display request to the main body authentication unit 2253 after a response to the approval of the transition to the display target (S115). In response to the request, the main body authentication unit 2253 makes a login screen display request to the panel control unit 2252 (S116). In response to the request, panel control unit 2252 superimposes the operation screen displayed in step S114 to display the login screen. (S117). That is, the login screen is recognized by the panel control unit 2252 as a special screen. Accordingly, the panel control unit 2252 causes the login screen to be displayed on the operation screen even when another operation screen is being displayed. By superimposing the login screen, the user cannot use the standard application 221 or the like that is the display target. That is, the use restriction state is realized.

  Subsequently, when user information (user name and password) is input to the login screen by the user (S118), the panel control unit 2252 sends the input user information to the main body authentication unit 2253 that is the owner of the login screen. Notification is made (S119). The main body authentication unit 2253 performs an authentication process based on the user information (S120). When the authentication is successful, the main body authentication unit 2253 notifies the standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224 that is the login screen display request source that the authentication is successful (S121).

  The standard application 221 or the SDK platform 224 that has received the notification of successful authentication requests the main body authentication unit 2253 to delete the login screen (S122). In response to the request, the main body authentication unit 2253 requests the panel control unit 2252 to delete the login screen (S123). In response to the request, the panel control unit 2252 deletes (does not display) the login screen. As a result, the user can use the standard application 221 or the SDK application 223 via the operation screen displayed in step S114. That is, the usage restriction state is released.

  In addition, when authentication is executed once and step S111 and subsequent steps are executed (that is, when the function selection key is pressed), the main body authentication unit 2253 displays the login screen in response to the login screen display request in step S115. The notification of the success of authentication (S121) may be performed without displaying. However, if it is desired to log in for each standard application 221 and SDK platform 224, all steps after step S111 may be repeated.

  Next, usage restriction processing when the usage restriction application 223a is installed will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing procedure of the use restriction process when the use restriction application is installed. In FIG. 3, steps S101 and S102 of FIG. 3 are omitted. That is, steps S101 and S102 are executed even when the use restriction application is installed.

  When the usage restriction application 223a is activated by the SDK platform 224, it makes an authentication proxy request to the SDK platform 224 (S201). The authentication agent means realizing a use restriction function in place of the main body authentication unit 2253. Note that the usage restriction application 223a is set to be automatically activated. Accordingly, step S201 is executed when the SDK platform 224 is activated when the image forming apparatus 10 is activated.

  Subsequently, the SDK platform 224 requests the main body authentication unit 2253 to perform authentication substitution (S202). In the request, the application ID of the SDK platform 224 is specified. When the main body authentication unit 2253 receives a request for an authentication agent, the main body authentication unit 2253 invalidates the use restriction function by itself. For example, even if a login screen display request is received, the login screen display process is not performed, and a response indicating that the authentication has succeeded is made to the request.

  Subsequently, the SDK platform 224 designates the application ID and notifies the system control unit 2251 that authentication proxy is performed (S203). The system control unit 2251 stores the designated application ID as identification information of the authentication proxy destination.

  On the other hand, the use restriction application 223a specifies its own identification information (hereinafter referred to as “SDK application ID”) after requesting an authentication agent, and requests the SDK platform 224 to register its own screen information (S204). . The SDK platform 224 specifies its own application ID and requests the panel control unit 2252 to register the screen information (S205). The SDK platform 205 manages screen information in association with the SDK application ID. Step S205 may be executed as step S102 of FIG.

  Further, the use restriction application 223a designates its own identification information (hereinafter referred to as “SDK application ID”) and makes a screen lock request to the SDK platform 224 (S206). The screen lock request corresponds to a request for exclusive use of the display means on the operation panel 15. Screen lock refers to a state in which screen transition does not occur. The SDK platform 224 stores the SDK application ID specified in the screen lock request as a screen lock source.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 2251 makes a request for transition to a display target to the SDK platform 224 (S207). This step corresponds to step S111 at the time of activation (FIG. 3). However, here, the SDK platform 224 registered as an authentication proxy destination is determined as a display target, not based on the priority order for display. That is, when an authentication proxy destination is registered, the system control unit 2251 gives priority to the authentication proxy destination as a display target over the priority order.

  If the transition to the display target is possible, the SDK platform 224 returns a response indicating the approval of the transition to the display target (S208). When the system control unit 2251 receives a response indicating the approval of the transition to the display target, the system control unit 2251 designates the display target application ID (that is, the application ID of the SDK platform 224) and displays the screen on the panel control unit 2252. A request is made (S209). The panel control unit 2252 displays an operation screen on the operation panel 15 based on the screen information associated with the application ID specified in the display request (S210). Accordingly, here, the operation screen of the usage restriction application 223a is displayed based on the screen information registered for the application ID of the SDK platform 224 in step S205.

  Here, the content of the operation screen depends on the implementation of the usage restriction application 223a. Further, the usage restriction application 223a is only one SDK application 223. Therefore, the use restriction state is not realized only by displaying the operation screen of the use restriction application 223. For example, if the function selection key is pressed, the operation screen of the standard application 211 is displayed. However, the use restriction application 223 makes a screen lock request in step S206. The usage restriction state is secured by the lock of the screen and the behavior of the system control unit 2251.

  Specifically, in this state, when the function selection key is pressed and the user attempts to switch to another standard application 211, the system control unit 2251 makes a display target release request to the SDK platform 224. (S211). A display target release request refers to transferring the status of a display target to another application. Note that the status as a display target corresponds to a status in which the display means on the operation panel 15 can be occupied. In response to the release request, the SDK platform 224 rejects the release request when a screen lock request is made (S212). The system control unit 2251 does not switch the display target when the release request is rejected. That is, the process after step S111 of FIG. 3 is not executed. Therefore, until the usage restriction application 223a unlocks the screen, the operation screen of the usage restriction 223a application is displayed on the operation panel 15. That is, the use restriction state is realized for other applications.

  In the present embodiment, the use restriction application 223a has a user-specific authentication function. Therefore, the operation screen displayed by the usage restriction application 223a is an operation screen corresponding to the user's unique authentication function. For example, the operation screen is a screen for inputting a password that changes periodically.

  When the user inputs a password on the operation screen, the panel control unit 2252 notifies the password to the SDK platform 224 that is the owner of the operation screen (S213). Strictly speaking, the owner of the operation screen is the use restriction application 223a, but the SDK platform 224 appears as the owner in the management of the panel control unit 2252 (see FIG. 4).

  Subsequently, the SDK platform 224 notifies the use restriction application 223a that is currently the display target of the password (S214). The usage restriction application 223a executes an authentication process based on the notified password (S215). When the authentication is successful, the use restriction application 223a requests the SDK platform 224 to release the screen lock by designating its own SDK application ID (S216). That is, the end of exclusive use of the display means of the operation panel 15 is requested. The SDK platform 224 releases the screen lock when the SDK application ID specified in the screen lock release request matches the SDK application ID of the screen lock request source. Therefore, in this state, if the function selection key is pressed, step S111 and subsequent steps are executed. However, since the use restriction function by the main body authentication unit 2253 is invalidated, steps S116 to S120 are not executed. Therefore, the user can use other standard applications 221 and the like. That is, the usage restriction state is released.

  If the authentication in step S215 fails, the usage restriction application 223a does not make a lock release request. Therefore, the use restriction state is maintained.

  Subsequently, the usage restriction application 223a makes a display target abandonment request to the SDK platform 224 (S217). Abandonment of the display object means abandonment of the status as the display object. Subsequently, the SDK platform 224 designates its own application ID and makes a display target abandonment request to the system control unit 2251 (S218). In response to the abandonment request, the system control unit 2251 executes step S111 and subsequent steps in FIG. At this time, a display target is selected according to the priority order for display. As described above, the active display target can be abandoned by the SDK application 223, so that the operation screen can be automatically changed according to the cancellation of the use restriction state.

  After that, when the logout key of the operation panel 15 is pressed, the logout key pressing event is detected by the panel control unit 2252. In response to the detection of the event, the panel control unit 2252 notifies logout to the main body authentication unit 2253 (S251). The main body authentication unit 2253 notifies logout to the authentication proxy destination SDK platform 224 (S252). The SDK platform 224 registers the screen information of the use restricting application 223a as the authentication proxy destination in the panel control unit 2252 (S253). Thereafter, the same processing procedure as that after step S207 is executed, and the operation screen of the use restriction application 223a is displayed on the operation panel 15 again. That is, the use restriction state is reproduced.

  In step S252, the SDK platform 224 re-registers the screen information of the usage restriction application 223a because the screen information of the other SDK application 223 is transmitted to the panel control unit 2252 during the period when the usage restriction is removed. This is because it may be registered.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the SDK platform 224 can accept an authentication proxy request, a screen lock request, a screen unlock request, and a display object abandonment request. That is, an API (method or function) for receiving each request is provided. Accordingly, by implementing the SDK application 223 using the API, for example, a user-specific use restriction function such as the use restriction application 223a can be realized.

  Note that the form of usage restriction is not limited to authentication. It is up to the user to install what kind of SDK application 223 is implemented using an API corresponding to an authentication proxy request, a screen lock request, a screen unlock request, and a display target abandonment requirement. For example, if the use restriction application 223a does not make a lock release request until a predetermined time arrives, the use of the image forming apparatus 10 can be restricted in a predetermined time zone.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Controller 12 Scanner 13 Printer 14 Modem 15 Operation panel 16 Network interface 17 SD card slot 30 User terminal 31 Web browser 80 SD card 111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
114 HDD
221 Standard application 222 Application management service 223 SDK application 224 SDK platform 225 Control service 226 OS
2251 System control unit 2252 Panel control unit 2253 Main unit authentication unit

JP 2009-289164 A

Claims (12)

Electronic equipment,
Request accepting means for accepting a request to display an operation screen related to a program installed in the electronic device;
A determination unit that determines whether a display target can be changed in response to the request received by the request reception unit;
Control means for switching a display target to an operation screen related to the program based on information stored in association with identification information of the program related to the request when the determination means determines that the transition is possible When,
Have
The control means switches the display object based on the priority between the programs when the judgment means judges that the transition is not possible.
An electronic device characterized by that. The determining means determines whether or not a display target can be changed based on a state of a hardware resource used by the program according to the request;
The electronic device according to claim 1. The request accepting means accepts an exclusive use start request for the display means and an exclusive use end request from the program,
When there is a program for which the request for exclusive use is accepted by the request accepting means, the control means switches the display object until the end request for exclusive use is accepted from the program. Absent,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an electronic device. Having authentication means for authenticating information entered by the user;
The control means switches the display object according to an authentication result by the authentication means.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is an electronic apparatus. A usage restriction method executed by an electronic device,
A procedure for receiving a request for displaying an operation screen related to a program installed in the electronic device;
A procedure for determining whether or not a display target can be changed in response to a request received by the request receiving unit;
When the control means determines that the transition is possible in the determination means, the display target is displayed on the operation screen related to the program based on information stored in association with the identification information of the program related to the request. Steps to switch between
Have
The control means switches the display object based on the priority between the programs when the judgment means judges that the transition is not possible.
A usage restriction method characterized by that. The determining means determines whether or not a display target can be changed based on a state of a hardware resource used by the program according to the request;
The use restriction method according to claim 5. The request receiving means includes a procedure of receiving an exclusive use start request of the display means and the exclusive use end request from the program;
When there is a program for which the request for exclusive use is accepted by the request accepting means, the control means switches the display object until the end request for exclusive use is accepted from the program. Absent,
The use restriction method according to claim 5 or 6. The authenticating means comprises a procedure for authenticating information entered by the user;
The control means switches the display object according to an authentication result by the authentication means.
The use restriction method according to any one of claims 5 to 7. Electronics
Request accepting means for accepting a request to display an operation screen related to a program installed in the electronic device;
A determination unit that determines whether a display target can be changed in response to the request received by the request reception unit;
Control means for switching a display target to an operation screen related to the program based on information stored in association with identification information of the program related to the request when the determination means determines that the transition is possible Function as
The control means switches the display object based on the priority between the programs when the judgment means judges that the transition is not possible.
Usage restriction program. The determining means determines whether or not a display target can be changed based on a state of a hardware resource used by the program according to the request;
The use restriction program according to claim 9. The request accepting means accepts an exclusive use start request for the display means and an exclusive use end request from the program,
When there is a program for which the request for exclusive use is accepted by the request accepting means, the control means switches the display object until the end request for exclusive use is accepted from the program. Absent,
The use restriction program according to claim 9 or 10. Having authentication means for authenticating information entered by the user;
The control means switches the display object according to an authentication result by the authentication means.
The use restriction program according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

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