JP2016110347A - Document storage method, device, and program corresponding to license state - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To open an electronic document even when the electronic document is stored in a file system unique to software (application) in a state that the time limit of the license of the software has passed.SOLUTION: When an application stores an electronic document, and the time of validity of the license of the application is determined to have passed 1002: Yes, and the file format of the stored electronic document is not a general-purpose format 1003: No, the electronic document is converted into an electronic document of the general-purpose format, and the electronic document is stored 1007.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a document storage method according to the license state of an application.

  There are a node lock method and a floating method as a method for licensing the paid software. The node lock method is a method in which a user's computer directly acquires a license from a main license server and associates the computer with the license so that the license cannot be used except by the computer. On the other hand, the floating license is a method in which a local license server (hereinafter referred to as a server) that pools a certain number of licenses in advance lends a license to a client. Floating licenses managed by the floating method are returned when the corresponding software is used on each client. After that, another user borrows the returned license and uses the same software on another client. can do. By borrowing a license only when using the software in this way, if the timing of using the software is different among a plurality of clients, the software can be used on a client having more licenses. It is desirable to keep the floating license uninterrupted during work and return it promptly after work. For this reason, it is common to operate the system in such a manner that a local license server and a client are connected via a network, a license is acquired at the time of software activation, and returned at the end (at the end of the process).

  Further, as another operation mode of the floating license, there is a mode in which an expiration date is set for the license to be lent and the software can be freely used within the license expiration date. In this alternative operation mode, the license is acquired only once at the time of software startup, and even if the client is not connected to the server via the network, the client starts the software if it is within the license expiration date. There is an advantage that it can be used. When the expiration date of the license expires, even if the client and server are not connected to the network, the client software cannot be used automatically, and the server has returned the license after the expiration date. Judging and automatically increasing the number of licenses that can be lent.

  In recent years, in offices, the use of integrated software for managing and editing electronic documents has improved the efficiency of business. As an example of a use case of business using integrated software, there is a case where a user deletes a page of an electronic document or changes the page order using the integrated software and saves it as a software file. Here, the software file is a kind of electronic document, and is a file format unique to each software. In the software file, general-purpose files such as imposition information of electronic documents, print settings, and portable document format (hereinafter referred to as PDF) can be integrated and stored. Further, by using the integrated software, the software file can be saved not only in the OS standard folder but also in a folder managed by the integrated software. Folders managed by the integrated software are called libraries, and various locations such as local, network, and storage servers can be managed as libraries.

  Here, if the above-described software is operated with a floating license with an expiration date set, the license expiration date may pass while the electronic document is being edited. However, if the software is forcibly terminated while editing the electronic document, the electronic document being edited cannot be saved, which is inconvenient for the user using the software. On the other hand, there has been proposed a technique for periodically checking the license expiration date and storing an electronic document when the license expiration date has passed while the software is being used. Patent Document 1 describes a technique of detecting that the expiration date of the software has passed while using the software, and terminating the software after sending the electronic document being edited to an arbitrary destination by e-mail. .

JP 2010-191497 A

  However, when an electronic document is stored after the expiration date of the software (application) license has passed, there are the following problems. That is, when an electronic document is saved in a file format (software file) unique to the software, there is a problem that the software file cannot be opened until the software license is acquired again. Also, when an electronic document (file) is stored in a unique library managed by software as in the prior art, it takes time to refer to the electronic document without using the software, which is very inconvenient for the user. there were.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that executes an application, and first determines whether an expiration date of the license of the application has passed when the application stores an electronic document. A second determination unit that determines whether the file format of the stored electronic document is a general-purpose format when the determination unit determines that the license expiration date of the application has passed by the first determination unit; Conversion means for converting the electronic document into an electronic document of a general format when the file format of the stored electronic document is determined not to be a general format by the second determination means.

  The problem that the software file cannot be opened and it takes time to open the file stored in the library can be solved by an alternative means such as a general-purpose file format or a shortcut file, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

Diagram showing system configuration Diagram showing hardware configuration of client and server Diagram showing the software configuration of the integrated software and license management software Integrated software UI screen File saving process flow chart Process flow diagram for specifying and opening a non-generic file

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system (data processing system) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is a system in which a client device and a license server 120 (to be described later) can communicate via a network. In FIG. 1, each client device (110, 111, 112) is a computer used by each user, and requests a license from the server 120 when using software.

  A predetermined operating system (OS) corresponding to each device is installed in the client (110, 111, 112) and the server 120, and various types of software (applications) that execute specific function processing (not shown) are also provided. Installed. Here, specific function processing of software (application) executed by the client 110 includes document processing, spreadsheet processing, presentation processing, image processing, graphic processing, and the like. Each software has its own data structure (file structure). The specific function processing of the server 120 includes license management processing, license monitoring processing, and the like. The client and the server communicate with each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 100.

  Integrated software 300 for managing and editing electronic documents is installed in each client device. The server 120 is installed with license management software 310 for managing the license of the integrated software 300. In this embodiment, an example in which the integrated software 300 of the client apparatus 110 stores an electronic document is shown.

[Hardware configuration (client, server)]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the client device (110, 111, 112). The client device is provided with a keyboard 205 and a pointing device 206 that are input devices for receiving an operation input by a user. Furthermore, a display unit 202 is provided that displays various types of information and gives visual output information feedback to the user. Furthermore, a storage medium (RAM 203, ROM 204, HDD 207) for storing a program for causing the computer to function as each processing unit for performing each process described later and information necessary for execution is provided. Also provided are various drives (CD-ROM drives) 208 for reading data recorded on portable storage media such as CDs and DVDs. The RAM 203 is used as a work area and a temporary data save area when the CPU 201 loads and executes an OS program, a control program for realizing the present invention, and the like. The ROM 204 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 201. Furthermore, an interface device I / O 209 that communicates with an external device via a wired or wireless connection is provided. The client 110 communicates with the server 120 via the interface device I / O 209. More specifically, the license acquisition from the server 120, the license return to the server 120, etc. are performed. Each process described in the present embodiment is realized by loading a program stored in the ROM 204, the HDD 207, or the external storage medium 208 into the RAM 203 and executing the program by the CPU 201.

  The server has the same hardware configuration, and the server CPU executes a server control program (license management software).

Software configuration
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the integrated software (integrated application) 300 executed by the client 110 and the license management software 310 executed by the server 120. The integrated software 300 includes a UI screen processing unit 301, a software management unit 302 for controlling various functions such as document editing, and a license management unit 303. The acquired license information is stored in the license storage unit 304. The processing unit for executing each process described in the present embodiment is such that the computer executes a program stored in an internal storage medium (ROM 204 or HDD 207) or an external storage medium (CD-ROM or memory). It is realized by.

  The UI screen processing unit 301 displays a screen for performing various operations of the integrated application and a screen such as a file save dialog 300 (described later) on the display. Further, an input operation by the user is detected via a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and information related to the operation by the user is acquired.

  The software management unit 302 performs overall processing such as access to a storage area (hereinafter referred to as a library) for managing documents by the integrated software 300, various file operations, and reading and writing of a registry. The library is stored in a local folder (HDD 207), a network folder (not shown), a file storage, or the like. The software management unit 302 executes an operation corresponding to the input operation based on various input operations received by the UI screen processing unit 301.

  The license management unit 303 acquires a license from the license management software 310 via the LAN 100 when the integrated software 300 is activated. Information about the acquired license is stored in the license storage unit 304. The license management unit 303 returns the stored license to the license management software 310 via the LAN 100 when the integrated software 300 ends or when a license return operation is detected by the user.

  The license management software 310 includes a license management unit 311. The license management unit 311 can manage information related to licenses that can be lent to the integrated software 300 of each client (information such as the license lending status), and can pool a plurality of floating licenses in the license storage unit 312. When there is a license acquisition request from the integrated software 300 to the license management software 310, the license management unit 311 sends one license pooled in the license storage unit 312 to the integrated software 300. Also, when there is no license pooled in the license storage unit 312 (all licenses are being lent), and there is a license acquisition request from another client, the integrated software 300 of that client acquires the license. Cannot start because it can not.

  In addition, the license management software 310 sets a license expiration date via a GUI (not shown) for the license acquired by the integrated software 300, and the software can be freely used within the license expiration date. To do. In this case, the license is acquired only once at the time of starting up the software, and the client can start up and use the software if it is within the expiration date of the license even if it is not connected to the server via the network. When the expiration date of the license expires, the license management software 310 deletes the license from the license storage unit 304 of the client 110, and the license storage unit 312 of the server 120 determines that the license has been returned and can be lent out. Increment the number of licenses by one. Note that the above processing is executed even when the network of the client 110 and the server 120 is not connected.

  If the license expiration date has passed while the integrated software 300 is running, a warning message may be displayed to notify the user that the expiration date has expired. In the present embodiment, if the license expiration date has passed while the integrated software 300 is running, the license can be used continuously until a file saving operation or a closing operation of the integrated software 300 is received from the user. . However, there may be a restriction that a new file cannot be created when the expiration date has passed.

[UI screen of integrated software]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the GUI of the integrated software 300. The file saving dialog 400 is an example of a dialog displayed when saving an electronic document edited by the integrated software 300. Here, an electronic document edited by the integrated software 300 can be stored by setting a storage destination library 401, a document name 402, and a document type 403. It is assumed that not only the library managed by the integrated software 300 but also the folder managed by the OS can be selected as the storage destination of the electronic document. It is assumed that the unique library managed by the integrated software 300 cannot be accessed from the OS. Further, the type (format) of the document to be stored may be a general-purpose format (general-purpose file format) such as PDF, JPEG, TIFF, or PNG, or a unique format of the integrated software 300 (a file format dedicated to the integrated software) ).

[Integrated software processing]
In order to determine whether the expiration date of the license of the integrated software has passed, it is necessary to periodically check the expiration date of the license, which increases the load on the integrated software. On the other hand, if you save the electronic document being edited without notifying the user and exit the software, the next time you open the file, the license expiration date has passed, so the electronic document can be easily I can't open it and I'm in trouble. For example, to refer to an electronic document stored in a storage server on the cloud without using integrated software, it is necessary to access the storage server, enter a user name and password, and download a file. There is. On the other hand, if the software is used, the storage server is automatically accessed and the user name and password are automatically entered, so it is saved in the same way as opening an electronic document from an OS standard folder. Electronic documents can be easily referenced.

  In this embodiment, when saving an electronic document after the expiration date of the license, the saved electronic document is saved as a file in a general-purpose format independent of the integrated software so that the saved electronic document can be easily opened. Or create a shortcut file. This makes it possible to easily open the stored electronic document in a situation where the license for the integrated software cannot be reacquired after the expiration date of the license has passed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing of the integrated software (application) 300. The flow of processing will be described using the integrated software 300 operating on the client 110 in FIG. 1 as an example. This flow solves a problem that occurs when the license expiration date (expiration date) of the integrated software 300 has passed.

  When the user instructs the integrated software 300 to save the electronic document file, a file save dialog 400 is displayed. When a save destination 401, a document name 402, and a format 403 are designated in the file save dialog 400 and a save button is designated, in S1001, the software management unit 302 sets the electronic document to the designated save destination. It is determined whether the file is saved in the specified format. In the case of Yes (saved), the process proceeds to S1002. In the case of No (not saved), it is determined that the saving process has failed, and the process ends.

  In step S <b> 1002, the license management unit 303 determines whether the license expiration date of the integrated software 300 has expired. If Yes (passed), the process proceeds to S1003. If No (passed), the process ends.

  In step S1003, the software management unit 302 determines whether the file format of the electronic document stored in step S1001 is a general-purpose file format (general-purpose format) such as PDF. In the case of Yes (general file format), the process proceeds to S1004. In the case of No (non-generic file format, for example, a file format unique to software), the process proceeds to S1007.

  In step S1004, the software management unit 302 determines whether the storage destination of the electronic document stored in step S1001 is a library managed by the integrated software. If Yes (if it is an integrated software library), the process proceeds to S1005. If No (if it is not an integrated software library), the process ends.

  In step S1005, the software management unit 302 determines whether the electronic document stored in step S1001 can be referenced from the OS standard folder. In the case of Yes (direct reference is possible from the OS), the process proceeds to S1006. In the case of No (direct reference is not possible from the OS), the process proceeds to S1007.

  In step S1006, the software management unit 302 creates a shortcut file for the electronic document (general-purpose file format) stored in the storage destination in step S1001, and a predetermined folder (for example, a directory such as an OS desktop) that can be easily referred to by the user. ).

  In S1007, the software management unit 302 converts the file into a general-purpose file format separately from the electronic document (non-generic file format) saved in S1001, and sets a predetermined folder (for easy reference to the user) For example, it is stored in a directory such as the desktop of the OS. Note that a general-purpose file format file refers to a file in which texts, images, and the like can be viewed in almost the same state in all environments without being affected by a specific environment. For example, in addition to PDF, image files such as BMP (Bitmap Image) and PNG (Portable Network Graphics) are applicable.

  As described above, in S1006 and S1007, the shortcut file or the file in the general-purpose file format is stored in a location (for example, the OS desktop) that is easy for the user to refer to. Therefore, when an electronic document is stored in a unique library that depends on the integrated software 300, a linked file can be viewed using a shortcut file stored on the OS desktop without using the integrated software, It is possible to easily browse a file of a general-purpose file format stored on the OS desktop.

  Further, even when the file is saved in a file format unique to the integrated software 300 (non-generic file format), it is possible to easily browse a file in a general-purpose file format saved on the desktop of the OS. When creating a file in the general-purpose file format, a message indicating that the general-purpose file has been created may be displayed with a message, or the user may select whether to create a file.

As described above, the problem that the software file cannot be opened and that it takes time to open the file stored in the library can be solved by an alternative means such as a general-purpose file format or a shortcut file. In addition, since the expiration date of the software license is confirmed when the file is stored, the load on the software can be reduced compared to the method of periodically checking the expiration date.
[Process when opening by specifying a non-generic file]
If the user designates and opens a non-generic file that depends on the integrated software in a state where the expiration date of the integrated software has passed, the integrated software cannot open the file. Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, an example in which a non-generic file that depends on the integrated software is opened by another software (another means) when the expiration date of the integrated software has expired. Indicates.

  FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram of the integrated software 300. The flow of processing will be described using the integrated software 300 operating on the client 110 in FIG. 1 as an example. This flow is started when the software management unit 302 receives an operation to open a software file that is a unique file format of the integrated software 300.

  In step S1101, the license management unit 303 determines whether the license expiration date of the integrated software 300 has expired. In the case of Yes (passed), the process proceeds to S1102, and in the case of No (not passed), the process proceeds to S1105.

  In step S1102, the software management unit 302 determines whether viewing-only software is installed. Here, the viewing-only software refers to software that restricts the functions of the integrated software 300 (for example, viewing-only viewer software restricted to the viewing function), and can open a software file. That is, the software file generated by the integrated software 300 can be opened by viewing-only software. In general, viewing-only software does not require a license. In this embodiment, it can be used without requiring a license. Accordingly, if Yes (installed) in S1102, the process proceeds to S1003, and if No (not installed), the process proceeds to 1104. Whether or not viewing-only software is installed is determined by the presence or absence of a registry or a predetermined file.

  In step S <b> 1103, the software management unit 302 issues an instruction to open a software file with the browsing-only software. Specifically, when executing an executable file (eg, exe file) for viewing-only software on the command line, the software file is designated for viewing only by specifying the software file in the start option argument (eg: / file). Can be opened with software.

  In step S <b> 1104, the software management unit 302 performs processing for opening data in a general-purpose format (partial data) included in the software file with software associated with the general-purpose format. If the software file does not contain data in the general format, the opening process is not performed. In addition, when there is no associated software, it operates according to the behavior of the OS.

  In step S <b> 1105, the software management unit 302 performs processing for opening a software file with the integrated software 300.

  As described above, even if the expiration date of the license of the integrated software 300 has expired, the software file can be referred to other than the integrated software 300 using the viewing-only software or the file of the general-purpose file format in the software file.

(Other examples)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. In the processing, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or a computer-readable storage medium, and the computer of the system or apparatus (or CPU, MPU, etc.) Is a process of reading and executing the program.

Claims (8)

A device for executing an application,
First determination means for determining whether an expiration date of a license of the application has passed when the application stores an electronic document;
Second determination means for determining whether the file format of the stored electronic document is a general-purpose format when the first determination means determines that the expiration date of the license of the application has passed;
A conversion means for converting the electronic document into an electronic document of a general-purpose format and storing the electronic document when the second determination means determines that the file format of the stored electronic document is not a general-purpose format;
A device characterized by comprising: Third determination means for determining whether a storage destination of the stored electronic document is a library managed by the application;
Fourth determination means for determining whether the library managed by the application is referable by the operating system of the device;
The second determination unit determines that the file format of the stored electronic document is a general-purpose format, and the third determination unit determines that the storage destination of the stored electronic document is a library managed by the application. And a creation means for creating and saving a shortcut file of the saved electronic document when the fourth judgment means judges that the library managed by the application can be referred to by the operating system of the device; ,
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: The second determination unit determines that the file format of the stored electronic document is a general-purpose format, and the third determination unit determines that the storage destination of the stored electronic document is a library managed by the application. And when the fourth determination means determines that the library managed by the application is not referable by the operating system of the device, the conversion means converts the electronic document into an electronic document in a general format. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is stored.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit stores the converted electronic document in a predetermined folder.   The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the creating unit stores the created shortcut file in a predetermined folder.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5.   6. A license management system comprising: the apparatus according to claim 1; and a server that lends the license to the application. A document storage method executed by the apparatus,
A first determination step of determining whether an expiration date of the license of the application has passed when an electronic document is stored by the application;
When the second determining means of the device determines that the expiration date of the application license has passed in the first determining step, the second determining means determines whether the file format of the stored electronic document is a general-purpose format. 2 judgment process;
A conversion step of converting the electronic document into an electronic document in a general-purpose format when the conversion means of the device determines that the file format of the stored electronic document is not a general-purpose format in the second determination step;
A document storage method characterized by comprising:

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