JP2017157200A - System, image formation device, information processing method, and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a server for providing a page that introduces an application an apparatus can use to construct pages with different display contents, for example, by the region.SOLUTION: A server comprises a control unit that transmits, in response to a request from an apparatus, web content data at least including display information indicating an application the apparatus can use and an application command to have the apparatus perform a process related to the application to the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a web browser and a processing execution unit. A display control unit of the web browser performs control to display a screen based on the web content data received from the server on a display unit. An execution unit of the web browser requests the apparatus to perform a process related to an application corresponding to the application command due to execution of the application command included in the web content data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of various communication devices such as mobile phones and portable information terminals, development of applications that can be used on communication devices has become active. In order to promote the use of these applications, websites and applications that introduce applications and can be downloaded and installed on communication devices as they are have been developed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, an application explanation page displaying a download button (virtual button) for requesting download of the application is provided from the server to a computer device (client device) for each of a plurality of applications held by the server. And displayed on the display unit of the computer device. A technique is disclosed that permits a download only when the download button on the application description page is selected and only when the selected application is supported by the computer device.

  However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, when the display content of a page (Web page) that introduces an application that can be used by the device is changed on the server side, the program on the device side is changed in accordance with the change. There is a need to. That is, conventionally, a page that introduces an application that can be used by a device is provided (including both a form that provides the page itself and a form that provides information necessary to generate a page on the device side). For example, there is no mechanism for the server to construct pages with different display contents for each region.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a server that provides a page for introducing an application that can be used by a device, for example, a system, an image forming apparatus, and information that can construct a page with different display contents for each region It is an object to provide a processing method and an information processing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a system comprising a server and a device connected to the server via a network, the server requesting from the device And a control unit that transmits Web content data including at least display information indicating an application that can be used by the device and an application command that causes the device to execute processing related to the application. A display control unit that performs control to display a screen based on the Web content data received from the server on a display unit, and the application command included in the Web content data is executed in response to a user operation via the screen By executing the application corresponding to the application command. Comprising an execution unit for requesting execution of processing relating to application in the device, and Web browsers including, on the basis of the request from the Web browser, a processing execution unit for executing processing related to the application in response to the request, the.

  According to the present invention, a server that provides a page for introducing an application that can be used by a device can construct, for example, a page with different display contents for each region.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functions of the server. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the application information management module. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first correspondence information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second correspondence information. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the third correspondence information. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the fourth correspondence information. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functions of the license management module. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the fifth correspondence information. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of sixth correspondence information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the seventh correspondence information. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the application download management module. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the server. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the MFP. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the operation unit. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation screen. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display information request. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of information received as a response to the display information request. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application list screen. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation instruction screen. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation confirmation screen. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit to the process execution unit. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input screen. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of application management information. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of detailed application information. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the update instruction screen. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit to the process execution unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of the deletion instruction screen. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of the deletion confirmation screen. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit to the process execution unit. FIG. 35 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system. FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of the server. FIG. 37 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system. FIG. 38 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system. FIG. 39 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system. FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shortcut creation instruction screen. FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example of a modified application list screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, as an example of devices included in the system, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is an aspect of an image forming apparatus, will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Note that a multifunction peripheral is a device having a plurality of different functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a fax function.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system (information processing system) 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 implements a cloud computing type service.

  The system 1 includes a cloud 5 and an MFP 4 connected to the cloud 5 via a network 3 such as the Internet. The cloud 5 has a server device group composed of a plurality of servers 2. The number of servers 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the number of servers 2 to be used is not limited to this. In the example of FIG. 1, only one MFP 4 is illustrated as an information processing apparatus included in the system 1 that is a client when viewed from the cloud 5 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the system 1 The number and types of devices included are arbitrary. For example, the system 1 may include a PC (Personal Computer) as a client device.

  The server 2 includes display information including information indicating an application that can be used by the MFP 4 and screen information including at least an application command indicating a command for causing the MFP 4 to execute a process related to the application in response to a request from the MFP 4. Web content data is transmitted to the MFP 4. Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the server 2 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the server 2 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a communication I / F 304, an input device 305, a display device 306, and an auxiliary storage device 307. The CPU 301 comprehensively controls the operation of the server 2. The ROM 302 is a non-volatile memory that stores various data such as programs. A RAM 303 is a volatile memory that functions as a work area (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU 301. The communication I / F 304 is an interface for connecting to the network 3. The input device 305 is a device that is used for input of an operation by a user, and includes, for example, a mouse or a keyboard. The display device 306 is a device that displays various types of information, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The auxiliary storage device 307 is configured by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the server 2 has. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the server 2 includes an application information management module 210, a license management module 220, and an application download management module 230. In the example of FIG. 3, only the modules related to this embodiment are illustrated, but the modules that the server 2 has are not limited to these.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the application information management module 210 has. The application information management module 210 includes a storage unit 211, a control unit 212, a screen providing unit 213, and a setting unit 214. In the example of FIG. 4, the functions related to the present embodiment are mainly exemplified, but the functions of the application information management module 210 are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the storage unit 211 includes an application information database (hereinafter referred to as “application information DB”) 401 and a user information database (hereinafter referred to as “user information DB”) 402.

  The application information DB 401 stores, for each of a plurality of applications, state information indicating whether the application is in a public state and model information for identifying a model of a device that can use the application in association with each other. In the present embodiment, the application information DB 401 includes the first correspondence information shown in FIG. 5, the second correspondence information shown in FIG. 6, the third correspondence information shown in FIG. 7, and the fourth correspondence information shown in FIG. Correspondence information is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first correspondence information associates the model ID assigned to each model of MFP 4, the model name of MFP 4, and the model code (“model information”) for identifying the model of MFP 4. Information. For example, a plurality of model codes may be associated with one model ID. As shown in FIG. 6, the second correspondence information includes an application ID for identifying an application, a license key used for authentication of an application use authority (license), a model ID, and an application identified by the application ID. Information associated with version information indicating the latest version. In this example, a license key is associated with an application ID of a free application because license authentication is unnecessary, but a license key is associated with an application ID of a paid application. Since authentication is required, the license key is not associated.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the third correspondence information is information in which an application ID is associated with state information indicating whether or not the application is open. Using the combination of the first correspondence information, the second correspondence information, and the third correspondence information as described above, status information indicating whether or not each of the plurality of applications is in a public state, and using the application It can be considered that this is associated with model information for identifying the model of a possible device.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the fourth correspondence information includes an application ID, language information indicating the language of the country or region in which the device is used, a display name of the application identified by the application ID, This is information that associates a message that introduces the application identified by the application ID. In the following description, a combination of a display name and a message may be referred to as “application description information” for describing an application.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description of the storage unit 211 is continued. The user information DB 402 stores information necessary for authentication of a user who has the authority to perform an operation for setting by the setting unit 214 described later, for example.

  Next, functions of the control unit 212 will be described. Here, the functions of the control unit 212 are provided by an application programming interface (API) on the server 2 side.

  Here, for convenience of description, the function of the screen providing unit 213 will be described before the function of the control unit 212 is described. When the screen providing unit 213 receives a screen information request for requesting screen information from the MFP 4, the screen providing unit 213 generates Web content data (screen information) including at least an application command. As a response to the screen information request, the web content data ( Screen information) is transmitted to the MFP 4. The Web content data (screen information) includes, for example, HTML, CSS included in HTML (or referred to from HTML), JavaScript (registered trademark), and the like. This is displayed on the Web browser (display control unit 262 described later) of the MFP 4, and requests display information from the API (control unit 212) of the server 2 using a technique called JavaScript's Ajax. For example, when the application command is JavaScript, the script itself may be embedded in HTML, or only the link may be described. In this example, a display information request that includes the model code of the transmission source MFP 4 and requests display information is transmitted to the control unit 212. As the types of application commands of the present embodiment, there are an install command, an update command, an uninstall command, and the like. The installation instruction indicates an instruction to install an application. The update command indicates a command for updating the application. The uninstall instruction indicates an instruction to delete the installed application and return the state of the MFP 4 to the state before the application is installed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the control unit 212 has. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 212 includes a specifying unit 216, a display information generation unit 217, and a setting control unit 219.

  When the specifying unit 216 receives a display information request that includes at least a model code and requests display information from the MFP 4 (device), the specifying unit 216 stores information stored in the storage unit 211 (the application information DB 401 in this example). The application corresponding to the combination of the model code included in the display information request and the state information indicating the released state is specified. More specifically, when receiving the display information request from the MFP 4, the specifying unit 216 refers to the first correspondence information shown in FIG. 5 and associates it with the model code included in the received display information request. Select the model ID. Next, the specifying unit 216 refers to the second correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 6 and selects one or more application IDs associated with the selected model ID. Next, the specifying unit 216 refers to the third correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 7, and from among the one or more selected application IDs, the application ID associated with the state information indicating the published state Select. The application identified by the application ID selected as described above is an application corresponding to the combination of the model code included in the display information request received from the MFP 4 and the state information indicating the open state (that is, Specified as an application that can be used by the MFP 4 that requested the display information request.

  The display information request in this embodiment includes language information (locale information) indicating the language of the country or region in which the MFP 4 that requested the display information request is used. 8 specifies the application explanation information corresponding to the combination of the application ID specified as described above and the language information included in the display information request received from the MFP 4 with reference to the fourth correspondence information shown in FIG. can do. The language information is generally described in an HTTP Accept-Language header.

  The description of FIG. 9 is continued. Display information generation unit 217 generates Web content data (display information) indicating the application specified by specifying unit 216, and transmits the generated Web content data (display information) to MFP 4 as a response to the display information request. . The Web content data (display information) of the present embodiment is an application detail in which detailed information indicating the details of the application is associated with each application that can be used by the MFP 4 that has requested the display information request (for example, for each application ID). Contains information. The detailed information includes a license key, version information, application description information, and the like.

  The setting control unit 219 performs control to reflect the setting by the setting unit 214 in the information stored in the storage unit 211. That is, the setting control unit 219 performs control to update the information stored in the storage unit 211 according to the setting by the setting unit 214. In this example, the setting unit 214 has a function of variably setting display information in accordance with a user operation. For example, the setting unit 214 can variably set application description information and layout information indicating the arrangement of display components on the screen in accordance with a user operation. Thereby, it can also be set as the display content which changes for every area, for example.

  The functions of the control unit 212, the screen providing unit 213, and the setting unit 214 described above can be realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 302. The storage unit 211 described above can be realized by the auxiliary storage device 307 such as the ROM 302 or the HDD. In this example, the combination of the control unit 212 and the screen providing unit 213 is a Web configured by display information indicating an application that can be used by the MFP 4 and screen information including at least an application command in response to a request from the MFP 4. It can be considered that it corresponds to the function of transmitting content data (“control unit”).

  Next, functions of the license management module 220 will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the license management module 220 has. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the license management module 220 includes a storage unit 221, a control unit 222, and a license issuance unit 223. In the example of FIG. 10, the functions related to the present embodiment are mainly exemplified, but the functions of the license management module 220 are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the storage unit 221 includes a license information database (hereinafter referred to as “license information DB”) 224 and a user information database (hereinafter referred to as “user information DB”) 225.

  The license information DB 224 stores information related to the use authority (license) of the application in association with each of the plurality of applications. In the present embodiment, the license information DB 223 stores the fifth correspondence information shown in FIG. 11, the sixth correspondence information shown in FIG. 12, and the seventh correspondence information shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the fifth correspondence information includes an application ID, a license type indicating a license type, and a license type indicating a license type (in this example, one of paid, free of charge, or trial). And an expiration date indicating the period during which the license is valid, and information indicating the number of volumes indicating the number of licenses that can be granted. As shown in FIG. 12, the sixth correspondence information includes the license type, the license key, the number of used licenses indicating the number of used licenses, and the number of used licenses indicating the number of used licenses. Is associated with each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the seventh correspondence information is information in which a license key, a machine number, an expiration date, and valid state information indicating whether the license is valid or invalid are associated with each other. is there.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the description of the storage unit 221 is continued. The user information DB 225 stores information necessary for authentication of a user who can perform an operation for issuing a license, for example. This user information DB 225 may be common with the user information DB 402 of the application information management module 210.

  Next, functions of the control unit 222 will be described. Here, the function of the control unit 222 is provided by an application programming interface (API) on the server 2 side. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the control unit 222 has. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the control unit 222 includes a registration control unit 226, a license validation unit 227, and a license invalidation unit 228.

  The registration control unit 226 performs control to register information related to the license issued by the license issuing unit 223 in the storage unit 221 (license information DB 224). In the present embodiment, when the license issuing unit 223 receives an operation for selecting an application ID and a license type of an application for which a license is to be issued from a user who has an authority to perform an operation for issuing a license. A license key corresponding to the application ID and license type selected by the accepted operation is issued. Note that the license issuing unit 223 may have a function that the control unit 222 has a function of issuing a license in response to a user operation by merely creating a UI described in HTML or the like. The registration control unit 226 performs control to register information indicating the license key issued by the license issuing unit 223 and the license type corresponding to the license key in the license information DB 224. More specifically, when the registration control unit 226 receives the license key and the license type corresponding to the license key from the license issuing unit 223, the registration control unit 226 includes the sixth correspondence information illustrated in FIG. A new record (in this example, unit information for each row) including the received license key and license type is added.

  The license validation unit 227 performs control for validating the license in response to a request from the MFP 4. In this example, the license validation unit 227 includes at least an application ID, a license key, and a machine number, and when receiving an validation request for requesting license validation from the MFP 4, it is stored in the license information DB 224. In the sixth correspondence information (see FIG. 12), it is confirmed whether or not the license key included in the received activation request exists. If the confirmation result is affirmative, the license validation unit 227 refers to the fifth correspondence information (see FIG. 11) stored in the license information DB 224 and corresponds to the application ID included in the received validation request. Identify the expiration date attached. Then, in the seventh correspondence information shown in FIG. 13, a new record in which the license key and the machine number included in the received validation request, the specified expiration date, and the valid state information indicating validity are associated with each other. (In this example, unit information for each row) is added. Also, the license validation unit 227 refers to the sixth correspondence information shown in FIG. 12 and increments the number of used licenses associated with the license key included in the validation request received from the MFP 4 by “1”. And update. Then, the license validation unit 227 transmits to the MFP 4 that the license status is valid as a response to the validation request. Upon receiving this notification, the MFP 4 can use the application identified by the application ID included in the validation request.

  For example, when the license key included in the activation request received from the MFP 4 does not exist in the information stored in the license information DB 224, or the number of volumes corresponding to the license key included in the activation request received from the MFP 4 If the license has already reached the upper limit, the license validation unit 227 returns an error in response to the validation request from the MFP 4.

  The license invalidation unit 228 performs control for invalidating the license in response to a request from the MFP 4. In this example, when the license invalidation unit 228 includes at least a license key and a machine number and receives an invalidation request for requesting the license invalidation from the MFP 4, the license invalidation unit 228 stores the seventh information stored in the license information DB 224. With reference to the correspondence information (see FIG. 13), the valid state information associated with the combination of the license key and the machine number included in the received invalidation request is changed to information indicating invalidity. Further, with reference to the sixth correspondence information (see FIG. 12) stored in the license information DB 224, the number of used licenses associated with the license key included in the invalidation request received from the MFP 4 is “1”. Decrement and increment the number of used licenses by “1” to update. Then, as a response to the invalidation request, the license invalidation unit 228 transmits to the MFP 4 that the license status is invalid. The MFP 4 that has received this notification cannot use the application identified by the application ID included in the invalidation request.

  The functions of the control unit 222 and the license issuance unit 223 described above can be realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 302. The storage unit 221 described above can be realized by the auxiliary storage device 307 such as the ROM 302 or the HDD.

  Next, functions of the application download management module 230 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions that the application download management module 230 has. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the application download management module 230 includes an application storage 231 and a download unit 232. In the example of FIG. 15, functions related to the present embodiment are mainly exemplified, but the functions of the application download management module 230 are not limited to these.

  The application storage 231 stores a plurality of applications to be provided to the MFP 4. In this example, the application storage 231 stores a data file including an application main body in association with each of a plurality of application IDs. The download unit 232 performs control to transmit (download) any application stored in the application storage 231 to the MFP 4 in response to a request from the MFP 4. In this example, when the download unit 232 includes at least an application ID and receives a download request for requesting download of an application from the MFP 4, the download unit 232 transmits an application corresponding to the application ID included in the received download request to the MFP 4. To do. More specifically, the download unit 232 refers to the application storage 231, specifies a data file corresponding to the application ID included in the download request received from the MFP 4, and transmits the specified data file to the MFP 4.

  The function of the download unit 232 described above can be realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 302. The application storage 231 described above can be realized by an auxiliary storage device such as the ROM 302 or the HDD.

  The above is the configuration of the server 2. The server 2 may be configured by a plurality of servers as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the server 2 may be configured by an application server 240 and a database server 250. For example, the application server 240 may be configured to include the above-described control unit 212, screen providing unit 213, setting unit 214, control unit 222, and license issuing unit 223. Further, for example, the application server 240 includes a plurality of servers, and each of the control unit 212, the screen providing unit 213, the setting unit 214, the control unit 222, the license issuing unit 223, and the download unit 232 is any server. It may be in the form of being distributed and mounted on.

  For example, the database server 250 may be configured to include the storage unit 211 and the storage unit 221 described above. Further, for example, the database server 250 includes a plurality of servers, and each of the application information DB 401, the user information DB 402, the license information DB 224, the user information DB 225, and the application storage 231 described above is distributed and installed in any server. It may be a form.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the MFP 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the MFP 4 includes a main body 10 that can realize various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function, and an operation unit 20 that receives a user operation. Note that accepting a user operation is a concept including accepting information (including a signal indicating a coordinate value of a screen) input according to the user operation. The main body 10 and the operation unit 20 are connected via a dedicated communication path 30 so that they can communicate with each other. The communication path 30 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, but may be of any standard regardless of wired or wireless.

  The main body 10 can perform an operation corresponding to the operation received by the operation unit 20. The main body 10 can also communicate with an external device such as a client PC (personal computer), and can also perform an operation according to an instruction received from the external device.

  First, the hardware configuration of the main body 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, the main body 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD (hard disk drive) 14, a communication I / F (interface) 15, a connection I / F 16, and an engine unit 17. These are connected to each other via a system bus 18.

  The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body 10. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the main body 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14 or the like using the RAM 13 as a work area (work area), and the above-described copy function, scanner function, fax function, printer function, etc. Implement various functions.

  The communication I / F 15 is an interface for connecting to the network 3. The connection I / F 16 is an interface for communicating with the operation unit 20 via the communication path 30.

  The engine unit 17 is hardware that performs processing other than general-purpose information processing and communication for realizing a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function. For example, a scanner (image reading unit) that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter (image forming unit) that performs printing on a sheet material such as paper, and a fax unit that performs fax communication are provided. Further, a specific option such as a finisher for sorting printed sheet materials or an ADF (automatic document feeder) for automatically feeding a document can be provided.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the operation unit 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, the operation unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a flash memory 24, a communication I / F 25, a connection I / F 26, and an operation panel 27, which are a system bus 28. Are connected to each other.

  The CPU 21 comprehensively controls the operation of the operation unit 20. The CPU 21 uses the RAM 23 as a work area (work area) and executes a program stored in the ROM 22 or the flash memory 24 to control the operation of the entire operation unit 20 and information (image) according to the input received from the user. Various functions described later such as display of) are realized.

  The communication I / F 25 is an interface for connecting to the network 3. The connection I / F 26 is an interface for communicating with the main body 10 via the communication path 30.

  The operation panel 27 receives various inputs according to user operations and displays various types of information (for example, information according to received operations, information indicating the operation status of the MFP 4, information indicating a setting state, etc.). . In this example, the operation panel 27 is configured by a liquid crystal display device (LCD) having a touch panel function, but is not limited thereto. For example, an organic EL display device equipped with a touch panel function may be used. Further, in addition to or instead of this, an operation unit such as a hardware key and a display unit such as a lamp may be provided.

  Next, the software configuration of the MFP 4 will be described. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the MFP 4. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the main body 10 includes an application layer 101, a service layer 102, and an OS layer 103. The entities of the application layer 101, the service layer 102, and the OS layer 103 are various software stored in the ROM 12, the HDD 14, and the like. Various functions are provided by the CPU 11 executing these software.

  The software of the application layer 101 is application software for operating a hardware resource to provide a predetermined function (in the following description, it may be simply referred to as “application”). For example, examples of the application include a copy application for providing a copy function, a scanner application for providing a scanner function, a fax application for providing a fax function, a printer application for providing a printer function, and the like.

  The software of the service layer 102 is software that is interposed between the application layer 101 and the OS layer 103 and provides an interface for using hardware resources included in the main body 10 for the application. More specifically, it is software for providing a function of accepting an operation request for a hardware resource and arbitrating the operation request. As an operation request received by the service layer 102, a request such as reading by a scanner or printing by a plotter can be considered.

  Note that the interface function by the service layer 102 is provided not only to the application layer 101 of the main body 10 but also to the application layer 201 of the operation unit 20. That is, the application layer 201 (application) of the operation unit 20 can also realize a function using hardware resources (for example, the engine unit 17) of the main body 10 via the interface function of the service layer 102.

  The software of the OS layer 103 is basic software (operating system (OS)) for providing a basic function for controlling hardware included in the main body 10. The software of the service layer 102 converts a hardware resource use request from various applications into a command interpretable by the OS layer 103 and passes the command to the OS layer 103. Then, when the command is executed by the software of the OS layer 103, the hardware resource performs an operation according to the request of the application.

  Similarly, the operation unit 20 includes an application layer 201, a service layer 202, and an OS layer 203. The application layer 201, the service layer 202, and the OS layer 203 included in the operation unit 20 have the same hierarchical structure as that of the main body 10 side. However, the functions provided by the applications in the application layer 201 and the types of operation requests that can be accepted by the service layer 202 are different from those on the main body 10 side. The application in the application layer 201 may be software for operating a hardware resource included in the operation unit 20 to provide a predetermined function, but mainly includes functions (copy function, scanner function, fax function) included in the main body 10. , Printer function) and software for providing a UI (user interface) function for performing an operation and display related to a function for updating a license file of an installed application. In this example, the application of the application layer 201 executes an application for providing a Web browser function (hereinafter also referred to as “browser application”) or an application command included in the above-described Web content data. An application for providing a function (hereinafter also referred to as “installer”) is included.

  In this embodiment, the software of the OS layer 103 on the main body 10 side and the software of the OS layer 203 on the operation unit 20 side are different from each other in order to maintain the independence of functions. That is, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently of each other with different operating systems. For example, Linux (registered trademark) can be used as software for the OS layer 103 on the main body 10 side, and Android (registered trademark) can be used as software on the OS layer 203 on the operation unit 20 side.

  As described above, in the MFP 4 according to the present embodiment, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate on different operating systems. Therefore, communication between the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 is performed by inter-process communication within a common apparatus. Rather, it is performed as communication between different devices. An operation (command communication) for transmitting information (instruction content from the user) received by the operation unit 20 to the main body 10, an operation in which the main body 10 notifies the operation unit 20 of an event, and the like correspond to this. Here, the function of the main body 10 can be used when the operation unit 20 performs command communication with the main body 10. The event notified from the main body 10 to the operation unit 20 includes the execution status of the operation in the main body 10 and the contents set on the main body 10 side.

  In the present embodiment, since the power supply to the operation unit 20 is performed from the main body 10 via the communication path 30, the power control of the operation unit 20 is performed separately from the power control of the main body 10 (independently). Can do).

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the operation unit 20 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the operation unit 20 includes an activation unit 261, a display control unit 262, an execution unit 263, and a process execution unit 264. In the example of FIG. 19, functions related to the present embodiment are mainly exemplified, but the functions of the operation unit 20 are not limited to these. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the display control unit 262 and the execution unit 263 are realized in a Web browser.

  The activation unit 261 activates a browser application that provides a Web browser function in response to a user operation. For example, when the operation screen shown in FIG. 20 is displayed on the operation panel 27 and the pressing of the icon 5 named “App Market” is accepted, the activation unit 261 indicates a URL indicating the location of the server 2 on the network 3. And control to start the browser application.

  The activated browser application transmits the above-described screen information request as an HTTP request to the server 2 specified by the URL received from the activation unit 261, and Web content data (HTTP response) as a response to the screen information request (HTTP response). Screen information). In this example, HTML and CSS / JavaScript included in HTML (or referred to by HTML) are received as Web content data (screen information). The browser application interprets and executes JavaScript, transmits the above-described display information request as an HTTP request to the server 2 using Ajax, and Web content data including at least an application command as a response to the display information request (HTTP response) (Display information) is received. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display information request, and FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of information received as a response to the display information request.

  Then, the browser application performs control to display a screen configured based on the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 on the operation panel 27 (display unit). Here, the function of the display control unit 262 is provided by a browser application. As described above, in this example, the display control unit 262 generates a screen based on the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2, and displays the generated screen on the operation panel 27. To do. The display control unit 262 holds the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 in a storage device such as the flash memory 24, and stores the Web content data (screen information and display information) as necessary. The screen can be generated using the read web content data (screen information and display information).

  In this example, the display control unit 262 displays an application command selected in accordance with a user operation on a screen (screen configured based on Web content data (screen information and display information)) displayed on the operation panel 27. The specified application command can be notified to the execution unit 263. For example, the display control unit 262 can specify the application command selected by the user as JavaScript or a custom scheme.

  The execution unit 263 includes, among application commands included in the web content data, application commands included in the web content data (notified from the display control unit 262) in response to a user operation via a screen displayed on the operation panel 27. Application command) to request the MFP 4 to execute processing related to the application corresponding to the application command. Here, the function of the execution unit 263 is provided by an application programming interface (API) on the MFP 4 side. The MFP 4 can call an application programming interface (API) from a Web application arranged on the server 2 so that it can be used by the browser application of the operation unit 20.

  Based on a request from the Web browser (execution unit 263), the process execution unit 264 executes a process related to the application in response to the request.

  As described above, the application command included in the Web content data received from the server 2 includes an install command, an update command, an uninstall command, and the like.

  Hereinafter, a case where an installation command is selected in accordance with a user operation on a screen configured based on Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 will be described as an example. In this case, the execution unit 263 notifies the process execution unit 264 of the installation command selected according to the user operation, and the process execution unit 264 executes the installation command notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows.

  In this example, the display control unit 262 uses the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 to control the operation panel 27 to display an application list screen indicating a list of applications that can be used in the MFP 4. I do. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application list screen. In the example of FIG. 23, the application list screen displays at least the name of the application and an application selection button 311 for selecting the application for each application that can be used in the MFP 4. In the example of FIG. 23, the application list screen displays an update selection button 321 for selecting update of the application and a deletion selection button 331 for selecting deletion of the application. Details of these will be described later.

  When the display control unit 262 receives a press of any application selection button 311, the display control unit 262 uses the display information received from the server 2 to indicate the detailed contents of the corresponding application and install for receiving an installation execution instruction. Control to display the instruction screen on the operation panel 27 is performed. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation instruction screen. In the example of FIG. 24, the installation instruction screen displays application explanation information of the corresponding application and an installation button 312 for instructing execution of the installation. In this example, pressing the install button 312 means selection of an installation command (which may be considered to be selection of an application to be installed).

  In this example, when the pressing of the install button 312 is accepted, the display control unit 262 performs control to display an installation confirmation screen for finally confirming execution of the installation on the operation panel 27. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation confirmation screen. In the example of FIG. 25, the installation confirmation screen displays a confirmation button 313 for instructing that the installation is finally accepted. In this example, an installation instruction is pasted to the confirmation button 313 in the JavaScript format. When the pressing of the confirmation button 313 is accepted, the execution unit 263 notifies the processing execution unit 264 of the installation command pasted on the pressed confirmation button 313. Then, the process execution unit 264 executes this installation instruction. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit 263 to the process execution unit 264 (JavaScript attached to the confirmation button 313) in this case.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the execution unit 263 includes, in the display information received from the server 2, a license key that is used to authenticate the use authority of the application that is the target of the installation command selected according to the user operation. If the license key is included, the process execution unit 264 is notified of the license key and the installation instruction. If the license key is not included, control is performed to display an input screen that prompts the user to input the license key. . More specifically, the display control unit 262 includes, among the detailed application information in the display information received from the server 2, the detailed information corresponding to the application that is the target of the installation command selected according to the user operation. If the license key for authenticating the right to use the application is not included, control is performed to display an input screen for prompting the input of the license key. If the license key is included, the license key is And the installation instruction are notified to the process execution unit 264. More specifically, when the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of the install button 312 described above, the detailed information corresponding to the application selected by the user among the application detailed information in the display information received from the server 2. To check if the license key is included. When the license key is not included, the display control unit 262 performs control to display the input screen for prompting the input of the license key without displaying the installation confirmation screen of FIG. 25, and the execution unit 263 receives the input The process execution unit 264 is notified of the license key and the selected installation instruction. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input screen. The same installation instruction as in FIG. 26 is also pasted on the OK button in FIG. In this case, the character string input in the license key input area is changed to appMgmt. It is passed as the second argument of the install function.

  Next, a case where an update command is selected according to a user operation on a screen configured based on Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 will be described as an example. In this example, in response to a user operation, the display control unit 262 applies the current version of the application among the installed applications and the application detailed information included in the display information received from the server 2 to the application. Identify an application whose version differs from the corresponding detailed information. Then, when an update command corresponding to the specified application is selected in accordance with a user operation, the execution unit 263 notifies the process execution unit 264 of the selected update command. The process execution unit 264 executes the update command notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows.

  When the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of the update selection button 321 displayed on the application list screen illustrated in FIG. 23, the display control unit 262 displays the display information received from the server 2 and the current application information for each application installed in the MFP 4. Application management information associated with a version is acquired. In this example, since the process execution unit 264 manages the application management information described above, the execution unit 263 requests the application management information from the process execution unit 264, and the display control unit 262 receives the application management information. get. Then, the display control unit 262 corresponds to the current version corresponding to the application in the application management information among the applications installed in the MFP 4 and the application detailed information included in the display information received from the server 2. An application whose version is different from the version indicated by the detailed information is specified as an application to be updated. For example, assume that the application management information is in the form of FIG. 28 and the detailed application information included in the display information received from the server 2 is in the form of FIG. In this case, the application ID “S001” and the application ID “S003” are specified as the application to be updated.

  Then, the display control unit 262 performs control for displaying an update instruction screen for receiving an update instruction for the application on the operation panel 27 for each application specified as described above. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the update instruction screen. The update instruction screen displays an update instruction button 341 for receiving an update instruction for the application for each of a plurality of applications. In this example, an update instruction indicating an instruction to update the application is pasted on the update instruction button 341 corresponding to the application to be updated (the application specified as described above). In the example of FIG. 30, the update instruction screen displays both the update target application (applications 1 and 3 in the example of FIG. 30) and the non-update target application (application 2 in the example of FIG. 30). The update instruction button 341 corresponding to this application is in an inoperable state (a state where pressing cannot be accepted). That is, the update instruction screen displays the update target application (the application identified as described above) and the non-update target application, but the present invention is not limited to this. Only the update target application may be displayed in association with the update instruction button 341 in an operable state. Further, for example, the display control unit 262 can perform control to display information indicating the number of applications (update target applications) specified as described above. That is, the display control unit 262 displays information indicating the number of applications that are different from the current version of the application installed in the MFP 4 and the version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application among the application detailed information. Display control can also be performed. When the execution unit 263 accepts pressing of the update instruction button 341, the execution unit 263 notifies the process execution unit 264 of the update command pasted on the update instruction button 341. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit 263 to the process execution unit 264 in this case.

  In this example, the update instruction buttons 341 described above are individually provided for each application to be updated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, for instructing to update the applications to be updated in a batch. The button may be provided. In this mode, when pressing of the button is accepted, update commands for all applications to be updated are selected at once. In short, the application command is a command for updating all the applications installed in the MFP 4 that have different versions of the current version of the application and the version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application in the application detailed information. A batch update instruction may be included. In this case, when the batch update command is selected (when a press of a button for instructing to update the update target application in a batch is accepted), the display control unit 262 displays the application already installed in the MFP 4. Out of the application detailed information and the version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application is specified, and the execution unit 263 processes an update instruction corresponding to the specified application. The form which notifies to the execution part 264 may be sufficient.

  Further, for example, the server 2 may have a function of specifying an update target application. In this case, for example, the display control unit 262 acquires the above-described application management information from the process execution unit 264 before transmitting the above-described display information request, and sends the display information request to which the acquired application management information is added to the server 2. It can also be sent. For each application ID included in the application management information received from the MFP 4, the server 2 matches the version associated with the application ID in the application management information and the application information DB 401 (second correspondence information) managed by the server 2. And the version associated with the application ID can be compared, and the application ID having the difference can be specified as the application ID to be updated. Then, the server 2 may be configured to include information indicating the application ID specified as the update target in the display information and transmit it to the MFP 4. Further, for example, the server 2 may be configured to manage applications installed in the MFP 4 (manage the above-described application management information). In this case, for example, the server 2 can update the application management information at the timing of validation or invalidation of the license, and can also update the application management information at the timing of updating the application. In this case, there is no need to acquire the current version of the application installed in the MFP 4 from the MFP 4, so that only the server 2 can determine the application to be updated and the processing load on the MFP 4 can be reduced.

  Next, a case where an uninstall command is selected according to a user operation on a screen configured based on Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 will be described as an example. In this example, the execution unit 263 notifies the process execution unit 264 of the uninstall command selected according to the user's operation, and the process execution unit 264 executes the uninstall command notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows.

  When the display control unit 262 receives a press of the delete selection button 331 displayed on the application list screen illustrated in FIG. 23, the display control unit 262 displays a delete instruction screen for receiving a delete instruction for the application installed in the MFP 4. Control to be displayed on the operation panel 27 is performed. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of the deletion instruction screen. The deletion instruction screen displays a deletion instruction button 351 for receiving an application deletion instruction for each application installed in the MFP 4. When the display control unit 262 receives a press of the delete instruction button 351, the display control unit 262 performs control to display a delete confirmation screen on the operation panel 27 for finally confirming execution of uninstallation. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of the deletion confirmation screen. The deletion confirmation screen displays a confirmation button 361 for instructing that the uninstallation is finally accepted. In this example, a delete instruction indicating an instruction to delete one or more applications corresponding to the confirmation button 361 is pasted on the confirmation button 361. When the pressing of the confirmation button 361 is accepted, the execution unit 263 notifies the processing execution unit 264 of the uninstall command pasted on the pressed confirmation button 361. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of information notified from the execution unit 263 to the process execution unit 264 in this case.

  In this example, the above-described deletion instruction button 351 is individually provided for each application installed in the MFP 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to instruct to delete the applications installed in the MFP 4 at once. The button may be provided. In this embodiment, when the pressing of the button is accepted, uninstall commands for all applications already installed in the MFP 4 are selected at once. In short, the application command includes a batch uninstall command indicating a command to delete the applications already installed in the MFP 4, and the execution unit 263 selects an application installed in the MFP 4 when the batch uninstall command is selected. A form of notifying the process execution unit 264 of a corresponding uninstall command (one or more uninstall commands corresponding one-to-one with one or more installed applications) may be used.

  The functions of the startup unit 261, the display control unit 262, the execution unit 263, and the process execution unit 264 described above are performed by the CPU 21 executing a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 22 or the flash memory 24. It is feasible.

  FIG. 35 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system 1 according to the present embodiment. As described above, when the activation unit 261 receives pressing of the icon 5 named “App Market” on the operation screen (Step S1), the browser application (the display control unit 262 and the execution unit 263) that is a Web browser. In response to the start command, the URL of the server 2 is transmitted (step S2). The browser application (display control unit 262 and execution unit 263) activated in response to the activation command transmits the above-described screen information request as an HTTP request to the server 2 specified by the received URL (step S3).

  Next, the server 2 generates Web content data (screen information) in response to a request from the MFP 4 (step S4), and transmits the generated Web content data (screen information) to the MFP 4 as an HTTP response (step S5). ). The MFP 4 (display control unit 262) receives Web content data (screen information) as a response to the screen information request that is an HTTP request. For example, the MFP 4 (display control unit 262) receives HTML and CSS / Java Script included in HTML (or referred to from HTML) as Web content data (screen information).

  The browser application of the MFP 4 that has received the screen information interprets and executes JavaScript, and transmits the above-described display information request (see FIG. 21) as an HTTP request to the server 2 using Ajax (step S6).

  The server 2 generates display information in response to a request from the MFP 4 (step S7), and transmits the generated Web content data (display information) to the MFP 4 as an HTTP response (step S8). The MFP 4 (display control unit 262) receives the Web content data (display information) as a response to the display information request that is an HTTP request.

  The MFP 4 (display control unit 262) generates a screen configured based on the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 (step S9), and displays the generated screen on the operation panel 27 (step S9). Step S10). In this example, the display control unit 262 stores the Web content data (screen information and display information) received from the server 2 in a storage device such as the flash memory 24 and the received Web content data (screen information and display information). First, an application list screen shown in FIG. 23 is generated. Then, control is performed to display the generated application list screen on the operation panel 27.

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which the server 2 generates detailed application information in which detailed information indicating details of the application is associated with each application that can be used by the MFP 4 in step S7 described above. As illustrated in FIG. 36, when the specifying unit 216 receives the above-described display information request from the MFP 4, the specifying unit 216 refers to the first correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 5 and determines the model code included in the received display information request. The associated model ID is selected (step S11). Next, the specifying unit 216 refers to the second correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 6 and selects one or more application IDs associated with the selected model ID (step S12). Next, the specifying unit 216 refers to the third correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 7, and from among the one or more selected application IDs, the application ID associated with the state information indicating the published state Is selected (step S13). At this time, the specifying unit 216 also specifies version information associated with the application ID selected in step S13 from the second correspondence information illustrated in FIG. Next, the specifying unit 216 refers to the fourth correspondence information illustrated in FIG. 8, and combines the application ID selected in step S <b> 13 and language information (locale information) included in the display information request received from the MFP 4. The application explanation information corresponding to is specified (step S14). Then, for each application ID selected in step S13, the display information generation unit 217 corresponds to the application ID selected in step S13 among the application explanation information specified in step S14 and the second correspondence information illustrated in FIG. The application detailed information can be generated by associating the attached version information with the detailed information including the license key if a license key is set (step S15).

  FIG. 37 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system 1 when any one of the application selection buttons 311 displayed on the application list screen illustrated in FIG. 23 is pressed. As described above, when the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of any application selection button 311, the display control unit 262 performs control to display the installation instruction screen (see FIG. 24) on the operation panel 27 (step 21). Next, when the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of the install button 312, the display control unit 262 refers to the display information received from the server 2 and selects the application detailed information in the display information according to the user's operation. It is confirmed whether or not the license key is included in the detailed information corresponding to the application that is the target of the installed instruction (the installation instruction pasted on the pressed install button 312) (step S22). If the license key is included as a result of the confirmation in step S22, the above-described installation confirmation screen (see FIG. 25) is controlled to be displayed on the operation panel 27 (step S23).

  If the license key is not included as a result of the confirmation in step S22 described above (that is, if the application targeted for the installation command is a paid application), the display control unit 262 displays the input screen on the operation panel 27. Display control is performed (step S24), and an input of a license key from the user is accepted. Here, it is assumed that the user knows in advance the license key corresponding to the purchased application. For example, the license key may be notified from the application manager to the user who purchased the application by mail or email.

  Next, the execution unit 263 selects an installation instruction selected according to a user operation, an application ID (application ID of an application that is a target of the selected application instruction), and a license key (target of the selected application instruction). To the process execution unit 264 (step S25). The process execution unit 264 executes the installation command notified from the execution unit 263 using the license key notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows. First, the process execution unit 264 transmits to the server 2 the above-described download request that includes at least the application ID of the application that is the target of the installation command and requests the download of the application (step S26). Upon receiving the download request, the server 2 (download unit 232) selects an application corresponding to the application ID included in the received download request (step S27), and transmits the selected application to the MFP 4 (step S28).

  Next, the process execution unit 264 transmits to the server 2 the above-described validation request that includes at least the application ID, the license key, and the machine number and requests license validation (step S29). The server 2 (license validation unit 227) that has received the validation request performs control for validating the license (step S30), and then returns a response to the validation request to the MFP 4 (step S31). The specific contents of step S30 are as described above. When the license validation unit 227 receives the above-described validation request from the MFP 4, the license information DB 224 includes the license included in the received validation request. Check whether the key exists. If the license key exists, the license validation unit 227 updates the information stored in the license information DB 224 as described above. Further, the license validation unit 227 issues a license file that defines a license (usage authority) such as an expiration date of the application identified by the application ID included in the validation request received from the MFP 4, and responds to the validation request. In addition to the fact that the license status is valid, the license file can be transmitted. On the other hand, if the license key included in the received activation request does not exist in the license information DB 224, an error is transmitted as a response to the activation request.

  When the MFP 4 (process execution unit 264) receives that the license state is valid as a response to the validation request, the MFP 4 performs control to install the application downloaded from the server 2 in step S28 (step S32). After the installation is completed, the process execution unit 264 associates the application ID of the application whose installation is completed with the version of the application at the time of installation, and adds the application management information to the above-described application management information. Update (step S33).

  FIG. 38 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system 1 when the update selection button 321 displayed on the application list screen illustrated in FIG. 23 is pressed. As described above, when the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of the update selection button 321, the display control unit 262 specifies an update target application among the applications already installed in the MFP 4 (step S <b> 41). Then, for each application identified in step S41, control is performed to display an update instruction screen (see FIG. 30) for receiving an update instruction for the application on the operation panel 27 (step S42). Specific contents thereof are as described above.

  Next, when the execution unit 263 receives pressing of any of the update instruction buttons 341, the execution unit 263 notifies the process execution unit 264 of the update command pasted on the update instruction button 341 (step S43). The process execution unit 264 executes the update command notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows. First, the process execution unit 264 transmits an update request for requesting the latest version of the application that includes at least the application ID to be updated to the server 2 (step S44). The server 2 that has received the update request selects an application corresponding to the application ID included in the received update request (step S45), and transmits the selected application to the MFP 4 (step S46).

  Next, the MFP 4 (process execution unit 264) performs control to install an application (newly downloaded application) received from the server 2 as a response to the update request (step S47). After the installation is completed, the process execution unit 264 associates the application ID of the application whose installation is completed with the version of the application at the time of installation (at the time of update) and adds it to the above-described application management information. The application management information is updated (step S48).

  FIG. 39 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the system 1 when the delete selection button 331 displayed on the application list screen illustrated in FIG. 23 is pressed. As described above, when the display control unit 262 accepts pressing of the deletion selection button 331, the display control unit 262 performs control to display the above-described deletion instruction screen (see FIG. 32) on the operation panel 27 (step S51). Next, when the display control unit 262 receives pressing of any one of the deletion instruction buttons 351, the display control unit 262 performs control to display the above-described deletion confirmation screen (see FIG. 33) on the operation panel 27 (step S52). Next, when the execution unit 263 accepts pressing of the confirmation button 361 displayed on the deletion confirmation screen, the execution unit 263 selects the uninstall command selected according to the user's operation (the uninstallation pasted on the pressed confirmation button 361). (Installation command) is notified to the process execution unit 264 (step S53).

  The process execution unit 264 executes the uninstall command notified from the execution unit 263. More specifically, it is as follows. First, the process execution unit 264 includes at least the above-described invalidation request that includes at least the license key corresponding to the application that is the target of the uninstall command and the machine number and requests the license to be invalidated. Is transmitted (step S54). The server 2 (license invalidation unit 228) that has received the invalidation request performs control for invalidating the license (step S55), and then responds to the invalidation request (in this case, the license state is invalid). Is returned to the MFP 4 (step S56). The specific contents of step S55 are as described above. When the license invalidation unit 228 receives the above-described invalidation request from the MFP 4, the received invalidation request among the information stored in the license information DB 224. The number of licenses in use associated with the license key included in the received invalidation request by changing the validity status information associated with the combination of the license key and machine number included in Is decremented by “1” and the number of used licenses is incremented by “1”.

  When the MFP 4 (the process execution unit 264) receives that the license status is invalid as a response to the invalidation request, the MFP 4 performs control to uninstall the application corresponding to the license key included in the invalidation request (Step S4). S57). After the uninstallation is completed, the process execution unit 264 updates the application management information by deleting the information corresponding to the application that has been uninstalled from the above-described application management information (step S58).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in response to a request from the MFP 4 connected via the network 3, the server 2 causes the MFP 4 to perform display information indicating an application that can be used by the MFP 4 and processing related to the application. And a control unit 212 that performs control to transmit Web content data including at least an application command to be executed to the MFP 4. The MFP 4 performs control to display a screen based on the Web content data received from the server 2 on the operation panel 27. The application command included in the Web content data is executed in response to a user operation via the display control unit 262 and a screen displayed on the operation panel 27, and the MFP 4 executes processing related to the application corresponding to the application command. Request It includes an execution unit 263, a. Accordingly, even if the display information is freely changed on the server 2 side, the application command included in the Web content data can be executed by the MFP 4, so that the program on the MFP 4 side needs to be changed in accordance with the change of the display information. There is no. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a mechanism for the server 2 that provides a page for introducing an application that can be used by the MFP 4 to construct a page having different display contents for each region, for example.

  Although the embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

  For example, among the applications displayed on the application list screen shown in FIG. 23 (in the applications that can be used by the MFP 4), the application arranged in the server 2 is used in the browser application of the operation unit 20 (that is, the application that is usable by the MFP 4). Web application) may be included. Since it is not necessary to install such a Web application in the MFP 4, when the pressing of the application selection button 311 corresponding to the Web application is accepted, the display control unit 262 displays a shortcut creation instruction screen as shown in FIG. May be controlled to be displayed on the operation panel 27. The shortcut creation instruction screen displays application description information of a corresponding application (Web application) and a shortcut creation button 371 for instructing creation of a shortcut icon for calling a function of the Web application. In this example, a shortcut creation command indicating a command for creating a shortcut icon is pasted on the shortcut creation button 371. When the execution unit 263 receives the pressing of the shortcut creation button 371, the execution unit 263 notifies the processing execution unit 264 of the shortcut creation command pasted on the shortcut creation button 371. Then, the process execution unit 264 executes the shortcut creation command notified from the execution unit 263. In short, the application command may include a shortcut icon creation command indicating a command for creating a shortcut icon for calling a function of the web application. In this case, when the shortcut icon creation command is selected according to the user's operation (for example, when the shortcut creation button 371 described above is pressed), the execution unit 263 selects the selected shortcut icon creation command (pressed) (Shortcut creation command pasted on the shortcut creation button 371) may be notified to the process execution unit 264, and the process execution unit 264 may execute the shortcut icon creation command notified from the execution unit 263. For example, when the display information received by the MFP 4 from the server 2 includes an application that needs to be installed and a Web application, the value is “install” with reference to “appType” in the detailed information of FIG. May be determined to be an application that needs to be installed and FIG. 24 is displayed, and if the value is “web”, it may be determined to be a Web application and FIG. 40 may be displayed.

  Further, for example, the operation unit 20 (MFP 4) may further include a function (authority information management unit) that manages authority information in which a plurality of users are associated with the authority of the user. The display control unit 262 refers to the authority information acquired from the authority information management unit and is associated with a user who is using the MFP 4 (a user who is recognized as having the authority to use the MFP 4 or a user who is logged in). For example, when the authority is in a form in which installation execution cannot be instructed, the installation button 312 shown in FIG. 24 can be hidden. Similarly, when the authority associated with the user who is using the MFP 4 has a form in which, for example, the execution of the update cannot be instructed, the update instruction button 341 shown in FIG. 30 can be hidden. Further, when the authority associated with the user who is using the MFP 4 has a form in which, for example, execution of uninstallation cannot be instructed, the delete instruction button 351 shown in FIG. 32 can be hidden.

  In the above-described embodiment, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently of each other with different operating systems. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate with the same operating system. Form may be sufficient. That is, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 may be integrated.

  The form of the application list screen described above is arbitrary, and may be a form combining the above examples as shown in FIG. 41, for example.

  For example, the above-described screen providing unit 213 may generate Web content data including the above-described application command only when the above-described screen information request is received from an image forming apparatus including the MFP 4. That is, when the screen providing unit 213 receives a screen information request from a device (such as a PC or a tablet) other than the image forming apparatus, the screen providing unit 213 generates Web content data that does not include an application command, and as a response to the screen information request, The generated Web content data may be transmitted to the device. In this embodiment, the screen providing unit 213 described above receives information (button) for selecting an application command (installation command, update command, uninstallation command, etc.) when a screen information request is received from a device other than the image forming apparatus. May be generated, and the generated Web content data may be transmitted to the device as a response to the screen information request. In addition, a method for determining whether the screen information request received from the device is a screen information request from the MFP 4 is arbitrary. However, for example, a method for determining based on the User-Agent header may be used. Alternatively, device authentication may be performed at the first access (authentication of whether or not the MFP 4 is used). Alternatively, for example, a command for MFP 4 may be executed using JavaScript, and if an error occurs, it may be determined that the device is other than MFP 4.

  The programs executed by the system 1 (server 2, MFP 4, etc.) of the above-described embodiment are files in an installable format or executable format, and are CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD. (Digital Versatile Disk), USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. may be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium, or may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. May be. Various programs may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

1 System 2 Server 3 Network 4 MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 20 Operation part 210 Application information management module 211 Storage part 212 Control part 213 Screen provision part 214 Setting part 216 Specification part 217 Display information generation part 219 Setting control part 220 License management module 221 Storage part 222 Control part 223 License issue part 224 License information DB
225 User information DB
226 Registration control unit 227 License validation unit 228 License invalidation unit 230 Application download management module 231 Application storage 232 Download unit 262 Display control unit 263 Execution unit 264 Process execution unit

JP 2010-182309 A

Claims (20)

A system comprising a server and a device connected to the server via a network,
The server
In response to a request from the device, a control unit that transmits Web content data including at least display information indicating an application that can be used by the device and an application command that causes the device to execute processing related to the application. Prepared,
The equipment is
A display control unit that performs control to display a screen based on the Web content data received from the server on a display unit, and executes the application command included in the Web content data in accordance with a user operation via the screen An execution unit that requests the device to execute processing related to the application corresponding to the application command.
Based on a request from the Web browser, a process execution unit that executes a process related to the application in response to the request;
Comprising
A system characterized by that. The execution unit is provided by an application programming interface.
The system according to claim 1. The server
For each of a plurality of applications, a storage unit is further provided that stores state information indicating whether or not the application is open and model information for identifying a model of the device that can use the application in association with each other,
The controller is
When receiving a screen information request for requesting screen information from the device, the screen providing unit generates the screen information, and transmits the generated screen information to the device as a response to the screen information request;
When receiving a display information request that includes the model information and requests the display information from the device, the model information included in the display information request with reference to the information stored in the storage unit And an identifying unit that identifies an application corresponding to the combination of the state information indicating the state of being disclosed,
A display information generating unit that generates the display information indicating the application specified by the specifying unit, and transmits the generated display information to the device as a response to the display information request;
The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned. The specifying unit and the display information generation unit are provided by an application programming interface.
The system according to claim 3. The server
A setting unit configured to variably set the display information according to a user operation;
The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is any one of claims 1 to 4. The application command includes an installation instruction indicating an instruction to install an application.
6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The execution unit, when the installation instruction is selected according to the operation of the user, notifies the processing execution unit of the selected installation instruction,
The process execution unit executes the installation instruction notified from the execution unit.
The system according to claim 6. The execution unit is
When the display information includes a license key used for authentication of the right to use the application that is the target of the installation command selected according to the user's operation, the license key and the installation Command to the processing execution unit,
The display control unit
If the display information does not include the license key, control is performed to display an input screen that prompts the user to input the license key.
The system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by the above. The application command includes an update instruction indicating an instruction to update an application.
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The display information includes application detailed information in which detailed information indicating at least the latest version of the application is associated with each application usable by the device,
The execution unit is
In response to the user's operation, the application that is installed in the device is identified with an application whose current version is different from the version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application. When the update instruction corresponding to the specified application is selected, the selected update instruction is notified to the processing execution unit,
The process execution unit executes the update instruction notified from the execution unit;
The system according to claim 9. The display control unit
Control is performed to display information indicating the number of applications in which the current version of the application installed in the device is different from the version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application in the application detailed information. ,
The system according to claim 10. The application command is
Batch update indicating a command for batch updating applications that have different current versions of the application installed in the device and versions indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application among the detailed application information Including instructions,
The execution unit is
When the batch update command is selected, an application having a different current version of the application installed in the device and a version indicated by the detailed information corresponding to the application among the detailed application information are selected. Identify and notify the process execution unit of the update instruction corresponding to the identified application;
The system according to claim 10. The application command includes an uninstall instruction indicating an instruction to delete an installed application and return the state of the device to a state before the application is installed.
13. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that The execution unit notifies the process execution unit of the uninstall instruction selected according to the user operation,
The process execution unit executes the uninstall instruction notified from the execution unit.
The system of claim 13. The application command is
Including a batch uninstall command indicating a command to collectively delete applications already installed in the device;
The execution unit is
When the batch uninstall command is selected, the process execution unit is notified of the uninstall command corresponding to the application installed in the device.
15. A system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The application command includes a shortcut icon creation command indicating to create a shortcut icon for calling a function of the web application,
The execution unit is
When the shortcut icon creation command is selected in response to the user's operation, the selected shortcut icon creation command is notified to the processing execution unit,
The process execution unit executes the shortcut icon creation instruction notified from the execution unit;
16. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that The screen providing unit
When the screen information request is received from the device other than the image forming apparatus, the screen information not including the application command is generated, and the generated screen information is transmitted to the device as a response to the screen information request. To
The system according to claim 3. An image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network,
A screen based on Web content data received from the server and including at least display information indicating an application that can be used by the image forming apparatus and an application command that causes the image forming apparatus to execute processing related to the application is displayed on the display unit. And executing a process related to the application corresponding to the application command by executing the application command included in the Web content data in response to a user operation via the screen. A web browser including an execution unit that requests the device;
Based on a request from the Web browser, a process execution unit that executes a process related to the application in response to the request;
Comprising
An image forming apparatus. An information processing method by a system comprising a server and a device connected to the server via a network,
The server
In response to a request from the device, control is performed to transmit Web content data including at least display information indicating an application that can be used by the device and an application command that causes the device to execute processing related to the application. Including control steps,
The equipment is
A display control step for performing control to display a screen based on the Web content data received from the server;
An execution step of requesting the device to execute processing related to the application corresponding to the application command by executing the application command included in the Web content data in response to a user operation via the screen;
A process execution step of executing a process related to the application in response to the request based on the request;
including,
An information processing method characterized by the above. An information processing apparatus connected to a device via a network,
In response to a request from the device, a control unit that performs control to transmit display information indicating an application that can be used by the device, and screen information including at least an application command indicating a command related to the application,
An information processing apparatus characterized by that.

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