JP2018011183A - Information processor, server device, system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible for an information processor to quickly use personal setting information about a user after the user's log-in, while reducing a load of resource.SOLUTION: An information processor includes a registration means for registering a user that can log in; and an acquisition means for periodically acquiring personal setting information about the user registered by the registration means, from a server that manages the personal setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, a server device, a system, an information processing method, and a program.

An information processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus has setting information that is information related to functions and operations that the user has, and uses the setting information when realizing the functions and operations. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing apparatuses that can have personal setting information, which is setting information determined so that each user can easily use each user, have come out. In addition, a plurality of information processing devices connected to each other via a network share personal setting information for each user among the plurality of information processing devices connected to each other. Yes.
For example, in Patent Document 1, the information processing apparatus duplicates and holds the personal setting information, and the personal setting information is shared (synchronized) between the information processing apparatuses. The technology to be shared with is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, when the information processing apparatus logs in, the personal setting information stored in the server connected to the information processing apparatus is acquired from the server, and the acquired personal setting information is stored in the server. A technique reflected in an information processing apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2009-225368 A JP 2016-10005 A

However, in the prior art such as Patent Document 1, if the information processing apparatus is waiting for transmission of personal setting information from an external server or the like, the login process may take time. More specifically, when the information processing apparatus acquires and reflects personal setting information from an external server or the like when the user logs in, the information processing apparatus is as follows. In other words, when personal setting information is transmitted from an external server or the like to the information processing apparatus, the personal setting information may be transmitted depending on the size of the personal setting information or the load on the network due to limitations on the network bandwidth. May take an excessive amount of time. As a result, it takes a long time to log in.
In Patent Document 2, when the information processing apparatus can acquire the personal setting information from the server within a predetermined time after login, the information processing apparatus can reflect the acquired personal setting information and acquire the personal setting information from the server within the predetermined time. If not, the personal setting information is not reflected. Thereby, the information processing apparatus is preventing that the period which concerns on a user's login becomes excessive. However, in Patent Document 2, when the information processing apparatus cannot acquire the personal setting information from the server within a predetermined time, the information setting apparatus cannot reflect the personal setting information managed by the server.

As described above, in the conventional technique for reflecting the personal setting information managed by the server, the personal setting information of the user who logged in from the server is downloaded at the timing when the user logs in to the information processing apparatus. It may take time. For this reason, the information processing apparatus may not reflect the personal setting information of the user who has logged in promptly after the user has logged in.
On the other hand, if the information processing apparatus periodically downloads the personal settings of all users from the server regardless of whether or not they are logged in, it is only necessary to read the downloaded personal setting information after the user logs in. It does not take time to reflect the information. However, if the personal setting information of all users is periodically downloaded, there is a problem that the load of resources such as network bandwidth, processing resources of the information processing apparatus and the server increases.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible for an information processing apparatus to quickly use a user's personal setting information after the user logs in, while reducing the resource load.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires a registration unit that registers a user who may log in, and personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit from a server that manages the personal setting information periodically. Means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make it possible to immediately use the user's personal setting information after the user logs in, while reducing the resource load.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of a synchronous system. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a setting information management server. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure etc. of a setting information management server. It is a figure which shows an example of setting information. It is a figure which shows an example of a registered user management table. It is a figure which shows an example of setting information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which acquires personal setting information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which transmits personal setting information. It is a figure which shows an example of a user registration screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a method selection screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a user selection screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a user's registration process. It is a figure which shows an example of a synchronous setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a synchronous process. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which manages personal setting information. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which manages a user identifier. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a user's registration process. It is a figure which shows an example of a designation | designated screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an addition screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a user registration screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a synchronous setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the transmission process of personal setting information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the reflection process of update information. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an MFP. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by an MFP.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a synchronization system. The synchronization system includes a setting information management server 110, an MFP 120a, an MFP 120b, and an external PC. The setting information management server 110, the MFP 120a, the MFP 120b, and the external PC 130 are connected to each other via the network 100. In this embodiment, the synchronization system includes two MFPs, the MFP 120a and the MFP 120b. However, the synchronization system may include three or more MFPs. Hereinafter, the MFP 120a and the MFP 120b are collectively referred to as the MFP 120.
Each of the MFPs 120 is an information processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus having a plurality of types of functions (copy, FAX, etc.), and stores setting information for each user therein. The setting information is information that is used when the information processing apparatus such as the MFP 120 executes various functions. For example, the setting information includes information on fonts and sizes of characters displayed on a display and the like, information on print processing, and the like. In this embodiment, the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 manage setting information for each user (for each individual), for each group, for each device, and the like. Hereinafter, setting information managed for each user (for each individual) is referred to as personal setting information.
In the present embodiment, the synchronization system performs personal setting information synchronization processing between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110. The setting information synchronization process is a process of updating either the setting information held by the MFP 120 or the setting information held by the setting information management server 110 in accordance with the other setting information that is newer setting information.

The setting information management server 110 is an information processing apparatus such as a PC or a server apparatus that manages master data of personal setting information used by the MFP 120. Master data is data that is the basis of setting information managed by the synchronization system. When the setting information management server 110 confirms the update of the personal setting information from the MFP 120, if there is the latest personal setting information different from the personal setting information held by the MFP 120, the setting information management server 110 transmits the latest personal information via the network 100. The setting information is transmitted to the MFP 120. When the held personal setting information is changed, the MFP 120 transmits the changed personal setting information to the setting information management server 110 via the network 100. When the setting information management server 110 receives the changed personal setting information from the MFP 120, the setting information management server 110 updates the master data value of the personal setting information with the received changed personal setting information value. When the MFP 120 receives the latest setting information from the setting information management server 110, the MFP 120 updates the value of the held personal setting information with the value of the received latest personal setting information.
For example, when the personal setting information of the MFP 120 a is changed, the MFP 120 a transmits the changed personal setting information to the setting information management server 110. Then, the setting information management server 110 updates the master data of the personal setting information with the received changed personal setting information, and transmits the personal setting information corresponding to the updated master data to the MFP 120b. Details of processing of the setting information management server 110 and the MFPs 120a and 120b will be described later with reference to FIGS.
The external PC 130 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer that inputs a print job and accesses the MFP 120 via a network. Details of the external PC 130 will be described later in a third embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of each hardware configuration of the MFP 120. The MFP 120 may include other components (for example, an optical disk drive, a paper feeding device, etc.) other than those shown in FIG. Further, the hardware configuration of the MFP 120 may be a hardware configuration different from that of FIG. 2 that provides the same effect as that of the present embodiment.
Each of the MFPs 120 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, a ROM 213, an input control I / F 214, a display control I / F 215, a storage device I / F 216, and a communication I / F controller 217. The CPU 211, RAM 212, ROM 213, input control I / F 214, display control I / F 215, storage device I / F 216, and communication I / F controller 217 are connected to each other via the system bus 210. A scanner 221 and a printer 222 are connected to the system bus 210. Each element connected to the system bus 210 can exchange data with each other via the system bus 210.
The CPU 211 is a central processing unit such as a central processing unit that performs processing such as control of the MFP 120 and calculation / processing of data. The RAM 212 is a volatile memory such as a Random Access Memory, and is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 211. The ROM 213 is a non-volatile memory such as Read Only Memory, and stores various programs and various data used for the operation of the CPU 211 in predetermined areas.

For example, the CPU 211 executes a program stored in the ROM 213 to control each unit of the MFP 120 using the RAM 212 as a work memory. The program executed by the CPU 211 is not limited to the program stored in the ROM 213, and the CPU 211 may execute the program stored in the storage device 220.
The input control I / F 214 receives an operation by a user via an input device such as the touch panel 218, generates a control signal corresponding to the received operation, and supplies the control signal to the CPU 211. For example, the input control I / F 214 is connected to a character information input device such as a keyboard, a hard key for directly inputting numerical values, or a pointing device such as a touch panel 218 as an input device that receives a user operation. The touch panel 218 is, for example, an input device that is configured in a planar manner and outputs coordinate information corresponding to a touched position. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the MFP 120 is connected to the touch panel 218 as an input device, but may be connected to another input device such as a keyboard. The CPU 211 controls each element of the MFP 120 according to a program based on a control signal generated and supplied by the input control I / F 214 in accordance with a user operation performed on the input device. Thereby, the CPU 211 can perform processing according to the user's operation.

The display control I / F 215 outputs a display signal for displaying an image on a display device (display unit) such as the display 219. For example, the CPU 211 supplies the generated display control signal to the display control I / F 215 according to the program. The display control I / F 215 generates a display signal based on the display control signal and outputs the display signal to the display 219. For example, the display control I / F 215 causes the display 219 to display a GUI screen constituting a GUI (Graphical User Interface) based on a display control signal generated by the CPU 211.
The touch panel 218 may be configured integrally with the display 219. For example, the touch panel 218 may be configured such that the light transmittance does not hinder the display of the display 219, and may be attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display 219. By doing so, the input coordinates on the touch panel 218 and the display coordinates on the display 219 are associated with each other. Accordingly, the MFP 120 can configure a GUI as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the display 219.

To the storage device I / F 216, for example, a storage device 220 configured with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or the like is connected. The CPU 211 reads data from the storage device 220 and writes data to the storage device 220. The CPU 211 may use the storage device 220 instead of the RAM 212 or the ROM 213. Further, the storage device 220 is not limited to one, and may be composed of a plurality of different types of storage devices.
Based on the control of the CPU 211, the communication I / F controller 217 performs communication with the network 100 including various networks such as a LAN, the Internet, wired, and wireless. Various devices such as a PC, another MFP, a printer, and a server are connected to the network 100 so as to be communicable with the MFP 120. The CPU 211 also communicates with an external authentication server via the communication I / F controller 217.

The scanner 221 reads a document based on the control of the CPU 211 and generates image data corresponding to the read document. For example, the CPU 211 instructs the scanner 221 to perform a scanning process according to a user instruction input via the input control I / F 214. The scanner 221 reads a document placed on a document table or an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), converts it into digital data, and generates image data. The scanner 221 stores the generated image data in the storage device 220 via the storage device I / F 216.
The printer 222 prints image data stored in the storage device 220 based on the control of the CPU 211. For example, the CPU 211 instructs the printer 222 to perform print processing according to a user instruction input via the input control I / F 214 or a command input from an external device via the communication I / F controller 217. . The printer 222 reads image data from the storage device 220, converts it into a printable data format, and prints it on a paper document.
When the CPU 211 executes processing based on the program stored in the ROM 213 or the storage device 220, the functions described later with reference to FIG. 4 and the processing of the flowcharts described with reference to FIGS. 9, 12, and 14 are realized.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the setting information management server 110. The setting information management server 110 includes a CPU 311, a RAM 312, a ROM 313, an input control I / F 314, a display control I / F 315, a storage device I / F 316, and a communication I / F controller 317. The CPU 311, RAM 312, ROM 313, input control I / F 314, display control I / F 315, storage device I / F 316, and communication I / F controller 317 are connected to each other via the system bus 310.
The setting information management server 110 may include other hardware components (for example, an optical disk drive, etc.) other than the hardware components shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 has the same effect as FIG. Different hardware configurations may be used.
The CPU 311 is a central processing unit that controls each device and calculates / processes data. The RAM 312 is a volatile memory and functions as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and work area of the CPU 311. The ROM 313 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores various programs executed by the CPU 311 and various data in respective set areas. The CPU 311 controls each element of the setting information management server 110 using the RAM 312 as a work memory according to a program stored in the ROM 313, for example. The CPU 311 may execute not only the program stored in the ROM 313 but also the program stored in the storage device 320.

The input control I / F 314 receives an operation by a user via an input device such as the operation device 318, generates a control signal corresponding to the operation, and supplies the control signal to the CPU 311. For example, the input control I / F 314 is connected to an operation device 318 configured as a character information input device such as a keyboard, a hard key for directly inputting a numerical value, or a pointing device such as a touch panel as an input device that receives a user operation. Is done. The CPU 311 controls each element of the setting information management server 110 according to a program based on a control signal generated and supplied by the input control I / F 314 according to a user operation performed on the input device. Thereby, the CPU 311 can perform processing according to the user operation.
The display control I / F 315 outputs a display signal for displaying an image on a display device such as the display 319. For example, the CPU 311 supplies the generated display control signal to the display control I / F 315 according to the program. The display control I / F 315 generates a display signal based on the display control signal and outputs the display signal to the display 319. For example, the display control I / F 315 causes the display 319 to display a GUI screen constituting the GUI based on a display control signal generated by the CPU 311.

The storage device I / F 316 is connected to a storage device 320 configured by, for example, an HDD or a flash memory. The CPU 311 reads data from the storage device 320 and writes data to the storage device 320. The CPU 311 may use the storage device 320 instead of the RAM 312 or the ROM 313.
The communication I / F controller 317 performs communication with the network 100 configured by various networks such as a LAN, the Internet, wired, and wireless based on the control of the CPU 311. Various devices such as a PC, an MFP, a printer, and a server are connected to the network 100 so as to be able to communicate with the setting information management server 110.
In this embodiment, the setting information management server is a server device, but may be an MFP having a hardware configuration similar to that of the MFP 120.
The CPU 311 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 313 or the storage device 320, thereby realizing functions described later in FIG. 5, flowchart processing described later in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of each MFP 120. Each of the MFPs 120 includes a display operation control unit 401, an authentication control unit 402, a setting information control unit 403, and a communication control unit 404. Each functional component of each MFP 120 can exchange information with each other.
The MFP 120 may include functional components other than the functional components shown in FIG. 4 (for example, a print control unit that controls print processing or the like). Further, the MFP 120 may have a functional configuration different from that of FIG. 4 that provides the same effect as the MFP 120 of the present embodiment. Programs for realizing the functions of the respective functional components shown in FIG. 4 are stored in the ROM 213 and the like, and are loaded into the RAM 212 as necessary when starting up or using the functions, and executed by the CPU 211.
The MFP 120 has one or more functions such as copy, scan, and fax. The functions and operations of the MFP 120 are realized by functional components that control the functions and operations. For example, the MFP 120 has functional components of a copy control unit, a scan control unit, and a transmission control unit for each function of copying, scanning, and information transmission. In addition to the functional components shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 120 includes functional components for functions and operations related to the processing of the MFP 120.

The display operation control unit 401 controls the input control I / F 214 and the display control I / F 215 based on the control of the CPU 211. For example, the display operation control unit 401 displays an image on the display 219 via the display control I / F 215 or the touch panel 218 via the input control I / F 214 based on an instruction from another functional component. To get information entered by the user.
Based on the control of the CPU 211, the authentication control unit 402 performs an authentication process for authenticating a user, and determines whether the operator of the MFP 120 is a valid user of the MFP 120. In the following, it is assumed that login is performed by authenticating the operator of the MFP 120 and starting a session in the case of a valid user. In addition, the authentication control unit 402 manages a database (hereinafter, user information DB 410) that stores user information mounted in the storage device 220. The user information is information for specifying a user, such as a user identifier, a user name, a domain name, a password, and other information accompanying the user.

The authentication control unit 402 performs user authentication based on user information stored in the user information DB 410 inside the MFP 120. However, the authentication control unit 402 connects to an external authentication server via the communication I / F controller 217, entrusts a user authentication process to the connected external authentication server, and receives an authentication result from the external authentication server. The user authentication process may be performed by acquiring. The authentication control unit 402 exchanges authentication information with an external authentication server using a known technique. In the following, it is assumed that logging out after the user has finished using the MFP 120 ends the user's session.
Further, the authentication control unit 402 provides functions such as a function of registering and deleting a user and updating user information. Further, the authentication control unit 402 may provide a group function. A group is a collection of a plurality of users, and the authentication control unit 402 can register a plurality of groups. A user can belong to zero or more groups. The authentication control unit 402 also provides functions such as group registration and deletion, group information update, user belonging to a group, and user withdrawal from a group. The authentication control unit 402 stores, in the user information DB 410, an identifier that uniquely identifies a user (hereinafter, a user identifier) and an identifier that uniquely identifies a group (hereinafter, a group identifier). The user information DB 410 is recorded in the storage device 220.

The setting information control unit 403 has a function of registering, obtaining, changing, etc. device setting information and personal setting information. Device setting information is one type of setting information, and is setting information that is referred to by all users. The personal setting information is setting information that is referred to only by each user. The group setting information is setting information that can be referenced only by users belonging to each group. The setting information control unit 403 may have a function of registering, acquiring, changing, etc., group setting information. For example, the setting information control unit 403 may use the group setting information of the group to which each user belongs in place of the individual setting information of each user. The setting information control unit 403 may manage setting information of a type other than personal setting information, device setting information, and group setting information (for example, client group setting information determined for each group of client devices). Good.
The setting information control unit 403 manages a database that stores setting information implemented in the storage device 220 (hereinafter, setting information DB 420). The setting information control unit 403 receives an input from the user via the touch panel 218 or a request from the communication control unit 404 or the like, and accesses the setting information stored in the setting information DB 420 on the storage device 220. At this time, the setting information control unit 403 accesses the setting information corresponding to each of the device setting information, the personal setting information, and the group setting information depending on which of the inputs is input.
The communication control unit 404 performs processing for the setting information management server 110 via the communication I / F controller 217 in accordance with an instruction from the setting information control unit 403. Control is performed to acquire and register the latest setting information stored in the setting information management server 110 and notify the setting information management server 110 of information updated by the MFP 120. The communication control unit 404 performs communication with the setting information management server 110 using a known technique such as a communication protocol such as WebAPI.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the setting information management server 110. The setting information management server 110 includes a display operation control unit 501, a master setting information control unit 502, and a communication control unit 503. Each functional component of the setting information management server 110 can exchange information with each other.
The setting information management server 110 may include functional components (for example, an operation input control unit that controls input from an input device) other than the functional components illustrated in FIG. Further, the setting information management server 110 may have a functional configuration different from that of FIG. 5 that exhibits the same effect as the setting information management server 110 of the present embodiment. Programs for realizing the functions of the respective functional components in FIG. 5 are stored in the ROM 313 and the like, and are loaded into the RAM 312 as necessary when starting up or using the functions, and executed by the CPU 311. The setting information management server 110 includes functional components for functions and operations related to processing of the setting information management server 110 in addition to the functional components shown in FIG. The setting information management server 110 includes, for example, functional components for controlling user authentication processing.

The display operation control unit 501 controls the input control I / F 314 and the display control I / F 315 based on the control of the CPU 311. For example, the display operation control unit 501 displays an image on the display 319 via the display control I / F 315 based on an instruction from another functional component, or displays the image on the operation device 318 via the input control I / F 314. Get information entered by the user.
Master setting information control unit 502 has a function for integrating, registering, obtaining, and changing setting information handled by MFP 120 as a client. The master setting information control unit 502 manages a master setting information DB 510 that stores the master data of the setting information of all the MFPs 120 mounted in the storage device 320. The master setting information control unit 502 receives a request from the MFP 120 via the communication I / F controller 317 and the communication control unit 503, and accesses the setting information stored in the master setting information DB 510.
In response to an instruction from the master setting information control unit 502, the communication control unit 503 transmits the latest setting information stored in the setting information management server 110 to the MFP 120 via the communication I / F controller 517. Further, the communication control unit 503 performs control for registering the setting information updated by the MFP 120 in the master setting information DB 510. The communication control unit 503 uses a known technique such as a communication protocol such as WebAPI in communication with the MFP 120.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting information management table 600 stored in the setting information DB 420. The setting information management table 600 stores setting information for a target as a set of information on the target, a key for specifying what the information is, and a value of the information. The MFP 120 manages setting information using a setting information management table 600 as shown in FIG.
Setting information stored in the setting information management table 600 is expressed by hierarchical information. The setting information includes information on the hierarchical structure of the target 601, the key 602, and the value 603. The target 601 is information that identifies which target the setting information is related to. The target 601 is also information for specifying the type of the setting information such as whether the setting information is device setting information, personal setting information, or group setting information. The target 601 is a user identifier that is an identifier that identifies an individual user in the case of personal setting information, and a group identifier that is an identifier that identifies an individual group in the case of group setting. The example of FIG. 6 shows a state in which device setting information, user A personal setting information, user B personal setting information, and group 1 group setting information are stored. In the example of FIG. 6, the target 601 includes information for specifying a device as “device”, user identifiers of users A and B as “user A” and “user B”, and group identifier of group 1 as “group 1”. It has become. The identifier of the device, user, or group is not limited to the description of the target name such as “device”, “user A”, etc. For example, as described under “user A” in FIG. A character string or the like that can uniquely identify the target may be used. An example of processing when the user identifier is a character string such as “a13ab” will be described later in the description of (personal setting information acquisition processing) and (personal setting information registration / update processing) in FIG.

A key 602 is information for specifying what setting the setting information is for which function. The combination of the target 601 and the key 602 identifies which function setting information of which subject (device, user, group, etc.) is the setting information. The value of the setting information corresponding to the target 601 and the key 602 is stored in the value 603. In the example of FIG. 6, the value 603 for the target 601 “user A” and the key 602 “display language” is “Japanese”. The value of the setting information of the key 602 “display language” being “Japanese” means that the device displays information in Japanese on the display unit to the user. That is, for the user A, the display language displayed on the display unit by the device is Japanese. Also, the value 603 for the target 601 “user B” and the key 602 “display language” is “Chinese”. Further, the value 603 corresponding to the target 601 “user B” and the key 602 “personal address book-personal address 1” is “ccc@abc.com”.
The setting information DB 420 stores personal setting information by the number of users. On the other hand, the setting information DB 420 stores only one piece of device setting information. This is because, for each MFP 120, the device setting information to be used is only the device setting information for itself. In the case of the example of FIG. 6, the value 603 corresponding to the key 602 “display setting-display language” of the device setting information is “English”.

Regarding the group setting information of the target 601 “group 1”, the value 603 for the key 602 “group address book-group address 1” is “g1@abc.com”. For example, assume that user A and user B belong to group 1. User A and user B can log in to MFP 120 as user A or user B and refer to group address 1, but user C who does not belong to group 1 cannot refer to it.
The personal setting information key 602 and the device setting information key 602 may be common or not common. When the personal setting information and the device setting information have a common key 602, the setting information control unit 403 uses the value corresponding to the device setting information key 602 as the initial value of the value 603 corresponding to the personal setting information key 602. 603 can be used. The setting information control unit 403 can use the value of the device setting information as the initial value of the newly registered user personal setting information. In the example of FIG. 6, the personal setting information of the user C is not registered, and the setting information control unit 403 newly registers the personal setting information of the user C. In this case, the setting information control unit 403 determines the value 603 for the key 602 “display language” of the personal setting information of the user C as “English” which is the value 603 for the key 602 “display language” of the device setting information. To do.
When the user logs in, the setting information control unit 403 searches the setting information management table 600 for the same target 601 as the user identifier specified by the login. Then, the setting information control unit 403 reads the retrieved personal setting information and reflects the read personal setting information on each function / operation of the MFP 120. Therefore, the user can use MFP 120 customized according to the registered personal setting information for the user. Also, the setting information control unit 403 reads device setting information from the setting information management table 600 and reflects it on each function / operation of the MFP 120 when the user logs out. Therefore, the MFP 120 provides each function / operation reflecting the device setting information when the user is not logged in.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a registered user management table 700 for managing users registered in the MFP 120. The registered user management table 700 is stored in the setting information DB 420. When the user is registered in the MFP 120, the setting information control unit 403 adds the registered user information to the registered user management table, generates personal setting information about the registered user, and generates the generated personal setting information. , Added to the setting information management table 600. In other words, the user registered in the registered user management table 700 is a target user who stores personal setting information in the MFP 120. The registered user management table 700 includes a user identifier 701, last synchronization date and time 702, priority 703, user name 704, domain name 705, and last login date and time 706.
The user identifier 701 is an identifier that uniquely identifies a user without duplication among all the MFPs included in the MFP 120. For example, the setting information control unit 403 generates, as an identifier, a character string combined with a user name and a domain name, a hash value generated from the user name and the domain name, which is input at the time of login. .

The last synchronization date and time 702 is information on the date and time when the communication control unit 404 acquired the latest personal setting information of each user from the setting information management server 110. In the present embodiment, each of the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 uses synchronized time information. In this embodiment, the setting information control unit 403 uses the date and time when the setting information is received from the setting information management server 110 as the final synchronization date and time 702, but other date and time may be used as the final synchronization date and time 702. For example, the setting information control unit 403 may set the date and time when the setting information in the setting information management table 600 is updated based on the setting information received from the setting information management server 110 as the final synchronization date and time 702.
The priority 703 is information indicating a criterion used in determining whether or not information related to the user is deleted upon synchronization with the setting information management server 110, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG.
A user name 704, a domain name 705, and a last login date / time 706 are information on the user name, the domain name, and the last login date / time of the MFP 120 corresponding to the user identifier 701, respectively. Each time the MFP 120 logs in, the setting information control unit 403 updates the last login date and time 706 for the logged-in user with information on the date and time when the login was performed. The last login date and time 706 for a user who has only been registered in the MFP 120 and has not logged in to the MFP 120 is 0.

In the present embodiment, the registered user management table 700 includes a user name 704 and a domain name 705. However, the setting information control unit 403 can acquire the user name and the domain name from the user identifier, for example, when the user identifier is a character string obtained by combining the user name and the domain name. The setting information control unit 403 can acquire the user name and domain name by inquiring the authentication control unit 402 about the user name and domain name corresponding to the user identifier. In such a case, the registered user management table 700 may not include the user name 704 and the domain name 705.
The setting information control unit 403 may acquire the last login date and time 706 by inquiring the authentication control unit 402 about the last login date and time for the user name and domain name. In that case, the registered user management table 700 may not include the last login date and time 706.
In addition, the registered user management table 700 includes the user name 704 and the domain name 705 and does not include the user identifier 701, so that the setting information control unit 403 generates the user name 704 and the domain name 705 when the user identifier is required. May be. Further, the setting information control unit 403 may inquire the user identifier to the authentication control unit 402 based on the user name 704 and the domain name 705.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the master setting information management table 800. The master setting information management table 800 is a table that stores master data of setting information, and is stored in the master setting information DB 510 of the setting information management server 110. The master data of the setting information stored in the master setting information management table 800 is expressed by hierarchical information as in the setting information of the setting information management table 600 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the master data of the setting information is referred to as master setting information. The master setting information includes a target 801, a key 802, and a value 803 corresponding to the target 601, the key 602, and the value 603, respectively. Details of the target 801, key 802, and value 803 are the same as those of the target 601, key 602, and value 603, respectively.
Unlike the setting information management table 600, the master setting information management table 800 includes a last update date and time 804 indicating when each value 803 has been updated. The value of the target 801 may be a character string indicating the name of the target such as “user A” or “device”, or may be a character string that uniquely specifies the target such as “a13ab”, or the subject can be uniquely specified. Any information can be used. Processing when the value of the target 801 is “a13ab” will be described in the following (personal setting information acquisition processing) and (personal setting information registration / update processing).

Here, registration, update, and acquisition processing of setting information performed by the MFP 120a and the setting information management server 110 will be described.
(Personal setting information acquisition process)
A process in which the MFP 120 acquires the latest personal setting information of the user stored in the setting information management server 110 and updates the personal setting information of the user who uses the MFP 120 will be described.
When the user inputs information necessary for authentication such as a user name and password to the MFP 120, the authentication control unit 402 performs authentication processing for confirming the validity of the input information and executes user login processing to the MFP 120. To do. Assume that the user identifier of the user who has logged into the MFP 120 is “a13ab”. When the authentication control unit 402 confirms the validity of the user and completes the login process, the authentication control unit 402 requests the setting information control unit 403 for setting information of the user identifier “a13ab”.

The setting information control unit 403 acquires the last synchronization date and time 702 “2016/01/15 13:28:40” of the user corresponding to the user identifier 701 “a13ab” from the registered user management table 700 stored in the setting information DB 420. . The setting information control unit 403 sends the last synchronization date “2016/01/15 13:28:40” from the setting information management server 110 to the communication control unit 404 from the personal setting information of the user with the user identifier “a13ab”. Instruct to get updated after that.
The communication control unit 404 performs the following processing via the network 202 using the communication I / F controller 217. That is, the communication control unit 404 requests the setting information management server 110 to acquire personal setting information updated after “2016/01/15 13:28:40” for the user A corresponding to the user identifier “a13ab”. .
Upon receiving a request from the MFP 120, the communication control unit 503 of the setting information management server 110 analyzes the received request. Further, the communication control unit 503 returns to the master setting information control unit 502 personal setting information updated after the last synchronization date “2016/01/15 13:28:40” of the user identifier “a13ab”. To instruct.

The master setting information control unit 502 stores the master setting information stored in the master setting information DB 510 for the personal setting information updated after the last synchronization date “2016/01/15 13:28:40” of the user identifier “a13ab”. A search is performed from the management table 800. The last update date and time in the MFP 120 with the user identifier “a13ab” is “2016/01/15 13:28:40”. The master setting information control unit 502 searches for a set of the target 801, the key 802, and the value 803 whose target 801 includes “a13ab” and whose last update date / time 804 is “2016/01/15 13:28:40” or later. To do.
In the example of FIG. 8, the master setting information control unit 502 sets the target 801 as “user A (a13ab)”, the key 802 as “personal address book-personal address 2”, and the value 803 as “bbb@abc.com”. Will be searched. The master setting information control unit 502 searches for a plurality of sets when there are a plurality of sets that match the conditions. If there is no data updated after the designated last synchronization date and time, the search result by the master setting information control unit 502 is none.

The master setting information control unit 502 transmits to the communication control unit 503 information on the searched target 801, key 802, value 803, and the date and time of the search processing execution time. For example, it is assumed that the date and time when the search processing by the master setting information control unit 502 is performed is 2016/03/16 13:41:59.
The communication control unit 503 transmits the user identifier, key, value, and search date / time information corresponding to the information received from the master setting information control unit 502 to the MFP 120. In this embodiment, the information transmitted to the MFP 120 includes a user identifier “a13ab”, a key “personal address book-personal address 2”, a value “bbb@abc.com)”, and a search date “2016/03”. / 16 13:41:59 ".

In the MFP 120, the communication control unit 404 receives user identifier, key, value, and search date / time information from the setting information management server 110 and analyzes the received information. The communication control unit 404 sends the user identifier (a13ab), key (personal address book-personal address 2), value (bbb@abc.com), search date and time (2016) received from the setting information management server 110 to the setting information control unit 403. / 03/16 16:41:59). Then, the communication control unit 404 instructs the setting information control unit 403 to update the personal setting information.
The setting information control unit 403 updates the personal setting information stored in the setting information management table 600 stored in the setting information DB 420 based on the information passed from the communication control unit 404. For example, the setting information control unit 403 updates the values corresponding to the user identification (a13ab) and key (personal address book-personal address 2) received from the communication control unit 404 with the received (bbb@abc.com). . For example, the setting information control unit 403 updates the value 603 in which the target 601 includes (a13ab) and the key 602 is (personal address book-personal address 2) with (bbb@abc.com).
The communication control unit 404 further sets the last synchronization date and time of the user identifier “a13ab” of the registered user management table 700 stored in the setting information DB 420 to the search date and time (2016/03/16 13:41: in the setting information management server 110). 59).

As described above, the personal setting information of the user A of the MFP 120 a is updated in synchronization with the latest state of the setting information management server 110. The setting information control unit 403 passes the personal setting information of the user A to the functional components for the respective functions of the MFP 120 a and transfers control to the display operation control unit 401. The display operation control unit 401 displays a screen after login in which the personal setting information of the user identifier “a13ab” is reflected.
The above processing is an example of processing in which the MFP 120 acquires the latest personal setting information of the user stored in the setting information management server 110 when the user logs in to the MFP 120. Further, for example, the MFP 120 instructs the setting information management server 110 to explicitly synchronize the personal setting information, and sends the latest setting information from the setting information management server 110 at a timing other than when the login is performed. It is good also as acquiring. Further, for example, the setting information management server 110 may instruct the MFP 120 to explicitly synchronize the personal setting information, and the setting information management server 110 may transmit the latest personal setting information to the MFP 120.

(Personal setting information registration and update processing)
A process in which the setting information management server 110 registers the user personal setting information updated in the MFP 120 will be described. Assume that the login processing of the MFP 120 of the user whose user identifier is “a13ab” described in (Personal setting information acquisition processing) has been completed. When the user performs an operation for changing the personal setting information of the user via the touch panel 218, the setting information control unit 403 changes the personal setting information of the user based on the performed operation.
For example, the setting information control unit 403 changes the personal setting information by the following process. That is, the setting information control unit 403 changes the initial screen displayed for login based on the user's operation via the personal setting information change screen used for changing the personal setting information, or prints a copy application. Change the setting to duplex printing. The personal setting information change screen is a screen including, for example, the names of setting items that can be changed and radio buttons indicating a plurality of options of setting information corresponding to the setting items. When the user selects one of a plurality of radio buttons indicating options of a certain setting item on the personal setting information change screen, the setting information on the setting item is changed.

The functional component that has changed the personal setting information passes the changed user identifier “a13ab” and the value specified by the user to the setting information control unit 403. Here, the value designated by the user is, for example, a set of a key 602 and a value 603. As an example, assume that a user with a user identifier “a13ab” designates “personal address book-personal address 1” as the key 602 and “xxx@yyy.co.jp” as the value 603. The setting information control unit 403 confirms whether or not the user identifier “a13ab” exists in the registered user management table 700. When the user identifier “a13ab” does not exist in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 registers information about the user with the user identifier “a13ab” in the registered user management table 700. At this time, the setting information control unit 403 registers the user identifier 701, the user name 704, the domain name 705, and the last login date and time 706 of the registered user, but items other than these are undecided and are blank (or Value 0). In the example of FIG. 7, since the user identifier “a13ab” is registered in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 does not register a new user.
Further, the setting information control unit 403 includes a key 602 (personal address book-personal address 1) designated by the user in the personal setting information whose target 601 is “a13ab” stored in the setting information management table 600. Check whether or not. If the setting information control unit 403 confirms that it does not exist, the setting information control unit 403 registers the key 602 (personal address book-personal address 1) in the personal setting information whose target 601 is “a13ab”. In the example of FIG. 6, since the key 602 of “personal address book-personal address 1” is registered in the personal setting information whose target 601 is “a13ab”, the setting information control unit 403 does not newly register the key 602. .

Then, the setting information control unit 403 sets the value 603 corresponding to the target 601 “a13ab” and the key 602 “personal address book-personal address 1” in the setting information management table 600 to “xxx @ yyy. co.jp ". In the example of FIG. 6, the setting information control unit 403 changes the value 603 of the target 601 “a13ab” and the key 602 “personal address book—personal address 1” from “bbb@abc.com” to “xxx@yyy.co.jp”. Change to When the values of the target 601 and the key 602 specified by the user do not exist in the setting information management table 600, the setting information control unit 403 registers the newly specified information.
When the setting information control unit 403 completes the update processing of the setting information management table 600, the setting information control unit 403 returns a response indicating that the update has been completed to the functional component that requested the update. In addition, the setting information control unit 403 indicates to the setting information management server 110 that the value of “personal address book-personal address 1” of the user identifier “a13ab” is “xxx@yyy.co.jp”. Send information. Then, the setting information control unit 403 instructs the setting information management server 110 to update the setting information managed by the setting information management server 110 based on the transmitted information.

The communication control unit 404 performs the following processing via the network 100 using the communication I / F controller 217. The communication control unit 404 transmits to the setting information management server 110 an instruction to update the value of the key “personal address book-personal address 1” of the user identifier “a13ab” to “xxx@yyy.co.jp”. .
The communication control unit 503 of the setting information management server 110 receives an instruction to update setting information from the MFP 120. The communication control unit 503 analyzes the received request. Then, the communication control unit 503 sends to the master setting information control unit 502 the value 803 of “personal address book-personal address 1” as the key 802 whose target 801 in the master setting information management table 800 is “a13ab”, “xxx @ yyy.co.jp "is instructed to update.
The master setting information control unit 502 sets the value 803 corresponding to the target 801 (a13ab) and key 802 (personal address book-personal address 1) to “xxx @ yyy” with respect to the master setting information management table 800 of the master setting information DB 510. .Co.jp ". The update here is the same processing as the update of the setting information management table 600 in the MFP 120.

After updating the personal setting information corresponding to the target 801 (a13ab) in the master setting information management table 800, the master setting information control unit 502 performs the following processing. In other words, the master setting information control unit 502 acquires the current time in the setting information management server 110, and adds the acquired time information to the last update date and time 804 corresponding to the updated value 803.
The master setting information control unit 502 transmits information indicating that the update process has been completed to the communication control unit 503. The communication control unit 503 transmits information indicating that the update processing of the setting information management server 110 has been completed to the MFP 120.
When the communication control unit 404 of the MFP 120 receives information indicating that the update of the personal setting information is completed from the setting information management server 110, the communication control unit 404 completes the update process. The MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 may perform the process set as the error process when an error occurs in the setting information registration, update, and acquisition processes. For example, when an error occurs, the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 may display an error on each display unit.

With reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10, a process in which the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 synchronize the latest personal setting information of the user (the setting information of the setting information management server 110 is reflected in the MFP 120) will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which the MFP 120 acquires the latest personal setting information from the setting information management server 110. 9 is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program stored in the ROM 213 or the storage device 220. Prior to the start of the processing of FIG. 9, it is assumed that the MFP 120 has performed user login processing and the like, and has acquired the user identifier of the logged-in user.
In step S <b> 901, the setting information control unit 403 acquires information about the last synchronization date and time 702 corresponding to the user identifier of the logged-in user from the registered user management table 700 stored in the setting information DB 420.

In step S <b> 902, the setting information control unit 403 transmits the user identifier of the logged-in user and information of the last synchronization date 702 acquired in step S <b> 901 to the setting information management server 110 via the communication control unit 404. The setting information control unit 403 requests the latest personal setting information of the logged-in user by transmitting these pieces of information to the setting information management server 110. More specifically, the communication control unit 404 transmits, to the setting information management server 110, an acquisition request for personal setting information that has been updated after the date and time corresponding to the information acquired in S901 for the logged-in user. The processing in the setting information management server 110 will be described later with reference to FIG.
In step S903, the communication control unit 404 determines whether there is a response from the setting information management server 110 to the request transmitted in step S902. If it is determined that there is a response from the setting information management server 110, the communication control unit 404 proceeds to the process of S907, and if it is determined that there is no response from the setting information management server 110, the communication control unit 404 proceeds to the process of S904.
In step S904, the communication control unit 404 waits for a set period.

In step S905, the communication control unit 404 determines whether the period that has elapsed since the time when the request was transmitted in step S902 has reached a set timeout value. The timeout value is a threshold value for determining whether or not to interrupt the processing without waiting for a response from the setting information management server 110 when there is no response from the setting information management server 110. If the communication control unit 404 determines that the period after the time when the request is transmitted in S902 has reached the set timeout value, the communication control unit 404 proceeds to the process of S906. If the communication control unit 404 determines that the period after the time when the request is transmitted in S902 does not reach the set timeout value, the process proceeds to S903.
In step S906, the setting information control unit 403 performs the set error processing, and ends the processing in FIG. The set error process is, for example, a process of recording that there is no response for a set period from the setting information management server 110 in a log or displaying that an error has occurred on the display 219. .

In step S <b> 907, the setting information control unit 403 confirms the latest personal setting information received from the setting information management server 110. For example, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the latest personal setting information received includes data updated after the date and time corresponding to the information acquired in S901. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the latest personal setting information received includes data updated after the date and time corresponding to the information acquired in S901, the process proceeds to S908. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is no data updated after the date and time corresponding to the information acquired in S901 in the received latest personal setting information, the process of FIG. 9 ends.
In step S <b> 908, the setting information control unit 403 updates the personal setting information of the logged-in user stored in the MFP 120 with the content of the personal setting information received from the setting information management server 110. For example, the setting information control unit 403 updates the personal setting information of the logged-in user stored in the setting information management table 600 with the contents of the personal setting information received from the setting information management server 110.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which the setting information management server 110 transmits personal setting information to the MFP 120. The processing in FIG. 10 is realized by the CPU 311 executing a program stored in the ROM 313.
In step S <b> 1001, the communication control unit 503 receives a request for personal setting information from the MFP 120 in step S <b> 902 together with information indicating the user identifier and date and time.
In step S <b> 1002, the master setting information control unit 502 confirms whether the user identifier received in step S <b> 1001 exists in the target 801 of the master setting information management table 800. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user identifier received in S1001 exists in the target 801 of the master setting information management table 800, the process proceeds to S1003. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user identifier received in S1001 does not exist in the target 801 of the master setting information management table 800, the process proceeds to S1006.

In S1003, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not data updated after the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in S1001 exists in the master setting information corresponding to the user identifier received in S1001. To check. More specifically, the master setting information control unit 502 acquires, from the master setting information management table 800, master setting information of personal setting information including the user identifier for which the target 801 is received in S1001. Then, the master setting information control unit 502 indicates that the last update date and time 804 is later than the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in S1001 among all the keys 802 and values 803 in the acquired personal setting information. It is determined whether or not some data exists.
The master setting information control unit 502 includes data in which the last update date and time 804 is later than the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in S1001 among all the keys 802 and values 803 in the acquired master setting information. If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to S1006. The master setting information control unit 502 includes data in which the last update date and time 804 is later than the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in S1001 among all the keys 802 and values 803 in the acquired master setting information. If it is determined that no exists, the process proceeds to S1004.

In S1004, the master setting information control unit 502 after the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in S1001 from the last update date and time 804 included in the master setting information acquired from the master setting information management table 800 in S1003. Get the date and time. Then, the master setting information control unit 502 extracts a key 802 and a value 803 corresponding to the acquired last update date and time 804.
In step S1005, the communication control unit 503 transmits the information on the key 802 and the value 803 extracted in step S1104 to the MFP 120, and the processing in FIG.
In step S <b> 1006, the communication control unit 503 transmits to the MFP 120 information indicating that there is no information updated after the date and time indicated by the date and time information received in step S <b> 1001 in the personal setting information corresponding to the user identifier received in step S <b> 1001. Then, the process of FIG. 10 is terminated. The MFP 120 receives the information transmitted in S1005 or S1006 as a response from the setting information management server 110, and determines that there is a response in the processing of S903.

FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of a special Tokushima screen used for user registration in the MFP 120 according to the present embodiment. The MFP 120 stores personal setting information for registered users.
For example, when registering a user, the MFP 120 displays the registration screen in FIG. 11A on the display 219. And it is good also as performing input operation of the information of the user who registers via the registration screen where the administrator displayed. When the MFP 120 has a Web server function, the MFP 120 may display the registration screen in FIG. 11A on the Web browser of the external PC 130 in response to the access from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120. In this case, the administrator performs an operation of inputting user information to be registered in the MFP 120 via the external PC 130.
User registration is performed separately for each MFP 120 (MFP 120a, MFP 120b).

The registration screen in FIG. 11A includes a user name input field 1101 for a registered user, a domain name input field 1102 for a registered user, and a group name input field 1103 for a registered user. In addition, the registration screen includes a check button used for selecting whether to perform user registration in units of individual users or in units of groups. Here, a group is a unit of a set of a plurality of users. When registering users in units of groups, a plurality of users that are input to the input field 1103 and included in the group corresponding to the group name are registered at a time.
The authentication control unit 402 associates groups with users belonging to the groups. The registration screen may include an input field for inputting the organization name of the directory service to which the user belongs, and the MFP 120 may perform user registration for each organization of the directory service based on the information input in the input field. For example, the registration screen may include an input field for inputting an OU that is an organizational unit of Microsoft Directory (registered trademark) of Microsoft (registered trademark). The MFP 120 may confirm the association between the group and the user using ActiveDirectory.

The registration screen further includes a designation field 1104 for designating priorities of users or a plurality of users belonging to a group. When the number of registered users reaches the upper limit, the MFP 120 deletes registered user information. The priority is information serving as an index when the MFP 120 determines a user whose registration is to be deleted. Details of the priority will be described later with reference to FIG.
In this embodiment, since the MFP 120 generates a user identifier from a user name and a domain name, the registration screen in FIG. 11A does not include a user identifier input field. The display column 1110 is a display column for displaying a list of users already registered in the MFP 120 (users registered in the registered user management table 700). The display column 1110 displays the user name, domain name, last login date and priority for each registered user. The MFP 120 acquires the user name, domain name, priority, and last login date / time from the registered user management table 700 and displays them in the display column 1110. In the present embodiment, the MFP 120 registers a user through a user registration process via a registration screen. In the present embodiment, when an unregistered user logs in to operate the MFP 120, the MFP 120 adds the logged-in user information to the registered user management table 700 and registers it in the MFP 120.

In the example of FIG. 11A, the designation field 1104 on the registration screen includes three check buttons corresponding to high, medium, and low, and the priority can be selected from three of high, medium, and low. However, the registration screen may include, for example, a designation field 1104 in which a numerical value can be input, and the MFP 120 may determine the priority of the registered user based on the number input in the designation field 1104. For example, the MFP 120 determines a higher priority as the number input in the specification field 1104 is larger, or determines a higher priority as the number input in the specification field 1104 is smaller. Thereby, the MFP 120 can determine the priority of each user in more detail.
When a user is registered in the MFP 120 based on the operation of the administrator via the registration screen, the MFP 120 stores the user information in the registered user management table 700 even before the user actually operates the MFP 120. sign up. Accordingly, the MFP 120 can reflect the latest personal setting information in synchronization with the setting information management server 110.
The MFP 120 performs processing described later in FIG. 14 for the user registered via the registration screen of FIG. 11A, periodically communicates with the setting information management server 110, and receives the latest personal setting information from the setting information management server 110. Can be obtained. Further, the MFP 120 communicates with the setting information management server 110 at the time when the user is registered based on an operation via the registration screen, and acquires the latest personal setting information of the registered user from the setting information management server 110. You can also

When the number of registered users reaches the set registration upper limit when the user registration is performed based on the operation via the registration screen in FIG. 11A, the MFP 120 deletes the registered user. A method selection screen used for method selection is displayed on the display 219. FIG. 11B is an example of a method selection screen used for selecting a method for deleting registered users.
In the example of FIG. 11B, the method selection screen includes a “delete with priority to unlogged users” check button and a “select user to be deleted” check button, which can be selected. . In addition, the method selection screen includes a determination button. When the determination button is selected, the MFP 120 registers with the deletion method corresponding to the check button that is checked among the check buttons included in the method selection screen. A user that has already been deleted. To delete a registered user, the user information is deleted from the registered user management table 700, and the personal setting information of the user is deleted from the setting information management table 600, thereby registering the user in the MFP 120. It is to cancel.

The “Delete unsigned user first” check button is a check to be checked when a deletion method for deleting a registered user is selected so that a user who has not logged into the MFP 120 is deleted first. Button. However, the user immediately after registration is not logged in for a while. For this reason, the MFP 120 does not delete the registered user until the set period has elapsed since registration. Further, when there are a plurality of deletion candidates, the MFP 120 deletes the items with the lowest priority.
The “select user to be deleted” check button is a check button that is checked when the administrator operating the MFP 120 selects a user to be deleted and selects a deletion method for deleting the user. When the “select user to delete” check button is checked, the MFP 120 displays a user selection screen used to select the user to be deleted on the display 219 when detecting the selection button.

FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating an example of a user selection screen used for selecting a user to be deleted. In the example of FIG. 11C, the user selection screen includes a display column for a list of registered users in the registered user management table 700, and includes a check column for each user. The user selection screen includes a delete button and a cancel button. When the delete button is selected, the MFP 120 deletes the user whose check column is checked. The administrator checks the check box corresponding to the user to be deleted via the user selection screen and selects the delete button. The MFP 120 may not display registered users on the user selection screen until a set period of time has elapsed since registration. Further, the MFP 120 may display the display of the users in the user selection screen by rearranging them in order of priority, or display the priority for each user. Further, when the MFP 120 detects selection of the cancel button, the MFP 120 deletes the user selection screen and displays the method selection screen on the display 219 again.
11A to 11C are examples of screens used for user registration and deletion. The MFP 120 may determine a user to be deleted by another method without using the screens of FIGS. For example, the MFP 120 may delete the user in accordance with a preset rule without causing the administrator to select it.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a user registration process. The processing in FIG. 12 is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program stored in the ROM 213.
In step S <b> 1201, the setting information control unit 403 receives registration of one or more users based on, for example, an administrator operation via a registration screen displayed on the display 219. The setting information control unit 403, for example, the user name, the domain name, and the priority that are respectively input to the input field 1101, the input field 1102, and the designation field 1104 based on the operation of the administrator via the registration screen of FIG. Accept information. In addition, the setting information control unit 403 may accept group name information input in the input field 1103 based on, for example, an operation performed by the administrator via the registration screen illustrated in FIG. 11A. The group name is an example of user attribute information. For example, the registration screen may include an input field for user attribute information other than the group name. In this case, the setting information control unit 403 may accept the attribute information input in the user attribute information input field based on the operation of the administrator via the registration screen. Then, the setting information control unit 403 performs processing for registering a user corresponding to the received attribute information. The user attribute information includes, for example, a telephone number, an address, and an e-mail address.

In step S1202, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether a user name and a domain name are accepted in step S1201. That is, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not a user name and a domain name are specified as the user to be registered. If the setting information control unit 403 determines in S1201 that the user name and domain name have been accepted, the process proceeds to S1205. If the setting information control unit 403 determines in S1201 that the user name and domain name have not been accepted, the process proceeds to S1203.
There are two types of methods for specifying a user to be registered through the registration screen of FIG. 11A: a method of specifying “user name, domain name” and a method of specifying “group name”. Therefore, if a user is not specified by “user name, domain name”, it is specified by “group name”. Therefore, if the setting information control unit 403 determines in S1201 that the user name and the domain name are not accepted, it proceeds to the processing of S1203 assuming that the user to be registered is designated by the group name.

In step S1203, the setting information control unit 403 acquires a list of user information (user name and domain name) belonging to the group name accepted in step S1201 from the authentication control unit 402.
In step S1204, the setting information control unit 403 counts the number of users who belong to the group name accepted in step S1201 and are not registered. That is, the setting information control unit 403 counts the number of users that do not exist in the registered user management table 700 among the users included in the list acquired in S1203. For example, the setting information control unit 403 generates a user identifier from the user name and domain name of the list acquired in S1203, and exists in the user identifier 701 of the registered user management table 700 among the generated user identifiers. Count the number of things that are not.

In step S <b> 1205, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the total of the number of registered users and the number of newly registered users exceeds the set upper limit value of the number of users that can be registered. For example, the setting information control unit 403 adds the total number of users registered in the registered user management table 700 and the number of newly registered users to the number of users that can be registered in the registered user management table 700 (set). It is determined whether or not the upper limit value has been exceeded. When the user name and domain name are accepted in S1201, the number of newly registered users is 1 because the user is a single user. When the group name is accepted in S1201, the number of newly registered users is the value counted in S1204. .
If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the sum of the number of registered users and the number of newly registered users exceeds the set upper limit value of the number of users that can be registered, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1206. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the total of the number of registered users and the number of newly registered users does not exceed the set upper limit for the number of users that can be registered, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1212. move on.

In step S <b> 1206, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the method set as the user deletion method is a method that preferentially deletes a user who has not logged in. In addition, the setting information control unit 403 uses a method for deleting a user selected by an administrator via the method selection screen in FIG. 11B displayed on the display 219, with priority given to a user who has not logged in. It may be determined whether or not there is. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the method set as the user deletion method is a method for preferentially deleting a user who has not logged in, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1207. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the method set as the user deletion method is not a method that preferentially deletes a user who has not logged in, the process advances to S1209.
In step S <b> 1207, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether there is a user who has not logged into the MFP 120 in the registered user management table 700. For example, in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 determines a user whose last login date 706 is 0 as a user who has never logged in to the MFP 120. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is a user who has not logged into the MFP 120 in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1208. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is no user who has not logged in to the MFP 120 in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1209. The setting information control unit 403 performs the following process even when there is a user who has not logged in to the MFP 120 in the registered user management table 700 but the set period has not elapsed since the user registration. May be. That is, the setting information control unit 403 may not treat the user as a user who has not logged in.

In step S <b> 1208, the setting information control unit 403 deletes the user with the lowest priority set from among users who have not logged into the MFP 120. For example, the setting information control unit 403 selects, from the registered user management table 700, the user information having the lowest login date and time 706 of 0, which has the lowest priority, and sets the selected user information as the registered user. Delete from the management table 700. When there are a plurality of users having the same priority and having never logged in to the MFP 120, the setting information control unit 403 may select an arbitrary method (for example, the user who exists at the top in the registered user management table 700) 1 user is selected by the method of selecting. After deleting one user, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1205.
In step S1209, the display operation control unit 401 displays the user selection screen in FIG. 11C on the display 219. The display operation control unit 401 acquires information stored in the registered user management table 700 from the setting information control unit 403, and displays a user selection screen based on the acquired information.

In step S1210, the display operation control unit 401 determines whether a user to be deleted has been designated on the user selection screen displayed in step S1209. In the example of FIG. 11C, the display operation control unit 401 is instructed to cancel the deletion of the user when the delete button is selected without selecting the user on the user selection screen. If the display operation control unit 401 determines that the user to be deleted is designated on the user selection screen displayed in step S1209, the display operation control unit 401 proceeds to processing in step S1211. When the display operation control unit 401 determines that the user to be deleted is designated in the user selection screen displayed in S1209 and is in the residence, the process proceeds to S1211.
In step S <b> 1211, the setting information control unit 403 deletes from the registered user management table 700 information about one or more users specified via the user selection screen in step S <b> 1209. After executing the user deletion, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1205.

In step S <b> 1212, the setting information control unit 403 registers the user information received in step S <b> 1201 in the registered user management table 700. At this time, the setting information control unit 403 stores the information received in step S1201 as information on the user name 704, domain name 705, and priority 703 registered in the registered user management table 700. In addition, the setting information control unit 403 generates the information of the user identifier 701 from the user name and domain name accepted in S1201, and sets the information of the last synchronization date 702 and the last login date 706 to 0.
In step S <b> 1213, the setting information control unit 403 selects one of the users registered in the registered user management table 700 whose final synchronization date 702 is 0.

In step S1214, the setting information control unit 403 executes personal setting information synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 for the user selected in step S1213. Details of the processing in S1214 are as described above with reference to FIG.
In step S <b> 1215, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether there is a user whose final synchronization date is 0 among the user information registered in the registered user management table 700. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is a user whose registration time is 0 in the registered user management table 700, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1213. When the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is no user information registered in the registered user management table 700 with the last synchronization date and time 0, the processing of FIG.

In the example of FIG. 12, the MFP 120 performs a process of synchronizing the personal setting information with the setting information management server 110 after the user registration (the processes of S1213 to S1215). However, the MFP 120 performs synchronization processing of personal setting information with the setting information management server 110 at a timing other than after the user registration (for example, timing after a period set after the user registration). May be.
When user authentication is performed by an external authentication server or the like, the user information DB 410 does not exist in the MFP 120. Therefore, the MFP 120 holds a setting information DB 420 that stores personal setting information, in addition to the user information DB 410 that stores information for authentication. However, when the MFP 120 stores the user information DB 410 that stores information for authentication in the MFP 120, the MFP 120 may store one DB in which the user information DB 410 and the setting information DB 420 are integrated.
In the processing of S1213 to S1215, the MFP 120 executes personal setting information synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 one user at a time. However, the MFP 120 may collectively transmit all the information of the user whose final synchronization date and time 702 is 0 to the setting information management server 110. In that case, the setting information management server 110 collectively transmits the latest personal setting information of the user corresponding to the received plurality of user information to the MFP 120. Then, the MFP 120 may update the personal setting information of each user stored in the setting information DB based on the received latest personal setting information of the plurality of users.

FIG. 13 is an example of a synchronization setting screen used for designating conditions for synchronization processing performed with the setting information management server 110 for the user's personal setting information. For example, the MFP 120 may display the synchronization setting screen of FIG. 13 on the display 219, and the administrator of the MFP 120 may perform an operation via the synchronization setting screen.
If the MFP 120 has a Web server function, the external PC 130 may access the MFP 120 and the MFP 120 may display a synchronization setting screen on the Web browser of the external PC 130. In this case, the administrator of the external PC 130 performs an operation on the Web browser of the external PC 130 via the synchronization setting screen and designates conditions for the synchronization process.
In the example of FIG. 13, the synchronization setting screen includes a radio button 1301, a radio button 1302, a radio button 1303, an input field 1304, and an input field 1305.

The radio button 1301 is a radio button that is selected when designating to synchronize the setting information management server 110 with the personal setting information at a designated interval. When the radio button 1301 is selected, the MFP 120 communicates with the setting information management server 110 at intervals entered in the input field 1304 to synchronize the registered user's personal setting information. In the example of FIG. 13, since 60 minutes is input in the input field, the MFP 120 communicates with the setting information management server 110 every 60 minutes to update the registered user's personal setting information.
Further, the synchronization setting screen includes a check box for selecting whether or not to provide a period for prohibiting communication with the setting information management server 110 as an option when the radio button 1301 is selected. An input field 1305 is an input field for inputting a period during which communication with the setting information management server 110 is prohibited, which is valid when this check box is checked. During the period entered in the input field 1305, the MFP 120 does not communicate with the setting information management server 110 and does not synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user. For example, when the administrator does not want to give a network load during the office working period, the administrator inputs the period as a prohibited period in the input field 1305. As described above, the synchronization system can reduce the load applied to the network during the communication prohibition period.

The radio button 1302 is a radio button that is selected when specifying to synchronize the personal setting information of a registered user with the setting information management server 110 at a specified time. When the radio button 1302 is selected, the MFP 120 communicates with the setting information management server 110 once a day at the time entered in the input field on the right side of the radio button 1302, and the personal setting information of the registered user. Synchronize. In the present embodiment, the synchronization setting screen includes one time input field, and the MFP 120 synchronizes the personal setting information once a day. However, for example, the synchronization setting screen may include a plurality of time input fields, and the MFP 120 may synchronize the personal setting information a plurality of times per day at the times input in the plurality of input fields.
The radio button 1303 prevents personal setting information from being synchronized with the setting information management server 110 unless the MFP 120 is explicitly supported based on an operation from an administrator or the like. This radio button is selected when specifying. When the radio button 1303 is selected, the MFP 120 performs personal setting information only at a specific timing such as synchronizing personal setting information of the logged-in user with the setting information management server 110 when the user logs in. Synchronize. In the synchronization setting screen of FIG. 13, radio buttons 1301, radio buttons 1302, and radio buttons 1303 are exclusive options. However, on the synchronization setting screen, a check box or the like may be included instead of these radio buttons so that, for example, it can be specified to perform synchronization at regular intervals and at specified times.
The synchronization setting screen further includes a registration button and a cancel button. When the registration button is selected, the MFP 120 stores the information input on the synchronization setting screen in the storage device 220 or the like as the synchronization setting information. Further, when the cancel button is selected, the MFP 120 deletes the synchronization setting screen from the display 219.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a periodic synchronization process of personal setting information of a registered user by the MFP 120. The processing in FIG. 14 is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program stored in the ROM 213. The MFP 120 performs the processing of FIG. 14 at the timing when the MFP 120 is activated, when it returns from the sleep state, when a condition regarding synchronization processing of personal setting information with the setting information management server 110 is specified, or the like. ,Run. When the MFP 120 is executing the process of FIG. 14 at the time set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110, the MFP 120 temporarily performs the process of FIG. Interrupt. The MFP 120 synchronizes the personal setting information with the setting information management server 110, and then restarts the process of FIG.
In step S <b> 1401, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the MFP 120 is set to periodically synchronize registered user personal setting information with the setting information management server 110. For example, the setting information control unit 403 indicates that the synchronization setting information stored in the storage device 220 or the like periodically synchronizes the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110. If it is information, it is determined as follows. That is, the setting information control unit 403 determines that it is set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 is set to periodically synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1402. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 is not set to periodically synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110, the processing of FIG. To do.

In step S <b> 1402, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the MFP 120 is set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at the specified time. For example, the setting information control unit 403 synchronizes the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at the specified time when the synchronization setting information stored in the storage device 220 or the like is specified. If it is information indicating this, it is determined as follows. That is, the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 is set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at the specified time.
If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 is set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at the specified time, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1403. move on. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 is not set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at the specified time, the setting information control unit 403 determines in step S1408. Proceed to processing. In this case, the MFP 120 is set to synchronize the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 at a specified interval.

In step S1403, the setting information control unit 403 specifies that the current time is specified when 24 hours or more have passed since the personal setting information synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 was performed at the specified time last time. It is determined whether it is within a certain period from the set time.
For example, the setting information control unit 403 first compares the last automatic update date and time with the current time to determine whether or not 24 hours or more have passed since the personal setting information synchronization processing was performed last time. The last automatic update date and time is the date and time when the synchronization processing of personal setting information with the setting information management server 110 is completed. When the synchronization processing of the personal setting information of the registered user with the setting information management server 110 is completed, the MFP 120 stores the completed time information in the setting information DB 420 as the last automatic update date / time information.

If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the current time is a time when 24 hours or more have passed since the synchronization processing of the personal setting information was previously performed, the setting information control unit 403 further performs the following processing. In other words, the setting information control unit 403 compares the time specified as the time for performing the synchronization process via the synchronization setting screen or the like with the current time, and sets a period set in advance from the specified time. It is determined whether the time is within (for example, 30 minutes). Information on the set period is stored in the storage device 220 or the like. The MFP 120 may be able to change the information of the set period stored in the storage device 220 or the like based on the operation of the administrator via the touch panel 218 or the like. This set period is a period for taking into consideration the possibility that the synchronization processing will not be performed at the specified time, such as when the MFP 120 is loaded and processing takes time, or when returning from sleep. It is.
The setting information control unit 403 has passed 24 hours or more after the personal setting information synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 was performed at the designated time last time, and the current time is designated. If it is determined that the current time is within a certain period, the process proceeds to S1404. The setting information control unit 403 has not passed more than 24 hours since the personal setting information synchronization process with the setting information management server 110 was performed at the designated time last time, or the current time is designated. If it is determined that the current time is not within a certain period, the process proceeds to S1411.

In step S <b> 1404, the setting information control unit 403 selects information on any one user registered in the registered user management table 700.
In S1405, the setting information control unit 403 executes synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 for the personal setting information corresponding to the information selected in S1404. Details of the processing in S1405 are as described above with reference to FIG.
In step S <b> 1406, the setting information control unit 403 determines, based on the user information registered in the registered user management table 700, whether there is an unprocessed personal setting information synchronization process among registered users. Determine. For example, when the last synchronization date and time 702 of the user information registered in the registered user management table 700 indicates a time before the set period, the setting information control unit 403 displays the user corresponding to the information as follows. It is determined that the synchronization process is unprocessed. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is an unprocessed personal setting information synchronization process among registered users, the process proceeds to the process of S1404. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that there is no registered user whose personal setting information is not yet processed, the process advances to step S1407.

In step S1407, the setting information control unit 403 stores the current time information as the last automatic update date / time information.
In S1408, since the MFP 120 performs synchronization processing of personal setting information at a specified interval, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not a communication prohibition period is set in the MFP 120. For example, if the synchronization setting information stored in the storage device 220 or the like is information indicating that communication is prohibited during the set period, the setting information control unit 403 sets a communication prohibition period in the MFP 120. It is determined that If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the communication prohibition period is set in the MFP 120, the process proceeds to S1409. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the communication prohibition period is not set in the MFP 120, the process proceeds to S1410. .

In step S1409, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the current time is within the prohibited period determined to have been set in step S1408. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the current time is within the prohibited period determined in S1408, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1411. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the current time is not within the prohibited period determined in S1408, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1410.
In step S1410, the setting information control unit 403 is designated as a periodic synchronization processing interval from, for example, the synchronization setting screen from the time when the previous synchronization processing stored in the last automatic synchronization date / time information is performed. It is determined whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the specified period has elapsed from the time when the previous synchronization processing was performed, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1404. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the specified period has not elapsed since the time when the previous synchronization process was performed, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S1411.
In step S1411, the setting information control unit 403 waits for a set period. Then, after waiting for the set period, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing of S1401.

As described above, in the processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the synchronization system registers the user in the MFP 120 and periodically performs synchronization processing with the setting information management server 110 on the registered user's personal setting information. . Since the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 periodically synchronize the registered user's personal setting information, the registered user's personal setting information in the MFP 120 is periodically updated. Therefore, when the registered user logs in, the MFP 120 can quickly use the personal setting information after the user logs in without acquiring the personal setting information of the user who logged in from the setting information management server 110. .
In addition, the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 synchronize personal setting information only for users who have already been registered in the MFP 120, not for users of all synchronization systems. Therefore, the synchronization system can reduce the burden of resources related to communication between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 compared to the case where the personal setting information is synchronized for the users of all the synchronization systems.

It is assumed that each user owns a PC and performs time-consuming work such as using an application after logging in to the PC at his / her own seat. Therefore, the PC may perform a process that makes the user wait. On the other hand, it is assumed that an image forming apparatus such as the MFP 120 is not owned by an individual but is shared and used by a plurality of users. The user is required to do the following to prevent other users from waiting. That is, the user is required to immediately complete the log-in process and perform the work immediately because he / she goes to the place where the image forming apparatus is placed and performs a work such as copying with a document or the like.
In this embodiment, the synchronization system synchronizes the personal setting information for each user between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110. However, the synchronization system may synchronize group setting information for each group between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110. In that case, when a user belonging to a certain group logs in, the MFP 120 reflects the group setting information corresponding to the group to which the logged-in user belongs in the processing of the MFP 120.

In the present embodiment, the MFP 120 performs synchronization processing of personal setting information for registered users with the setting information management server 110 at regular intervals, or at set times. It was. However, there is a case where the user logs in to the MFP 120 immediately before the MFP 120 synchronizes the personal setting information. In such a case, the MFP 120 may not obtain the latest personal setting information of the user from the setting information management server 110, and a situation may occur in which the latest personal setting information of the user cannot be used.
Therefore, when the MFP 120 accepts a user login during a set period (for example, 1 minute) whose end point is the time at which the synchronization processing of the personal setting information of the registered user is to be performed, It is good also as performing this process. That is, the MFP 120 may display information (for example, text or the like) indicating that it is recommended to log in again after the set period has elapsed on the display 219. Thereby, the user can grasp that the latest personal setting information is reflected after a while. When the user wants to use the MFP 120 with the latest personal setting information reflected in the MFP 120, the user waits for a while and logs in to the MFP 120 again to use the MFP 120 in which the latest personal setting information is reflected. it can.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, the process in which the MFP 120 periodically inquires the setting information management server 110 to acquire the latest personal setting information has been described. However, in the present embodiment, a process in which the setting information management server 110 periodically transmits the latest personal setting information to the MFP 120 will be described.
The system configuration of the synchronization system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The hardware configuration and functional configuration of each system component of the synchronization system are the same as those in the first embodiment.
In this embodiment, the CPU 311 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 313 or the storage device 320, thereby realizing the functions of FIG. 5 and the processing of the flowcharts described later with reference to FIGS.
An outline of processing for periodically transmitting personal setting information from the setting information management server 110 to the MFP 120 will be described. In the setting information management server 110, for each MFP 120, information on the MFP 120, information on a user registered in the MFP 120 (user identifier, etc.), information on the last synchronization date and time when personal setting information was last transmitted to the MFP 120. Etc. are stored. If there is personal setting information updated after the last synchronization date in the personal setting information of the user registered in the MFP 120 on a regular basis, the setting information management server 110 stores information on the user and the personal setting in the MFP 120. Send information and. In response to the transmission of information from the setting information management server 110, the MFP 120 updates the personal setting information to the user corresponding to the transmitted information based on the personal setting information corresponding to the transmitted information. .

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating an example of a table for managing user information registered for each MFP 120 and condition information regarding synchronization processing. The conditions regarding the synchronization processing are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 13 and are set for each MFP 120 in the setting information management server 110. The table in FIG. 15A is a user management table 1500 that manages registered users and synchronization processing conditions for each MFP 120. The user management table 1500 is stored in the storage device 320 and is managed by the master setting information control unit 502.
The user management table 1500 stores, for each MFP 120, user information registered in each MFP 120, information related to each MFP 120, and synchronization processing condition information. The user management table 1500 includes items 1501-1508.
An item 1501 is an item for storing device identifier information that is information for identifying each MFP 120. For example, the device identifier of each MFP 120 is a value set in advance for each MFP 120, such as a value generated based on the MAC address of the communication I / F controller 217.
In the present embodiment, the device identifier information is stored in the item 1501, but device name information that is a unique name for each MFP 120 may be stored. Further, the item 1501 may store information such as an IP address, a host name, and an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name).

An item 1502 is an item for storing the IP address of each MFP 120. An item 1503 is an item for storing information on the last synchronization date and time indicating the date and time when the personal setting information of the user registered for each MFP 120 was last synchronized. An item 1504 is an item for storing a list of user identifiers of users registered in each MFP 120.
Items 1505 to 1508 are items for storing information on the conditions of synchronization processing for each MFP 120. An item 1505 is an item for storing information indicating whether or not to periodically perform synchronization processing of personal setting information. An item 1506 is an item for storing information on intervals at which the synchronization processing of personal setting information is performed. The item 1506 stores 0 when the setting information management server 110 does not synchronize with the MFP 120 at regular intervals. An item 1507 is an item for storing information on a period during which communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is prohibited. In the present embodiment, when “ON” is stored in the item 1505 and “0” is stored in the item 1506, the setting information management server 110 performs the item 1508 with the MFP 120 every day, not at regular intervals. The personal setting information is synchronized at the designated time. An item 1508 is an item for storing information on a time at which the synchronization processing is performed.

FIG. 15B is a diagram showing an example of a user identifier table 1510 that stores user information. The user identifier table 1510 stores user names and domain names corresponding to all user identifiers stored in the item 1504 of the user management table 1500. The user identifier table 1510 includes items 1511 to 1513.
An item 1511 is an item for storing a user identifier. An item 1512 is an item for storing the name of the user. An item 1513 is an item for storing the domain name of the user. In this embodiment, the setting information management server 110 can set conditions for synchronization processing for each MFP 120. However, the setting information management server 110 may perform synchronization processing for all MFPs 120 under the same conditions. In this case, the setting information management server 110 stores information on a single synchronization processing condition.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a user registration process. The processing in FIG. 16 is realized by the CPU 311 executing a program stored in the ROM 313 or the storage device 320.
When the personal setting information of the user is updated in the MFP 120, the MFP 120 transmits the updated personal setting information to the setting information management server 110 and stores the personal setting information of the user in the setting information management server 110. And request to update based on the transmitted information. The processing in FIG. 16 is processing in the setting information management server 110 when the MFP 120 accesses the setting information management server 110 as in this request or the like. The request that the MFP 120 transmits to the setting information management server 110 includes the device identifier of the MFP 120, the IP address, the user identifier related to the user to be updated, the user name for the user identifier, and the domain name information in addition to the personal setting information. Yes.
In addition, when the personal setting information of a plurality of users is updated, the MFP 120 collectively transmits the personal setting information of the plurality of users to the setting information management server 110 and stores the personal setting information stored in the setting information management server 110. May be requested to be updated.

In step S <b> 1601, the communication control unit 503 receives a personal setting information update request from the MFP 120.
In S1602, the master setting information control unit 502 selects any one user from the users corresponding to the user information included in the request received in S1601. The MFP 120 may transmit an update request for personal setting information for a plurality of users to the setting information management server 110, or may transmit an update request for personal setting information for a single user.
In step S1603, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether information on the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request accepted in step S1601 is registered in the user management table 1500. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the item 1501 of the user management table 1500 includes the device identifier of the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the device identifier of the request source MFP 120 exists in the item 1501, the information of the request source MFP 120 received in S1601 is registered in the user management table 1500. It is determined that When the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the device identifier of the request source MFP 120 does not exist in the item 1501, the information of the request source MFP 120 received in S 1601 is registered in the user management table 1500. Judge that it is not.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the information of the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request accepted in S1601 is registered in the user management table 1500, the process proceeds to S1605. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the information of the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request accepted in S1601 is not registered in the user management table 1500, the process proceeds to S1604.

In step S1604, the master setting information control unit 502 registers the device identifier and IP address related to the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request accepted in step S1601 in the items 1501 and 1502 of the user management table 1500. In this case, the master setting information control unit 502 sets items 1503 to 1508 corresponding to the newly registered device identifiers as blanks.
In step S1605, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the user identifier of the user selected in step S1602 is registered in the item 1511 of the user identifier table 1510. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user identifier of the user selected in S1602 is registered in the item 1511 of the user identifier table 1510, the process proceeds to S1607. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user identifier of the user selected in S1602 is not registered in the item 1511 of the user identifier table 1510, the process proceeds to S1606.
In S1606, the master setting information control unit 502 registers the user identifier, the user name, and the domain name corresponding to the user selected in S1602 in the items 1511 to 1513 of the user identifier table 1510.

In step S <b> 1607, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the user selected in step S <b> 1602 is registered as a registered user of the MFP 120 that has transmitted the request accepted in step S <b> 1601. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not the user selected in S1602 is registered in the item 1504 of the user management table 1500 corresponding to the device identifier of the requesting MFP 120 of the request received in S1601. . If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user selected in S1602 is registered as the registered user of the MFP 120 that is the transmission source of the request accepted in S1601, the process proceeds to S1609. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the user selected in S1602 is not registered as a registered user of the MFP 120 that has transmitted the request accepted in S1601, the process proceeds to S1608.
In step S <b> 1608, the master setting information control unit 502 registers the user selected in step S <b> 1602 in the user management table 1500 as a user registered in the requesting MFP 120 that received the request received in step S <b> 1601. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 registers the user identifier of the user selected in S1602 in the item 1504 in the row where the item 1501 of the user management table 1500 is the device identifier of the requesting MFP 120 of the request received in S1601. To do.

In step S1609, the master setting information control unit 502 updates the personal setting information of the user selected in step S1602 on the master setting information management table 800. The personal setting information update process is, for example, information registration or deletion.
In step S1601, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether there is an unprocessed user in the request accepted in step S1601. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is an unprocessed user in the request received in S1601, the process proceeds to S1602. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is no unprocessed user in the request received in S1601, the master setting information control unit 502 ends the process of FIG.
The process of FIG. 16 is a process when the MFP 120 registers / updates the personal setting information in the MFP 120. However, when the MFP 120 only registers personal setting information in the MFP 120, the setting information management server 110 may be requested to register the user. In that case, the setting information management server 110 skips the process of S1609 in the process of FIG.

16 alone, the setting information management server 110 cannot acquire information on users who may use the MFP 120 unless the registration / update of the user's personal setting information occurs in the MFP 120. That is, the setting information management server 110 may not be able to acquire information on a user who has never used the MFP 120 although there is a possibility of logging in to the MFP 120 only by the processing of FIG. The setting information management server 110 cannot send to the MFP 120 the latest personal setting information of a user who may log in to the MFP 120 but has never used the MFP 120. Therefore, the MFP 120 cannot use such user personal setting information immediately after the user logs in.
Therefore, the setting information management server 110 needs to register a user who uses the MFP 120 without communicating with the MFP 120. An example of a screen used when the setting information management server 110 registers a user who may log in to the MFP 120 without communicating with the MFP 120 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating an example of a designation screen for designating an MFP 120 (device) that is a target of periodic synchronization processing for each user. The designation screen includes a designation field 1701, a display field 1702, a display field 1703, a button 1704, a button 1705, a button 1706, and a button 1707. A designation field 1701 is a designation field used for displaying a user name. The designation field 1701 includes radio buttons corresponding to each user. These radio buttons are used when one user is selected from a plurality of users. A display column 1702 is a display column used for displaying a domain name corresponding to each user.

A display column 1703 is a display column used for displaying a list of device identifiers of the MFP 120 that each user may log in to (a target for performing synchronization processing of personal setting information). The master setting information control unit 502 searches for the user identifier of each user from the item 1504 of the user management table 1500, and displays the device identifier of the item 1501 corresponding to the searched user identifier via the display operation control unit 501. It is displayed in the display column 1703.
A button 1704 is a button that is selected when editing the synchronization target device of the selected user. A button 1705 is a button that is selected when the selected user is deleted from the target to be periodically synchronized. A button 1706 is a button selected when registering a new user as a target of periodic synchronization processing. A button 1707 is a button that is selected when the designation screen is closed and the designation processing of the MFP 120 ends.

FIG. 17B is a diagram showing an example of an additional screen displayed when the button 1704 is selected on the designation screen of FIG. 17A. The addition screen in FIG. 17B is a screen used for adding the MFP 120 that is a target of periodic synchronization processing for a selected user. 17B includes an input field 1710, a selection field 1711, a button 1712, and a button 1713.
The input field 1710 is an input field used for inputting a unique value that identifies the MFP 120 that is the target of synchronization processing for the selected user. In the input field 1710, for example, information that can uniquely identify the MFP 120 such as a device identifier, an IP address, a host name, and an FQDN is input.
The selection column 1711 is a selection column used to select one MFP from the list of MFPs 120 that have accessed the setting information management server 110. A selection column 1711 is a selection column in which one MFP can be selected from a list of MFPs 120 displayed by pull-down or the like. For example, when the selection field 1711 is selected, a device identifier is displayed as an option in the item 1501 of the user management table 1500 as a pull-down menu.

A button 1712 is a button that is selected when the MFP 120 specified in the input field 1710 or the selection field 1711 is registered as the MFP 120 to be subjected to synchronization processing for the user specified in the specification field 1701. For example, in the user management table 1500, the master setting information control unit 502 adds the user selected in S1701 to the item 1504 corresponding to the device identifier corresponding to the MFP 120 specified in the input field 1710 or the selection field 1711. Register an identifier.
When the MFP 120 specified in the input field 1710 or the selection field 1711 does not exist in the item 1501 of the user management table 1500, the master setting information control unit 502 performs the following process. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 registers in the user management table 1500 the IP address of the device and information input via the synchronization setting screen described later with reference to FIG.
A button 1713 is selected when canceling the registration process and returning to FIG. 17A. In this embodiment, the additional screen in FIG. 17B is a screen in which only one MFP 120 can be specified at a time, but may be a screen in which a plurality of MFPs 120 can be set together. When the button 1705 is selected in FIG. 17A, the display operation control unit 501 displays a confirmation screen used for confirming whether or not to delete the selected user on the display 319 or the like. Then, when the deletion is selected via the confirmation screen, the master setting information control unit 502 excludes the selected user from the target of the synchronization process. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 deletes the user identifier selected from the item 1504 for all items 1501 of the user management table 1500.

When the button 1706 is selected on the designation screen in FIG. 17A, the display operation control unit 501 displays a user registration screen in FIG. 17C on the display 319 for newly registering a synchronization target user. FIG. 17C is a diagram illustrating an example of a user registration screen. The user registration screen of FIG. 17C includes an input field 1720, an input field 1721, an input field 1722, a button 1723, and a button 1724.
The input field 1720 is an input field used for inputting a user name of a newly registered user. The input field 1721 is an input field used for inputting a domain name of a newly registered user. The input field 1722 is an input field used for inputting a group name when a user to be registered is designated in units of groups.
17C includes a method for specifying a user name and a domain name in the input fields 1720 and 1721 and a method for specifying a group name in the input field 1722. When the radio button corresponding to the input fields 1720 and 1721 is checked, the master setting information control unit 502 registers the user corresponding to the user name and domain name specified in the input fields 1720 and 1721. Determine as. When the radio button corresponding to the input field 1722 is checked, the master setting information control unit 502 determines a user who belongs to the group having the group name specified in the input field 1722 as a registered user.

In this embodiment, when a group name is designated on the user registration screen, the master setting information control unit 502 registers each user belonging to the designated group name. However, the master setting information control unit 502 may register the group having the designated group name and display the group name in the designation field 1701 of the designation screen in FIG. 17A.
The button 1723 is a button used for user registration input on the user registration screen. A button 1724 is selected when canceling the registration process and returning to the designation screen of FIG. 17A. For example, when the user information to be registered is input in the input fields 1720 and 1721 and the button 1723 is selected, the master setting information control unit 502 stores the specified user name 1512 and the domain name in the user identifier table 1510. 1513 is registered.
In this embodiment, the master setting information control unit 502 generates the user identifier from the hash value of the user name and the domain name, and the generated hash value is stored in the item 1511. When a group name is specified on the user registration screen in FIG. 17C, the authentication control unit 402 acquires all users belonging to the specified group, and the master setting information control unit 502 determines the acquired users as The user identifier table 1510 is registered in a lump. After the user specified in FIG. 17C is registered in the user identifier table 1510, the display operation control unit 501 displays the additional screen in FIG. 17B on the display 319. Then, the master setting information control unit 502 registers a device to be a synchronization process target for the registered user based on the input on the displayed additional screen. The process for registering the device to be synchronized is the same as the process when the button 1712 in FIG. 17B is selected.

FIG. 18 is an example of a device selection synchronization editing screen for editing the conditions of periodic synchronization processing for each MFP 120. The synchronous edit screen in FIG. 18 includes a display field 1801, a display field 1802, a display field 1803, a button 1804, a button 1805, and a check box 1810.
A display column 1801 is a display column in which the device identifier of the MFP 120 is displayed. A display column 1802 is a display column in which information on whether or not to perform periodic synchronization is displayed. A display column 1803 is a display column in which conditions for periodic synchronization are displayed.
The display operation control unit 501 displays the contents of the device identifier of the item 1501 of the user management table 1500 in the display field 1801. The display operation control unit 501 displays the contents of the item 1505 of the user management table 1500 in the display field 1802. The display operation control unit 501 displays the contents of items 1506 to 1508 of the user management table 1500 in the display field 1803. The check box 1810 includes a check box corresponding to each MFP 120, and the administrator of the setting information management server 110 checks the check box corresponding to the MFP 120 to be selected.

When the button 1804 is selected in a state where any one or more device identifiers (MFP 120) are selected, the display operation control unit 501 performs the following processing. That is, the display operation control unit 501 displays on the display 319 a synchronization setting screen for setting conditions for periodic synchronization processing for the MFP 120 selected via the synchronization editing screen. Here, the displayed synchronization setting screen is, for example, the synchronization setting screen of FIG.
When registration is selected in FIG. 13, the master setting information control unit 502 performs the following processing. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 specifies the contents of the items 1505 to 1508 corresponding to the device identifier of each MFP 120 selected by the check box 1810 in the user management table 1500 on the synchronization setting screen of FIG. Update with content. As a result, the master setting information control unit 502 can set conditions for periodic synchronization processing for each device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which the setting information management server 110 transmits personal setting information for a user registered in each MFP 120 to each MFP 120. The processing in FIG. 19 is realized by the CPU 311 executing a program stored in the ROM 313 or the storage device 320.
In step S1901, the master setting information control unit 502 selects one device identifier (MFP 120) that is a target of periodic synchronization processing. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 selects any one of the device identifiers registered in the item 1501 in the user management table 1500.

In step S1902, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the MFP 120 corresponding to the device identifier selected in step S1901 is set to periodically perform synchronization processing. The master setting information control unit 502 checks the user management table 1500 and determines whether the item 1505 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 is “ON”. When the master setting information control unit 502 confirms the user management table 1500 and determines that the item 1505 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 is “ON”, the master setting information control unit 502 determines as follows. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the MFP 120 corresponding to the selected device identifier is set to perform synchronization processing periodically. The master setting information control unit 502 confirms the user management table 1500, and determines that the item 1505 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 is “OFF” as follows. In other words, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the MFP 120 corresponding to the selected device identifier is not set to perform synchronization processing periodically.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the MFP 120 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 is set to periodically perform synchronization processing, the master setting information control unit 502 proceeds to processing in S1903. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the MFP 120 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 is not set to perform synchronization processing periodically, the process proceeds to S1910.

In step S <b> 1903, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the condition for the periodic synchronization process of the MFP 120 selected in step S <b> 1901 is a condition for performing the synchronization process at regular intervals. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the value of the item 1506 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 in the user management table 1500 is valid (positive number) or not (0). When determining that the value of the item 1506 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 in the user management table 1500 is valid (positive number), the master setting information control unit 502 determines as follows. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the condition for the periodic synchronization process of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is a condition for performing the synchronization process at regular intervals. When the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the value of the item 1506 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 in the user management table 1500 is invalid (0), the master setting information control unit 502 determines as follows. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the condition for the periodic synchronization process of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is not a condition for performing the synchronization process at regular intervals.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the condition for the periodic synchronization process of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is a condition for performing the synchronization process at regular intervals, the process proceeds to S1911. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the condition for the periodic synchronization process of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is not a condition for performing the synchronization process at regular intervals, the process proceeds to S1904.

In step S1904, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the MFP 120 selected in step S1901 has passed 24 hours or more from the time when the previous synchronization was performed, and the current time is within a certain period from the specified time. Determine whether. The master setting information control unit 502 compares the time indicated by the item 1503 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 with the current time, and determines whether 24 hours or more have elapsed. When the master setting information control unit 502 determines that 24 hours or more have elapsed, the master setting information control unit 502 performs the following processing. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 compares the time indicated by the item 1508 corresponding to the device identifier selected in S1901 with the current time, and the current time is a period set in advance from the time indicated by the item 1508 (for example, , 30 minutes). In this embodiment, the time indicated by the item 1508 is set in advance, and the administrator of the setting information management server 110 cannot specify it. However, the setting information management server 110 may acquire the time at which the synchronization processing is performed based on a time designation operation via the operation device 318 or the like by an administrator of the setting information management server 110 or the like.
When the master setting information control unit 502 determines in the MFP 120 selected in S1901 that 24 hours or more have elapsed from the time when the previous synchronization was performed and the current time is within a certain period from the specified time, The process proceeds to S1905. Further, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the MFP 120 selected in S1901 has not passed 24 hours or more from the time when the previous synchronization was performed, or the current time is not within a certain period from the designated time. If it is determined, the process proceeds to S1910.

In step S1905, the master setting information control unit 502 selects an arbitrary user from the users registered in the MFP 120 selected in step S1901. For example, in the user management table 1500, the master setting information control unit 502 selects any one user from the users described in the item 1504 corresponding to the item 1501 that matches the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901. .
In step S1906, the master setting information control unit 502 executes personal setting information synchronization processing for the user selected in step S1905 with the MFP 120 selected in step S1901. The master setting information control unit 502 acquires the latest personal setting information regarding the user selected in S1905. The communication control unit 503 acquires the IP address of the item 1502 corresponding to the item 1501 including the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901, and transmits the acquired personal setting information to the IP address. Details of the processing of the MFP 120 that has received the personal setting information will be described later with reference to FIG.

The master setting information control unit 502 performs the following processing on the information of the target 801 including the device identifier selected in S1901 in the master setting information management table 800. In other words, the master setting information control unit 502 acquires the last update date and time 804 indicating a time later than the time indicated by the item 1503 corresponding to the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901. Then, the master setting information control unit 502 acquires information on the target 801, the key 802, and the value 803 corresponding to the acquired last update date and time 804 as the latest personal setting information of the user selected in S1905.
If there is no personal setting information with the last update date and time 804 after the time indicated by the item 1503, communication with the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is not performed, and the synchronization processing in S1906 is not performed. .

In step S1907, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether the synchronization processing with the MFP 120 selected in step S1901 has succeeded. The communication control unit 503 receives information on the result of the synchronization processing in S 1906 from the MFP 120. Then, based on the received information indicating the result of the synchronization process, master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not the synchronization process with MFP 120 selected in S1901 has succeeded. For example, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the synchronization process has been successful when the received information indicating the result of the synchronization process is information indicating the completion of the synchronization process. The master setting information control unit 502 determines that the synchronization process has failed when the received information indicating the result of the synchronization process is information indicating the failure of the synchronization process.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the synchronization process with the MFP 120 selected in S1901 is successful, the process proceeds to S1908. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the synchronization process with the MFP 120 selected in S1901 has failed, The process proceeds to S1910.

In step S1908, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether there is a user who has not been processed in the current synchronization process among the users registered in the MFP 120 selected in step S1901. The master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not there is a user who has not yet been subjected to synchronization processing among the users included in the item 1504 corresponding to the item 1501 including the device identifier selected in S1901. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is a user who has not yet been synchronized among the users registered in the MFP 120 selected in S1901, the process proceeds to S1905. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is no unprocessed user among the users registered in the MFP 120 selected in S1901, the process proceeds to S1909.
In step S1909, the master setting information control unit 502 sets the time when the personal setting information is transmitted in step S1906 to the MFP 120 selected in step S1901, as the final synchronization date. For example, for the user selected in S1905, the master setting information control unit 502 stores the time when the latest personal setting information is acquired in S1906 in the RAM 312, and stores the time information stored in the user management table. The 1500 item 1503 is updated.
In step S <b> 1910, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether there is an MFP 120 that has not yet undergone synchronization processing among the MFPs 120 that are subject to synchronization processing. The master setting information control unit 502 determines whether there is an MFP 120 that has not yet undergone synchronization processing among the MFPs 120 included in the item 1501 of the user management table 1500. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is an MFP 120 that has not been subjected to synchronization processing among the MFPs 120 that are subject to synchronization processing, the master setting information control unit 502 proceeds to the processing of S1901. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that there is no unprocessed MFP 120 among the synchronization target MFPs 120, the process advances to step S1914.

In step S1911, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether a prohibition period for communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is set. The master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not a value is set in the item 1507 corresponding to the item 1501 including the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that a value is set in the item 1507, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that a prohibition period for communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is set. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that no value is set in the item 1507, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that a prohibition period for communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is not set.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that a prohibition period for communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is set, the process advances to step S1912. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the prohibition period for communication between the setting information management server 110 and the MFP 120 is not set, the process advances to step S1913. The process of S1911 is a process when it is determined Yes in S1903, and is a case where the synchronization process is executed at a set interval.

In S1912, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not the current time is within the set prohibited period. The master setting information control unit 502 compares the prohibition period indicated by the item 1507 corresponding to the item 1501 including the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 with the current time, and determines whether or not the current time is within the prohibition period. judge. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the current time is within the set prohibited period, the process proceeds to S1910. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the current time is not within the set prohibited period, the process proceeds to S1913. Proceed to
In step S <b> 1913, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether a set period has elapsed since the time when the previous synchronization processing of the MFP 120 selected in step S <b> 1901 was executed. The master setting information control unit 502 acquires the time indicated by the item 1503 corresponding to the item 1501 including the device identifier of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 and the interval indicated by the item 1506. Then, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not the current time is later than the time obtained by adding the acquired interval to the acquired time. When the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the current time is later than the time obtained by adding the acquired interval to the acquired time, the time when the previous synchronization processing of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 was executed. It is determined that the set period has passed. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the current time is not later than the time obtained by adding the acquired interval to the acquired time, the previous synchronization processing of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 has been executed. It is determined that the period set from the time has not elapsed.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the set period has elapsed since the time when the previous synchronization processing of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 was executed, the process proceeds to S1905. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the set period has not elapsed since the time when the previous synchronization processing of the MFP 120 selected in S1901 was executed, the process proceeds to S1910.

In step S <b> 1914, the master setting information control unit 502 ends the synchronization processing for all the MFPs 120 to be synchronized, and waits for a set period.
In step S1915, the master setting information control unit 502 determines whether or not to continue the periodic synchronization process. For example, when the setting information management server 110 has a switch that is used to determine whether the periodic synchronization processing is valid or invalid, the master setting information control unit 502 may perform the following processing. That is, the master setting information control unit 502 determines that the periodic synchronization process is continued when this switch is ON, and determines that the periodic synchronization process is not continued when this switch is OFF. Good.
If the master setting information control unit 502 determines to continue the periodic synchronization process, the process proceeds to S1901. If the master setting information control unit 502 determines not to continue the periodic synchronization process, the process of FIG. 19 ends.

In the processing of FIG. 19, the setting information management server 110 transmits the latest personal setting information for each user to the MFP 120 to be synchronized. However, the setting information management server 110 may collectively transmit the latest personal setting information for a plurality of users to the synchronization target MFP 120. In that case, the MFP 120 cannot update the personal setting information for all users due to reaching the upper limit of the number of users that can be registered or the capacity of the storage device 220 being insufficient during processing. There is a case. In such a case, the setting information management server 110 receives a list of users whose personal setting information could not be updated from the MFP 120 as a result of the synchronization process, and stores the received result in the storage device 320 or the like. May be. Then, the setting information management server 110 may transmit the latest personal setting information of the user included in the list stored in the storage device 320 or the like to the MFP 120 again in the next synchronization process. As a result, even if the synchronization process of the personal setting information fails once, the synchronization system can improve the success rate of the synchronization process by performing the synchronization process again for the failed part.
If the MFP 120 is in the sleep state when the synchronization processing of the personal setting information with the MFP 120 is executed in S1906, the master setting information control unit 502 instructs the MFP 120 to return from the sleep state. You may instruct | indicate execution of a synchronous process above. Further, the master setting information control unit 502 may not cause the MFP 120 to return from sleep, fail the synchronization process, and may not execute the synchronization process until the next synchronization process timing for the MFP 120.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which the MFP 120 updates personal setting information stored therein based on the latest personal setting information transmitted from the setting information management server 110. The processing in FIG. 20 is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program stored in the ROM 213 or the storage device 220.
In step S2001, the communication control unit 404 receives the latest personal setting information from the setting information management server 110. The communication control unit 404 receives the personal setting information transmitted by the setting information management server 110 in S1906.
In S2002, the setting information control unit 403 updates the contents of the setting information management table 600 with the personal setting information received in S2001. The setting information control unit 403 acquires the same target 601 and key 602 of the setting information management table 600 as the target 801 and key 802 included in the personal setting information received in S2001. Then, the setting information control unit 403 updates the contents of the value 603 corresponding to the acquired target 601 and key 602 with the contents of the value 803 included in the personal setting information received in S2001.
In step S2003, the communication control unit 404 transmits the result of the synchronization process to the setting information management server 110. If the setting information management table 600 is reflected in S2002, the communication control unit 404 transmits the synchronization processing result as success, and if the update fails in S2002 due to insufficient storage capacity of the storage device 220, the communication control unit 404 performs synchronization processing. The result of is sent as failure. Further, when the communication control unit 404 transmits the result of the synchronization processing as failure, the communication control unit 404 may transmit information such as information on the cause of the failure and information on the user who failed to update the personal setting information to the setting information management server 110. Good. By doing so, the setting information management server 110 can perform a process according to the failure of the synchronization process when the synchronization process fails.

In the present embodiment, the setting information management server 110 registers users who use each MFP 120 in advance, accepts designation of conditions for the synchronization processing of personal setting information, and periodically makes a setting with the MFP 120 according to the accepted conditions. Synchronously process personal setting information. As a result, the setting information management server 110 transmits the latest personal setting information of the user registered in each MFP 120 to each MFP 120 only by the processing of the setting information management server 110, and each MFP 120 has the latest personal setting. Information can be made available. Accordingly, even a user who uses the MFP 120 for the first time or a user whose personal settings have been updated in another MFP 120 can be used in the latest state. The setting information management server 110 registers users and performs synchronization processing of personal setting information for each user, but may register groups and perform synchronization processing of group setting information for each group.
As described above, in the processing of the present embodiment, the synchronization system registers the user who may log in to the MFP 120 in the setting information management server 110, and periodically registers the personal setting information of the registered user with the MFP 120. To synchronize. Since the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 periodically synchronize the registered user's personal setting information, the registered user's personal setting information in the MFP 120 is periodically updated to the latest state. Therefore, the MFP 120 uses the latest personal setting information promptly after the user logs in without acquiring the latest personal setting information of the logged-in user from the setting information management server 110 when the registered user logs in. can do.
In addition, the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 synchronize personal setting information only for users who have already been registered in the MFP 120, not for users of all synchronization systems. Therefore, the synchronization system can reduce the burden of resources related to communication between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 compared to the case where the personal setting information is synchronized for the users of all the synchronization systems.
In the first embodiment, each MFP 120 independently manages the synchronization processing of personal setting information with the setting information management server 110. However, in this embodiment, only the setting information management server 110 manages the synchronization processing of personal setting information between each of the MFPs 120 and the setting information management server 110. Therefore, the synchronization system can reduce the resource load related to the synchronization processing in the entire synchronization system.

<Embodiment 3>
In the first and second embodiments, a user or an administrator of the MFP 120 operates the MFP 120 to register the user in the MFP 120. In the present embodiment, a process for registering a user when the MFP 120 receives an access from the user from the outside will be described.
The system configuration of the synchronization system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The hardware configuration and functional configuration of each system component of the synchronization system are the same as those in the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the CPU 211 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 213 or the storage device 220, thereby realizing functions described later with reference to FIG. 21, flowchart processing described with reference to FIG.
The hardware configuration of the external PC 130 is the same as the hardware configuration of the setting information management server 110 shown in FIG. The function of the external PC 130 and the processing of the external PC 130 are realized by the CPU of the external PC 130 executing processing based on a program stored in the ROM or the like of the external PC 130.
In the present embodiment, processing of the synchronization system when the MFP 120 is accessed from a device other than the MFP 120 such as the external PC 130 will be described. As an example of access to the MFP 120, there is input of a print job from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120. As an example of access to the MFP 120, there is an access to the function of the MFP 120 via a network by the external PC 130 via a WEB browser provided by the WEB server function of the MFP 120. As an example of access to the MFP 120, there is an operation to a document in the MFP 120 via a network via a file server function of the MFP 120, which is performed by the external PC.

The function of the WEB server of the MFP 120 is to provide a user interface for changing setting information of the MFP 120 to an external device via the network, and to access a document file in the storage device 220 from the external device. It is a function to control. The file server function of the MFP 120 is a function for controlling access to a document in the MFP 120 from the external PC 130 using a communication protocol such as SMB, CIFS, WebDAV, FTP, or the like.
A print job submitted to the MFP 120 from an external device includes user information (user name, domain name) that submitted the job. A case where user authentication is performed when accessing the MFP 120 via the WEB server function or the file server function, the accessing user is specified, and access to a document or function that can be handled only by the specified user is permitted. There is also. As described above, when there is an access from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120 and the accessing user can be identified, it is assumed that the user uses the MFP 120. Therefore, the MFP 120 may register the user. Detained printing is executed when a print job is submitted from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120 but when the MFP 120 authenticates the user who submitted the print job, not immediately after receiving the print job. Printing process. The detained print function is a function for executing detained printing. When the retained print function of the MFP 120 is used, a user who has submitted a print job to the MFP 120 uses the MFP 120 to print the submitted job. Therefore, it is desirable that the MFP 120 can reflect the latest personal setting information of the user. Access to the MFP 120 from an external device includes, for example, access for requesting user registration with authentication in the MFP 120 in addition to print job input, access via the WEB server function, and access via the file server function. There is.
Further, external access includes access via the remote user interface (RUI) of the MFP 120. Further, when the MFP 120 receives an access using a specific protocol such as Server Message Block (SMB) or WebDAV, the MFP 120 may register the user who has made the access and perform synchronization processing of personal setting information.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of each functional configuration of the MFP 120 according to the present embodiment. Each of the MFPs 120 includes a display operation control unit 401, an authentication control unit 402, a setting information control unit 403, a communication control unit 404, a network control unit 2101, a print job processing unit 2102, and a file server processing unit 2103. The display operation control unit 401, the authentication control unit 402, the setting information control unit 403, and the communication control unit 404 are the same as those in FIG.
The network control unit 2101 receives a print job or an access to a file from an external device such as the external PC 130 via the communication I / F controller 217. A print job processing unit 2102 performs print processing via the printer 222 on a print job accepted by the network control unit 2101 or a print job generated by the copy function of the MFP 120. The file server processing unit 2103 operates the document file stored in the storage device 220 via the storage device I / F 216.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the MFP 120 when the MFP 120 is accessed from the external PC 130. The processing in FIG. 22 is realized by the CPU 211 executing a program stored in the ROM 213 or the storage device 220.
In step S2201, the network control unit 2101 receives access from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120. For example, the network control unit 2101 receives a print job and receives access to a file server or the like via the communication I / F controller 217. For example, when access that requires user authentication, such as access to a file server, is received, the authentication control unit 402 executes authentication processing for the user who performed the access.
In step S2202, the network control unit 2101 determines whether the access accepted in step S2201 is a print job. If the network control unit 2101 determines that the access accepted in step S2201 is a print job, the network control unit 2101 proceeds to the processing in step S2203. If the network control unit 2101 determines that the access accepted in step S2201 is not a print job, the network control unit 2101 proceeds to the processing in step S2204.

In step S2203, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether a user registration is to be performed when a print job is submitted. For example, the display operation control unit 401 can display a screen used for determining whether or not to perform user registration when a print job is submitted on the display 219. The setting information control unit 403 can determine whether or not to perform user registration when a print job is submitted based on an input from the administrator or the like on the displayed screen. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that user registration is to be performed when a print job is submitted, the process advances to step S2205. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the user registration is not to be performed when the print job is submitted, the processing illustrated in FIG. 22 ends.
In step S <b> 2204, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether user registration is to be performed during network access. In this embodiment, the network access is an access from the external PC 130 to the MFP 120 via the WEB server function or file server function of the MFP 120. For example, the display operation control unit 401 can display on the display 219 a screen used to determine whether or not to perform user registration when network access is performed. The setting information control unit 403 can determine whether or not to perform user registration when network access is performed based on an input from the administrator or the like on the displayed screen. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the user registration is to be performed at the time of network access, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S2205 and determines that the user is not to be registered at the time of network access. If so, the process of FIG. 22 is terminated.
In this embodiment, the MFP 120 registers the accessed user when a print job or network access is performed from the external PC 130. However, the MFP 120 may register all users who have accessed the MFP 120, for example.

In step S2205, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether user information is included in the access accepted in step S2201. The setting information control unit 403 requests the print job processing unit 2102 or the file server processing unit 2103 to determine whether or not user information is included in the access in accordance with the content of the access accepted in S2201. The setting information control unit 403 requests the print job processing unit 2102 if the access received in S2201 is a print job input, and requests the file server processing unit 2103 if the access received in S2201 is network access. . Upon receiving the request from the setting information control unit 403, the print job processing unit 2102 or the file server processing unit 2103 determines whether or not the user information is included in the access received in step S2201, and the result of the determination is determined. Return to the setting information control unit 403. If the setting information control unit 403 returns the determination result that the user information is included in the access accepted in S2201, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the process of S2206. When the setting information control unit 403 returns a determination result that the user information is not included in the access accepted in step S2201, the setting information control unit 403 ends the processing in FIG.
In step S2206, the setting information control unit 403 acquires user information (user name and domain name) related to the access request accepted in step S2201. For example, the setting information control unit 403 requests the print job processing unit 2102 or the file server processing unit 2103 to acquire the user information included in the access accepted in S2201 in accordance with the access accepted in S2201.

In step S <b> 2207, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the user acquired in step S <b> 2206 is registered in the MFP 120. For example, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the user information acquired in S2206 exists in the registered user management table 700. If the registered user management table 700 contains the user information acquired in S2206, the setting information control unit 403 determines that the user is registered in the MFP 120, and proceeds to the processing of S2212. If the registered user management table 700 does not contain the user information acquired in S2206, the setting information control unit 403 determines that the user is not registered in the MFP 120, and the process proceeds to S2208.
In step S2208, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the number of registered users is a set upper limit value. For example, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the number of users registered in the registered user management table 700 has reached a set upper limit value. When the number of users registered in the registered user management table 700 reaches the set upper limit value, the setting information control unit 403 determines that the registered user number is the set upper limit value, The process proceeds to S2209. When the number of users registered in the registered user management table 700 has not reached the set upper limit value, the setting information control unit 403 determines that the registered user number is not the set upper limit value, and S2211 Proceed to the process.

In step S <b> 2209, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the registered user is to be forcibly deleted in the MFP 120. When the number of users registered in the registered user management table 700 is the set upper limit value, the setting information control unit 403 performs, for example, the following process. That is, for example, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not to delete the registration of the user with the oldest login date and time of the MFP 120 when the number of registered users exceeds the upper limit, which is stored in advance in the storage device 220 or the like. Is obtained from the storage device 220 or the like. When the acquired information is information indicating that the registration of the user whose login date and time of the MFP 120 is the oldest is deleted when the number of registered users exceeds the upper limit, the registered information control unit 403 Is determined to be forcibly deleted. If the acquired information is information indicating that the registration of the user with the oldest login date and time of the MFP 120 is not deleted when the number of registered users exceeds the upper limit, the setting information control unit 403 Is determined not to be forcibly deleted. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the registered user is to be forcibly deleted in the MFP 120, the process advances to step S <b> 2210. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the MFP 120 does not forcibly delete the registered user, the processing illustrated in FIG. 22 ends.
In step S <b> 2210, the setting information control unit 403 deletes the user who has the oldest login date and time for the MFP 120. For example, the setting information control unit 403 deletes the user with the oldest last login date 706 from the registered user management table 700.
In step S2211, the setting information control unit 403 registers the user information acquired in step S2206 in the registered user management table 700.

In step S2212, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether the access accepted in step S2201 is a print job, and the print job processing unit 2102 determines whether retained printing is valid. For example, the setting information control unit 403 determines whether or not the access accepted in step S2201 is a print job. If the setting information control unit 403 determines that the access received in step S2201 is a print job, the setting information control unit 403 further determines whether the retained print is valid in the print job processing unit 2102. That the reserved print is valid in the print job processing unit 2102 means that the print job processing unit 2102 processes the print job requested to be processed as a reserved print process.
For example, the storage device 220 or the like stores in advance information indicating whether or not a print job requested to be processed by the print job processing unit 2102 is processed as a retained print process. The setting information control unit 403 acquires this information from the storage device 220 or the like. If the acquired information is information indicating that the print job processing unit 2102 processes the print job as a reserved print process, the print job processing unit 2102 determines that the reserved print is valid. Judge that there is. If the acquired information is information indicating that the print job processing unit 2102 does not process the print job as a reserved print process, the print job processing unit 2102 indicates that the reserved print is invalid. Judge that there is.

If the access received in step S2201 is a print job and the print job processing unit 2102 determines that the reserved print is valid, the setting information control unit 403 proceeds to the processing in step S2213. If the access received in step S2201 is not a print job, or the reserved print is invalid in the print job processing unit 2102, the setting information control unit 403 ends the processing in FIG.
In this embodiment, the MFP 120 requests the setting information management server 110 for the latest personal setting information for a registered user when the reserved print is valid in the print job processing unit 2102. However, the MFP 120 may request the setting information management server 110 for the latest personal setting information for the registered user regardless of whether the reserved print is valid or invalid in the print job processing unit 2102. . Further, the MFP 120 may request the setting information management server 110 for the latest personal setting information for the registered user according to the type of processing supported by the file server processing unit 2103. Further, the MFP 120 may determine whether to request the setting information management server 110 for the latest personal setting information of the registered user based on the operation of the administrator via the touch panel 218. In the present exemplary embodiment, the MFP 120 performs synchronization processing when the access received in S2101 is a print job and the reserved print is performed even when user information exists in the registered user management table 700 in S2207. ing. However, when there is user information in the registered user management table 700 in S2207, the MFP 120 may not perform the synchronization process.
In step S2213, the setting information control unit 403 requests the setting information management server 110 for the latest personal setting information of the user acquired in step S2206, acquires the latest personal setting information from the setting information management server 110, and reflects it on the MFP 120. . The processing in S2213 is the same processing as the processing in FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the process in which the MFP 120 registers a user as in the first embodiment has been described. However, the setting information management server 110 may register a user who may log in to the MFP 120 in response to an external access. In that case, the communication control unit 404 performs a process of requesting the setting information management server 110 for user registration instead of the processes of S2207 to S2211. The setting information management server 110 performs processing that skips S1609 in the processing of FIG.
As described above, when access to the MFP 120 from the external PC 130 is generated by the processing of the present embodiment, the MFP 120 can register the user. Thus, the user can use the latest personal setting information reflected when logging in to the MFP 120 after accessing the MFP 120 via the external PC 130.

<Other embodiments>
In the first to third embodiments, the personal setting information synchronization process between the MFP 120 and the setting information management server 110 has been described. However, the synchronization system may include another information processing apparatus such as a PC instead of the MFP 120. In that case, synchronization processing of personal setting information between the information processing apparatus and the setting information management server 110 is performed.
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment which concerns.
For example, a part or all of the functional configuration of the synchronization system described above may be implemented in the MFP 120 or the setting information management server 110 as hardware.

110 Setting information management server 120 MFP
130 External PC

Claims (29)

A registration means for registering users who may log in;
Acquisition means for periodically acquiring the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration means from a server device that manages the personal setting information;
An information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit periodically acquires the latest personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit from the server apparatus. It further has display control means for displaying a registration screen used for registration of a user who may log in on the display unit,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit registers a user designated via the registration screen displayed by the display control unit as a user who may log in. The display control means displays the registration screen on which user attribute information can be input on the display unit,
The said registration means registers the user corresponding to the said attribute information as a user who may log in, when a user's attribute information is input into the said registration screen displayed by the said display control means. Information processing device.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit periodically from the server device at a set time. 6.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit periodically from the server apparatus at a set interval.   The acquisition unit is configured to perform personal setting of the user registered by the registration unit periodically from the server device at the set interval except for a set period during which communication with the server device is prohibited. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, which acquires information.   8. The selection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a selection unit configured to select whether to accept a user designation for canceling registration when the number of users registered by the registration unit exceeds a set threshold value. 9. Information processing device.   Delete means for deleting registration for the user who has the oldest login time among the users registered by the registration means when the number of users registered by the registration means exceeds a set threshold. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   When the number of users registered by the registration unit exceeds a set threshold, the registration by the registration unit is deleted for the user having the lowest priority set among the users registered by the registration unit The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, when an external access is performed, the registration unit registers the user who has performed the access as a user who may log in.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when the access is performed, the registration unit registers the user who performed the access as a user who may log in according to the type of the access.   The obtaining unit further obtains the latest personal setting information of the accessing user from the server device when the registering unit is registered as a user who may log in by the registering unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12.   The acquisition unit registers the user who has made the access by the registration unit as a user who may log in. If the access is a print job and the reserved print is valid, the access is performed from the server device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the latest personal setting information of a user is acquired.   If the login of the user occurs during the set period starting from the time when the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit is acquired from the server device by the acquisition unit, the set period has elapsed The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying information indicating that it is recommended to log in again later on the display unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that communicates with the server apparatus. Registration means for registering a user who may log in to any of a plurality of information processing devices;
Transmission means for periodically transmitting the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration means to an information processing apparatus with which the user may log in;
A server device.   The server device according to claim 17, wherein the transmission unit periodically transmits the latest personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit to an information processing device to which the user may log in. Further comprising a display control means for displaying a registration screen used for registration of a user who may log in to any of the plurality of information processing devices on the display unit;
The registration unit registers a user designated via the registration screen displayed by the display control unit as a user who may log in to any of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The server apparatus of description. The display control means displays the registration screen on which user attribute information can be input on the display unit,
The registration unit may log a user corresponding to the attribute information into one of the plurality of information processing devices when the user attribute information is input to the registration screen displayed by the display control unit. The server device according to claim 19, wherein the server device is registered as a user.   21. Any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the transmission unit transmits the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit to the information processing apparatus to which the user may log in periodically at a set time. The server device according to claim 1.   21. Any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the transmission unit transmits the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration unit to the information processing apparatus to which the user may log in periodically at a set interval. The server device according to claim 1.   The transmission unit is configured to perform personal setting of the user registered by the registration unit periodically at the set interval except for a set period during which communication with each of the plurality of information processing devices is prohibited. 23. The server device according to claim 22, wherein the server device transmits information to an information processing device with which the user may log in. A system including a plurality of information processing devices that reflect the personal setting information of a logged-in user when the user logs in, and a server device that manages the personal setting information of the user,
Each of the plurality of information processing devices
A registration means for registering users who may log in;
Acquisition means for periodically acquiring the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration means from the server device;
Having a system. A system including a plurality of information processing devices that reflect the personal setting information of a logged-in user when the user logs in, and a server device that manages the personal setting information of the user,
The server device
Registration means for registering a user who may log in to any of the plurality of information processing devices;
Transmission means for periodically transmitting the personal setting information of the user registered by the registration means to an information processing apparatus with which the user may log in;
Having a system. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A registration step for registering users who may log in;
An acquisition step of periodically acquiring the personal setting information of the user registered in the registration step from a server that manages the personal setting information;
An information processing method including: An information processing method executed by a server device,
A registration step of registering a user who may log in to any of a plurality of information processing devices;
Transmitting the user's personal setting information registered in the registration step periodically to an information processing apparatus that the user may log in;
An information processing method including:   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16.   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the server device according to any one of claims 17 to 23.

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