JP2018039205A - Information processing device, information processing program, information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user's convenience when an image forming apparatus performs a display in each user.SOLUTION: An authentication part performs authentication processing of a user who logs in a device, and acquires identification information for identifying the user and a log-in time when the log-in is performed. The acquired identification information and log-in time are associated with each other and stored as a log-in history. When the authentication part acquires identification information and a log-in time, the capability/incapability of a display corresponding to the identification information is set in the device in accordance with the acquired log-in time and the log-in time included in the log-in history corresponding to the identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing program, an information processing system, and an information processing method.

  Conventionally, for each user who uses an image forming apparatus such as a printer or MFP (Multi Function Printer), the usage status is displayed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, etc., so that the user can understand the usage status and alert the user. It has been promoted (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, conventionally, the display of the usage status of the user in the image forming apparatus is performed every time the user uses the image forming apparatus, and the user may feel annoying. In addition, when the use of the image forming apparatus is started, the user needs to cancel the display of the usage status or the like by a predetermined operation on the image forming apparatus, which may reduce the usability of the image forming apparatus. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve user convenience when performing display for each user in an image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention performs an authentication process for a user who logs in to a device, and obtains identification information for identifying the user and a login time when the login is performed And a storage unit that associates the identification information acquired by the authentication unit with the login time and stores the login history as a login history, and when the authentication unit acquires the identification information and the login time, the acquired login time and the identification information And a display setting unit that sets whether or not display corresponding to the identification information can be performed on the device according to the login time included in the login history corresponding to.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the usability of the user when performing display for each user in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an example of an authentication server device applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the authentication server device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the aggregation device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the print server apparatus applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example schematically showing print processing in the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home screen applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job list screen applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating in more detail an example of the flow of login processing for the MFP in the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display setting determination method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print processing in the MFP that can be applied to the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process when logging out from the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display area in which it is possible to specify whether to display again at the next login according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of an example illustrating a flow of login processing for the MFP in the information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display setting determination method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display setting determination method according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an information processing program, an information processing system, and an information processing method will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 includes one or more MFPs (Multi Function Printers) 10a, 10b,. Client devices 20a, 20b,..., A print server device 30, an authentication server device 40, and a counting device 50 are included. The network 2 is not limited to the LAN, and may be the Internet, or a combination of the LAN and the Internet. The connection method may be either wired connection or wireless connection.

  MFPs 10a, 10b,... Are image forming apparatuses that realize a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a FAX function in a single casing. The information processing system 1 is not limited to the MFP, and may include a single-function image forming apparatus such as a printer device or a scanner device.

  The client devices 20a, 20b,... Are personal computers such as desktop, notebook, and tablet types. Not limited to this, the client devices 20a, 20b,... May be multifunctional mobile phone terminals such as smartphones. The client apparatuses 20a, 20b,... Create a print job including print data when using the printer functions of the MFPs 10a, 10b,.

  The print server device 30 stores and manages print jobs created by the client devices 20a, 20b,. Further, the print server apparatus 30 controls the printing process by the MFPs 10a, 10b,... According to the managed print job.

  The authentication server device 40 registers user information of users who can use the MFPs 10a, 10b,..., And performs authentication processing when each user uses the MFPs 10a, 10b,. Further, the totaling device 50 totals the usage records of the MFPs 10a, 10b,. The collected usage results are transmitted to each MFP 10a, 10b,... Via the authentication server device 40 and displayed on the operation panel or the like.

  Although FIG. 1 shows that the authentication server device 40 is configured by one computer, this is not limited to this example, and the authentication server device 40 distributes functions to a plurality of computers. May be configured. The same applies to the print server device 30 and the counting device 50.

  In FIG. 1, MFPs 10a, 10b,... Can be realized with an equivalent configuration, and can be used in an equivalent usage form. The MFP 10a will be described as a representative. Similarly, the client devices 20a, 20b,... Will be described by using the client device 20a as a representative unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of an example of the authentication server device 40 applicable to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the authentication server device 40 includes a CPU 4000, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 4001, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 4002, a storage 4003, and a communication I / F 4004. It is connected so that it can communicate.

  The storage 4003 is constituted by a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and stores various programs and data for the CPU 4000 to operate. The ROM 4001 stores in advance a program and data used for starting and operating the authentication server device 40, for example. The CPU 4000 operates using the RAM 4002 as a work area in accordance with a program stored in the storage 4003 or the ROM 4001 and controls the entire operation of the authentication server device 40. A communication I / F 4004 controls communication via the network 2 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 4000.

  The client device 20a can be realized with a configuration equivalent to that of a general personal computer, and a description thereof will be omitted. For example, the client apparatus 20a includes an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device, an input / output I / F that can be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a graphics I / F, and a display in the configuration of FIG. This can be realized with the added configuration.

  The print server device 30 and the aggregation device 50 can be realized with a hardware configuration equivalent to that of the authentication server device 40 shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print server device 30, the authentication server device 40, and the counting device 50 can be configured in the same manner as a general personal computer.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 10a applicable to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, an MFP 10a includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1000, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1001, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1002, an external I / F 1003, an operation unit I / F 1004, and an operation panel 1040. A communication I / F 1005 and a storage 1020. Further, the MFP 10a has a configuration for executing each function of the MFP 10a.

  The storage 1020 is a storage medium that stores data in a nonvolatile manner, and a hard disk drive or a flash memory can be applied. The storage 1020 stores programs and data for operating the CPU 1000.

  In this example in which the MFP 10a has a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a FAX function, the MFP 10a has an image processing / engine control unit 1030, a scanner unit 1031, and a printer unit 1032 as a configuration for executing each function. And a FAX unit 1033. The above-described units included in the MFP 10a are connected to each other via buses 1010 and 1011 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The CPU 1000 controls the overall operation of the MFP 10a using the RAM 1002 as a work memory, for example, according to a program stored in the ROM 1001 or the storage 1020 in advance.

  The operation unit I / F 1004 is connected to an operation panel that receives a user operation and an operation panel 1040 that includes a display unit for presenting information to the user. As the operation unit, a touch panel configured to output a signal corresponding to the touched position can be used, and the touch panel and the display unit can be integrally configured. A signal output in response to a user operation from the operation panel 1040 is supplied to the CPU 1000 via the operation unit I / F 1004. Further, the operation unit I / F 1004 displays a screen on the display unit of the operation panel 1040 in accordance with the display control signal supplied from the CPU 1000.

  A communication I / F 1005 controls communication with the network 2 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1000. The external I / F 1003 is an interface for connecting an external device such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.

  The scanner unit 1031 scans and reads an image of a document set on a document table using an optical sensor such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor), and outputs image data. The printer unit 1032 forms an image on a medium based on image data using an image forming method such as an ink jet method or an electrophotographic method.

  The image processing / engine control unit 1030 controls the operations of the scanner unit 1031 and the printer unit 1032 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 1000. Further, the image processing / engine control unit 1030 performs predetermined image processing on the image data read by the scanner unit 1031 and outputs the image data to the bus 1011 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1000. Further, the image processing / engine control unit 1030 performs predetermined image processing on the image data supplied via the bus 1011 and supplies the image data to the printer unit 1032. The FAX unit 1033 is connected to a public telephone line, for example, and performs FAX transmission processing of image data supplied via the bus 1011 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1000.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 10a according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the MFP 10 a includes a control unit 100, a UI unit 101, a communication unit 102, a processing information storage unit 103, and an extended function unit 110. Among these, the processing information storage unit 103 is a predetermined storage area of the storage 1020, for example. The extended function unit 110 includes functions added to the MFP 10a. In the example of FIG. 4, the extended function unit 110 includes a print unit 111, a scan unit 112, a FAX unit 113, an authentication processing unit 114, and an information collection unit 115.

  The control unit 100, UI unit 101, communication unit 102, and extended function unit 110 are realized by a program operating on the CPU 1000. Not limited to this, some or all of the control unit 100, UI unit 101, communication unit 102, and extended function unit 110 may be configured by hardware circuits that operate in cooperation with each other.

  The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the MFP 10a. For example, the control unit 100 controls the image processing / engine control unit 1030, the scanner unit 1031 and the printer unit 1032 to provide basic scanner functions and printer functions that the MFP 10a has in advance. Similarly, the control unit 100 controls the FAX unit 1033 to provide a basic FAX function that the MFP 10a has in advance.

  The UI unit 101 generates a screen displayed on the operation panel 1040. In addition, the UI unit 101 receives an input operation performed on the operation panel 1040. The communication unit 102 performs communication via the network 2 by controlling the communication I / F 1005.

  The print unit 111, the scan unit 112, and the FAX unit 113 included in the extended function unit 110 function respectively for the basic printer function, the scanner function, and the FAX function that the MFP 10a has in advance provided by the control unit 100. The printer function, the scanner function, and the FAX function are expanded. For example, the print unit 111 cooperates with the print server device 30 to select a print job for executing printing from print jobs transmitted in advance from the client devices 20a, 20b,. Generate a screen.

  An authentication processing unit 114 included in the extended function unit 110 executes an authentication process for authenticating a user who uses the MFP 10 a in cooperation with the authentication server device 40. For example, the authentication processing unit 114 causes the UI unit 101 to display a login screen for inputting login information including a user ID and a password, and transmits the login information input on the login screen to the authentication server device 40 to log in. Require authentication based on information.

  An information collection unit 115 included in the extended function unit 110 collects usage information of the MFP 10a. The information collection unit 115 collects usage information on the use of each function of the MFP 10 a from the control unit 100 in association with a user ID indicating the user who uses the MFP 10 a and stores it in the processing information storage unit 103.

  More specifically, the information collection unit 115 is information indicating the user ID of the user currently using the MFP 10a, the date and time when the user operated the MFP 10a (logged in date and time), and the function of the MFP 10a used by the user. And information indicating the usage amount. The information indicating the function of the used MFP 10a can include, for example, which of the printer function, the scanner function, the copy function, and the FAX function of the MFP 10a is used. Furthermore, when the user uses a printer function or a copy function in the MFP 10a, information indicating whether printing has been performed in color or monochrome can be included in the information indicating the function of the used MFP 10a.

  The print unit 111, the scanner unit 112, the FAX unit 113, the authentication processing unit 114, and the information collection unit 115 included in the extended function unit 110 are supplied to the MFP 10a as application programs that realize the respective functions by operating on the CPU 1000, for example. Is done. Hereinafter, application programs that realize the functions of the print unit 111, the scanner unit 112, the FAX unit 113, the authentication processing unit 114, and the information collection unit 115 are referred to as a print application, a scanner application, a FAX application, and an authentication application, respectively. Here, it is assumed that the activation of the print application, the scanner application, and the FAX application is controlled by the authentication application (authentication processing unit 114).

  These print application, scanner application, FAX application, and authentication application can be provided to the MFP 10a via the network 2, for example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the print application, scanner application, FAX application, and authentication application may be supplied to the MFP 10a via the external I / F 1003. Further, the print application, the scanner application, the FAX application, and the authentication application can be individually supplied to the MFP 10a.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the authentication server device 40 according to the first embodiment. 5, the authentication server device 40 includes an authentication unit 400, a user information management unit 401, a point acquisition unit 402, and a communication unit 405. The authentication server device 40 further includes a user information storage unit 410 and a login history storage unit 411 that are respectively connected to the user information management unit 401. For the user information storage unit 410 and the login history storage unit 411, for example, predetermined storage areas of the storage 4003 are used.

  The authentication unit 400, the user information management unit 401, the point acquisition unit 402, and the communication unit 405 are realized by a program operating on the CPU 4000. Not limited to this, some or all of the authentication unit 400, the user information management unit 401, the point acquisition unit 402, and the communication unit 405 may be configured by hardware circuits that operate in cooperation with each other.

  The user information storage unit 410 stores user information of users who can use the MFPs 10a, 10b,. For example, the user information storage unit 410 stores user information in which a user name and a password are associated with a user ID in a user information table. Table 1 shows an example of a user information table stored in the user information storage unit 410. In Table 1, the user information table has a record including items of “user ID”, “user name”, and “password”. The item “user ID” stores a user ID given a unique character string to the user so that each user can be identified. The item “user name” stores the name of the user corresponding to the user ID of the record. The item “password” stores a password corresponding to the user ID of the record.

  However, the user information storage unit 410 may store the user attribute information in the user information table in association with the user ID. Also, in this example, the user information storage unit 410 is described as being included in the authentication server device 40, but this is not limited to this example, and user information is used using an external server system (such as a directory server). May be stored.

  The login history storage unit 411 stores a history of login by the user to the MFPs 10a, 10b,. Table 2 shows an example of a login history table in which the login history storage unit 411 stores a user's login history. In Table 2, the login history table has a record including items of “user ID” and “last login date”. The item “user ID” stores a user ID, and the item “last login date” stores the last login date and time indicating the date and time when the user ID of the record last logged into the MFP 10a, 10b,.

  In this example, the last login date and time is common to each MFP 10a, 10b,... Included in the information processing system 1. Not limited to this, the log-in history table may further store, for each record, information indicating the MFPs 10a, 10b,. Further, the login history storage unit 411 may store not only the last login date and time but also the login history of the user in the login history table in an accumulated manner, and various settings of the MFP 10a used after login. A value may be further stored.

  For example, the user information management unit 401 allocates areas of the user information storage unit 410 and the login history storage unit 411 to the storage 4003, and stores user information stored in the user information storage unit 410 and the login history storage unit 411. Manage login history. The authentication unit 400 refers to user information stored in the user information storage unit 410 based on login information (user ID and password) transmitted from the authentication processing unit 114, for example, in accordance with a request from the authentication processing unit 114 of the MFP 10a. Then, authentication for the user ID is performed.

  The point acquisition unit 402 requests point information for each user from the aggregation device 50 to be described later, and acquires the point information transmitted from the aggregation device 50 in response to the request. At this time, the point acquisition unit 402 may store the acquired point information, and periodically synchronize between the stored point information and the point information stored in the counting device 50.

  The communication unit 405 controls the communication I / F 4004 to perform communication with the network 2.

  An information processing program for realizing each function of the authentication server device 40 according to the first embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, which is a CD (Compact Disk), a flexible disk (FD), a DVD ( Provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as Digital Versatile Disk). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the information processing program may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The information processing program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The information processing program has a module configuration including the above-described units (authentication unit 400, user information management unit 401, point acquisition unit 402, and communication unit 405). As actual hardware, the CPU 4000 reads the information processing program from a storage medium such as the storage 4003 and executes the information processing program, whereby the above-described units are loaded on the main storage device such as the RAM 4002, and the authentication unit 400, user information management The unit 401, the point acquisition unit 402, and the communication unit 405 are generated on the main storage device.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the aggregation device 50 according to the first embodiment. The aggregation device 50 includes a log management unit 501, a point management unit 502, and a communication unit 503. The totaling device 50 further includes a log information storage unit 510 connected to the log management unit 501, a conversion rule storage unit 520 and a point information storage unit 521 connected to the point management unit 502, respectively. The log information storage unit 510, the conversion rule storage unit 520, and the point information storage unit 521 use predetermined storage areas of the storage device of the aggregation device 50, such as a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.

  The log management unit 501, the point management unit 502, and the communication unit 503 are realized by a program that operates on the CPU included in the totalization device 50. Not limited to this, some or all of the log management unit 501, the point management unit 502, and the communication unit 503 may be configured by hardware circuits that operate in cooperation with each other.

  The log management unit 501 stores the usage information (usage record) for each user transmitted from the MFP 10a, for example, in a log information storage unit 510 as log information (job log) indicating the usage history of the MFP 10a. The log information is stored in the log information storage unit 510 for each MFP 10a, MFP 10b,.

  Table 3 shows an example of log information stored in the log information storage unit 510. In the example of Table 3, the log information includes records including items of “log ID”, “operation date / time”, “log type”, “user ID”, “color / monochrome”, and “usage amount”. Each record of log information is identified by the value of the item “log ID”.

  The item “operation date and time” stores the date and time when the operation related to the log information of the record was performed on the MFP 10a. The item “log type” stores information indicating the function of the MFP 10a executed by the operation related to the log information of the record. The item “user ID” stores a user ID related to log information of the record. The item “color / monochrome” stores information indicating whether color or monochrome printing has been performed by the operation related to the log information of the record in the MFP 10a.

  The item “usage amount” stores information indicating the usage amount of the MFP 10a according to the operation related to the log information of the record. As the usage amount of the MFP 10a, for example, the number of printed pages in the MFP 10a can be used. For example, the usage amount is “1” when single-sided printing is performed, and the usage amount is “2” when double-sided printing is performed. Furthermore, the usage amount can be a value corresponding to the size of the paper used for printing. For example, the usage amount can be “1” for A4 size single-sided printing, and the usage amount can be “2” for A3 size single-sided printing.

  Based on the log information stored in the log information storage unit 510, the log management unit 501 can create a usage report for each user ID and for each MFP 10a, MFP 10b,. In addition, the log management unit 501 can search log information stored in the log information storage unit 510 in response to a request from the outside, and transmit the information obtained by the search to the request source.

  The point management unit 502 calculates the usage amount of the MFP 10a for each user ID based on the log information stored in the log information storage unit 510, and manages the calculated value as a user point of the user ID. The point management unit 502 calculates points using a value obtained by converting the value of the item “usage amount” included in the log information according to the conversion rule stored in the conversion rule storage unit 520.

  Table 4 shows an example of a conversion rule table stored in the conversion rule storage unit 520 for storing conversion rules.

  In the example of Table 4, each value of “5”, “10”, “1”, and “1” (conversion) is added to each item of “color print”, “color copy”, “monochrome print”, and “monochrome copy”. Called a value). The point management unit 502 includes values of “log type”, “color / monochrome”, and “usage” items included in the log information stored in the log information storage unit 510, and conversions stored in the conversion rule table. Based on the value, a point corresponding to the user ID is calculated.

  A specific example of the point calculation will be described with reference to Table 3. In Table 3, the record with the log ID “1” indicates that the user with the user ID “001” performs monochrome printing with the log type “copy” and the usage amount “10”, that is, 10 pages. . The point management unit 502 multiplies the usage amount “10” by the conversion value “1” of “monochrome copy” in the conversion rule table of Table 4 to obtain the converted usage amount “10”. Further, the record with the log ID “2” indicates that the user with the same user ID “001” performs the color printing with the usage amount “2”, that is, two pages, with the log type “print”. The point management unit 502 multiplies the usage amount “2” by the conversion value “5” of “color print” in the conversion rule table of Table 4 to obtain the converted usage amount “10”.

  In this way, the point management unit 502 adds the usage amounts calculated for the same user ID, and acquires the user point of the user ID. In the example of Table 3, the user point of the user ID “001” is “20” with the converted usage amount “10” + “10”. The point management unit 502 stores the points for each user ID thus obtained in the point information table stored in the point information storage unit 521. If points with the same user ID are already stored in the point information table, the newly obtained points are added to the stored points, the points are totaled, and the points are updated. In addition, the point management unit 502 can reset the point of the user ID (set it to “0”) according to the instruction.

  Table 5 shows an example of the point information table stored in the point information storage unit 521.

  In the example of Table 5, the point information table has a record including items of “user ID”, “current month (current) point value”, “last month point value”, and “upper limit value”. The item “user ID” stores the user ID of the user corresponding to the point information of the record. The item “current (current) point value” stores a value obtained by totaling point values according to the usage amount of the user up to the current date of the current month. In the item “last month point value”, a value obtained by totaling point values corresponding to the usage amount of the user last month is stored. The item “upper limit value” stores the upper limit value of the point value set for the user of the user ID of the record.

  The point information table is not limited to this example. For example, the usage amount of each month can be further stored for each user ID, and the usage state of the user can be managed. Further, for example, when a value stored in the item “current month (current) point value” is close to a value stored in the item “upper limit value”, the point management unit 502 determines that user ID Can be notified to the user that the usage amount has approached the upper limit.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functions of the print server device 30 applicable to the first embodiment. In FIG. 7, the print server device 30 includes a job management unit 300 and a job information storage unit 301. The job management unit 300 is realized by a program that operates on the CPU of the print server device 30. Not limited to this, the job management unit 300 may be configured by a hardware circuit. In addition, the job information storage unit 301 uses a predetermined storage area of the print server device 30 that is a storage using a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.

  The job management unit 300 receives print jobs transmitted from the client devices 20a, 20b,..., Stores the received print jobs in a print job table stored in the job information storage unit 301, and registers the print job. . In addition, the job management unit 300 uses, for example, a list of print jobs stored in the job information storage unit 301 and details of the print job in response to a request from the print unit 111 (print application) in the MFP 10a. Can return.

  Table 6 shows an example of a print job table stored in the job information storage unit 301. In the example of Table 6, the print job table has a record including items of “job ID”, “spool date / time”, “user ID”, “header information”, and “spool data file name”.

  The item “job ID” stores identification information for identifying each print job stored in the print job table. The item “spool date and time” stores the date and time when the print server device 30 spooled the print data of the print job of the record. The user ID stores the user ID of the user who sent the print job for that record. The item “header information” stores print job header information such as print conditions. The item “spool data file name” stores the name of the spool data file of the print data spooled in the print server device 30 at the date and time stored in the item “spool date and time” of the record.

(Print processing according to the first embodiment)
Next, a printing process in the MFP 10a according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example schematically showing print processing in the MFP 10a according to the first embodiment. For example, when the power is turned on, the MFP 10a causes the UI unit 101 to display a login screen on the operation panel 1040 (step S10).

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a login screen applicable to the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, a login screen 60 includes a message 600 for prompting login with a non-contact IC (Integrated Circuit) card using RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier), and buttons 601 to 603 for inputting login information and logging in. .

  Among these buttons, the button 601 is a login by a guest user, and functions that can be used in the MFP 10a are limited, but input of login information is omitted. A button 602 is a button for logging in by inputting a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code. A button 603 is a button for logging in by inputting a user ID and a password. Here, it is assumed that the button 603 is operated and the user inputs a user ID and a password (PW).

  In the next step S11, the MFP 10a causes the authentication processing unit 114 to transmit the user ID and password input in step S10 to the authentication server device 40 as user information. The authentication server device 40 refers to the user information storage unit 410 based on the user information transmitted from the MFP 10a, performs authentication processing, and transmits an authentication result to the MFP 10a. This authentication result is received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the authentication processing unit 114.

  In the next step S12, the authentication processing unit 114 in the MFP 10a determines whether or not the authentication result transmitted from the authentication server device 40 indicates a successful authentication. If the authentication processing unit 114 determines that the authentication result indicates a failure of authentication (step S12, “failure”), the authentication processing unit 114 ends the series of processes illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. In this case, for example, the MFP 10a treats a user who has attempted to log in as a user who has logged in as a guest.

  On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 114 determines that the authentication result indicates a successful authentication (step S12, “success”), the authentication processing unit 114 shifts the processing to step S13. In step S <b> 13, the MFP 10 a receives the message from the authentication server device 40 that is transmitted from the authentication server device 40 together with the authentication result indicating the success of authentication. The message received from the authentication server device 40 is, for example, a notification of the point value of the logged-in user this month (current). The message is not limited to this, and the message may include the point value of the logged-in user last month or the upper limit value of the point value. Further, the message is not limited to the point value, and may be another message (maintenance information, greeting message, etc.) for the logged-in user.

  In next step S <b> 14, the MFP 10 a causes the UI unit 101 to display a home screen on the operation panel 1040. FIG. 10 shows an example of a home screen displayed by the UI unit 101 that can be applied to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, the home screen 61 includes a function designation area 610, a tab area 611, and buttons 612 and 613. The function designation area 610 includes a button group including one or more buttons for designating functions that can be used by a user who has logged into the MFP 10a. For example, the function designation area 610 includes an application activation button for causing each function of the print unit 111, the scan unit 112, and the FAX unit 113, such as a print application, a scanner application, and a FAX application.

  A tab area 611 switches buttons included in the function designation area 610. A button 612 is a button for logging out. A button 613 is a button for displaying information of a logged-in user.

  In next step S15, the MFP 10a determines whether the display setting indicating whether or not to display the message received from the authentication server device 40 in step S13 is on or off by the authentication processing unit 114. If the authentication processing unit 114 determines that the display setting is off (step S15, “off”), the authentication processing unit 114 shifts the processing to step S18.

  On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 114 determines that the display setting is turned on (step S15, “ON”), the authentication processing unit 114 shifts the processing to step S16. In step S16, the MFP 10a causes the UI unit 101 to display the message received in step S13 on the operation panel 1040.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a message display screen for displaying a message according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 11, a message display area 614 for displaying a message is displayed overlapping the home screen 61 described above. By designating a button 618 with an “x” (cross mark) at the upper right of the message display area 614, the display of the message display area 614 is canceled and the home screen 61 is displayed, and operations on the home screen 61 can be performed. It becomes a state.

  In the next step S <b> 17, the UI unit 101 determines whether a display release instruction for the message display area 614 has been received. If it is determined that it has not been received (step S17, “No”), the UI unit 101 returns the process to step S17 and waits for a display cancellation instruction. If it is determined in step S17 that an instruction to cancel display of the message display area 614 has been received, the process proceeds to step S18. At this time, the UI unit 101 returns the display of the operation panel 1040 to the home screen 61. Here, it is assumed that the printer function is designated in the function designation area 610 of the home screen 61.

  In step S <b> 18, the MFP 10 a requests a list of print jobs corresponding to the user ID of the user who has logged in to the print server device 30 by the print unit 111. The print unit 111 causes the UI unit 101 to display a list of print jobs transmitted from the print server apparatus 30 in response to this request on the operation panel 1040.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a print job list screen applicable to the first embodiment. In FIG. 12, the print job list screen 62 includes a list display area 620 and buttons 622 to 624. The list display area 620 displays a list of print jobs that are transmitted from the print server device 30 and that correspond to the user IDs of users who are logged in to the MFP 10a. The user can select a desired print job from each print job displayed in the list display area 620. In the example of FIG. 12, print jobs 621a, 621b, and 621c are displayed in the list display area 620, and the print job 621a is in a selected state.

  The button 622 is a button for selecting all the print jobs 621a to 621c displayed in the list display area 620. The button 623a is a button for confirming the detailed information of the selected print job among the print jobs displayed in the list display area 620, and the button 623b is a button for deleting the selected print job. . The button 623c is a button for executing printing of the selected print job. A button 624 is a button for logging out.

  In the next step S19, in the MFP 10a, the print unit 111 determines whether a print instruction has been accepted. For example, the print unit 111 receives a print instruction when the UI unit 101 operates the button 623c while one or more print jobs are selected on the print job list screen 62 displayed on the operation panel 1040. judge. If it is determined that the print instruction has not been received (step S19, “No”), the printing unit 111 returns the process to step S19 and waits for the print instruction.

  On the other hand, if the print unit 111 determines in step S19 that a print instruction has been received (step S19, “Yes”), the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the print unit 111 starts print processing in response to the print instruction received in step S19.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing in more detail an example of the flow of login processing for the MFP 10a in the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIGS. 4 to 6 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, in the MFP 10a, the UI unit 101 displays the login screen 60 of FIG. 9, and the user inputs login information including, for example, a user ID and a password to the MFP 10a according to the login screen 60 (step S100). The UI unit 101 passes the input login information to the authentication processing unit 114 (step S101).

  The authentication processing unit 114 transmits the login information passed from the UI unit 101 to the authentication server device 40, and requests the authentication server device 40 for authentication based on the login information (step S102). The login information and the authentication request are received by the authentication server device 40 and passed to the authentication unit 400. In response to the authentication request, the authentication unit 400 requests user information corresponding to the login information from the user information management unit 401 (step S103). The user information management unit 401 refers to the user information table illustrated in Table 1 based on the user ID and password included in the login information, and searches for user information corresponding to the login information. The user information management unit 401 returns the user information of the search result to the authentication unit 400 (step S104).

  The authentication unit 400 performs an authentication process on the login information based on the login information transmitted from the MFP 10a and the user information returned from the user information management unit 401 (step S105). If the authentication fails, the authentication unit 400 notifies the MFP 10a that the authentication has failed. When the authentication is successful, the authentication unit 400 passes the user ID included in the login information to the point acquisition unit 402, and requests the current month (current) point value corresponding to the user ID (step S106).

  In accordance with this request, the point acquisition unit 402 transmits the user ID to the totaling device 50, and requests the totaling device 50 for the current month (current) point value corresponding to the transmitted user ID (step S107). The request for the user ID and the point value is received by the totaling device 50 and passed to the point management unit 502. The point management unit 502 refers to the point information table illustrated in Table 5 and obtains the current month (current) point value corresponding to the passed user ID (step S108). The point management unit 502 transmits the acquired point value together with the corresponding user ID to the authentication server device 40 (step S109).

  The point value and user ID for this month (current) are received by the authentication server device 40 and passed to the point acquisition unit 402. The point acquisition unit 402 passes the passed point value and user ID of this month (current) to the user information management unit 401 (step S110). Based on the passed user ID, the user information management unit 401 determines whether the display setting for specifying whether or not to display the point value for the user with the user ID is “ON” or “OFF”. (Step S111). As described above, the user information management unit 401 also functions as a display setting unit for setting the display settings “ON” and “OFF”. Details of the display setting determination method in step S111 will be described later.

  The user information management unit 401 passes the display setting determined in step S111 and the point value acquired in step S110 to the authentication unit 400 together with the user ID (step S112). The authentication unit 400 transmits the notification of successful authentication and the display setting, the point value, and the user ID passed from the user information management unit 401 to the MFP 10a (step S113). At the same time, the authentication unit 400 transmits user information corresponding to the user ID to the MFP 10a.

  The authentication success notification, display setting, point value, and user information including the user ID transmitted from the authentication unit 400 are received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the authentication processing unit 114. The authentication processing unit 114 passes the user information and a login completion notification corresponding to the authentication success notification to the UI unit 101 (step S114). At the same time, the authentication processing unit 114 passes the display setting and the point value to the UI unit 101.

  When the UI unit 101 receives the user information, the login completion notification, the display setting, and the point value from the authentication processing unit 114, the UI unit 101 displays the home screen 61 described with reference to FIG. 10 on the operation panel 1040 (step S115). . When the display setting received from the authentication processing unit 114 is “ON”, the UI unit 101 uses, for example, a message display area 614 for notifying the current month (current) point value as described with reference to FIG. The screen 61 is displayed so as to overlap (Step S116). In this case, in order to operate the home screen 61 to execute a printer function or the like, the user needs to perform an operation of canceling the display of the message display area 614.

  On the other hand, the UI unit 101 does not display the message display area 614 on the operation panel 1040 when the display setting received from the authentication processing unit 114 is “OFF”. In this case, the user can directly operate the home screen 61 and can cause the MFP 10a to execute a printer function or the like.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the display setting determination method in step S111 described above according to the first embodiment. In the authentication server device 40, the user information management unit 401 acquires information indicating the last login time of the user who has logged into the MFP 10a in step S30. Specifically, the user information management unit 401 refers to the login history table (Table 2) stored in the login history storage unit 411 based on the user ID included in the login information received from the MFP 10a in step S102 described above. The last login date and time corresponding to the user ID is acquired.

  In the next step S31, the user information management unit 401 determines whether or not there is a login from the current time to a predetermined time by the user ID based on the last login date and time acquired in step S30. For example, the user information management unit 401 determines that there has been a login up to a predetermined time before the last login date and time indicates today's date and time. “Today” here refers to a case where the current date is the same as the date indicated by the last login date and the current time is after a predetermined time (for example, 7:00 am).

  If the user information management unit 401 determines that login has occurred up to a predetermined time (step S31, “Yes”), the process proceeds to step S32, and the display setting is set to “off”. On the other hand, if the user information management unit 401 determines that there has been no login until a predetermined time (step S31, “none”), the process proceeds to step S33, and the display setting is set to “on”.

  When the display setting is set to “on” or “off” in step S32 or step S33, the user information management unit 401 shifts the process to step S34. In step S34, the user information management unit 401 updates the value of the item “last login date / time” corresponding to the user ID in the login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 with information indicating the current date / time, A series of processes according to the flowchart of FIG. 14 is terminated.

  As described above, in step S116 of FIG. 13, the UI unit 101 displays the message display area 614 on the home screen 61 when the display setting is “ON”, and when the display setting is “OFF”. The message display area 614 is not displayed. Therefore, when the user logs in to the MFP 10a for the first time today, the user can operate the home screen 61 after confirming the display in the message display area 614. When the user logs in for the second time and thereafter, The home screen 61 can be directly operated without confirming the display of the message display area 614. Therefore, user convenience for the MFP 10a is improved.

  FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print processing in the MFP 10a that can be applied to the first embodiment. The process in the sequence diagram of FIG. 15 corresponds to the process after step S18 in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 15, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to FIGS. 4 and 7 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the home screen 61 is displayed on the operation panel 1040 of the MFP 10a by the UI unit 101 and, for example, a print application is selected in response to a user operation on the home screen 61 (step S200), the authentication process indicates that the print application has been selected. Is notified to the unit 114 (step S201). In response to the print application selection notification, the authentication processing unit 114 activates the print application, that is, the print unit 111 (step S202).

  The print unit 111 transmits the user ID of the user who has logged in to the MFP 10a to the print server device 30, and requests a list of print jobs corresponding to the user ID (step S203). The request for the user ID and the print job list transmitted from the print unit 111 is received by the print server device 30 and passed to the job management unit 300. The job management unit 300 refers to the print job table (Table 6) stored in the job information storage unit 301, and acquires a list of print jobs with a job ID corresponding to the user ID (step S204). The job management unit 300 transmits the acquired print job list to the MFP 10a (step S205). The print job list is received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the print unit 111.

  The print unit 111 passes the print job list to the UI unit 101 (step S206). The UI unit 101 displays the print job list screen 62 shown in FIG. 12 on the operation panel 1040 based on the received print job list (step S207).

  When the selection instruction for selecting a print job and the print instruction for the selected print job are input to the job list screen 62 (step S210), the UI unit 101 executes printing according to the selected print job. The print unit 111 is requested (step S211). In response to this request, the print unit 111 transmits a print job to the print server device 30, and requests print data designated by the print job (step S212).

  The print job transmitted from the print unit 111 is received by the print server device 30 and transferred to the job management unit 300. The job management unit 300 acquires print data corresponding to the print job from the job information storage unit 301 based on the print job (step S213). For example, the job management unit 300 acquires spool data corresponding to a spool data file name included in the print job and header information included in the print job as print data. The job management unit 300 transmits the acquired print data to the MFP 10a (step S214). The print data is received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the print unit 111.

  The print unit 111 passes the print data to the control unit 100, and requests the control unit 100 to perform print processing according to the print data (step S215). The control unit 100 controls the image processing / engine control unit 1030 and the printer unit 1032 in response to the print processing request, and executes print processing according to the print data (step S216). When the printing process is completed, the control unit 100 notifies the printing unit 111 to that effect (step S217). The print unit 111 passes a print processing completion notification to the UI unit 101 (step S218). In response to the received print process completion notification, the UI unit 101 displays, for example, on the operation panel 1040 that the print process by the selected print job has been completed (step S219).

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing when logging out from the MFP 10a according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 16, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to FIGS. 4 and 6 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The user inputs a logout instruction to the MFP 10a (step S300). For example, in the MFP 10a, for example, when the button 612 on the home screen 61 in FIG. 10 is operated, or when the button 624 is operated on the print job list screen 62 in FIG. 12, a logout instruction is input. The UI unit 101 passes the input logout instruction to the authentication processing unit 114 (step S301).

  Even when a logout instruction is input, the user who has input the logout instruction is logged in to the MFP 10a until the logout completion notification is output from the authentication processing unit 114 in step S313 described later. Is done.

  Upon receiving a logout instruction from the UI unit 101, the authentication processing unit 114 requests an operation log indicating an operation history of the MFP 10a since login to the control unit 100 (step S302). The control unit 100 acquires usage information from the time of login stored in the processing information storage unit 103, and creates an operation log based on the acquired usage information (step S303).

  The operation log includes, for example, a user ID, information indicating the function of the MFP 10a used by the user of the user ID, information indicating the usage amount, and information indicating the usage time. When the function used is a printer function or a copy function, the information indicating the function includes information indicating whether printing is performed in color or monochrome.

  The control unit 100 passes the created operation log to the authentication processing unit 114. The authentication processing unit 114 transmits the operation log passed from the control unit 100 and user information including the user ID of the logged-in user to the counting device 50 (step S305). The operation log and user information are received by the counting device 50 and passed to the log management unit 501. The log management unit 501 stores the passed operation log and user information in the log information storage unit 510 as log information (Table 3) (step S306).

  Further, the log management unit 501 passes the passed operation log and user information to the point management unit 502 and requests the point management unit 502 to calculate points (step S307). The point management unit 502 reads the conversion rule table (Table 4) from the conversion rule storage unit 520, acquires the conversion rule (step S308), and converts the usage amount included in the operation log using the acquired conversion rule. The points are calculated based on the converted usage amount (step S309). The point management unit 502 uses the calculated point value as the value of the item “current month (current) point value” of the record corresponding to the user ID in the point information table (Table 5) already stored in the point information storage unit 521. (Step S310). Thereby, calculation of the point value corresponding to the user ID is completed.

  When the calculation of the point value is completed, the point management unit 502 passes a calculation completion notification indicating the fact to the log management unit 501 (step S311). Upon receiving the calculation completion notification from the point management unit 502, the log management unit 501 transmits a point processing end notification indicating that the point processing has ended to the MFP 10a (step S312). The point processing end notification is received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the authentication processing unit 114.

  Upon receiving the point processing end notification from the totaling device 50, the authentication processing unit 114 determines that the logout process is complete, and passes a logout completion notification indicating that to the UI unit 101 (step S313). In response to the logout completion notification received from the authentication processing unit 114, the UI unit 101 displays a logout screen indicating that logout has been completed on the operation panel 1040 (step S314).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the point value associated with the user ID of the user is updated each time the user logs out to the MFP 10a.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the display of the message display area 614 for the logged-in user is displayed only when the user logs in for the first time every predetermined period (for example, one day). On the other hand, in the second embodiment, when the message display area is displayed, it is possible to set whether or not to display the message display area again at the next login. Thereby, the user can set whether or not the display of the message display area can be confirmed at the first and subsequent logins within a predetermined period, and the usability of the user is improved.

  Table 7 shows an example of a login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 according to the second embodiment. In Table 7, in the login history table, the item “point display setting” is added to the login history table shown in Table 2. The item “point display setting” stores one of display settings “ON” and “OFF” indicating whether or not to display the message display area 615.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of a message display area in which it can be specified whether or not to re-display at the next login according to the second embodiment. 17, a message display area 615 that displays a message from the authentication server device 40 is displayed on the home screen 61 in the same manner as the message display area 614 described with reference to FIG. The message display area 615 includes an input area 616 for inputting a display setting indicating whether or not to display the message display area again at the next login.

  In the example of FIG. 17, the input area 616 is a check box, and the display setting of the message display area 615 is canceled by operating the button 618 in a state in which the check is made by a user operation on the operation panel 1040. Is determined to be a setting (“OFF”) in which the subsequent message display area 615 on the current day is not displayed. In addition, when the input area 616 is not checked, the button 618 is operated to cancel the display of the message display area 615, whereby the display setting is set to display the message display area 615 after that day ("ON" )).

  The display setting determined according to the input to the input area 616 is stored in the item “point display setting” of the login history table by the login history storage unit 411.

  FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a login process for the MFP 10a in the information processing system 1 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 18, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIG. 13 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the sequence diagram of FIG. 18, the processing of step S100 to step S110 is the same as the processing of step S100 to step S110 of the sequence diagram of FIG. 13 described above, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  Based on the user ID passed along with the point value from the point acquisition unit 402 in step S110, the user information management unit 401 sets a display setting for specifying whether or not to display the point value for the user with the user ID. Either “on” or “off” is determined (step S111a).

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display setting determination method in step S111a according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 19, processes corresponding to those in the flowchart of FIG. 14 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the authentication server device 40, the user information management unit 401 acquires information indicating the last login time of the user who has logged into the MFP 10a in step S30. In the next step S31, the user information management unit 401 determines whether or not there is a login from the current time to a predetermined time by the user ID based on the last login date and time acquired in step S30.

  If the user information management unit 401 determines that there has been no login until a predetermined time (step S31, “none”), the process proceeds to step S40, and the display setting is set to “on”. The user information management unit 401 stores the display setting set to “ON” in the item “point display setting” of the record corresponding to the user ID of the logged-in user in the login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411. To do. Further, the user information management unit 401 stores the display setting set to “ON” in step S40 in the RAM 4002 or the storage 4003 as a return value parameter.

  On the other hand, if the user information management unit 401 determines that login has occurred up to a predetermined time (step S31, “Yes”), the process proceeds to step S41. In step S41, the user information management unit 401 records the value of the item “point display setting” (“ON” or “ON” in the login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 corresponding to the user ID of the logged-in user. Off "). In the next step S42, the user information management unit 401 sets the value acquired in step S41 as a display setting return value parameter. The user information management unit 401 stores the set return value parameter in, for example, the RAM 4002 or the storage 4003.

  When the process of step S40 or step S42 ends, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the user information management unit 401 updates the value of the item “last login date / time” corresponding to the user ID in the login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 with information indicating the current date / time, A series of processes according to the flowchart of FIG.

  Returning to the explanation of FIG. 18, the user information management unit 401 passes the return value parameter and the point value set in step S111a to the authentication unit 400 together with the user ID (step S120). The authentication unit 400 transmits a notification of successful authentication and the return value parameter, point value, and user ID passed from the user information management unit 401 to the MFP 10a (step S121). At the same time, the authentication unit 400 transmits user information corresponding to the user ID to the MFP 10a.

  The authentication success notification, the return value parameter, the point value, and the user information including the user ID transmitted from the authentication unit 400 are received by the MFP 10 a and passed to the authentication processing unit 114. The authentication processing unit 114 passes the user information and the login completion notification corresponding to the authentication success notification to the UI unit 101 (step S122). At the same time, the authentication processing unit 114 passes the return value parameter and the point value to the UI unit 101.

  When the UI unit 101 receives user information, a login completion notification, a return value parameter, and a point value from the authentication processing unit 114, the UI unit 101 displays the home screen 61 described with reference to FIG. 10 on the operation panel 1040 (step S123). ). When the value of the return value parameter received from the authentication processing unit 114 is “ON”, the UI unit 101 notifies the current month (current) point value as described with reference to FIG. 17. Is displayed on the home screen 61 in an overlapping manner (step S124).

  In this case, in order to operate the home screen 61 to execute the printer function or the like, the user needs to perform an operation of canceling the display of the message display area 615. At this time, if the display of the message display area 615 is canceled while the input area 616 is not checked, the message display area 615 is displayed again on the home screen 61 when logging in again during the day. By canceling the display of the message display area 615 with the input area 616 checked, the message display area 615 is not displayed on the home screen 61 when logging in again during the day.

  Further, the UI unit 101 does not display the message display area 615 on the home screen 61 when the value of the return value parameter received from the authentication processing unit 114 is “off”.

  In FIG. 18, step S <b> 130 shows processing when the display of the message display area 615 is canceled while the input area 616 is checked in the message display area 615 displayed on the home screen 61 in step S <b> 124 described above. ing.

  When the input area 616 in the message display area 615 is checked by a user operation, the button 618 is operated to cancel the display of the message display area 615, thereby instructing the display setting to be “OFF” in the UI unit. 101 is input (step S1300). The UI unit 101 passes the input display setting “OFF” to the authentication processing unit 114, and requests update of the display setting (step S1301). The authentication processing unit 114 transmits an update request to display setting “OFF” to the authentication server device 40 together with the user ID of the logged-in user (step S1302). The update request for the display setting “OFF” and the user ID are received by the authentication server device 40 and passed to the authentication unit 400.

  The authentication unit 400 passes the update request for the display setting “off” and the user ID passed to the user information management unit 401 (step S1303). The user information management unit 401 sets the value of the item “point display setting” corresponding to the user ID of the login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 to “off” in accordance with the received update request and user ID. Then, the display setting is updated (step S1304).

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first and second embodiments described above, when the user logs in to the MFP 10a for the first time on the day, the display setting is set to “ON” and the message display area is displayed. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, when the display setting is “off”, the display setting is forcibly set to “on” when a certain period of time has elapsed since the last display of the message display area. It is set to.

  In the third embodiment, for example, the login process according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18 is applied to the login process for the MFP 10a. However, in the third embodiment, as will be described later, the contents of the display setting determination process in step S111a in FIG. 18 are different from those in the second embodiment described above. In step S123 and step S124 in FIG. 18, the message display area 615 including the input area 616 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed so as to overlap the home screen 61.

  Table 8 shows an example of a login history table stored in the login history storage unit 411 according to the third embodiment. In Table 8, in the login history table, an item “last point display date and time” is further added to the login history table according to the second embodiment shown in Table 7. The item “last point display date and time” stores the latest date and time when the message display area 615 is displayed for the user corresponding to the user ID of the record.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display setting determination method in step S111a of FIG. 18 according to the third embodiment. In step S50, the user information management unit 401 acquires the display settings of the user who has logged into the MFP 10a and the latest date and time when the message display area 615 is displayed for the user. Specifically, the user information management unit 401 refers to the login history table (Table 8) stored in the login history storage unit 411 based on the user ID included in the login information received from the MFP 10a in step S102 of FIG. The value of the item “display setting” and the value (final point display date and time) stored in the item “final point display date and time” are acquired.

  In the next step S51, the user information management unit 401 determines whether the display setting acquired in step S50 is “ON” or “OFF”. When the user information management unit 401 determines that the display setting is “ON” (step S51, “ON”), the user information management unit 401 shifts the processing to step S53 described later. On the other hand, when the user information management unit 401 determines that the display setting is “off” (step S51, “off”), the process proceeds to step S52.

  In step S52, the user information management unit 401 determines whether or not the current date has passed a certain period from the last point display date acquired in step S50. If the user information management unit 401 determines that the current date has passed a certain period from the last point display date (step S52, “Yes”), the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, the user information management unit 401 sets the display setting to “ON”. The user information management unit 401 updates the value of the item “display setting” in the login history table according to the set display setting. When the process proceeds from step S51 described above to step S53, the display setting value is not changed.

  In the next step S55, the user information management unit 401 updates the value of the item “last point display date / time” in the login history table with the current date / time. When the value of the item “final point display date / time” is updated in step S55, a series of processes according to the flowchart of FIG.

  On the other hand, if the user information management unit 401 determines in step S52 that the current date / time has not passed a certain period from the last point display date / time (step S52, “No”), the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, the user information management unit 401 sets the display setting to “off”. The user information management unit 401 updates the value of the item “display setting” in the login history table according to the set display setting, and the series of processes according to the flowchart of FIG. 20 ends.

  It should be noted that the value of the fixed period used for the determination in step S52 is preferably set by an administrator or the like as a system setting value, for example. As an example, consider a case where the value for a certain period is designated as “1 week”. Also, assume that the user checks the input area 616 in the message display area 615 on the home screen 61, for example, and sets the display setting so that the message display area 615 is not displayed thereafter.

  According to the third embodiment, in this case, the message display area 615 is not displayed from the date until the designated fixed period has elapsed, and the message display area 615 is displayed again after the fixed period has elapsed. Become so. Therefore, even if the user sets the display setting so that the message display area 615 is not displayed, the message display area 615 is displayed after a certain period of time, and the effect of message display can be continued. Further, the user does not need to perform an operation for canceling the display of the message display area for a certain period of time, and the usability is improved.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Information processing system 10a, 10b, ... MFP
20a, 20b,... Client device 30 Print server device 40 Authentication server device 50 Totaling device 60 Login screen 61 Home screen 62 Print job list screen 100 Control unit 101 UI unit 103 Processing information storage unit 111 Printing unit 114 Authentication processing unit 115 Information collection Unit 300 job management unit 301 job information storage unit 400 authentication unit 401 user information management unit 402 point acquisition unit 410 user information storage unit 411 login history storage unit 501 log management unit 502 point management unit 510 log information storage unit 520 conversion rule storage unit 521 Point information storage unit 614, 615 Message display area 616 Input area

JP 2012-253578 A

Claims (9)

An authentication unit that performs authentication processing for a user who has logged into the device, and obtains identification information for identifying the user and a login time during which the login was performed;
A storage unit that stores the identification information acquired by the authentication unit and the login time in association with each other as a login history;
When the identification unit and the login time are acquired by the authentication unit, depending on the acquired login time and the login time included in the login history corresponding to the identification information, the device And a display setting unit that sets whether or not display corresponding to the identification information is possible. A usage information management unit that manages usage information indicating a usage status of the device by the user in association with the identification information of the user;
The display setting unit
When the authentication unit acquires the identification information and the login time, according to the acquired login time and the login time included in the login history corresponding to the identification information, the authentication unit The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether to display the usage information associated with the acquired identification information on the device is set. The display setting unit
When the identification unit and the login time are acquired by the authentication unit, it is determined whether or not the login time is within a predetermined range with respect to the login time included in the login history. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the display is possible is set according to a determination result. The display setting unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display for the user is performed when it is determined that the login time acquired by the acquisition unit is not within the range with respect to a login time included in the login history. The storage unit
Furthermore, the setting information indicating whether the display is possible is stored in the login history in association with the identification information,
The display setting unit
A determination is made as to whether or not the display can be performed according to the setting information included in the login history in association with the identification information when it is determined that the time when the identification information is acquired is within the range with respect to the login time. Item 4. The information processing device according to Item 3. The storage unit
Further, setting information indicating whether display is possible and the latest time when the display corresponding to the identification information was performed are stored in the login history in association with the identification information,
The display control unit
The setting information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the authentication unit included in the login history indicates whether or not to display, and the login time acquired by the authentication unit is included in the login history. The display corresponding to the identification information is performed when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed from the latest time corresponding to the identification information. Information processing device. An authentication step for performing an authentication process for a user who has logged into the device, and obtaining identification information for identifying the user and a login time at which the login was performed;
A storage step of storing the identification information acquired in the authentication step and the login time in a storage unit in association with a login history;
When the identification information and the login time are acquired by the authentication step, the login time acquired and the login time included in the login history corresponding to the identification information are An information processing program for causing a computer to execute a display setting step for setting whether to permit display corresponding to the identification information. An information processing system including an authentication device and an image forming device,
An authentication unit that performs authentication processing for a user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus, and acquires identification information for identifying the user and a login time when the login is performed;
A storage unit that stores the identification information acquired by the authentication unit and the login time in association with each other as a login history;
The image forming apparatus according to the acquired login time and the login time included in the login history corresponding to the identification information, when the authentication unit acquires the identification information and the login time. An information processing system comprising: a display setting unit that sets whether or not display corresponding to the identification information is permitted. An information processing method in an information processing system including an authentication device and an image forming device,
An authentication step for performing an authentication process on a user who has logged into the image forming apparatus, and obtaining identification information for identifying the user and a login time at which the login was performed;
A storage step of storing the identification information acquired in the authentication step and the login time in a storage unit in association with a login history;
When the identification information and the login time are acquired by the authentication step, the image forming apparatus according to the acquired login time and the login time included in the login history corresponding to the identification information A display setting step of setting whether or not display corresponding to the identification information is permitted.

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