JP2019133641A - Information processing system, information processing method, and management server - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve security of a technique to perform authentication of a license key for an application program.SOLUTION: A management server comprises: a license key update unit that inquires a license key from a license key issuing server with a serial number and an application ID received from an information processing apparatus in which an application program is installed as a key, and receives the license key from the license key issuing server; and a license key authentication unit that extracts a license key corresponding to a first license key table by using the application ID and serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and performs authentication of the license key for the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program in installed by using the extracted license key.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a management server for authenticating a license of an application program installed in an information processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus (MFP, Multifunction Peripheral).

  Conventionally, when an application program is installed in an information processing apparatus, a license key is input to validate the application program.

JP 2008-33561 A JP 2008-177683 A

  In the technology for performing license key authentication of application programs, it is desirable to improve security.

An information processing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
One or more information processing apparatuses connected to the network, a management server that manages a license key for activating an application program installed in one of the one or more information processing apparatuses, and the license key are issued Including a license key issuing server,
The management server is
A first communication unit capable of communicating with the one or more information processing apparatuses and a license key issuing server;
A serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program, an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed, and the license key for enabling the application program to be installed A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table to be registered,
Using the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus that installs the application program as keys, the license key issuing server is inquired of the license key, and the license key for the inquiry is issued as the license key. A license key update unit received from the server;
A license key table management unit that registers the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table;
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key is used. A license key authenticating unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed,
The license key issuing server is
A third storage unit capable of storing a second license key table having the same structure as the first license key table;
The management server receives the inquiry using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and sets the issued license key as a pair with the serial number and the application ID. A license key issuing unit for registering and issuing the issued license key to the management server.
Each of the one or more information processing apparatuses includes:
A second communication unit capable of communicating with the management server;
A second storage unit storing the serial number corresponding to the device;
Based on an instruction from an end user, an application installation unit that installs the application program in its own device;
An authentication request unit that transmits the application ID of the application program installed in the own device and the serial number stored in the second storage unit to the management server and requests license key authentication.

  According to this embodiment, the license key update unit of the management server acquires a license key for validating an application program installed in the information processing apparatus from the license key issuing server. The license key authentication unit of the management server performs authentication using the license key acquired from the license key issuing server. In the information processing apparatus, after the end user installs the application program, the end user communicates with the management server to authenticate with the license key. As described above, since the authentication by the license key is performed by the license key acquired from the license key issuing server by the management server, the end user does not need to input the license key to the information processing apparatus and has high security. Furthermore, since the administrator (separate from the end user) does not need to manually register the license key in the management server, the security is increasing.

An information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
Information in an information processing system including one or more information processing apparatuses connected to a network and a management server that manages a license key for activating an application program installed in one of the one or more information processing apparatuses A processing method,
The license key update unit of the management server issues the license key using a serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program and an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed as keys. Query the server for the license key,
The license key issuing unit of the license key issuing server receives the inquiry from the management server using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and issues the issued license key to the serial number. And the application ID are registered in a second license key table, and the issued license key is transmitted to the management server,
The license key update unit of the management server receives the license key for the inquiry from the license key issuing server,
The license key table management unit of the management server sets the serial number received from the information processing apparatus, the application ID, and the license key received from the license key issuing server in a first license key table. Register,
The application installation unit of the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed installs the application program in its own apparatus based on an end user instruction,
The authentication request unit of the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed sends the application ID of the application program installed in the own apparatus and the serial number stored in the storage unit of the own apparatus to the management server. Request license key authentication,
The license key authentication unit of the management server extracts the corresponding license key from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed And
The license key authentication unit of the management server performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, using the extracted license key.

The management server according to one aspect of the present invention is:
A management server that manages a license key for activating an application program installed in one or more information processing apparatuses;
A first communication unit capable of communicating with the one or more information processing apparatuses and a license key issuing server;
A serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program, an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed, and the license key for enabling the application program to be installed A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table to be registered,
Using the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus that installs the application program as keys, the license key issuing server is inquired about a license key, and the license key is received from the license key issuing server. A license key update unit;
A license key table management unit that registers the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table;
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key is used. A license key authenticating unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve security in a technique for performing license key authentication of an application program.

1 shows an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A configuration when the management server is configured by a general computer is shown. An example of a license key table is shown. The configuration of the application package is shown. The relationship between the application ID and version of the application program is shown. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus. The flow of processing in an information processing system is shown. A configuration when the license key issuing server is configured by a general computer is shown. The flow of a process in a license key update process is shown. 3 shows an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus. The structure of a terminal device is shown. The flow of processing in an information processing system is shown.

  1. First embodiment

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus in which an application program is installed and executed.

[overall structure]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing system 1 includes a management server 10, one or more image forming apparatuses 20, and a license key issuing server 30 that are connected to a network.

  The license key issuing server 30 issues a license key for validating an application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 and transmits the license key to the management server 10.

  The license key received from the license key issuing server 30 is registered in the management server 10.

  In each image forming apparatus 20, after an end user installs an application program, the image forming apparatus 20 communicates with the management server 10 and performs authentication using a license key.

  The authentication by the license key is performed by the license key transmitted from the license key issuing server 30 and registered in the management server 10. Therefore, the end user authenticates the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at hand. There is no need to enter a license key.

[Management Server Configuration]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram when the management server 10 is configured by a general computer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the management server 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an operation input unit 14, a communication unit 15 (first communication unit). ), A display unit 16, and a storage unit 17 (first storage unit), and these blocks are connected via a bus 18.

  The ROM 12 stores a plurality of programs and data such as firmware for executing various processes. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for the CPU 11 and temporarily holds an OS (Operating System), various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

  The storage unit 17 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 17 stores an OS, various applications, various data, a first license key table 17a, and one or more application packages 17b. The first license key table 17a and the application package 17b will be described later.

  The communication unit 15 is connected to a network for exchanging information with the image forming apparatus 20 and the license key issuing server 30.

  The CPU 11 develops a program corresponding to an instruction given from the operation input unit 14 among the plurality of programs stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 17 in the RAM 13, and the display unit 16 and the storage unit according to the expanded program. 17 is appropriately controlled.

  The operation input unit 14 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and other operation devices.

  The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a plasma display, or the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 11 will be described.

  The functional blocks implemented in the CPU 11 of the management server 10 are an application management unit 11a, a license key table management unit 11b, a license key authentication unit 11c, an application update unit 11d, a repackage unit 11e, a serial number update unit 11f, and a license key update. Part 11g.

  The application management unit 11 a manages the application package 17 b stored in the storage unit 17.

  More specifically, the application management unit 11a downloads the application package 17b stored in the storage unit 17 to the image forming apparatus 20, or the application package 17b installed in the image forming apparatus 20 transfers to the management server 10. It becomes the upload destination when uploading.

  The license key table management unit 11 b manages the first license key table 17 a stored in the storage unit 17. Specifically, the license key table management unit 11b obtains the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 in which the application program is installed, the application ID of the application program to be installed, and the license key for validating the application program to be installed. And registered in the first license key table 17a. The first license key table 17a will be described later.

  The license key authenticating unit 11c authenticates the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 using the license key registered in the first license key table 17a.

  More specifically, the license key authentication unit 11c extracts the corresponding license key from the first license key table 17a using the application ID and serial number received from the image forming apparatus 20 in which the application program is installed, Using the extracted license key, the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 is authenticated.

  If the serial number received by the license key authenticating unit 11c from the image forming apparatus 20 is not registered in the first license key table 17a, the serial number update unit 11f stores the received serial number in the first license key table 17a. sign up.

  When the license key corresponding to the serial number and application ID received by the license key authenticating unit 11c from the image forming apparatus 20 does not exist in the license key table 17b, the license key updating unit 11g receives the license key issuing server 30 from the license key issuing server 30. Receive key. Specifically, the license key update unit 11g inquires the license key issuing server 30 about the license key using the serial number and application ID received by the license key authentication unit 11c from the image forming apparatus 20 as keys. The license key update unit 11 g receives the license key from the license key issuing server 30. The license key update unit 11g associates the serial number and application ID received from the image forming apparatus 20 by the license key authentication unit 11c with the license key received from the license key issuing server 30, and the first license key table 17a. Register with.

  When the license key authenticating unit 11c succeeds in authenticating the application program, the application updating unit 11d determines whether the same version as the version of the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 is stored in the management server 10. If there is no same version, the application program is uploaded from the image forming apparatus 20.

  When the license key authenticating unit 11c succeeds in authenticating the application program, the repackage unit 11e displays license authentication necessity information included in an application code file (described later) received from the image forming apparatus 20 in which the application program is installed. After rewriting from “license authentication required” to “license authentication not required”, the application package 17b is repackaged and recreated.

  The repackage unit 11e causes the image forming apparatus 20 in which the application program is installed to download and overwrite-install the application package 17b in which the license authentication necessity information is rewritten to “license authentication unnecessary”. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 20 in which the repackaged application package 17b is installed can use the authenticated application program without requesting license authentication in the future.

  As described above, the management server 10 may be configured by a general computer, or may be configured by dedicated hardware or software.

[About the license key table]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the first license key table 17a.

  As shown in this figure, the first license key table 17a includes a serial number that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 20, an application ID that uniquely identifies an application program, and a specific application in a specific image forming apparatus 20. A license key for activating the program is a table registered as a pair.

  The first license key table 17a is managed by the license key table management unit 11b.

  When an application program is installed in a specific image forming apparatus 20, the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 and the application ID of the installed application program are sent to the management server 10 for authentication.

  The license key authentication unit 11c of the management server 10 searches the first license key table 17a using the serial number and application ID as keys, and extracts the corresponding license key.

[About application packages]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the application package 17b.

  As shown in this figure, one application package 17b is configured to include an application code file CF in which attribute information of an application program is collected and an application project AP that is a program body.

  The application code file CF includes an application ID, an application version indicating the version of the application, license authentication necessity information indicating whether license authentication is necessary, and the like.

  The application project AP includes a class file, resource file, property file, and the like for executing an application program on a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine on the image forming apparatus 20.

[About application ID and version]
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the application ID and version of the application program.

  As shown in this figure, a plurality of application program versions are associated with one application ID.

  Therefore, in order to uniquely identify the application program including the version, it is necessary to specify the application ID and the application version.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
FIG. 6 schematically shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21. The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and governs overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The control unit 21 includes a document reading unit 22, an image processing unit 23, an image memory 24, an image forming unit 25, an operation unit 26, a display unit 26a, a facsimile communication unit 27, a communication unit 28 (second communication unit), and a storage unit. 29 (second storage unit) and the like. The control unit 21 performs operation control of each of the above connected units, and transmission / reception of signals or data to / from each unit.

  The control unit 21 performs operation control on each function such as a scanner function, a print function, a copy function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function in accordance with a job execution instruction input from the user through the operation unit 26 or a network-connected PC. Controls the drive and processing of the mechanisms necessary to execute.

  The control unit 21 includes an application installation unit 21a and an authentication request unit 21b. The application installation unit 21a and the authentication request unit 21b are functional blocks that are realized by the CPU loading a program loaded from the ROM or the like into the RAM.

  The application installation unit 21a installs the application package 17b in the own device 20 in accordance with an end user instruction. If the license key authentication for the installed application is successful in the management server 10, the application package 17 b repackaged in the management server 10 is overwritten and installed.

  If the application package 17b installed by the application installation unit 21a requires license key authentication, the authentication request unit 21b and the serial number 29a of the own device 20 stored in the storage unit 29 and the installed application package 17b are installed. The application ID included in the application package 17b is transmitted to the management server 10 to request license key authentication.

  The document reading unit 22 reads an image from a document.

  The image processing unit 23 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 22 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 23 performs image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 22 is formed.

  The image memory 24 is an area for temporarily storing data of a document image obtained by reading by the document reading unit 22 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 25.

  The image forming unit 25 forms an image such as the image data read by the document reading unit 22.

  The operation unit 26 includes a touch panel unit and operation key units that receive instructions from the user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 20. The touch panel unit includes a display unit 26a such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided with a touch panel.

  The facsimile communication unit 27 includes an encoding / decoding unit, a modulation / demodulation unit, and an NCU (Network Control Unit) (not shown), and performs facsimile transmission using a public telephone line network.

  The communication unit 28 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits and receives various data to and from a device (such as a PC) such as the management server 10 via a LAN or the like connected to the communication unit 28.

  The storage unit 29 stores a document image read by the document reading unit 22, a serial number 29a, an application package 17b, and the like. The storage unit 29 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD. The serial number 29a is a number that can uniquely identify the image forming apparatus 20, such as a manufacturing number of the image forming apparatus 20.

[Configuration of license key issuing server]
FIG. 8 shows a configuration when the license key issuing server is configured by a general computer.

  As shown in the figure, the license key issuing server 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33, an operation input unit 34, a communication unit 35 (third unit). A communication unit), a display unit 36, and a storage unit 37 (third storage unit). These blocks are connected via a bus 38.

  The ROM 32 stores a plurality of programs and data such as firmware for executing various processes. The RAM 33 is used as a work area for the CPU 31 and temporarily holds an OS (Operating System), various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

  The storage unit 37 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 37 stores an OS, various applications, various data, and a second license key table 37a. The second license key table 37a has the same structure as the first license key table 17a described above.

  The communication unit 35 is connected to a network for exchanging information with the management server 10.

  The CPU 31 expands a program corresponding to an instruction given from the operation input unit 34 among the plurality of programs stored in the ROM 32 and the storage unit 37 in the RAM 33, and in accordance with the expanded program, the display unit 36 and the storage unit 37 is appropriately controlled.

  The operation input unit 34 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and other operation devices.

  The display unit 36 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a plasma display, or the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 31 will be described.

  A functional block realized in the CPU 31 of the license key issuing server 30 is a license key issuing unit 31a.

  The license key issuing unit 31a validates the application program to be installed from the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 using the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 to install the application program and the application ID of the application program to be installed as keys. Inquiries about license keys to be used. The license key issuing unit 31a issues a license key, and registers the issued license key in the second license key table 37a by combining the received serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 and the application ID. The license key issuing unit 31a transmits the issued license key to the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10.

  As described above, the license key issuing server 30 may be configured by a general computer, or may be configured by dedicated hardware or software.

[Process flow]
FIG. 7 shows the flow of processing in the information processing system 1.

  In accordance with the instruction from the end user, the application installation unit 21a of the image forming apparatus 20 installs the application package 17b in the image forming apparatus 20 (step S2).

  Next, the authentication request unit 21b of the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the application code file CF (including the application ID and application version) and the serial number 29a of the installed application package 17b to the management server 10 to perform license key authentication. Request (step S3).

  Next, the license key authentication unit 11c of the management server 10 determines whether the license key corresponding to the received application ID and serial number 29a exists in the license key table 17b (step S4).

  As an example of the case where the license key exists (Y in step S4), the administrator (separate from the end user, see FIG. 1) loads the application package 17b in the first license key table 17a of the management server 10. A case where the serial number 29a of the image forming apparatus 20 to be installed and the application ID of the application program to be installed are registered in advance together with a license key is considered.

  On the other hand, when the license key does not exist (N in Step S4), the license key update unit 11g performs a license key update process (Step S5).

  FIG. 9 shows a process flow in the license key update process.

  The license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 inquires the license key issuing server 30 about the license key using the serial number 29a received by the license key authentication unit 11c from the image forming apparatus 20 and the application ID as keys (step S11). .

  The license key issuing unit 31a of the license key issuing server 30 receives a license key inquiry from the license key updating unit 11g of the management server 10. The license key issuing unit 31a issues a license key, and registers the issued license key in the second license key table 37a by combining the received serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 and the application ID. The license key issuing unit 31a transmits the issued license key to the license key updating unit 11g of the management server 10 (Step S12).

  The license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 receives the license key from the license key issuing server 30 (step S13). The license key table management unit 11b sets the serial number and application ID received by the license key update unit 11g from the image forming apparatus 20 and the license key received from the license key issuing server 30 as a set. It is registered in the first license key table 17a (step S14).

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, when the license key exists (Y in Step S4) or after the license key update process is completed (Step S5), the license key authenticating unit 11c performs authentication using the license key (Step S4). S6).

  Next, the application update unit 11d determines whether or not the received application version application package 17b is in the management server 10 (step S7).

  If it is not in the management server 10 (N in step S7), the application update unit 11d acquires the application project AP from the image forming apparatus 20 and stores it in the storage unit 17 (step S8).

  Next, the repackaging unit 11e changes the license authentication necessity information in the received application code file CF to “unnecessary”, and repackages the application program (step S9).

  Next, the application installation unit 21a of the image forming apparatus 20 that has once installed the application package 17b downloads the repackaged application package 17b from the management server 10, and overwrites and installs it on the own apparatus 20 (step S10).

[Conclusion]
When the application program is installed in the information processing apparatus and the license key is entered to activate the application program, for example, in order to issue the license key, the user who purchased the application program accesses the license issuing server, A technique of issuing a license key using a given license access number is conceivable.

  Further, for example, in order to encrypt an application program installed in the image forming apparatus, a common key created based on a license key (character string or the like) designated by the data provider is used. A technique in which a license key is used as a common key for decrypting an encrypted application program can be considered.

  In the license authentication of the application program as described above, the license key is often used with a very long character string or input in a special format to prevent unauthorized use. It takes time to activate the program.

  On the other hand, according to the information processing system 1 according to the present disclosure, the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 uses the license key for validating the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 as the license key. Obtained from the issuing server 30 (step S5). The license key authenticating unit 11c of the management server 10 performs authentication using the license key acquired from the license key issuing server 30 (step S6). In each image forming apparatus 20, after an end user installs an application program, the image forming apparatus 20 communicates with the management server 10 and performs authentication using a license key.

  The authentication by the license key is performed by the management server 10 using the license key acquired from the license key issuing server 30, so that the end user inputs the license key when authenticating the application program installed in the image forming apparatus 20 at hand. There is no need to do it.

  Therefore, the end user can authenticate the license key of the application program without handling the license key, and the security is high.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary for an administrator (a person different from the end user) to manually register a license key in the management server 10, security is increasing.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus in which an application program is installed and executed.

  Second embodiment

  In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 installs and executes an application program. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the terminal device 40 installs and executes an application program for controlling the image forming apparatus 20. In the description of the second embodiment, the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description and illustration thereof are omitted, and different points will be mainly described.

[overall structure]
FIG. 10 shows the overall configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing system 1 includes a management server 10, one or more image forming apparatuses 20 (first information processing apparatus), a license key issuing server 30, and a terminal apparatus 40 (second information processing apparatus) connected to a network. ).

  The terminal device 40 is a personal computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like used by the end user. In the terminal device 40, after an end user installs an application program for controlling the image forming apparatus 20, the terminal device 40 communicates with the management server 10 to perform authentication using a license key.

  Since the authentication by the license key is performed by the license key transmitted from the license key issuing server 30 and registered in the management server 10, the end user authenticates the application program installed in the terminal device 40 at hand. There is no need to enter a key.

[Management Server Configuration]
Referring to FIG. 2, the application management unit 11a of the management server 10 downloads the application package 17b stored in the storage unit 17 to the terminal device 40, or the application package 17b installed in the terminal device 40 receives the management server. Or upload destination when uploading to 10.

  The license key table management unit 11 b manages the first license key table 17 a stored in the storage unit 17. Specifically, the license key table management unit 11b includes a serial number that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal device 40 that installs the application program, the application ID of the application program to be installed, and the installation. The license key for validating the application program to be registered is registered in the first license key table 17a.

  The license key authenticating unit 11c authenticates the application program installed in the terminal device 40 using the license key registered in the first license key table 17a.

  More specifically, the license key authenticating unit 11c extracts and extracts the corresponding license key from the first license key table 17a using the application ID and serial number received from the terminal device 40 in which the application program is installed. The application program installed in the terminal device 40 is authenticated using the license key.

  The serial number update unit 11f has a serial number (a serial number that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal device 40 that installs the application program) received by the license key authentication unit 11c from the terminal device 40. If it is not registered in one license key table 17a, the received serial number is registered in the first license key table 17a.

  When the license key corresponding to the serial number and application ID received from the terminal device 40 by the license key authenticating unit 11c does not exist in the license key table 17b, the license key update unit 11g receives the license key from the license key issuing server 30. Receive. Specifically, the license key update unit 11g inquires the license key issuing server 30 about the license key using the serial number and application ID received by the license key authentication unit 11c from the terminal device 40 as keys. The license key update unit 11 g receives the license key from the license key issuing server 30. The license key update unit 11g associates the serial number and application ID received from the terminal device 40 by the license key authentication unit 11c with the license key received from the license key issuing server 30 in the first license key table 17a. sign up.

  When the license key authenticating unit 11c succeeds in authenticating the application program, the application updating unit 11d determines whether the same version as the version of the application program installed in the terminal device 40 is stored in the management server 10. If there is no same version, the application program is uploaded from the terminal device 40.

  When the license key authentication unit 11c succeeds in the authentication of the application program, the repackage unit 11e displays the license authentication necessity information included in the application code file received from the terminal device 40 in which the application program is installed as “license authentication required”. To “license authentication not required”, the application package 17b is repackaged and recreated.

  The repackage unit 11e causes the terminal device 40 in which the application program is installed to download and overwrite-install the application package 17b in which the license authentication necessity information is rewritten to “license authentication unnecessary”. As a result, the terminal device 40 in which the repackaged application package 17b is installed can use the authenticated application program without requiring license authentication in the future.

[About the license key table]
Referring to FIG. 3, the first license key table 17 a controls the serial number that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 20, the application ID that uniquely identifies the application program, and a specific image forming apparatus 20. A table in which license keys for validating a specific application program installed in the terminal device 40 are registered as a set.

  When an application program is installed in the terminal device 40 to control a specific image forming apparatus 20, the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal apparatus 40 and the installed application program are used for authentication. Are sent to the management server 10.

[About application packages]
Referring to FIG. 4, the application project AP includes a class file, a resource file, a property file, and the like for executing the application program on the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine on the terminal device 40.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
FIG. 11 schematically shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The storage unit 29 stores a serial number 29a and the like.

  The control unit 21 has a serial number supply unit 21c. The serial number supply unit 21c is a functional block realized by the CPU loading a program loaded from the ROM or the like into the RAM. The serial number supply unit 21 c transmits the serial number 29 a stored in the storage unit 29 to the terminal device 40.

[Configuration of terminal device]
FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the terminal device 40.

  As shown in the figure, the terminal device 40 has a CPU 41, ROM 42, RAM 43, operation input unit 44, communication unit 45, display unit 46, and storage unit 47, and these blocks are connected via a bus 48. ing.

  The ROM 42 stores a plurality of programs and data such as firmware for executing various processes. The RAM 43 is used as a work area for the CPU 41, and temporarily holds the OS, various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

  The storage unit 47 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 47 stores an OS, various applications, various data, and an application package 17b.

  The communication unit 45 is connected to a network.

  The CPU 41 develops, in the RAM 43, a program corresponding to a command given from the operation input unit 44 among the plurality of programs stored in the ROM 42 or the storage unit 47, and the display unit 46 and the storage unit according to the developed program. 47 is appropriately controlled.

  The operation input unit 44 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and other operation devices.

  The display unit 46 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a plasma display, or the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 41 will be described.

  Functional blocks implemented in the CPU 41 of the terminal device 40 are an application installation unit 41a, a serial number acquisition unit 41c, and an authentication request unit 41b.

  The application installation unit 41a installs the application package 17b in the terminal device 40 in accordance with an end user instruction. If the license key authentication for the installed application is successful in the management server 10, the application package 17 b repackaged in the management server 10 is overwritten and installed.

  The serial number acquisition unit 41c transmits a request for supplying the serial number 29a to the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal device 40, receives the serial number 29a from the image forming apparatus 20, and receives the received serial number 29a. Store in the storage unit 47.

  If the application package 17b installed by the application installation unit 41a requires license key authentication, the authentication request unit 41b stores an image stored in the storage unit 47 and controlled by the terminal device 40. The serial number 29a of the forming apparatus 20 and the application ID included in the installed application package 17b are transmitted to the management server 10 to request license key authentication.

[Configuration of license key issuing server]
Referring to FIG. 8, the license key issuing unit 31a of the license key issuing server 30 receives the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 that is controlled by the terminal device 40 that has installed the application program from the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10. A license key inquiry for validating the application program to be installed is received using the number and the application ID of the application program to be installed as keys. The license key issuing unit 31a issues a license key, and sets the issued license key as a set of the serial number of the received image forming apparatus 20 that is the target to be controlled by the terminal device 40 that has installed the application program, and the application ID. And registered in the second license key table 37a. The license key issuing unit 31a transmits the issued license key to the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10.

[Process flow]
FIG. 13 shows the flow of processing in the information processing system 1.

  In accordance with the end user instruction, the application installation unit 41a of the terminal device 40 installs the application package 17b in the terminal device 40 (step S2).

  The serial number acquisition unit 41c of the terminal device 40 transmits a supply request for the serial number 29a to the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal device 40, and receives and receives the serial number 29a from the image forming apparatus 20. The serial number 29a is stored in the storage unit 47 (step S1). When the storage unit 47 already stores the image forming apparatus 20 serial number 29a (typically, another application package 17b for controlling the same image forming apparatus 20 is stored in the terminal device 40 in the past. In the case of installation), the operation of step S1 is omitted.

  Next, the authentication request unit 41b of the terminal device 40 includes the application code file CF (including the application ID and application version) of the installed application package 17b and the serial number 29a (the image forming apparatus that is the target controlled by the terminal device 40). 20 serial number 29a) is transmitted to the management server 10 to request license key authentication (step S3).

  Next, the license key authentication unit 11c of the management server 10 determines whether the license key corresponding to the received application ID and serial number 29a exists in the license key table 17b (step S4).

  As an example of the case where the license key exists (Y in step S4), the administrator (separate from the end user, see FIG. 1) loads the application package 17b in the first license key table 17a of the management server 10. A case where the serial number 29a of the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the installed terminal device 40 and the application ID of the installed application program are registered in advance together with a license key is considered.

  On the other hand, when the license key does not exist (N in Step S4), the license key update unit 11g performs a license key update process (Step S5).

  Referring to FIG. 9, the license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 sends the license key to the license key issuing server 30 using the serial number 29a and the application ID received by the license key authentication unit 11c from the terminal device 40 as keys. An inquiry is made (step S11).

  The license key issuing unit 31a of the license key issuing server 30 receives a license key inquiry from the license key updating unit 11g of the management server 10. The license key issuing unit 31a issues a license key, sets the issued license key as a set of the serial number of the image forming apparatus 20 that is the object to be controlled by the terminal device 40 and the application ID. Register in the license key table 37a. The license key issuing unit 31a transmits the issued license key to the license key updating unit 11g of the management server 10 (Step S12).

  The license key update unit 11g of the management server 10 receives the license key from the license key issuing server 30 (step S13). The license key table management unit 11b includes a serial number (serial number 29a of the image forming apparatus 20 that is controlled by the terminal device 40) and an application ID received by the license key update unit 11g from the terminal device 40 by the license key update unit 11g. And the license key received from the license key issuing server 30 are registered in the first license key table 17a (step S14).

  Referring to FIG. 13 again, if the license key exists (Y in Step S4) or after the license key update process is completed (Step S5), the license key authenticating unit 11c performs authentication using the license key (Step S4). S6).

  Next, the application update unit 11d determines whether or not the received application version application package 17b is in the management server 10 (step S7).

  If not in the management server 10 (N in step S7), the application updating unit 11d acquires the application project AP from the terminal device 40 and stores it in the storage unit 17 (step S8).

  Next, the repackaging unit 11e changes the license authentication necessity information in the received application code file CF to “unnecessary”, and repackages the application program (step S9).

  Next, the application installation unit 41a of the terminal device 40 that once installed the application package 17b downloads the repackaged application package 17b from the management server 10 and installs it over the terminal device 40 by overwriting (step S10).

[Conclusion]
According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects similar to those described in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  The image forming apparatus 20 may be limited in the number and behavior of application programs that can be installed due to hardware limitations. For this reason, there are cases where the application program is installed in the terminal device 40 connected to the image forming apparatus 20 and the image forming apparatus 20 is controlled by the terminal apparatus 40 executing the application program.

  According to the present embodiment, when an application program for controlling a specific image forming apparatus 20 is installed in the terminal device 40 (step S2), the serial number acquisition unit 41c of the terminal device 40 is controlled by the terminal device 40. The serial number 29a is received from the image forming apparatus 20 (step S1). Next, the authentication request unit 41b of the terminal device 40 transmits the serial number 29a of the image forming apparatus 20 to be controlled by the terminal device 40 to the management server 10 to request license key authentication (step S3).

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the terminal device 40 manages the serial number 29a of the image forming apparatus 20 regardless of which terminal apparatus 40 the application program for controlling the specific image forming apparatus 20 is installed. The license key can be authenticated by transmitting to the server 10.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, Of course, various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing system 10 ... Management server 11 ... CPU
11a ... Application management unit 11b ... License key table management unit 11c ... License key authentication unit 11d ... Application update unit 11e ... Repackage unit 11f ... Serial number update unit 11g ... License key update unit 12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Operation input part 15 ... Communication part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Memory | storage part 17a ... 1st license key table 17b ... Application package 18 ... Bus 20 ... Image forming apparatus 21 ... Control part 21a, 41a ... Application installation part 21b, 41b ... Authentication request unit 22 ... Document reading unit 23 ... Image processing unit 24 ... Image memory 25 ... Image forming unit 26 ... Operation unit 26a ... Display unit 27 ... Facsimile communication unit 28 ... Communication unit 29 ... Storage unit 29a ... Serial number 30 ... license key issuing server 31a ... license key issuing unit 37a ... second license key table 40 ... terminal device

Claims (18)

One or more information processing devices;
A management server that is connected to the one or more information processing apparatuses over a network and manages a license key for activating an application program installed in any of the one or more information processing apparatuses;
A license key issuing server that is network-connected to the management server and issues the license key,
The management server is
A serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program, an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed, and the license key for enabling the application program to be installed A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table to be registered,
Using the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus that installs the application program as keys, the license key issuing server is inquired of the license key, and the license key for the inquiry is issued as the license key. A license key update unit received from the server;
A license key table management unit that registers the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table;
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key is used. A license key authenticating unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed,
The license key issuing server is
A third storage unit capable of storing a second license key table having the same structure as the first license key table;
The management server receives the inquiry using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and sets the issued license key as a pair with the serial number and the application ID. A license key issuing unit for registering and issuing the issued license key to the management server.
Each of the one or more information processing apparatuses includes:
A second storage unit storing the serial number corresponding to the device;
Based on an instruction from an end user, an application installation unit that installs the application program in its own device;
An authentication requesting unit that transmits the application ID of the application program installed in its own device and the serial number stored in the second storage unit to the management server, and requests license key authentication. system. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The application program is an application package configured to include an application code file that summarizes attribute information of the application program, and an application project that is a program body,
The application code file includes the application ID, an application version indicating the version of the application, and license authentication necessity information indicating whether license authentication is necessary,
The application project includes a class file, a resource file, and a property file for executing an application program on the information processing apparatus. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The authentication request unit of the one or more information processing devices includes the application code file including the application ID and the application version of the application package installed in the device, the serial number, and the management server. An information processing system that sends the request to the license key for authentication. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The management server further acquires the application project from the information processing device when the application package of the application version received from the information processing device in which the application program is installed is not in the management server, An information processing system comprising an application update unit that stores data in a first storage unit. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The information processing system further includes a repackaging unit that unnecessarily changes license authentication necessity information in the received application code file and repackages the application program. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The application installation unit of the information processing apparatus that has installed the application package downloads the repackaged application package from the management server, and overwrite-installs the application package on its own apparatus. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
If the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed is not registered in the first license key table, the management server further uses the received serial number as the first license. An information processing system with a serial number update unit that is registered in the key table. One or more information processing devices;
A management server that is connected to the one or more information processing apparatuses over a network and manages a license key for activating an application program installed in any of the one or more information processing apparatuses; and is connected to the management server over a network; An information processing method in an information processing system including a license key issuing server that issues the license key,
The license key update unit of the management server issues the license key using a serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program and an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed as keys. Query the server for the license key,
The license key issuing unit of the license key issuing server receives the inquiry from the management server using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and issues the issued license key to the serial number. And the application ID are registered in a second license key table, and the issued license key is transmitted to the management server,
The license key update unit of the management server receives the license key for the inquiry from the license key issuing server,
The license key table management unit of the management server sets the serial number received from the information processing apparatus, the application ID, and the license key received from the license key issuing server in a first license key table. Register,
The application installation unit of the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed installs the application program in its own apparatus based on an end user instruction,
The authentication request unit of the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed sends the application ID of the application program installed in the own apparatus and the serial number stored in the storage unit of the own apparatus to the management server. Request license key authentication,
The license key authentication unit of the management server extracts the corresponding license key from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed And
An information processing method, wherein a license key authentication unit of the management server performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, using the extracted license key. A management server that manages a license key for activating an application program installed in one or more information processing apparatuses;
A serial number that uniquely identifies the information processing apparatus that installs the application program, an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed, and the license key for enabling the application program to be installed A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table to be registered,
A license that uses the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus that installs the application program as keys to inquire a license key for a license key and receives the license key from the license key issuance server A key update unit;
A license key table management unit that registers the serial number and the application ID received from the information processing apparatus and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table;
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key is used. A management server comprising: a license key authentication unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed. One or more first information processing devices;
A second information processing apparatus connected to any one of the one or more first information processing apparatuses and installed with an application program for controlling the one or more first information processing apparatuses;
Management for managing a license key for enabling the application program installed in the second information processing apparatus to be connected to the second information processing apparatus via a network and to control the first information processing apparatus Server,
A license key issuing server that is network-connected to the management server and issues the license key,
The management server is
A serial number for uniquely identifying the first information processing apparatus to be controlled by the second information processing apparatus for installing the application program; an application ID for uniquely identifying the application program to be installed; A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table registered in pairs with the license key for validating the application program to be performed;
Using the serial number and the application ID received from the second information processing apparatus for installing the application program as keys, the license key issuing server is queried for the license key, and the license key for the inquiry is A license key update unit received from the license key issuing server;
License key table management for registering the serial number, the application ID received from the second information processing apparatus, and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table And
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key A license key authenticating unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed,
The license key issuing server is
A third storage unit capable of storing a second license key table having the same structure as the first license key table;
The management server receives the inquiry using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and sets the issued license key as a pair with the serial number and the application ID. A license key issuing unit for registering and issuing the issued license key to the management server.
The second information processing apparatus
A serial number acquisition unit that acquires from the first information processing device the serial number that uniquely identifies the first information processing device that is to be controlled by the device;
A second storage unit storing the serial number;
Based on an instruction from an end user, an application installation unit that installs the application program in its own device;
An authentication requesting unit that transmits the application ID of the application program installed in its own device and the serial number stored in the second storage unit to the management server, and requests license key authentication. system. The information processing system according to claim 10,
The application program is an application package configured to include an application code file that summarizes attribute information of the application program, and an application project that is a program body,
The application code file includes the application ID, an application version indicating the version of the application, and license authentication necessity information indicating whether license authentication is necessary,
The application project includes a class file, a resource file, and a property file for executing an application program on the second information processing apparatus. The information processing system according to claim 10 or 11,
The authentication request unit of the one or more second information processing devices includes the application code file including the application ID and the application version of the application package installed in the device, and the serial number. An information processing system which transmits to the management server and requests the license key authentication. An information processing system according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
The management server further includes, when the management server does not have the application package of the application version received from the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, the application from the second information processing apparatus. An information processing system comprising an application update unit that acquires a project and stores the project in the first storage unit. An information processing system according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
The information processing system further includes a repackaging unit that unnecessarily changes license authentication necessity information in the received application code file and repackages the application program. The information processing system according to any one of claims 10 to 14,
The application installation unit of the second information processing apparatus that has installed the application package downloads the repackaged application package from the management server, and overwrite-installs the application package on its own apparatus. The information processing system according to any one of claims 10 to 15,
If the serial number received from the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed is not registered in the first license key table, the management server further receives the received serial number in the first license key table. An information processing system having a serial number update unit registered in one license key table. One or more first information processing devices;
A second information processing apparatus connected to any one of the one or more first information processing apparatuses and installed with an application program for controlling the one or more first information processing apparatuses;
A management server that is network-connected to the second information processing apparatus and manages a license key for activating the application program installed in the second information processing apparatus;
An information processing method in an information processing system including a license key issuing server that is network-connected to the management server and issues the license key,
The serial number that uniquely identifies the first information processing apparatus to be controlled by the second information processing apparatus in which the license key update unit of the management server installs the application program, and the application program to be installed Inquiry of the license key to the license key issuing server using an application ID that uniquely identifies
The license key issuing unit of the license key issuing server receives the inquiry from the management server using the serial number and the application ID as keys, issues a license key, and issues the issued license key to the serial number. And the application ID are registered in a second license key table, and the issued license key is transmitted to the management server,
The license key update unit of the management server receives the license key for the inquiry from the license key issuing server,
The serial number acquisition unit of the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed uses the first serial number to uniquely identify the first information processing apparatus that is controlled by the own apparatus. Obtained from the information processing device,
The license key table management unit of the management server sets a first license by combining the serial number received from the second information processing apparatus, the application ID, and the license key received from the license key issuing server. Register in the key table
The application installation unit of the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed installs the application program in its own apparatus based on an instruction from an end user,
The authentication request unit of the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed is the target to be controlled by the own apparatus stored in the application ID of the application program installed in the own apparatus and the storage unit of the own apparatus. Requesting the license key authentication by transmitting the serial number uniquely identifying the first information processing apparatus to the management server,
The license key authenticating unit of the management server uses the application ID and the serial number received from the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed to correspond to the corresponding license from the first license key table. Extract the key,
An information processing method, wherein a license key authentication unit of the management server performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, using the extracted license key. A management server that manages a license key for activating an application program installed in one of the one or more second information processing apparatuses;
A serial number that uniquely identifies the first information processing apparatus that is the target to be controlled by the second information processing apparatus that installs the application program, an application ID that uniquely identifies the application program to be installed, and installation A first storage unit capable of storing a first license key table registered as a pair with the license key for validating the application program;
Using the serial number and the application ID received from the second information processing apparatus for installing the application program as keys, the license key issuing server is inquired about a license key, and the license key is received from the license key issuing server. A license key update unit to receive,
License key table management for registering the serial number, the application ID received from the second information processing apparatus, and the license key received from the license key issuing server as a set in the first license key table And
The corresponding license key is extracted from the first license key table using the application ID and the serial number received from the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed, and the extracted license key And a license key authenticating unit that performs license key authentication of the application program installed in the second information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed.

Images