JP2019164745A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow a user to easily grasp application software usable for a communication target device that is connected to a fixed operation unit of an information processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus, when the user performs an operation to the fixed operation unit of the information processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises: a storage unit that stores various types of application software; a connection control unit that is communication-connected to a communication target and collects effective function information indicating one or more functions owned by the communication target; a determination unit that determines, among the various types of application software, application software executable for the communication target on the basis of the effective function information; and a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, the application software determined to be executable and does not display, on the display unit, the application software determined to be inexecutable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

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

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that is an object of communication by an operation from an information processing apparatus that can communicate with an image forming apparatus (communication target, external apparatus) such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) or a fixed operation unit of the image forming apparatus. A technique for executing processing using the function of an apparatus is known.

  For example, a process using the function of the image forming apparatus is executed by the user selecting and executing desired software software from a plurality of application software displayed on the screen of the fixed operation unit of the information processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus. The technology to do is known.

  However, in the prior art, when a user performs an operation on an information processing apparatus or the like, it is possible to determine which application software can be used in an image forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus or the like. It was sometimes difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and application software that can be used for an image forming apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus when a user performs an operation on the information processing apparatus. It is intended that the user can easily grasp.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention collects effective function information indicating one or a plurality of functions of an external device by connecting to a storage unit storing application software and an external device. A connection control unit, a determination unit that determines application software that can be executed on an external device among application software based on the effective function information, and a display unit that displays the application software determined to be executable, A display control unit that does not display application software determined to be unexecutable on the display unit.

  According to the present invention, when a user performs an operation on an information processing device, the user can easily grasp application software that can be used for an external device connected to the information processing device. There is an effect.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions that the connection app according to the first embodiment has. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a list screen display process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the UI screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the UI screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary flow of a list screen display process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of tag information according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a list screen display process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the connection app according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a list screen display process according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of tag information according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary flow of a list screen display process according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a list of UI screens according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an information processing system according to the sixth embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system 100a according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing system 100 a includes an information processing apparatus 20 a and an image forming apparatus 30.

  The image forming apparatus 30 is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), and has functions such as copying, scanning, faxing, and printing. Note that software and hardware such as a plotter and a scanner are collectively expressed as an execution unit as means for executing each process such as copying, scanning, faxing, and printing. The image forming apparatus 30 acquires an execution instruction regarding a process to be executed via the information processing apparatus 20a and the wireless network 300, and the execution unit executes the process based on the acquired execution instruction. In addition, the image forming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment includes a fixing operation unit. Details of the image forming apparatus 30 and the fixing operation unit will be described with reference to FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 20a is, for example, an information processing terminal (smart terminal, smart device) such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 20a includes an OS 25a, a first connection application 23a, a function providing application 22, a general-purpose application 121, and a home application 21a.

  The OS 25a is an operating system that provides an interface of hardware functions to various software, and is, for example, Android (registered trademark). The OS 25a includes a Web API connection class 251 as one function. The WebAPI connection class 251 may be realized by software different from the OS 25a. The OS 25a may include various applications necessary for the operation of the system of the information processing apparatus 20a.

  The general-purpose application 121 is a general-purpose application that can be used by the information processing apparatus 20a. Examples of the general-purpose application 121 include an image processing application and a mail application. Note that the information processing apparatus 20a can install a plurality of general-purpose applications 121. The plurality of general-purpose applications 121 may have different functions.

  The home application 21a may be one of the general-purpose applications 121. The home application 21a displays a main screen on the display device of the information processing device 20a. When the user performs an operation of selecting any one of the function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application 121 by pressing the icon on the main screen, the home application 21a functions as the function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application corresponding to the pressed icon. 121 is started. For example, the home application 21 a activates the function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application 121 by transmitting an instruction signal instructing activation to the function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application 121.

  Note that the user may directly start the desired function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application 121 without going through the home application 21a, or start the desired function-providing application 22 from another function providing application 22 or the general-purpose application 121. May be. The home application 21a may display only the function providing application 22 on the main screen. Further, without providing the home application 21a, the function of the home application 21a may be included in the first connection application 23a, the function providing application 22, or the like.

  The function providing application 22 is an application created so as to operate on both the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit (illustrated in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 30. A plurality of function providing applications 22 can be installed in the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit. The number of function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit is not limited. For example, only one function providing application 22 is installed in the information processing apparatus 20a or the fixed operation unit. Be good.

  The function providing applications 22 may have different functions. For example, when the communication target to which the information processing apparatus 20a is connected is the image forming apparatus (MPF) 30, for setting and executing instructions for various functions such as copying, scanning, printing, and FAX executed by the MFP. An application that provides a user interface screen can be mentioned.

  In FIG. 1, a print application 1221 and a fax application 1222 are given as examples of the function providing application 22. For example, the print application 1221 provides a user interface screen for setting and executing instructions regarding the print function of the image forming apparatus 30 and the fax application 1222 regarding the fax function of the image forming apparatus 30. In the present embodiment, the function providing application 22 may be application software that does not use the function of the image forming apparatus 30. Among the function providing applications 22, application software that does not use the functions of the image forming apparatus 30 includes, for example, a browser application and a camera application.

  Each function providing application 22 includes a Web API wrapper 123 (123a, 123b). The Web API Wrapper 123 is a library that provides a class that wraps a Web API connection class 251 so that the function providing application 22 can be connected to the image forming apparatus 30 without being aware of the operating environment. Accordingly, the function providing application 22 generates an instance of the Web API Wrapper 123, so that the communication connection information (for example, the host name of the connection destination, the communication destination information regarding the communication connection with the currently connected image forming apparatus 30 is generated from the function providing application 22. A port number of a connection destination) can be acquired, and a function execution request to the image forming apparatus 30 can be transmitted using the communication connection information.

  Further, the function providing application 22 responds to the function execution request to the image forming apparatus 30 according to the terminal device (the information processing apparatus 20a or the fixed operation unit of the image forming apparatus 30) on which the function providing application 22 is mounted. Authentication information (for example, user ID and password) for performing user authentication can be included. Further, the function providing application 22 selectively switches between HTTP and HTTPS, the protocol used when a function execution request is made to the image forming apparatus 30 according to the terminal device on which the function providing application 22 is mounted. Can be used. Note that the WebAPI connection class 251 may be included in the function providing application 22. Further, the WebAPI connection class 251 may use a function installed in Android (registered trademark) or the like.

  The first connection application 23 a performs communication connection with the image forming apparatus 30. In addition, the first connection application 23 a provides the communication connection information regarding the communication connection with the image forming apparatus 30 to the Web API Wrapper 123. In addition, the first connection application includes a function for generating a home screen for displaying a list of icons of function providing applications installed in the information processing apparatus, a screen for selecting an image forming apparatus to which the information processing apparatus is connected, and selected image formation. You may have the function to display the screen which receives the authentication information required in order to log in with respect to an apparatus. The first connection application 23a is an application that is installed and operated in at least the information processing apparatus 20a among the information processing apparatus 20a and a fixed operation unit described later. For example, the first connection application 23a includes a process unique to the information processing apparatus 20a.

  In FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 20 a and the image forming apparatus 30 are connected on a one-to-one basis, but the information processing apparatus 20 a can be connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses 30. The image forming apparatus 30 can be connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20a.

  The operation on the image forming apparatus 30 may be executed not only by the information processing apparatus 20a but also by a fixed operation unit of the image forming apparatus 30. Details of the fixing operation unit of the image forming apparatus 30 will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the image forming system S according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming system S includes a fixing operation unit 20 b and an image forming apparatus 30.

  The fixing operation unit 20b may be provided detachably with respect to the main body (image forming apparatus 30). Further, the fixed operation unit 20b may be capable of communicating with not only the image forming apparatus 30 but also a plurality of image forming apparatuses. For example, the fixed operation unit 20b may be communicable with another image forming apparatus through wireless communication in addition to being connected to the image forming apparatus 30 through a signal line. The fixed operation unit 20b includes an OS 25b, a second connection application 23b, a function providing application 22, a fixed operation unit application 124, and a home application 21b.

  The function providing application 22 included in the fixed operation unit 20b and the Web API wrapper 123 included in each function providing application 22 have the same functions as the function providing application 22 included in the information processing apparatus 20a and the Web API wrapper 123 included in each function providing application 22. It is assumed that the same function providing application 22 can be installed in the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit 20b.

  The second connection application 23b provided in the fixed operation unit 20b provides the same function as the first connection application 23a provided in the information processing apparatus 20a. However, the second connection application 23b includes processing unique to the fixed operation unit 20b. The second connection application 23b is an application that is installed and operated in at least the fixed operation unit 20b among the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit 20b. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first connection application 23a and the second connection application 23b, the connection application 23 is described.

  The OS 25b is an operating system that provides an interface of hardware functions to various software, and is, for example, Android (registered trademark). In addition, the OS 25b includes a Web API connection class 252 as one function.

  The Web API connection class 252 provides the same function as the Web API connection class 251 provided in the information processing apparatus 20a. However, the WebAPI connection class 252 includes processing unique to the fixed operation unit 20b. Further, the WebAPI connection class 252 may be realized by software different from the OS 25b. Note that the OS 25b may be an OS customized for operation by the fixed operation unit 20b, and may include various applications necessary for the operation of the system of the fixed operation unit 20b.

  The fixed operation unit application 124 is a dedicated application that can be used only by the fixed operation unit 20b. For example, when the communication target to which the fixed operation unit 20b is connected is the image forming apparatus (MFP) 30, the fixed operation unit application 124 sets the various functions such as copy, scan, print, and fax executed by the MFP. And an application that provides a user interface screen for performing an execution instruction. The fixed operation unit 20b may include a fixed operation unit platform in order to execute the fixed operation unit application 124. In this case, the fixed operation unit platform may include a part or all of the functions of the second connection application 23b, or may be provided separately from the second connection application 23b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 30 includes an OS 305, an ECS (Engine Control Service) 301, an NCS (Network Control Service) 302, an SCS (System Control Service) 303, and a CCS (Certification Control Service). 304).

  The OS 305 is an independent OS that is different from the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit 20b, and provides an interface of hardware functions for various types of software.

  The ECS 301 performs hardware management / arbitration of an image engine including a plotter and a scanner.

  The NCS 302 performs management or arbitration of the network I / F hardware of the image forming apparatus 30 and accepts Web API requests (for example, HTTP requests, HTTPS requests, etc.) from the Web API connection classes 251 and 252.

  The SCS 303 performs operation management related to the entire system such as management of return from the energy saving mode of the main body (image forming apparatus 30) and the fixed operation unit 20b and job management, and control of counters / screens / settings and the like.

  The CCS 304 manages user authentication / authentication state / use restrictions of the main body (image forming apparatus 30) and the fixed operation unit 20b.

  The ECS 301, the NCS 302, the SCS 303, the CCS 304, and the image engine are an example constituting a functional unit that executes a predetermined function. In addition to the above, the functional unit may include software and hardware for providing various functions such as copying, scanning, printing, and FAX.

  In the present embodiment, application software executed in the image forming apparatus 30 to provide functions such as copying, scanning, faxing, or printing is referred to as “an application of the image forming apparatus 30”.

  The image forming apparatus 30 is an example of a communication target, and the communication target communicates with the information processing apparatus 20a or the fixed operation unit 20b. The communication target is not limited to the image forming apparatus 30 and may be various electronic devices such as an office device including an electronic blackboard and a projector.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the function providing application 22 and the connection application 23 are separately provided in the information processing apparatus 20 a and the fixed operation unit 20 b. The function providing application 22 is often created by a third party different from a manufacturer that manufactures a device such as the image forming apparatus 30. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the connection with the image forming apparatus 30 is realized by the connection application 23 provided separately from the function providing application 22, so that the function providing application 22 connects to the image forming apparatus 30. Functions can be provided even if functions are not included. For this reason, it becomes easy for the creator of the function providing application 22 which is a third party to create the function providing application 22.

  In addition, regarding the connection with the image forming apparatus 30, processing unique to each device (the fixed operation unit 20 b and the information processing apparatus 20 a) is provided in the connection application 23, and thus the function providing application 22 includes processing unique to each device. May not be included. That is, the function providing application 22 can be common to each device. Since it is not necessary to create the function providing application 22 for each device, the creator of the function providing application 22 can easily create the function providing application 22.

  Note that the functions of the information processing apparatus 20a and the fixed operation unit 20b described above are realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM or HDD in the information processing apparatus 20a or the fixed operation unit 20b, for example. . The program executed by the CPU may be provided in a state of being introduced in advance into the information processing device 20a or the fixed operation unit 20b, or may be provided from the outside and introduced into the information processing device 20a or the fixed operation unit 20b. Also good. In the latter case, this program may be provided by an external storage medium (for example, a USB memory, a memory card, a CD-ROM, etc.), or provided by downloading from a server on a network (for example, the Internet, etc.). You may make it do.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in more detail. In the following description, the information processing apparatus 20a will be described as an example, but it is assumed that the fixed operation unit 20b can perform the same processing as the information processing apparatus 20a.

Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 30 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 105, and an operation display. Unit 106, engine unit 107, and communication I / F (interface) 108. The above units are connected to each other via a system bus 101.

  The operation display unit 106 receives user operations and various inputs corresponding to the operations, and displays various types of information. For example, the operation display unit 106 includes a liquid crystal display device (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display) equipped with a touch panel function.

  The engine unit 107 is hardware that performs processing other than general-purpose information processing and communication for realizing the functions of the image forming apparatus 30. For example, the engine unit 107 includes a scanner (image reading unit) that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter (image forming unit) that performs printing on a sheet material such as paper, and a fax unit that performs fax communication.

Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20a will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20a according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 20 a includes a CPU 701, a ROM 702, a RAM 703, a flash memory 704, an operation panel 705, a communication I / F 706, and a short-range wireless communication unit 707. The ROM 702, the RAM 703, and the flash memory 704 are an example of a storage unit in the present embodiment.

  The operation panel 705 is, for example, a touch panel display in which a touch panel and a display are integrated, and includes an input unit for performing operations on the information processing apparatus 20a and a display unit for displaying processing results of the information processing apparatus 20a. Including. Note that the information processing apparatus 20a may be provided with an input unit and a display unit separately.

Next, details of the function of the connection application 23 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a or the fixed operation unit 20b will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the connection application 23 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the connection application 23 according to the present embodiment includes a display control unit 201, a determination unit 202, and a connection control unit 203.

  The connection control unit 203 communicates with the image forming apparatus 30 and collects effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30. The effective function information is information indicating one or more functions of the image forming apparatus 30. More specifically, when establishing a communication connection with the image forming apparatus 30, the connection control unit 203 acquires information about the application of the image forming apparatus 30 running on the image forming apparatus 30 from the image forming apparatus 30. For example, the connection control unit 203 is activated on the image forming apparatus 30 from an SDK (Software Development Kit) service program of the image forming apparatus 30 or application software that collects information on the device state of the image forming apparatus 30. Information about the application of the image forming apparatus 30 may be acquired. In addition, the method of acquiring the application information of the image forming apparatus 30 and the acquisition timing are not limited to this. For example, when the activation state of the application of the image forming apparatus 30 is changed in the image forming apparatus 30. For example, the effective function information may be notified from the image forming apparatus 30 to the connection control unit 203. The effective function information acquired by the connection control unit 203 includes information on functions that can be provided by the image forming apparatus 30 such as the power state of the image forming apparatus 30 and optional functions connected to the image forming apparatus 30. Information regarding the performance of the image forming apparatus 30 may be included.

  The determination unit 202 selects the image forming apparatus 30 connected to the information processing apparatus 20a among the plurality of function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a based on the valid function information acquired by the connection control unit 203. The function providing application 22 that can be executed is determined.

  The display control unit 201 displays the function providing application 22 that is determined to be executable by the determination unit 202 on the operation panel 705.

  Next, software configurations of the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 30 includes an application layer 111, a service layer 112, and an OS layer 113. The entities of the application layer 111, the service layer 112, and the OS layer 113 are various types of software stored in the ROM 103, the HDD 105, and the like. Various functions are provided by the CPU 102 executing these software.

  Further, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a according to the present embodiment can communicate with each other via the wireless network 300. The connection means between the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a is not limited to wireless communication, and may be connected by wired communication such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.

  The software of the application layer 111 is application software for operating a hardware resource and providing a predetermined function, and is an application of the image forming apparatus 30 described above. For example, the types of applications of the image forming apparatus 30 include a copy application for providing a copy function, a scanner application for providing a scanner function, a fax application for providing a fax function, and a printer for providing a printer function. Applications are listed.

  The software of the service layer 112 is interposed between the application layer 111 and the OS layer 113, and provides an interface for using hardware resources of the image forming apparatus 30 to the application of the image forming apparatus 30. Software. More specifically, the software of the service layer 112 is software for providing a function of receiving an operation request for a hardware resource and arbitrating the operation request. The operation request received by the service layer 112 may be a request such as reading by a scanner or printing by a plotter.

  Note that the interface function of the service layer 112 is provided not only to the application layer 111 of the image forming apparatus 30 but also to the application layer 211 of the information processing apparatus 20a. That is, the application layer 211 (the connection application 23 and the function providing application 22) of the information processing apparatus 20a also uses the hardware resources (for example, the engine unit 107) of the image forming apparatus 30 via the interface function of the service layer 112. Can be realized.

  The software of the OS layer 113 is basic software (OS 305) for providing a basic function for controlling hardware included in the image forming apparatus 30. The software of the service layer 112 converts a hardware resource use request from various applications into a command that can be interpreted by the OS layer 113 and passes it to the OS layer 113. Then, the command is executed by the software of the OS layer 113, so that the hardware resource performs an operation according to the request of the application.

  Similarly, the information processing apparatus 20a includes an application layer 211, a service layer 212, and an OS layer 213. The application layer 211, the service layer 212, and the OS layer 213 included in the information processing apparatus 20a are similar to the image forming apparatus 30 in terms of the hierarchical structure. The function providing application 22 and the connection application 23 described above with reference to FIG. 1 are software of the application layer 211, and the OS 25a is software of the OS layer 213.

Next, processing in the information processing apparatus 20a and the image forming apparatus 30 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the list screen display process according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 20 a is connected to an image forming apparatus 30 (MFP) that is an example of a communication target.

  As a premise of the processing in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the connection application 23 of the information processing apparatus 20a is activated by a user operation or the like. When the connection application 23 is activated, the display control unit 201 displays a connection screen that can accept a connection operation with the image forming apparatus 30 on the operation panel 705. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the connection screen 900 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the connection screen 900 includes an input field 71 in which a host name or IP address for specifying the connection destination image forming apparatus 30 can be input, and an execution button 72. Further, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the connection screen 900 may further include a menu button 73, a search button 75 that can search for a connection destination device (image forming apparatus 30), and the like.

  When the connection application 23 receives that the execution button 72 on the connection screen 900 has been pressed by the user, the connection control unit 203 establishes communication connection with the image forming apparatus 30. Further, the connection control unit 203 acquires the activation state of the application of the image forming apparatus 30 from the communication-connected image forming apparatus 30 (S1). The connection control unit 203 collects the activated application of the image forming apparatus 30 as effective function information.

  Next, the display control unit 201 requests the determination unit 202 to acquire a list of available function providing applications 22 (S2). When receiving the request from the display control unit 201, the determination unit 202 requests the OS 25a for a list of the function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a (S3). The OS 25a transmits a list of function providing applications 22 that can be installed and used in the information processing apparatus 20a to the determination unit 202. Here, the determination unit 202 may request a list of only the application software (external device function providing application) for performing processing using the function of the image forming apparatus 30 among the function providing applications 22.

  When the determination unit 202 acquires the list of the function providing applications 22 from the OS 25a, the determination unit 202 inquires the connection control unit 203 about the activation state of the applications of the image forming apparatus 30, and the effective function information acquired by the connection control unit 203 in the process of S1. Is acquired (S4).

  Next, the determination unit 202 confirms (determines) whether or not the function providing application 22 acquired from the OS 25a is available (S5). More specifically, the determination unit 202 compares the list of function providing applications 22 acquired from the OS 25a with the valid function information acquired from the determining unit 202, and determines the function providing applications 22 included in the list of function providing applications 22. It is determined whether each is available (executable). For example, when the function of the image forming apparatus 30 used by the function providing application 22 is included in the valid function information, the determining unit 202 determines that the function providing application 22 can be executed. In addition, when the function of the image forming apparatus 30 used by the function providing application 22 is not included in the valid function information, the determining unit 202 determines that the function providing application 22 is not executable. For example, when the function providing application 22 is a scanner application that uses the scanner function of the image forming apparatus 30 and the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30 does not include the scanner function, the determination unit 202 provides the function providing It is determined that the application 22 cannot be executed.

  Next, the display control unit 201 acquires a list of the function providing applications 22 determined to be available (executable) from the determination unit 202 and draws (displays) the list on the operation panel 705 (S6). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a UI (user interface) screen 902a according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the UI screen 902a is a screen displayed on the operation panel 705, and has an application list display area 86. The display control unit 201 displays a list of the function providing applications 22 determined to be usable (executable) in the display area 86 of the UI screen 902a. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the display control unit 201 displays the scanner application icon 87 a and the copy application icon 87 b as the usable function providing application 22 in the display area 86. When the user presses the icon 87a or icon 87b displayed in the display area 86, the scanner application or the copy application is activated.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the UI screen 902b according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing still another example of the UI screen 902c according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, when the UI screens 902a to 902c are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as UI screens 902. The display control unit 201 may hide the icon 87 of the function providing application 22 that is determined to be unusable (unexecutable) by the determination unit 202 as illustrated in FIG. 10 or may be determined as illustrated in FIG. The icons 87 of the function providing application 22 determined to be usable (executable) in the unit 202 may be displayed in different display modes. For example, the display control unit 201 determines whether the icon 87 or the character of the application name or the background of the function providing application 22 determined to be unusable (unexecutable) and the function providing application 22 determined to be usable (executable). It is good also as what changes and displays the color or brightness | luminance. Further, the display control unit 201 may display the icon 87 of the function providing application 22 determined to be unusable (unexecutable) or the character of the application name together with a predetermined mark in order to alert the user. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the display control unit 201 displays the scanner application icon 87 a as the usable function providing application 22 in the display area 86, and the copy application icon 87 b cannot be used (cannot be executed). The function providing application 22 is not displayed or displayed in a form different from the scanner application icon 87a. When the copy application icon 87b is displayed as shown in FIG. 11, the copy application icon 87b cannot be pressed, or when it is pressed, an error screen is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the UI screen 902 includes a menu button 73, a disconnect button 81 for disconnecting from the image forming apparatus 30, a logout button 82 for logging out from the image forming apparatus 30, and being connected or logged in. An image forming apparatus name display area 84 for displaying the name of the image forming apparatus 30, a user display area 85 for displaying a user name or a user ID for identifying a logged-in user, and a status display for displaying a message when an error occurs. Area 83. The display mode of the UI screen 902 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  As described above, in the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, the function providing application 22 determined to be executable among the function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a based on the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30. Are displayed on the operation panel 705. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, functions that can be used for the image forming apparatus 30 connected to the information processing apparatus 20a when the user operates the information processing apparatus 20a. The provided application 22 can be easily grasped.

  More specifically, for example, when the function providing application 22 that uses a function that the image forming apparatus 30 to which the information processing apparatus 20a is connected to is displayed on the UI screen 902 on the operation panel 705, the user It may be difficult to determine which function providing application 22 is available. For this reason, there is a possibility that the user will need to check the function of the image forming apparatus 30 separately. On the other hand, in the information processing apparatus 20a of this embodiment, since only the function providing application 22 determined to be executable is displayed on the operation panel 705, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of user confirmation work and the like.

  In addition, as described above, in the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, the function providing application 22 determined to be unexecutable is displayed on the operation panel 705 in a display mode different from the function providing application 22 determined to be executable. You may display. When the configuration is adopted, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, any function providing application 22 is executed after the user confirms the list of the function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a. It is possible to know whether it is possible or impossible.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the information processing apparatus 20a displays only the function providing application 22 that can be used by the information processing apparatus 20a on the operation panel 705 according to the functions of the connected image forming apparatus 30. It was. Further, in the second embodiment, the function providing application 22 displayed on the operation panel 705 is limited to the function providing application 22 that uses the function of the image forming apparatus 30.

  The overall configuration of the information processing system 100a according to the present embodiment and the configurations of the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a are the same as the configurations of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a list screen display process according to the present embodiment. The processing from the acquisition of the application activation state of the image forming apparatus 30 in S101 to the acquisition request for the list of available function providing applications 22 in S102 is the same as the processing in S1 and S2 described in FIG.

  When receiving a request from the display control unit 201, the determination unit 202 of the present embodiment sends a list of function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a and tag information of each function providing application 22 to the OS 25a. A request is made (S103). The tag information is information indicating the function of the image forming apparatus 30 used by each function providing application 22. The tag information is included in a program describing each function providing application 22 as an example. The OS 25 a acquires tag information from a program describing each function providing application 22 and transmits the tag information to the determination unit 202.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of tag information 500a according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the tag information 500a is information in which an application name that identifies the function providing application 22 and a function (usage function) of the image forming apparatus 30 used by the function providing application 22 are associated with each other. The tag information 500a of this embodiment is an example of used function information. Since the function providing application 22 has a plurality of tag information, the tag information (used function information) in the present embodiment is also referred to as first tag information.

  The process of S104 in which the determination unit 202 acquires the valid function information acquired by the connection control unit 203 is the same as the process of S4 described in FIG. Next, the determination unit 202 confirms (determines) whether or not the function providing application 22 acquired from the OS 25a is available (S105). More specifically, the determination unit 202 of the present embodiment compares the tag information 500a with the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30, and each of the plurality of function providing applications 22 includes a function included in the effective function information. Determine (confirm) whether or not to use. Then, the determination unit 202 includes the function of the image forming apparatus 30 used by the function providing application 22 (the function described in the tag information 500a) in the valid function information, and the function providing application 22 includes the valid function information. When any of the included functions is used, the function providing application 22 is included in the list notified to the display control unit 201. For example, when the valid function information of the image forming apparatus 30 includes the “copy” function, the determination unit 202 can execute the function providing application 22 associated with the “copy” function in the tag information 500a. to decide. In addition, when the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30 does not include the “scanner” function, the determination unit 202 cannot execute the function providing application 22 associated with the “scanner” function in the tag information 500a. Judge. The determination unit 202 determines that the function providing application 22 that is not associated with any function of the image forming apparatus 30 in the tag information 500a is the function providing application 22 that does not use the function included in the effective function information.

  Next, the display control unit 201 acquires a list of function providing applications 22 determined to be available (executable) from the determination unit 202 and draws (displays) the list on the UI screen 902 on the operation panel 705. (S106). In the present embodiment, the display control unit 201 displays, on the operation panel 705, the function providing application 22 determined to use the function included in the effective function information among the function providing applications 22 determined to be executable, The function providing application 22 determined not to use the function included in the valid function information is not displayed on the operation panel 705. For example, among the function providing applications 22, a browser application, a camera application, and the like can be used regardless of the functions of the image forming apparatus 30, but the functions included in the effective function information are not used. For this reason, the display control unit 201 does not display a browser application, a camera application, or the like on the operation panel 705.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, among the function providing applications 22 determined to be executable, only the function providing application 22 determined to use the function included in the effective function information is displayed on the operation panel. Since it is displayed in 705, the user can easily find a desired function.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments described above, the information processing apparatus 20a determines that the function providing application 22 that uses a function that is not included in the acquired valid function information is not executable and does not display it. In the third embodiment, when the function used by the function providing application 22 is not included in the valid function information, the information processing apparatus 20a inquires again about the valid function information and determines again whether or not to execute.

  The overall configuration of the information processing system 100a according to the present embodiment and the configurations of the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a are the same as the configurations of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a list screen display process according to the present embodiment. The processing from acquisition of the application activation state of the image forming apparatus 30 in S301 to the processing in S304 is the same as the processing in S101 to S104 of the second embodiment described in FIG.

  The determination unit 202 of the present embodiment compares the list of function providing applications 22 and the tag information 500a acquired from the OS 25a in the process of S303 with the effective function information acquired in the process of S304, and uses included in the tag information 500a. It is determined whether there is a function that is not included in the effective function information. Then, when there is a function that is not included in the valid function information among the used functions included in the tag information 500a, the determination unit 202 instructs the connection control unit 203 to start the application on the MFP body side (valid function information). ) Is again requested (S305). The re-request for acquisition of effective function information is also referred to as an instruction to re-collect effective function information.

  When the connection control unit 203 receives an instruction to recollect effective function information from the determination unit 202, the connection control unit 203 inquires again about the activation state (effective function information) of the application on the MFP main body from the image forming apparatus 30, Functional information is acquired (S306).

  Next, the determination unit 202 confirms (determines) whether or not the function providing application 22 acquired from the OS 25a is available (S307). More specifically, the determination unit 202 of the present embodiment compares the tag information 500a with the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30 acquired in the processes of S304 and S305, and each of the plurality of function providing applications 22 Then, it is determined whether or not to use the function included in the effective function information. The process of drawing (displaying) the list of the function providing application 22 in S308 is the same as the process in S106 of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 20a according to the present embodiment inquires of the image forming apparatus 30 about effective function information when there is a use function included in the tag information 500a that is not included in the effective function information. For this reason, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, it is possible to determine with high accuracy whether or not each function providing application 22 is available. For example, when there is an application of the image forming apparatus 30 that was being started or restarted when the valid function information was acquired last time, the valid function information may be leaked. According to the information processing apparatus 20a of this embodiment, in such a case, by acquiring the effective function information again, the acquisition of the effective function information is suppressed, and the availability of each function providing application 22 is more accurately determined. Judgment can be made.

  In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20a inquires the image forming apparatus 30 about effective function information twice, but the number and timing of inquiries are not limited to this.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20a determines the function providing application 22 to be displayed on the operation panel 705 according to not only the availability of each function providing application 22 but also the authority of the user.

  The overall configuration of the information processing system 100a according to the present embodiment and the configurations of the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a are the same as the configurations of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions that the connection application 23 according to the present embodiment has. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the connection application 23 according to the present embodiment includes a display control unit 201, a determination unit 202, a connection control unit 203, and an authentication control unit 204.

  The display control unit 201, the determination unit 202, and the connection control unit 203 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment. The authentication control unit 204 requests the image forming apparatus 30 to authenticate the user of the information processing apparatus 20a, and acquires authority information indicating the user's authority for the image forming apparatus 30.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a list screen display process according to the present embodiment. The acquisition of the application activation state of the image forming apparatus 30 in S401 is the same as the processing in S1 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the authentication control unit 204 makes a user authentication request to the image forming apparatus 30 and acquires user authority information from the image forming apparatus 30 (S402). FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a login screen 901 according to the present embodiment. The login screen 901 is also called an authentication screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the login screen 901 includes a user ID input field 77, a password input field 78, and an execution button 79 for executing login. The login screen 901 is displayed by the display control unit 201 after the connection screen 900 is displayed, for example, before the start of the process shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in the example shown in FIG. 17, the login screen 901 includes a menu button 73, a disconnect button 81 for disconnecting from the image forming apparatus 30, and a device name display area 76 for the connected image forming apparatus 30. , A “use without login” button 80 may be included.

  The authentication control unit 204 transmits the user ID and password input on the login screen 901 to the image forming apparatus 30 and requests authentication of the user with the user ID. As a response to the authentication request, the authentication control unit 204 acquires a user authentication result (whether login is possible) of the user ID. When the authentication is successful (login is permitted), the authentication control unit 204 acquires the authority information of the user with the user ID from the image forming apparatus 30. The authority information is information indicating the authority of the user with respect to the image forming apparatus 30. For example, the authority information is information including a function permitted for each user and the type of authority (general user, administrator, etc.).

  Returning to the process of FIG. 16, the acquisition request for the list of available function providing applications 22 in S403 is the same as the process of S2 of the first embodiment described in FIG.

  Next, when the determination unit 202 receives a request from the display control unit 201, the determination unit 202 requests the OS 25a for a list of the function providing applications 22 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a and tag information of each function providing application 22. (S404). The tag information of the present embodiment is information indicating the user authority requested by each function providing application 22. The tag information of this embodiment is also referred to as second tag information. At this time, the determination unit 202 may also acquire the first tag information (tag information 500a) from the OS 25a.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of tag information 500b according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the tag information 500b is information in which an application name for specifying the function providing application 22 and an authority necessary for executing the function providing application 22 are associated with each other. The authority necessary for executing the function providing application 22 is an authority required by the function of the image forming apparatus 30 used by the function providing application 22. For example, a certain function providing application 22 requires the administrator authority of the image forming apparatus 30. In this case, when the user with the user ID input on the login screen 901 of the information processing apparatus 20a has administrator authority over the image forming apparatus 30, the function providing application 22 can be used.

  Returning to the processing in FIG. 16, the acquisition of the activation state (effective function information) of the application (application on the MFP main body) of the image forming apparatus 30 in S405 is the same as the processing in S4 of the first embodiment described in FIG. It is.

  Next, the determination unit 202 acquires user authority information from the authentication control unit 204 (S406). Then, the determination unit 202 confirms (determines) whether or not the function providing application 22 acquired from the OS 25a can be used (S407). More specifically, after determining (determining) whether or not the function providing application 22 can be used, the determination unit 202 of the present embodiment further acquires the user authority information acquired in the process of S406. And the function providing application 22 that can be executed with the authority of the user based on the tag information 500b acquired in the process of S404. If the authority necessary for executing the function providing application 22 is included in the authority information of the currently logged-in user, the determining unit 202 determines that the function providing application 22 is permitted to be used. The determination unit 202 transmits to the display control unit 201 whether or not the function providing application 22 can be used (executed) and whether or not each function providing application 22 is permitted to be executed based on the authority of the user. Note that the display control unit 201 may determine whether or not each function providing application 22 is permitted to be executed. Note that the determination unit 202 may determine the function providing application 22 that can be executed with the authority of the user based on the tag information 500a together with the tag information 500b or instead of the tag information 500b. That is, the determination unit 202 determines that the function providing application 22 can be used (executable) if all the functions used by the function providing application 22 indicated by the tag information 500a can be executed with the user's authority. Also good.

  Next, the display control unit 201 acquires a list of function providing applications 22 determined to be available (executable) from the determination unit 202, and draws (displays) the list on the operation panel 705 (S408). The display control unit uses a function that is not permitted to be used with the authority of the currently logged-in user among the function providing applications 22 determined to be executable based on the authority information. Not displayed on the operation panel 705. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 18, in the function providing application 22 whose application name is “B”, the authority information of the currently logged-in user includes both the authority to use the scanner function and the authority to use the printer. The UI screen 902 on the operation panel 705 is displayed only when it is displayed.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 20a according to the present embodiment acquires the user authority information from the image forming apparatus 30, and the function providing application 22 determined to be executable based on the authority information is the user authority. The function providing application 22 that uses a function that is not permitted to be used is not displayed on the operation panel 705. For this reason, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, only the function providing application 22 permitted to be used by the user is displayed. Occurrence of the work to check can be suppressed. Further, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve security by not displaying the function providing application 22 for which the user is not authorized.

  When the “use without login” button 80 is pressed on the login screen 901 shown in FIG. 15, the authentication control unit 204 does not execute the authentication request in S502. In this case, the display control unit 201 displays, on the UI screen 902 on the operation panel 705, only the function providing application 22 that does not require authentication processing among the function providing applications 22 determined to be executable.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the fifth embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20a displays, on the operation panel 705, the function providing application 22 determined to be executable for each connected image forming apparatus 30.

  The overall configuration of the information processing system 100a according to the present embodiment and the configurations of the image forming apparatus 30 and the information processing apparatus 20a are the same as the configurations of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Further, the connection application 23 of the present embodiment includes a display control unit 201, a determination unit 202, a connection control unit 203, and an authentication control unit 204, as in the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  In addition, the display control unit 201, the determination unit 202, the connection control unit 203, and the authentication control unit 204 of the connection application 23 according to the present embodiment repeat each process for each image forming apparatus 30.

  More specifically, it is assumed that the connection control unit 203 of the present embodiment collects effective function information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 30 through communication connection with the plurality of image forming apparatuses 30.

  In addition, the determination unit 202 of the present embodiment compares the tag information 500a (used function information) with the effective function information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 30, and is included in the effective function information for each image forming apparatus 30. The function providing application 22 having the used function information is determined.

  In addition, the display control unit 201 of the present embodiment displays a list of function providing applications 22 having used function information included in the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30 on the operation panel 705 for each image forming apparatus 30.

  Further, the authentication control unit 204 of the present embodiment transmits, for each image forming apparatus 30, the user ID and password input on the login screen 901 to the image forming apparatus 30 and requests authentication of the user with the user ID. In addition, the authentication control unit 204 acquires, for each image forming apparatus 30, the authentication result (login availability) of the user with the user ID and the user authority information from the image forming apparatus 30 as a response to the authentication request. .

  FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a list screen display process according to the present embodiment. From the acquisition of the application activation state of the image forming apparatus 30 in S501 to the drawing (display) of the list of available function providing applications 22 in S508, the processing of S401 to S408 in the fourth embodiment described in FIG. It is the same.

  As shown in FIG. 19, in this embodiment, the display control unit 201, the determination unit 202, the connection control unit 203, and the authentication control unit 204 repeat the processes of S501 to S508 for each image forming apparatus 30 (S509). By repeatedly performing processing in this way, the display control unit 201 displays a list of available function providing applications 22 for each image forming apparatus 30 on the operation panel 705.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a list of UI screens 903 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the UI screen 903 is a screen displayed on the operation panel 705, and includes application list display areas 86 a and 86 b for each image forming apparatus 30. For example, the display control unit 201 provides, on the UI screen 903, image forming apparatus name display areas 84a and 84b for displaying the name of the connected or logged-in image forming apparatus 30 for each image forming apparatus 30. The display control unit 201 also provides application list display areas 86a and 86b that can be used in each image forming apparatus 30 below the image forming apparatus name display areas 84a and 84b. In addition, the display control unit 201 displays the names of the function providing applications 22 that can be used for the respective image forming apparatuses 30 and the icons indicating the usable function providing applications 22 in the display areas 86 a and 86 b of each application list. 87c to 87e are displayed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the UI screen 903 includes a user display area 85 that displays a user name or user ID that identifies a logged-in user, and a logout button 82 that logs out from the image forming apparatus 30. Also good. Further, the logout button 82 may be provided for each image forming apparatus 30. The display mode of the UI screen 903 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The display control unit 201 may display the function providing application 22 that can be used for every communicable image forming apparatus 30 on one UI screen 903, or divide the UI screen 903 into a plurality of pages. Then, one image forming apparatus 30 and a function providing application 22 executable on the image forming apparatus 30 may be displayed on each page.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 20a of this embodiment, for each image forming apparatus 30, a list of function providing applications 22 having used function information included in the effective function information of the image forming apparatus 30 is displayed on the operation panel 705. Therefore, the user can easily grasp to which image forming apparatus 30 the desired function providing application 22 can be used.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system 100b according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the information processing system 100b includes one or more external devices 10 and a smart device 20c.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the external device 10 is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), an electronic whiteboard (IWB), a projector, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Each external device 10 has functions such as copying, scanning, faxing, and printing (printing). The function of each external device 10 is not limited to this, and each external device 10 may have a different function. The external device 10 is an example of a communication target in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the external device 10 has the same function as the image forming apparatus 30 of the first embodiment.

  The external apparatus 10 includes application software for executing functions such as copying, scanning, faxing, and printing. Hereinafter, the application software executed by the external device 10 is referred to as an external device side application. The external device side application corresponds to the application of the image forming apparatus 30 in the first embodiment.

  The smart device 20c is an information processing terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone, for example. The smart device 20c is an example of an information processing apparatus in the present embodiment. However, the information processing apparatus is not limited to the smart device 20c as long as it can communicate with the external apparatus 10. For example, the information processing apparatus may be a personal computer or an operation terminal connected to an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus by wire. .

  The smart device 20c includes platform application software (platform application) 23c, an OS platform 25, and various application software (applications) 22c.

  The OS platform 25 is a platform provided by the OS (operating system) of the smart device 20c. It is assumed that the platform application 23c and the application 22c of this embodiment are executed on the OS platform 25. The OS platform 25 is assumed to be a platform provided by Android (registered trademark), for example. The OS platform 25 is assumed to have the same function as the OS 25a of the first embodiment.

  The platform application 23c is application software serving as a platform for performing processing using the function of the external device 10. The platform application 23c includes a display control unit 201, a determination unit 202, a connection control unit 203, and an authentication control unit 204. Further, since the platform application 23c includes a function of connecting the smart device 20c and the external device 10, it is also referred to as external device connection application software (external device connection application). The platform application 23c has the same function as that of the connection application 23 of the first embodiment.

  The application 22c is application software that is installed in the smart device 20c and performs processing for realizing various functions. The application 22c of the present embodiment includes application software for performing processing using the function of the external device 10. More specifically, for example, the application 22c includes a copy application that uses the copy function of the external device 10, a scanner application that uses the scanner function, a fax application that uses the fax function, and a printer application that uses the printer function. Etc. Application software for performing processing using the function of the external device 10 is referred to as an external device function providing application. The application 22c is not limited to these, and may be a browser application or a camera application. The application 22c is stored in a later-described ROM or the like. The application 22c is assumed to have the same function as the function providing application 22 of the first embodiment.

  According to the smart device 20c of the present embodiment, since the application 22c and the platform application 23c are provided as separate application software, even if there are many applications 22c in accordance with the target processing, the platform application 23c It is possible to efficiently execute processing by supervising connection with the external device 10. In addition, processing for connection with the external device 10 may vary depending on the information processing device. By using the application 22c and the platform application 23c as separate application software as in the present embodiment, the common application 22c can be applied to information processing apparatuses having different connection specifications. With such a configuration, for example, even when the information processing apparatus is the smart device 20c or the image forming apparatus or the operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus, the common application 22c can be applied. For this reason, the creator of the application 22c can create the application 22c more easily.

  The list screen display program executed by the information processing apparatus 20a, the fixed operation unit 20b, or the smart device 20c according to the first to sixth embodiments is an installable or executable file, and is a CD-ROM, flexible The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

  A list screen display program executed by the information processing apparatus 20a, the fixed operation unit 20b, or the smart device 20c of the first to sixth embodiments is stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and the network You may comprise so that it may provide by making it download via. The list screen display program executed by the information processing apparatus 20a, the fixed operation unit 20b, or the smart device 20c according to the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. In addition, a list screen display program executed by the information processing apparatus 20a, the fixed operation unit 20b, or the smart device 20c according to the first to sixth embodiments may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. .

  The list screen display program executed by the information processing apparatus 20a, the fixed operation unit 20b, or the smart device 20c according to the first to sixth embodiments includes the above-described units (display control unit, determination unit, connection control unit, As an actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads the list screen display program from the storage medium and executes it to load each unit on the main storage device. The display control unit, the determination unit, the connection control unit, and the authentication control unit are generated on the main storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 External apparatus 20a Information processing apparatus 20b Fixed operation part 20c Smart device 22 Function provision application 22c Application 23 Connection application 23c Platform application 25 OS platform 25a OS
30 Image forming apparatus 100a, 100b Information processing system 201 Display control unit 202 Determination unit 203 Connection control unit 204 Authentication control unit 500a, 500b Tag information 704 Flash memory 705 Operation panel 900 Connection screen 901 Login screen 902, 902a, 902b, 902c, 903 UI screen S Image forming system

JP 2017-191355 A

Claims (9)

A storage unit for storing application software;
A connection control unit that communicates with a communication target and collects effective function information indicating one or more functions of the communication target;
Based on the effective function information, out of the application software, a determination unit that determines application software executable for the communication target;
Displaying the application software determined to be executable on the display unit, and not displaying the application software determined to be executable on the display unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The determination unit further compares use function information indicating the function of the communication target used by the application software with the valid function information, and each of the application software is included in the valid function information. Determine whether to use the function,
The display control unit displays the application software determined to use the function included in the effective function information among the application software determined to be executable on the display unit, and is included in the effective function information The application software determined not to use the function is not displayed on the display unit.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The determination unit further instructs the connection control unit to recollect the effective function information when there is the function not included in the effective function information among the functions included in the used function information. And
The connection control unit inquires the communication target of the effective function information when receiving an instruction to re-collect the effective function information from the determination unit;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. Further comprising an authentication control unit for acquiring user authority information from the communication target;
The display control unit does not display, on the display unit, the application software that uses the function that is not permitted to be used by the user's authority among the application software that is determined to be executable based on the authority information. ,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The connection control unit communicates with a plurality of communication objects, collects the effective function information of each of the plurality of communication objects,
The determination unit compares the used function information with the effective function information of each of the plurality of communication objects, and determines the application software having the used function information included in the effective function information for each of the communication objects. Judgment
The display control unit displays a list of the application software having the used function information included in the effective function information of the communication target on the display unit, for each communication target.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4. A connection step for communicating with a communication target;
A collection step of collecting effective function information indicating one or more functions of the communication target;
A determination step of determining executable application software among the application software stored in the storage unit based on the effective function information;
Displaying the application software determined to be executable on a display unit, and displaying the application software determined not to be executable on the display unit;
An information processing method including: A connection step for communicating with a communication target;
A collection step of collecting effective function information indicating one or more functions of the communication target;
A determination step of determining executable application software among the application software stored in the storage unit based on the effective function information;
Displaying the application software determined to be executable on a display unit, and displaying the application software determined not to be executable on the display unit;
Processing program for causing a computer to execute. A storage unit for storing application software;
A connection control unit that communicates with a communication target and collects effective function information indicating one or more functions of the communication target;
Based on the effective function information, out of the application software, a determination unit that determines application software executable for the communication target;
Display that displays the application software determined to be executable on the display unit, and displays the application software determined to be non-executable on the display unit in a display mode different from the application software determined to be executable A control unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: An image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a fixed operation unit,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An execution unit that executes processing according to an instruction acquired from the fixed operation unit;
The fixing operation part is
A storage unit for storing application software;
A connection control unit that communicates with the image forming apparatus and collects effective function information indicating one or more functions of the image forming apparatus;
Based on the effective function information, out of the application software, a determination unit that determines application software executable on the image forming apparatus;
Displaying the application software determined to be executable on the display unit, and not displaying the application software determined to be executable on the display unit;
An image forming system comprising:

Images