JP2020098408A - Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform the display for prompting a user who has not used a service to use the service, and to solve the problem in which, when the user who has viewed the display executes activation of the service in the image forming apparatus, the service activation may fail due to a communication error.SOLUTION: A network condition between an image forming apparatus and an information management server is confirmed. If the network condition allows notification of service activation, a screen for promoting usage of the service is displayed on the image forming apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and a computer program.

As an image processing apparatus, for example, as an information output apparatus in a personal computer, a facsimile, etc., an image forming apparatus for recording desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper or film according to an electrophotographic method is widely used. Are known.

In addition, with the spread of cloud services and the like, a system has emerged in which device information of devices such as image forming apparatuses is received by an information management server via a network, and services are provided based on the collected data. In such a system, a device and an information management server are connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or the like.

In Patent Document 1, first, a service notification screen is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Then, the information management server is inquired whether or not the user has permitted to transmit the device data to the information management server. If the user has not given permission, a permission acceptance screen for accepting whether or not to permit data collection is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. When the user permits the data collection on the permission acceptance screen, the image forming apparatus and the information management server communicate with each other to execute the permission procedure. According to this technique, the procedure for starting the service can be performed after the user is notified of the service. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user because it is not necessary to separately perform the permission procedure using another device such as a PC. Further, since the license procedure can be executed subsequent to the service notification screen for prompting the use of the service, the use of the service can be further encouraged.

JP, 2016-45679, A

The technique described in Patent Document 1 displays the service notification screen on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and then performs the data collection permission procedure by communicating between the image forming apparatus and the server. Therefore, even if the user who views the service notification screen performs an operation to start the license procedure to use the service, the license procedure may fail due to a communication error and the service may not be provided.

If the user needs to instruct the device to execute the procedure again when the procedure necessary for starting the service such as the above-mentioned permission procedure fails, it is not only a trouble for the user but also the user gives up using the service. It also leads to being lost. Further, even if there is an intention to use the service, there is a possibility that the user may forget to instruct the image forming apparatus to perform a procedure for restarting the service.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a procedure due to a communication error between an image forming apparatus and an information management server, which is necessary for urging the user to use the service and starting the provision of the service. It is to provide a mechanism to prevent failure.

In order to solve the above problems, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an image forming apparatus capable of communicating via a network with an information processing apparatus that manages information related to a service contracted by the image forming apparatus, and notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus to activate the service. And a determination unit that determines whether or not communication with the information processing device is possible, in response to a notification that the service to be activated to the information processing device has not been transmitted or has failed, An image processing apparatus, comprising: a display unit that displays a screen for accepting whether to enable the service when the determination unit determines that communication is possible.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prompt the user of the image forming apparatus to use the service and prevent the communication failure between the image forming apparatus and the information management server necessary for starting the service.

Overall system configuration diagram Configuration diagram showing the hardware configuration of the MFP 101 Configuration diagram showing the software configuration of the MFP 101 Configuration diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information management server 102 Application information table Support service setting table Service activation sequence Flowchart when the MFP 101 displays a service setting acceptance screen for accepting whether to activate the service

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solving means of the present invention. ..

In the present embodiment, as an image forming apparatus, a multi-function peripheral having a print, scan, and fax functions (Multi Function Peripheral, hereinafter referred to as an MFP) will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing system according to this embodiment. The MFPs 101a and 101b and the information management server 102 are communicably connected via the Internet 100. A specific example of the communication network is not particularly limited, but the communication network according to the present embodiment is configured by the Internet 100 and the LAN 103 connected to the Internet 100. Further, the MFP 101a is connected to the Internet 100 via a firewall 104, a proxy server (not shown), or the like. The MFP 101a and the MFP 101b may be the same model or different models.

In the following description, the MFP 101a will be referred to as the MFP 101. The information management server 102 (information processing apparatus) includes an application information management service for managing service application information and various service information of the MFP 101, which is a client, and information associated with information related to the apparatus of the MFP 101. It is not limited in this embodiment whether the information management server 102 is composed of a single server machine or a plurality of server groups. The MFP 101 and the information management server 102 may be on the same network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 101 according to this embodiment. The MFP 101 has a reading function of reading an image on a sheet and a printing function of printing an image on the sheet. In addition, the MFP 101 also has a file transmission function for transmitting image data to an external device.

Although the MFP 101 is used as an image forming apparatus in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a printing device such as a printer having no reading function may be used as the image forming device. Further, an image reading device such as a scanner having no printing function may be used.

The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire MFP 101. The CPU 201 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 202 or the storage 204 and performs various controls such as reading control and printing control. The ROM 202 stores a control program executable by the CPU 201. The RAM 203 is a main storage memory of the CPU 201, and is used as a work area, a temporary storage area for expanding various control programs stored in the ROM 202 and the storage 204. The storage 204 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. Note that in the MFP 101 of the present embodiment, one CPU 201 uses one memory (RAM 203) to execute each process shown in the flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs, RAMs, ROMs, and storages can be made to cooperate to execute each processing shown in the flowcharts described later. Further, a part of the processing may be executed by using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

The operation unit I/F 206 is connected to the operation unit 207. The reading unit I/F 208 is connected to the reading unit 209. The reading unit 209 reads the image on the sheet and generates image data. The image data generated by the reading unit 209 is transmitted to the external device. Alternatively, an image is printed on the sheet using this image data. Further, the reading unit 209 can read the sheets placed on a document feeder (not shown) while conveying the sheets one by one.

The printing unit I/F 210 is connected to the printing unit 211. The image data to be printed is transferred to the printing unit 211 via the printing unit I/F 210. The printing unit 211 receives the control command and the image data to be printed, and prints an image based on this image data on a sheet. The printing method of the printing unit 211 may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. In the case of the electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductor, then developed with toner, the toner image is transferred to a sheet, and the transferred toner image is fixed to form an image. On the other hand, in the case of the inkjet method, ink is ejected to print an image on a sheet. Consumables used for printing, such as a toner cartridge and an ink cartridge used in the printing unit 211, are detachably mounted inside the MFP 101. The user can replenish the MFP 101 with consumables by exchanging the cartridge. Note that the CPU 201 acquires the remaining amount of consumable items necessary for printing at regular timings, at the timing of printing one page of an image, and at the timing of mounting a cartridge, and holds the acquired remaining amount of toner in the RAM 203. Further, the CPU 201 stores the model number of the cartridge in the RAM 203 or the storage 204 when the cartridge is mounted.

Further, the MFP 101 is connected to the network 100 via the communication unit I/F 205. The communication unit I/F 205 is connected to the information management server 102 on the network 100 so as to be able to communicate information, and transmits and receives various event information generated in the MFP 101 and information for activating a service described later. Also, it receives print data and information from a PC on the network 100, and transmits information related to consumable items such as the remaining toner amount and the cartridge model number stored in the RAM 203 or the storage 204.

The print data received via the communication unit I/F 205 is analyzed by a software module (PDL analysis unit, not shown) for analyzing the print data stored in the storage 204 or the ROM 202. The PDL analysis unit generates data to be printed by the printing unit 211 based on print data expressed in various types of page description languages (Page Description Language).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the MFP 101 according to this embodiment.

The MFP control unit 301 controls other modules, and performs overall control of processing that occurs in the MFP, such as scanning, transmission, and display processing.

The UI control unit 302 controls the operation unit 207 via the operation unit I/F 206. Specifically, the user notification to the operation unit 207, the display of options, etc., and the operation of the operation unit 207 by the user are accepted, and the operation content is notified to other functional units.

Whether the service validation notification control unit 305 issues a service validation notification for validating or invalidating the function of the service to the information management server 102 based on the information of the service setting table 304 read by the storage unit 303. Determine whether or not.

The communication status determination unit 306 performs a communication test for confirming the network status between the MFP 101 and the information management server 102 connected via the Internet 100, and determines whether there is a problem in the network status.

The storage unit 303 stores the designated data in the ROM 202, the RAM 203, or the storage 204, or reads the stored data according to an instruction from another functional unit. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 303 refers to the service setting table 304 stored in the storage 204 of the MFP 101.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information management server 102 in this embodiment.

The information management server 102 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, and an HDD 404. Further, the information management server 102 includes a communication unit I/F 405, and each component is communicatively connected via a bus. The CPU 401 includes an arithmetic circuit and controls the information management server 102 as a whole. The CPU 401 reads a program stored in the ROM 402 or the HDD 404 into the RAM 403 and executes various processes. The ROM 402 stores a system program or the like used to control the information management server 102. The HDD 404 has a function as a storage area and stores application programs for executing various processes. The HDD 404 is an example of a storage device, and may be configured by SSD (Solid State Drive) or the like other than the HDD. The communication unit I/F 405 communicates with the MFP 101 and the like via the Internet 100 under the control of the CPU 401.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an application information table (not shown) in this embodiment. This table is stored in the HDD 404 of the information management server 102. In the application information table, a printer ID (identifier) that uniquely identifies the MFP 101 and service management information including information about services are stored in association with each other. The service management information includes, for example, a service ID that uniquely identifies the service, an application ID, and a service status that indicates whether or not the service is activated. There may be a case where no service management information is associated with the printer ID. In addition, a plurality of service management information may be associated with the same printer ID.

The service in this embodiment is a service that requires a contract between the service provider (service provider) and the administrator of the MFP 101. This service is, for example, an automatic delivery service of consumables. This is a service in which when it is detected that the consumption level of the consumable item used by the MFP 101 is less than or equal to a threshold value, the consumable item is automatically ordered from the service provider and the consumable item is delivered according to this order. .. Other services include a maintenance service that monitors the status of the MFP 101 from a remote location and performs maintenance, a device management service that reports the usage status of devices, and the like.

By concluding a contract between the service provider and the administrator of the MFP 101, the printer ID that has made an application in the application information table and the service management information corresponding to the printer having this ID are written. When new service management information is written, the service status is invalid, and the service status of the application information table becomes valid by the service activation notification from the MFP 101 to the information management server 102, and the service provision is started. Further, when the contract is canceled, the service management information corresponding to the service for which the contract is canceled is deleted from the application information table.

In the example of the application information table in FIG. 5, there are two pieces of service management information corresponding to the printer ID “123456789”. This indicates that the MFP 101 with the printer ID “123456789” is in a contract with two services. Also, the service state of the service indicated by the application service ID “123AAA” is valid, indicating that the service is provided. On the other hand, the service state of the application service ID “456BBB” is invalid, which indicates that the service is stopped although the contract is concluded.

When the MFP 101 requests the information table 102 for information as to whether or not the service is contracted, the information management server 102 searches the application information table using the printer ID given to the MFP 101 and notifies the result. To do.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the service setting table 304 in this embodiment. In the service setting table 304 of the MFP 101, the service setting, the service ID, the application ID, and the service activation result are stored in association with each other. The application information including the service ID and the application ID is information that can be acquired when the information management server 102 is requested whether or not the service is contracted. The service setting indicates whether the service setting corresponding to each application ID is set to “ON” or “OFF”. The service setting can be switched by, for example, an operation from a user or a serviceman via the operation unit 210, receiving an instruction command to the MFP 101 transmitted from the outside, or the like.

The service activation result indicates the result of performing the service activation notification to the information management server 102 in order to activate the service. If the service activation notification to the information management server 102 is successful, it is “success”, and if the service activation notification is unsuccessful, it is “failure”. If the service activation notification is not issued or the service setting is "OFF", the status is "not implemented".

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of registering information about the MFP 101 from the MFP 101 in the information management server 102 and activating the service. This sequence is executed when the service setting is changed from "OFF" to "ON". When the MFP 101 is provided with the service, the information management server 102 is notified of the registration of information about the MFP 101 and the service activation notification for starting the provision of the service.

First, when the MFP 101 detects that the service setting has been changed from “OFF” to “ON”, it sends a connection destination information request (S0701) to the information management server 102. The information management server 102 returns the connection destination information to the MFP 101 as a response to the connection destination information request (S0702). In this embodiment, at the time of requesting connection destination information (S0701), the MFP 101 also transmits information about the installation area of the device such as a country or area. On the other hand, in S0702, device registration, application information request, and service validation notification are returned to the MFP 101 as connection destination information. Further, in S0702, FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) indicating the connection destination when the device control information request/device control result notification is performed is returned to the MFP 101 as the connection destination information.

In step S0703, the MFP 101 transmits a device registration request to the information management server 102. The device registration request includes information that uniquely identifies each device, such as the serial number of the MFP 101, and information that identifies the type of device, such as a product name or shipping destination. Upon receiving the device registration request (S0703), the information management server 102 returns to the MFP 101, as a response, device registration result information (S0704) including a printer ID that uniquely identifies the device.

Next, the MFP 101 transmits an application information request (S0705) to the information management server 102. Upon receiving the request for application information (S0705), the information management server 102 retrieves the application information associated with the printer ID of the MFP 101 from the application information table and sends it to the MFP 101 (S0706). In this embodiment, the application information indicates a service ID and an application ID. There may be no application information or multiple application information linked to the printer ID of the MFP 101 in the application information table. The MFP 101 stores the application information transmitted from the information management server 102 in S0706 in the service setting table 304. The information stored in the service setting table 304 may be only a part of the application information as long as the information can uniquely identify the service in the MFP 101. In this embodiment, the service ID and the application ID are stored in the service setting table 304.

The service setting table 304 is a table as shown in FIG. 6, and links one or more pieces of application information, service settings, and service activation results received by the MFP 101 in step S0706.

The MFP 101 determines in the service validation notification control unit 305 whether to send the service validation notification (S0707) for validating the service to the information management server 102 based on the application information and the service settings in the service setting table 304. To do.

Specifically, the MFP 101 determines whether the service application ID corresponding to the service whose service setting in the service setting table 304 is set to ON is empty. If the application ID is not empty, that is, if a service contract is signed, a service activation notification (S0707) for activating the service is sent to the information management server 102. If it is determined that the application ID is empty, the MFP 101 does not issue the service activation notice (S0707). In the case of the service setting table of FIG. 6, the service status is ON and the application ID is not empty, and the service validation notification (S0707) is performed for the services of the application IDs “abc123” and “efg456”. The service activation notification (S0707) includes identification information such as an application ID for uniquely determining the service to be activated.

Upon receiving the service activation notice (S0707) from the MFP 101, the information management server validates the service status of the application information table corresponding to the identification information included in the service activation notice. Upon receiving the service activation notification (S0707) from the MFP 101, the information management server 102 starts the processing required to provide the service. When the information management server 102 validates the service status in the application information table, the information management server 102 transmits service validation result information (S0708) to the MFP 101.

The MFP 101 receives the service activation result information (S0708), and when the service activation notification is successful, the service activation result of the service setting table 304 is set to “success”. On the other hand, if the notification indicating that the service activation has failed in the service activation result information is notified from the information management server 102 or if the communication with the information management server 102 fails, the service activation result is “failed”. To

Subsequently, the MFP 101 transmits a device control information request (S0709) to the information management server 102. When the information management server 102 receives the device control information request (S0709), it returns the device control information (S0710). The device control information (S0710) includes the transmission data type (hereinafter, request data type) desired by the information management server 102 for the MFP 101. The request data type indicates the type of data of the MFP 101 required for the currently activated service. For example, in the case of the request data type of the automatic cartridge delivery service, the data related to the cartridge such as the type of cartridge, the remaining amount, and the color is the request data type. Not limited to these, necessary data may be determined by any method. Further, the transmission data type of the MFP 101 recognized by the information management server 102 (hereinafter, the current data type) and its difference information are included as device control information. Upon receiving the device control information (S0710), the MFP 101 returns the current data type to the information management server 102 as a device control result notification (S0711).

By the sequence from S0709 to S0711, the MFP 101 starts transmitting the device information necessary for providing the service to the information management server 102. As for the timing of transmitting the device information to the information management server 102, the device information may be transmitted at a timing when an event predetermined for each data type occurs, or at a timing when a certain period of time elapses periodically. As a specific example of the event, in the case of data relating to a cartridge, the toner is consumed by printing or the like, the remaining amount of the toner falls below a predetermined threshold, the cartridge is attached or detached, and the like.

As a result, it becomes possible to selectively transmit information regarding the service from the information of the MFP 101 to the information management server 102.

FIG. 8 shows a user's consent to send the information of the MFP 101 to the information management server 102, a notification required for starting a service such as a service activation notification for starting the service, and a procedure for receiving the notification. It is a flowchart.

First, the MFP 101 confirms the service activation result of the service setting table 304 (S0801). Note that the timing at which the MFP 101 performs the processing illustrated in FIG. 8 is not limited to this embodiment, but is determined in advance for each timing when the MFP 101 is first turned on, when the network connection is established, and for each service. The timing may be different. An example of the timing predetermined by the service is the timing when the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined threshold in the case of an automatic delivery service for toner cartridges. Further, only when it is the time to execute the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 for the first time, the processing of S0801 and thereafter may not be executed, and only the service notification screen for prompting the use of the service may be displayed. For example, when the power is first turned on to the MFP 101, only the service notification screen that prompts the user to use the service is displayed, and at the next time when the power is turned on, the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

As a result of checking the service activation result, if the service activation result is “not implemented (not transmitted)” or “failed” (Yes in S0801), the process proceeds to S0802. In step S0802, the communication status determination unit 306 checks the network status with the information management server 102 to check whether communication is possible. The determination as to whether communication is possible may be confirmed by actually trying to communicate with the information management server 102, or may be determined based on the operating status and network status of the network device on the communication path. Specifically, there are confirmation of connection establishment by a three-way handshake, confirmation of authentication to Proxy, which is a network device on the communication path, and verification of a server certificate. A method other than the above may be used as long as it can be confirmed that communication with the information management server 102 is possible.

When the communication status determination unit 206 determines that communication with the information management server 102 is possible (Yes in S0802), a service notification screen for prompting the user to use the service is displayed on the operation unit 207 ( S0803). In addition, the service notification screen accepts whether or not to transit to the service setting acceptance screen.

On the service notification screen, when the operation unit 207 receives an operation for transitioning to the service setting reception screen (in the case of Yes in S0804), the operation unit 207 receives the service setting reception screen that receives an inquiry required to start the service. It is displayed (S0805). In the present embodiment, a screen for inquiring whether to turn on the service setting of the service setting table 304 is displayed, but the inquiry content to be displayed is not particularly limited as long as it is an inquiry necessary to start the service. Other inquiries include user consent for sending device information to the information management server 102 and settings regarding services. On the other hand, when the operation unit 207 receives an operation indicating that the service setting reception screen is not changed (No in S0804), the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 is terminated without displaying the service setting reception screen.

Next, when the operation unit 207 accepts an operation to turn on the service setting in the MFP 101 (in the case of Yes in S0806), the MFP 101 executes the procedure necessary to start the service with the information management server 102 (S0807). .. In this embodiment, the service activation sequence shown in FIG. 7 is executed as a procedure required to start the service. On the other hand, the operation unit 207 ends the display of the reception screen in response to the reception of an operation such as cancellation indicating that the service setting is not changed (in the case of No in S0806).

By the method shown in the present embodiment, it is possible to promote the use of the service and prevent the communication failure between the MFP 101 and the information management server 102, which is necessary for starting the provision of the service.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating via a network with an information processing apparatus that manages information related to a service contracted by the image forming apparatus,
Notification means for notifying the information processing device to activate the service,
A determination unit that determines whether or not communication with the information processing device is possible in response to a state in which the notification for activating the service to the information processing device has not been transmitted or has failed,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a screen for accepting whether to enable the service when the determination unit determines that communication is possible. The display unit displays a screen urging activation of the service, and the notification unit notifies the information processing device of activation of the service in response to the operation of enabling the service being executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service is automatic delivery of consumables used by the image forming apparatus to form an image. The information processing apparatus, which has received the notification of activating the service by the notification unit, communicates with a service provider in order for the image forming apparatus to provide the activated service. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating via a network with an information processing apparatus that manages information related to a service contracted by the image forming apparatus,
A notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus to activate the service,
A determination step of determining whether or not communication with the information processing device is possible in response to a state in which the notification for activating the service to the information processing device has not been transmitted or has failed,
And a display step of displaying a screen for accepting whether or not to enable the service when it is determined that communication is possible in the determining step. The displaying step displays a screen for activating the service, and the notifying step notifies the information processing apparatus of activating the service in response to the operation of activating the service being executed. The control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, which is performed. 7. The control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the service is automatic delivery of consumables used by the image forming apparatus to form an image. The information processing apparatus, which has received the notification of activating the service in the notifying step, communicates with a service provider so that the image forming apparatus provides the activated service. Item 8. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 5 to 7. A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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