JP2024016728A - Information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To easily provide information regarding an application in which a user is interested.SOLUTION: A screen information transmission unit 50B transmits selection screen information of a selection screen for selectably displaying a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application. An acquisition unit 50K acquires, from a first information processing terminal, action information including selected application information regarding an application selected via the selection screen by a first user who does not have change authority of a plan, and executed application information regarding an application of which the execution is instructed via the selection screen by the first user. An action analysis unit 50L generates report information regarding the second application on the basis of the action information. A report information transmission unit 50C transmits the report information to a second information processing terminal operated by a second user who belongs to a tenant and has the change authority of the plan.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

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

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, devices that can cooperate with applications provided via a network have been known. In such devices, a list screen of a plurality of applications is displayed, and the user is provided with an option to select the application desired by the user. However, there may be applications that cannot be used by users due to contracted licenses or the like. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which both applications that can be used by the user and applications that cannot be used by the user are presented to the user, and the user is made aware of the existence of the application that becomes available due to a change in the contract or the like.

However, in the conventional technology, although it is possible to make a user aware of the existence of an application that becomes available by changing a contract or the like, a user who does not have the authority to change the contract or the like cannot change the contract. For this reason, in the prior art, it has not been possible for a user who has change authority to manage which applications a user is interested in. That is, with the conventional technology, it was not possible to easily provide information regarding applications in which a user is interested.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method that can easily provide information regarding applications that a user is interested in. With the goal.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, an information processing device provides a first application that can be used by a user belonging to a tenant, which is a contract unit for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of usable applications, and a first application that can be used by a user who belongs to a tenant, and a first application that cannot be used by the user. a second application, a screen information transmitter that transmits selection screen information of a selection screen that selectably displays a plurality of applications including a second application to a first information processing terminal; and the user belonging to the tenant, Selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user who does not have the authority to change the plan via the selection screen, and information regarding the application which the first user has instructed to execute via the selection screen. an acquisition unit that acquires behavior information including execution application information from the first information processing terminal; a behavior analysis unit that generates report information regarding the second application based on the behavior information; , a report information transmitter configured to transmit report information to a second information processing terminal operated by a second user who belongs to the tenant and has authority to change the plan.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily provide information regarding applications in which a user is interested.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the service providing system in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a service providing system and an image forming apparatus in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a plan. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of contract information. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of a selection screen. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of selected log information. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an example of an execution screen. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of execution log information. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of the execution application DB. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the selected application DB. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of behavior information. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of application information. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of recommendation management information. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of total information. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of aggregation processing. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of plan information. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of contract information. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of report information. FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of an example of a report screen. FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of information processing executed by the modified service providing system. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an execution application DB according to a modified example. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of an example of an input screen. FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the work time table. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of an example of a report screen in a modified example.

Embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

The information processing system 1 includes a service providing environment E1, a user environment E2, and one or more external storage systems 40. The service provision environment E1, the user environment E2, and the external storage system 40 are communicably connected via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet.

The service provision environment E1 is a system environment that provides external services such as cloud services via the network N1. In this embodiment, a cloud service will be adopted as a specific example of an external service. may be applied.

The service providing environment E1 includes a service providing system 10 configured by one or more information processing devices (computers).

The service providing system 10 provides predetermined services via the network N1. For example, the service providing system 10 provides a service for executing an application defined in advance as a workflow on image data generated by scanning a document by the image forming apparatus 20 in the user environment E2. The service providing system 10 also provides a service that causes the image forming apparatus 20 to print electronic files stored in the external storage system 40 by executing an application defined in advance as a workflow.

The user environment E2 is, for example, a system environment in a company that is a user of the image forming apparatus 20. User environment E2 includes one or more image forming devices 20 and information processing devices 30. The image forming device 20 and the information processing device 30 are connected to the network N1 via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), for example.

The image forming apparatus 20 has multiple functions such as a print function and a scan function. Note that the image forming apparatus 20 may be a multifunction device having a copy function, a facsimile (FAX) communication function, etc. in addition to a print function and a scan function.

The information processing device 30 is, for example, a PC (personal computer) or a smart device.

The external storage system 40 is a computer system that provides a cloud service called a storage service (or online storage) via the network N1 or the like. The storage service is a service that rents out the storage area of the external storage system 40. For example, the storage area is used as a storage destination (upload destination) for electronic files that are processed in a workflow. Furthermore, the electronic file stored in the storage area is downloaded as input data for the workflow.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the service providing system 10 in this embodiment.

The service providing system 10 includes an input device 11, a display device 12, an external I/F 13, a RAM 14, a ROM 15, a CPU 16, a communication I/F 17, and an HDD 18, each of which is interconnected via a bus B. Note that the input device 11 and the display device 12 may be connected and used when necessary.

The input device 11 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc., and is used by the user to input various operation signals. The display device 12 includes a display and the like, and displays processing results by the service providing system 10.

The communication I/F 17 is an interface that connects the service providing system 10 to various networks. Thereby, the service providing system 10 can perform data communication via the communication I/F 17.

The HDD 18 is an example of a nonvolatile storage device that stores programs and data.
The stored programs and data include an OS, which is basic software that controls the entire service providing system 10, and software that provides various functions on the OS. Note that, instead of the HDD 18, the service providing system 10 may use a drive device (for example, a solid state drive: SSD) that uses a flash memory as a recording medium.

External I/F 13 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 13a and the like. Thereby, the service providing system 10 can read and/or write to the recording medium 13a via the external I/F 13. The recording medium 13a includes a flexible disk, CD, DVD, SD memory card, USB memory, etc.

The ROM 15 is an example of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. The ROM 15 stores programs and data such as the BIOS, OS settings, and network settings that are executed when the service providing system 10 is started. The RAM 14 is an example of a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that temporarily holds programs and data.

The CPU 16 is an arithmetic device that realizes control and functions of the entire service providing system 10 by reading programs and data from a storage device such as the ROM 15 and the HDD 18 onto the RAM 14 and executing processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 in this embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 20 includes a controller 21, an operation panel 22, an external I/F 23, a communication I/F 24, a printer 25, and a scanner 26. Further, the controller 21 includes a CPU 21A, a RAM 21B, a ROM 21C, an NVRAM 21D, and an HDD 21E. The ROM 21C stores various programs and data. The RAM 21B temporarily stores programs and data. The NVRAM 21D stores, for example, setting information. The HDD 21E stores various programs and data.

The CPU 21A reads programs, data, setting information, etc. from the ROM 21C, NVRAM 21D, HDD 21E, etc. onto the RAM 21B and executes processing, thereby realizing control and functions of the entire image forming apparatus 20.

The operation panel 22 includes an input section that receives input from the user and a display section that displays information. External I/F 23 is an interface with an external device. The external device is, for example, a recording medium 23a. In this case, the image forming apparatus 20 can read and/or write to the recording medium 23a via the external I/F 23. The recording medium 23a is, for example, an IC card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, a USB memory, or the like.

The communication I/F 24 is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 20 to a network. That is, the image forming apparatus 20 can perform data communication via the communication I/F 24. The printer 25 is a printing device for printing print data. The scanner 26 is a reading device that reads a document and generates an image file (electronic file).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the service providing system 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 in this embodiment.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 20 has multiple functions such as a print function and a scan function. The image forming apparatus 20 executes these functions by being operated by a user who uses the service providing system 10.

Image forming apparatus 20 has a browser 20A. The browser 20A is realized, for example, by a process in which one or more programs installed on the operation panel 22 of the image forming apparatus 20 are caused to be executed by the CPU of the operation panel 22. The browser 20A performs HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) communication with the service providing system 10. The browser 20A displays a web page provided by the service providing system 10. The browser 20A transmits a request to the service providing system 10 in response to a user's operation on a web page, controls the image forming apparatus 20 in response to the operation, and the like.

The service providing system 10 includes a storage section 52 and an information processing section 50. The storage unit 52 and the information processing unit 50 are connected to be able to exchange data or signals.

The storage unit 52 stores various information. In this embodiment, for example, the storage unit 52 stores application information, contract information, and the like.

The storage unit 52 stores application information for each of a plurality of applications. Application information is information defined for each application. In this embodiment, the application refers to a workflow application. An application that is a workflow application includes one or more components and is implemented as an ordered combination of the plurality of components.

A component is a component program included in an application. A component is a program for executing an operation representing a process. An operation is a process performed by a component. Components perform operations depending on parameters entered by the user.

The components include, for example, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition/Reader) processing program, a print conversion processing program, a distribution program, a download program, and the like. The OCR processing program receives image data as input, performs OCR processing on the image data according to OCR conditions expressed by parameters input by the user, and converts the results of the OCR processing into predetermined conditions expressed by the parameters. This is a program that outputs to a storage area, etc. The print conversion processing program is a program that receives electronic data as input, converts the electronic data into a printing format represented by parameters input by the user, and outputs data as a result of the conversion. The distribution program is a program that is distributed to a predetermined storage area of the external storage system 40, a destination address, etc. that is represented by parameters input by the user. The download program is a program that downloads data from a predetermined storage area of the external storage system 40 represented by parameters input by the user.

In the information processing system 1, applications are created in advance by preparing a plurality of types of components in advance and defining the order of execution of the components.

The application information includes screen definitions, processing details, and the like. The screen definition is definition information regarding a screen for accepting settings regarding an application. The screen definition holds the data to be displayed on the screen and its layout. The processing content is definition information indicating the processing content of the application. In other words, the process content represents the content of an operation that is a process executed by each component included in the application. That is, the processing content describes how to use the document service and the processing performed with the external storage system 40. In detail, the processing content includes, for example, the content of the operation that is the processing executed by the components constituting the application, the execution order of the components, the initial values of parameters regarding each component, and the like.

The contract information is information regarding contracts for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of applications available to the user.

A plan refers to options regarding application usage patterns, usage restrictions, etc.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a plan.

FIG. 5 shows the functions available for each application for each plan. FIG. 5 shows three plans, "Essentials", "Connectors", and "Advanced", as examples.

Each of the plurality of plans has a different combination of available applications and application functions. In FIG. 5, the plan "Advanced" indicates that all functions of the application "Scan to XDrive" and all functions (Function A, Function B, and Function C) of the application "Print from XDrive" are available. The plan "Connectors" indicates that only function A and function B of the application "Print from XDrive" are available. The plan "Essentials" indicates that only function A of the application "Print from XDrive" is available. Therefore, the relationship between each plan regarding the range of available functions is "Advanced">"Connectors">"Essentials". The range that can be used in the upper plan that is the upper plan includes the range that can be used in the lower plan that is the lower plan.

Plans are contracted on a contract-by-contract basis. The contract unit is, for example, a tenant to which a plurality of users belong, or each user. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a contract unit is a tenant to which a plurality of users belong. Furthermore, an example will be described in which the identification information of the image forming apparatus 20 is associated with each tenant.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of contract information. The contract information is a database for managing information regarding plans subscribed to by tenants for each tenant, which is a contract unit.

For example, the contract information is a database that associates tenant IDs, tenant names, user information, contract plan IDs, and application IDs. The data format of contract information is not limited to a database.

The tenant ID is tenant identification information. The tenant name is the name of the tenant.

User information is information about users belonging to a tenant. Users who use the service providing system 10 are classified into first users who do not have plan change authority and second users who have plan change authority. The user information includes second user information for identifying a second user who has plan change authority among the users belonging to the tenant identified by the corresponding tenant ID, and second user information for identifying a second user who does not have plan change authority. and first user information for identifying one user.

The contract plan ID is identification information of a plan to which the tenant identified by the corresponding tenant ID has signed a contract. The application ID is identification information of an application included in the plan identified by the corresponding contract plan ID and available to users belonging to the tenant.

The contract information may be information representing at least the correspondence between a tenant and a plan with which the tenant has subscribed.

Returning to FIG. 4, the explanation will be continued. The storage unit 52 stores application information and contract information in advance. Note that the application information and contract information can be updated as appropriate through processing by the information processing unit 50, which will be described later.

The information processing unit 50 executes information processing. The information processing unit 50 includes a GUI (Graphical User Interface) providing unit 50A, an application management unit 50D, an execution unit 50E, a contract management unit 50F, an authentication authorization unit 50G, a log management unit 50H, a log extraction unit 50I, and an accumulated data management unit 50J. , an acquisition section 50K, a behavior analysis section 50L, a recommendation management section 50M, a plan management section 50N, and a report management section 50O. The GUI providing section 50A includes a screen information transmitting section 50B and a report information transmitting section 50C. The behavior analysis section 50L includes a total information generation section 50P, a first search section 50Q, a second search section 50R, a list information generation section 50S, and a report information generation section 50T.

Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 16 by one or more programs installed in the service providing system 10. The service providing system 10 also utilizes the storage unit 52. The storage unit 52 can be realized using, for example, the HDD 18 or a storage device connectable to the service providing system 10 via a network.

Note that the application management section 50D, execution section 50E, log management section 50H, behavior analysis section 50L, recommendation management section 50M, plan management section 50N, report management section 50O, GUI provision section 50A, contract management section 50F, authentication and authorization The configuration may be such that the section 50G, the log extraction section 50I, and the accumulated data management section 50J are installed in different information processing sections.

The GUI providing unit 50A provides the browser 20A with screen information for drawing a GUI. Specifically, the GUI providing unit 50A generates screen information indicating a screen to be displayed on the browser 20A, and transmits the generated screen information to the browser 20A. Screen information refers to information that defines the layout of the screen and the processing that corresponds to the operation of display components on the screen. For example, the screen information may be defined using HTML (HyperText Markup Language), a script, or the like. The GUI providing section 50A includes a screen information transmitting section 50B and a report information transmitting section 50C. Details of the screen information transmitting section 50B and the report information transmitting section 50C will be described later.

The application management section 50D manages application information stored in the storage section 52. For example, the application management section 50D outputs application information to the GUI providing section 50A in response to a request from the browser 20A of the image forming apparatus 20. The GUI providing unit 50A generates screen information based on the screen definition included in the application information, and transmits the screen information to the browser 20A.

The execution unit 50E controls the execution of an application instructed to be executed by the user via the screen displayed on the browser 20A in response to a request from the browser 20A of the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, the execution unit 50E acquires the processing content of the component, which is the process executed by the component included in the application instructed to be executed by the user, from the application management unit 50D. Then, the execution unit 50E controls the execution of the application instructed to be executed based on the acquired processing content.

In the process of controlling the execution of applications, the execution unit 50E requests the external storage system 40 to execute processing according to the application to be executed. The execution unit 50E also performs operations on electronic files stored in the external storage system 40 and acquires metadata such as document information of electronic files stored in the external storage system 40, depending on the application to be executed. I do.

The contract management unit 50F executes processing related to contracting a plan or changing a contracted plan.

The authentication and authorization unit 50G authenticates and authorizes a user who operates the image forming apparatus 20. The authentication/authorization unit 50G performs authentication processing on the user who has logged into the service providing system 10, and outputs the authentication result to the browser 20A.

The log management unit 50H writes and manages the request results requested by the user via the screen displayed on the browser 20A in a log file. The request result includes selection log information regarding the application selected by the user via the screen, and execution log information regarding the application the user instructed to execute via the screen. That is, the log management unit 50H writes and manages log information, which the user selects or instructs to execute via the screen, in a log file.

The log extraction unit 50I extracts specific information from the log file managed by the log management unit 50H. The accumulated data management unit 50J registers and manages the data extracted by the log extraction unit 50I in a designated database.

The acquisition unit 50K acquires behavior information regarding actions such as user operations on the browser 20A by acquiring predetermined information from the database managed by the accumulated data management unit 50J. Details of the behavior information will be described later.

The behavior analysis unit 50L has the authority to change the plan based on the behavior information acquired by the acquisition unit 50K, the recommendation management information managed by the recommendation management unit 50M, and the contract information managed by the plan management unit 50N. generating report information regarding an application in which the first user is interested; Details of the recommendation management information and report information will be described later.

The behavior analysis section 50L includes a total information generation section 50P, a first search section 50Q, a second search section 50R, a list information generation section 50S, and a report information generation section 50T. Details of the total information generation section 50P, first search section 50Q, second search section 50R, list information generation section 50S, and report information generation section 50T will be described later.

The service providing system 10 of this embodiment sequentially executes the following processes.

First, the service providing system 10 writes selected log information and execution log information to a log file as a result of a request made by a first user via a screen displayed on the browser 20A.

Next, the service providing system 10 extracts and accumulates the first user's behavior information from the log file.

Then, the service providing system 10 analyzes the first user's behavior information and generates report information regarding the application that the first user, who does not have the authority to change the plan, is interested in.

Then, the service providing system 10 provides the generated report information to the second user who has the authority to change the plan.

Each of the above processes executed by the service providing system 10 will be explained in detail in turn.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system 10. FIG. 7 shows an example of the flow of information processing for writing selected log information and execution log information to a log file.

For example, when the first user U1 operates the image forming apparatus 20, the browser 20A transmits an application list acquisition request to the service providing system 10 (step S100). The application list acquisition request includes, for example, the tenant ID of the tenant associated with the image forming apparatus 20.

Upon receiving the application list acquisition request, the application management unit 50D of the service providing system 10 generates selection screen information of the selection screen (step S102).

The selection screen is a screen that selectably displays a plurality of applications including a first application that can be used by the first user U1 and a second application that cannot be used by the first user U1. The application management unit 50D identifies the contract plan ID and application ID corresponding to the tenant ID included in the application list acquisition request from the contract information (see FIG. 6). The application management unit 50D then specifies the application identified by the specified application ID as the first application that can be used by the first user U1. The application management unit 50D also allows the first user U1 to use an application other than the specified first application among the plurality of applications represented by each of the plurality of application information stored in the storage unit 52. Specify as a second application that cannot be used.

The application management unit 50D can select each of the specified first application and the specified second application, and can identify each of the first application and the second application. Selection screen information of possible selection screens is generated and output to the GUI providing unit 50A (step S104).

The screen information transmitting unit 50B of the information processing unit 50 transmits the selection screen information generated by the application management unit 50D to the browser 20A (step S106). Note that the screen information transmitter 50B may generate selection screen information and transmit the generated selection screen information to the browser 20A.

The browser 20A that has received the selection screen information displays the selection screen of the selection screen information on the browser 20A (step S108).

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of the selection screen 60.

The selection screen 60 includes buttons for accepting selection and execution instructions for each of the plurality of applications. As shown in the selection screen 60, the button for the second application, which is an application that cannot be used by the user U, includes a mark indicating that the application is unavailable, such as a lock mark or a prohibition mark. Further, the button of the first application, which is an application that can be used by user U, does not include a mark indicating that the application is unavailable, such as a lock mark or a prohibition mark. Here, the user U may be able to select not only the first application but also the second application. When the second application is selected by the user U, for example, functional information can be viewed as information regarding the selected second application.

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. The first user U1 operates the selection screen 60 while visually checking the selection screen 60 (step S110). When the first user U1 operates the selection screen 60, the browser 20A transmits operation log information, which is an operation log, to the service providing system 10 (step S112). The operation log information includes application selection information regarding the application selected by the first user U1 via the selection screen 60.

The application management unit 50D of the service providing system 10 outputs a log write request for operation log information including application selection information to the log management unit 50H (step S114). The log management unit 50H writes the operation log information included in the received log write request to the log file (step S116). Then, the log management unit 50H outputs a signal indicating completion of writing to the application management unit 50D (step S118).

Therefore, each time the first user U1 performs some operation via the selection screen 60, operation log information is sequentially written into the log file managed by the log management unit 50H. The operation log information includes selection log information regarding the application selected by the first user U1, which is represented by the application selection information. In addition, operation log information such as application list acquisition requests is also written to the log file.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of selected log information. "tenantId" in FIG. 9 represents the tenant ID. As described above, in this embodiment, identification information of the image forming apparatus 20 is associated with each tenant. For this reason, the log management unit 50H may specify the tenant ID corresponding to the identification information of the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the operation log information, which is included in the operation log information, and use it as the "tenantId" of the selected log information. . Furthermore, the selection log information or application list acquisition request received from the browser 20A may include the "tenantId" of the tenant where the image forming apparatus 20 is installed.

The URL property in FIG. 9 is a URL of application selection information, and represents information regarding the application selected by the first user U1.

The application selection information is information regarding the application selected by the first user U1 via the selection screen 60, as described above. The application selection information is transmitted from the browser 20A to the service providing system 10 when the first user U1 selects a button for any application included in the selection screen 60. Therefore, by using the information expressed in the URL property included in the selection log information, it is possible to specify the application selected by the first user U1. That is, by using the selection log information, it becomes possible to specify which application the first user U1 has shown interest in among the plurality of applications displayed on the selection screen 60.

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. The application management unit 50D, which has received the signal indicating the completion of writing in step S118, transmits execution screen information of the execution screen to the browser 20A via the GUI providing unit 50A (steps S120 and S122). The execution screen is a screen for accepting parameters of components included in an application as well as instructions for executing the application. The browser 20A displays the execution screen of the received execution screen information (step S124). Note that if the target selected by the user U is the second application, a screen containing information regarding the selected second application may be displayed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an example of the execution screen 62. The execution screen 62 includes input fields for parameters for components included in the application selected by the first user U1. The first user U1 inputs parameters into the input field of the execution screen 62 by performing an operation while viewing the execution screen 62. FIG. 10 shows, as an example, an execution screen 62 in which an application including an OCR processing program and a distribution program is selected as a component, and includes an input field for parameters of the distribution program included in the application. Further, FIG. 10 shows, as an example, an input field for a transmission destination address, which is a distribution destination of electronic data obtained by executing an OCR processing program. The first user U1 inputs the parameters by inputting the desired sending address. Then, the user operates the display position of "Start" which is an execution button included in the execution screen 62. Through these operations, the first user U1 inputs parameters via the selection screen 60 and the execution screen 62 and instructs execution of the application.

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. When the browser 20A receives the parameter input (step S126), the browser 20A transmits application execution instruction information to the service providing system 10 (step S128). The application execution instruction information includes the application ID of the application instructed to be executed by the first user U1, the input parameters, the date and time when the execution instruction was received, and the like.

The execution unit 50E controls the execution of the application instructed to be executed by the user via the selection screen 60 in accordance with the application execution instruction information received from the browser 20A (step S130).

The execution unit 50E outputs a log write request for application execution instruction information to the log management unit 50H (step S132). The log management unit 50H writes the application execution instruction information included in the received log write request into the log file as execution log information (step S134). Then, the log management unit 50H outputs a signal indicating completion of writing to the browser 20A via the execution unit 50E (step S136, step S138).

Therefore, in addition to the operation log information, execution log information is written in the log file managed by the log management unit 50H.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of execution log information. “tenantId” in FIG. 11 is the same as above. "Operation parameter" in FIG. 11 represents a parameter input by the first user U1 for the operation. Note that the log management unit 50H manages the request received from the browser 20A in a log file as execution log information, excluding personal information. “domain(to)” in FIG. 11 represents a domain part that is an example of a fixed character string other than personal information in an email address, which is an example of a parameter input via the execution screen 62 shown in FIG. 10. . The log management unit 50H manages information other than the domain part of the input email address in a log file without including it in the execution log information. “time” in FIG. 11 represents the date and time when execution of the application was instructed.

By executing the processes of steps S100 to S138, the service providing system 10 obtains operation log information including selection log information regarding the application selected by the first user U1, and operation log information regarding the application instructed to be executed by the first user U1. Execution log information is sequentially written to a log file and managed by the log management unit 50H.

Next, an example of a process flow in which the service providing system 10 extracts and accumulates the behavior information of the first user U1 from the log file will be described.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system 10. FIG. 12 shows an example of the flow of processing for extracting and accumulating the behavior information of the first user U1 from the log file.

The log extraction unit 50I acquires the log file managed by the log management unit 50H (step S200, step S202). The log extraction unit 50I extracts information specified in advance from the acquired log file (step S204). For example, the log extraction unit 50I extracts selected log information included in a log file and given a date and time of a predetermined period as selected application information. Further, the log extracting unit 50I extracts execution log information to which the date and time of a predetermined period are added as execution application information.

The selected application information is information represented by the selected log information included in the log file, and is information related to the application selected by the first user U1 via the selection screen 60. The execution application information is information represented by execution log information included in the log file, and is information regarding an application that the first user U1 has instructed to execute via the selection screen 60 and the execution screen 62. The log extraction unit 50I outputs the extracted selected application information and executed application information to the accumulated data management unit 50J (step S206).

The accumulated data management unit 50J stores the executed application information and selected application information received from the log extraction unit 50I in a database (step S208). For example, the accumulated data management unit 50J registers the execution application information received from the log extraction unit 50I in an execution application DB (database). Furthermore, the accumulated data management unit 50J registers the selected application information received from the log extraction unit 50I in the selected application DB.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of the execution application DB. The execution application DB is a database in which execution application information is registered. The execution application information includes, for example, a tenant ID "tenant_id", an application ID "applicationId", an operation parameter "operation_parameter", and an execution date and time "year, month, day". That is, the execution application DB is a database that associates tenant IDs, application IDs, operation parameters, and execution dates and times. FIG. 13 shows, as an example, a state in which execution application information represented by the execution log information shown in FIG. 11 is registered in the database.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the selected application DB. The selected application DB is a database in which selected application information is registered. The selected application information includes, for example, a tenant ID "tenant_id", operation processing details "method", "url", and selection date and time "year, month, day". "url" corresponds to the url property explained using FIG. That is, the selected application DB is a database that associates tenant IDs, operation processing details, information on selected applications, and application selection dates and times. FIG. 14 shows, as an example, a state in which the selected application information represented by the selection log information shown in FIG. 9 is registered in the database.

By analyzing the execution application information registered in the execution application DB and the selected application information registered in the selection application DB, it becomes possible to analyze the actions of the first user U1 on the selection screen 60 and the execution screen 62. .

Returning to FIG. 12, the explanation will be continued. The log extraction unit 50I and the accumulated data management unit 50J repeatedly execute the above process at predetermined intervals. For this reason, the accumulated data management unit 50J acquires the latest selected application information and the latest executed application information from log files that are added and registered sequentially over time in the log management unit 50H, and stores the selected application DB and the executed application information. Register in each application DB sequentially.

Next, an example of a process flow in which the service providing system 10 analyzes behavior information and generates report information regarding an application in which the first user U1, who does not have the authority to change a plan, is interested will be described.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system 10. FIG. 15 shows an example of the flow of information processing regarding generation of report information.

The acquisition unit 50K acquires behavior information including selected application information and executed application information from the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, the acquisition unit 50K acquires the behavior information from the database managed by the log management unit 50H, thereby generating information generated from the operation log information and execution log information for the image forming apparatus 20 by the first user U1. Obtain behavioral information.

In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 50K receives a behavior information acquisition request from the behavior analysis unit 50L (step S300). The acquisition request includes the tenant ID of the tenant whose behavior is to be analyzed by the behavior analysis unit 50L, a period represented by date and time, and information used for screen display. The acquisition request is represented by, for example, “/app-management/applications/{id}/views)”. It is assumed that the tenant ID and period indicated in the acquisition request can be arbitrarily set by a tenant administrator or the like using a common setting site or common setting application for accepting various setting information.

The acquisition unit 50K identifies execution application information and selected application information that satisfy the acquisition request from the execution application DB and selected application DB managed by the accumulated data management unit 50J, and processes the specified execution application information and selected application information. It is acquired as information (step S302). The acquisition unit 50K outputs the acquired behavior information to the behavior analysis unit 50L (step S304).

The behavior analysis unit 50L executes a generation process to generate report information regarding the second application in which the first user U1 is interested based on the behavior information (steps S306 to S322). In the present embodiment, the behavior analysis unit 50L determines that among the second applications selected by the first user U1 represented by the selected application information included in the behavior information, the tenant to which the first user U1 belongs has no contract. Report information is generated that includes list information of applications belonging to a higher-level plan that is a plan higher than the plan with which the tenant has contracted (step S324).

The processing of the behavior analysis unit 50L will be explained in detail.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the behavior information acquired by the behavior analysis unit 50L. FIG. 16 shows, as an example, behavior information performed by the first user U1 belonging to the tenant with respect to the image forming apparatus 20 installed in the tenant identified by the tenant ID "100000." In FIG. 16, "tenantId" is the same as above. “jobs” represents behavior information of the first user U1 belonging to the tenant identified by “tenantId” “100000”. The behavior information includes execution application information and selected application information.

In FIG. 16, "clickApps" shown in the selected application information represents a list of application IDs of applications selected by the first user U1 on the image forming apparatus 20. "clickApps" may be calculated based on the application selection information.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

The behavior analysis unit 50L identifies the application ID of the application instructed to be executed by the first user U1, which is represented by the execution application information included in the behavior information acquired in step S304. The behavior analysis unit 50L then acquires application information of the application identified by the specified application ID from the application management unit 50D (step S306).

In the case of the behavior information shown in FIG. 16, the behavior analysis unit 50L specifies "10000" as the "applicationId" written in the "jobs" column. The behavior analysis unit 50L then acquires application information of the application identified by the application ID “10000” from the application management unit 50D.

As described above, the application information includes the screen definition of the application and the processing details. The processing content is the content of an operation that is a process executed by each component included in the application. Therefore, by acquiring the application information, the behavior analysis unit 50L can identify the name of the application instructed to be executed by the first user U1 and the components making up the application.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of application information. FIG. 17 shows an example of application information of an application identified by application ID "10000". In FIG. 17, "id" represents an application ID. "Name" shown on the line next to "id" represents the name of the application. “Flow” represents the processing content of the application. The "flowDetails" column describes information about each component included in the application.

By using the behavior information shown in FIG. 16 and the application information shown in FIG. 17, the behavior analysis unit 50L can confirm the operation of each component included in the application that the first user U1 has instructed to execute.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

The behavior analysis unit 50L acquires recommendation management information managed by the recommendation management unit 50M (step S308).

Recommendation management information includes, for each operation of a component included in an application, a keyword that can be input as part of the parameters of the operation, a parameter name of the parameter that includes the keyword, and a parameter of the parameter name. This is information that predefines unique character strings including keywords and recommendation list information that is a list of recommended information. Recommendation information is information representing the operation of a component included in each of one or more applications linked to a service specified by a keyword.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of recommendation management information. In FIG. 18, "operationId" indicates the operation ID. "componentName" indicates the component name. “operationName” indicates the operation name.

The "relations" property describes information regarding keywords that can be input as parameters for the operation. Specifically, "name" written in the "relations" property represents a keyword. In FIG. 18, "X" is shown as a keyword. The line next to "name" contains "domain (to)" as the parameter name "name" of the parameter containing the keyword, and "value" as the unique string "value" containing the keyword that can be set as a parameter for the parameter name. xmail.com" is shown.

Note that the parameters represented by "name" and "value" defined in the recommendation management information may include parameters used by external services.

“RecommendedOperations” shows recommended list information that is a list of recommended information.

In the example shown in FIG. 18, recommendation information representing operations of components included in each of one or more applications linked to the service specified by the keyword "X" is shown. In other words, the recommendation management information shown in FIG. 18 includes information for identifying the first user U1 who is interested in the application linked to the service identified by the keyword "X" and Information regarding the operation of components included in the application linked to the service to be provided is included.

The recommendation management information may be created in advance by the administrator or developer of the service providing system 10 and registered in the recommendation management section 50M in advance.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued. When the recommendation management information is acquired through the process in step S308, the total information generation unit 50P of the behavior analysis unit 50L generates total information using the behavior information acquired in step S304 (step S310).

Aggregate information is information that aggregates the parameters input by the first user U1 for the operation executed by the component when the application is instructed to execute, for each operation parameter, which is represented by the execution application information included in the behavior information. It is.

Specifically, the total information generation unit 50P generates total information using the recommendation management information. More specifically, the total information generation unit 50P uses the recommendation management information to match the parameters of the operation represented by the execution application information for each pair of parameter name and unique character string included in the recommendation management information. Generates aggregated information by aggregating the numbers.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of total information.

Specifically, for example, the total information generation unit 50P generates "domain(to)" which is the parameter name "name" of "parameter" described in the recommendation management information shown in FIG. Specify a pair with “xmail.com”, which is a unique character string “value” that includes a keyword that can be set. Then, the total information generation unit 50P determines that the parameter corresponding to the pair of the parameter name "domain (to)" and the unique character string "xmail.com" is "inputParameters" of the execution application information included in the behavior information of FIG. 16. , and tally the number of matches. By performing this aggregation process, the aggregation information generation unit 50P generates, for example, the aggregation information shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of aggregation processing by the aggregate information generation unit 50P.

The total information generation unit 50P repeatedly executes the processes from step S400 to step S406 for each element of "jobs" included in the behavior information. First, the aggregate information generation unit 50P determines whether or not the execution application information in the behavior information matches the "name" and "value" described in the "parameter" included in the recommendation management information ( Step S400). If a negative determination is made in step S400 (step S400: No), processing for the element of jobs ends.

If an affirmative determination is made in step S400 (step S400: Yes), the process advances to step S402. In step S402, the total information generation unit 50P determines whether the same parameters are described in the job intermediate analysis information (step S402). If a negative determination is made in step S402 (step S402: No), the process advances to step S404. In step S404, the total information generation unit 50P writes parameters (step S404), and proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the total number is counted up by one (step S406).

For example, the summary information shown in FIG. 19 is generated by the summary information generation unit 50P repeatedly executing the processes of steps S400 to S406 for each element of "jobs" included in the behavior information.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

Next, the behavior analysis unit 50L acquires plan information from the plan management unit 50N (step S312). The behavior analysis unit 50L also acquires contract information of the tenant to be processed from the contract management unit 50F (step S314).

Plan information is information that defines multiple plans with different combinations of multiple applications.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an example of the data structure of plan information. Plan information is information that associates a plan ID, a plan name, and an application ID of an application included in the plan. In FIG. 21, "id" indicates the plan ID. “name” indicates the plan name. “plan AppIds” indicates the application ID of the application included in the plan identified by the corresponding plan ID.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the contract information acquired in step S314. The contract information is information that associates a tenant ID, a contract plan ID, and a contract name. In FIG. 22, "tenantId" indicates the tenant ID. "id" indicates the contract plan ID. “name” indicates the contract name. Note that the contract information is information that further associates the first user information of the first user U1, the second user information of the second user U2, and the application ID that belong to the tenant identified by the tenant ID. (See Figure 6).

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

The first search unit 50Q of the behavior analysis unit 50L executes a first search process (step S316). The first search process is a process of searching, from the plan information acquired in step S312, for an application that includes a component that executes the operation included in the total information generated in step S310 and that belongs to a higher-level plan.

For example, assume that the behavior analysis unit 50L acquires contract information of a tenant identified by the tenant ID "10000" shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 22, assume that the tenant identified by the tenant ID "10000" has subscribed to the plan "Essentials". Further, assume a situation where the behavior analysis unit 50L generates the total information shown in FIG. 19.

In this case, the first search unit 50Q searches whether the application having the operation described in the aggregate information shown in FIG. 19 is included in the applications belonging to a plan higher than the currently contracted plan "Essentials". . The upper plan is a plan that includes at least one of a larger number of applications and a larger number of functions of the applications than the currently contracted plan. In the case of the plan shown in FIG. 5, for example, the first search unit 50Q searches for at least one of the plan "Connectors" and the plan "Advanced" which are higher-level plans than the plan "Essentials".

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

Next, the second search unit 50R of the behavior analysis unit 50L executes a second search process (step S318). The second search process is a process of searching for applications whose number of selections is equal to or greater than a threshold among the applications selected by the first user U1, which are represented by the selected application information included in the behavior information acquired in step S304.

Specifically, the behavior analysis unit 50L uses the value shown in "underLimitCount" included in the recommendation management information (the value "15" in the example shown in FIG. 18) as the threshold value. Then, the behavior analysis unit 50L counts the number of application IDs "applicationId" described in "clickApps" of the selected application information included in the behavior information shown in FIG. 16 for each same application ID. Then, the behavior analysis unit 50L searches for an application identified by the application ID whose count value is equal to or greater than the value indicated by "underLimitCount" included in the recommendation management information, as an application in which the first user U1 is interested.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued.

Next, the list information generation section 50S of the behavior analysis section 50L generates, as list information, applications that match the applications searched by the second search section 50R among the applications searched by the first search section 50Q. Step S320).

In other words, the behavior analysis unit 50L selects applications that the first user U1 selects by a threshold value or more from among applications that include a component that executes the operation included in the aggregate information searched in step S316 and that belong to a plan higher than the currently contracted plan. Generate list information of the applications that have been created. In other words, the behavior analysis unit 50L determines that the first user U1 selects a threshold value or more among applications to which the tenant to which the first user U1 belongs has no contract and belongs to a higher-level plan higher than the currently contracted plan. A list of applications that the user has shown interest in is generated as list information.

The behavior analysis unit 50L determines, among the applications searched by the first search unit 50Q, an application that matches the application searched by the second search unit 50R, and the number of times the first user U1 selects the application. You may also generate list information containing the information.

Next, the report information generation unit 50T of the behavior analysis unit 50L generates report information including the total information generated in step S310 and the list information generated in step S320 (step S322).

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of report information. For example, the report information generation unit 50T includes the total information shown in FIG. 19 and the list information generated in step S320.

Returning to FIG. 15, the explanation will be continued. The behavior analysis unit 50L requests the report management unit 50O to save the generated report information (step S324).

The acquisition unit 50K and behavior analysis unit 50L of the service providing system 10 execute the process represented by the sequence shown in FIG. Information is generated and stored in report management unit 50O.

Next, an example of a process flow in which the service providing system 10 provides report information to a second user who has the authority to change a plan will be described.

FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system 10. FIG. 24 shows an example of the flow of processing for providing report information to the second user U2.

The second user U2 logs in to the service providing system 10 by performing a login operation via the browser 20A of the image forming apparatus 20 or a login operation on the common setting site of the information processing apparatus 30. The common settings site is a site for managing users and applications within a tenant. In FIG. 24, an example of logging into the common setting site via the browser 30A of the information processing device 30 will be described. In this case, the information processing device 30 is an example of the second information processing terminal.

For example, when the second user U2 inputs account information such as the user name and password of the second user U2 by operating the browser 30A, the browser 30A transmits an authentication request to the authentication and authorization section 50G (step S500). . If the authentication is successful, the authentication/authorization unit 50G transmits a signal representing successful authentication to the browser 20A (step S502).

Next, the browser 30A acquires screen information of the common setting site from the GUI providing unit 50A (steps S504 and S506), and generates and displays a screen according to the acquired screen information.

The second user U2 specifies the tenant to which the second user U2 belongs via the displayed screen, and inputs a report information acquisition request for report information for the tenant. The browser 30A transmits the input report information acquisition request to the service providing system 10 (step S508). Upon receiving the report information acquisition request, the report management unit 50O of the service providing system 10 searches for report information corresponding to the tenant ID included in the report information acquisition request and transmits it to the GUI providing unit 50A (step S510).

The report information transmitting unit 50C of the GUI providing unit 50A transmits the report information received from the report managing unit 50O to the browser 30A of the information processing device 30, which is the second information processing terminal operated by the second user U2 ( Step S512). In this embodiment, the report information transmitter 50C acquires report screen information and generates a report screen together with the report information received from the report manager 50O. Then, the report information transmitter 50C transmits report screen information of the report screen to the browser 30A.

The browser 30A that has received the report screen information displays the report screen of the received report screen information (step S514).

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of an example of the report screen 64. As shown in FIG. 25, the report screen 64 includes total information and list information. The report screen 64 shown in FIG. 25 includes a list of domains of destination addresses, which are examples of parameters input by the first user U1 when instructing execution of the application, and aggregate information representing the number of inputs of each parameter. . Further, the report screen 64 includes list information including a list of application names of applications in the upper plan and the number of times the first user U1 selected each of the applications. That is, the report screen 64 includes list information of second applications that are included in higher-level plans to which the first user U1 is not currently subscribed and cannot be used under the current contract.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 25, the report screen 64 further includes information indicating which higher-level plan the contract should be changed to in order to be able to use the application of the higher-level plan shown in the list information. It's okay to be there.

By checking the report screen 64, the second user U2, who is the user U who has the authority to change the plan, obtains information about applications that the first user U1, who belongs to the tenant to which the second user U2 belongs, is interested. can be easily confirmed.

When the first user U1 desires to change the contract, he operates a button representing contract change included in the report screen 64.

Returning to FIG. 24, the explanation will be continued. When the button representing contract change is operated by the first user U1, the browser 30A accepts the contract change (step S516). In this case, the service providing system 10 may execute contract change processing (step S518).

In the contract change process, for example, the contract management unit 50F generates screen information of a contract change screen and transmits it to the browser 30A. Browser 30A displays a contract change screen based on the screen information received from contract management section 50F. The contract change screen is configured, for example, so that a contract plan can be selected from among a plurality of plans. When the second user U2 operates the contract change screen, the browser 30A transmits a contract change request to the higher plan desired by the second user U2 to the contract management unit 50F. The contract management unit 50F may update the contract plan ID and plan name corresponding to the tenant ID of the tenant to which the second user U2 belongs to the changed plan ID and plan name included in the contract change request.

As described above, the service providing system 10 of this embodiment includes the screen information transmitting section 50B, the acquiring section 50K, the behavior analyzing section 50L, and the report information transmitting section 50C. The screen information transmitter 50B transmits a first application that can be used by the user U belonging to a tenant, which is a contract unit for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of usable applications, and a second application that cannot be used by the user U. Selection screen information of a selection screen 60 that selectably displays a plurality of applications including , is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 (first information processing terminal). The acquisition unit 50K acquires selected application information regarding the application selected via the selection screen 60 by the first user U1 who belongs to the tenant and does not have the authority to change the plan, and the selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user U1 who does not have the authority to change the plan. Behavior information including execution application information regarding the application instructed to be executed via the selection screen 60 is acquired from the first information processing terminal. The behavior analysis unit 50L generates report information regarding the second application based on the behavior information. The report information transmitter 50C transmits the report information to the second information processing terminal operated by the second user U2 who belongs to the tenant and has the authority to change the plan.

In this way, the service providing system 10 of the present embodiment provides the selected application information regarding the application selected via the selection screen 60 by the first user U1 who does not have plan change authority, and the selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user U1 who does not have plan change authority. Behavior information including execution application information regarding the application instructed to be executed via the selection screen 60 is acquired. Based on the behavior information, the service providing system 10 generates report information regarding a second application that the first user U1 is interested in among the second applications that the first user U1 is not able to use under the current contract. generate. Then, the service providing system 10 transmits the generated report information to the second information processing terminal operated by the second user U2 who has the authority to change the plan.

Therefore, the service providing system 10 of this embodiment can easily provide information regarding applications in which users U, such as the first user U1, are interested.

In addition, the behavior analysis unit 50L of the service providing system 10 of the present embodiment is configured to analyze the second application selected by the first user U1 represented by the selected application information, to which the tenant to which the first user U1 belongs has no contract. Report information is generated that includes list information of applications belonging to a higher-level plan that is a plan that is higher than the plan that the tenant has subscribed to. Then, the service providing system 10 transmits report information including list information of applications belonging to the upper plan to the second information processing terminal operated by the second user U2 who has the authority to change the plan.

Therefore, in addition to the above effects, the service providing system 10 of the present embodiment can easily support a contract change to a higher-level plan that includes an application in which the first user U1 belonging to the tenant is interested.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which behavior information is managed for each tenant. However, the behavior information may be information that further includes user information of the user U who operated the selection screen 60 and the execution screen 62.

In this case, the acquisition unit 50K may acquire the selected application information, the executed application information, and the first user information of the first user U1 who operates the browser 20A of the image forming apparatus 20 from the browser 20A. The behavior analysis unit 50L may then generate report information for each combination of tenant and first user U1.

FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the service providing system 10 of this modification. FIG. 26 shows an example of the flow of information processing for writing selected log information and execution log information to a log file.

Note that the applications used in the image forming apparatus 20 include shared applications that can be shared and used within a tenant, and personal applications for individuals. When the first user U1 uses a shared application on the image forming apparatus 20, by making personal settings for the first user U1 on the common setting site in advance, the first user U1 can use the shared application when logging in. It is not necessary to input the first user information every time. On the other hand, when the first user U1 uses a personal application on the image forming apparatus 20, it is necessary to log in by inputting first user information. Therefore, when using the personal application, the image forming apparatus 20 can obtain the first user information of the first user U1. This modification will be described assuming a case where a personal application is used.

The first user U1 inputs first user information by operating the browser 20A. The browser 20A that has received the first user information transmits an authentication request to the authentication and authorization section 50G (step S600). If the authentication is successful, the authentication/authorization unit 50G transmits information indicating the success of the authentication to the browser 20A. Then, the service providing system 10 executes the processes from step S100 to step S138 in the same manner as in FIG. 7 above. Note that in this modification, the log write requests in step S114 and step S132 include the first user information input in step 500. Therefore, the log management unit 50H writes operation log information including the first user information and execution log information including the first user information into the log file.

Therefore, the selected application information and execution application information that the log extraction unit 50I extracts from the log file and outputs to the accumulated data management unit 50J include the first user information. Further, the accumulated data management unit 50J registers the execution application information in the execution application DB and registers the selected application information in the selection application DB, so that the first user information is stored in each of the execution application DB and the selection application DB. Furthermore, they are registered in association with each other.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the execution application DB of this modification. As shown in FIG. 27, in the execution application DB of this modified example, "userId" which is the first user information is further associated with the execution application DB shown in FIG. 13 of the above embodiment. Similarly, regarding the selected application DB, the first user information "userId" is further associated with the selected application DB shown in FIG. 14 of the above embodiment.

The acquisition unit 50K acquires the first user information by acquiring the execution application information and the selection application information that satisfy the acquisition request as behavior information from the execution application DB and the selection application DB managed by the accumulated data management unit 50J. Additionally, obtain behavioral information including:

The behavior analysis unit 50L may then generate report information for each combination of tenant and first user U1.

In this way, the behavior analysis unit 50L generates report information for each combination of the tenant and the first user U1, so that the service providing system 10 of the present modification can collect the first user information of the first user U1. Report information further including: can be provided to the second user U2.

The service providing system 10 of this modification provides report information to the second user U2 so that it can be easily confirmed which first user U1 has selected or executed which application. Can be done. Moreover, the service providing system 10 of this modification can be provided so that it can be easily confirmed which first user U1 is interested in which application.

(Modification 2)
When the first user U1 selects a second application that is an unavailable application via the selection screen 60, the screen information transmitting unit 50B of the GUI providing unit 50A transfers the processing performed by the second application to the first application. The input screen information of the input screen for the work time required when the user U1 performs the work manually may be further transmitted to the browser 20A of the image forming apparatus 20.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of an example of the input screen 66. The input screen 66 includes an input field for the work time required when the first user U1 manually performs the process performed by the second application selected by the first user U1. The first user U1 inputs the working time into the input field of the input screen 66. FIG. 28 shows, as an example, a scene where "20 minutes" is input as the working time.

For example, when the screen information transmitting unit 50B accepts the selection of an application belonging to a higher-level plan among the second applications that are not available to the first user U1 through the operation of the selection screen 60 by the first user U1, the screen information transmitting unit 50B An input screen 66 shown in 28 is displayed on the browser 20A. The service providing system 10 registers the input work time in, for example, a work time table.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the work time table. The work time table is, for example, a table that associates tenant IDs, application IDs, group names, and work times. The group name is, for example, information representing a data storage location included in the parameters of the operation executed by the second application selected by the first user U1.

The report information generation unit 50T may create report information that further includes the total results of the work hours shown in the work time table. Then, the report information transmitting unit 50C may transmit report information that further includes the total work time results to the information processing device 30 or image forming device 20 operated by the second user U2.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of an example of the report screen 68 displayed on the information processing device 30 or image forming device 20 operated by the second user U2 in this modification.

As shown in FIG. 30, in addition to the information included in the report screen 64 described with reference to FIG. 25, the report screen 68 further includes information representing the total work time results.

Therefore, by checking the report screen 68, the second user U2 can easily check how much the first user U1's work efficiency will improve when changing to a higher-level plan. Note that the flag indicating whether or not to display the input screen 66 on the browser 20A may be changeable as appropriate based on an operational instruction from the second user U2.

Note that an information processing terminal (device) other than the image forming apparatus 20 may be used instead of the image forming apparatus 20. For example, output devices such as PJ (Projector), IWB (Interactive White Board: white board with electronic blackboard function that allows mutual communication), digital signage, HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, and imaging device. , sound collection devices, medical equipment, network home appliances, notebook PCs (Personal Computers), mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, game consoles, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, wearable PCs or desktop PCs, etc., image forming devices, etc. It may be used instead of 20.

Moreover, each function of the embodiment described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" as used herein refers to a processor programmed to execute each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to execute each function explained above. This includes devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and conventional circuit modules.

Additionally, the devices described in the examples are merely illustrative of one of multiple computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, service provision system 10 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster. The plurality of computing devices are configured to communicate with each other via any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., to perform the processes disclosed herein. Similarly, imaging apparatus 20 may include multiple computing devices configured to communicate with each other.

Note that in this embodiment, the service providing system 10 is an example of an information processing device. The image forming device 20 and the information processing device 30 are examples of a first information processing terminal and a second information processing terminal.

Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. is possible.

10 Service providing system 50B Screen information transmitting section 50C Report information transmitting section 50K Acquisition section 50L Behavior analysis section 50P Total information generating section 50Q First search section 50R Second search section 50S List information generating section 50T Report information generating section

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-3867

Claims (9)

A plurality of applications including a first application that can be used by a user belonging to a tenant that is a contract unit for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of usable applications, and a second application that cannot be used by the user. a screen information transmitter that transmits selection screen information of a selection screen to be displayed in a selectable manner to the first information processing terminal;
Selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user who belongs to the tenant and does not have the authority to change the plan via the selection screen, and the first user who does not have the authority to change the plan. an acquisition unit that acquires, from the first information processing terminal, behavior information including execution application information regarding the application that is instructed to be executed via the first information processing terminal;
a behavior analysis unit that generates report information regarding the second application based on the behavior information;
a report information transmitting unit that transmits the report information to a second information processing terminal operated by a second user who belongs to the tenant and has authority to change the plan;
An information processing device comprising: The behavior analysis unit is
Among the second applications selected by the first user represented by the selected application information, the plan is one to which the tenant to which the first user belongs is not yet subscribed, and the tenant is already subscribed to the plan. generating the report information including list information of the applications belonging to the upper plan that is the plan higher than the plan;
The information processing device according to claim 1. The application includes one or more components that are component programs that execute operations representing processing, and the components execute the operations according to input parameters,
The behavior analysis unit is
a total information generation unit that generates total information obtained by totaling the parameters input by the first user for the operation executed by the component, represented by the execution application information, for each parameter of the operation; ,
a first search unit that searches for the application that includes the component that executes the operation included in the aggregate information and that belongs to the higher-level plan from plan information that defines a plurality of plans with different combinations of the plurality of applications; ,
a second search unit that searches for a number of selected applications equal to or greater than a threshold among the applications selected by the first user represented by the selected application information;
a list information generation unit that generates, as the list information, the applications that match the application searched by the second search unit among the applications searched by the first search unit;
a report information generation unit that generates the report information including the aggregate information and the list information;
has,
The information processing device according to claim 2. The aggregate information generation unit includes:
For each operation of the component included in the application, a keyword that may be input as part of the parameters of the operation, a parameter name of the parameter that includes the keyword, and a parameter name that may be set as the parameter of the parameter name. A unique character string including a keyword and recommendation list information that is a list of recommendation information representing the operation of the component included in each of the one or more applications linked to the service specified by the keyword are provided in advance. Using the specified recommendation management information,
generating the total information by totaling the number of matches with the parameter of the operation represented by the execution application information for each pair of the parameter name and the unique character string included in the recommendation management information;
The information processing device according to claim 3. The recommendation management information is
including the parameters used by the external service that is the service;
The information processing device according to claim 4. The acquisition unit includes:
acquiring the selected application information, the executed application information, and first user information of the first user who operates the first information processing terminal from the first information processing terminal;
The behavior analysis unit is
generating the report information for each combination of the tenant and the first user;
The information processing device according to claim 1. The screen information transmitter includes:
When the first user selects the second application via the selection screen, inputting the work time required if the first user manually performs the process performed by the second application. further transmitting input screen information on the screen to the first information processing terminal;
The report information transmitter includes:
transmitting the report information further including the total work time results to the second information processing terminal operated by the second user;
The information processing device according to claim 1. An information processing system comprising an information processing device, a first information processing terminal, and a second information processing terminal,
The information processing device includes:
A plurality of applications including a first application that can be used by a user belonging to a tenant that is a contract unit for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of usable applications, and a second application that cannot be used by the user. a screen information transmitter that transmits selection screen information of a selection screen to be displayed in a selectable manner to the first information processing terminal;
Selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user who belongs to the tenant and does not have the authority to change the plan via the selection screen, and the first user who does not have the authority to change the plan. an acquisition unit that acquires, from the first information processing terminal, behavior information including execution application information regarding the application that is instructed to be executed via the first information processing terminal;
a behavior analysis unit that generates report information regarding the second application based on the behavior information;
a report information transmitter that transmits the report information to the second information processing terminal operated by a second user who belongs to the tenant and has authority to change the plan;
Information processing system. A plurality of applications including a first application that can be used by a user belonging to a tenant that is a contract unit for each of a plurality of plans with different combinations of usable applications, and a second application that cannot be used by the user. a step of transmitting selection screen information of a selection screen to be displayed in a selectable manner to a first information processing terminal;
Selected application information regarding the application selected by the first user who belongs to the tenant and does not have the authority to change the plan via the selection screen, and the first user who does not have the authority to change the plan. acquiring action information from the first information processing terminal, including execution application information regarding the application instructed to be executed via the first information processing terminal;
generating report information regarding the second application based on the behavioral information;
transmitting the report information to a second information processing terminal operated by a second user who belongs to the tenant and has authority to change the plan;
Information processing methods including.

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