JP5079132B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that uses a service provided by a plurality of service providing apparatuses existing on a network, a control method for the information processing apparatus, a program, and a storage medium.

  Present the search results of service items to the user as a list, let the user select an information device that provides the desired service item or service from the list, and use the services that the selected information device can provide To be done. In order to select a service item desired by the user from among a plurality of service items, it is necessary to present to the user which function or service is provided by which information device. As a conventional technique for solving this problem, a technique using an icon indicating a function is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In this technology, when displaying a list of information devices that provide services, the functions possessed by the information devices are displayed as icons and rearranged to provide the user with a list of information devices for each function. .

  In addition, as a technique for improving user operability, a technique for inquiring available services to a management server device or the like in a network and prohibiting a user's selection operation for unavailable services is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 2 is disclosed.

JP 2004-110375 A JP 2006-107081 A

  However, when it is desired to find another information device that can provide a function equivalent to the function that can be provided by the selected information device, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 compares the icon indicating the function with the user. There was a problem that it was necessary to judge. For this reason, when it is desired to select and use a plurality of services having equivalent functions, an operation of selecting an information device has been a burden on the user.

  When a plurality of services of the same type are used at the same time, not all service items provide the same function. For example, when output is performed using a plurality of print services, not all print services support the duplex output function. In such a situation, simply using the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot provide operability that is easy for the user to use in function setting when a plurality of services of the same type are used simultaneously.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily identify a service item having a function equivalent to the service item selected by the user, and to improve convenience for the user. Furthermore, it is to improve the operability of function setting when a plurality of services of the same type are used simultaneously.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a plurality of service providing apparatuses via a network, and each of the plurality of service providing apparatuses. A service providing device that obtains service information indicating the plurality of functions that can be provided to other devices as a service , and selects one service providing device from the plurality of service providing devices The acquisition unit acquires the second service providing apparatus capable of providing, as a service, a selection unit and a function commonly provided by the first service providing apparatus selected by the selection unit and the information processing apparatus. based on the service information, specifying means for specifying a plurality of service providing apparatus, the second sub specified by the specifying means Information about bis providing apparatus, characterized by comprising a display control means for distinguishably displaying the information about the other service providing apparatus in said plurality of service providing apparatus.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to display the service which can be provided which has a function equivalent to the service which the user selected easily and so that a user's convenience can be improved. Furthermore, the operability of function setting when a plurality of services of the same type are used simultaneously can be improved.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of an image forming apparatus applicable to an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the other structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of another structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of another structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the search result list | wrist used with the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display screen displayed on a liquid crystal display part by the operation part used with the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display of the copy function screen used with the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a screen display change at the time of changing an output destination or a setting in the copy function screen used with the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of a screen display change when an output destination and a setting are changed in the copy function screen used with the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining still another example of a screen display change when an output destination or a setting is changed on a copy function screen used in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining still another example of a screen display change when an output destination or a setting is changed on a copy function screen used in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining still another example of a screen display change when an output destination or a setting is changed on a copy function screen used in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of the process at the time of receiving the instruction | indication from a user in the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

<Embodiment 1>
First, the configuration of an information processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, one service using device 100 and at least three service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 are connected via a LAN 400. Naturally, a plurality of service using devices and service providing devices are connected, but the number can be arbitrarily set. These are, for example, image forming apparatuses. An example of a typical configuration of these image forming apparatuses will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the reader unit 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit 250 having a function for transporting a document sheet. Depending on the model of the image forming apparatus, there may be one that does not have the document feeding unit 250 (in this case, the user places a document on the platen glass (document table) and reads it).

  The printer unit 300 conveys the recording paper, prints the image data as a visible image thereon, and discharges the recording paper out of the apparatus. The printer unit 300 includes a paper feed unit 360 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 310 for transferring and fixing image data onto recording paper, and sorting and stapling the printed recording paper to output it outside the apparatus. And a paper discharge unit 370. The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300 and further connected to the LAN 400.

  The control device 110 includes a CPU, a work memory, and the like. The program code stored in the HDD 170 is loaded into the work memory, and the CPU interprets the program code so that the entire information processing apparatus operates. Control.

  The control device 110 controls the reader unit 200 to read a document image as image data, controls the printer unit 300, prints the read image data on a recording sheet, and outputs it to provide a copy function. In addition, a network scanner function is provided that converts image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmits it to the host computer (for example, the service management server 109 in FIG. 3) via the LAN 400. Further, a printer function is provided in which code data received from the host computer via the LAN 400 is converted into image data and output to the printer unit 300. These are service functions that can be provided.

  The operation unit 150 includes a liquid crystal display unit 160, a touch panel input device attached to the liquid crystal display unit 160 (not shown), and a plurality of hard keys, and a user 99 for a user 99 to perform various operations. Provide I / F. A signal input by the touch panel or the hard key is transmitted to the control device 110, and the liquid crystal display unit 160 displays the image data sent from the control device 110. Therefore, the control device 110 functions as a display control unit for the liquid crystal display unit 160.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 can provide various functions that each service providing device can provide to the outside as services. The service using device 100 uses a service provided by the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 via the LAN 400 according to an instruction by an operation of the user 99. Alternatively, in some cases, the service using device 100 itself may actively receive the service, not by the operation of the user 99.

  Further, in order to provide the service, the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 can present information on what service items are available in advance to the external service using device 100. The service using device 100 searches for the information and confirms the service item, determines an available service item to be used by the user 99, and actually uses the service.

  As for the service management technology, for example, UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration) technology in Web service technology is widely known. UDDI is a so-called service repository. The owner of the service providing device registers service-related information such as service name, service type, interface definition, access point, etc. in the UDDI. Then, the owner of the service using device can inquire about the service items for the UDDI and obtain the service-related information described above.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus when this UDDI is used. The service providing devices 104, 105, and 106 and the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 register service related information with respect to the service management server (UDDI) 109. This information acquisition function is provided in the service management server (UDDI) 109. Then, it is possible to search the service management device 100 for what service functions that can be provided to the service management server (UDDI) 109. In this case, a plurality of service management servers (UDDI) 109 may exist.

  Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the location of the service management server 109 corresponding to the above-described UDDI. FIG. 4 shows an example in which each service providing device 101, 102, 103, has the function of the service management server 109 corresponding to the UDDI described above. In the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103, the functions owned by each of the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 are converted into service items, and the service related information is registered in the service management server set in itself.

  In this case, as the service management server function, registered service items are listed and held, for example, as in service lists 501, 502, and 503. In this case, it is necessary for the service using device 100 to search for service related information for all the service providing devices 101, 102,... Connected via the LAN 400.

  On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows an example in which only the service providing apparatus 101 has a service management server function corresponding to the above-described UDDI. In each of the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103, the functions that can be provided by the service providing devices 101, 102, and 103 are converted into service items, and service related information is registered for the service management server function set in the service providing device 101. In this case, the service providing device 101 is provided with an information acquisition function.

  In this case, as the service management server function, for example, as shown in the service list 504, the registered service related information is listed and held. Then, it is only necessary to search the service related information from the service using device 100 only for the service management server function set in the service providing device 101.

  In some cases, the display of the function setting item screen and service list of the service use is changed in conjunction with the function selection status of the service providing device. In this case, in addition to the service-related information described above, it is necessary to acquire device information for determining functions such as configuration and capability of the service providing devices 101, 102,. For this purpose, the service using device 100 acquires device information such as the configuration and capability of each of the service providing devices 101, 102, when performing a service search.

  The configuration of each of the service providing devices 101, 102, and the like includes, for example, the presence or absence of a finisher and accompanying staples and punchers, a duplex unit, a FAX board, and paper cassette information indicating the paper size in the paper cassette. included. Regarding the capability, for example, regarding the print function, the presence / absence of the color print function, the PDL type that can be processed, and the protocol regarding the network transmission function are included. These include, for example, transmission modes (G3, G4, presence / absence of a color communication function, etc.) related to the FAX function, such as E-mail, FTP, SMB, and the like. Therefore, these are the device information. The configurations and capabilities listed here are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

  The configuration of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below. However, the service management server required in the present embodiment may exist as a single server, or may be included in each service providing device.

  The search result list 510 in FIG. 6 is generated based on service-related information, device information, and the like acquired by the service using device 100 from the service management server 109 or the service management server function of each of the service providing devices 101 and 102. It is an example of a search result list. The search result list 510 is stored and saved in a hard disk (HDD) 170 or memory (not shown) built in the service using device 100. For example, in the case of service related information, service name: PrintA, service related information: Copy (indicating that there is a copy function), PS (PostScript can be processed as a PDL type), and the like. In the case of device information, device information acquired from individual devices, such as shift tray, duplex unit, 1000 sheets for A4 cassette, 500 sheets for A3 cassette, and the like.

  In order to generate the search result list 510, the service using device 100 acquires the service related information and device information at a time, for example, at the time of activation. Before the user 99 operates the operation unit 150, service-related information and device information are acquired and stored. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform a search via the network every time the service content is changed, the display can be changed at high speed in synchronization with the selection of the service providing device, and the operability of the user 99 is improved.

  Next, a GUI (graphical user interface) screen displayed on the operation unit 150 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 601 denotes a display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 160. The display on the liquid crystal display unit 160 is executed by a display control function provided in the control device 110.

  Reference numeral 602 denotes a top menu key, which is a key prepared for returning to the GUI screen display of the top menu as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 603 denotes a my portal key. When the my portal key 603 is pressed, for example, information related to the logged-in user 99 (such as information on a job input by the user 99 or a key display unique to the user) is only displayed. Is displayed on the GUI screen.

  Reference numerals 604 to 611 denote various function keys, and reference numerals 612 to 614 denote shortcut keys for various functions. Reference numeral 615 denotes a registration key, which is a key for registering the shortcut keys 612 to 614. Reference numeral 616 denotes a logout key, which is a key for logging out from the current user session. Reference numeral 617 denotes a status line, which is an area for displaying, for example, information on a job being executed or warning information for consumables (toner, etc.). Reference numeral 618 denotes a system status key, for example, a key for displaying a GUI screen on which information on a job list being executed and a job log list can be browsed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a copy function setting GUI screen, which is displayed when the copy function button 604 in FIG. 7 is pressed. Reference numeral 801 denotes an output destination list key, which is a key for displaying an output destination selection GUI screen for setting an output destination from a candidate list of output destination service providing devices as shown in FIG. Various setting keys 802 to 809 are keys for changing various settings when copying. A copy start key 810 is a key for starting a copy operation based on a set setting. A stop key 811 is a key for stopping the copy operation being executed.

  FIG. 9 shows an output destination selection GUI screen for selecting an output destination when the output destination list key 801 in FIG. 8 is pressed. Reference numeral 901 denotes a display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 160. Reference numeral 902 denotes an output destination selection screen. Since this example relates to the copy function setting screen, only the service providing devices that provide the copy service, which is a service corresponding to the copy function setting screen, are displayed. Reference numeral 903 denotes a copy function setting GUI screen described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 904 denotes a key for closing the output destination list. When pressed, the output destination list is closed and the screen returns to the GUI screen display of FIG.

  The column 905 in the output destination selection screen 902 is a check box for selecting a service providing device, and is used to select an output destination. A column 906 is a name column of service providing devices, and the names of service providing devices that are output destination candidates are displayed. A column 907 is a column of device information, which displays device information such as color / monochrome, finisher type, duplex unit, and paper feed cassette information.

  Next, the operation of changing the setting screen in synchronization with the output destination selection operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the copy function is used, by default, when the setting is made to output to the service providing device itself, the output destination service providing device selection list is displayed as shown in FIG. That is, only the check box corresponding to “This Device” is selected. At this time, the names of the service providing devices “This Device”, “Device B”, and “Device C” having the same function as “This Device” are highlighted in bold. In addition, the names of service providing devices “Device I”, “Device J”, and “Device M” are also highlighted in bold. In the state where only “This Device” is selected, the setting regarding the copy function is not limited, and the copy setting screen 903 is not changed.

  When “Device G” and “Device H” are selected in this state, the function is determined and a display as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. Since “Device G” and “Device H” are service providing devices that do not have a finishing function and cannot be used, the sorter key 805 of the copy setting screen 903 is displayed in gray out so that it cannot be pressed because it cannot be set. .

  Further, on the output destination service providing device list screen 902, service providing devices having functions commonly owned by the selected “This Device”, “Device G”, and “Device H” are highlighted. In this case, the functions commonly owned by “This Device”, “Device G”, and “Device H” are “Color”, “Duplexer”, “A4”, and “A3”. Therefore, “This Device”, “Device A”, and “Device B” having these printing functions are highlighted. Furthermore, “Device C”, “Device G”, “Device H”, “Device I”, “Device J”, and “Device M” are also highlighted.

  Next, processing when a service providing device that does not correspond to an existing setting item is additionally selected will be described. Basically, the following processing is executed by the control device 110. First, if double-sided setting is performed by the user 99 in the state of FIG. 10, the GUI screen display of the liquid crystal display unit 160 included in the operation unit 150 changes as shown in FIG. At this time, the duplex setting key 806 is highlighted to notify the user 99 that the duplex printing setting is being performed. In the state shown in FIG. 11, when it is determined that “Device L” having no double-sided printing function is selected, the display shown in FIG. 12 is performed.

  In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a confirmation dialog, which is a confirmation screen dialog for confirming that a service providing device that does not correspond to the currently set contents, that is, an unusable service providing device has been selected as an output destination. The confirmation screen dialog 1201 shows the setting contents that cannot be set by the newly selected service providing device and how the setting changes when the service providing device is added. .

  Reference numeral 1202 denotes an OK key, which is a key for continuing the process of adding a service providing device designated by the user 99 as an output destination. Reference numeral 1203 denotes a Cancel key, which is a key for canceling selection of a service providing device designated by the user 99. When the OK key 1202 is pressed, the GUI screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, and when the Cancel key 1203 is pressed, the screen returns to the GUI screen of FIG.

  FIG. 13 shows a GUI screen when the OK key 1202 is pressed in FIG. “Device L” cannot be used because it does not support double-sided output, cancels the double-sided setting, grays out the double-sided setting key 806 in the copy function setting screen 902, and cannot be pressed because it cannot be set. To. Also, on the service providing device output destination selection screen 906, the service providing devices having the ability shared by the selected service providing devices are highlighted and displayed.

  Here, the service providing devices having the printing functions of “Color” and “A4”, which are common to “This Device”, “Device G”, “Device H”, and “Device L”, are highlighted. In this example, “This Device”, “Device A”, and “Device B” are highlighted. Further, “Device C”, “Device D”, “Device G”, “Device H”, “Device I”, “Device J”, “Device L”, and “Device M” are also highlighted.

  Next, a specific processing flow of the above-described processing will be described using a flowchart.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the user 99 gives some instruction on the operation unit 150 on the copy function setting screen. This flowchart shows the flow of processing executed by the control device 110 reading the program code stored in the HDD 170 and interpreting it.

  First, in step S1401 after the start of processing, it is determined whether or not the instruction from the user 99 is a function execution instruction. If it is a function execution instruction, the process advances to step S1402, a copy function execution process is performed based on the current setting content, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1401 that the instruction is not for function execution, the process advances to step S1403. In addition, each determination here is implement | achieved when the control apparatus 110 performs the function of a function determination.

  In step S1403, it is determined whether the instruction from the user 99 is a function setting instruction or an output destination setting instruction. If it is a function setting instruction, the process advances to step S1404 to change the setting to the specified setting content, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1403 that the instruction is for setting an output destination, the process advances to step S1405.

  In step S1405, it is determined whether the instruction of the user 99 is to add an output destination service providing device or to delete an output destination service providing device. If the instruction from the user 99 is an addition instruction, the process proceeds to step S1406. In step S1406, it is determined whether there is a conflict between the capability of the additionally provided service providing device and the content of the current function setting. If not, the process proceeds to step S1407. In step S1407, the check box of the specified service providing device is selected on the service providing device output destination selection screen, and the process advances to step S1408.

  In step S1408, the common capabilities of all selected service providing devices are stored, and the process advances to step S1409. In step S1409, the name of the service providing device of the service providing device having all the capabilities stored in step S1408 is highlighted, and the process proceeds to step S1410.

  In step S1410, keys other than the setting key relating to the capability stored in step S1408 are grayed out, and the process ends. At this time, if any setting has already been made for the setting item that is grayed out, a process of returning to the unset state is also performed.

  If it is determined in step S1405 that the output destination is not added, the process advances to step S1411. In step S1411, the check box of the designated service providing device is unselected, and the process proceeds to step S1408. The subsequent processing is as described above.

  If it is determined in step S1406 that there is a conflict with the existing setting, the process proceeds to step S1412. In step S1412, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, and the flow advances to step S1413. In this confirmation screen display control, for example, the control device 110 serves as a display control means and is displayed.

  In step S1413, in response to the input of the user 99, it is determined whether to continue or stop the service providing device addition process. In FIG. 12, it is determined to continue if the OK key 1202 is pressed, and to be canceled if the Cancel key 1203 is pressed. If it is determined to continue, the displayed dialog is closed and the process proceeds to step S1407 to perform the same process as described above. If it is determined to cancel, the displayed dialog is closed and the process is terminated.

  As described above, when the user 99 selects a service providing device that the user 99 wants to use, the service providing devices having the functions shared by the selected service providing devices are displayed in an identifiable manner. For this reason, when it is desired to output to a plurality of service providing devices with the same setting, the user 99 can efficiently perform an operation of selecting the service providing device.

  In addition, the function setting screen changes in synchronization with the selection of the output destination service providing device. For this reason, since the user 99 cannot perform an unnecessary setting operation, the convenience of the user 99 is improved. Further, since the confirmation screen is displayed in a situation where the existing setting is invalidated, the setting is not changed and output against the user's 99 intention. Although the copy setting function has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other functions such as a case where the transmission function uses a transmission function of another service providing device for transmission. Is also applicable.

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, the search for services and devices is performed at the time of activation. However, a re-search key may be provided in the operation unit 150 to enable re-search at a timing desired by the user 99. Further, the search result list may be updated by periodically performing a re-search other than at the time of activation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the name of the service providing device having the same ability is highlighted on the output destination selection screen. However, the names of service providing devices determined to have equivalent functions may be displayed at the top of the table, and then rearranged in the order of having similar functions. In such a configuration, service providing devices determined to have equivalent functions are continuously displayed at the top of the list. Therefore, when it is frequently performed to select a plurality of service providing devices having equivalent functions, the operability of the user 99 is improved.

  In the above embodiment, all the service providing devices detected by the device search are displayed as output destination candidates. However, the service providing devices to be displayed in the list in advance by the installation location information, IP address, model, etc. are narrowed down. It may be possible to include. With such a configuration, operability in an environment where a large number of service providing devices exist can be improved.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. That is, it goes without saying that this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile semiconductor memory card, ROM, or the like can be used. . Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by executing the program code read by the computer.

  However, when the OS (operating system) operating on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say, is also included.

  Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of service providing apparatuses via a network,
Acquisition means for acquiring service information indicating the plurality of functions, which are a plurality of functions provided in each of the plurality of service providing apparatuses and can be provided to other apparatuses as a service;
Selecting means for selecting one service providing device from the plurality of service providing devices;
In the service information acquired by the acquisition unit , a second service providing device that can provide a function that is commonly provided by the first service providing device selected by the selection unit and the information processing device as a service. Based on the plurality of service providing devices, and specifying means,
Display control means for displaying information related to the second service providing apparatus specified by the specifying means so as to be distinguishable from information related to other service providing apparatuses in the plurality of service providing apparatuses;
An information processing apparatus comprising: Setting means for performing settings related to each of a plurality of functions included in the information processing apparatus;
Restricting means for restricting setting by the setting means regarding a function that cannot be provided by the first service providing apparatus selected by the selecting means among a plurality of functions provided in the information processing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: If the third service providing device selected by the selecting unit cannot provide the function set by the setting unit as a service, a canceling unit for canceling the setting by the setting unit;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying a screen for allowing a user to confirm the cancellation when the cancellation is canceled by the cancellation means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit receives and selects an instruction from a user.   6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output control means for performing output control so as to staple and output the printed recording paper using one of a plurality of functions provided in the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims.   6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output control means for controlling output so as to output a recording sheet on which a color image is printed using one of a plurality of functions provided in the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims.   6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output control means for performing output control so as to output a recording sheet having a predetermined size by using one of a plurality of functions provided in the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims. An information processing apparatus control method executed in an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of service providing apparatuses via a network,
An acquisition step in which the acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus acquires a plurality of functions included in each of the plurality of service providing apparatuses, the service information indicating the plurality of functions that can be provided as a service to another apparatus; ,
A selection step in which the selection unit of the information processing device selects one service providing device from the plurality of service providing devices;
A second service providing apparatus capable of providing, as a service, a function provided in common by the first service providing apparatus selected in the selection step and the information processing apparatus, by the specifying unit of the information processing apparatus; Based on the service information acquired in the acquisition step, a specific step of specifying from the plurality of service providing devices,
Display control in which the display control means of the information processing apparatus displays information related to the second service providing apparatus specified in the specifying step so as to be distinguishable from information related to other service providing apparatuses in the plurality of service providing apparatuses. Process,
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to function as each means according to claim 1.

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