JP6355395B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method for the information processing apparatus, and a program.

  When accessing the image forming apparatus for the first time from a personal computer (information processing apparatus) or mobile device constituting the printing system, the following operation is required. First, it is necessary to search for an image forming apparatus using a personal computer or a mobile device and select an image forming apparatus to be used using the personal computer or mobile device.

  At that time, since a list of a plurality of image forming apparatuses is displayed on a personal computer or a mobile device, go to the installation place of the image forming apparatus to be used and visually confirm information such as the name and IP address of the image forming apparatus. Thus, an operation procedure of selecting an image forming apparatus from a list is common.

  In addition, when using an image forming apparatus, it is common to perform login authentication by holding an IC card or entering a user ID and password on the operation screen, and collecting and managing login history information on a server. . There is a technique for restricting the operation of each terminal using login history information collected in the server (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-204433 A

As described above, when selecting from the list of image forming apparatuses displayed on the personal computer or the mobile device, the user goes to the installation location of the intended image forming apparatus and performs an operation of confirming the name of the image forming apparatus. There is a need.
As described above, in the configuration of the conventional printing system, in an environment where wireless communication is performed with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, an image forming apparatus frequently used by a user cannot be easily determined, and an intended image forming apparatus cannot be easily selected. There was a problem.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that an image forming apparatus frequently used by a user can be easily selected in an environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are used.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to log in a plurality of devices as a result of a search based on a search request transmitted via a network. It is to provide a mechanism that can display in the display order based on .

The information processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
Based on the transmission means for transmitting a search request including user identification information via the network, the reception means for receiving response information to the search request transmitted by the transmission means, and the response information received by the reception means Display means for displaying search results based on the search request, wherein the display means can display a plurality of devices as the search results, and the display means identifies the plurality of devices as the user identification. The information indicated by the information is displayed in the display order based on the login history of logging in to each of the plurality of devices.

  According to the present invention, as a search result based on a search request transmitted via a network, a plurality of devices can be displayed in a display order based on a login history when a user logs into the device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus (PC). It is a block diagram explaining the structure of information processing apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating login history information of an MFP. It is a flowchart explaining the control method of information processing apparatus. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a list in which MFPs are sorted in order of use frequency. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating login history information stored in the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system including an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, image forming apparatuses 100 and 101 are a copy / scanner / facsimile / printer combined machine (hereinafter referred to as MFP), and MFP is an abbreviation of Multi Function Peripheral. The MFPs 100 and 101 are configured by modules 110 to 118 described below.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a CPU for performing control. Reference numeral 111 denotes a display panel for displaying functions and settings. Reference numeral 112 denotes an operation unit for instructing execution of various programs. A scanner unit 113 reads a document and converts it into image data. Reference numeral 114 denotes a print engine unit for printing out image data.

A ROM 115 stores program codes for controlling the CPU 110, the display panel 111, the operation unit 112, the scanner unit 113, and the print engine unit 114. Note that by using a rewritable flash ROM for the ROM 115, the program code stored in the ROM can be updated.
Reference numeral 116 denotes a RAM which is used not only as a work memory for the control program code but also for temporarily accumulating an image for printing out to the print engine unit 114.

Reference numeral 117 denotes a non-volatile memory that temporarily stores image images to be printed out to the print engine unit 114 and stores login history information of the MFPs 100 and 101. The nonvolatile memory 117 is configured by a hard disk (HDD), a flash ROM, or the like.
Reference numeral 118 denotes a wireless LAN I / F for connecting to a wireless LAN, which enables transmission / reception of print data and transmission of login history information. The wireless LAN I / F 118 is connected to the LAN 300 via the access points 200 and 201, and is connected to a plurality of MFPs and personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) 400.
In FIG. 1, a wireless LAN is used, but a wired LAN may be used.

  Further, instead of the PC 400, a configuration in which a mobile device such as a tablet PC, a smartphone, or a mobile phone having a wireless LAN function is connected to the LAN 300 via the access points 200 and 201 may be used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus (PC) shown in FIG. In this example, six units of MFP 100 to MFP 105 and a PC 400 are installed in a room 500. Assume that the user of PC 400 uses MFP 100 to MFP 102 and does not use MFP 103 to MFP 105.
In FIG. 2, the login history information 600 includes a login date and time, a login method, and a user ID, and is stored in the nonvolatile memory 117 in FIG. 1 of each MFP.

  Here, the log-in method indicates log-in using an IC card or log-in by inputting a user ID and a password in the operation unit. However, the log-in history information 600 may be configured only by the log-in date and time. good.

  For example, this indicates that the MFP 100 has logged in five times, the MFP 101 has logged in twice, the MFP 102 has logged in three times, and the MFPs 103 to 105 have no login results.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example corresponds to an example of hardware of the information processing apparatus (PC) 400.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 410 denotes a CPU that loads an OS stored in the nonvolatile memory 417 to the RAM 416 and executes the stored application to perform document processing, print job transmission, and communication processing with the MFPs 100 and 101. Do. A display panel 411 displays a UI screen provided by the application. A ROM 415 stores a boot program, fonts, and the like. A wireless LAN I / F 418 communicates with the access points 200 and 201 using a predetermined protocol.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a communication processing example of the MFPs 100 to 105 shown in FIG. Each step is realized by the CPU 110 executing a stored control program. Hereinafter, the MFP 100 will be mainly described.
In order to use the MFPs 100 to 105 from the PC 400, the device search is started from the PC 400, whereby the operation of this flowchart is started.
First, by starting a device search from the PC 400, a network packet for device search is transmitted from the PC 400 to the access point via the wireless LAN. Here, the network packet is transmitted via the LAN 300, and is received by the MFPs 100 to 105 in S700.
In step S701, it is determined whether the network packet received by the CPU 110 is a search packet including a login name. If the CPU 110 determines that the received packet is a search packet, a login authentication process is performed using the user ID and password information incorporated in the search packet (S702).

If the CPU 110 determines that the login authentication has been successful in S703, only those that match the user ID incorporated in the search packet from the login history information 600 stored in the nonvolatile memory 117 of the MFP 100 in S704. To extract. Then, CPU 110 creates a reply packet incorporating the extracted login history information.
On the other hand, when the CPU 110 determines that login authentication could not be performed in S703, the CPU 110 creates a reply packet that does not incorporate login history information in S705.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing login history information 600 registered in the nonvolatile memory 117 of the MFPs 100 to 105 shown in FIG. This example illustrates login history information 600 of MFP 100 to MFP 105 in which only the user ID that matches “00001” is extracted.

In FIG. 5, the login history information 600 has been described with the table configured by the login date / time, the login method, and the user ID. XML is an abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language, and is a markup language for describing the meaning and structure of documents and data.
The login history information 600 incorporated in the reply packet may be in a data format other than the XML format.
In S706, the CPU 110 transmits the reply packet created in S704 and S705 to the PC 400 that is the transmission source of the search packet, and repeats the above flow.

  In FIG. 4, the description is limited to the search packet processing, but the description of other packet processing is omitted because there is no novelty.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example is a communication processing example of the PC 400 shown in FIG. Each step is realized by the CPU 410 executing a stored control program.
This process starts the following process by starting a device search from the PC 400 in order to use the MFPs 100 to 105 from the PC 400.

First, CPU 410 creates a search packet incorporating a user ID and password information for performing login authentication of MFP 100 to MFP 105. (S800).
In step S801, a network packet for device search is transmitted from the PC 400 to the access point via the wireless LAN. The network packet is transmitted via the LAN 300 and received by the MFPs 100 to 105, and the MFPs 100 to 105 respectively execute the processes of S700 to S706 illustrated in FIG.

The reply packet returned in S706 of FIG. 4 is received as a search reply packet (response packet) by the CPU 410 in S802 of FIG. In step S <b> 803, the CPU 410 repeatedly receives reply packets until a predetermined time elapses, and receives a plurality of reply packets from the MFPs 100 to 105.
In step S <b> 804, the CPU 410 compares the login history information 600 incorporated in the plurality of reply packets, and creates a list (login history list) in which the MFPs 100 to 105 are sorted in order of use frequency.
In step S <b> 805, the CPU 410 displays a list on the screen of the display panel 411 of the PC 400 and ends the above flow. Note that the user selects an MFP to be used from the list display in S805, but detailed description of the operation after selection is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a list in which MFPs 100 to 105 shown in FIG. 6 are sorted in order of use frequency. In FIG. 7, the order of MFPs that have never logged in is represented by “-”.
The user of the PC 400 can use the MFP selected from the PC 400 by selecting one of the MFPs to be used (any one of the MFPs 100 to 105) from the displayed list. Detailed description of the operation after selection is omitted.

According to this embodiment, when a device search packet in which a user ID and a password are incorporated is transmitted from a PC or mobile device, the image forming apparatus only retrieves the login history information stored in the nonvolatile memory that matches the user ID. Extract. Then, a reply packet incorporating the extracted login history information is created and sent back to the PC or mobile device.
The PC or mobile device compares login history information incorporated in a plurality of reply packets, creates a list in which MFPs are sorted in order of use frequency, and displays the list on the PC or mobile device. As a result, an object of the present invention is to easily determine an image forming apparatus that is frequently used, and to easily select an image forming apparatus.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the case where the login date and time, the login method, and the user ID are incorporated as the login history information in FIG. 4 has been described.
In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which only the number of logins to the MFPs 100 to 105 is incorporated into the login history information in order to reduce the confidential information amount of login history information.
The second embodiment aims to improve security by suppressing the amount of confidential information transmitted from the MFP to the LAN 300.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating login history information stored in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this example, the login history information is configured only by the number of logins.
In S704 shown in FIG. 4, the result of extracting only those that match the user ID incorporated in the search packet from the login history information stored in the nonvolatile memory 117 of the MFP is as shown in FIG. become. A reply packet in which only the number of logins is incorporated as the login history information 600 is generated and transmitted to the PC 400 that is the transmission source of the search packet.

On the other hand, the PC 400 that has received the reply packet in which only the number of logins is incorporated as the login history information 600 creates a list in order of use frequency by comparing only the number of logins in S804 of FIG.
According to the present embodiment, an object is to improve security by reducing the amount of confidential information by transmitting and receiving login history information for only the number of logins.

  Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

100 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
101 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
102 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
103 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
104 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
105 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
400 Information processing equipment (PC)

Claims (12)

Transmission means for transmitting a search request including user identification information via a network ;
Receiving means for receiving response information to the search request transmitted by the transmitting means;
Display means for displaying a search result based on the search request based on the response information received by the receiving means;
The display means can display a plurality of devices as the search result,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the display unit displays the plurality of devices in a display order based on a login history in which a user indicated by the user identification information logs into each of the plurality of devices. 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the plurality of devices in a display order based on the number of times the user indicated by the user identification information has logged into each of the plurality of devices. Processing equipment. The display order based on the number of logins by which the user indicated by the user identification information has logged in to each of the plurality of apparatuses is the order in which the user indicated by the user identification information has logged in to each of the plurality of apparatuses in descending order. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response information includes a login history in which a user indicated by the user identification information has logged into each of the plurality of apparatuses. The response information includes the number of times the user indicated by the user identification information has logged in to each of the plurality of devices,
  5. The information according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays the plurality of devices in a display order based on the number of times the user indicated by the user identification information has logged into each of the plurality of devices. Processing equipment. The display order based on the number of logins by which the user indicated by the user identification information has logged in to each of the plurality of apparatuses is the order in which the user indicated by the user identification information has logged in to each of the plurality of apparatuses in descending order. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided. The display means displays an apparatus in which a user indicated by the user identification information has not logged in so as to be distinguishable from an apparatus in which a user indicated by the user identification information has logged in. Item 7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the search request wirelessly. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a scanner unit that reads a document. A transmission step of transmitting a search request including user identification information via a network;
  A reception step of receiving response information to the search request transmitted in the transmission step;
Based on the response information received in the receiving step, and displaying a search result based on the search request,
  In the display step, a plurality of devices can be displayed as the search result,
  In the display step, the plurality of devices are displayed in a display order based on a login history in which a user indicated by the user identification information has logged into each of the plurality of devices. An n program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 11.

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