JP6447118B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to control of an information processing device, and particularly relates to control of an information processing device capable of communicating with a cloud server.

  Conventionally, various devices for improving user convenience have been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-018520 (Patent Document 1) discloses a terminal that automatically executes an access process for a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on a network registered in advance in response to a power saving mode release operation. Disclosure. The trouble of inputting the URL is reduced by the terminal.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-285461 (Patent Document 2) displays the setting contents as thumbnails when the user wants to download and print data that has been designated by the print parameters and downloaded again with the same print parameter designations. A Web server device for performing download printing with the previous print parameters by clicking is disclosed. The Web server device reduces the trouble of setting print parameters.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-301612 (Patent Document 3) lists a default device that copies a parameter set for an arbitrary network device and sets it for another network device as a conventional technique. With the default device, time and effort for setting parameters for the network device can be reduced.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-161582 (Patent Document 4) discloses an information processing apparatus for automatically accessing a URL when a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is included in the cutout range of the image. ing. The information processing apparatus reduces the trouble of inputting the URL.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2013-176915 (Patent Document 5) discloses a setting information storage device for continuously using operation contents performed immediately before login after login. The setting information storage device reduces the setting work after login.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2011-198354 (Patent Document 6) discloses a system for reusing a part of an implementation in an existing Web application when a Web application is newly developed. This system reduces the time and effort required when developing a Web application.

JP 2007-018520 A JP 2006-285461 A JP-A-2005-301612 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-161582 JP 2013-176915 A JP 2011-198354 A

  By the way, in recent years, a cloud server that provides various services (hereinafter also referred to as “cloud services”) via a network has become widespread. Examples of the cloud server include Dropbox (registered trademark), Google Drive (registered trademark), One Drive (registered trademark), Evernote (registered trademark), and the like. The cloud server holds software and provides functions of the software as various services (so-called SaaS: Software as a Service) to various information processing apparatuses. Other cloud services include PaaS (Platform as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). The user can receive the provision of the cloud service from any place by using the information processing apparatus connected to the cloud server via the network.

  In order to use the cloud service, there are mainly two types of methods: a method using a browser and a method using an application designed for each type of cloud server (hereinafter also referred to as a “dedicated application”). . In many cases, the browser is preinstalled in the information processing apparatus. Therefore, the method using a browser is superior to the method using a dedicated application in terms of versatility. On the other hand, dedicated apps are designed for different types of cloud servers. Therefore, the method using a dedicated application is superior to the method using a browser in terms of operability.

  First, users can determine whether a cloud service is good or bad by using a browser that excels in versatility, and if they like the cloud service, they can install a dedicated application that excels in operability. Many. At this time, the user must perform the setting operation performed on the browser again on the dedicated application. The techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 6 do not reduce the labor of setting work when a dedicated application is installed. Therefore, an information processing apparatus that can easily change the environment in which a user uses a cloud service from a browser to a dedicated application is desired.

  The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to reduce the labor of setting work that occurs when an application for using a cloud service is installed. An information processing apparatus is provided. An object in another aspect is to provide a control method capable of reducing the labor of setting work that occurs when an application for using a cloud service is installed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a control program that can reduce the labor of setting work that occurs when an application for using a cloud service is installed.

  According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network receives a setting related to the predetermined service and executes the predetermined service based on the setting A browser for receiving instructions, a storage unit for storing settings received by the browser as setting information in a memory, and an installation unit for installing an application for receiving instructions for executing a predetermined service in the information processing apparatus And a control unit for controlling the application. The control unit inherits at least part of the setting information to the application when the application is installed. When the application receives an instruction to execute a predetermined service, the application executes the service using the inherited setting information.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The predetermined service provided from the cloud server includes at least one of a print service that causes the image forming apparatus to execute printing and a scan service that causes the image forming apparatus to execute scanning.

  Preferably, the setting information includes at least one of a setting related to the print service and a setting related to the scan service. When the application is installed, the control unit inherits at least one of the setting related to the print service and the setting related to the scan service to the application.

  Preferably, the setting information includes at least one of a domain of the cloud server, authentication information used when connecting to the cloud server, and proxy information regarding the proxy server of the information processing apparatus.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores the domain and the authentication information in the setting information in association with each other. When connecting to the cloud server, the application searches the setting string for the character string of the domain indicating the cloud server, and logs in to the cloud server using the authentication information associated with the searched domain.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores authentication information for the proxy server in the proxy information. The application uses the authentication information included in the proxy information to connect to the proxy server.

  Preferably, the control unit duplicates at least a part of the setting information as new setting information when the application is installed. Each of the browser and the application manages the setting information and the new setting information independently.

Preferably, the application and the browser share setting information.
According to another embodiment, a control method for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a browser for receiving a setting related to a predetermined service and receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service based on the setting. The control method includes a step of saving settings received by the browser as setting information in a memory, a step of installing an application for accepting an instruction for executing a predetermined service in the information processing apparatus, and setting information at the time of application installation. A step of inheriting at least a part to the application; and a step of executing the service using the inherited setting information when the application receives an instruction to execute the predetermined service.

  According to yet another embodiment, a control program for controlling a computer capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network is provided. The computer includes a browser for receiving a setting related to a predetermined service and receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service based on the setting. The control program stores a setting received by the browser in the memory as setting information in the computer, a step of installing an application for receiving an instruction for executing a predetermined service on the computer, and a setting information when the application is installed. And a step of executing a service using the inherited setting information when the application receives an instruction to execute a predetermined service.

  In one aspect, it is possible to reduce the trouble of setting work that occurs when an application for using a cloud service is installed.

  The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of an information processing system. It is the figure which showed the screen of the browser for using a cloud service, and the screen of a dedicated application. It is the conceptual diagram which showed roughly the process of the information processing apparatus according to 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the information processing apparatus according to 1st Embodiment. It is the sequence figure which showed the preservation | save process of the setting information by a setting part and a preservation | save part in order of the time series. It is the figure which showed the content of the setting information. It is the sequence diagram which showed the inheritance process of the setting information by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment in order of time series. It is a figure showing the setting information of a browser, and the setting information of a special application. It is the figure which showed a mode that the cookie was read from the setting information of a browser. It is a flowchart showing the process in which the browser of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment updates the setting information. It is a flowchart showing the process which the control part of the information processing apparatus according to 1st Embodiment inherits setting information. It is a block diagram which shows the main hardware structures of an information processing system. It is a figure showing a mode that a browser and a special application hold | maintain setting information each independently. It is a figure showing a mode that a browser and a special application share setting information. It is the figure which showed a mode that the setting information was inherited between the browser of the information processing apparatus according to 4th Embodiment, and a dedicated application.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. Each embodiment or modification described below may be selectively combined as appropriate.

<First Embodiment>
[System Configuration of Information Processing System 300]
The system configuration of the information processing system 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the information processing system 300.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing system 300 includes information processing apparatuses 100 </ b> A and 120 that are indicated as MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals), a network 150, and a cloud server 200. The information processing apparatuses 100A and 120 and the cloud server 200 are connected to each other via a network 150.

  Information processing apparatuses 100A and 120 are, for example, image forming apparatuses (MFPs) having a scanner function, a copy function, and a printer function. In addition, the information processing apparatuses 100 </ b> A and 120 include a touch panel 105. The touch panel 105 receives operations on the information processing apparatuses 100A and 120.

  The cloud server 200 provides various cloud services to the information processing apparatuses 100A and 120 connected to the network 150. Examples of the cloud server include Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, Evernote, and the like. As an example of a service provided from the cloud server 200, a print service that causes the information processing apparatuses 100A and 120 to print data (such as documents and images) stored in the cloud server 200, and the information processing apparatuses 100A and 120 There is a scanning service that scans documents. Scan data obtained by executing the scan service can be uploaded to the cloud server 200. In addition, the scan data can be transmitted to another information processing apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, an MFP is shown as the information processing apparatus 100A, but the information processing apparatus 100A is not limited to the MFP. For example, the information processing apparatus 100A may include a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a personal computer, a digital camera, an electronic dictionary, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a game machine, and other electronic devices having a touch panel.

  The information processing system 300 may further include an operation terminal (not shown) for remotely operating the information processing apparatuses 100A and 120. Examples of the operation terminal include a tablet terminal, a smartphone, and a personal computer.

[Outline of Information Processing Apparatus 100A]
With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an outline of information processing apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen of the browser 30 and a screen of the dedicated application 40 for using the cloud service. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing the processing of the information processing apparatus 100A.

  In order to use the cloud service of the cloud server 200, there are mainly two types of methods: a method using a browser and a method using a dedicated application specialized for each type of cloud server. FIG. 2 shows a screen of the browser 30 that receives an instruction to execute the cloud service (see screen (A)) and a screen of the dedicated application 40 that receives an instruction to execute the cloud service (see screen (B)). Is shown. Screen (A) and screen (B) are screens for executing a cloud service for printing data stored in cloud server 200 by information processing apparatus 100A.

  As described above, the user first determines whether the cloud service is good or bad by using the browser 30 that is excellent in versatility, and if the user likes the cloud service, the user is excellent in terms of operability. The application 40 is often installed. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment inherits past setting information (for example, print settings) performed on the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40 when the dedicated application 40 is installed. Since the setting information of the browser 30 is automatically inherited by the dedicated application 40, the setting work for the dedicated application 40 is reduced. As a result, the user can easily change the environment in which the cloud service is used.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the browser 30 holds setting information 50A related to the cloud service. As an example, the setting information 50A includes at least one of a setting related to a print service and a setting related to a scan service. Settings relating to the print service include, for example, settings indicating single-sided printing or double-sided printing, settings indicating color printing or gray printing, and the like. The settings relating to the scan service include, for example, settings indicating color scan or gray scan, settings indicating scan magnification, and the like.

  When the information processing apparatus 100A receives an instruction from the user to install the dedicated application 40 from another server, the information processing apparatus 100A starts installing the dedicated application 40 (see procedure (1) in FIG. 3). At this time, the information processing apparatus 100A inherits at least a part of the setting information 50A to the dedicated application 40 (see procedure (2) in FIG. 3). As an example, when the dedicated application 40 is installed, the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A inherits at least one of the setting related to the print service and the setting related to the scan service to the dedicated application 40. When the dedicated application 40 receives an instruction to execute the cloud service, the dedicated application 40 executes the cloud service using the inherited setting information 50B (see step (3) in FIG. 3). As a result, the print settings and the scan settings are inherited by the newly installed dedicated application 40.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting information 50A may be inherited by duplicating the setting information 50A as the setting information 50B, or as in a “third embodiment” described later. In addition, the setting information 50A may be inherited by sharing the setting information 50A.

[Functional configuration of information processing apparatus 100A]
With reference to FIG. 4, the function of information processing apparatus 100A according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 100A. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A includes a browser 30, a dedicated application 40, and a CPU 102. Below, the function of the browser 30, the function of CPU102, and the function of the exclusive application 40 are demonstrated in order.

(Functional configuration of browser 30)
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the browser 30 includes a setting unit 32, a storage unit 34, and an execution unit 36 as a functional configuration.

  The setting unit 32 receives settings related to the cloud service provided from the above-described cloud server 200 (see FIG. 1). For example, the setting unit 32 receives settings related to a print service that causes the information processing apparatus 100A or another device to execute printing. In addition, the setting unit 32 accepts settings related to a scan service that causes the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A and other devices to perform scanning.

  The storage unit 34 stores the setting received by the setting unit 32 in the memory as setting information 50A based on the reception of the save command. The save command is issued based on, for example, a save operation or a setting change operation by the user. The memory is, for example, a storage device 108 described later, a storage area of the browser 30, an external server, or the like.

  In a certain aspect, the storage unit 34 stores settings related to the print service and settings related to the scan service in the setting information 50A. In another aspect, the storage unit 34 stores the domain of the cloud server 200 and the authentication information used when connecting to the cloud server 200 in association with each other in the setting information 50A. In still another aspect, the storage unit 34 stores proxy information related to the proxy server of the information processing apparatus 100A in the setting information 50A. Details of the information stored in the setting information 50A will be described later.

  When the execution unit 36 receives an instruction to execute the cloud service from the user, the execution unit 36 executes the cloud service with reference to the setting information 50A. Thereby, the user can use the cloud service according to the setting performed by the user.

(Functional configuration of CPU 102)
With continued reference to FIG. 4, the functional configuration of the CPU 102 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the CPU 102 includes an installation unit 160 and a control unit 170 as functional configurations.

  Based on the installation instruction, the installation unit 160 installs the dedicated application 40 that receives an instruction for executing the cloud service in the information processing apparatus 100A. The installation unit 160 outputs information indicating that the installation of the dedicated application 40 has started to the control unit 170.

  The controller 170 inherits at least a part of the setting information 50 </ b> A to the dedicated application 40 when the dedicated application 40 is installed. Details of the inheritance method of the setting information 50A by the control unit 170 will be described later.

(Functional configuration of dedicated application 40)
With continued reference to FIG. 4, the functional configuration of the dedicated application 40 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dedicated application 40 includes a setting unit 42, a storage unit 44, and an execution unit 46 as a functional configuration.

  The dedicated application 40 executes the service using the setting information 50B inherited from the browser 30 when receiving an instruction to execute the cloud service. This eliminates the need for the user to perform setting work related to the cloud service again after installing the dedicated application 40.

  The setting unit 42 receives settings related to the cloud service provided from the cloud server 200 after the dedicated application 40 is installed. For example, the setting unit 42 receives settings related to a print service that causes the information processing apparatus 100A or another device to execute printing. In addition, the setting unit 42 receives a setting related to a scan service that causes the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A or another device to execute a scan.

  The storage unit 44 stores the setting received by the setting unit 42 as setting information 50B in the memory based on the reception of the save command. The save command is issued based on, for example, a save operation or a setting change operation by the user. The memory is, for example, a storage device 108 to be described later, a storage area for the dedicated application 40, an external server, or the like.

  In a certain aspect, the storage unit 44 stores settings related to the print service and settings related to the scan service in the setting information 50B. In another aspect, the storage unit 44 stores the domain of the cloud server 200 and the authentication information used when connecting to the cloud server 200 in association with each other in the setting information 50B. In still another aspect, the storage unit 44 stores proxy information regarding the proxy server of the information processing apparatus 100A in the setting information 50A. Details of the information stored in the setting information 50B will be described later.

[Saving processing of setting information 50A by browser 30]
With reference to FIG. 5, a process for storing the setting information 50A (see FIG. 4) will be described. The setting information saving process by the browser 30 is executed by the setting unit 32 (see FIG. 4) and the saving unit 34 (see FIG. 4). FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the setting information storage processing by the setting unit 32 and the storage unit 34 in chronological order. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the storage unit 34 includes a scan setting storage unit, a print setting storage unit, a proxy setting storage unit, and a cookie storage unit.

  In step S <b> 10, it is assumed that the user changes the scan setting using the browser 30. In step S12, when the setting unit 32 receives a change in scan setting, the setting unit 32 outputs the change content to the scan setting storage unit. The scan setting storage unit stores the change of the scan setting in the setting information 50A (see FIG. 4).

  In step S <b> 20, it is assumed that the user has changed print settings in the browser 30. In step S <b> 22, when the setting unit 32 receives a change in print setting, the setting unit 32 outputs the change content to the print setting storage unit. The print setting storage unit stores the change contents of the print settings in the setting information 50A.

  In step S30, it is assumed that the user changes the proxy setting in the browser 30. In step S <b> 32, when the setting unit 32 receives a change in proxy settings, the setting unit 32 outputs the change contents to the proxy setting storage unit. The proxy setting storage unit stores authentication information for a proxy server (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 100A as proxy information in the setting information 50A.

  In step S <b> 40, it is assumed that the user performs an operation for connecting to the cloud server 200 in the browser 30. In step S <b> 42, when the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A is connected to the cloud server 200, the setting unit 32 outputs a cookie (Cookie) as authentication information used when logging in to the cloud server 200 to the cookie storage unit. The cookie storage unit stores the received cookie content in the setting information 50A.

[Contents of setting information 50A]
The browser 30 generates the setting information 50A by the setting process shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the contents of the setting information 50A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of the setting information 50A.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the setting information 50A is associated with settings related to the cloud service for each user. The setting information 50A includes at least one of domains 52A to 52D of the cloud server 200, authentication information (cookie) (not shown) used when connecting to the cloud server 200, and proxy information 58 related to the proxy server of the information processing apparatus 100A. Including one.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the setting information 50A includes user information 51A and 51B for identifying the user of the information processing apparatus 100A. Cloud server domains 52A and 52B are associated with the user information 51A. A print setting 55A and a scan setting 56A are associated with a domain 52A indicating a Dropbox. A print setting 55B and a scan setting 56B are associated with the domain 52B indicating Google Drive.

  The user information 51B is associated with cloud server domains 52C and 52D. A print setting 55C and a scan setting 56C are associated with the domain 52C indicating Evernote. A print setting 55D and a scan setting 56D are associated with the domain 52D indicating One Drive.

  Note that each of the cloud server domains 52A to 52D may further be associated with a cookie (refer to cookies 57A and 57B in FIG. 9 described later) used when logging in to the cloud server indicated by the domain. That is, the domain 52A indicating the Dropbox is associated with a cookie used at the time of logging in the Dropbox. The domain 52 </ b> B indicating Google Drive is associated with a cookie that is used when Google Drive logs in. A cookie used when logging in Evernote is associated with the domain 52C indicating Evernote. A domain 52D indicating One Drive is associated with a cookie used when One Drive logs in.

  When the information processing apparatus 100A is configured to connect to the cloud server 200 via a proxy server (not shown), the setting information 50A further includes proxy information 58 regarding the proxy server of the information processing apparatus 100A. May be included. The proxy information 58 includes an IP address of the proxy server, a port number used when communicating with the proxy server, a login name to the proxy server, a password for logging in to the proxy server, and the like.

  When the URL or domain of the cloud server is changed, the cloud server executes redirection that automatically transfers from the designated URL before change to the change destination URL. Since the redirection is automatically performed on the cloud server side, the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 that are clients do not need to cope with the change of the URL or domain of the cloud server.

[Inheriting method of setting information 50A]
As described above, the information processing apparatus 100A inherits at least a part of the setting information 50A (see FIG. 6) to the dedicated application 40 when the dedicated application 40 is installed. Hereinafter, a method of inheriting the setting information 50A will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the inheritance process of the setting information 50A by the information processing apparatus 100A in the order of time series. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the setting information 50A of the browser 30 and the setting information 50B of the dedicated application 40. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a cookie is read from the setting information 50A of the browser 30.

  In step S50 of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the user performs an operation for installing the dedicated application 40 on the information processing apparatus 100A. In step S <b> 60, when the control unit 170 accepts the operation, the control unit 170 sends a request for acquiring scan settings and print settings to the browser 30. In step S <b> 62, the browser 30 sends its own scan settings and print settings to the control unit 170 based on accepting the request.

  In step S <b> 64, the control unit 170 inherits the scan setting received from the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40. As an example, the control unit 170 inherits the scan setting to the dedicated application 40 by copying the scan setting to the application.

  In step S 66, the control unit 170 inherits the print settings received from the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40. As an example, the control unit 170 inherits the print setting to the dedicated application 40 by copying the print setting to the application.

  Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 170 copies at least a part of the setting information 50A of the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40 as the setting information 50B. In the example of FIG. 8, an example in which the print setting 65A and the scan setting 66A among the settings included in the setting information 50A are duplicated is shown.

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, in step S70, the user performs an operation for starting dedicated application 40 on information processing apparatus 100A. In step S <b> 80, when the control unit 170 accepts the operation, the control unit 170 sends a request for acquiring proxy settings and cookies to the browser 30. In step S <b> 82, the browser 30 sends its proxy setting and cookie to the dedicated application 40 based on accepting the request. The reading unit 70 (see FIG. 8) of the dedicated application 40 reads the dedicated application 40 by the proxy setting and the cookie of the browser 30.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 9, the process of reading the cookie and the process of reading the proxy setting in steps S80 and S82 of FIG. 7 will be described in more detail.

(Process to read cookie)
First, a process in which the dedicated application 40 reads the cookie of the browser 30 will be described.

  The setting information 50A holds a domain and a cookie (authentication information) in association with each other. The setting information 50A holds, for example, a domain and a cookie as a text file in a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format. In FIG. 9, the JSON format is shown in the form of “{domain: cookie file storage location}”.

  In the example of FIG. 9, in the setting information 50A, a domain 52A indicating a Dropbox and a cookie 57A related to the Dropbox are associated. A domain 52B indicating Google Drive and a cookie 57B related to Google Drive are associated with each other.

  The dedicated application 40 searches the setting information 50 </ b> A for the character string of the domain indicating the cloud server 200 when connecting to the cloud server 200. The dedicated application 40 logs in to the cloud server 200 using a cookie associated with the searched domain. More specifically, the dedicated application 40 refers to the storage location of the cookie associated with the searched domain, and adds the cookie as header information when accessing the cloud server. Thereby, SSO (Single Sign-On) authentication is realized.

  Preferably, the domain and the cookie included in the setting information 50A are held for each user as shown in FIG. In this case, the dedicated application 40 searches for the corresponding cookie using the user information indicating the current user and the character string indicating the domain of the cloud server to be accessed as keys. As a result, the dedicated application 40 can read a domain for each user.

  In the above description, the example in which the corresponding cookie is searched using the domain character string as a key has been described. However, the key may be other than the domain character string. For example, the key may be setting information such as a character code, font, display language, or top page information.

(Process to read proxy settings)
Next, a process in which the dedicated application 40 reads the proxy settings of the browser 30 will be described.

  The setting information 50A includes proxy information 58 regarding the proxy server of the information processing apparatus 100A. As described with reference to FIG. 6, the proxy information 58 includes the IP address of the proxy server, the port number used when communicating with the proxy server, the login name to the proxy server, the password for logging in to the proxy server, and the like.

  The dedicated application 40 uses the authentication information (login name and password) included in the proxy information 58 to connect to the proxy server. Preferably, the password is encrypted, and the dedicated application 40 connects to the proxy server after decrypting the encrypted password. Thus, when the user downloads the dedicated application 40, the user does not need to perform a proxy server setting operation for the dedicated application 40.

[Control structure of information processing apparatus 100A]
A control structure of information processing apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which the browser 30 of the information processing apparatus 100A updates the setting information 50A. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process in which control unit 170 of information processing apparatus 100A inherits setting information 50A. The processing of FIGS. 10 and 11 is realized by the CPU 102 of the information processing apparatus 100A executing a program. In another aspect, part or all of the processing may be performed by a circuit element or other hardware.

  In the following, the update flow of the setting information 50A will be described first with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the inheritance flow of the setting information 50A will be described with reference to FIG.

(Update flow of setting information 50A)
In step S <b> 110, the CPU 102 determines whether the setting related to the cloud service has been changed by the browser 30 as the setting unit 32 (see FIG. 4). When CPU 102 determines that the setting has been changed by browser 30 (YES in step S110), CPU 102 switches control to step S112. When that is not right (in step S110 NO), CPU102 performs the process of step S110 again.

  In step S112, the CPU 102 updates the setting information 50A (see FIG. 6) as the above-described storage unit 34 (see FIG. 4) in accordance with the setting change received in step S110.

  In step S120, the CPU 102 determines whether or not to end the update processing of the setting information 50A. For example, the CPU 102 ends the update process when receiving an operation for stopping the update process from the user. When CPU 102 determines to end setting information 50A update processing (YES in step S120), CPU 102 ends setting information 50A update processing. If not (NO in step S120), CPU 102 returns the control to step S110.

  By repeating the processes in steps S110 to S120, the CPU 102 can update the setting information 50A every time the setting related to the cloud service is changed by the user. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 100A can always keep the setting information 50A of the browser 30 up-to-date.

(Inheritance flow of setting information 50A)
Next, the inheritance flow of the setting information 50A will be described with reference to FIG. In step S150, the CPU 102 determines whether the installation of the dedicated application 40 has started as the above-described installation unit 160 (see FIG. 4). When CPU 102 determines that installation of dedicated application 40 has started (YES in step S150), CPU 102 switches control to step S152. If not (NO in step S150), CPU 102 executes the process of step S150 again.

  In step S152, the CPU 102 inherits at least a part of the setting information 50A of the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40 as the above-described control unit 170 (see FIG. 4). Since the inheritance method of the setting information 50A is as described above, the description will not be repeated.

  In step S160, the CPU 102 determines whether the dedicated application 40 has been activated. When CPU 102 determines that dedicated application 40 has been activated (YES in step S160), CPU 102 switches control to step S162. If not (NO in step S160), CPU 102 executes the process of step S160 again.

  In step S <b> 162, the CPU 102 reads the information not inherited in step S <b> 152 out of the information included in the setting information 50 </ b> A of the browser 30 into the dedicated application 40.

[Hardware Configuration of Information Processing System 300]
An example of the hardware configuration of the information processing system 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a main hardware configuration of the information processing system 300. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the information processing system 300 includes an information processing apparatus 100 </ b> A, a network 150, and a cloud server 200. The information processing apparatus 100A and the cloud server 200 are connected via a network 150. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100A and the hardware configuration of the cloud server 200 will be described in order.

(Hardware configuration of information processing apparatus 100A)
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the information processing apparatus 100A includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 101, a CPU 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a network interface (I / F) 104, a touch panel 105, and a scanner. Part 106, printer part 107, and storage device 108.

  The ROM 101 stores an operating system (OS), a control program executed by the information processing apparatus 100A, and the like. The CPU 102 controls the operation of the information processing apparatus 100A by executing various programs such as an operating system and a control program for the information processing apparatus 100A. The RAM 103 functions as a working memory and temporarily stores various data necessary for program execution.

  An antenna (not shown) or the like is connected to the network I / F 104. The information processing apparatus 100A transmits and receives data to and from other communication devices via the antenna. Other communication devices include, for example, the cloud server 200, a server that distributes the dedicated application 40, and other communication devices. Information processing apparatus 100A may be configured to download a program for realizing various processes according to the present embodiment.

  Touch panel 105 displays a user interface for accepting a touch operation on information processing apparatus 100A. The touch panel 105 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display and a touch sensor.

  The scanner unit 106 scans a document set on the information processing apparatus 100A and generates image data of the document. A known method can be adopted as a method for generating image data in the scanner unit 106.

  The printer unit 107 converts image data read by the scanner unit 106 or print data transmitted from an external information processing apparatus into data for printing using, for example, electrophotography, and based on the converted data. This is an apparatus for printing an image such as a document. A known method may be employed as the image forming method.

  The storage device 108 is a storage medium such as a hard disk or an external storage device. As an example, storage device 108 stores a program for realizing various processes according to the present embodiment, browser 30, and dedicated application 40. The program, the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 may be stored not in the storage device 108 but in the cloud server 200 or another server.

  Note that a program for realizing various processes according to the present embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in a part of an arbitrary program, not as a single program. In this case, processing according to the present embodiment is realized in cooperation with an arbitrary program. Even such a program that does not include some modules does not depart from the spirit of the information processing apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment. Furthermore, part or all of the functions provided by the program according to the present embodiment may be realized by dedicated hardware. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100A and the cloud server 200 may cooperate to realize the processing according to the present embodiment. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100A may be configured in a so-called cloud service form in which at least one server realizes processing according to the present embodiment.

(Hardware configuration of cloud server 200)
Next, the hardware configuration of the cloud server 200 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the cloud server 200 includes a ROM 201, a CPU 202, a RAM 203, a network I / F 204, and a storage device 208.

  The ROM 201 stores an operating system, a control program executed by the cloud server 200, and the like. The CPU 202 controls the operation of the cloud server 200 by executing various programs such as an operating system and a control program for the cloud server 200. The RAM 203 functions as a working memory and temporarily stores various data necessary for program execution.

  An antenna (not shown) or the like is connected to the network I / F 204. The cloud server 200 transmits / receives data to / from other communication devices via the antenna. Other communication devices include, for example, the information processing apparatus 100A and other communication devices.

  The storage device 208 is a storage medium such as a hard disk or an external storage device. As an example, the storage device 208 stores a program for realizing a cloud service such as a print service or a scan service.

[Brief Summary]
As described above, the information processing apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment inherits the settings related to the cloud service from the browser 30 when the dedicated application 40 for using the cloud service is installed. The inherited setting information includes, for example, a print setting, a scan setting, a proxy setting, and a cookie. As a result, after the installation of the dedicated application 40, the user performs the setting work for receiving the print service, the setting work for receiving the scanning service, the setting work for the proxy server, and the setting work for the cloud server for the dedicated application 40. It becomes possible to receive cloud service without doing it.

<Second Embodiment>
[Overview]
The information processing apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment inherits the setting information 50A to the dedicated application 40 by copying a part of the setting information 50A (see FIG. 8). In contrast, the information processing apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment inherits the setting information 50A to the dedicated application 40 by duplicating the entire setting information 50A.

  Below, with reference to FIG. 13, the information processing apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment will be described. Since other points such as the hardware configuration of information processing apparatus 100B are the same as information processing apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 hold the setting information independently.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, the information processing apparatus 100B copies the print setting 65A of the setting information 50A as the print setting 65B to the setting information 50B when the dedicated application 40 is installed. Further, the information processing apparatus 100B duplicates the scan setting 66A of the setting information 50A as the scan setting 66B in the setting information 50B. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100B copies the cookie 67A of the setting information 50A as the cookie 67B in the setting information 50B. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100B copies the proxy setting 68A of the setting information 50A to the setting information 50B as the proxy setting 68B.

[Brief Summary]
As described above, in the present embodiment, each of the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 manages the setting information 50A and the setting information 50B independently. That is, when the user changes the setting related to the cloud service using the browser 30, the browser 30 updates its own setting information 50A. On the other hand, when the user changes the setting related to the cloud service using the dedicated application 40, the dedicated application 40 updates its own setting information 50B. Thus, after the installation of the dedicated application 40, the user can make different settings independently for the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40.

<Third Embodiment>
[Overview]
In the second embodiment, the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 each independently retain settings related to the cloud service. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 share the setting.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 14, an information processing apparatus 100C according to the third embodiment will be described. Since other points such as the hardware configuration of information processing apparatus 100C are the same as information processing apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 share the setting information 50A.

  As illustrated in FIG. 14, the information processing apparatus 100 </ b> C includes a browser 30, a dedicated application 40, and a storage device 108. The storage device 108 is a hard disk, for example, and holds setting information 50A. The browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 share the setting information 50A. That is, the browser 30 reads the setting related to the cloud service with reference to the setting information 50A at the time of activation. In addition, the dedicated application 40 reads the setting related to the cloud service with reference to the same setting information 50A at the time of activation.

[Brief Summary]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 share the setting information 50A. Therefore, when the user changes the setting related to the cloud service using the browser 30, the changed content is reflected in the dedicated application 40. On the contrary, when the user changes the setting related to the cloud service using the dedicated application 40, the changed content is reflected in the browser 30. Thereby, the trouble of the setting operation which should be set to both the browser 30 and the exclusive application 40 is reduced.

<Fourth embodiment>
[Overview]
With reference to FIG. 15, information processing apparatus 100D according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the setting information 50A (see FIG. 8) is inherited between the browser 30 and the dedicated application 40 of the information processing apparatus 100D.

  In the first to third embodiments, the example in which the function of inheriting the setting information of the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40 is installed in the information processing apparatuses 100A to 100C as MFPs has been described. Can be mounted in addition to the MFP. For example, the function can be mounted on the information processing apparatus 100D as a television shown in FIG. In addition, the function can be mounted on a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a personal computer, a digital camera, an electronic dictionary, a PDA, a game machine, and other electronic devices having a touch panel.

[Brief Summary]
As described above, the function of inheriting the setting information of the browser 30 to the dedicated application 40 can be installed in various electronic devices.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  30 browser, 32, 42 setting unit, 34, 44 storage unit, 36, 46 execution unit, 40 dedicated application, 50A, 50B setting information, 51A, 51B user information, 52A-52D domain, 55A-D, 65A, 65B printing Setting, 56A to 56D, 66A, 66B Scan setting, 57A, 57B, 67A, 67B Cookie, 58 Proxy information, 68A, 68B Proxy setting, 70 Reading unit, 100A to 100D, 120 Information processing apparatus, 101, 201 ROM, 102 , 202 CPU, 103, 203 RAM, 104, 204 Network I / F, 105 Touch panel, 106 Scanner unit, 107 Printer unit, 108, 208 Storage device, 150 Network, 160 Installation unit, 170 Control unit, 200 Loud server, 300 an information processing system.

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network,
The information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus,
A browser for receiving a setting related to the predetermined service and receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service based on the setting;
A storage unit for storing the settings received by the browser as setting information in a memory;
Unlike the browser, an installation unit for installing a dedicated application designed for each type of the cloud server in the information processing apparatus;
A control unit for controlling the application,
The control unit inherits at least a part of the setting information to the application when the application is installed,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the application executes the service using the inherited setting information when receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service. Predetermined service provided by the previous SL cloud server includes a print service to execute printing on the image forming apparatus, at least one of the scan service which performs the scan in the image forming apparatus, according to claim 1 Information processing device. The setting information includes at least one of a setting related to the print service and a setting related to the scan service,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the application is installed, the control unit inherits at least one of a setting related to the print service and a setting related to the scan service to the application.   The configuration information includes at least one of a domain of the cloud server, authentication information used when connecting to the cloud server, and proxy information regarding a proxy server of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit associates the domain and the authentication information with each other and stores them in the setting information,
The application searches a character string of a domain indicating the cloud server from the setting information at the time of connection to the cloud server, and logs in to the cloud server using authentication information associated with the searched domain. Item 5. The information processing apparatus according to Item 4. The storage unit stores authentication information for the proxy server in the proxy information,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the application connects to the proxy server using authentication information included in the proxy information. The control unit copies at least a part of the setting information as new setting information at the time of installation of the application,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the browser and the application manages the setting information and the new setting information independently.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application and the browser share the setting information. A control method for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network,
The information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and includes a browser for receiving a setting related to the predetermined service and receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service based on the setting,
The control method is:
Saving the setting accepted by the browser as setting information in a memory;
Unlike the browser , installing a dedicated application designed for each type of the cloud server in the information processing apparatus;
Inheriting at least a part of the setting information to the application when the application is installed;
And a step of executing the service using the inherited setting information when the application receives an instruction to execute the predetermined service. A control program for controlling a computer capable of communicating with a cloud server that provides a predetermined service via a network,
The computer is a computer for controlling an image forming apparatus, and includes a browser for receiving a setting related to the predetermined service and receiving an instruction to execute the predetermined service based on the setting,
The control program is stored in the computer.
Saving the setting accepted by the browser as setting information in a memory;
Unlike the browser , installing a dedicated application designed for each type of cloud server on the computer;
Inheriting at least a part of the setting information to the application when the application is installed;
When the application receives an instruction to execute the predetermined service, the control program causes the service to be executed using the inherited setting information.