JP6500531B2 - Client device, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a client device, an information processing method, and a program.

  When using a service provided by the cloud (cloud service), the service provider clearly provides a service level agreement (SLA) to the user side to provide the service. The SLA defines, for example, a service availability rate or a notification method of service emergency stop or service preview stop. As described above, in the cloud service, the service is provided on the premise that the user recognizes that a service stoppage or the like may occur. Therefore, a system for separately notifying the service status is also operated in order to notify the user that the cloud service is stopped.

  In a system that uses such a cloud service, in general, when the client terminal does not respond to the cloud service within a certain time, the client terminal itself determines that the cloud service has stopped, and the user An error notification is made to. As a system using such a cloud service, there has been proposed a cloud service providing system capable of providing a smooth cloud service by improving the reaction to the user's operation input (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, although the point of improving the reaction speed to the user's use operation of the cloud service is disclosed, the action when the cloud service itself is stopped is not disclosed. That is, when the cloud service itself stops, as described above, it takes a certain amount of time for the client device to determine the stop of the service, so the user needs time to recognize the stop of the cloud service. was there. In addition, the user can not determine the coping method after recognizing that the cloud service is stopped, and there is a problem that the business efficiency is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and when the cloud service is stopped, a client device and information processing method capable of promptly notifying the user of the stop and improving the convenience And to provide a program.

  In order to solve the problems described above and achieve the object, the present invention relates to a cloud that associates a cloud service, an alternative function that replaces the cloud service, and first information indicating a service stop condition of the cloud service. Storage means for storing service information, communication means for performing data communication with an external device, and communication control means for receiving, via the communication means, second information indicating an operating state of a specific cloud service in the cloud; Comparison means for storing a comparison result in the storage means in comparison with the second information received by the communication control means and the first information associated with the particular cloud service in the cloud service information And first control for recognizing the operating state of the specific cloud service based on the comparison result stored in the storage unit Second control means for acquiring the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information, when the specific cloud service is recognized as being stopped by the first control means; And display means for displaying a screen for processing based on the alternative function acquired by the second control means.

  According to the present invention, when the cloud service is stopped, the user can be quickly notified of the stop to improve the convenience.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system that uses the cloud service according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration in the case of using a plurality of clouds in the configuration of the system using the cloud service of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the system in service operation in the system using the cloud service according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the system when the service is stopped in the system using the cloud service according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the client device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the client device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the cloud service table registered by the client device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of registering information related to the cloud service in the client device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation in which the client device according to the first embodiment acquires the operating state of the cloud service. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of using the cloud service while the client device according to the first embodiment is operating the cloud service. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation when the client device according to the first embodiment is in the stop of the cloud service and the alternative function is registered. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the alternative function screen. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation when the client device according to the first embodiment is stopping the cloud service and the alternative function is not registered. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the message display dialog. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the client device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the cloud service table registered by the client device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of executing an authentication operation when the client device according to the second embodiment realizes the alternative function while the cloud service is stopped. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation in the case where the client device according to the second embodiment can not perform authentication in the authentication operation performed while the cloud service is stopped.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a client device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Further, the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments, and components in the following embodiments can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, substantially the same, and so-called equivalent ranges. The thing of is included. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the scope of the following embodiments.

First Embodiment
(Whole system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system that uses the cloud service according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration in the case of using a plurality of clouds in the configuration of the system using the cloud service of the first embodiment. An overview of the overall configuration of a system that uses cloud services will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a system that uses a cloud service includes a cloud 1, a cloud monitoring server 2, a service state notification server 3, and a client device 4. Here, the client device 4 is a device that uses a cloud service, and in FIG. 1, an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) 4 a and a PC (Personal Computer) 4 b are shown as an example.

The cloud 1 is a collection of computer resources that provides a function ( cloud service) desired by a user who uses the client device 4 through a network in response to a use request of the client device 4.

  The cloud monitoring server 2 is a server device or a server system that monitors the operating state of a cloud service of the cloud 1 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “service”).

  The service status notification server 3 receives information indicating the service operating status of the cloud 1 from the cloud monitoring server 2, and the client device 4 displays information indicating the service operating status as RSS (RDF Site Summary) format or Atom format data. Server device or server system having a role of notifying

  The client device 4 (MFP 4a, PC 4b, etc.) is a client terminal that uses the service of the cloud 1, and is a device that receives information indicating the operation status of the cloud service from the service status notification server 3 by the RSS reader function. The MFP 4a is a multifunction peripheral having at least two functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a fax function. Although the MFP 4a and the PC 4b are illustrated as an example of the client device 4, the present invention is not limited to this, and functions as a client terminal such as a copying machine, a printer, a fax machine, a scanner device or a portable information terminal. It may be an apparatus.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the cloud service is provided from one cloud (cloud 1), the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of clouds (clouds 1a to 1c) The cloud service may be provided by cooperation of

(Summary of the overall operation of the system)
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the system in service operation in the system using the cloud service according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the system when the service is stopped in the system using the cloud service according to the first embodiment. First, in the system using the cloud service, an operation while the cloud service is in operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cloud monitoring server 2 periodically specifies a setting condition of the service, and transmits a service state request for requesting information indicating the operating state of the service to the cloud 1. When the cloud 1 receives a service status request from the cloud monitoring server 2, if the service is in operation (is available), the cloud 1 transmits a service status response indicating that the service is in operation to the cloud monitoring server 2 . When the cloud monitoring server 2 receives the service status response from the cloud 1, the cloud monitoring server 2 stores information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response (in FIG. 3, information indicating that the service is operating). Note that "periodically" does not necessarily mean every fixed period, but includes the meaning of irregular intervals (the same applies hereinafter).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the service status notification server 3 periodically transmits a service status request for requesting information indicating the service operating status to the cloud monitoring server 2. When the cloud monitoring server 2 receives the service status request from the service status notification server 3, the cloud monitoring server 2 transmits a service status response including information indicating the operating status of the stored service to the service status notification server 3. When the service status notification server 3 receives the service status response from the cloud monitoring server 2, the service status notification server 3 converts the information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response into data in RSS format or Atom format and stores it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the client device 4 periodically transmits a service state request for requesting information indicating the service operation state to the service state notification server 3. When receiving the service status request from the client device 4, the service status notification server 3 transmits, to the client device 4, a service status response including information indicating the operating status of the stored RSS format or Atom format service. When receiving the service status response from the service status notification server 3, the client device 4 analyzes and stores information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response by the RSS reader function. The details of the communication operation with the service state notification server 3 regarding the service operation state of the client device 4 will be described later with reference to FIG. In addition, although the service status notification server 3 converts information indicating the service operating status into RSS format data or Atom format data and stores the data, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when receiving the service status request from the client device 4, the service status notification server 3 converts the stored information indicating the operating status of the service into data in RSS format or Atom format, and sends the converted data to the client device 4. It may be transmitted.

  By the operation as described above, the cloud monitoring server 2, the service status notification server 3 and the client device 4 periodically issue service status requests to make the service status of the cloud 1 service close to real time. Can be stored in

  When the service by the cloud 1 is in operation, when the user inputs an operation for using the service to the client device 4, the client device 4 requests the cloud 1 to provide the service. Send a service usage request. When the cloud 1 receives the service utilization request from the client device 4, the cloud 1 transmits a service utilization response, which is an entity of the service, to the client device 4. The details of the operation in which the client device 4 receives the provision of the service from the cloud 1 in a state where the service by the cloud 1 is in operation will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, in the system using the cloud service, an operation when the cloud service is stopped will be described.

  Although FIG. 3 shows the operation when the service of the cloud 1 is in operation, the service by the cloud 1 may be stopped due to a system failure or maintenance of the computer resource included in the cloud 1. As described above, when the service by the cloud 1 is stopped, the service by the cloud 1 is stopped even if the service status request is transmitted to the cloud 1 by the cloud monitoring server 2 as illustrated in FIG. Does not return a service status response to the cloud monitoring server 2. As described above, after the cloud monitoring server 2 transmits a service status request to the cloud 1, if no service status response is returned from the cloud 1 even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is regarded as a timeout, and information indicating the service operating status (service Stores information indicating that it is stopped.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the service status notification server 3 periodically transmits a service status request for requesting information indicating the service operating status to the cloud monitoring server 2. When the cloud monitoring server 2 receives a service status request from the service status notifying server 3 when the service by the cloud 1 is suspended, the cloud monitoring server 2 is information indicating the operating status of the stored service (indicating that the service is suspended) Service status response including the information) is sent to the service status notification server 3. When the service status notification server 3 receives the service status response from the cloud monitoring server 2, the service status response information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response (information indicating that the service is stopped) is in RSS format or Atom Convert to format data and store it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the client device 4 periodically transmits a service status request for requesting information indicating the service operating status to the service status notifying server 3. When the service by the cloud 1 is stopped, when the service state request is received from the client device 4, the service state notification server 3 stores information indicating the operating state of the RSS format or Atom format service (the service is stopped). Service status response including the information indicating that it is) to the client apparatus 4. When receiving the service status response from the service status notification server 3, the client device 4 analyzes the information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response (information indicating that the service is stopped) by the RSS reader function. And memorize.

  As described above, when the user inputs an operation for using the service to the client device 4 while the service by the cloud 1 is stopped, the client device 4 transmits the user service to the stopped service. Present the processing based on the corresponding alternative function. Then, the user inputs an operation for executing a process based on the alternative function to the client device 4.

(Hardware configuration of client device)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the client device according to the first embodiment. Details of the hardware configuration when the client device 4 is the PC 4b will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the client device 4 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, an external storage device 104, and a media drive 106. An operation device 107, a network I / F 108, a display 109, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) drive 111 are provided.

  The CPU 101 is a device that controls the overall operation of the client device 4. The ROM 102 is a non-volatile storage device storing a program for the client device 4. The RAM 103 is a volatile storage device used as a work area of the CPU 101.

  The external storage device 104 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various data such as a cloud service table 200 described later. The external storage device 104 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The media drive 106 is a device that controls reading and writing of data to the media 105 such as a flash memory according to the control of the CPU 101. The media 105 is a storage device that is removable from the media drive 106. The medium 105 is not limited to a flash memory as long as it is a non-volatile memory that reads and writes data according to the control of the CPU 101, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) or the like may be used.

  The operation device 107 is an input device that performs input of characters and numbers, selection of various instructions, movement of a cursor, and the like. The operating device 107 is, for example, a mouse or a keyboard.

  The network I / F 108 is an interface for communicating data using a network. The network I / F 108 is, for example, a Network Interface Card (NIC) that conforms to Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) / Internet Protocol (IP).

  The display 109 is a display device that displays characters, numbers, various screens, operation icons, and the like. The display 109 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display: liquid crystal display), an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like.

  The CD-ROM drive 111 is a device that controls reading and writing of data with respect to a CD-ROM 110 as an example of a removable storage medium. As another example of the removable recording medium described above, it may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a Blu-ray Disc. It may be configured.

  The CPU 101, the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the external storage device 104, the media drive 106, the operating device 107, the network I / F 108, the display 109 and the CD-ROM drive 111 described above can communicate with each other via a bus 115 such as an address bus and a data bus. It is connected.

  Although FIG. 5 shows the hardware configuration when the client device 4 is the PC 4b, when the client device 4 is the MFP 4a, for example, the operation device 107 and the display 109 are integrated. The touch panel device may be provided. Further, when the client device 4 is the MFP 4a, the media drive 106 and the CD-ROM drive 111 need not necessarily be provided.

(Block configuration of client device)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the client device according to the first embodiment. The configuration of functional blocks of the client device 4 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the client device 4 includes an operation unit 10 (operation means), a display unit 11 (display means), a service function control unit 12 (first control means), and an alternative function control unit 13 ( Second control means), registration unit 14 (registration means), parser unit 15 (comparison means), first communication control unit 16 (an example of communication control means), second communication control unit 17 (communication control means) Means), volatile storage unit 18 (one example of storage means, second storage means), non-volatile storage unit 19 (one example of storage means, first storage means), communication unit 20 (communication means), and And.

  The operation unit 10 is a functional unit that receives various input operations such as an operation of using the service of the cloud 1 and an operation for executing a process based on a substitute function corresponding to the stopped service by the user. The operation unit 10 is realized by the operation device 107 shown in FIG.

  The display unit 11 is a functional unit that displays content and the like that is an entity of the service of the cloud 1. The display unit 11 is realized by the display 109 shown in FIG.

  The service function control unit 12 is a functional unit that determines the operating state of the cloud service and causes the display unit 11 to display the content of the alternative function stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 when the service is stopped.

  The substitute function control unit 13 is a functional unit that acquires information on a substitute function corresponding to the service from the non-volatile storage unit 19 when the service of the cloud 1 is stopped.

  The registration unit 14 is a functional unit that registers information on an alternative function corresponding to the service in the non-volatile storage unit 19 when the service of the cloud 1 is stopped. Specifically, as in the cloud service table 200 shown in FIG. 7 described later, the registration unit 14 determines that the alternative function corresponding to the cloud service being stopped and the cloud service is stopped. Are registered in the cloud service table 200 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19.

  The parser unit 15 analyzes the information indicating the service operating status of the cloud 1 received from the service status notifying server 3 by the RSS reader function, and registers the analyzed service operating status and the cloud service table 200 It is a functional unit that determines the operating state of the service by comparing it with the key word.

  The first communication control unit 16 is a functional unit that controls the communication operation with the cloud 1 via the communication unit 20. The second communication control unit 17 is a function of controlling the communication operation with the service state notification server 3 via the communication unit 20.

  The volatile storage unit 18 is a functional unit that stores information indicating the operating state of the cloud service. The volatile storage unit 18 is realized by the RAM 103 shown in FIG.

  The non-volatile storage unit 19 is a functional unit that stores, for example, an alternative function corresponding to the stopped cloud service, and a cloud service table 200 in which a keyword for determining that the cloud service is stopped is registered. The non-volatile storage unit 19 is realized by the external storage device 104 shown in FIG.

  The communication unit 20 is a functional unit that communicates various data with the cloud 1 and the service status notification server 3 via the network. The communication unit 20 is realized by the network I / F 108 illustrated in FIG.

  The service function control unit 12, the alternative function control unit 13, the registration unit 14, the parser unit 15, the first communication control unit 16, and the second communication control unit 17 described above are respectively executed by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. The program may be realized by a program or a hardware circuit.

  Further, the service function control unit 12, the alternative function control unit 13, the registration unit 14, the parser unit 15, the first communication control unit 16, and the second communication control unit 17 described above conceptually show functions. Thus, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in FIG. 6 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, the function possessed by one functional unit in FIG. 6 may be divided into a plurality of parts and configured as a plurality of functional parts.

(Structure of Cloud Service Table)
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the cloud service table registered by the client device according to the first embodiment. The configuration of the cloud service table 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cloud service table 200 (an example of cloud service information) includes information identifying a cloud service provided by the cloud 1, an alternative function to be executed as a substitute while the cloud service is stopped, and It is a data table which associates a service stop determination condition (first information, stop condition information) which is a keyword for determining that the cloud service is stopped. The cloud service table 200 is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 as described above.

  The information identifying the cloud service in the cloud service table 200 is determined at the time of the use contract for receiving the provision of the service from the cloud 1 via the client device 4 and is stored in advance in the cloud service table 200 It is assumed that In the example of the cloud service table 200 illustrated in FIG. 7, “cloud fax service” and “storage service” are stored as cloud services. The “cloud fax service” is a service that provides a fax function by the cloud 1, and if the fax server is not required on the user side, and it only has an interface for sending and receiving faxes, the cloud 1 can be used. You can enjoy the fax function. The "storage service" is a service that provides a storage function, that is, a function of holding data by the cloud 1, and there is no need for the user to have a database server or storage server etc. You can enjoy the function of retention.

  The substitute function in the cloud service table 200 is a function to substitute for the cloud service provided to the user inside the client device 4 when the cloud service is stopped. The substitute function in the cloud service table 200 is registered in the cloud service table 200 by the registration unit 14 in association with the cloud service as described above. In the example of the cloud service table 200 shown in FIG. 7, as an alternative function, the “G3 fax function” which substitutes the service of “cloud fax service” and the “scan to mail function” which substitutes the service of “storage service” are registered. It is done. The "G3 fax function" is a function of transmitting and receiving a fax via an analog telephone line using a modem. The “scan to mail function” is a function of transmitting the data scanned by the client device 4 to a designated address as an attached file of an electronic mail.

  The service stop determination condition in the cloud service table 200 is a keyword for the parser unit 15 described above to determine whether the cloud service is stopped. The service stop determination condition in the cloud service table 200 is registered in the cloud service table 200 in association with the cloud service by the registration unit 14 as described above. In the example of the cloud service table 200 illustrated in FIG. 7, “service stop” and “service down” for determining stop of “cloud fax service” and stop of “storage service” are determined as the service stop determination condition. "** Storage service stop" for is registered. For example, identification information for specifying a contracted storage service is inserted in “**” of “** Storage service stop”.

  The contents of the cloud service table 200 illustrated in FIG. 7 are exemplified information, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Other cloud services, alternative functions, and service stop determination conditions may be stored. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the cloud service table 200 is information in a table format that relates the cloud service, the alternative function, and the service stop determination condition, but is not limited to this. Any form of information may be used as long as information can be associated and stored.

(Operation of registering information about cloud service)
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of registering information related to the cloud service in the client device according to the first embodiment. The operation of registering information related to the cloud service in the cloud service table 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S11>
The administrator 51 is an alternative function when the service of the cloud 1 to be used is stopped, or information on the cloud service such as a service stop determination condition which is a keyword for determining whether the service is stopped (the following , And may be referred to as “registration information”, the input operation is performed on the operation unit 10 of the client device 4.

<Steps S12, S13>
The operation unit 10 transmits the identified cloud service and registration information corresponding to the cloud service to the registration unit 14 of the client device 4 based on the operation information input by the administrator 51. The registration unit 14 sends the cloud service and the registration information received from the operation unit 10 to the non-volatile storage unit 19 of the client device 4.

<Steps S14, S15>
The non-volatile storage unit 19 associates (registers) the cloud service received from the registration unit 14 with the registration information, registers (stores) it in the cloud service table 200, and sends a completion response indicating registration completion to the registration unit 14.

<Steps S16, S17>
The registration unit 14 sends the completion response received from the non-volatile storage unit 19 to the display unit 11 of the client device 4. The display unit 11 displays, on the basis of the completion response received from the registration unit 14, a message indicating that the registration information has been registered in the non-volatile storage unit 19.

  The registration information is registered in the cloud service table 200 by the above operation. As described above, it is possible to freely register an alternative function when the service of the cloud 1 to be used is stopped, or a service stop determination condition which is a keyword for determining whether the service is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to flexibly change the substitute function to be substituted while the service of cloud 1 is stopped, or to change the keyword for determining whether the service of cloud 1 is stopped, etc. It can respond and can improve the usability of the user.

(Operation to acquire cloud service operation status of client device)
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation in which the client device according to the first embodiment acquires the operating state of the cloud service. An operation in which the client device 4 periodically acquires (stores) the operating state of the cloud service will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

<Steps S21 to S23>
The parser unit 15 of the client device 4 periodically sends, to the second communication control unit 17 of the client device 4, a service state request for requesting information indicating the operation state of the service of the cloud 1. The second communication control unit 17 transmits the service status request received from the parser unit 15 to the service status notification server 3 via the communication unit 20 of the client device 4.

<Step S24>
When receiving the service status request from the client device 4, the service status notification server 3 transmits, to the client device 4, a service status response including information indicating the operating status of the stored RSS format or Atom format service.

<Steps S25, S26>
The second communication control unit 17 receives a service status response (second information, operation status information) from the service status notification server 3 via the communication unit 20, and sends the received service status response to the parser unit 15. At this point, the information indicating the service operating status included in the service status response includes information indicating the operating status of all services that the cloud 1 can provide to the client device 4.

<Steps S27, S28>
Upon receiving the service status response from the second communication control unit 17, the parser unit 15 determines that each cloud service of the cloud service table 200 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 of the client device 4 is stopped. These service determination conditions are acquired as a reference response with reference to the service stop determination conditions which are keywords of.

<Steps S29, S30>
The parser unit 15 analyzes the information indicating the service operation status included in the service status response received from the second communication control unit 17 by the RSS reader function. Next, the parser unit 15 compares the information indicating the operation status of the analyzed service with the service stop determination condition acquired from the non-volatile storage unit 19, and the operation status of the service is in operation or in suspension. Determine if there is. Then, the parser unit 15 sends the service state information including the determination result information of the service operation state to the volatile storage unit 18 of the client device 4.

<Steps S31, S32>
The volatile storage unit 18 stores the determination result information on the service operation state included in the service state information received from the parser unit 15, and sends a completion response indicating storage completion to the parser unit 15.

  By the above operation, the client device 4 acquires the operation state of the cloud service. Although the determination result information on the operation state of the service of the parser unit 15 is stored in the volatile storage unit 18, the present invention is not limited to this, and is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19. It is also good. However, after the client device 4 is activated, the operation status of the service is unknown until the operation of the service of the cloud 1 is determined by the parser unit 15. Therefore, non-volatile storage is performed immediately after the client device 4 is activated. It is desirable that the service operation determination result information stored in the unit 19 be reset once. In addition, when the determination result information is stored in the volatile storage unit 18, the determination result information is automatically erased when the client device 4 is started, and thus, as in the case of storing in the non-volatile storage unit 19, There is no need to perform reset processing.

(Operation to use cloud service while cloud service is running)
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of using the cloud service while the client device according to the first embodiment is operating the cloud service. The operation of the client device 4 using the cloud service while the cloud service is in operation will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S41>
The user 50 performs an input operation on the operation unit 10 of the client device 4 in order to use a specific service of the cloud 1.

<Steps S42 to S44>
When the service function control unit 12 of the client device 4 receives the operation information input to the operation unit 10 by the user 50, the service specified by the operation information stored in the volatile storage unit 18 of the client device 4 ( Hereinafter, the determination result information of the operation state of the “target service” may be referred to, and the determination result information is acquired as a reference response.

<Step S45>
It is assumed that the service function control unit 12 confirms that the target service is in operation from the acquired determination result information of the operating state of the target service.

<Steps S46 to S48>
The service function control unit 12 sends a service utilization request for providing a target service to the first communication control unit 16 of the client device 4. The first communication control unit 16 transmits the service utilization request received from the service function control unit 12 to the cloud 1 via the communication unit 20 of the client device 4.

<Step S49>
When the cloud 1 receives the service utilization request from the client device 4, the cloud 1 transmits a service utilization response, which is an entity of the target service, to the client device 4.

<Steps S50, S51>
The first communication control unit 16 receives the service usage response from the cloud 1 via the communication unit 20, and sends the received service usage response to the service function control unit 12.

<Steps S52, S53>
The service function control unit 12 sends the service utilization response received from the first communication control unit 16 to the display unit 11 of the client device 4. The display unit 11 displays the provision content of the target service desired by the user 50 based on the service utilization response received from the service function control unit 12. For example, when the target service desired by the user 50 is the “storage service”, it is displayed that the data specified by the input operation by the user 50 is stored in the storage on the cloud 1 in step S41.

  As described above, the client device 4 operates to use the cloud service while the cloud service is in operation.

(Operation to use alternative function while cloud service is stopped)
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation when the client device according to the first embodiment is in the stop of the cloud service and the alternative function is registered. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the alternative function screen. With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, an operation will be described in which the client device 4 uses an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service while the cloud service is stopped.

<Step S61>
The user 50 performs an input operation on the operation unit 10 of the client device 4 in order to use a specific service of the cloud 1.

<Steps S62 to S64>
When the service function control unit 12 of the client device 4 receives the operation information input to the operation unit 10 by the user 50, the service specified by the operation information stored in the volatile storage unit 18 of the client device 4 ( The determination result information of the operation state of the target service is referred to, and the determination result information is acquired as a reference response.

<Steps S65, S66>
It is assumed that the service function control unit 12 confirms that the target service is being stopped, from the acquired determination result information of the operation state of the target service. Then, the service function control unit 12 sends a service stop notification indicating that the target service is stopped to the alternative function control unit 13.

<Steps S67 to S69>
When receiving the service stop notification from the service function control unit 12, the alternative function control unit 13 refers to the alternative function corresponding to the target service in the cloud service table 200 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 of the client device 4; Get the alternative function as a reference response. Then, the alternative function control unit 13 sends, to the service function control unit 12, a reference response including the acquired alternative function.

<Step S70>
The service function control unit 12 confirms from the received reference response that there is an alternative function corresponding to the target service.

<Steps S71, S72>
After the service function control unit 12 confirms that there is an alternative function corresponding to the target service, the service function control unit 12 includes a service stop response indicating that the target service is stopping, and information on the alternative function corresponding to the target service. The alternative function response is sent to the display unit 11 of the client device 4. The display unit 11 displays that the target service desired by the user 50 is stopped based on the service stop response received from the service function control unit 12. Further, based on the alternative function response received from the service function control unit 12, the display unit 11 displays a screen for executing processing based on the alternative function. For example, when the target service desired by the user 50 is “cloud fax service”, the display unit 11 displays “G3 fax function” as an alternative function corresponding to “cloud fax service” as shown in FIG. The alternative function screen 300 for executing the process is displayed. In the alternative function screen 300, the destination input unit 300a is a part for inputting a destination, and the send button 300b is a button for performing fax transmission to the input destination.

<Step S73>
The user 50 grasps that the desired target service is stopped by the display content of the display unit 11, and the user 50 operates the operation unit 10 of the client apparatus 4 to execute the process based on the alternative function corresponding to the target service. Perform input operations.

  As described above, while the cloud service is stopped, the client device 4 operates to use the alternative function corresponding to the cloud service.

(Operation when no alternative function is registered while cloud service is stopped)
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation when the client device according to the first embodiment is stopping the cloud service and the alternative function is not registered. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the message display dialog. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, an operation will be described in the case where the client device 4 does not register an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service while the cloud service is stopped.

<Step S81>
The user 50 performs an input operation on the operation unit 10 of the client device 4 in order to use a specific service of the cloud 1.

<Steps S82 to S84>
When the service function control unit 12 of the client device 4 receives the operation information input to the operation unit 10 by the user 50, the service specified by the operation information stored in the volatile storage unit 18 of the client device 4 ( The determination result information of the operation state of the target service is referred to, and the determination result information is acquired as a reference response.

<Steps S85, S86>
It is assumed that the service function control unit 12 confirms that the target service is being stopped, from the acquired determination result information of the operation state of the target service. Then, the service function control unit 12 sends a service stop notification indicating that the target service is stopped to the alternative function control unit 13.

<Steps S87 to S89>
When receiving the service stop notification from the service function control unit 12, the alternative function control unit 13 refers to the alternative function corresponding to the target service in the cloud service table 200 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 of the client device 4; Try to get that alternative function. Here, it is assumed that the substitute function control unit 13 has not registered the substitute function corresponding to the target service in the cloud service table 200 and can not acquire the substitute function. Then, the alternative function control unit 13 sends, to the service function control unit 12, a reference response indicating that there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service.

<Step S90>
The service function control unit 12 confirms from the received reference response that there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service.

<Steps S91, S92>
After the service function control unit 12 confirms that there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service, there is no service stop response indicating that the target service is stopping, and there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service (registered ) Is sent to the display unit 11 of the client device 4. The display unit 11 displays that the target service desired by the user 50 is stopped based on the service stop response received from the service function control unit 12. Further, the display unit 11 displays that there is no alternative function (not registered) corresponding to the target service based on the alternative function response received from the service function control unit 12. The display unit 11 displays, for example, the message display dialog 301 shown in FIG. 14 that the target service is stopped and that there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service.

  As described above, while the cloud service is stopped, the client device 4 performs an operation when there is no alternative function (not registered) corresponding to the cloud service.

  As described above, the client device 4 periodically and periodically obtains the operating status of the service of the cloud 1 by the function of the parser unit 15 via the service status notifying server 3. Furthermore, when the user 50 tries to use the cloud service, if the service is stopped, the function of the service function control unit 12 can execute processing based on the alternative function corresponding to the service. By this, the client device 4 can grasp the operation state of the service of the cloud 1 in a state close to real time, and when the cloud service is stopped, can notify the user of the stop of the cloud service without making the user wait and It can lead to processing based on alternative functions.

  In addition, it is possible to freely register a keyword for determining the stop state of the service of the cloud 1 and an alternative function corresponding to the stopped service. As a result, the stop state of the service can be accurately determined, and the alternative function can be freely set when the service is stopped, so that the convenience of the user can be improved.

Second Embodiment
The present embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the system using the cloud service, the operation of the system with the cloud service in operation, the hardware configuration of the client device, the registration operation of information on the cloud service, the operation of the cloud service of the client device The operation of acquiring the state and the operation of using the cloud service while the cloud service is in operation are the same as in the first embodiment.

(Block configuration of client device)
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the client device according to the second embodiment. The functional block configuration of the client device 4_1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15, the client device 4_1 includes an operation unit 10, a display unit 11, a service function control unit 12a (first control unit), an alternative function control unit 13, and a registration unit 14a (registration unit). , Parser unit 15, first communication control unit 16, second communication control unit 17, volatile storage unit 18, non-volatile storage unit 19, communication unit 20, and authentication unit 21 (authentication means) And.

  The service function control unit 12a is a functional unit that determines the operation state of the cloud service and causes the display unit 11 to display the content of the alternative function stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 when the service is stopped. In addition, when the service function control unit 12a determines that the cloud service is stopped, the service function control unit 12a sends, to the authentication unit 21, an authentication request as to whether or not the user can use an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service. .

  The registration unit 14 a is a functional unit that registers, in the non-volatile storage unit 19, information on an alternative function corresponding to the service of the cloud 1 when the service of the cloud 1 is stopped. Specifically, as in the cloud service table 200a shown in FIG. 16 described later, the registration unit 14a substitutes the substitute function corresponding to the cloud service being stopped, a keyword for determining that the cloud service is stopped, and The substitute function user who is identification information of the user who can use the substitute function is registered in the cloud service table 200 a stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19.

  When the cloud service is stopped, the authentication unit 21 authenticates (user authentication) whether or not the user logged in to the client device 4 is a user who can use an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service. It is a functional unit to perform.

  The other functional units shown in FIG. 15 have the same functions as the functional units of the client device 4 according to the first embodiment.

  In addition, the service function control unit 12a, the alternative function control unit 13, the registration unit 14a, the parser unit 15, the first communication control unit 16, the second communication control unit 17, and the authentication unit 21 shown in FIG. It may be realized by a program executed by the CPU 101 shown or may be realized by a hardware circuit.

  Further, the service function control unit 12a, the alternative function control unit 13, the registration unit 14a, the parser unit 15, the first communication control unit 16, the second communication control unit 17, and the authentication unit 21 conceptually show functions. It is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in FIG. 15 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, the function possessed by one functional unit in FIG. 15 may be divided into a plurality of units and configured as a plurality of functional units.

(Structure of Cloud Service Table)
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the cloud service table registered by the client device according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the cloud service table 200a will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the cloud service table 200a, information identifying the cloud service provided by the cloud 1, an alternative function to be executed as a substitute while the cloud service is stopped, and the cloud service are stopped. It is a data table which associates a service stop determination condition which is a keyword for determining with and an alternative function user who is identification information of a user who can use the alternative function.

  The substitute function user in the cloud service table 200a is identification information of a user who can use the substitute function corresponding to the cloud service when the cloud service is stopped. As described above, the substitute function user in the cloud service table 200a is registered in the cloud service table 200a in association with the cloud service by the registration unit 14a. In the example of the cloud service table 200 a shown in FIG. 16, “A, B, D” and “storage service” as alternative function users who can use the alternative function of “cloud fax service” as the alternative function user "B, C, D" is registered as an alternative function user who makes the alternative function available.

  The contents of the cloud service table 200a shown in FIG. 16 are exemplified information and are not limited thereto, and other cloud services, alternative functions, service stop determination conditions and alternative function users are stored. It may be In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the cloud service table 200a is information in a table format that associates the cloud service, the alternative function, the service stop determination condition, and the alternative function user, but is limited thereto Instead, any form of information may be used as long as the information can be stored in association with each other.

(Operation to perform user authentication while cloud service is stopped)
FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of executing an authentication operation when the client device according to the second embodiment realizes the alternative function while the cloud service is stopped. The operation of performing user authentication when the client device 4_1 uses an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service while the cloud service is stopped will be described with reference to FIG.

<Steps S101 to S104>
The processes of steps S101 to S104 are the same as the processes of steps S61 to S64 shown in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment.

<Step S105>
It is assumed that the service function control unit 12a confirms that the target service is being stopped, from the acquired determination result information of the operation state of the target service.

<Step S106>
The service function control unit 12a sends a request for authenticating whether the user 50 logged in to the client device 4_1 is a user who can use the alternative function corresponding to the target service being stopped, in the client device 4_1. Send to the authentication unit 21.

<Steps S107, S108>
When the authentication unit 21 receives the authentication request from the service function control unit 12a, the authentication unit 21 refers to the alternative function user corresponding to the target service in the cloud service table 200a stored in the non-volatile storage unit 19 of the client device 4_1. Acquire the alternative function user as a reference response.

<Steps S109, S110>
The authentication unit 21 confirms that the user 50 who has logged in to the client device 4_1 is included in the substitute function user included in the acquired reference response, and determines that the authentication is successful. The authentication unit 21 sends an authentication result indicating the authentication success to the service function control unit 12a.

<Step S111>
When the service function control unit 12a receives the authentication result indicating the authentication success from the authentication unit 21, the user 50 who has logged in to the client device 4_1 can use the alternative function corresponding to the target service being stopped. Then, it sends a service stop notification indicating that the target service is stopped to the alternative function control unit 13.

<Steps S112 to S118>
The processes of steps S112 to S118 are the same as the processes of steps S67 to S73 shown in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment, respectively.

  As described above, while the cloud service is stopped, the client device 4_1 performs user authentication when using an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service.

  Although FIG. 17 shows the case where the alternative function control unit 13 acquires the alternative function corresponding to the target service, the operation in the case where there is no alternative function corresponding to the target service (is not registered), It conforms to the operation shown in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment.

(Operation when user authentication is not possible while cloud service is stopped)
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation in the case where the client device according to the second embodiment can not perform authentication in the authentication operation performed while the cloud service is stopped. With reference to FIG. 18, an operation in the case where the client device 4 can not perform user authentication in the case where the client service 4 uses an alternative function corresponding to the cloud service while the cloud service is stopped will be described.

<Steps S121 to S128>
The processes of steps S121 to S128 are the same as the processes of steps S101 to S108 of FIG. 17 of the first embodiment.

<Steps S129, S130>
The authentication unit 21 confirms that the user 50 who has logged in to the client device 4_1 is not included in the substitute function user included in the acquired reference response, and determines that authentication is not possible. The authentication unit 21 sends an authentication result indicating that authentication is not possible to the service function control unit 12a.

<Steps S131, S132>
After receiving the authentication result indicating that authentication is not possible, the service function control unit 12a displays a service stop response indicating that the target service is stopped, and an authentication disable notification based on the authentication result in the display unit 11 of the client device 4_1. Send to The display unit 11 displays that the target service desired by the user 50 is stopped based on the service stop response received from the service function control unit 12a. In addition, the display unit 11 displays that the authentication of the user 50 for using the alternative function is not possible based on the authentication impossible notification received from the service function control unit 12a.

  As described above, when the user tries to use the cloud service, if the service is stopped, processing based on the alternative function corresponding to the service will cause the service to be substituted, but use of the alternative function The user authentication is performed before and the alternative function is provided to the successfully authenticated user. This can improve security for using alternative functions when the cloud service is stopped. In particular, it is effective when there is a need to limit users who can use alternative functions as substitutes for places that should normally use cloud services. It goes without saying that the other effects of the first embodiment are obtained.

  Although the client devices 4 and 4_1 according to the above-described embodiments have been described as having the respective functional units shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 15 in one device, the present invention is not limited to this. The functional unit may be configured as a system provided to be distributed to a plurality of devices.

  Further, at least one of the service function control units 12 and 12a, the alternative function control unit 13, the registration units 14 and 14a, the parser unit 15, the first communication control unit 16, the second communication control unit 17, and the authentication unit 21. Is realized by the execution of a program, the program is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. The programs executed by the client devices 4 and 4_1 in the above-described embodiments are files in an installable format or an executable format, and are computers such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, and a DVD. It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a readable recording medium. Further, the program executed by the client devices 4 and 4_1 in the above-described embodiments may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Good. In addition, the programs executed by the client devices 4 and 4_1 in the above-described embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, the program executed by the client device 4 or 4_1 in each of the above-described embodiments has a module configuration including at least one of the above-described respective functional units, and as the actual hardware, the CPU is By reading and executing the program from the ROM, the above-described functional units are loaded and generated on the main storage device (for example, the RAM 103).

1, 1a to 1c Cloud 2 Cloud Monitoring Server 3 Service Status Notification Server 4, 4_1 Client Device 4a MFP
4b PC
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 operation unit 11 display unit 12, 12 a service function control unit 13 alternative function control unit 14, 14 a registration unit 15 parser unit 16 first communication control unit 17 second communication control unit 18 volatile storage unit 19 non-volatile storage unit 20 communication Part 21 Authentication part 50 User 51 Administrator 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 external storage device 105 media 106 media drive 107 controller 108 network I / F
109 Display 110 CD-ROM
111 CD-ROM drive 115 Bus 200, 200a Cloud service table 300 Alternative function screen 300a Destination input section 300b Send button 301 Message display dialog

JP, 2012-253718, A

Claims (7)

Storage means for storing cloud service information for correlating a cloud service which is a function provided from a cloud, an alternative function for replacing the cloud service, and first information indicating a service suspension condition of the cloud service;
Communication means for communicating data with an external device;
Communication control means for receiving, via the communication means, second information indicating an operating state of a specific cloud service in the cloud;
Comparison of storing the comparison result in the storage means by comparing the second information received by the communication control means with the first information associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information Means,
First control means for recognizing the operating state of the specific cloud service based on the comparison result stored in the storage means;
A second control unit that acquires the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information, when the first control unit recognizes that the specific cloud service is suspended;
Display means for displaying a screen for processing based on the alternative function acquired by the second control means;
Client device with   If the display unit can not acquire the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information by the second control unit, the specific cloud service is being stopped, and The client device according to claim 1, which displays that there is no said alternative function associated with said specific cloud service. The communication control means
When the first control means recognizes that the specific cloud service is in operation, a service utilization request indicating that the specific cloud service is requested to the cloud is transmitted via the communication means And
Receiving a service utilization response of the particular cloud service from the cloud via the communication means;
The display means, based on the received the service response by the communication controller, the client device according to claim 1 or 2 to display the contents of a particular cloud service. Operation means for receiving operation input;
Registration means for registering at least one of the alternative function and the first information in the cloud service information based on the input of the operation accepted by the operation means;
The client device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: The client device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The storage means stores the cloud service information that associates the cloud service, the alternative function, the first information, and user information used by the alternative function.
When it is recognized by the first control means that the specific cloud service is in the process of stopping, the user information referenced by referring to the user information associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information is referred to as: It further comprises an authentication means for authenticating whether or not the information indicating the user who has logged in to the client device is included,
The second control unit is a client device that acquires the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information when the authentication by the authentication unit is successful. A communication control step of receiving, via the communication means, operation state information indicating the operation state of a specific cloud service in the cloud;
Cloud service information that associates a cloud service, which is a function provided from the cloud, stored in a storage unit, an alternative function that substitutes the cloud service, and stop condition information indicating a service stop condition of the cloud service Comparing the stop condition information associated with a specific cloud service with the received operation status information, and storing the comparison result in the storage unit;
A first control step of recognizing the operating state of the specific cloud service based on the comparison result stored in the storage unit;
A second control step of acquiring the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information when it is recognized that the specific cloud service is stopped;
Displaying a screen for processing based on the acquired alternative function on a display unit;
Information processing method having. A communication control step of receiving, via the communication means, operation state information indicating the operation state of a specific cloud service in the cloud;
Cloud service information that associates a cloud service, which is a function provided from the cloud, stored in a storage unit, an alternative function that substitutes the cloud service, and stop condition information indicating a service stop condition of the cloud service Comparing the stop condition information associated with a specific cloud service with the received operation status information, and storing the comparison result in the storage unit;
A first control step of recognizing the operating state of the specific cloud service based on the comparison result stored in the storage unit;
A second control step of acquiring the alternative function associated with the specific cloud service in the cloud service information when it is recognized that the specific cloud service is stopped;
Displaying a screen for processing based on the acquired alternative function on a display unit;
A program to make a computer run.

Images