JP6645341B2 - Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, a mechanism for downloading and installing an application from a Web page provided by a Web server has been known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an MFP downloads and installs software in cooperation with a distribution server that distributes software.

  However, according to the conventional technology, even if an application is downloaded from a Web page and installed in the MFP, the current firmware that controls the operation of the MFP (refers to software that controls the operation of the MFP) corresponds to the application. In some cases, the application cannot be used. In such a case, conventionally, a service person has to go to the installation location of the MFP and update the firmware that controls the operation of the MFP, so that the waiting time until the application can be used becomes long. However, there is a problem that user convenience is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method capable of improving user convenience.

  In order to solve the above-described problem and achieve the object, the present invention is an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a server connected to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an application Acquisition unit for acquiring a first screen including a button on which an instruction to introduce the information into the information processing apparatus is pasted, and control for displaying the first screen acquired by the first acquisition unit And a first display unit for performing, when the button is pressed, an application corresponding to the command can be used in the information processing apparatus before executing the command attached to the pressed button. A determination request information transmitting unit that transmits determination request information for requesting validity determination to determine whether or not the determination is valid to the server; and a determination request information that indicates a result of the validity determination from the server. And controlling the operation of the information processing device when the determination result information received by the result information receiving unit and the determination result information receiving unit indicates that the application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device. A first control unit that performs control for updating firmware, wherein the server, when receiving the determination request information from the information processing device, performs a determination unit that performs the validity determination; A determination result information transmitting unit configured to transmit the determination result information indicating a result to the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, user convenience can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an information processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the application list screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a URL scheme. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the application server. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the application server. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correspondence information. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second screen. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the first control unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the third control unit. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the second control unit. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the firmware update procedure. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the firmware update procedure. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the firmware update procedure. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a firmware update procedure. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the firmware update procedure. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the application market server. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the firmware distribution server. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another example of the application list screen. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of the version upgrade screen. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP according to the second embodiment. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of the execution selection screen. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the time designation screen. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the information processing system according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus, will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. Note that the MFP is a device having a plurality of different functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing system 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 100 includes an MFP 1, an application market server 2, an application server 3, and a firmware distribution server 4, and these are mutually connected via a network 8.

  The application market server 2 provides the MFP 1 with an application list screen in which an installation command, which is an example of a command for introducing the application into the MFP 1, is associated with each of the plurality of applications. More specific contents will be described later. In this example, an application that provides a function of acquiring an application list screen from the application market server 2 and displaying the application list screen on the MFP 1 (hereinafter, may be referred to as an “app market application”) or an application displayed on the application list screen An application that provides a function of performing control to introduce an application selected by the user into the MFP 1 (hereinafter, may be referred to as an “installed application”) is installed in the MFP 1. The function of the application market application is realized by using an application for providing a Web browser function, and thus may be collectively referred to as a “browser application”. Specific contents of the MFP 1 will be described later.

  The application server 3 performs validity determination (details will be described later) that determines whether the application presented by the MFP 1 can be used by the MFP 1. Further, the application server 3 holds the application displayed on the application list screen and distributes the application in response to a request from the MFP 1. The firmware distribution server 4 distributes firmware for controlling the operation of the MFP 1 in response to a request from the MFP 1. More specific contents will be described later.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 1 includes a main body 10 capable of realizing various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and an operation unit 20 for receiving a user operation. Note that accepting a user operation is a concept including accepting information (including a signal indicating a coordinate value of a screen) input according to the user operation. The main body 10 and the operation unit 20 are communicably connected to each other via a dedicated communication path 30. The communication path 30 may use, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, but may use an arbitrary standard regardless of whether it is wired or wireless.

  In addition, the main body 10 can perform an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit 20. In addition, the main body 10 can communicate with an external device such as a client PC (personal computer), and can also perform an operation according to an instruction received from the external device.

  First, the hardware configuration of the main body 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, a communication I / F (interface) 15, a connection I / F 16, and an engine unit 17. Are interconnected via a system bus 18.

  The CPU 11 totally controls the operation of the main body 10. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the main body 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14 using the RAM 13 as a work area (work area), and controls the above-described copy function, scanner function, fax function, printer function, and the like. To realize various functions.

  The communication I / F 15 is an interface for connecting to the network 8. The connection I / F 16 is an interface for communicating with the operation unit 20 via the communication path 30.

  The engine unit 17 is hardware that performs processing other than general-purpose information processing and communication for realizing a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. For example, a scanner (image reading unit) that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter (image forming unit) that prints on a sheet material such as paper, a fax unit that performs fax communication, and the like are provided. Further, specific options such as a finisher for sorting printed sheet materials and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for automatically feeding a document can be provided.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the operation unit 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a flash memory 24, a communication I / F 25, a connection I / F 26, and an operation panel 27. Connected to each other.

  The CPU 21 controls the operation of the operation unit 20 as a whole. The CPU 21 controls the operation of the entire operation unit 20 by executing a program stored in the ROM 22 or the flash memory 24 using the RAM 23 as a work area (work area), and outputs information (images) corresponding to the input received from the user. ) To realize various functions to be described later.

  The communication I / F 25 is an interface for connecting to the network 8. The connection I / F 26 is an interface for communicating with the main unit 10 via the communication path 30.

  The operation panel 27 receives various inputs according to the operation of the user and displays various information (for example, information corresponding to the received operation, information indicating the operation status of the MFP 1, information indicating the setting state, and the like). . In this example, the operation panel 27 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a touch panel function, but is not limited to this. For example, an organic EL display device having a touch panel function may be used. Further, in addition to or instead of this, an operation unit such as a hardware key or a display unit such as a lamp may be provided.

  Next, a software configuration of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 10 has an application layer 101, a service layer 102, and an OS layer 103. The entity of the application layer 101, the service layer 102, and the OS layer 103 are various software stored in the ROM 12, the HDD 14, and the like. Various functions are provided by the CPU 11 executing the software.

  The software of the application layer 101 is application software (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “app”) for operating hardware resources to provide a predetermined function. For example, the application includes a copy application for providing a copy function, a scanner application for providing a scanner function, a fax application for providing a fax function, a printer application for providing a printer function, and the like.

  The software of the service layer 102 is software that is interposed between the application layer 101 and the OS layer 103 and provides an application with an interface for using hardware resources included in the main body 10. More specifically, it is software for providing a function of receiving an operation request for hardware resources and arbitrating the operation request. The operation request received by the service layer 102 may be a request for reading by a scanner or printing by a plotter.

  The function of the interface by the service layer 102 is provided not only to the application layer 101 of the main body 10 but also to the application layer 201 of the operation unit 20. That is, the application layer 201 (application) of the operation unit 20 can also realize a function using the hardware resources (for example, the engine unit 17) of the main body 10 via the interface function of the service layer 102. For example, the interface function of the service layer 102 is provided by a Web API.

  The software of the OS layer 103 is basic software (operating system (OS)) for providing a basic function of controlling hardware included in the main body 10. The software of the service layer 102 converts a use request for hardware resources from various applications into a command that can be interpreted by the OS layer 103 and passes the command to the OS layer 103. When a command is executed by the software of the OS layer 103, the hardware resource performs an operation according to the request of the application.

  Similarly, the operation unit 20 includes an application layer 201, a service layer 202, and an OS layer 203. The application layer 201, the service layer 202, and the OS layer 203 included in the operation unit 20 have the same hierarchical structure as the main body 10 side. However, the functions provided by the applications in the application layer 201 and the types of operation requests that can be accepted by the service layer 202 are different from those of the main body 10. The application in the application layer 201 may be software for operating a hardware resource included in the operation unit 20 and providing a predetermined function, but mainly includes functions (copy function, scanner function, and fax function) included in the main body 10. , A printer function) for providing operations and display related to a UI (user interface). In this example, the applications of the application layer 201 include a browser application (app market application) and the like. The software of the service layer 202 includes an installation application and the like.

  In the present embodiment, software of the OS layer 103 of the main unit 10 and software of the OS layer 203 of the operation unit 20 are different from each other in order to maintain independence of functions. That is, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently of each other with different operating systems. For example, Linux (registered trademark) can be used as software of the OS layer 103 on the main body 10 side, and Android (registered trademark) can be used as software of the OS layer 203 on the operation unit 20 side.

  As described above, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, since the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate on different operating systems, communication between the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 is performed by inter-process communication in a common device. Instead, it is performed as communication between different devices. The operation (command communication) of transmitting information (instruction content from the user) received by the operation unit 20 to the main unit 10 and the operation of the main unit 10 notifying the operation unit 20 of an event correspond to this. Here, the function of the main body 10 can be used by the operation unit 20 performing command communication to the main body 10. In addition, the event notified from the main body 10 to the operation unit 20 includes an execution state of an operation in the main body 10, contents set on the main body 10, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, power supply to the operation unit 20 is performed from the main body 10 via the communication path 30. Therefore, power control of the operation unit 20 is performed separately (independently) from power control of the main body 10. T) can be done.

  Next, functions of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 1 includes an operation screen display unit 111, a first acquisition unit 112, a first display unit 113, a determination request information transmission unit 114, a determination result information reception unit 115, 2 has a display unit 116, a first control unit 117, and an application introduction control unit 118. For convenience of description, FIG. 4 mainly illustrates functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the MFP 1 are not limited thereto.

  The operation screen display unit 111 performs control to display an operation screen for performing various operations on the operation panel 27. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation screen. The operation screen displays an icon 5 for activating the application market application.

  The description of FIG. 4 is continued. First obtaining unit 112 obtains a first screen including an instruction to introduce an application into MFP 1. In the present embodiment, the first obtaining unit 112 obtains, for each of a plurality of applications, an application list screen in which an instruction for installing the application (installation instruction) is associated with the application list screen. In the present embodiment, when the user touches the icon 5, the browser application (the first acquisition unit 112) transmits a signal requesting the application list screen (hereinafter, may be referred to as a “display request”) to the application market server 2. Send to Then, as a response, the application list screen is acquired from the application market server 2.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the application list screen (Web page). In the example of FIG. 6, the application list screen includes, for each of a plurality of applications, descriptive information describing the contents of the application, and a button 6 for instructing installation of the application (hereinafter, referred to as an “install button 6”). Is displayed. In this example, a URL scheme describing the execution procedure of the installation instruction is pasted on the installation button 6.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a URL scheme pasted on the install button 6 corresponding to the application identified by the ID (application ID) “49354”. The “installer” part in FIG. 7 is a header part of the URL scheme, and the header part of the URL scheme may be hereinafter referred to as a “scheme part”. The scheme part “installer” indicates information for identifying an application that executes an installation instruction. In this example, the scheme part indicates an installer installed in the MFP 1. In FIG. 7, “installApp” in “installApp? Id = 49354” is an installation command, and the argument of the installation command is “id = 49354”. This represents an installation instruction of the application identified by the id “49354”. In other words, it is a part indicating the specific contents of the instruction. The URL scheme shown in FIG. 7 is information in which the execution procedure of the installation instruction is described in a URL format. When the installation button 6 on which the URL scheme is pasted is pressed, the installer is activated, and the activated installer is The instruction to install the application identified by the id “49354” will be executed.

  The application list screen according to the present embodiment can be considered as a screen including a button (an installation button 6 in this example) on which an instruction for introducing an application to the MFP 1 (an installation instruction in this example) is pasted. Corresponds to the “first screen”.

  The description of FIG. 4 is continued. The first display unit 113 controls to display the first screen acquired by the first acquisition unit 112. In the present embodiment, the first display unit 113 performs control to display the application list screen acquired by the first acquisition unit 112 on the operation panel 27.

  When a button (install button 6) included in the first screen is pressed, the determination request information transmitting unit 114 executes the command (install command) before executing the command (install command) attached to the pressed button. Is transmitted to the application server 3 requesting validity determination for determining whether an application corresponding to the MFP 1 can be used by the MFP 1. In the present embodiment, when the browser application receives the press of the install button 6 corresponding to any one of the plurality of applications displayed on the application list screen, the browser application changes the URL scheme pasted to the install button 6. , The OS of the operation unit 20 is notified. The OS of the operation unit 20 confirms the notified URL scheme and broadcasts the URL scheme to each application of the operation unit 20. Then, the installation application responds to the broadcasted URL scheme, and executes the application to be installed (the application corresponding to the installation instruction) on the MFP 1 before executing the installation instruction whose execution procedure is indicated by the URL scheme. The determination request information for requesting the validity determination for determining whether or not it can be used is transmitted to the application server 3.

  In this example, pressing of the install button 6 means selection of the URL scheme pasted on the install button 6, and means selection of an installation instruction whose execution procedure is indicated by the URL scheme. That is, when the install button 6 included in the application list screen is pressed, the installation procedure of the install application (the determination request information transmitting unit 114) is indicated by the URL scheme attached to the pressed install button 6. Before executing the installation instruction (the installation instruction pasted on the installation button 6), the application server transmits determination request information for requesting validity determination for determining whether an application corresponding to the instruction can be used in the MFP 1 to the application server. Send to 3. In this example, the application server 3 corresponds to a “server” in the claims.

  The above-described determination request information provides application identification information for identifying an application (application to be installed) corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6 and a function necessary for using the application. Module identification information for identifying a module to be executed, and version information indicating a version value of the module mounted on the MFP 1. A module represents a unit of software for providing a specific function. The version value indicates the attribute of the corresponding module and indicates a large value each time the module changes.

  The determination request information in the present embodiment includes an application ID (an example of application identification information) of an application corresponding to the installation command pasted on the pressed installation button 6. Further, the determination request information according to the present embodiment includes, for each of a plurality of module IDs (an example of module identification information) corresponding to a plurality of modules mounted on the MFP 1, a version of the module identified by the module ID. It contains module information associated with version information indicating a value. However, the form of the determination request information is not limited to this. For example, the determination request information includes an application ID (an application ID included in a URL scheme in this example) of the application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6 and an application identified by the application ID. While including a module ID for identifying a module for providing a function required to use the application and version information indicating a version value of the module identified by the module ID, which is mounted on the MFP 1. A form that does not include a module ID for identifying a module that is not necessary for using the application identified by the ID or version information indicating a version value thereof may be used.

  Here, a configuration of the application server 3 that performs the above-described validity determination will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the application server 3. The hardware configurations of the application market server 2 and the firmware distribution server 4 are the same as those in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the application server 3 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a communication I / F 304, an input device 305, and a display device 306. The CPU 301 controls the operation of the application server 3 as a whole. The ROM 302 is a nonvolatile memory that stores various data such as programs. The RAM 303 is a volatile memory that functions as a work area (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU 301. The communication I / F 304 is an interface for connecting to the network 8. The input device 305 is a device used for inputting an operation by a user, and includes, for example, a mouse and a keyboard. The display device 306 is a device that displays various types of information, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the application server 3. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the application server 3 includes a correspondence information storage unit 311, a determination unit 312, a determination result information transmission unit 313, an application holding unit 314, and an application transmission unit 315. For convenience of description, FIG. 9 mainly illustrates functions according to main parts of the present invention, but the functions of the application server 3 are not limited to these.

  The correspondence information storage unit 311 stores the correspondence information. The correspondence information is for providing a function necessary for using the application identified by the application identification information for each of a plurality of application identification information (an application ID in this example) corresponding to a plurality of applications on a one-to-one basis. Module identification information (the module ID in this example) for identifying the module of this type, and the minimum version value of the module identified by the module identification information (the minimum version value required to use the corresponding application). And the lower limit version information shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correspondence information.

  The description of FIG. 9 is continued. Upon receiving the above-described determination request information from MFP 1, determination unit 312 performs validity determination. More specifically, based on the above-described determination request information received from MFP 1 and the correspondence information stored in correspondence information storage unit 311, determination unit 312 identifies the application with the application ID included in the above-described determination request information. It is determined whether the application to be used can be used in MFP 1. More specifically, the determination unit 312 specifies a combination that matches the combination of the application identification information and the module identification information included in the determination request information among the combinations of the application identification information and the module identification information included in the above-described correspondence information. If the version value indicated by the lower limit version information associated with the specified combination is larger than the version value indicated by the version information included in the determination request information, the version is identified by the application identification information included in the determination request information described above. Application cannot be used by the MFP 1. On the other hand, when the version value indicated by the lower limit version information is equal to or less than the version value indicated by the version information included in the above-described determination request information, the application identified by the application identification information included in the above-described determination request information is used by the MFP 1. Determine that you can.

  The procedure for determining validity in the present embodiment is as follows, but is not limited to this. When receiving the above-described determination request information from MFP 1, determination section 312 specifies an application ID that matches the application ID included in the above-described determination request information among the plurality of application IDs included in the above-described correspondence information. Then, in the above-mentioned correspondence information, the module ID associated with the specified application ID is specified, and the above-described module information (one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of modules mounted on the MFP 1) included in the above-mentioned determination request information A module ID that matches the specified module ID is selected from a plurality of module IDs included in the corresponding module IDs (information in which version information is associated with each of the plurality of module IDs). The selected version information is referred to as “selected module ID”, and the version information associated with the selected module ID is selected in the module information (for convenience, the selected version information is referred to as “selected version information”). Then, among the combinations of the application ID and the module ID included in the above-described correspondence information, a combination that matches the combination of the application ID included in the above-described determination request information and the above-described selected module ID is identified, and the identified identification is performed. If the version value indicated by the lower limit version information associated with the combination is larger than the version value indicated by the above-described selected version information, it is determined that the application identified by the application ID included in the above-described determination request information cannot be used by the MFP 1 judge. On the other hand, when the version value indicated by the lower limit version information is equal to or less than the version value indicated by the selected version information, it is determined that the application identified by the application ID included in the above-described determination request information can be used by the MFP 1.

  The determination result information transmitting unit 313 illustrated in FIG. 9 transmits the determination result information indicating the result of the validity determination to the MFP 1. The application holding unit 314 holds a plurality of applications. Application transmitting section 315 transmits the application held in application holding section 314 to MFP 1 in response to a request from MFP 1. The above is the configuration of the application server 3.

  In the present embodiment, the functions of the above-described units of the application server 3 (the determination unit 312, the determination result information transmission unit 313, the application transmission unit 315, and the like) are realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in the ROM 302 or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, at least a part of the functions of each unit of the application server 3 described above may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit (such as a semiconductor integrated circuit). Further, the above-mentioned correspondence information storage unit 311 and the above-mentioned application holding unit 314 are realized by, for example, the ROM 302 or the like. Here, each function of the determination result information transmission unit 313 and the application transmission unit 315 may be considered to be realized by a combination of the CPU 301 that executes a program and the communication I / F 304. For example, the function of the determination result information transmitting unit 313 is realized by the CPU 301 controlling the communication I / F 304 to transmit the determination result information to the MFP 1. Further, for example, the function of the application transmission unit 315 is realized by the CPU 301 controlling the communication I / F 304 so as to transmit the application to the MFP 1.

  The description of FIG. 4 is continued. The determination result information receiving unit 115 receives, from the application server 3, determination result information indicating the result of the above-described validity determination as a response to the above-described determination request information.

  The second display unit 116 displays the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 on the application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6 (that is, the application included in the determination request information). If the application identified by the ID) cannot be used by the MFP 1, control is performed to display a second screen for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to update the firmware. In the present embodiment, the second display unit 116 performs control for displaying a second screen as shown in FIG. In this example, the user can instruct the update of the firmware by pressing the “OK” button shown in FIG.

  The description of FIG. 4 is continued. The first control unit 117 determines that the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 is an application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6 (an application ID included in the determination request information). When the application (identified application) indicates that the MFP 1 cannot be used, the control that updates the firmware that controls the operation of the MFP 1 is performed. In this example, when receiving an instruction to update the firmware via the above-described second screen, the first control unit 117 performs control to update the firmware.

  In the present embodiment, the first control unit 117 determines whether the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 corresponds to the application (the determination request information If the application identified by the included application ID cannot be used by the MFP 1, control is performed to introduce the first firmware indicating the latest firmware into the MFP 1. Here, the first firmware is a second firmware indicating the latest version of the operation unit firmware that controls the operation of the operation unit 20, and a third firmware indicating the latest version of the main unit firmware that controls the operation of the main unit 10. And firmware. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the first control unit 117 includes a second control unit 120 and a third control unit 130. The second control unit 120 controls to introduce the second firmware into the operation unit 20. The third control unit 130 controls to introduce the third firmware into the main body 10.

  For convenience of description, before describing the functions of the second control unit 120, the functions of the third control unit 130 will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the third control unit 130. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the third control unit 130 includes a second acquisition unit 131, a decomposition unit 132, an address information transmission unit 133, and a first introduction control unit 134.

  The second acquisition unit 131 includes a package in which the second firmware and the third firmware are integrated (that is, a package in which the latest version of the operation unit firmware and the latest version of the main unit firmware are integrated, In the following description, a “package of the latest version” may be obtained, and the obtained package is stored in the storage unit (the HDD 14 in this example). In the present embodiment, the second acquisition unit 131 transmits a package request for requesting the latest version of the package to the firmware distribution server 4 in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit 121, which will be described later. Obtained from the distribution server 4.

  The decomposing unit 132 decomposes the latest version of the package acquired by the second acquiring unit 131 into second firmware and third firmware. As a method for disassembling the package, various known methods can be used.

  The address information transmission unit 133 transmits address information (information indicating the location of the second firmware in the HDD 14) that can specify an area (storage area) in the storage unit (the HDD 14 in this example) in which the second firmware is stored. Transmit to the second control unit 120.

  The first introduction control unit 134 controls to introduce the third firmware disassembled by the disassembly unit 132 into the main body 10. In this example, the first introduction control unit 134 controls to install the third firmware in the main body 10. More specifically, files such as programs and data constituting the third firmware are expanded and necessary settings are made, and files that cannot be modified while the OS is running are set by restarting the main unit 10. .

  Next, a function of the second control unit 120 will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a function of the second control unit 120. As shown in FIG. 14, the second control unit 120 has an instruction unit 121, an address information receiving unit 122, a reading unit 123, and a second introduction control unit 124.

  The instructing unit 121 determines whether the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 described above is an application (identified by an application ID included in the determination request information) corresponding to the installation instruction attached to the pressed installation button 6. Application indicates that the MFP 1 cannot be used, the third control unit 130 (second acquisition unit 131) is instructed to acquire the latest version of the package.

  The address information receiving unit 122 receives the above-described address information from the third control unit 130. The reading unit 123 reads the second firmware from the area specified by the address information received by the address information receiving unit 122 in the storage unit (the HDD 14 in this example).

  The second introduction control unit 124 controls to introduce the second firmware read by the reading unit 123 into the operation unit 20. In this example, the second introduction control unit 124 performs control to install the second firmware on the operation unit 20. More specifically, necessary files are set by expanding files such as programs and data constituting the second firmware. For files that cannot be modified while the OS is running, the operating unit 20 is restarted to set the files. I do.

  In the present embodiment, the operation unit 20 includes the above-described second control unit 120, and the main body 10 includes the above-described third control unit 130.

  As described above, the first control unit 117 uses the application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6 with the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 in the MFP 1. If it is not possible, control is performed to introduce the first firmware indicating the latest version of firmware into the MFP 1. After the control by the first control unit 117 is performed, the determination request information transmitting unit 114 retransmits the above-described determination request information to the application server 3, and the above processing is repeated.

  Hereinafter, the firmware update procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 15, the third control unit 130 (second acquisition unit 131) sends the latest version of the firmware from the firmware distribution server 4 according to the instruction from the second control unit 120 (instruction unit 121). The package is acquired, and the acquired package is stored in the HDD 14.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the third control unit 130 (disassembly unit 132) disassembles the package stored in the HDD 14 into second firmware and third firmware.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the third control unit 130 (first introduction control unit 134) expands files such as programs and data constituting the third firmware and performs necessary settings. At this stage, the main body 10 is not restarted.

  Next, the third control unit 130 instructs the second control unit 120 to install the second firmware (instructs to update the operation unit firmware). In this example, the third control unit 130 (address information transmission unit 133) transmits to the second control unit 120 address information that can specify an area of the HDD 14 in which the second firmware is stored, The user will be instructed to install the second firmware. The second control unit 120 (readout unit 123) reads out the second firmware from an area of the HDD 14 specified by the address information received from the third control unit 130. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the second control unit 120 (second introduction control unit 124) expands files such as programs and data constituting the second firmware and performs necessary settings. Then, after the settings other than the files that cannot be modified while the OS is running are completed, the operation unit 20 is restarted, and the settings of the files that cannot be modified while the OS is running are performed. Thus, the introduction of the second firmware to the operation unit 20 is completed.

  After the restart of the operation unit 20 is completed and the operation unit 20 and the main unit 10 are reconnected, as shown in FIG. 19, the third control unit 130 sends the second firmware to the second control unit 120 again. Introduce the introduction. At this stage, since the introduction of the second firmware to the operation unit 20 has been completed, the second control unit 120 having received this instruction immediately confirms that the introduction of the second firmware has been completed. The response shown is returned to the third control unit 130. The third control unit 130 (first introduction control unit 134) that has received the response restarts the main body 10 and sets a file that cannot be modified while the OS is running. Thereby, the introduction of the third firmware to the main body 10 is also completed.

  As described above, after the introduction of the first firmware into the MFP 1 is completed, the MFP 1 requests the application server 3 again for the above-described validity determination. That is, after the introduction of the first firmware into the MFP 1 is completed, the determination request information transmitting unit 114 transmits the above-described determination request information to the application server 3 again. The module information included in the determination request information in this case is the latest module information (the application ID is the same as the previous one). Similarly to the above, the application server 3 that has received the determination request information performs the above-described validity determination, and transmits determination result information indicating the result to the MFP 1.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued. The application introduction control unit 118 determines that the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit 115 corresponds to the application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed install button 6 (in this example, the application included in the determination request information). When indicating that the application identified by the ID can be used by the MFP 1, the application executes an installation instruction and controls to introduce the application into the MFP 1.

  Next, an example of the functions of the application market server 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, the application market server 2 includes an application list screen holding unit 211 and an application list screen transmission unit 212. For convenience of description, FIG. 20 mainly illustrates functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the application market server 2 are not limited to these.

  The application list screen holding unit 211 holds the application list screen described above. Upon receiving the above-described display request from MFP 1, application list screen transmitting section 212 transmits the application list screen held in application list screen holding section 211 to MFP 1 as a response.

  In the present embodiment, the function of the application list screen transmission unit 212 of the application market server 2 described above is realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in the ROM 302 or the like, but is not limited thereto. It may be realized by a hardware circuit (such as a semiconductor integrated circuit). The above-described application list screen holding unit 211 is realized by, for example, the ROM 302 or an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD. Here, it may be considered that the function of the application list screen transmission unit 212 is realized by a combination of the CPU 301 that executes a program and the communication I / F 304. For example, the function of the application list screen transmission unit 212 is realized by the CPU 301 controlling the communication I / F 304 to transmit the application list screen to the MFP 1.

  Next, an example of functions of the firmware distribution server 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the firmware distribution server 4 has a package holding unit 411 and a package transmitting unit 412. For convenience of description, FIG. 21 mainly illustrates functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the firmware distribution server 4 are not limited to these.

  The package holding unit 411 holds the latest version of the package. Upon receiving the above-described package request from MFP 1, package transmitting section 412 transmits the latest package held in package holding section 411 to MFP 1 as a response.

  In the present embodiment, the function of the package transmission unit 412 included in the firmware distribution server 4 described above is realized by the CPU 301 executing a program stored in the ROM 302 or the like. It may be realized by a circuit (such as a semiconductor integrated circuit). The above-described package holding unit 411 is realized by, for example, the ROM 302 or an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD. Here, it may be considered that the function of the package transmission unit 412 is realized by a combination of the CPU 301 that executes a program and the communication I / F 304. For example, the function of the package transmission unit 412 is realized by the CPU 301 controlling the communication I / F 304 so as to transmit the package to the MFP 1.

  FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the information processing system 100 according to the present embodiment. In this example, the main body 10 has a system module that manages a program, and the function of the third control unit 130 described above is provided by this system module. First, when the user touches the icon 5 (see FIG. 5) on the operation screen (step S1), the browser application transmits the above-described display request to the application market server 2 (step S2). Then, as a response, the application list screen is received from the application market server 2 (step S3), and the received application list screen is displayed on the operation panel 27 (step S4).

  Next, when the user presses the install button 6 of any application on the application list screen (step S5), the browser application notifies the OS of the operation unit 20 of the URL scheme pasted on the install button 6. (Step S6). The OS of the operation unit 20 confirms the notified URL scheme (Step S7), and broadcasts the URL scheme to each application of the operation unit 20 (Step S8).

  Then, the installation application responds to the broadcasted URL scheme. The installation application requests the above-described module information from the system module of the main body 10 (step S9), and receives the above-described module information from the system module of the main body 10 as a response (step S10).

  Next, the installation application (determination request information transmission unit 114) transmits the above-described determination request information including the application ID included in the URL scheme received from the OS of the operation unit 20 and the module information received in step S10. Is transmitted to the application server 3 (step S11). The application server 3 that has received the determination request information performs the above-described validity determination (step S12), and transmits determination result information indicating the result to the installation application (step S13).

  If the determination result information received from the application server 3 indicates that the application identified by the application ID included in the determination request information cannot be used by the MFP 1, the installation application (the first display unit 113) executes the above-described second application. Is displayed (step S14). Then, when an instruction to update the firmware is received via the above-described second screen (step S15), the installation application (instruction unit 121) causes the system module (second acquisition unit 131) of the main body 10 to An instruction to acquire the latest package is issued (step S16). The system module (the second acquisition unit 131) that has received this instruction transmits the above-described package request to the firmware distribution server 4 (Step S17), and acquires the latest package from the firmware distribution server 4 as a response thereto, The acquired latest package is stored in the HDD 14 (step S18).

  Next, the system module (the disassembly unit 132) disassembles the latest package acquired in step S18 into the second firmware and the third firmware (step S19). Then, the system module (first introduction control unit 134) expands files such as programs and data constituting the third firmware obtained by the disassembly in step S19 and performs necessary settings (step S20). At this stage, the main body 10 is not restarted.

  Next, the system module instructs the installation application to install the second firmware. As described above, in this example, the system module (address information transmitting unit 133) transmits address information that can specify the area of the HDD 14 in which the second firmware is stored to the install application (step S21). The installation application (reading unit 123) reads the second firmware from an area of the HDD 14 specified by the address information received from the system module (Step S22). Next, the installation application (the second introduction control unit 124) expands files such as programs and data constituting the second firmware and performs necessary settings (step S23). Then, after the settings other than the files that cannot be modified while the OS is running are completed, the operation unit 20 is restarted, and the files that cannot be modified are set while the OS is running (step S24). Thus, the introduction of the second firmware to the operation unit 20 is completed.

  After the restart of the operation unit 20 is completed and the operation unit 20 and the main unit 10 are reconnected, the system module of the main unit 10 instructs the installation application to install the second firmware again (step S25). At this stage, the installation of the second firmware in the operation unit 20 has been completed, and the installation application that has received this instruction immediately sends a response indicating that the installation of the second firmware has been completed to the system. Return to the module (step S26). Upon receiving this response, the system module (first installation control unit 134) restarts the main body 10 and sets a file that cannot be modified while the OS is running (step S27). Thereby, the introduction of the third firmware to the main body 10 is also completed.

  When the processing in step S27 is completed, the system module notifies the installation application that the introduction of the third firmware to the main body 10 has been completed (step S28). The installation application that has received this notification requests the application server 3 again for validity determination. More specifically, the installation application reacquires the module information from the system module of the main body 10 and identifies the reacquired module information and the application corresponding to the installation instruction pasted on the pressed installation button 6. The determination request information including the application ID to be executed (the application ID included in the URL scheme pasted on the install button 6 pressed in step S5) is transmitted to the application server 3 (step S29). Similarly to the above, the application server 3 that has received the determination request information performs the above-described validity determination (step S30), and transmits determination result information indicating the result to the install application (step S31).

  If the determination result information received from the application server 3 indicates that the application identified by the application ID included in the determination request information can be used by the MFP 1, the installation application (the application introduction control unit 118) downloads the application. A request is made to the server 3 (step S32), and the application is downloaded from the application server 3 (step S33). Then, the installation application (application introduction control unit 118) installs the downloaded application in MFP 1 (step S34).

  As described above, when the install button 6 included in the above-described application list screen is pressed, the MFP 1 can use the application corresponding to the install command pasted on the pressed install button 6 on the MFP 1. The determination request information requesting the validity determination to determine whether or not the request is transmitted to the application server 3. The application server 3 that has received the determination request information from the MFP 1 performs the above-described validity determination, and transmits determination result information indicating the result to the MFP 1. If the determination result information received from the application server 3 as a response to the above-described determination request information indicates that the application corresponding to the installation command pasted on the pressed installation button 6 cannot be used by the MFP 1, Control that updates the firmware that controls the operation of the device. That is, in the present embodiment, when the application corresponding to the installation command pasted on the pressed installation button 6 cannot be used in the MFP 1, the firmware of the MFP 1 is automatically updated. There is no need for the service person to go to the installation location of the MFP and perform the work of updating the firmware of the MFP, and the waiting time of the user is reduced. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

(Modification of First Embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the installation instruction is described as an example of the instruction for introducing the application to the MFP 1, but the instruction for introducing the application to the MFP 1 is not limited to this. For example, a version upgrade command that instructs switching to the latest version of the application (in other words, an instruction that the latest version of the application is introduced into the MFP 1) may be used.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the application list screen may have a mode in which a button 7 (hereinafter, referred to as an “application management button 7”) for switching to a screen for instructing version upgrade is displayed. In this example, when a press of the application management button 7 is received, the MFP 1 (first display unit 113) displays, for each version-upgradable application as shown in FIG. And a button 9 for instructing a version upgrade of the application (hereinafter, referred to as a “version upgrade button 9”), and controls the operation panel 27 to display a version upgrade screen. In this example, a URL scheme describing the execution procedure of the version upgrade command is pasted on the version upgrade button 9. In this example, the version upgrade screen can be considered to be a screen including a version upgrade command, which is an example of a command for introducing an application to the MFP 1, and corresponds to the “first screen” in the claims. be able to.

  When the browser application mounted on the operation unit 20 receives the press of the version upgrade button 9, the browser application notifies the OS of the operation unit 20 of the URL scheme pasted on the version upgrade button 9. The OS of the operation unit 20 confirms the notified URL scheme and broadcasts the URL scheme to each application of the operation unit 20. Then, the installation application responds to the broadcasted URL scheme. Subsequent operation contents are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and the mode of the above-described upgrade screen is arbitrary. For example, on the upgrade screen, a button for instructing to upgrade applications that can be upgraded at once is displayed. May be a form in which a URL scheme indicating a procedure for executing a version upgrade instruction for batch upgrading applications that can be upgraded is pasted.

  Further, for example, the above-described version upgrade screen is not provided, and on the application list screen, for each application, explanatory information describing the content of the application and a URL scheme describing an execution procedure of the installation instruction are pasted. The form in which the install button 6 and the version upgrade button 9 on which the URL scheme describing the execution procedure of the version upgrade command is pasted may be displayed.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. A description of portions common to the first embodiment will be appropriately omitted. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 25, MFP 1 further includes an implementation selection screen display unit 140 and a time reception unit 141. When receiving the instruction to update the firmware via the above-described second screen, the time receiving unit 141 receives the specification of the update time indicating the time to update the firmware.

  When the instruction to update the firmware is received (for example, when the “OK” button in FIG. 11 is pressed) via the above-described second screen, the execution selection screen display unit 140 specifies whether to update the firmware immediately. When the set time is reached, control is performed to display on the operation panel 27 an implementation selection screen for selecting whether to update the firmware. FIG. 26 is an example of the execution selection screen. The execution selection screen includes a button 150 for instructing to immediately update the firmware (instructing immediate execution) and updating the firmware when the specified time is reached. Button 151 for instructing the user to perform the operation (instructing time execution). When the button 150 is pressed, the firmware is immediately updated. The specific contents of the firmware update are as described in the above embodiment. On the other hand, when the press of the button 151 is received (when an instruction to select to update the firmware is received at the designated time), the execution selection screen display unit 140 displays the firmware as shown in FIG. Is controlled on the operation panel 27 to display a time designation screen for designating a time for updating the. In this example, the user inputs a desired time via the time designation screen, and presses the “OK” button 160. As a result, information for specifying the update time indicating the time at which the firmware is updated is input. Then, the time receiving unit 141 receives the input information. That is, the time receiving unit 141 receives the time designated via the time designation screen as the update time.

  Then, when the time indicated by the update time received by the time receiving unit 141 has arrived, the first control unit 117 performs control to update the firmware. The specific contents of the firmware update are as described in the above embodiment.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a part of the operation procedure of the information processing system 100 according to the present embodiment that is different from the first embodiment. Here, in step S15 of FIG. 22, the time execution is performed in a state where the above-described execution selection screen is displayed on the operation panel 27 by receiving the instruction to update the firmware via the above-described second screen. It is assumed that the press of the button 151 for instructing is received. That is, it is assumed that the above-described time designation screen is displayed on the operation panel 27. In step S40 of FIG. 28, when the user inputs a desired time via the above-described time designation screen and presses the "confirm" button 160, the installation application (time accepting unit 141) updates the firmware. Accepts the specification of the update time indicating the time. Next, the installation application (instruction unit 121) instructs the system module (second acquisition unit 131) of the main body 10 to acquire the latest package when the update time received in step S40 has been reached ( Step S41). The system module (second acquisition unit 131) that has received this instruction periodically checks the time (step S42), and when the update time notified from the installation application has been reached, distributes the above-described package request to the firmware. The data is transmitted to the server 4 (step S43). The system module (the second acquisition unit 131) acquires the latest package from the firmware distribution server 4 as a response to the package request transmitted in step S43, and stores the acquired latest package in the HDD 14 (step S44). . The subsequent operation is as described in the first embodiment. In this example, it can be considered that the update of the firmware is started when the update time has been reached.

  In this example, the time management is performed on the main body 10 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in step S41 described above, the installation application (instruction unit 121) acquires the latest package in the system module (second acquisition unit 131) of the main body 10 when the update time received in step S40 has been reached. May be instructed.

  As described above, the embodiments according to the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements in the implementation stage without departing from the gist thereof. . Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in each embodiment. Further, components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  Note that the functions of each unit of the MFP 1 described above (the operation screen display unit 111, the first acquisition unit 112, the first display unit 113, the determination request information transmission unit 114, the determination result information reception unit 115, the second display The unit 116, the first control unit 117, the application introduction control unit 118, the execution selection screen display unit 140, and the time reception unit 141 include a CPU (11 or 21) whose storage device (for example, the ROM 12, the HDD 14, the ROM 22, and the flash memory) 24) is executed by executing a program stored therein, but is not limited to this. For example, at least a part of the functions of each unit of the MFP 1 is a dedicated hardware circuit (for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like). It may be realized.

  Here, among the functions of the first acquisition unit 112 described above, the function of transmitting a display request to the application market server 2 and the function of acquiring (receiving) an application list screen from the application market server 2 execute a program. It may be considered to be realized by a combination of the CPU 21 and the communication I / F 25. For example, when transmitting a display request to the application market server 2, the CPU 21 controls the communication I / F 25 to transmit a display request to the application market server 2. For example, when the application list screen is received from the application market server 2, the communication I / F 25 receives the application list screen from the application market server 2. Then, the communication I / F 25 notifies the CPU 21 of the application list screen received from the application market server 2. Thereby, the CPU 21 can detect the reception of the application list screen. Similarly, the functions of the determination request information transmitting unit 114 and the determination result information receiving unit 115 are also realized by a combination of the CPU 21 and the communication I / F 25.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently from each other using different operating systems. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate using the same operating system. It may be in a form. Further, for example, a configuration in which one server integrating the above-described application market server 2 and application server 3 may be provided.

  The programs executed by the information processing system 100 (the MFP 1, the application market server 2, the application server 3, the firmware distribution server 4, and the like) according to the above-described embodiment are CD-format files in an installable or executable format. It may be configured to be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and the Internet. It may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as. In addition, various programs may be configured to be provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance.

1 MFP
2 application market server 3 application server 4 firmware distribution server 8 network 10 main body 20 operation unit 100 information processing system 111 operation screen display unit 112 first acquisition unit 113 first display unit 114 judgment request information transmission unit 115 judgment result information reception Unit 116 second display unit 117 first control unit 118 application introduction control unit 120 second control unit 121 instruction unit 122 address information reception unit 123 reading unit 124 second introduction control unit 130 third control unit 131 2 acquisition unit 132 decomposition unit 133 address information transmission unit 134 first introduction control unit 140 implementation selection screen display unit 141 time reception unit 211 application list screen storage unit 212 application list screen transmission unit 311 correspondence information storage unit 312 determination unit 313 Judgment result information Shin portion 314 application holding section 315 application transmitting section 411 package holding portion 412 package transmission unit

JP 2011-237881 A

Claims (18)

An information processing system including an information processing device and a server connected to the information processing device via a network,
The information processing device,
A first acquisition unit for acquiring a first screen including a button on which an instruction to introduce an application into the information processing apparatus is pasted;
A first display unit that performs control to display the first screen acquired by the first acquisition unit;
When the button is pressed, before executing the command attached to the pressed button, the validity determination is performed to determine whether an application corresponding to the command can be used in the information processing apparatus. A determination request information requesting to transmit the determination request information to the server;
A determination result information receiving unit that receives determination result information indicating a result of the validity determination from the server,
When the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that the application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device, control for updating firmware that controls the operation of the information processing device is performed. A first control unit that performs
The server is
When the determination request information is received from the information processing device, a determination unit that performs the validity determination,
A determination result information transmitting unit that transmits the determination result information indicating the result of the validity determination to the information processing device,
Information processing system. The determination request information includes: application identification information for identifying an application corresponding to the instruction; module identification information for identifying a module for providing a function necessary for using the application; And the version information indicating the version value of the module,
The server is
For each of the plurality of application identification information corresponding to a plurality of applications on a one-to-one basis, the module identification information for identifying a module for providing a function required to use the application identified by the application identification information; And a lower limit version information indicating the minimum version value of the module identified by the module identification information, and a correspondence information storage unit that stores correspondence information that is associated with the module.
The determination unit is identified by the application identification information included in the determination request information based on the determination request information received from the information processing device and the correspondence information stored in the correspondence information storage unit. Determining whether an application can be used in the information processing device,
The information processing system according to claim 1. The determination unit specifies, among combinations of the application identification information and the module identification information included in the correspondence information, a combination that matches a combination of the application identification information and the module identification information included in the determination request information. If the version value indicated by the lower limit version information associated with the specified combination is greater than the version value indicated by the version information included in the determination request information, the application included in the determination request information Determining that the application identified by the identification information cannot be used by the information processing apparatus;
The information processing system according to claim 2. If the version value indicated by the lower limit version information is equal to or less than the version value indicated by the version information included in the determination request information, the application identified by the application identification information included in the determination request information Determines that the information processing device can be used,
The information processing system according to claim 3. The first control unit indicates the latest version of the firmware when the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that the application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device. Performing control for introducing the first firmware into the information processing apparatus;
The information processing system according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus includes an operation unit that receives an operation, and a main body that performs an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit,
The first firmware includes a second firmware indicating the latest version of the operation unit firmware that controls the operation of the operation unit, and a third firmware indicating the latest version of the main unit firmware that controls the operation of the main unit. Consisting of
The information processing system according to claim 5. The first control unit includes:
A second control unit that controls introduction of the second firmware to the operation unit;
A third control unit that controls the introduction of the third firmware into the main body.
The information processing system according to claim 6. The third control unit includes:
A second acquisition unit that acquires a package in which the second firmware and the third firmware are integrated, and stores the acquired package in a storage unit;
A decomposing unit that decomposes the package acquired by the second acquiring unit into the second firmware and the third firmware;
An address information transmitting unit that transmits, to the second control unit, address information that can specify an area in which the second firmware is stored in the storage unit;
A first introduction control unit that controls the introduction of the third firmware into the main body,
The second control unit includes:
An address information receiving unit that receives the address information from the third control unit;
A reading unit that reads the second firmware from an area specified by the address information received by the address information receiving unit in the storage unit;
A second introduction control unit that performs control to introduce the second firmware read by the reading unit into the operation unit.
The information processing system according to claim 7. The second control unit obtains the latest version of the package when the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that an application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device. Further comprising an instruction unit for instructing the third control unit
An information processing system according to claim 8. The operation unit has the second control unit,
The main body has the third control unit,
The information processing system according to claim 7. After the control by the first control unit is performed, the determination request information transmitting unit retransmits the determination request information to the server.
The information processing system according to claim 1. The information processing device,
When the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that an application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device, an instruction for whether to update the firmware is received. A second display unit that performs control for displaying the second screen,
The first control unit, when receiving an instruction to update the firmware via the second screen, performs control for updating the firmware.
The information processing system according to claim 1. The information processing device,
A time receiving unit that receives a specification of an update time indicating a time at which the firmware is updated, when an instruction to update the firmware is received via the second screen,
The first control unit performs control to update the firmware when a time indicated by the update time received by the time reception unit has been reached.
The information processing system according to claim 12. The information processing device,
When an instruction to update the firmware is received via the second screen, an execution selection screen for selecting whether to update the firmware immediately or to update the firmware when a specified time is reached is displayed. Further comprising an execution selection screen display unit for performing control to display,
When receiving an instruction to select updating the firmware when a specified time is reached, the execution selection screen display unit performs control to display a time specification screen for specifying a time to update the firmware. ,
The information processing system according to claim 13. The time receiving unit receives a time designated via the time designation screen as the update time,
The information processing system according to claim 14. The information processing device,
When the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that an application corresponding to the command can be used in the information processing device, an application introduction control that controls to introduce the application into the information processing device. Further comprising a unit,
The information processing system according to claim 1. An information processing method executed by an information processing system including an information processing device and a server connected to the information processing device via a network,
The information processing device,
An obtaining step of obtaining a first screen including a button on which an instruction to introduce an application into the information processing apparatus is pasted;
A first display control step of performing control for displaying the first screen acquired by the acquiring step;
When the button is pressed, it is appropriate to determine whether the application corresponding to the command operates on the information processing apparatus before executing the command pasted on the pressed button. Determining request information for requesting sex determination, a determining request information transmitting step of transmitting to the server,
A determination result information receiving step of receiving determination result information indicating a result of the validity determination from the server,
When the determination result information received in the determination result information receiving step indicates that the application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device, control for updating firmware that controls an operation of the information processing device is performed. Performing a first control step,
The server is
When receiving the determination request information from the information processing device, a determination step of performing the validity determination,
A determination result information transmitting step of transmitting the determination result information indicating the result of the validity determination to the information processing apparatus,
Information processing method. An information processing device connectable to a server via a network,
A first acquisition unit for acquiring a first screen including a button on which an instruction to introduce an application into the information processing apparatus is pasted;
A first display unit that performs control to display the first screen acquired by the first acquisition unit;
When the button is pressed, before executing the command attached to the pressed button, the validity determination is performed to determine whether an application corresponding to the command can be used in the information processing apparatus. A determination request information requesting to transmit the determination request information to the server;
A determination result information receiving unit that receives determination result information indicating a result of the validity determination from the server,
When the determination result information received by the determination result information receiving unit indicates that the application corresponding to the command cannot be used in the information processing device, control for updating firmware that controls an operation of the information processing device is performed. And a first control unit for performing.
Information processing device.

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