JP6708932B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program, and information processing system, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method and a program therefor capable of easily grasping the update status of user information associated with a printing apparatus, an information processing system, a control method and a program therefor.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a point management system that gives points for receiving a predetermined service such as a gift presentation or a product discount according to a printing process of a printing apparatus.

For example, the following patent document 1 discloses a mechanism in which a printing apparatus manufacturer uses a cartridge whose operation has been confirmed, and points can be given to a user of the printing apparatus according to a printing process in the printing apparatus. Has been done.

JP 2004-302955 A

A user who uses the above point management system may own a plurality of printing devices. There is a mechanism for managing the points given in accordance with printing by the plurality of printing devices that are associated with each other by associating the plurality of printing devices with the user.

In such a mechanism, for example, when the printing apparatus is transferred to another person, it is necessary to update the point management system so that the printing apparatus and the other person are associated with each other. That is, since the user associated with the printing apparatus may be updated, it may be desirable to know at a glance which printing apparatus is associated with the user at the moment.

Therefore, the user needs a mechanism that enables the user to easily grasp the update status of the user associated with the printing apparatus registered in the point management system.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism capable of easily grasping the update status of user information associated with a printing apparatus.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing system of the present invention relates to a storage unit that stores user information for identifying a user and a printing device in association with each other, and associates the storage device with the printing device. An updating unit for updating the stored user information, a printing device managed in association with the user information before being updated by the updating unit, and a printing device stored in the storage unit in association with the user information And a list display means for displaying and in a list.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism capable of easily grasping the update status of user information associated with a printing apparatus.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the system configuration in embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the user terminal 100, the WEB server 102, and the point management server 103 in embodiment. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a point management server 103. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed process flow of a process of acquiring a temporary ID and a real ID of the printing apparatus. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to updating a registered printing apparatus list 730 managed by the point management server 103. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of giving points in the point management server 103. It is an example of a data table showing an example of various data tables in the present embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing related to display of a printing apparatus list screen 900. 6 is a screen example of a printing device list screen 900.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a point management system according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the point management system includes a user terminal 100, printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, a WEB server 102, and a point management server 103 as an information processing apparatus.

When the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c registered in advance execute printing, the point management system gives points according to the print contents of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c. For example, the print log information 710 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a data table indicating the print content of the printing apparatus 101. In the print log information 710, a printer ID 711, the number of sheets 712, a reception date/time 713, a point 714, and a user CD 701 are managed in association with each other. The printer ID 711 is an ID for uniquely identifying the printing apparatus 101. The number of sheets 712 indicates the number of printed sheets. The reception date and time 713 is information regarding the time when the WEB server 102 acquires information related to printing from the printing apparatus 101. Points 714 indicate points given according to the number of sheets 712. The user CD 701 is user information registered in association with the printer ID 711. In the present embodiment, the number 712 is the point 714 as it is, but the number 712 may be multiplied by a coefficient to calculate the point 714.

Each of the printing devices 101a to 101c is registered in association with a user who uses each of the printing devices 101a to 101c. The user can receive a predetermined service such as a gift presentation or a product discount according to the accumulated number of points. The printing apparatuses 101a to 101c execute jobs such as copying and scanning based on the operation of an operation unit (not shown) or the execution data received from an external device (not shown). The WEB server 102 acquires print log information 710, which is log information of printing executed by each of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, from each of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, and holds the acquired print log information 710. When the WEB server 102 receives the transmission request for the print log information 710 from the point management server 103, the WEB server 102 transmits the print log information 710 to the point management server 103. The point management server 103 gives points according to the print contents of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, accumulates the points for each user, and manages the points by a user table 700 of FIG.

The user table 700 is a data table in which the user CD 701 and the points 702 are associated with each other. Points 702 are managed for each user CD 701.

Next, the hardware configurations of the WEB server 102 and the point management server 103 will be described. In this embodiment, the WEB server 102 and the point management server 103 have the same configuration, and the configuration will be described below by using the point management server 103 as an example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the user terminal 100, the WEB server 102, and the point management server 103 in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the point management server 103 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an input controller 205, a video controller 206, a memory controller 207, a communication I/F controller 208, an input device 209, a display 210, and an external memory 211. The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, input controller 205, video controller 206, memory controller 207, and communication I/F controller 208 are connected to each other via a system bus 204. The input controller 205 is connected to the input device 209, the video controller 206 is connected to the display 210, and the memory controller 207 is connected to the external memory 211.

The CPU 201 centrally controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. Further, the CPU 201 loads a program necessary for executing the processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 203, and executes the loaded program to realize each operation. The ROM 202 is a read-only memory. The external memory 211 is a hard disk (HD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disk (FD), a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected to a PCMCIA card slot via an adapter, or the like. The ROM 202 and the external memory 211 store a control program for the CPU 201, such as a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), and various programs necessary for realizing the functions of the point management server 103. Remember. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201.

The input controller 205 acquires input information input by operating the input device 209 or an input device such as a mouse (not shown) from the input device. The video controller 206 controls display on the display 210 such as a liquid crystal display and a CRT. The memory controller 207 controls access to the external memory 211. The communication I/F controller 208 controls communication with the WEB server 102 and the like, and performs communication using TCP/IP, for example.

This is the end of the description of the hardware configurations of the WEB server 102 and the point management server 103 shown in FIG.

Next, the functional configuration of the point management server 103 will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG.

The point management server 103 includes a storage unit 301, a reception unit 302, a storage control unit 303, and a display control unit 304 as functional units.

The storage unit 301 is a functional unit that stores a user CD (user information) indicating a user and a printing device in association with each other. The reception unit 302 is a functional unit that receives registration of a printing device from a user. The storage control unit 303 is a functional unit that controls the association between the user CD in the storage unit 301 and the printing device. The display control unit 304, when displaying the list of printing devices stored in association with the user, is controlled to be associated with a user different from the user already stored in association with the storage control unit 303. Is also a functional unit that is displayed in a list.

This is the end of the description of the functional configuration shown in FIG. The functional configuration described above can be changed according to the use and purpose.

Next, a detailed process flow of the process of acquiring the temporary ID and the real ID of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S401, the CPU 201 of the user terminal 100 sends a request for the temporary ID 741 and the permanent ID 742 to the printing apparatus 101.

In step S402, the printing apparatus 101 receives the request for the temporary ID 741 and the permanent ID 742 from the user terminal 100.

Both the temporary ID 741 and the permanent ID 742 are IDs for identifying the printing apparatus 101. The temporary ID 741 is a temporary ID given in response to a request from the printing apparatus 101. The real ID 742 is an ID for specifying a target to which points are added according to printing by the printing apparatus 101.

In step S403, the printing apparatus 101 sends a request for the temporary ID 741 to the WEB server 102.

In step S404, the CPU 201 of the WEB server 102 receives the request for the temporary ID 741 transmitted from the printing apparatus 101.

In step S405, the CPU 201 of the WEB server 102 newly generates the temporary ID 741 and stores it in the print ID table 740 managed by the external memory 211 of the WEB server 102. The print ID table 740 is a data table in which the temporary ID 741 and the real ID 742 are associated with each other. When the printing apparatus 101 becomes the target of the point management system, the temporary ID 741 is overwritten on the permanent ID 742.

In step S406, the CPU 201 of the WEB server 102 transmits the temporary ID 741 generated in step S405 to the printing apparatus 101.

In step S407, the printing apparatus 101 receives the temporary ID 741 transmitted in step S406.

In step S408, the printing apparatus 101 updates the temporary ID 741 managed by the printing apparatus 101.

In step S409, the printing apparatus 101 transmits the permanent ID 742 managed by the printing apparatus 101 and the temporary ID 741 updated in step S408 to the user terminal 100.

In step S410, the CPU 201 of the user terminal 100 receives the permanent ID 742 and the temporary ID 741 transmitted in step S409.

This is the end of the description of the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, processing related to updating the registered printing apparatus list 730 managed by the point management server 103 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S501, the CPU 201 of the user terminal 100 requests the point management server 103 to register the point management system with respect to the printing apparatus 101 that has received the permanent ID 742 and the temporary ID 741 in step S410 in response to an instruction from the user. To do. The user CD 701 that has received an input via a screen (not shown), the real ID 742 and the temporary ID 741 received in step S410 are transmitted to the point management server 103.

In step S502, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 receives a registration request to the point management system (corresponding to a reception unit). Specifically, the user CD 701, the permanent ID 742, and the temporary ID 741 transmitted in step S501 are received.

In step S503, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 adds the record of the user CD 701 received in step S502 to the registered printing device list 730 stored in the external memory 211 or the like (corresponding to an updating unit).

This will be specifically described. For example, the case where the user CD 701 received in step S502 is “user B”, the temporary ID 741 is “A004”, and the permanent ID 742 is “A002” will be described. As shown in the bottom record of the registered printing apparatus list 730 of FIG. 7, a record of “user B” is added to the user CD 701.

The registered printing device list 730 is a data table for managing printing devices registered in the point management system. For example, the registered printing apparatus list 730 shown in FIG. In the registered printing device list 730, a user CD 701 (corresponding to user information), a printer ID 711, a last printing date 731, an invalid flag 732, and an old user CD 733 are managed in association with each other. The last printing date 731 stores information on the time when printing was last executed by the printing apparatus 101. The invalid flag 732 is a flag indicating whether or not the point giving to the printer ID 711 is invalid. The old user CD 733 (corresponding to the update information) stores the user CD 701 (history of the user CD 701) that is managed in association with the printer ID 711 before the printer ID 711 becomes invalid.

In step S504, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 gives the temporary ID 741 to the printer ID 711 of the record added in step S503. If the user CD 701 received in step S502 is “user B”, the temporary ID 741 is “A004”, and the permanent ID 742 is “A002”, the registered printing device list 730 in FIG. As shown in the bottom record, “A004” is added to the printer ID 711.

In step S505, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 determines whether the registered printing apparatus list 730 has a record in which the real ID 742 received in step S502 is registered as the printer ID 711. If it is determined that a registered record exists, the process proceeds to step S506, and if not, the process proceeds to step S508.

In step S506, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 performs a process of setting the invalid flag 732 of the record in which it is determined that the real ID 742 received in step S502 is registered as the printer ID 711.

If the user CD 701 received in step S502 is “user B”, the temporary ID 741 is “A004”, and the permanent ID 742 is “A002”, the registered printing device list 730 in FIG. As shown in the second record from the top, the invalid flag 732 of the record whose real ID 742 is “A002” is set.

In step S507, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 identifies the user CD 701 of the record for which the invalid flag 732 is set in step S506. In the above example, "user A" is specified as the user CD 701 of the record in which the invalid flag 732 is set (corresponding to the management unit).

In step S508, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 transmits to the WEB server 102 an instruction to validate the temporary ID 741 assigned in step S504.

In step S509, the CPU 201 of the WEB server 102 receives the instruction to validate the temporary ID 741 transmitted in step S508.

In step S510, the CPU 201 of the WEB server 102 performs a process of validating the temporary ID 741 received in step S509. Specifically, in the print ID table 740, the real ID 742 associated with the temporary ID 741 is updated with the temporary ID 741. That is, the temporary ID 741 and the real ID 742 are controlled to be the same. By doing so, points 714 can be added to the print log information 710 transmitted from the printer having the real ID 742, and the printing apparatus 101 for which the registration request has been made in step S501 is to be given points. You can

This is the end of the description of the flowchart shown in FIG. In this way, the printing apparatus 101 can be registered in the WEB server 102 as the target printing apparatus of the point management system.

Next, a mechanism for giving points according to printing by the printing apparatus 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S601, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 transmits to the WEB server 102 an acquisition request for the print log information 710 of the printing apparatus 101 for which the real ID 742 is validated in step S510.

In step S602, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 determines whether the print log information 710 has been received from the WEB server 102. If it is determined that the print log information 710 is received, the process proceeds to step S603, and if not, the process waits.

In step S603, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 reads all the print log information 710 determined to be received in step S602.

In step S604, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 performs a process of giving points 714 for each print log information 710. Specifically, points 714 are given by multiplying the number of sheets 712 by a predetermined coefficient.

In step S605, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 determines whether processing has been completed for all the print log information 710 read in step S603. If it is determined that the processing has been completed for all print log information 710, the process proceeds to step S606; otherwise, the process returns to step S604.

In step S606, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 performs a process of updating the last print date 731 corresponding to the printer ID 711 of the record to which the point 714 is added in step S604. For the updated date and time, for example, date and time information on the system is used.

This is the end of the description of the flowchart shown in FIG. In this way, points 714 are given according to printing by the printing apparatus 101. The given points 714 are added up for each user CD 701 at a predetermined timing and stored in the point 702 of the user table 700.

Next, the flow of detailed processing for displaying the printing apparatus list screen 900 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing for displaying the printing apparatus list screen 900. The printing device list screen 900 displays a list of information about the printing devices managed in association with the user CD 701 before being updated and the printing devices managed in association with the user CD 701 after being updated. It is a screen that can be. Details will be described later.

In step S801, the user terminal 100 transmits a request for the printing apparatus list screen 900 to the point management server 103. Information of the user CD 701 is also sent to the point management server 103 to request the printing apparatus list screen 900.

In step S802, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 receives the request for the printing apparatus list screen 900 transmitted in step S801.

In step S803, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 performs a process of generating the printing apparatus list screen 900 regarding the user CD 701 received in step S802.

This will be specifically described. For example, a case where the user CD 701 received in step S802 is “user A” will be described as an example. First, referring to the registered printing apparatus list 730, a record in which the user CD 701 is “user A” and the invalid flag 732 is not set is extracted. In the registered printing device list 730 of FIG. 7, the uppermost record is extracted. As a result, it is possible to extract the record relating to the printing device to which the “user A” is currently registered and to which points are given. A screen is generated so that the extracted records are displayed on the printing apparatus list screen 900 shown in FIG.

Next, the registered printing apparatus list 730 is referred to, and the record in which the user CD 701 is “user A” and the invalid flag 732 is set is specified. In the case of the registered printing apparatus list 730 in FIG. 7, the second record from the top corresponds. As a result, it is possible to extract a record relating to a printing device that is currently registered by another user and is not a point-granting target. A screen is generated so that the extracted records are displayed on the printing apparatus list screen 900 shown in FIG. More preferably, a record including “user A” is extracted from the old user CD 733 of the registered printing apparatus list 730, the user CD 701 of the record is specified (“user B” is specified), and the specified user CD 701 is specified. May be displayed in the item of the current user 901 (corresponding to user information of a different user) on the printing apparatus list screen 900 as shown in FIG. By doing so, there is an effect that the user can easily recognize on the list screen which user the printing apparatus is currently managed in association with.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a record relating to the printing device to which the “user A” is currently registered and to which points are given, and a printing device which is currently registered to another user and is not to be given points. The record may be displayed in a distinguishable manner (in FIG. 9, the record related to the printing apparatus that is currently registered by another user and is not a point-granting target is displayed in reverse). As a method of displaying in a distinguishable manner, the color of characters may be changed or an identification mark may be added. By displaying in a distinguishable manner in this way, when the list of printing devices related to user A is displayed, the printing device to which points are to be added (associated with the user before update) and the device that is not (pointed to the user after update) It has an effect that it can be easily distinguished from the printing device.

In step S804, the CPU 201 of the point management server 103 transmits the printing apparatus list screen 900 generated in step S803 to the user terminal 100.

In step S805, the user terminal 100 receives the printing apparatus list screen 900 transmitted in step S804.

In step S806, the user terminal 100 controls to display the printing device list screen 900 received in step S805 on the display (corresponding to a list display unit). For example, the printing device list screen 900 shown in FIG.

This is the end of the description of the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described above, by using the two types of IDs, the temporary ID 741 and the real ID 742, it is possible to display a list screen that can identify the printing apparatuses that are not the points-granting target in the point management system.

Further, by further displaying date and time information indicating the last printing date on the printing device list screen 900, it becomes easy for the user to find information about the printing device that has recently printed, from the range displayed in the list. There is.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism capable of easily grasping the update status of user information associated with a printing apparatus.

The present invention can be embodied as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a storage medium, or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. It may be applied to a device consisting of one device. It should be noted that the present invention includes a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, which directly or remotely supplies the system or device with the software program. The present invention also includes a case where the information processing apparatus of the system or the apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

Therefore, the program code itself installed in the information processing apparatus to implement the functional processing of the present invention in the information processing apparatus also implements the present invention. That is, the present invention includes the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

In that case, the program may take any form such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to an OS as long as it has the function of the program.

Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, MO, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, and the like. There are also magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, DVDs (DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs), and the like.

As another method of supplying the program, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a home page on the Internet. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the home page to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

It can also be realized by dividing the program code forming the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from different homepages. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for implementing the functional processing of the present invention on an information processing apparatus is also included in the present invention.

In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted and stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed to users, and the key information for decrypting the encryption is downloaded from the home page via the Internet to users who have satisfied predetermined conditions. Let Then, it is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the downloaded key information and install the program in the information processing apparatus to realize it.

Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the information processing apparatus executing the read program. In addition, the OS or the like running on the information processing device performs a part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the information processing device or a function expansion unit connected to the information processing device. After that, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing also realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be limitedly interpreted by these. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical idea or its main features.

103 point management server 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication I/F Controller 209 Keyboard 210 Display 211 External Memory

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving user information for identifying the user and printing device information for identifying the printing device;
Storage means for storing the user information and the printing apparatus information received by the receiving means in association with each other;
When the accepting unit accepts the printing device information already stored in the storage unit, the user information stored in association with the printing device information is set as the newly accepted user information together with the printing device information. Update means to update,
The printing device information in which the user information of the user is associated based on a request from the user, and the printing device information in which the user information is updated by the updating unit, and the user information of the user as user information before updating. Printing device information associated with, list display means for displaying a list,
Equipped with
The list display means displays the updated user information associated with the printing device information with respect to the printing device information associated with the user information of the user as the pre-update user information. Information processing system. A point giving means for giving points to printing by the printing device,
Calculating means for calculating the points given by the giving means as points of the user relating to the user information stored in association with the printing apparatus information relating to the printing apparatus;
The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: The storage means further stores the date and time information regarding the time when the printing was last executed in the printing device in association with each other,
3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the list display unit also displays the date and time information stored in the storage unit in a list. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit that stores the user information received by the reception unit and the printing device information in association with each other.
A receiving step in which the receiving unit of the information processing apparatus receives user information for identifying a user and printing device information for identifying a printing device;
When the updating unit of the information processing device receives the printing device information already stored in the storage unit in the receiving step, the user information stored in association with the printing device information is stored in the printing device. An update process for updating the newly received user information together with the information ,
The list display means of the information processing device is the printing device information in which the user information of the user is associated based on the request from the user, and the printing device information in which the user information is updated in the updating step. A list display step of displaying a list of printing device information associated with the user information of the user as previous user information ,
Equipped with
In the list display step, regarding the printing device information in which the user information of the user is associated as the pre-update user information, the updated user information associated with the printing device information is displayed. Information processing method. Information processing device,
Receiving means for receiving user information for identifying the user and printing device information for identifying the printing device;
A storage unit that stores the user information and the printing apparatus information received by the reception unit in association with each other,
When the accepting unit accepts the printing device information already stored in the storage unit, the user information stored in association with the printing device information is set as the newly accepted user information together with the printing device information. Update means to update,
The printing device information in which the user information of the user is associated based on a request from the user, and the printing device information in which the user information is updated by the updating unit, and the user information of the user as user information before updating. Printing device information associated with , function as a list display means for displaying a list,
The list display unit functions as a unit that displays the updated user information associated with the printing device information, for the printing device information associated with the user information of the user as the pre-update user information. Program for.

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