JP6930579B2 - Information processing system, information processing device, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, with the spread of various communication devices such as mobile phones and information mobile terminals, the development of applications that can be used on communication devices has become active. In order to promote the use of these applications, websites and applications that can be introduced and downloaded or installed on communication devices as they are have been developed.

For example, in Patent Document 1, an application explanation page displaying a download button (virtual button) requesting download of the application is provided from the server to the computer device (client device) for each of a plurality of applications held by the server. Is displayed on the display of the computer device. Then, when the download button on the application description page is selected, a technique for permitting the download is disclosed only when the selected application is supported by the computer device.

However, since the above-mentioned application description page is not created based on the device information of each client device (information related to device performance, in other words, information that uniquely identifies the client device), the user can use the application. Even if you select the application you want to download from the description page, it may not be allowed to download. As a result, there is a problem that the convenience of the user is lowered.

To solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an information processing system including a device, and a processing unit for providing a list of the equipment available applications to the device, the device, according to the operation for the previous SL an operation panel that displays the app icon for displaying a list of applications, the icon of the application for displaying a list of the applications displayed on the operation panel Te, transmits a device identification information for identifying the device to the information processing apparatus, a list of identified the application on the basis of the device identification information, and displays on the operation panel is obtained from the information processing apparatus, The information processing device has application identification information for identifying an application available in the device for each store identification information that is associated with the device identification information and identifies the store that sells the device. It is an information processing system that identifies the application identification information based on the store identification information specified by the device identification information transmitted from.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the MFP. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the app store server. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the device management server. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the second correspondence information. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of device specific information. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the third correspondence information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an app store. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the app store. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation procedure of the information processing system. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information processing system of a modified example. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the integrated server. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the first correspondence information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing system, an information processing device , an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, as an example of the device according to the present invention, a multifunction device (MFP), which is an aspect of an image forming apparatus, will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a projector or the like. You may. The multifunction device is a device having a plurality of different functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a print function, and a fax function.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the information processing system 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 100 includes an MFP 1, an app store server 2, a translation server 4, and a device management server 5, which are connected to each other via a network 8. For convenience of explanation, in the example of FIG. 1, only one MFP1 is illustrated as a device included in the information processing system 100, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of devices included in the information processing system 100 is not limited to this. And the type is arbitrary.

The app store server 2 displays a list of applications that can be used by the MFP1 and has a Web page for contracting and downloading each application, in other words, a Web page for providing an application that can be used by the MFP1 (hereinafter referred to as a Web page). In the description of the above, it is referred to as "app store 6") is provided to the MFP1. More specific contents will be described later. In this example, the app store 6 corresponds to the "application list screen" of the claim. Further, in this example, in order to provide an application for acquiring the app store 6 from the app store server 2 and displaying it on the MFP 1 (referred to as "AppStore application 3" in the following description), and a Web browser function. Each of the applications (referred to as "browser application 2b" in the following description) is installed in MFP1. The specific contents of MFP1 will be described later.

Further, the app store server 2 manages the application identification information for identifying the application in association with each of the store identification information for identifying the store that sells the device such as the MFP 1. More specific contents will be described later.

The translation server 4 provides a translation application, which is one of the applications provided in the app store 6. More specific contents will be described later.

The device management server 5 manages the device identification information that uniquely identifies the device such as the MFP 1 in association with each store identification information. More specific contents will be described later.

Next, the 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 fax function, and a printer function, and an operation unit 20 that accepts user operations. It should be noted that accepting a user's operation is a concept including accepting information (including a signal indicating a coordinate value of a screen) input according to the user's operation. The main body 10 and the operation unit 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a dedicated communication path 30. As the communication path 30, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard can be used, but any standard may be used regardless of whether it is wired or wireless.

The main body 10 can perform an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit 20. Further, the main body 10 can also communicate with an external device such as a client PC (personal computer), and can 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, an HDD (hard disk drive) 14, a communication I / F (interface) 15, a connection I / F 16, and an engine unit 17. , These are connected to each other via the system bus 18.

The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body 10. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire main body 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14 or the like using the RAM 13 as a work area (work area), and has the above-mentioned copy function, scanner function, fax function, printer function, etc. Realize various functions of.

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 general-purpose information processing and processing other than communication in order to realize a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function. For example, it is provided with 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, and a fax unit that performs fax communication. Further, it may be provided with specific options such as a finisher for sorting printed sheet materials and an ADF (automatic document feeder) that automatically feeds documents.

Next, the 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, which are the system bus 28. They are connected to each other via.

The CPU 21 comprehensively controls the operation of the operation unit 20. 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 provides information (image) according to the input received from the user. ) Is displayed and other functions described later are realized.

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 body 10 via the communication path 30.

The operation panel 27 accepts various inputs according to the user's operation and displays various information (for example, information according to the accepted operation, information indicating the operating status of the MFP 1, information indicating the setting state, etc.). .. In this example, the operation panel 27 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) equipped with a touch panel function, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be configured by an organic EL display device equipped with a touch panel function. Further, in addition to or in place of this, an operation unit such as a hardware key and a display unit such as a lamp may be provided.

Next, the software configuration of MFP1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the 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 substance of the application layer 101, the service layer 102, and the OS layer 103 is various software stored in the ROM 12, HDD 14, and the like. Various functions are provided by the CPU 11 executing these software.

The software of the application layer 101 is application software for operating hardware resources to provide a predetermined function (in the following description, it may be simply referred to as an "application"). For example, examples of the application include 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 intervenes between the application layer 101 and the OS layer 103 and provides the application with an interface for using the hardware resources included in the main body 10. More specifically, it is software for providing a function of accepting an operation request for a hardware resource and arbitrating the operation request. As the operation request received by the service layer 102, a request such as reading by a scanner or printing by a plotter can be considered.

The interface function 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 of the main body 10 (for example, the engine unit 17) through the interface function of the service layer 102.

The software of the OS layer 103 is basic software (operating system (OS)) for providing basic functions for controlling the hardware included in the main body 10. The software of the service layer 102 converts the usage request of the hardware resource from various applications into a command that can be interpreted by the OS layer 103 and passes it to the OS layer 103. Then, when the command is executed by the software of the OS layer 103, the hardware resource operates according to the request of the application.

Similarly, the operation unit 20 has 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 also have the same hierarchical structure as that of the main body 10. However, the functions provided by the application of the application layer 201 and the types of operation requests that the service layer 202 can accept are different from those of the main body 10. The application of the application layer 201 may be software for operating the hardware resources included in the operation unit 20 to provide a predetermined function, but the functions (copy function, scanner function, fax function) mainly provided in the main body 10 may be provided. , Printer function) is software for providing UI (user interface) functions for performing operations and displays. The application layer 201 also includes a browser application 2b, an AppStore application 3, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the software of the OS layer 103 on the main body 10 side and the software of the OS layer 203 on the operation unit 20 side are different from each other in order to maintain the independence of the functions. That is, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently of each other in different operating systems. For example, it is possible to use Linux (registered trademark) as the software of the OS layer 103 on the main body 10 side and Android (registered trademark) as the 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, the communication between the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 is an interprocess communication in a common device. It is done as communication between different devices. An operation (command communication) of transmitting information (instruction content from the user) received by the operation unit 20 to the main body 10 and an operation of the main body 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 events notified from the main body 10 to the operation unit 20 include the execution status of the operation in the main body 10, the contents set on the main body 10 side, and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the power supply to the operation unit 20 is performed from the main body 10 via the communication path 30, the power control of the operation unit 20 is separated from the power control of the main body 10 (independently). Can be done.

Next, the functional configuration of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the MFP1. As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 1 includes an operation screen display unit 111, an app store request unit 112, an app store display unit 113, and an application usage control unit 114. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 4 mainly illustrates the functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the MFP 1 are not limited to these.

The operation screen display unit 111 controls to display the operation screen for performing various operations on the operation panel 27. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen, and the icon 2a for starting the App Store application 3 is displayed on the operation screen.

When the user touches the icon 2a, the AppStore app 3 is activated, and the AppStore app 3 (app store request unit 112) controls the app store server 2 to request the display of the app store 6. More specific contents will be described later, but in the header of the signal requesting the display of the app store 6 (in the following description, it may be referred to as "display request"), the device that can uniquely identify the MFP 1 is specified. Information is added.

The app store display unit 113 (browser app 2b) controls to display the app store 6 received from the app store server 2 on the operation panel 27 as a response to the display request. The application usage control unit 114 controls the application selected by the user among the applications displayed in the app store 6 to be used in the MFP 1 (including the control for installing the application). A specific operation example of the MFP 1 will be described later.

Next, the functional configuration of the app store server 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the app store server 2 includes an acquisition unit 211, a store identification information request unit 212, a third specific unit 213, a third corresponding information storage unit 214, and a display control unit 215. Have. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 6 mainly illustrates the functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the app store server 2 are not limited to these.

The acquisition unit 211 acquires a display request from the MFP1. In this example, since the device identification information is added to the header of the display request, the acquisition unit 211 can uniquely identify the MFP1 that is the request source of the display request by acquiring the display request. Can be obtained. In this example, the acquisition unit 211 corresponds to the "acquisition unit" of the claim.

The store identification information request unit 212 requests the device management server 5 for the store identification information associated with the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211. In the present embodiment, the store identification information requesting unit 212 sends a signal requesting the store identification information to the device management server 5 (in the following description, it may be referred to as a “store identification information request”). It is transmitted, and as a response, the store identification information is received from the device management server 5. In this example, the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211 is added to the header of the store identification information request.

Here, the functional configuration of the device management server 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the device management server 5 has a second specific unit 501 and a second corresponding information storage unit 502. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 7 mainly illustrates the functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the device management server 5 are not limited to these.

The second specific unit 501 is the store identification information associated with the device specific information acquired by the acquisition unit 211 based on the second corresponding information associated with the device specific information for each store identification information. To identify. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the second correspondence information in the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 8, with respect to the store identification information that identifies “store A”, the device identification information that uniquely identifies “device 1”, the device identification information that uniquely identifies “device 2”, and the device identification information that uniquely identifies “device 2”. The device identification information that uniquely identifies the "device 3" and the device identification information that uniquely identifies the "device 4" are associated with each other.

In the example of FIG. 8, the second correspondence information corresponds to one store identification information on a one-to-one basis with four devices sold at the store identified by the store identification information. The information is associated with four device-specific information, but is not limited to this. For example, the second corresponding information is sold for each of a plurality of store identification information at the store identified by the store identification information. It is also possible to have a form in which device specific information for identifying a device is associated with the device. The second correspondence information is stored in advance in the second correspondence information storage unit 502.

In the present embodiment, when the second specific unit 501 receives the store identification information request from the app store server 2 (dealer identification information request unit 212), the second specific unit 501 is added to the header of the received store identification information request. Judge device specific information. Then, with reference to the second correspondence information stored in the second correspondence information storage unit 502, the device identification information added to the header of the store identification information request (with the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211). Identify the store identification information associated with (which can be considered to be). Then, as a response to the store identification information request, the specified store identification information is returned.

For example, the second correspondence information shown in FIG. 8 is stored in advance in the second correspondence information storage unit 502, and the device identification information that uniquely identifies the “device 1” is the device identification information that uniquely identifies the MFP1. It is assumed that there is, and device identification information that uniquely identifies "device 1 (MFP1)" is added to the header of the store identification information request received from the app store server 2. In this case, the second specific unit 501 refers to the second corresponding information shown in FIG. 8 and associates the "dealer A" with the device specific information that uniquely identifies the "device 1 (MFP1)". The store identification information that identifies "dealer A" is returned as a response to the store identification information request.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of device specific information. In the example of FIG. 9, the device identification information is composed of an 11-digit character string, and the upper three-digit character string (“ABC” in the example of FIG. 9) is information for identifying the type of device (MFP, projector, etc.). The lower eight-digit character string (“123456878” in the example of FIG. 9) represents an identification number assigned individually. The mode of the device specific information is arbitrary and is not limited to this.

The device management server 5 described above has a hardware configuration of a normal computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The function of the second specific unit 501 described above is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a ROM or the like, but is not limited to this, and is realized by, for example, a dedicated hardware circuit (semiconductor integrated circuit or the like). May be done. Further, the above-mentioned second corresponding information storage unit 502 is realized by, for example, a ROM, a RAM, or the like.

Returning to FIG. 6, the description of the app store server 2 will be continued. The third specific unit 213 uses the store identification information specified by the second specific unit 501 based on the third corresponding information associated with the application identification information that identifies the application for each store identification information. Identify the associated application identification information. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the third correspondence information in the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 10, with respect to the store identification information that identifies "store A", the application identification information that identifies "app 1", the content explanation information of "app 1", and the usage contract information of "app 1" And the combination of the application identification information that identifies "App 2", the content explanation information of "App 2" and the usage contract information of "App 2", and the application identification information that identifies "App 3", "App 3" The combination of the content explanation information of "App 3" and the usage contract information of "App 3", the application identification information for identifying "App 4", the content explanation information of "App 4" and the usage contract information of "App 4", Are associated with each other. It should be noted that the content explanation information and the usage contract information may be in the form of a link such as HTML instead of the text content.

Further, in the example of FIG. 10, the third corresponding information is, for one store identification information, four applications (applications) that can be used in the device sold at the store identified by the store identification information. The number can be changed arbitrarily) and four application identification information corresponding to one-to-one are associated with each other, but the third correspondence information is, for example, for each of a plurality of store identification information. , The application identification information that identifies the application that can be used in the device sold at the store identified by the store identification information may be associated with the application identification information. The third correspondence information is stored in advance in the third correspondence information storage unit 214.

In the present embodiment, when the store identification information request unit 212 receives the store identification information from the device management server 5 as a response to the above-mentioned store identification information request, the store identification information request unit 212 manages the equipment to the third specific unit 213. Requests the identification of the application identification information associated with the store identification information received from the server 5 (which can be considered to be the store identification information specified by the second identification unit 501). Upon receiving this request, the third specific unit 213 is associated with the store identification information received from the device management server 5 with reference to the third correspondence information stored in the third correspondence information storage unit 214. Identify the application identification information.

For example, when the third correspondence information shown in FIG. 10 is stored in advance in the third correspondence information storage unit 214 and the store identification information for identifying the "store A" is received from the device management server 5 (the third correspondence information). (When the store identification information that identifies "dealer A" is specified by the specific unit 501 of 2). In this case, the third specific unit 213 refers to the third corresponding information shown in FIG. 10 and uses the “application 1” as the application identification information associated with the store identification information that identifies the “store A”. The application identification information that identifies "application 2", the application identification information that identifies "application 2", the application identification information that identifies "application 3", and the application identification information that identifies "application 4" are specified.

Here, by combining the second correspondence information managed by the device management server 5 and the third correspondence information managed by the app store server 2, the device identification information is used for each device identification information. It can also be considered that information (corresponding to the "first correspondence information" of the claim) associated with the application identification information that identifies the application that can be used in the specified device is configured. From a different point of view, in this example, information in which the application identification information that identifies the application that can be used in the device specified by the device identification information is associated with each device identification information (“first correspondence information” in the claim). ”) Can be considered to include the above-mentioned second correspondence information and the above-mentioned third correspondence information.

Further, by combining the second specific unit 501 of the device management server 5 and the third specific unit 213 of the app store server 2, the device specified by the device specific information is used for each device specific information. A function of identifying the application identification information associated with the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211 based on the first correspondence information associated with the application identification information for identifying the application available in the above (claim). It can be considered that "corresponding to the" first specific part ") can be realized. From a different point of view, in this example, the acquisition unit is based on the first corresponding information associated with the application identification information that identifies the application that can be used in the device specified by the device identification information for each device identification information. The function of specifying the application identification information associated with the device identification information acquired by 211 (corresponding to the "first specific part" of the claim) is the above-mentioned second specific part 501 and the third specific part. It can also be considered to include the part 213.

The description of FIG. 6 will be continued. The display control unit 215 provides the application store 6 (corresponding to the “application list screen” of the claim) for providing the application identified by the application identification information specified by the third specific unit 213 to the MFP 1 (in this example). Control is performed to display on the device (device specified by the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211). In the present embodiment, the display control unit 215 generates an app store 6 so that an application different from the application specified by the third specific unit 213 is hidden. That is, the display control unit 215 generates an app store 6 so as to display only the application specified by the third specific unit 213 as the application to be provided.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an app store 6 when the translation application is not specified by the third specific unit 213. Here, the translation application is for providing a translation service that translates the text information of the PDF with transparent text generated by performing OCR processing on the image data read from the manuscript and notifies the user of the translation result. This is an application based on the assumption that the device has an OCR function. For example, when the MFP1 does not have the OCR function, the "translation application" is identified for the store identification information that identifies the "store A" that sells the MFP1 in the above-mentioned third correspondence information. Application identification information is not associated. Therefore, the device identification information that uniquely identifies the MFP 1 is acquired by the acquisition unit 211, and the store identification information (in this example, "dealer A") associated with the device identification information is obtained by the second identification unit 501. When the store identification information to be identified) is specified, the third specific unit 213 is added to the store identification information (store identification information that identifies "store A") specified by the second specific unit 501. As the associated application identification information, the application identification information that identifies the "translation application" is not specified.

The app store 6 is a Web page that displays a button for applying for a usage contract or download of the application (a button "apply" in the example of FIG. 11) for each application specified by the third specific unit 213. .. In the example of FIG. 11, a case where the application identification information for identifying the simple FAX application, the material print application, the photo management application, the photo easy processing application, the document management application, and the simple scan application is specified by the third specific unit 213. I'm assuming.

Further, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an app store 6 when a translation application is specified by the third specific unit 213. For example, when the MFP1 has an OCR function, the "translation application" is identified for the store identification information that identifies the "store A" that sells the MFP1 in the above-mentioned third correspondence information. Application identification information is associated. Therefore, the device identification information that uniquely identifies the MFP 1 is acquired by the acquisition unit 211, and the store identification information (in this example, "dealer A") associated with the device identification information is obtained by the second identification unit 501. When the store identification information to be identified) is specified, the third specific unit 213 is added to the store identification information (store identification information that identifies "store A") specified by the second specific unit 501. As the associated application identification information, the application identification information that identifies the "translation application" is specified. In the example of FIG. 12, the third identification unit 213 identifies the application identification information that identifies the translation application, the simple fax application, the material print application, the photo management application, the photo easy processing application, the document management application, and the simple scan application. It is assumed that there is a case.

In the present embodiment, the display control unit 215 can be considered to be an application identified by the application identification information specified by the third specific unit 213 (that is, an application that can be used by the MFP 1 that requests the display request. The generated app store 6 is generated, and the generated app store 6 is returned as a response to the display request received from the MFP 1. Then, the MFP 1 (app store display unit 113), which is the request source of the display request, controls to display the app store 6 received from the app store server 2 as a response to the display request on the operation panel 27. In the present embodiment, the applications displayed in the app store 6 are only the applications that can be used by the MFP1 that requests the display request, so that the user can use any of the applications displayed in the app store 6. Even if you press the button to apply for download (in this example, the button "Apply"), the request will not be rejected. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

The MFP1 (application usage control unit 114) that requests the display request controls the application selected by the user among the applications displayed in the app store 6 to be used by the MFP1. As an example, the app store 6 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the operation panel 27 of the MFP 1, and the user selects a translation application (in this example, the "apply" button shown in FIG. 12 is pressed). Suppose. Here, it is assumed that the translation application is software (that is, a Web application) that can use the application placed on the translation server 4 by using the browser application 2b of the operation unit 20. In this case, when the application usage control unit 114 detects that the "apply" button of the translation application is pressed, it accesses the translation server 4 and uses the translation application without downloading the translation application from the translation server 4. Perform the processing related to the necessary procedures to do so.

In the present embodiment, the translation application used to provide the translation service is a Web application, but the translation application is not limited to this, and for example, the translation application may be a normal application installed on the operation unit 20. In this case, when the application usage control unit 114 detects that the button "apply" of the translation application is pressed, the application usage control unit 114 controls to download the translation application from the translation server 4 and install it in the MFP 1. However, according to the form in which the translation application is a Web application, there is an advantage that the translation application does not have to be installed in the MFP 1 (operation unit 20). The same applies to other applications displayed in the app store 6. Further, the App Store application 3 does not have to be a type of application to be installed in the MFP 1 as long as it has a function of acquiring device specific information, and may be a Web application or another form of application.

The app store server 2 described above has a hardware configuration of a normal computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The functions of the acquisition unit 211, the store identification information request unit 212, the third identification unit 213, and the display control unit 215 are realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM or the like. Not limited to this, for example, at least a part of each function of the above-mentioned acquisition unit 211, store identification information request unit 212, third specific unit 213, and display control unit 215 is a dedicated hardware circuit (semiconductor integrated). It may be realized by a circuit or the like). Further, the above-mentioned third corresponding information storage unit 214 is realized by, for example, a ROM, a RAM, or the like.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation procedure of the information processing system 100 of the present embodiment. First, when the user touches the icon 2a (see FIG. 5) on the operation screen (step S1), the OS of the operation unit 20 starts the AppStore application 3 (step S2). Next, the launched App Store application 3 requests the OS of the operation unit 20 for device identification information that can uniquely identify the MFP 1 (step S3), and as a response, the device identification information from the OS of the operation unit 20. Is received (step S4). Next, the App Store application 3 requests the OS of the operation unit 20 to start the browser application 2b pre-installed in the MFP 1 (step S5). The device identification information and the URL of the app store server 2 are added to this request, and the OS of the operation unit 20 that receives this request starts the browser application 2b. Then, the device identification information and the URL of the app store server 2 are passed to the browser application 2b, and the application store server 2 is instructed to send the above-mentioned display request (step S6).

The launched browser application 2b accesses the URL of the application store server 2 and transmits a display request in which device specific information is added to the header (step S7). Upon receiving the display request from the MFP 1, the app store server 2 requests the device management server 5 for the store identification information associated with the device identification information added to the header of the display request. Is transmitted (step S8). As described above, the device identification information added to the header of the display request is added to the header of the store identification information request. Upon receiving the store identification information request from the app store server 2, the device management server 5 determines the device identification information added to the header. Then, with reference to the second correspondence information stored in the second correspondence information storage unit 502, the store identification information associated with the device identification information is specified. Then, as a response to the store identification information request, the specified store identification information is returned (step S9).

As a response to the store identification information request, the app store server 2 that has received the store identification information from the device management server 5 refers to the third correspondence information stored in the third correspondence information storage unit 214, and refers to the device. The application identification information associated with the store identification information received from the management server 5 is specified. Then, an app store 6 for providing the application identified by the specified application identification information is generated (step S10). Next, the app store server 2 returns the generated app store 6 as a response to the display request in step S7 described above (step S11). The browser application 2b of the MFP1 that requests the display request controls to display the application store 6 received from the application store server 2 as a response to the display request on the operation panel 27 (step S12).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the applications displayed in the above-mentioned app store 6 provided from the app store server 2 to the MFP 1 are only the applications that can be used in the MFP 1, so that the user can use them. , Even if you press the button for applying for the usage contract or download of any application displayed in the app store 6 (in this example, the button "Apply"), the request is not rejected. Thereby, the convenience of the user can be improved.

Although the embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, one server (integrated server 7) may be provided instead of the above-mentioned app store server 2 and the above-mentioned device management server 5.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the integrated server 7. As shown in FIG. 15, the integrated server 7 has an acquisition unit 211, a first specific unit 701, a first corresponding information storage unit 702, and a display control unit 215. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 15 mainly illustrates the functions according to the present invention, but the functions of the integrated server 7 are not limited to these.

The first specific unit 701 is provided by the acquisition unit 211 based on the first corresponding information associated with the application identification information that identifies the application that can be used in the device specified by the device specific information for each device specific information. The application identification information associated with the acquired device identification information is specified.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the first correspondence information. In the example of FIG. 16, for the device identification information that uniquely identifies the "device 1", the application identification information that identifies the "application 1", the content explanation information of the "application 1", and the usage contract information of the "application 1". And the combination of the application identification information that identifies "App 2", the content explanation information of "App 2" and the usage contract information of "App 2", and the application identification information that identifies "App 3", "App 3" The combination of the content explanation information of "App 3" and the usage contract information of "App 3", the application identification information for identifying "App 4", the content explanation information of "App 4" and the usage contract information of "App 4", Are associated with each other.

In the example of FIG. 16, the first correspondence information is four applications (the number of applications can be arbitrarily changed) that can be used in the device uniquely specified by the device identification information for one device identification information. It is information that associates four application identification information corresponding to (possible) and one-to-one, but is not limited to this, for example, the first correspondence information is unique for each plurality of device identification information by the device identification information. It can also be in the form of associating application identification information that identifies an application that can be used in the device specified in. The first correspondence information is stored in advance in the first correspondence information storage unit 702.

In this example, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires the display request from the MFP 1, the device identification information added to the header of the display request for the first specific unit 701 (device identification information that uniquely identifies the MFP 1). Request to specify the application identification information associated with. Upon receiving this request, the first specific unit 701 refers to the first correspondence information stored in the first correspondence information storage unit 702, and refers to the device identification information (display request header) acquired by the acquisition unit 211. The application identification information associated with the device identification information added to) is specified. Then, the display control unit 215 identifies the app store 6 for providing the application identified by the application identification information specified by the first specific unit 701 by the device identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 211. Controls the display on the device (in this example, the MFP1 that requests the display request).

In short, the information processing system 100 to which the present invention is applied has the function of the acquisition unit 211 described above and the function of the first specific unit 701 described above (in the above embodiment, the second specific unit 501 and the third specific unit 501). The form may include at least the function including the specific unit 213) and the function of the display control unit 215 described above. Further, the integrated server 7 described above can be considered to correspond to the "information processing device" of the claim. In short, the information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied has at least the above-mentioned function of the acquisition unit 211, the above-mentioned function of the first specific unit 701, and the above-mentioned function of the display control unit 215. good.

The functions of each part of the MFP 1 described above (operation screen display unit 111, application store request unit 112, application store display unit 113, application usage control unit 114) are stored in a storage device (for example, 11 or 21) by the CPU (11 or 21). It is realized by executing a program stored in (ROM12, HDD14, ROM22, flash memory 24, etc.), but is not limited to this, for example, at least a part of the functions of each part of the MFP1 is a dedicated hardware circuit. (For example, a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like) may be realized.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate independently of each other in separate operating systems, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 operate in the same operating system. It may be in the form.

Further, the program executed by the information processing system 100 (MFP1, application store server 2, device management server 5, etc.) of the above-described embodiment is a CD-ROM or a flexible disk in an installable format or an executable format file. It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versail Disc), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or via a network such as the Internet. It may be configured to be provided or distributed by. Further, various programs may be configured to be provided by incorporating them into a ROM or the like in advance.

1 MFP
2 App store server 4 Translation server 5 Device management server 6 App store 7 Integrated server 10 Main unit 20 Operation unit 100 Information processing system 111 Operation screen display unit 112 App store request unit 113 App store display unit 114 Application usage control unit 211 Acquisition unit 212 Dealer identification information request unit 213 Third specific unit 214 Third corresponding information storage unit 215 Display control unit 501 Second specific unit 502 Second corresponding information storage unit 701 First specific unit 702 First corresponding information Memory

JP-A-2010-182309

Claims (9)

An information processing system including a device, and a processing unit for providing a list of the equipment available applications to the device,
The device is
An operation panel that displays the app icon to display a list of previous Symbol app,
In response to an operation to the icon of the application for displaying a list of the applications displayed on the operation panel, and sends the device identification information identifying the device to the information processing apparatus,
A list of the applications specified based on the device identification information is acquired from the information processing device and displayed on the operation panel.
The information processing device
Each store identification information that is associated with the device identification information and identifies the store that sells the device has application identification information that identifies an application that can be used by the device.
The application identification information is specified based on the store identification information specified by the device identification information transmitted from the device.
Information processing system. The device is
Equipped with a scanner that reads documents
The operation panel displays an icon of a scanner application for operating the scanner together with an icon of an application for displaying a list of the applications.
The information processing system according to claim 1. The list of apps includes apps that use the scanner and are different from the scanner apps.
The information processing system according to claim 2. The list of the application specified based on the device identification information is
The app to be installed on the device and
Web applications that are not installed on the device
Including
Through the list of the applications displayed on the operation panel, it is possible to install the application to be installed on the device and perform the procedures necessary for using the Web application of the Web application. be,
The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The operation panel generates a list of the applications so that applications different from the applications identified by the application identification information are hidden.
The information processing system according to claim 1. The operation panel controls to use the application selected by the user among the one or more applications displayed in the list of the applications on the device.
The information processing system according to claim 5. In an information processing device that displays a list of applications that can be used by the device on the operation panel of the device.
Each store identification information that is associated with the device identification information that identifies the device and identifies the store that sells the device has application identification information that identifies the application that can be used by the device.
A list of the applications related to the application identification information specified based on the store identification information specified by the device identification information transmitted from the device is transmitted to the device.
Information processing device. An information processing method in an information processing device that displays a list of applications that can be used by the device on the operation panel of the device.
Each store identification information that is associated with the device identification information that identifies the device and identifies the store that sells the device has application identification information that identifies the application that can be used by the device.
A list of the applications related to the application identification information specified based on the store identification information specified by the device identification information transmitted from the device is transmitted to the device.
Information processing method. A computer that controls an information processing device that displays a list of applications that can be used by the device on the operation panel of the device.
A step of managing application identification information that identifies an application that can be used by the device for each store identification information that is associated with the device identification information that identifies the device and identifies a store that sells the device.
A step of transmitting a list of the applications related to the application identification information specified based on the store identification information specified by the device identification information transmitted from the device to the device, and a step of transmitting the list of the applications to the device.
A program to execute.

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