JP7163613B2 - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and program.

In recent years, an information processing system has been proposed in which data managed in a public DB can be customized and used by using a private DB (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The information processing system described in Patent Literature 1 includes a public DB in which rewriting of data by general users is restricted and an administrator updates data, etc., a private DB in which general users are permitted to rewrite data, and a DB interface that performs various processes on the public DB and the private DB based on a request from an administrator or a general user. Delete the private DB data corresponding to the above DB association information.

JP 2008-158816 A

An object of the present invention is to convert a first application published by a person with specific authority to a second application created for use by a person other than a person with specific authority. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a program that enable deletion according to the intention of a person.

[1] creation means for creating a second application that can be deleted by a person with the second authority by duplicating the first application that can be deleted by the person with the first authority;
deletion means for deleting the second application according to the conditions if all predetermined conditions are satisfied when the first application is deleted;
The information processing apparatus, wherein the conditions include, as a first condition, reaching the number of times or period in which the second application can be used.
[2] The information processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the first condition is that one of the number of times or the period reaches first.
[3] The information processing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the condition is determined for each person having the second authority.
[4] The information according to [3] above, wherein the condition includes, as a second condition, that a person who has the specific second authority is permitted to use the information for an unlimited number of times or for the period of time. processing equipment.
[5] The information processing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the condition is determined for each of the second applications.
[6] The above [1] or [2] above includes, as a third condition, that a setting to invalidate the condition is not made for each person having the second authority or for each second application. ].
[7] The fourth condition is that, when the first application is deleted, a confirmation screen is displayed and continued use of the second application is not selected. The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6] above, including operation contents when performing the above.
[8] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the deleting means deletes the second application from a storage area storing the second application.
[9] The deleting means deletes the second application stored in the storage area from the storage area without deleting the second application from the display screen displayed to the person having the second authority. The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the second application is seemingly deleted by invalidating a function of instruction means for instructing execution of the above.
[10] The information processing apparatus according to [9], wherein the invalidated instruction means is hidden.
[11] The information according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein when the second application is created, the creation means duplicates and newly holds the setting values of the first application. processing equipment.
[12] creating means for creating a second application that can be deleted by a person having the second authority by duplicating the first application that can be deleted by the person having the first authority;
A program for functioning as deletion means for deleting the second application according to the conditions if all predetermined conditions are satisfied when the first application is deleted,
The program, wherein the conditions include, as a first condition, that the second application has reached a usable number of times or a period of time.

According to the inventions of Claims 1 and 12 , a second application created for use by a person other than a person with specific authority can be extracted from a first application published by a person with specific authority. , can be deleted according to the will of a person with specific authority.
According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to give grace period for using the second application after the first application is deleted.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set for each user the conditions for deleting the second application along with the deletion of the first application.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to allow a specific user to use the service without limitation.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to set conditions for deleting the second application along with deletion of the first application for each second application.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the second application can be deleted unconditionally.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to determine the operation contents associated with deletion as a condition.
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the application from being copied from the second application.
According to the ninth and tenth aspects of the invention, it is possible to easily return the application to a usable state as compared with the case of creating the second application.
According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, the second application can be easily created as compared with the method of not duplicating.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an application usage control table. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a public application management table; 4A shows an example of a private application management table for Mr. A, and FIG. 4B shows an example of a private application management table for Mr. B. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of the screen management table for Mr. A, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the screen management table for Mr. B. FIG. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed for Mr. A, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed for Mr. B. FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the public application creation flow. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a public application duplication flow. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a public application deletion flow. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the usage flow of each user's private application. FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing examples of icons as modification 1. FIG. FIGS. 12A and 12B show another example of the application usage control table as Modification 2, FIG. 12A showing an example of the application usage control table, and FIG. 12B showing an example of a permission table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the application usage control table as Modified Example 3. In FIG. FIGS. 14A to 14D are diagrams for explaining another example of the public application management table as modification 4. FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, constituent elements having substantially the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[Summary of Embodiment]
An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes creating means for creating a second application that can be deleted by a person with second authority from a first application that can be deleted by a person with first authority. and deletion means for deleting the second application according to a predetermined condition when the first application is deleted.

The “person having the first authority” is, for example, an administrator who manages the information processing device or a system including the information processing device. A “person having the second authority” is, for example, a user other than the administrator.

The first application and the second application execute processing specified by the setting values of the registered setting items. For the first application and the second application, for example, an application that is executed immediately without displaying a screen for confirming setting values and an application that displays a screen for confirming setting values and is executed after confirmation. There is an application.

The information processing apparatus may be, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine or a facsimile machine, a multifunctional mobile phone (smartphone), a personal computer (PC), a tablet terminal, or the like.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. This image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as scanning, printing, copying, e-mail, and facsimile. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control section 20 , a storage section 21 , an operation display section 22 , an image reading section 23 , an image forming section 24 and a communication section 25 . A multi-function device is an example of an information processing device.

The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an interface, and the like. By operating according to the information processing program 210, the CPU functions as a reception unit 200, a first creation unit 201, a second creation unit 202, a deletion unit 203, a display control unit 204, an execution unit 205, and the like. Details of each means 200 to 205 will be described later.

The storage unit 21 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, etc., and stores an information processing program 210, a public application storage unit 211, a private application storage unit 212A provided for each user, 212B, . Tables 215A, 215B, . are collectively referred to as a “screen management table 216”). In this specification, "recording" or "registration" is used when writing information in a table, and "storage" is used when writing information in a storage unit. Here, the user is an example of users other than the administrator. When both administrators and users are included, they are also called operators. An administrator is an example of a person with first authority. A user is an example of a person with second authority. Private application storage unit 212 is an example of a storage area.

The public application storage unit 211 stores public applications (hereinafter also simply referred to as “public applications”). FIG. 1 shows a state in which the public application storage unit 211 stores, for example, public applications with the application names of "2 copies" and "Send to Mr. C". A public application is an example of a first application.

Here, "two copies" is an application for making two copies of one or more originals. "Send to Mr. C" is an application for sending an image to Mr. C's user terminal device by e-mail.

Private application storage unit 212 stores private applications (hereinafter also simply referred to as “private applications”). In FIG. 1, the private application storage unit 212A for Mr. A stores, for example, private applications with the application names of "black and white copy" and "two copies". FIG. 1 also shows a state in which, for example, private applications with the application names "Send to Mr. A" and "Send to Mr. C in color" are stored in the private application storage unit 212B for Mr. B. there is Note that public applications and private applications are collectively referred to as “apps” hereinafter. A private application is an example of a second application.

Here, "black-and-white copy" is an application for copying an image read from a document as a black-and-white image. "Send to Mr. A" is an application for sending an image to Mr. A's user terminal device by e-mail. "Send to Mr. C in Color" is an application for sending a color image to Mr. C's user terminal device by e-mail.

The public application management table 214 is for managing public applications. The private application management table 215 is for managing private applications for each user. The screen management table 216 is for managing screens operated by users for each user.

In FIG. 1, the private application storage unit 212A, the private application management table 215A, and the screen management table 216A are assumed to be prepared for Mr. A, and the private application storage unit 212B, the private application management table 215B, and the screen management table 212B are provided. It is assumed that the table 216B is prepared for Mr. B, the user.

A "public application" is an application published by an administrator, and only the administrator has authority to create and delete it. A private application is an application created for each user. A “private application” is an application that is made private by an administrator or a user by duplicating a public application, except for the corresponding user, and only the corresponding user has the authority to delete it. In this specification, "duplication" refers to creating a private application while maintaining the setting values held by the public application.

Public applications and private applications include, for example, applications that are executed immediately without displaying a screen for confirming setting values, and applications that display a screen for confirming setting values and are executed after confirmation. .

The operation display unit 22 has a touch panel display in which a touch panel is superimposed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display. Icons including application names are displayed on the menu screen. Selecting an icon launches the corresponding application. An icon indicates a function of a process executed by an application on a display screen using a picture, pictogram, character, or the like, and instructs execution of the process. An icon is an example of an indication means.

The image reading unit 23 includes an automatic document feeder provided on a document platen, and a scanner for reading image data from a document placed on the document platen or from a document sent by the automatic document feeder. The image reading unit 23 stores the read image data in the storage unit 21 .

The image forming unit 24 forms a black-and-white image or a color image on a recording medium such as paper by, for example, an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like.

The communication unit 25 transmits/receives information by e-mail, facsimile, or the like to/from an external device such as an administrator terminal device used by an administrator or a user terminal device used by a user via a network. The network is, for example, a communication network such as a LAN (local network), the Internet, or a public line network that transmits and receives data by wired communication, wireless communication, or the like.

(Configuration of application usage control table)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the application usage control table 213. As shown in FIG. The application usage control table 213 is used by administrators or users to register usage conditions for public applications and private applications. The application usage control table 213 includes a "control ID" in which a control ID that identifies an application usage control is registered, a "usage condition" in which a usage condition of the application usage control is registered, and a "registrant" in which a registrant name is registered. It has each item such as. Here, the application usage control represents a process of giving usage conditions to the applications in the public application storage unit 211 and the private application storage unit 212 . In the item of "registrant" in FIG. 2, Z indicates the administrator's name, and A and B indicate user names.

The use condition of the control ID "CON1" is that while the public application is stored in the public application storage unit 211, the corresponding private application stored in the private application storage unit 212 can be used, and the public application is stored in the public application storage unit 212. When deleted from the unit 211 , the corresponding private application is controlled to be deleted from the private application storage unit 212 . A private application corresponding to a public application is an application that is duplicated from the public application and usually has the same application name, but may include an application with a changed application name by changing some of the setting values.

The usage condition of the control ID "CON2" is to allow the private app to be used for the specified number of times, the user can use the private app for the specified number of times, and the private app will be deleted after the specified number of times is exceeded. It represents processing. The figure shows an example in which "can be used once" is registered as the usage condition of "CON2".

The usage conditions for control IDs "CON3" and "CON4" are to allow the use of private apps for a specified period of time. It represents the process of deleting the . In the same figure, "Available until 2018/12/1" is registered as the usage condition of "CON3", and "Available until 2019/3/31" is registered as the usage condition of "CON4". .

Although not shown in FIG. 2, any number of arbitrary contents can be registered as usage conditions for the control ID "CONx". A private application for which nothing is registered in the "control ID" of the public application management table 214 and the private application management table 215, which will be described later, is excluded from control. That is, even if the public application is deleted from the public application storage unit 211, the duplicated private application remains in the private application storage unit 212 without disappearing.

In addition, there are some application usage controls that can be used together and some that cannot be used together. For example, "number of times" and "period" can be used at the same time, and are deleted when either one reaches first. The target of control need not be limited to public applications. That is, the control ID can be set for both public applications and private applications. For example, if the registrant of the above "CON2" is Mr. B, and the control ID "CON2" is set for Mr. B's private application, while the private application is stored in the private application storage unit 212B for Mr. B, is affected only by Mr. B. Mr. B can also copy (publish) the private application stored in the private application storage unit 212B to the public application storage unit 211. FIG.

Deletion of a private application is not limited to deleting it from the user's screen management table 216. Although it exists on the screen management table 216, the icon on the screen may be hidden (including grayed out). remains, but it may not be processed even if the icon is operated (a notification such as a beep sound may be provided).

It is also possible to disable (lock) the application usage control function. For example, if the usage condition is "single use", there are cases where the lock is released from the beginning. This is so that when the application is duplicated, it is counted as "zero times" and the application usage control is executed when the duplicated application is used "once". Conversely, if a trial period is provided to some extent, it is locked. You can use the duplicated app any number of times during the trial period, but when the time comes that you can use it only one more time, the lock will be released, and the number of uses will start counting at that point. In many cases of "number of times" and "period", it seems that they are used in the unlocked state.

(Configuration of public application management table)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the public application management table 214. As shown in FIG. The public application management table 214 includes a “management ID” indicating a management number in the table 214, an “application name” in which an application name is registered, and a UID (Unique Identifier) that uniquely identifies an application in the image forming apparatus 1. It has items such as "UID" to be registered, "publisher" to which the person who published the application is registered, and "control ID" to which the control ID shown in FIG. 2 is registered. [xxx] in the "control ID" item indicates a locked state. [CON2] shown in FIG. 3 indicates that CON2 is in the locked state. Assume that, for example, "copy 2" and "send to Mr. C" are registered in the "application name" shown in FIG.

(Configuration of private application management table)
FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of the private application management table 215A for Mr. A. FIG. Private application management table 215A registers a "management ID" that indicates the management number in table 215A, an "application name" that registers an application name, and a private UID that uniquely identifies a private application in private application storage unit 212A. and a “public UID” in which a UID that uniquely identifies an application in the image forming apparatus 1 is registered. Assume that, for example, "black and white copy" and "two copies" are registered in the "application name" shown in FIG. 4(a).

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the private application management table 215B for Mr. B. FIG. Like the private application management table 215A for Mr. A, the private application management table 215B has items such as "management ID", "application name", "private UID", and "public UID". Assume that, for example, "send to Mr. A" and "send to Mr. C in color" are registered in the "application name" shown in FIG. 4(b).

(Structure of screen management table)
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of the screen management table 216A for Mr. A. FIG. The screen management table 216A is for managing the screen displayed on the operation display unit 22 when Mr. A logs in, and the "management ID" indicating the management number in the table 216A and the application name are registered in the table 216A. "application name", "private UID" registered with a private UID that uniquely identifies a private application in the private application storage unit 212A, and "public UID" registered with a UID that uniquely identifies an application in the image forming apparatus 1 ”, and “control ID” shown in FIG. Assume that, for example, "black and white copy", "two copies", and "send to Mr. C" are registered in the "application name" shown in FIG. 5(a).

The private application storage unit 212A for Mr. A stores the private applications “black and white copy” and “duplicate copy”, and does not store the private application “send to Mr. C”. By registering the public application "Send to Mr. C" stored in the screen management table 216A for Mr. A, an icon 101c corresponding to the menu screen 100a shown in FIG. You will be able to use the public application "Send to Mr. C".

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the screen management table 216B for Mr. B. FIG. The screen management table 216B is for managing the screens displayed on the operation display unit 22 when Mr. B logs in, and is similar to FIG. It has items such as "Private UID", "Public UID", and "Control ID". Assume that, for example, "send to Mr. A", "2 copies", and "send in color to Mr. C" are registered in the "application name" shown in FIG. 5(b). "Send to Mr. C in color" is a private application created by duplicating the public application of "Send to Mr. C" and changing the setting values, but the public UID is the same as the original "Send to Mr. C". By assigning and managing things, if you delete the public application of "Send to Mr. C", not only the private application of "Send to Mr. C", but also change the setting value after duplication and change the application name You can also delete the private application of "Send to Mr. C in color".

The private application storage unit 212B for Mr. B stores the private applications "Send to Mr. A" and "Send to Mr. C in color", and does not store the private application "Copy two copies", but the private application "Send to Mr. C" is not stored. By registering the public application of "2 copies" stored in the application storage unit 211 in the screen management table 216B for Mr. B, an icon 101b corresponding to the menu screen 100b shown in FIG. It will be displayed, and you will be able to use the public application of "2 copies".

(Menu screen structure)
FIG. 6A shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 22 when Mr. A logs in, and FIG. 6B shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 22 when Mr. B logs in. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed; FIG.

When Mr. A logs in, the menu screen 100a displayed on the operation display unit 22 is controlled by the display control means 204 based on the screen management table 216A for Mr. A. The menu screen 100a when Mr. A logs in includes, for example, icons 101a, 101b, and 101c for "black and white copy," "2 copies," and "send to Mr. C," as shown in FIG. , an “execute” button 102 for executing the application corresponding to the selected icons 101a-101c, and a “cancel” button 103 for canceling the selection of the icons 101a-101c.

As shown in FIG. 5A, since nothing is set for the control ID of "send to Mr. C", when the administrator deletes the public application "send to Mr. C" from the public application storage unit 211, , "Send to Mr. C" icon 101c is deleted from the menu screen 100a. Since the control ID "CON4" is set for "B&W Copy", Mr. A can use the private application of "B&W Copy" until March 31, 2018, as shown in FIG. That is, the icon 101a of "black and white copy" will be deleted from the menu screen 100a after March 31, 2018.

When Mr. B logs in, the menu screen 100b displayed on the operation display unit 22 is controlled by the display control means 204 based on the screen management table 216B for Mr. B. FIG. The menu screen 100b when Mr. B logs in includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 101b, 101e, an "execute" button 102 for executing the application corresponding to the selected icons 101b, 101d, 101e, and a "cancel" button 103 for canceling selection of the icons 101b, 101d, 101e. Note that the "execute" button 102 and the "cancel" button 103 may not be provided.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), since "copy 2" is not a duplicate, nothing is set as the control ID for PPP1 in the public UID. Even if the public application "Copy 2 copies" is deleted, the icon 101b for "Copy 2 copies" does not disappear from the menu screen 100b, and even if Mr. B operates the icon 101b for "Copy 2 copies", it does not work because it has no substance. Since the control ID "CON3" is set for "Send to Mr. C in color", Mr. B has a private application of "Send to Mr. C in color" on December 1, 2018, as shown in Fig. 2. Available up to That is, the icon 101e of "Send to Mr. C in color" is deleted from the menu screen 100b after December 1, 2018.

If there is a conflict between the control ID set for the public application and the control ID set for the private application, one of them, for example, the control ID set for the private application may be prioritized. You can do it. For example, if "3 times use" is set for public and "1 time use" is set for private, when it is used once, "1 time use" for private is activated and deleted. If no control ID is set for a public application and a control ID is set for a private application, the control ID set for the private application may function. If no control ID is set for a private application and a control ID is set for a public application, the control ID set for the public application may function.

Next, each means 200 to 205 of the control section 20 will be described.

The accepting unit 200 accepts an administrator's or user's operation on the operation display unit 22 . When the administrator or the user inputs the user ID by operating the operation display unit 22, the reception means 200 recognizes who has operated based on the input user ID.

The first creation unit 201 creates a public application based on the operation of the operation display unit 22 by the administrator.

A second creating unit 202 creates a private application based on the operation of an administrator or user on the operation display unit 22 .

When a public application is deleted from public application storage section 211, deletion means 203 deletes the corresponding private application from private application storage section 212 according to predetermined conditions.

Conditions include, for example:
(1) The number of times or period during which the Private App can be used (2) When either the number of times or the period described in (1) above is reached first Note that the conditions may be determined for each User, and may be determined for each Private App. good too. In addition, the condition may be set to be valid or invalid for each user or each private application. If a condition is declared invalid, the condition may not start to apply.

In addition, deleting means 203 does not delete the private application stored in private application storage unit 212, and disables the function of the icon that instructs execution of the private application on the display screen displayed to the corresponding user. good. In this case, the icon whose function is disabled may be hidden.

The display control means 204 controls to display a screen corresponding to the user on the operation display unit 22 based on the screen management table 216 .

The executing unit 205 controls the image reading unit 23, the image forming unit 24, the communication unit 25, etc. for the selected application to execute processing specified by the setting values held by the application.

(Operation of Embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

(1) Creation of Public Application FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of creation of a public application.

The accepting means 200 accepts a user ID and a password by an administrator (for example, Mr. Z) operating the operation display section 22 . When the received user ID and password are authenticated by the control unit 20 as those of the administrator, the reception unit 200 allows the administrator to operate the operation display unit 22 to enter the setting items necessary for creating the public application and the setting items. Accepts a value (setting value). The first creation unit 201 creates a public application based on the setting items and setting values received by the reception unit 200, and stores the public application in the public application storage unit 211 (S1). The first creating unit 201 assigns a UID to the created public application and registers it together with the application name in the public application management table 214 shown in FIG. The application name is given by the administrator by operating the operation display unit 22 .

The accepting unit 200 determines whether or not application usage control has been specified for the created public application (S2). When specifying an application use control for a public application, the administrator inputs the corresponding control ID into the operation display section 22 .

If the application use control is specified (S2: Yes), the receiving means 200 gives the input control ID to the public application (S3). That is, the control ID is registered in the public application management table 214 shown in FIG. At this time, if the application use control is new, it is also registered in the application use control table 213 shown in FIG.

Next, the reception unit 200 determines whether or not lock of application usage control has been specified (S4). If lock of application usage control is designated (S4: Yes), the receiving unit 200 adds square brackets to the control ID of the public application management table 214 and locks the application usage control (S5). When specifying the lock of the application use control, when the administrator inputs the corresponding control ID into the operation display unit 22, the administrator also inputs information indicating that the control is to be locked.

(2) Duplication of Public Application FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of duplication of a public application. In the following description, the case where the user performs the duplication operation will be described.

The accepting unit 200 accepts a user ID and a password by operating the operation display unit 22 of a user (for example, Mr. A). When the received user ID and password are authenticated by the control unit 20 as Mr. A's, the receiving unit 200 selects one of the public applications stored in the public application storage unit 211 according to Mr. A's operation on the operation display unit 22. , accepts the selection of public applications to clone. The second creation means 202 creates a private application by duplicating the public application, stores it in the private application storage unit 212A for Mr. A, and generates a new private UID to create a private application management table for Mr. A. 215A (S11).

The accepting unit 200 determines whether or not the designation of application usage control has been accepted for the duplicated private application (S12).

If the specification of application usage control is accepted (S12: Yes), a control ID corresponding to the accepted application usage control is given to the private application (S13). At this time, if the application use control is new, it is registered in the application use control table 213 shown in FIG.

(3) Deletion of Public Application FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a public application deletion flow.

The accepting unit 200 accepts a public application to be deleted from the administrator after authentication as described above. Deleting means 203 determines whether or not application usage control is specified for the public application to be deleted by referring to public application management table 214 (S21).

If application usage control is specified (S21: Yes), the deletion unit 203 executes application usage control (S22).

Deleting means 203 determines whether or not the public application has been duplicated as private by referring to public application management table 214 and private application management table 215 (S23).

If it is duplicated as private (S23: Yes), the application usage control is unlocked for each private application (S24).

(4) Use of Private Application of Each User FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of a flow of use of a private application of each user.

The executing means 205 refers to the private application management table 215 to determine whether unlocked application usage control is specified for the public application (S31).

If application usage control is specified (S31: Yes), unlocked application usage control is executed for the public application (S32).

In step S31, if application usage control is designated (S31: No), it is determined whether or not application usage control is being executed for the private application (S33).

If the application usage control is in the execution state for the private application (S33: Yes), the application usage control is performed for the private application (S34).

(Modification 1)
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of icons displayed on the display screen of the operation display section 22 as Modification 1. As shown in FIG. When a private application is created by duplicating a public application, an icon for activating the private application is created and displayed on the display screen of the operation display section 22 . In this case, it is preferable to display the icon that activates the private application in a different manner so that it can be distinguished from the icon that activates the corresponding public application. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, an icon 11 for starting a private application may be displayed in a different color from the icon 10 for starting a public application. Also, as shown in FIG. 11(b), a control badge 12 may be added to the icon 11. FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 11C, "ON" may be added to the application name to indicate that the icon 11 is in a usable state (active state).

(Modification 2)
FIG. 12 shows another example of the application usage control table 213 as Modified Example 2, where (a) is a diagram showing an example of the application usage control table 213a, and (b) is a diagram showing an example of a permission table.

The application usage control table 213a shown in FIG. 12(a) has items of "control ID", "usage conditions", and "registrant" as in FIG.

The permission table 213b shown in FIG. 12B has items of "management ID" indicating the management number in the table 213b and "permitted user" in which the name of the permitted user is registered.

The condition may be such that a specific user is permitted unlimited use. That is, when the application usage control of "CON10" is executed (unlocked), the usage condition is "can be used if registered in the permission table". Since it is not registered, Mr. A cannot use it, and the private application is deleted from Mr. A's private application storage unit 212A. On the other hand, since Mr. B is registered in the permission table 213b, Mr. B can use the private application, and the private application is not deleted from the private application storage unit 212B for Mr. B. When the application usage control of "CON11" is executed (unlocked), the usage condition is "Mr. A and Mr. B can use". A and B are available. By specifying in this way, it is possible to narrow down the users who are permitted to copy.

(Modification 3)
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the application usage control table 213 as Modified Example 3. As shown in FIG. The application usage control table 213c shown in FIG. 2 has items of "control ID", "usage conditions", and "registrant", as in FIG.

The conditions may include operation details for deletion. That is, as for the operation contents, a warning may be displayed, or a screen for confirming continued use may be displayed to enable continued use. Concretely, the terms of use may be "use while stored in the public application storage unit and warn each user that 'deleted'" as in "CON20", or use as in "CON21". The condition may be "use while stored in the public application storage unit, and display "Do you want to continue using?" to each user for subsequent use".

(Modification 4)
FIGS. 14A to 14D are diagrams for explaining another example of the public application management table 214 as Modified Example 4. FIG. As shown in FIG. 14(a), it is attempted to register the content of the management ID "3" in the screen management table 215b for Mr. B in FIG. 5(b) in the public application management table 214 in FIG. 3 and deploy it as a public application. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14(b), it is necessary to specify the control IDs that are included in ▪, ▪, and ▪. At this time, since it is necessary to maintain the application usage control given to the applications stored in the private application storage unit 212B for Mr. B, as shown in FIG. need to be When PPP3 of UID is deleted, the application usage control of PPP2 and the application usage control of PPP3 are confirmed. In FIG. 14(c), UID PPP3 refers to public UID PPP2, indicating that when the control ID of PPP2 is changed, PPP3 is automatically affected. In the case of FIG. 14C, the control IDs [CON2], CON5, and CON3 are assigned to UID PPP3.

Furthermore, it is desirable to have a plurality of public UIDs as shown in FIG.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and implementations are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. be. For example, although the application is stored in the storage unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 1 in the above embodiment, it may be stored in an external server such as a cloud server. Also, in the above embodiment, the application holds the setting values, but the application may refer to the setting values.

Each means of the control unit 20 may be partially or wholly configured by a hardware circuit such as a reconfigurable circuit (FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit). good.

Moreover, it is possible to omit or change some of the constituent elements of the above embodiments without changing the gist of the present invention. In addition, steps can be added, deleted, changed, replaced, etc. in the flow of the above embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the program used in the above embodiments can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and provided. Also, the programs used in the above embodiments can be stored in an external server such as a cloud server and used via a network.

Reference Signs List 1 image forming apparatus 20 control unit 21 storage unit 22 operation display unit 23 image reading unit 24 image forming unit 25 communication unit 100a, 100b menu screen 101a to 101e Icon 102..."Execute" button 103..."Cancel" button 200...Receiving means 201...First creation means 202...Second creation means 203...Delete means 204...Display control means 205... Execution means 210 Information processing program 211 Public application storage unit 212, 212A, 212B Private application storage unit 213 Application use control table 214 Public application management table 215, 215A, 215B Private application management Tables 216, 216A, 216B... screen management tables

Claims (12)

A first application that can be deleted by a person having first authorityby duplicating, creating means for creating a second application that can be deleted by a person having the second authority;
A predetermined condition when the first application is deletedIf all of the above conditions are satisfied,and deletion means for deleting the second application according to,
The conditions include as a first condition that the number of times or period of use of the second application has been reached,
Information processing equipment. The first condition is when one of the number of times or the period reaches first,
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The conditions are defined for each person with the second authority,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The conditions include as a second condition that a person who has the specific second authority is permitted to use the number of times or the period without limitation,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3. The condition is defined for each of the second applications,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The conditions include, as a third condition, that a setting to invalidate the conditions is not made for each person having the second authority or for each second application,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The condition is that when the first application is deleted, a confirmation screen is displayed, and continued use of the second application is not selected as a fourth condition . Including operation contents,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The deletion means deletes the second application from a storage area storing the second application.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . The deleting means does not delete the second application stored in the storage area from the storage area, but allows execution of the second application on a display screen displayed to the person having the second authority. apparently deleting the second application by disabling the function of the instructing means for instructing;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . hiding the disabled indicator means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 . The creating means replicates and newly retains the setting values of the first application when creating the second application.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 . the computer,
A first application that can be deleted by a person having first authorityby duplicating, creating means for creating a second application that can be deleted by a person having the second authority;
A predetermined condition when the first application is deletedIf all of the above conditions are met,for functioning as deletion means for deleting said second application according toa program,
The conditions include as a first condition that the number of times or period of use of the second application has been reached,
program.

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