JP7187807B2 - 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 duplicate a first application that can be used by a plurality of users in which setting values of setting items are registered to create a second application that can be used only by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device and a program capable of restricting a user's change of setting values of a second application for each setting item.

[1] creation means for creating, for each user, a second application that can be used only by a user from a first application that executes a process specified by a setting value of a registered setting item;
a first receiving means for receiving, for each of the setting items, designation of a type relating to whether or not the setting value of the second application can be changed, from the first application;
a second reception unit that receives a change in the setting value corresponding to the second application;
a changing means for changing the set value received by the second receiving means according to the type;
When the type is not changeable and the second application is selected, the second receiving means sets the setting of the first application when the corresponding user uses the second application next time. An information processing device that notifies the user of a scheduled change value that is scheduled to be changed.
[2] When the type is change maintenance, when the second application is selected, the second reception means immediately changes the setting without displaying a screen for confirming the setting contents of the second application. The information processing apparatus according to [1], displaying a screen for confirming whether or not to accept the change of the scheduled change value even if the application is to be executed.
[3] The information processing apparatus according to [1], wherein when the type cannot be changed and the second application is selected, the changing means changes the set value to the planned change value.
[4] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the first receiving means receives designation of the type from a creator of the first application.
[5] The above-described [4], wherein the first receiving means receives the scheduled change value for which the setting value of the first application is scheduled to be changed from a creator of the first application. Information processing equipment.
[6] When the setting value of the first application and the setting value of the second application are different , the changing means records the planned change value in the second application. ].
[7] The information processing according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the creating means duplicates and newly holds the setting values of the first application when creating the second application. Device.
[8] If there is a third application created from the second application, and the creator of the second application and the third application are the same, when the second application is selected Any one of the above [1] to [7], wherein when the setting value is not changed and the third application is selected, the second receiving means does not display a confirmation screen. information processing equipment.
[9] If there is a third application created from the second application, and the creators of the second application and the third application are different, when the third application is selected, the The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the second receiving means displays a screen for confirmation and enables the setting value to be changed.
[10] creating means for creating, for each user, a second application that can be used only by a user from a first application that executes a process specified by a setting value of a registered setting item on a computer; ,
a first reception means for receiving, for each of the setting items, designation of a type relating to whether or not the setting value of the second application can be changed, from the first application;
a second reception unit that receives a change in the setting value corresponding to the second application;
changing means for changing the set value received by the second receiving means according to the type;
A program for functioning as
When the type is not changeable and the second application is selected, the second receiving means sets the setting of the first application when the corresponding user uses the second application next time. A program for notifying said user of a scheduled change value of which the value is scheduled to be changed.

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 10 , a first application that can be used by a plurality of users in which setting values of setting items are registered is duplicated to create a second application that can be used only by the user. When this is created, it is possible to restrict the user's ability to change the setting values of the second application for each setting item. It can be seen that the setting value is scheduled to be changed when using .
According to the second aspect of the invention, the user can confirm on the screen whether or not to accept the change-scheduled value for the setting item whose type is not changeable and whose change is to be maintained.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, for setting items whose type cannot be changed, the setting value can be changed to the planned change value unconditionally.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the creator of the first application can decide whether or not the setting values of the second application can be changed.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the creator of the first application can determine the planned change values for the setting values of the second application.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily process the planned change value compared to the case where the planned change value is recorded in an application other than the second application.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily create the second application compared to methods other than duplication.
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to omit the display of the confirmation screen in consideration of the intention of the creator.
According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the creator of the third application can confirm the setting values.

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. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the setting information held by the application. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of the setting information before the setting values of the public application are changed. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing an example of setting information after the setting value of is changed, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example flow of creating a public application and a private application. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a flow for changing setting values of a private application. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a change flow of setting values of public applications. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow when a private application is started after changing the setting values of the public application.

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]
The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention selects a second application that can be used only by the user from a first application that executes a process specified by a setting value of a registered setting item. first receiving means for receiving, for each setting item, designation of a type relating to whether or not setting values of the second application can be changed; and first receiving means for receiving changes to setting values corresponding to the second application; 2 reception means, and a change means for changing the set value received by the second reception means according to the type.

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 the first receiving means 200, the second receiving means 201, the first creating means 202, the second creating means 203, the changing means 204, the executing means 205, etc. Function. 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, . In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the private application storage unit 212A is prepared for Mr. A, and the private application storage unit 212B is prepared for Mr. B, the user. A user is an example of a user other than an administrator. Hereinafter, when both administrators and users are included, they are also referred to as operators.

The public application storage unit 211 stores a public application (hereinafter also simply referred to as “public application”) 51 . Public application 51 is an example of a first application.

The private application storage unit 212 stores a private application (hereinafter also simply referred to as “private application”) 52 . Private application 52 is an example of a second application. Note that the public application 51 and the private application 52 are collectively referred to as "applications" hereinafter.

The public application 51 is an application published by the creator of the application (hereinafter referred to as "administrator"), and only the administrator has the authority to change the setting values. A private application 52 is an application that is made private by an administrator or a user by duplicating a public application, and only the corresponding user has the authority to change setting values. In this specification, "replication" refers to creating a private application 52 while maintaining the setting values held by the public application 51 as they are.

The application of the present embodiment holds in advance setting information including, for example, setting items, setting values, and the like. Applications include, for example, an application that is executed immediately without displaying a screen for confirming setting values in the direct start mode, and an application that displays a screen for confirming setting values and is executed after confirmation. . Such applications include, for example, "copy two copies", "send to Mr. A", and "send to Mr. C in color". "Double Copy" is an application for making two copies of one or more originals. "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 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. The menu screen displays, for example, icons including application names such as "copy 2 copies" and "send to Mr. A". 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.

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 data by e-mail or facsimile 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 area network), the Internet, or a public line network that transmits and receives data by wired communication, wireless communication, or the like.

2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the setting information held by the application. FIG. 2A shows an example of the setting information before the setting values of the public application 51 are changed, and FIG. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an example of setting information after the setting value of the application 51 is changed, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an example of setting information of the private application 52; The setting information 51a of the public application 51 includes, as shown in FIGS. It has each item of "type" to be recorded. As shown in FIG. 2(c), the setting information 52a of the private application 52 includes "setting item", "setting value", and "type", as well as "scheduled change" in which setting values scheduled to be changed are recorded. value” item. The "type" includes "modifiable", "maintenance of change", and "non-modifiable". Note that the "type" is not limited to these. For example, only two types of "modifiable" and "immutable" may be used, or other types may be added to "modifiable", "maintenance of change", and "immutable".

The setting values include "change permission setting" that allows the setting to be changed with the user authority of the created private app, and the setting that cannot be changed with the user authority of the created private application and requires the user authority of the underlying public application. There is a "unchangeable setting".

Setting items included in the change permission setting include, for example, “changeable” and “change maintained”. "Can be changed" means that the user can arbitrarily change the setting value of the private application 52, and "Maintain change" means that the user can maintain the changed setting value of the private application 52 at his/her will. It is possible.

Setting items included in the unchangeable setting include, for example, "unchangeable" and "confirm changeability". "Unchangeable" indicates that the user cannot change the setting value of the private application 52, and "Confirm changeability" indicates that when the user of the private application attempts to change the setting value, the user of the public application cannot change the setting. is to confirm whether to allow In addition, in the present embodiment, the type of confirmation of changeability is not provided, but it may be provided.

That is, "change maintenance" is a setting item that allows the administrator to change the setting values of the private application 52 if the user's consent is obtained. “Unchangeable” is a setting item that allows the administrator to forcibly change the setting value of the private application 52 .

The administrator sets the setting values a1, b1, and c1 of the setting items A, B, and C of the public application shown in FIG. Suppose you change it to As shown in FIG. 2(c), the change unit 204, which will be described later, records the set values a2 and b2 in the item of "scheduled change value" when the type of the private application 52 is "maintain change" and "impossible to change".

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

The first accepting means 200 accepts an administrator's operation on the operation display section 22 . More specifically, the first receiving unit 200 allows the administrator to specify the type of setting item for each setting item, change the setting value of the public application 51, and change the setting value of the private application 52. Receive planned values, etc. The setting item type relates to whether or not the setting value of the private application 52 can be changed. The types of setting items include, for example, "changeable", "maintenance of change", and "impossible to change". A setting item for which no type is specified may be assigned a type of "changeable", "maintenance of change", or "impossible to change".

The second accepting unit 201 accepts a user's operation on the operation display unit 22 . Specifically, the second accepting unit 201 accepts changes to the setting values of the private application 52 . In addition, when the type of the setting item is not "changeable", the second receiving unit 201 notifies the user of the scheduled change value when the corresponding user uses the private application 52 next time when the private application 52 is selected. .

Further, when the type of the setting item is "maintain change", the second receiving unit 201 immediately executes the private application 52 without displaying a screen for confirming the setting content when the private application 52 is selected. Even if the application is to be changed, a screen for confirming whether or not to accept the change of the planned change value is displayed on the operation display unit 22.例文帳に追加

The first creating unit 202 creates the public application 51 based on the administrator's operation on the operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 . The first creating means 202 also creates an icon corresponding to the public application for display on the menu screen.

The second creation unit 203 creates the private application 52 from the public application 51 for each user based on the operation of the administrator or the user on the operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 . When the private application 52 is created, the second creating means 203 duplicates the setting values of the public application 51 and newly holds them. The second creation means 203 also creates an icon corresponding to the private application 52 for display on the menu screen.

The changing unit 204 changes the setting value received by the second receiving unit 201 according to the type of setting item. When the type of the setting item is "unchangeable" or "maintain change" and the user accepts the change of the scheduled change value, the change means 204 changes the setting item when the private application 52 is selected. Means 204 changes the set value to the planned change value.

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 and Private Application FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of creating a public application and a private application.

After being authenticated by operating the operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 and entering his user ID and password, the administrator operates the operation display unit 22 to enter the setting items and settings necessary for creating a public application. Specifies the value (setting value) of the relevant setting item. The first reception unit 200 receives the specified setting item and setting value (S1).

The administrator operates the operation display unit 22 to specify the type of permission/prohibition of changing the setting value in the private application 52 for each setting item. The first reception unit 200 receives the type for each designated setting item (S2).

When the first receiving means 200 receives an instruction to create an application from the administrator (S3), the first creating means 202 receives setting information including setting items, setting values, and types received by the first receiving means 200. A public application 51 holding 51a is created (S4). The first creation means 202 stores the created public application 51 in the public application storage section 211 .

Next, by the operation of the administrator or the user, the second creation means 203 copies the public application 51 stored in the public application storage unit 211 to create a private application 52 for each user. The second creation means 203 stores the created private application 52 in each private application storage section 212 . As a result, each user can access his/her own private application storage unit 212 and use the private application 52 . At this stage, each setting value of each private application 52 is the same as that of the public application 51 .

(2) Changing Setting Values of Setting Items of Private Applications FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of changing setting values of private applications.

The user operates the operation display unit 22 to specify a setting item whose setting value is desired to be changed among the setting items set in the private application 52 . The second reception unit 201 receives the specified setting item, and determines whether the type of the setting item is "changeable" by referring to the setting information 52a of the private application 52 (S11).

If the type is "modifiable" (S11: Yes), the second receiving means 201 receives the change of the setting value from the user (S12). The changing unit 204 rewrites and changes the setting values held by the private application 52 with the accepted setting values (S13).

In step S11, if the type of the specified setting item is not "changeable" (S11: No), the process is terminated.

(3) Change of Setting Values of Public Application FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of changing setting values of a public application.

After being authenticated by operating the operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 and entering his/her own user ID and password, the administrator operates the operation display unit 22 to specify the setting items and enter the changed settings. Enter a value. The first accepting unit 200 accepts the input setting value, and the changing unit 203 rewrites the setting value of the public application 51 with the accepted setting value. The changing means 203 records the setting value changed by the public application 51 in the "scheduled change value" of the private application 52 (S20).

The changing unit 204 refers to the setting information 52a of the private application 52 and determines whether or not the type of the setting item in which the planned change value is recorded is "changeable" (S21).

If the type is "changeable" (S21: Yes), the process ends.

If the type is not "modifiable", that is, if it is "not modifiable" or "maintained" (S21: Yes), the changing unit 204 changes the settings corresponding to the setting values of the public application 51 and the setting values of the private application 52. It is determined whether or not the items are the same (S22).

If the two are not the same (S22: No), the set value of the public application 51 is written in the "scheduled change value" of the private application 52 (S23). For example, assume that a public application 51 (for example, application name "Send to Mr. A") for transmitting an image to Mr. A's user terminal device has been created. In this case, since there is a possibility that Mr. A's e-mail address will be changed, the type cannot be changed. When Mr. A's e-mail address is changed, by entering the changed e-mail address, the changed e-mail address is written in the public application 51 of "Send to Mr. A" as a change planned value.

If both are the same (S22: No), the planned change value is deleted from the setting information 52a of the private application 52 (S23).

(4) Activation of private application after setting values of public application are changed FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow when the private application is activated after setting values of the public application are changed.

When the user operates the operation display unit 22 to select an icon from the menu screen and activates the private application 52 stored in the private application storage unit 212 assigned to the user, the changing unit 204 displays the "scheduled change value ” refers to the setting information 52a of the private application 52 (S31). If the planned change value is written (S31: Yes), the changing unit 204 determines whether the type of the corresponding setting item is "maintain change" (S32).

If the type of the setting item is "keep setting" (S32: Yes), the user is notified that the setting value has been changed (S33).

In the private application 52, a confirmation screen is displayed on the operation display unit 22 to confirm with the user whether or not to accept the change of the set value (S34). If the user indicates an intention to accept the change of the setting value, for example, if the "YES" button on the confirmation screen is operated (S34: Yes), the changing unit 204 changes the setting value of the private application 52 to the "scheduled change value ” (S35). Note that voice input such as Yes may be used instead of the "YES" button on the confirmation screen. Alternatively, an operation such as a smartphone or holding a hand may be used.

The changing means 204 deletes the value of the "scheduled change value" (S36).

The changing unit 204 displays a confirmation screen for setting details including setting items and setting values on the operation display unit 22 (S37).

When the user operates the "start" button on the confirmation screen (S38), the executing means 205 activates the private application 52 (S39). This will start the job.

At step S32, if the setting item type is "not changeable" (S32: No), the user is notified that the setting value has been changed (S40).

After that, as described above, the processing from steps S35 to S39 is performed.

In step S31, if the planned change value is not written in the setting item (S31: No), it is determined whether or not the mode is the direct start mode (S41). is activated (S39).

If the mode is not the direct start mode (S41: No), the job is started (S39) after displaying a confirmation screen (S37) and operating the "start" button (S38).

(Modification 1)
If there is a third private application created from the second private application, and the creator of the second private application and the third private application are the same, the setting value when the second private application is selected is not changed, the second reception unit 201 may be configured not to display the confirmation screen when the third private application is selected.

(Modification 2)
If there is a third private app created from the second private app, and the creators of the second private app and the third private app are different, when the second private app is selected, the setting value is Even when the setting value is not changed, when the third private application is selected, the second reception unit 201 may display a confirmation screen to allow the setting value to be changed.

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, in the above embodiment, the public application and the private application are stored in the storage unit 21 within the image forming apparatus 1, but they 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.

The application used in the above embodiments holds setting information, but may refer to setting values, types, and scheduled change 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 51 public application 51a setting information 52 Private application 52a Setting information 200 First reception means 201 Second reception means 202 First preparation means 203 Second preparation means 204 Change means 205 Execution means , 210... information processing program, 211... public application storage unit, 212, 212A, 212B... private application storage unit

Claims (10)

creating means for creating, for each user, a second application that can be used only by the user from the first application that executes processing specified by the setting values of the registered setting items;
a first receiving means for receiving, for each of the setting items, designation of a type relating to whether or not the setting value of the second application can be changed, from the first application;
a second reception unit that receives a change in the setting value corresponding to the second application;
a changing means for changing the set value received by the second receiving means according to the type;
When the type is not changeable and the second application is selected, the second receiving means sets the setting of the first application when the corresponding user uses the second application next time. Notifying the user of a planned change value to which the value is to be changed;
Information processing equipment. When the type is change maintenance, when the second application is selected, the second reception means is executed immediately without displaying a screen for confirming the setting contents of the second application. Even if it is an application, displaying a screen for confirming whether or not to accept the change of the scheduled change value;
The information processing device according to claim 1 . When the type cannot be changed, the changing means changes the set value to the planned change value when the second application is selected.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The first reception means receives designation of the type from a creator of the first application.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first receiving means receives from a creator of the first application the scheduled change value for which the setting value of the first application is scheduled to be changed.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4. The changing means records the planned change value in the second application when the setting value of the first application and the setting value of the second application are different.
The information processing device according to claim 5 . The creating means duplicates and newly holds the setting values of the first application when creating the second application.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. If there is a third application created from the second application, and the creator of the second application and the third application is the same, the setting value is set when the second application is selected. is not changed, the second reception means does not display a confirmation screen when the third application is selected;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. When there is a third application created from the second application and the creators of the second application and the third application are different, when the third application is selected, the second application The receiving means displays a confirmation screen and enables the setting value to be changed.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. the computer,
creating means for creating, for each user, a second application that can be used only by the user from the first application that executes processing specified by the setting values of the registered setting items;
a first receiving means for receiving, for each of the setting items, designation of a type relating to whether or not the setting value of the second application can be changed, from the first application;
a second reception unit that receives a change in the setting value corresponding to the second application;
changing means for changing the set value received by the second receiving means according to the type;
A program for functioning as
When the type is not changeable and the second application is selected, the second receiving means sets the setting of the first application when the corresponding user uses the second application next time. Notifying the user of a planned change value to which the value is to be changed;
program.

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