JP7472688B2 - Information processing system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

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

With the aim of making it easier to set the necessary information (an example of setting values) for devices such as image forming devices, technology has been developed that allows a user to operate the device and have the necessary information set via an external service.

However, the above technology requires the user to operate the device when setting the necessary information for the device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that can reduce the user operations required to set settings for devices.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an information processing system in which a device and an information processing device are connected via a network, the system including a generation unit that generates setting information related to the setting of a setting value for the device based on contract information for the device, and a setting unit that sets the setting value for the device based on the setting information generated by the generation unit.

The present invention has the effect of reducing the user operations required to set the settings for the device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a billing information management system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a PC and a server according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the server and the MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a process for setting a setting value for an MFP in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for generating setting information in the server according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of various screens displayed on the MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for setting a setting value for an MFP in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

Embodiments of the information processing system, information processing method, and program are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a billing information management system according to this embodiment. First, an example of the configuration of a billing information management system according to this embodiment will be described using Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the billing information management system according to this embodiment includes a PC (Personal Computer) 1, a server 5, and an MFP (Multi-function Peripheral/Product/Printer) 9. The PC 1, the server 5, and the MFP 9 are connected via a communication network 100.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a PC and a server according to this embodiment. Next, an example of the hardware configuration of a PC 1 and a server 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2. Here, the hardware configuration of the server 5 will be described, but the PC 1 also has a similar hardware configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server 5 is constructed by a computer and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a HD (Hard Disk) 504, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, an external device connection I/F (Interface) 508, a network I/F 509, a data bus 510, a keyboard 511, a pointing device 512, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514, and a media I/F 516.

Of these, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the entire server 5. The ROM 502 stores programs used to drive the CPU 501, such as IPL. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls the reading and writing of various data from the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501. The display 506 displays various information such as a cursor, menu, window, text, or image.

The external device connection I/F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, the external devices are, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a printer. The network I/F 509 is an interface for data communication using the communication network 100. The data bus 510 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 5.

The keyboard 511 is a type of input means equipped with multiple keys for inputting characters, numbers, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 512 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving the cursor, etc. The DVD-RW drive 514 controls the reading and writing of various data from the DVD-RW 513, which is an example of a removable recording medium. Note that this is not limited to a DVD-RW, and may be a DVD-R, etc. The media I/F 516 controls the reading and writing (storing) of data from the recording medium 515, such as a flash memory.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an MFP according to this embodiment. Next, an example of the hardware configuration of an MFP according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3.

3, the MFP 9 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I/F 950. Of these, the controller 910 includes a CPU 901, which is the main part of the computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907, which is a storage unit, a HDD controller 908, and a HD 909, which is also a storage unit, and is configured such that the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

Of these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP 9. The NB 903 is a bridge that connects the CPU 901, the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

The MEM-P 902 has a ROM 902a, which is memory for storing programs and data that realize the various functions of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b, which is used for expanding the programs and data, and as a drawing memory during memory printing. The programs stored in the RAM 902b may be provided by recording them in an installable or executable format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD.

The SB904 is a bridge for connecting the NB903 to PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC906 is an integrated circuit (IC) for image processing applications that has hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, the PCI bus 922, the HDD controller 908, and the MEM-C907. The ASIC906 has a PCI target, an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C907, multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic, and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931 and the printer unit 932 via the PCI bus 922. The ASIC906 may be connected to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE1394) interface.

MEM-C907 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer. HD909 is a storage for storing image data, font data used during printing, and forms. HD909 controls the reading and writing of data from and to HD909 under the control of CPU901. AGP bus921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphic processing, and by directly accessing MEM-P902 with high throughput, the graphics accelerator card can be made faster.

The short-range communication circuit 920 also includes a short-range communication circuit 920a. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The engine control unit 930 further includes a scanner unit 931 and a printer unit 932. The operation panel 940 includes a panel display unit 940a, such as a touch panel, that displays current settings and selection screens and receives input from the operator, and an operation panel 940b that includes a numeric keypad that receives settings for image formation conditions such as density settings and a start key that receives a copy start command. The controller 910 controls the entire MFP 9, and controls, for example, drawing, communication, and input from the operation panel 940. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

The MFP 9 can sequentially switch between the document box function, copy function, printer function, and facsimile function using the application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, the document box mode is selected; when the copy function is selected, the copy mode is selected; when the printer function is selected, the printer mode is selected; and when the facsimile mode is selected, the facsimile mode is selected.

The network I/F 950 is an interface for data communication using the communication network 100. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I/F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via the PCI bus 922.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server and MFP according to this embodiment. Next, an example of the functional configuration of the server 5 and MFP 9 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4.

First, an example of the functional configuration of the server 5 (an example of an information processing device) will be described. In this embodiment, the server 5 realizes a communication unit 411, a search unit 412, and a generation unit 413 as shown in FIG. 4 by the CPU 501 executing a program stored in the ROM 502 using the RAM 503 as a work area.

The communication unit 411 exchanges various data such as a device ID and setting information with the MFP 9 via the communication network 100. Here, the device ID is information that enables the MFP 9 to be identified. The setting information is information related to the setting of settings for the MFP 9. In this embodiment, the communication unit 411 exchanges various data in cooperation (data cooperation) with the MFP 9 via the communication network 100.

The search unit 412 searches for contract information of the MFP 9 based on the device ID received from the MFP 9 by the communication unit 411. Here, the contract information is information related to the contract of the MFP 9, and includes, for example, at least one of the model number of the MFP 9, the address of the contractor of the MFP 9 or the tenant in which the MFP 9 is installed, a list of cloud applications contracted by the MFP 9, and a contractor ID that is the ID of the contractor of the MFP 9.

The generation unit 413 is an example of a generation unit that generates setting information (e.g., setting values, setting items) regarding the setting of setting values for the MFP 9 based on the contract information searched by the search unit 412. The generation unit 413 then transmits the generated setting information to the MFP 9 via the communication unit 411, thereby causing the generated setting information to be reflected in the settings of the MFP 9.

Next, an example of the functional configuration of the MFP 9 (an example of a device) will be described. In this embodiment, the MFP 9 realizes a communication unit 401, a setting unit 402, and a display control unit 403 as shown in FIG. 4 by the CPU 901 executing a program stored in the ROM 902a using the RAM 902b as a work area.

The communication unit 401 exchanges various data such as device IDs and setting information with the server 5 via the communication network 100. In this embodiment, the communication unit 401 cooperates (data cooperates) with the server 5 via the communication network 100 to exchange various data.

The setting unit 402 is an example of a setting unit that sets a setting value for the MFP 9 based on setting information received from the server 5 by the communication unit 401. This eliminates the need for a user to operate the device when setting a setting value for the MFP 9. As a result, it is possible to reduce the user's operations required to set a setting value for the MFP 9. Furthermore, the setting unit 402 sets a setting value for the MFP 9 for which a setting request has been received by the display control unit 403 (described later).

The display control unit 403 controls the display of various information on the panel display unit 940a. Specifically, the display control unit 403 is an example of a display control unit that displays setting information on the panel display unit 940a before the setting unit 402 sets the setting value. This allows the user of the MFP 9 to check the setting information to be set on the MFP 9. The display control unit 403 also displays on the panel display unit 940a setting items other than the setting items whose setting values have been set by the setting unit 402, among the setting items whose setting values can be set on the MFP 9. The display control unit 403 then accepts a setting request for the setting values of the setting items displayed on the panel display unit 940a via the operation panel 940b.

Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the process of setting the setting values for the MFP in the information processing system according to this embodiment. Next, an example of the flow of the process of setting the setting values for the MFP 9 in the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5.

When the MFP 9 is started by a user operation (step S511), if the communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 is to execute a cloud linking function for data linking with the server 5, the communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 executes a network setting process for executing the cloud linking function (step S512). Next, the communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 executes the cloud linking function for connecting to the server 5 according to the set network settings (step S513). As a result, the communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 transmits the device ID of the MFP 9 to the server 5.

The communication unit 411 of the server 5 receives the device ID from the MFP 9 via the communication network 100 using the cloud collaboration function. When the search unit 412 of the server 5 receives the device ID via the communication unit 411, it searches for contract information for the MFP 9 based on the received device ID (step S514). Next, the generation unit 413 of the server 5 generates setting information regarding the setting of setting values for the MFP 9 based on the contract information searched by the search unit 412 (step S515). Thereafter, the communication unit 411 of the server 5 transmits the setting information generated by the generation unit 413 to the MFP 9 via the communication network 100 using the cloud collaboration function.

The communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 receives setting information from the server 5 via the communication network 100 by the cloud linkage function. The setting unit 402 of the MFP 9 sets (automatically inputs) a setting value for the MFP 9 based on the setting information received by the communication unit 401 (step S516). Next, the display control unit 403 of the MFP 9 displays on the panel display unit 940a setting items for which a setting value was not set by the setting unit 402 (setting items other than the setting items for which a setting value was automatically input by the setting unit 402) after setting (automatically inputting) the setting value for the MFP 9 (step S517). Then, the display control unit 403 of the MFP 9 accepts a setting request for the setting value of the setting item displayed on the panel display unit 940a via the operation panel 940b. Next, the setting unit 402 of the MFP 9 sets the setting value for which the setting request was accepted in the MFP 9.

Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for generating setting information in a server according to this embodiment. Next, an example of a process for generating setting information in a server 5 according to this embodiment will be explained using Figure 6.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the search unit 412 searches for contract information including the model number of the MFP 9, the address of the subscriber or tenant of the MFP 9, a list of cloud applications, and the subscriber ID based on the device ID received from the MFP 9.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the generation unit 413 determines the model of the MFP 9 based on the model number of the MFP 9, and refers to a list of functions (i.e., enabled functions) possessed by the determined model of the MFP 9. Then, the generation unit 413 determines (generates) the setting items required for the MFP 9 based on the enabled functions.

The generation unit 413 also generates setting values such as country code, time zone, and daylight saving time based on the address of the contractor or tenant of the MFP 9, as shown in FIG. 6. The generation unit 413 also generates setting items required for executing a cloud application based on a list of the cloud application, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, if the cloud application is a smartphone printing application, the generation unit 413 generates setting values required for wireless connection. Furthermore, the generation unit 413 references setting information of other devices (e.g., MFPs) used by the contractor based on the contractor ID, as shown in FIG. 6, and generates setting information common to the other devices.

Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of various screens displayed on the MFP according to this embodiment. Next, with reference to Figure 7, an example of various screens displayed on the panel display unit 940a when setting the setting values on the MFP 9 according to this embodiment will be explained.

When the MFP 9 is started, the display control unit 403 displays a screen 701 on the panel display unit 940a, as shown in FIG. 7, which requests the user to select whether or not to execute a cloud linking function for data linking with the server 5. When the user selects to execute the cloud linking function on the screen 701, the display control unit 403 displays a screen 702 on the panel display unit 940a, which requests the user to execute a network setting process for executing the cloud linking function.

Next, when a request is made on screen 702 to execute a network setting process, the display control unit 403 displays screens 703 and 704 on the panel display unit 940a for inputting network settings (e.g., IP address, email address, password, wired LAN (Local Area Network) or wireless LAN, DNS (Domain Name System) settings, and proxy settings) for executing the cloud linking function, as shown in FIG. 7. The communication unit 401 of the MFP 9 executes the cloud linking function to connect to the server 5 according to the network settings input using screens 703 and 704.

The cloud link function transmits the device ID of the MFP 9 to the server 5, and while the server 5 is generating the setting information, the display control unit 403 displays a screen 705 indicating that the setting information of the MFP 9 is being read on the panel display unit 940a, as shown in FIG. 7. Then, when the cloud link function receives the setting information from the server 5, the display control unit 403 displays a screen 706 indicating the received setting information on the panel display unit 940a, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter, when an instruction to set a setting value is given on the screen 706, the setting unit 402 sets the setting value for the MFP 9.

Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for setting settings for an MFP in an information processing system according to this embodiment. Next, an example of a process for setting settings for an MFP 9 in an information processing system according to this embodiment will be explained using Figure 8.

For example, the setting unit 402 changes the setting values (default) of each setting item of the MFP 9 (e.g., country code, time zone, daylight saving time, automatic firmware updates, cloud application to be used) before automatic input to the setting values (setting values after automatic input) of each setting item generated by the generation unit 413 of the server 5. This makes it possible to automatically set setting values for the MFP 9 according to the contract information of the user of the MFP 9. As a result, it is possible to reduce the user's operations required to set setting values for the MFP 9.

In this way, according to the information processing system of this embodiment, when setting a setting value for the MFP 9, the user does not need to operate the device, so the user operations required to set a setting value for the MFP 9 can be reduced.

The programs executed by the server 5 and MFP 9 of this embodiment are provided in advance in ROM 502, 902a, etc. The programs executed by the server 5 and MFP 9 of this embodiment may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

Furthermore, the programs executed by the server 5 and MFP 9 of this embodiment may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the programs executed by the server 5 and MFP 9 of this embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The program executed by the server 5 in this embodiment has a modular structure including the above-mentioned units (communication unit 411, search unit 412, generation unit 413), and in terms of actual hardware, the CPU 501 (an example of a processor) reads the program from the ROM 502 and executes it, thereby loading the above-mentioned units onto the main storage device, and the communication unit 411, search unit 412, and generation unit 413 are generated on the main storage device.

The program executed by the MFP 9 of this embodiment has a modular structure including the above-mentioned units (communication unit 401, setting unit 402, display control unit 403), and in terms of actual hardware, the CPU 901 (an example of a processor) reads the program from the ROM 902a and executes it, thereby loading the above-mentioned units onto the main storage device, and the communication unit 401, setting unit 402, and display control unit 403 are generated on the main storage device.

Each function of the embodiments described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. In this specification, the term "processing circuit" includes a processor programmed to execute each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, and devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to execute each function described above.

The devices described in the examples are merely illustrative of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the server 5 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster. The multiple computing devices are configured to communicate with each other over any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., to implement the processes disclosed herein. Similarly, the MFP 9 can include multiple computing devices configured to communicate with each other.

Furthermore, the server 5 and the MFP 9 can be configured to share the disclosed process steps, e.g., FIG. 4, in various combinations. For example, the processes performed by the server 5 can be performed by the MFP 9. Similarly, the functions of the MFP 9 can be performed by the server 5. Also, the elements of the server 5 and the MFP 9 can be combined into a single server device or separated into multiple devices.

The device is not limited to an image forming device such as an MFP 9, so long as it has a communication function. The device may be, for example, a PJ (Projector), an IWB (Interactive White Board: a white board with an electronic blackboard function that allows mutual communication), an output device such as a digital signage, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, an imaging device, a sound collection device, medical equipment, a network home appliance, an automobile (Connected Car), a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable PC, or a desktop PC.

1 PC
5 Server 9 MFP
100 Communication network 401, 411 Communication unit 402 Setting unit 403 Display control unit 412 Search unit 413 Generation unit 501, 901 CPU
502, 902a ROM
503, 902b RAM
509,950 Network I/F

JP 2016-111702 A

Claims (6)

An information processing system in which a device and an information processing device are connected via a network,
a generating unit that generates setting information regarding setting values for the device based on contract information of the device;
a setting unit that sets the setting value for the device based on the setting information generated by the generation unit;
An information processing system comprising: The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit that displays the setting information on a display unit of the device before the setting unit sets the setting value. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit, after setting the setting value for the device, displays on the display unit setting items other than the setting item for which the setting value for the device has been set. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contract information includes at least one of the device number, the address of the contractor or tenant of the device, the application contracted for the device, and the ID of the contractor of the device. An information processing method executed by an information processing device connected to a device via a network, comprising:
A generating unit generates setting information regarding setting of a setting value for the device based on contract information of the device;
A setting unit sets the setting value for the device based on the setting information generated by the generation unit;
An information processing method comprising: A computer included in an information processing device connected to the device via a network,
a generating unit that generates setting information regarding setting values for the device based on contract information of the device;
a setting unit that sets the setting value for the device based on the setting information generated by the generation unit;
A program to make it function as such.

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