JP2008210060A - Device specification system, login history management device, terminal device, device specification method and device specification program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device specification system or the like allowing prevention of a selection error of an image forming device of a user by facilitating specification of a device desired by the user from a list of the device of the image forming device or the like displayed on a display means of a terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: By performing final login to the device desired by the user, display data 25 are produced from a login history table stored in a login management device 1 by a display data production means 19 such that information about the device performed with the final login is displayed in a display state and/or a positional relation capable of being distinguished from information about the other device, and the display data are displayed on the display means 53 of the terminal device 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device identification system, a login history management device, a terminal device, and a device that can easily identify a device desired to be output among devices such as an image forming apparatus displayed on a display screen or the like of a terminal device The present invention relates to a specifying method and a device specifying program.

  In a company or office, a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a terminal device composed of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) are often connected on a network. In this case, it may be necessary to select an image forming apparatus desired to be output from the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  For example, when using an unnecessary direct print function of a printer driver, a display of a terminal device used by a user is connected to the same network as the terminal device and includes a list of available image forming apparatuses. Then, a selection screen for accepting selection of the image forming apparatus desired to be printed from the user is displayed.

  However, it is difficult to determine which of the plurality of image forming apparatuses displayed on the selection screen corresponds to the image forming apparatus that the user desires to output. There is a problem that a document or the like is output from the image forming apparatus. In particular, when printing on a business trip or the like, an image forming apparatus or the like must be selected in a different usage environment, so even if an image is to be printed from a nearby image forming apparatus, the image It is not easy to identify the forming device.

In addition, there is provided a technique of selecting an image forming apparatus to perform printing from the history information of the image forming apparatus when a failure or the like occurs in an image forming apparatus that desires output and printing cannot be continued ( Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-165775 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when a failure or the like occurs in the image forming apparatus, only the image forming apparatus that continues printing is selected from the history information of the image forming apparatus. However, this does not solve the fundamental problem of preventing an error in selecting an image forming apparatus that desires output.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by facilitating identification of a device desired by a user from a list of devices such as an image forming apparatus displayed on a display unit of a terminal device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device identification system, a login history management apparatus, a terminal device, a device identification method, and a device identification program that can prevent a user from making a mistake in selecting an image forming apparatus.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) A login history management apparatus that manages a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logs in to the device, and that can be updated for each device in units of users, and a login history management apparatus via the network And a terminal device that displays information about a device logged in by a user on a display unit, based on the login history of the user who has accessed the login history management device from the terminal device Display for creating display data so that information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed on the display means of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be identified from information about other devices A data creation means, wherein the display means of the terminal device creates the display data A device identification system for displaying information about a device to which a user has logged in based on display data created by the means.
(2) The device identification system according to item 1 above, wherein the information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed at the top of the information about the plurality of devices displayed on the display unit.
(3) The device identification system according to item 1 above, wherein the information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed with the display color changed from the information about other devices.
(4) Management means for managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device so that the login history of each user can be updated for each device, and the login of a user who has accessed from a terminal device Based on the history, the display data is displayed so that the information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be identified from the information of other devices. A login history management apparatus comprising: display data creation means to create; and transmission means for sending display data created by the display data creation means to a terminal device.
(5) Access means for accessing a login history management apparatus that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages the login history of a user who has logged in to the device so that it can be updated for each device, and login history management The receiving means for receiving the information about the device logged in by the access user transmitted from the apparatus, and the information about the device last logged in by the user among the information about the received device is the information on other devices. Display data creating means for creating display data so as to be displayed in a positional relationship and / or a display mode that can be identified with each other, and a device on which the user has logged in based on the display data created by the display data creating means And a display means for displaying the information of That terminal equipment.
(6) Management means for managing a log-in history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via the network and logged in to the device, and can be updated for each device on a per-user basis, and a user's device accessed from the terminal device Receiving means for receiving the connection request, device specifying means for specifying the device to which the user last logged in based on the login history of the user, and transferring the connection request by the user to the specified device. A login history management apparatus comprising: a transfer unit;
(7) a step of managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device so as to be able to be updated for each device in units of users, and a user who has accessed the login history management device from a terminal device Based on the login history, the information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be identified from the information of other devices. A device identification method comprising: creating display data; and displaying information about a device logged in by a user on a display unit of a terminal device based on the created display data.
(8) A step of managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device so as to be able to be updated for each device in units of users, and the login history of a user who has accessed from a terminal device Display data is created so that information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed on the display means of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be identified from information of other devices And a device specifying program for causing a computer to execute a step of transmitting the display data created by the display data creating means to a terminal device.
(9) a step of accessing a login history management apparatus that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages the login history of a user who has logged into the device so that the login history can be updated on a per-user basis for each device; Receiving the information about the device that the access user has logged in transmitted from and the information about the device that the user logged in last among the information about the received device is identified from the information of other devices A step of creating display data to be displayed in a positional relationship and / or a display mode that can be displayed, and a step of displaying information about a device to which a user has logged in based on the created display data. Device specific program to be executed.
(10) a step of managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged into the device so as to be updateable on a per-user basis for each device; Receiving a connection request; identifying a device on which the user last logged in based on a login history of the user; and transferring a connection request by the user to the identified device. Device specific program to be executed by a computer.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (1), when the user accesses the login history management apparatus, the information about the last logged-in device can be distinguished from other devices in a positional relationship and / or display mode. It is displayed on the display means of the terminal device. For this reason, for example, when a user desires output from a nearby device at a business trip destination, the user can go to the device and log in beforehand before specifying the device displayed on the display means. Is displayed on the display means in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be distinguished from other device information. Thereby, it becomes easy to specify a desired device from among the devices displayed on the display means of the terminal device, and it becomes possible to prevent device selection mistakes.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, by displaying information about the last logged-in device at the top of the display means of the terminal device, the device can be easily identified.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (3), by displaying the information about the last logged-in device in a color different from the information about other devices, the device can be easily specified.

  According to the invention described in item (4) above, the login history management apparatus displays the information about the device that the user last logged in in the positional relationship and / or display mode that can be distinguished from the information of other devices. Since the display data is created, the desired device can be easily specified and the device selection error can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, the terminal displays information about the device that the user last logged in on in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be distinguished from information on other devices. Made possible by the device. As a result, it is easy to specify a desired device from the devices displayed on the display means of the terminal device, and it is possible to prevent device selection errors.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (6), when a user accesses the login history management device from the terminal device, a connection request is transmitted to the last device to which the user has logged in. It is convenient because you can get the same status as connecting directly to the logged-in device.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (7), the information about the last logged-in device is displayed on the display means of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be distinguished from the information of other devices. Therefore, the user can easily specify the last logged-in device.

  According to the invention described in item (8) above, information about the device that the user who has accessed from the terminal device logged in last is displayed in a positional relationship and / or display mode that can be distinguished from information of other devices. As described above, it is possible to cause the computer to execute the process of creating the display data and the process of transmitting the display data to the terminal device.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (9), the reception process of the information about the device logged in by the access user from the login history management apparatus, the information about the device last logged in by the user from the received device information It is possible to cause a computer to execute a process of creating display data so as to be displayed in a positional relationship and / or display mode that can be identified from device information, and a process of displaying the display data.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (10), it is possible to cause the computer to execute the process of specifying the device to which the access user last logged in and the transfer process of the connection request from the user to the specified device.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a device specifying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device identification system includes a server apparatus 1 as a login history management apparatus, MFPs (Multi function peripherals) 2, 3, 4 which are multifunction digital image forming apparatuses as devices, and a terminal apparatus including a personal computer. 5 are connected to each other by a network 6.
[Server device 1]
The server device 1 stores login history and the like when a user logs into the MFP 2, 3, or 4 for each user and collectively manages the login history.

  A schematic configuration of the server apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server apparatus 1 includes a CPU 15, a ROM 16, a RAM 17, a storage unit 18, a history update unit 19, a communication unit 20, and the like.

  The CPU 15 comprehensively controls the entire server device 1. In this embodiment, login information including a user name, an IP address of the logged-in MFP and a login date / time is extracted from log information acquired from the MFP 2, 3, or 4, or a user who accesses the server device 1 logs in last. The specified MFP is specified, and the details will be described later.

  The ROM 16 stores programs executed by the CPU 15 and other data.

  The RAM 17 serves as a work area when the CPU 15 executes the program, and temporarily stores the program and data when the program is executed.

  The storage unit 18 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores the management data 10 shown in FIG. 3 and the login history tables 20 and 21 for each user shown in FIG. The management data 10 includes information on the name of the MFP connected on the network 6, the IP address of the MFP, and the installation location. The login history tables 20 and 21 are composed of information on the MFP name and the last login date and time for that MFP. The login history table 20 shows the login history for the user A, and the login history table 21 shows the login history for the user B.

  For example, it can be seen from the login history 22 included in the login history table 20 that the date and time when the user A last logged into the MFP 3 is 10:00 on 2006/02/11.

The history update unit 19 updates the login date and time included in the corresponding user login history based on the login information acquired from the MFPs 2 to 4. For example, when user A logs in to MFP 3 at 10:00 on February 11, 2006 and then logs in to MFP 3 again at 8:30 on September 5, 2006, as shown in login history table 20 of FIG. The login history 22 for the MFP 3 is updated to the login history 23 as shown in the login history table 20b of FIG.
Furthermore, the history update unit 19 creates display data related to the MFP to be displayed on the display device of the terminal device 5 from the management data 10 and the user login history tables 20 and 21. As shown by reference numeral 24 in FIG. 6, the display data includes an MFP that the user (for example, user A) has logged in and an MFP list that indicates the installation location. Displayed at the top. If the history table of user A is the history table 20 of FIG. 4, the MFP list 24 in the left column of FIG. 6 is created so that the display for the MFP 1 that has logged in last is at the top. When the user A logs in to the MFP 3 in this state, the login history of the MFP 3 is updated as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in the right column of FIG. 6, the history update unit 19 creates an MFP list 25 that displays the MFP 3 at the top.

The communication unit 20 transmits and receives data to and from an external device such as the MFP 2, 3 or 4, and the terminal device 5 via the network 6.
[MFP]
The MFPs 2, 3, and 4 execute a print job transmitted from an external device such as the terminal device 5, read a document, and print image data of the read document.

  A schematic configuration of the MFP 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the configuration of the MFPs 3 and 4 is the same as that of the MFP 2, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the MFP 2 includes a CPU 30, a ROM 31, a RAM 32, an image reading unit 33, an image processing unit 34, a storage unit 35, a printing unit 36, an operation display unit 37, a communication unit 38, and the like.

  In addition to overall control of the MFP 2, the CPU 30 transmits log information including login information to the server device 1 when the user logs in in this embodiment.

  The ROM 31 stores programs executed by the CPU 30 and other data.

  The RAM 32 serves as a work area when the CPU 30 executes a program, and temporarily stores a program, data when the program is executed, and the like.

  The image reading unit 33 includes, for example, a scanner, and reads a document set on an automatic document feeder or a platen glass (both not shown) by a user and converts the document into electronic image data.

  The image processing unit 34 performs predetermined processing on the image data output from the image reading unit 33.

  The storage unit 35 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores a user password input from the operation display unit 37, image data of a document read by the image reading unit 33, and the like.

  The print unit 36 forms a print image from the image data that has been subjected to a well-known process by the image processing unit 34, and performs printing on a printing recording medium.

  The operation display unit 37 displays an input screen for inputting a user name and an authentication code, a selection screen for various functions, and the like, and is used when a user performs various functions of the MFP 2. A key input unit such as a numeric keypad and a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit (both not shown) are provided.

The communication unit 38 transmits / receives data to / from external devices such as the server device 1 and the terminal device 5 via the network 6.
[Terminal device 5]
The terminal device 5 is used when a user creates a document and the like, and stores various software including a document creation software used when creating a document and the like, and a printer driver corresponding to each MFP. When the user selects a desired MFP from among the MFPs displayed on the display unit and issues a print instruction, the print job is created by the printer driver, and then the print job is transmitted to the designated MFP. The

  The schematic configuration of the terminal device 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal device 5 includes a CPU 50, a ROM 51, a RAM 52, a display unit 53, a storage unit 54, a key input unit 55, a mouse 56, a communication interface unit (communication I / F) 57, a CD-ROM 58, and the like. Are connected to each other via a system bus 59.

  The CPU 50 generally controls the entire terminal device 5.

  The ROM 51 stores programs executed by the CPU 50 and other data.

  The RAM 52 serves as a work area when the CPU 50 executes the program.

  The display unit 53 includes a CRT and the like, and displays various messages, user-created documents, and the like. In this embodiment, a list of MFPs is displayed during printing.

  The storage unit 54 is composed of a recording medium such as a hard disk, for example, and includes various data files such as document data created by operating the key input unit 55 and the mouse 56, application software, printer drivers for using each MFP, and various types. Data is saved.

  The key input unit 55 and the mouse 56 are used for an input operation by the user.

  The communication I / F 57 transmits / receives various data to / from the server apparatus 1 and the MFP 2, 3, or 4.

The CD-ROM drive 58 drives a CD-ROM.
[System Operation]
Next, the operation of the device identification system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. When the user logs in to the MFP 2, 3 or 4, log information including login information is created, and this log information is transmitted to the server device 1. When a user logs in to the server device 1 from the terminal device 5 and requests an MFP list as display data, this is transmitted from the server device 1 to the terminal device 5 and displayed on the display unit 53 of the terminal device 5.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server device 1 when log information is acquired from the MFP and when the user logs in to the server device 1 from the terminal device 5. This operation is realized by the CPU 15 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 16.

  When log information is acquired from the MFP 2, 3 or 4 (step S 30), login information is extracted by analyzing the acquired log information (step S 31), and corresponds to each user based on the login information. The login date / time included in the login history of the MFP is updated (step S32).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a display data transmission request including a user name and an MFP list has been received from the terminal device 5, in other words, whether or not a login has been made from the user terminal 5 to the server device 1. If the user name and the transmission request are not received (NO in step S33), the process returns to step 30. On the other hand, when a user name and a transmission request are received (YES in step S33), an MFP list (see reference numeral 24 in the left column of FIG. 6) is created from the login history table of the user and the management data 10 (step S34). The created MFP list is transmitted to the terminal device 5 (step S35).

  Here, when the user goes out and logs in to the MFP that he wants to output, log information including login information is generated and transmitted to the server apparatus 1.

  In step S36, the server apparatus 1 determines whether or not log information has been received from the MFP 2, 3 or 4, and if not received (NO in step S36), waits until it is received. On the other hand, if received (YES in step S36), login information is extracted by analyzing log information (step S37), and the login date and time included in the login history of the corresponding MFP is updated based on this (step S37). Step S38), from the updated login history table and management data 10, an MFP list (see reference numeral 25 in the right column of FIG. 6) in which the last logged-in MFP name is displayed at the top is created (Step S39). ).

  Next, an update notification to the effect that the log-in history has been updated is transmitted to the terminal device 5 (step S40). When the terminal device 5 makes a request to transmit an MFP list, the MFP list newly created in step S39 Is transmitted (step S41), and the process is terminated.

  Next, the operation of the terminal device 5 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. This operation is realized by the CPU 50 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 51.

  When a user name or the like is input and an access instruction (login instruction) to the server apparatus 1 is accepted (step S50), a transmission request for the user name and the MFP list is transmitted to the server apparatus 1 (step S51). After acquiring the MFP list of the user in response to this transmission request (step S52), as shown in the left column of FIG. 6, a screen on which the MFP list is displayed is displayed on the display unit 53 (step S53). .

  Next, when the user goes to the MFP that he / she wants to output and logs in to the MFP, log information is created and transmitted to the server apparatus 1, and then, as described in step S <b> 40 in FIG. 9, the server apparatus 1 transfers to the terminal apparatus 5. An update notification of the MFP list is made.

  In step S54, the terminal device 5 determines whether or not an update notification has been transmitted from the server device 1. If the update notification has not been transmitted (NO in step S54), the terminal device 5 waits for an update notification. On the other hand, if an update notification is transmitted (YES in step S54), an updated MFP list is acquired from the server device 1 (step S55), and the display unit 53 is displayed as shown in the right column of FIG. The MFP list is displayed (step S57), and the process is terminated.

  For example, when the user A accesses the server device 1 from the terminal device 5, the server device 1 creates an MFP list 24 as display data from the login history table 20 and management data 10 for the user A, and Transmit to device 5. The terminal device 5 that has acquired the MFP list 24 displays the MFP list screen 26 on the display unit 53, as shown in the left column of FIG. Thereafter, when the user A logs in to the desired MFP 3, log information including login information is created and transmitted to the server device 1. The server device 1 that has received the log information extracts login information from the log information, updates the login history 22 for the MFP 3 of the user A to the login history 23 based on the extracted login information, and the updated login history. From the table 20b and the management data 10, an MFP list 25 is created in which the MFP 3 that is logged in last is displayed at the top. The server apparatus 1 transmits a login history update notification to the terminal apparatus 5, and the terminal apparatus 5 that has received the update notification from the server apparatus 1 acquires the MFP list 25 from the server apparatus 1 and is shown in the right column of FIG. As described above, the MFP list list screen 27 is displayed on the display unit 53.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the MFP 27 list screen 27 on which the MFP is displayed at the top by displaying the last login to the desired MFP is displayed on the display unit 53 of the terminal device 5. That is, when performing direct printing using an MFP at a business trip destination or the like, even when it is unclear which of the MFPs displayed on the screen of the display unit 53 the MFP to be output is, By going to the MFP to be output and intentionally logging in, this MFP can be displayed at the top of the screen. For this reason, since it becomes easy to specify a desired MFP on the MFP list screen, it is possible for the user to prevent mistakes in selecting the MFP when outputting a document or the like.

  In this embodiment, the last logged-in MFP is displayed at the highest position on the MFP list screen, but may be displayed at the lowest position. Also, the last logged-in MFP is displayed in a different color from the other MFPs without changing the display position or when the display position is changed, or the last logged-in MFP is displayed in bold or the last login It may be configured to display only the MFPs that have been displayed. In short, any MFP that has been logged in last may be displayed in a positional relationship and / or display form that can be distinguished from other MFPs.

In the above-described embodiment, the user logs in to the desired MFP after accessing the server apparatus 1. However, if the user logs in to the desired MFP first and then accesses the server apparatus 1. Since the last logged-in MFP is displayed at the top position or in a different display form, the same effect can be produced.
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the terminal device 5 creates the MFP list as the display data performed in the server device 1 in the first embodiment. Note that the configuration of the server device, MFP, and terminal device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted here.
[Operation of Terminal Device 5]
Next, operation | movement of the terminal device 5 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is realized by the CPU 50 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 51.

  When an access instruction to the server apparatus 1 is received from the user A (step S60), a login history table transmission request and a user name for the user A are transmitted (step S61).

  The server device 1 transmits the login history table 20 for the user A stored in the storage unit 18, and when the terminal device 5 acquires the login history table 20 for the user A, the MFP list list 24 is displayed based on the login history table 20. The MFP list is generated (step S62), and the MFP list screen 26 is displayed on the display unit 53 (step S63).

  Next, when the user goes to the desired MFP 3 and logs in, log information including login information is generated and transmitted to the server device 1. The server device 1 extracts login information from the log information, updates the login history of the user A's MFP 3 based on the extracted login information, and transmits an update notification to the terminal device 5.

  The terminal device 5 determines whether or not an update notification has been made from the server device 1 (step S64), and if not (NO in step S64), waits until a notification is made.

  On the other hand, when an update notification is made (YES in step S64), the updated login history table 20b of the user A is acquired from the server device 1 (step S65), and the last logged-in MFP 3 is obtained from the login history table 20b. The MFP list 25 displayed at the top is created (step S66), the MFP list list screen 27 is displayed on the display unit 53 (step S67), and the process ends.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the terminal device 5 creates the MFP list 25 in which the MFP 3 that has been last logged in by the user is displayed at the top, and thus the display unit 53 of the terminal device 5 is displayed. Since it becomes easy to specify the desired MFP 3 from the displayed MFP list, it is possible to prevent mistakes in selecting the MFP.

Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the display position of the MFP last logged in by the user is not limited to the highest position, and may be displayed in a different display form.
(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, when a user accesses the server device 1 from the terminal device 5 and makes a connection request to the MFPs 2 to 4, the server device 1 identifies the MFP to which the access user last logged in, and the MFP is assigned to the MFP. It forwards connection requests. Note that the configurations of the server device 1, MFPs 2 to 4, and the terminal device according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.
[Operation of Server Device 1]
Next, operation | movement of the server apparatus 1 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is realized by the CPU 15 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 16.

  When a request for connection to the MFP, a user name, and the like are transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the server device 1 in accordance with an instruction from the user A, these are received via the communication unit 20 (step S70). By referring to the login history table 75 of the user A, it is specified that the user A logged in last is the MFP 3 (step S71).

  Next, when the IP address of the MFP 3 is acquired from the MFP management data 76 shown in FIG. 14 (step S72), the connection request from the user A is transferred to the MFP 3 (step S73), and the process is terminated.

  Next, operation | movement of the terminal device 5 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is realized by the CPU 50 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 51.

  When a user name or the like is input by the user A and an instruction to use the MFP is received (step S80), a user name and a connection request to the MFP are transmitted to the server apparatus 1 (step S81).

  As described in step S71 and step S72, the server apparatus 1 that has received the connection request or the like identifies that the user A has logged in last time as the MFP 3, and the connection request is transferred to the MFP 3.

  When MFP information is transmitted from the MFP 3 to which the connection request of the user A has been transferred and the terminal device 5 receives the MFP information (step S82), the direct print screen 85 of the MFP 3 as shown in FIG. (Step S83), the process ends.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when a connection request to the MFP is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the server device 1 by the user, the server device 1 may log in to the MFP 3 last by the user. The connection request is transferred to the MFP 3 and the same state as when the terminal device 5 is directly connected to the MFP 3 that has logged in last can be obtained. This frees you from the hassle of selecting a desired MFP from a plurality of MFPs displayed on the display unit 53.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the device specific system by which the server apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was used. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a server apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of management data. It is a figure which shows an example of a login log | history table. It is a figure which shows an example of the login history table after the update of a login history. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an MFP list and a screen displaying the list. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (MFP). It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a terminal device. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the server apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the terminal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the terminal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the server apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the login log | history table which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the management data which concern on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the terminal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a direct print screen of the MFP 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Server device 2-4 ... MFP
5 ... Terminal device 6 ... Network 15 ... CPU
16 ... ROM
17 ... RAM
18 ... Storage unit 19 ... History update unit 20 ... Communication unit 24, 25 ... MFP list (display data)
37 ... Operation display unit 38 ... Communication unit 53 ... Display unit

Claims (10)

Connected to a plurality of devices via a network, and connected to a login history management device that manages the login history of a user who has logged in to the device so that it can be updated on a per-user basis for each device. A device specifying system comprising a terminal device for displaying information on a device logged in by a user on a display means,
Based on the login history of the user who has accessed the login history management device from the terminal device, the positional relationship and / or display mode in which information about the device that the user last logged in can be identified from information about other devices Display data creating means for creating display data so that it can be displayed on the display means of the terminal device,
The device specifying system, wherein the display unit of the terminal device displays information about a device to which the user has logged in based on the display data created by the display data creation unit.   The device identification system according to claim 1, wherein the information about the device that the user last logged in is displayed at the top of the information about the plurality of devices displayed on the display unit.   The device identification system according to claim 1, wherein information about a device that the user last logged in is displayed with a display color changed from information about other devices. A management unit that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages a login history of a user who has logged into the device so that the device can be updated on a per-user basis for each device;
Based on the login history of the user who has accessed from the terminal device, the display means of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display mode in which information about the device that the user last logged in can be identified from information of other devices Display data creating means for creating display data, as shown in
Transmitting means for transmitting the display data created by the display data creating means to the terminal device;
A login history management apparatus comprising: Access means for accessing a login history management apparatus that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages the login history of a user who has logged in to the device so that it can be updated on a per-user basis for each device;
Receiving means for receiving information about a device logged in by the access user transmitted from the login history management device;
The display data is generated so that the information about the device that the user last logged in among the information about the received device is displayed in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be distinguished from the information of other devices. Display data creation means;
Display means for displaying information about a device to which a user has logged in based on display data created by the display data creation means;
A terminal device comprising: A management unit that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages a login history of a user who has logged into the device so that the device can be updated on a per-user basis for each device;
Receiving means for receiving a connection request to the user's device accessed from the terminal device;
Device identification means for identifying a device on which the user last logged in based on the login history of the user;
Transfer means for transferring a connection request by the user to the identified device;
A login history management apparatus comprising: Managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device, and can be updated for each device on a per-user basis;
Based on the login history of the user who has accessed the login history management device from the terminal device, the terminal in a positional relationship and / or display mode in which information about the device that the user last logged in can be identified from information of other devices Creating display data to be displayed on the display means of the device;
Based on the created display data, displaying information about a device logged in by a user on a display unit of the terminal device;
A device identification method comprising: Managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device, and can be updated for each device on a per-user basis;
Based on the login history of the user who has accessed from the terminal device, the display means of the terminal device in a positional relationship and / or display mode in which information about the device that the user last logged in can be identified from information of other devices Creating display data to be displayed in
Transmitting display data created by the display data creating means to a terminal device;
A device identification program that causes a computer to execute. Accessing a login history management apparatus that is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and manages a login history of a user who has logged in to the device so as to be updateable on a per-user basis for each device;
Receiving information about a device logged in by the access user transmitted from a login history management device;
The display data is generated so that the information about the device that the user last logged in among the information about the received device is displayed in a positional relationship and / or display manner that can be distinguished from the information of other devices. Steps,
Displaying information about the device that the user logged into based on the generated display data;
A device identification program that causes a computer to execute. Managing a login history of a user who is connected to a plurality of devices via a network and logged in to the device, and can be updated for each device on a per-user basis;
Receiving a connection request to a user device accessed from a terminal device;
Identifying a device that the user last logged in based on the user's login history;
Forwarding a connection request by the user to the identified device;
A device identification program that causes a computer to execute.

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