JP2012168820A - Image processing device, and method and program for controlling display of application selection screen - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device having usability by displaying a selection button for allowing a logging-in user to select an application available on a displayed application selection screen unique to the user.SOLUTION: An image processing device obtains My Panel information from a server to determine whether an application permitted for a user to use exists. When such application exists, the device determines whether the application is a first application that has been registered in registration means or whose tool has been registered therein or a second application that has not been registered therein but will be available by registration of the application or its tool. When the application is the first application, the device displays a first selection button for selecting the first application on display means. When the application is determined to be the second application, the device displays a second selection button for selecting the second application. The device simultaneously obtains the second application or its application tool to register it in the registration means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus in which a user can use the application by acquiring and registering the application from the server, or by registering an application tool for using the application on the server, and the image processing apparatus And a display control program for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the display control method.

  For example, as an image processing apparatus including a multi-function digital multifunction peripheral called MFP (Multi Function Peripherals), a predetermined application is acquired from an application server based on a license of a logged-in user, and the acquired application is An image processing apparatus that can be registered, installed, and used is known. In addition, depending on the type of application, the image processing apparatus obtains an application tool that is software for setting the application in order to use the application on the server, instead of acquiring and registering the application itself. It is also possible to use the application on the server using this application tool.

  Further, there is a system that customizes and provides an application selection screen that displays selection buttons for selecting applications that can be used by the user for each user. In this case, even when the user logs in to another image processing apparatus different from the image processing apparatus normally used, the same application selection screen is displayed on the same server as the application server or a different server. A system for registering my panel information indicating applications that can be used by each user is provided. In this system, when the user logs in to the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus connects to the server in which the My Panel information is registered to acquire the My Panel information of the logged-in user, and the application based on the acquired My Panel information. A selection screen is constructed and displayed on the operation panel of the image processing apparatus.

  However, when an image processing apparatus different from the image processing apparatus normally used by the user is used, an application that can be used by the user may not be registered in the image processing apparatus. A selection button for selecting the unusable application may be displayed on the application selection screen displayed based on the application selection screen.

  Patent Document 1 describes a multifunction system and a control method thereof that can reduce the memory capacity required for the multifunction device and reduce the cost. Specifically, it is described that when a system program required for a multi-function device is not registered, it is searched whether the program exists in another multi-function device or a file server, and a substitute process or program download is performed. Yes.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an image processing apparatus capable of predicting and presenting a function expected by the user in the image processing apparatus to the user. When the format is used and the home MFP does not have a compact PDF conversion function and the away MFP has a compact PDF conversion function, when the login user uses the away MFP, the compact It is disclosed that a program key (compact PDF) using a function called PDF conversion is automatically generated and displayed on a program key display unit.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique that allows a user to select a device that can perform the best processing according to a user's print settings and to register the selected device as a favorite when connected to a plurality of printing devices on a network. Has been.

JP 2001-101106 A JP 2006-352205 A JP 2008-186465 A

  As described above, conventionally, when a user logs in to an image processing apparatus different from the image processing apparatus that is normally used and a user-specific application selection screen is displayed, an application that cannot be actually used is selected. The select button may be displayed in the same manner as the available select buttons, which is not convenient.

  Note that it is possible to restrict the display of the selection button so that only applications registered in the logged-in image processing apparatus among the applications permitted to be used by the user can be selected. No application or application tool is registered in the processing device, but if these are registered, a selection button for selecting an available application is not displayed, and the usability is not good.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above cannot provide a solution to the above problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and a selection for selecting an application that can be used by a user when an application selection screen unique to the logged-in user is displayed on the display means. An easy-to-use image processing apparatus capable of displaying a button on a selection screen, a display control method for an application selection screen executed by the image processing apparatus, and the display control method for a computer of the image processing apparatus It is an object of the present invention to provide a display control program for executing the above.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) My panel information for acquiring the My Panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing My Panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application And a first determination unit that determines whether or not there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the own device based on the user's My Panel information acquired by the My Panel information acquisition unit. When the registration means for registering an application or an application tool for using the application and the first determination means determine that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the own device, the application is: Registered in the registration means or application A second one for determining whether the tool is a first application registered or a second application that is not registered in the registration means but is registered or becomes available when the application tool is registered When the determination means, the display means, and the second determination means determine that the application is the first application, the display means displays a first selection button for selecting the first application. And when the second application is determined to be the second application, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is displayed. Control means for obtaining from outside and registering in the registration means. The image processing apparatus according to.
(2) The image processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the control unit displays the first selection button and the second selection button on the display unit in different display forms.
(3) When the second selection button displayed on the display unit is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration unit by the control unit, 3. The image processing apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the control unit displays on the display unit that the second application or application tool is being registered.
(4) The image processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the control unit changes a display form of the second selection button after the second application or application tool is registered.
(5) The first determination means determines whether or not there is a third application that is not permitted to be used in the own device. If it is determined that the third application exists, the control means The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 4, wherein a third selection button corresponding to the third application is displayed on the display unit in a manner in which the user can recognize that the third application cannot be used.
(6) The control unit acquires registration information about an application or application tool registered in the image processing apparatus from another image processing apparatus, and the second determination unit includes the acquired registration information. 6. The image processing device according to item 5, wherein the user determines whether there is another image processing device that can use the third application.
(7) When the third selection button displayed on the display unit is selected by the user, the control unit displays information on the other image processing apparatus that the user can use the third application. 7. The image processing apparatus according to item 6, wherein the image processing apparatus is displayed.
(8) My panel information for acquiring the My Panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing My Panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application A first determination step of determining whether there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device based on the user's My Panel information acquired in the My Panel Information acquisition step; The registration step of registering an application or an application tool for using the application in the registration means, and the first determination step, when it is determined that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device, The application may register Or a second application that can be used by being registered or registered by the application tool but not registered in the registration means. In the second determination step for determining and the second determination step, when it is determined that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed. When the second application is determined to be displayed, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is externally displayed. Obtained from the system and registered in the registration means. A method, characterized by comprising a display control method for application selection screen for the image processing device executes.
(9) My panel information for acquiring the my panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing my panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application A first determination step of determining whether there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device based on the user's My Panel information acquired in the My Panel Information acquisition step; The registration step of registering an application or an application tool for using the application in the registration means, and the first determination step, when it is determined that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device, The application may register Or a second application that can be used by being registered or registered by the application tool but not registered in the registration means. In the second determination step for determining and the second determination step, when it is determined that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed. When the second application is determined to be displayed, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is externally displayed. Obtained from the system and registered in the registration means. Application selection screen display control program for executing the steps, to the computer of the image processing apparatus.
(10) The display control program according to item 9 above, wherein in the control step, the computer executes a process of displaying the first selection button and the second selection button on display means in different display forms.
(11) When the second selection button displayed on the display unit is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration unit in the control step, 11. The display control program according to item 9 or 10, wherein the control step causes the computer to execute a process of displaying on the display means that the second application or application tool is being registered.
(12) In the control step, after the second application or application tool is registered, the display according to any one of the preceding items 9 to 11, which causes the computer to execute a process of changing a display form of the second selection button. Control program.
(13) In the first determination step, it is determined whether or not there is a third application that is not permitted to be used in the device. If it is determined that the third application exists, 9. The preceding items 9 to 12 that cause the computer to execute a process of displaying a third selection button corresponding to a third application on the display unit in a manner that the user can recognize that the third application cannot be used. The display control program according to any one of the above.
(14) In the control step, registration information about an application or application tool registered in the image processing apparatus is acquired from another image processing apparatus, and in the second determination step, the acquired registration information is stored in the acquired registration information. 14. The display control program according to item 13, which causes the computer to execute processing for determining whether or not there is another image processing apparatus that can use the third application based on the user.
(15) When the third selection button displayed on the display means is selected by the user, in the control step, information on the other image processing apparatus that the user can use the third application is displayed. 15. The display control program according to item 14 above, which causes the computer to execute a display process.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (1), the My Panel information indicating the application that the logged-in user is permitted to use and the image processing apparatus that can use the application is acquired from the server, and the acquired My Based on the panel information, it is determined whether or not there is an application that the user is permitted to use on the device. If it is determined that the application exists, the application is registered in the registration unit or the application tool is registered. It is determined whether it is a first application that is not registered in the registration means but is a second application that can be used by being registered or by registering an application tool. When it is determined that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed on the display unit, and when it is determined that the application is the second application, the second application A second selection button for selecting an application is displayed on the display means. At the same time, the second application or application tool is acquired from the outside and registered in the registration means.

  That is, the first selection button for selecting an application or application tool that is currently registered in the device and can be used immediately, and cannot be used immediately, but can be used by acquiring and registering the application or application tool. Since a second selection button for selecting an application, which is an application selection button that can be surely used by the user, is displayed, even if the image processing apparatus is different from the image processing apparatus normally used by the user, it is easy to use. It can be a good image processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, since the first selection button and the second selection button are displayed on the display means in different display forms, the user can distinguish and recognize these selection buttons. .

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (3), when the second selection button displayed on the display unit is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration unit, Since it is displayed that the second application or application tool is being registered, the user can recognize this fact.

  According to the invention described in item (4) above, after the second application or application tool is registered, the display form of the second selection button is changed, so that the user registers the second application or application tool. I can recognize that.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (5), the user can easily recognize that the third application that is not permitted to be used in the user apparatus cannot be used.

  According to the invention described in item (6) above, it is possible to determine whether or not the user can use the third application based on registration information of another image processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (7), when the third selection button is selected by the user, information on other image processing apparatuses that can use the third application is displayed. It is possible to recognize other image processing apparatuses that can use the third application.

  According to the invention described in (8) above, the first selection button for selecting an application that is currently registered in the device and the application or application tool can be used immediately, and the application or application that cannot be used immediately. An image that the image processing apparatus normally uses for the user is displayed because a selection button for an application that can be reliably used by the user, called a second selection button for selecting an application that can be used by acquiring and registering the tool, is displayed. Even if it is different from the processing apparatus, the usability can be improved.

  According to the invention described in item (9) above, the first selection button for selecting an application that is currently registered in the device and the application or application tool can be used immediately, and the application or application that cannot be used immediately. It is possible to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute a process of displaying a selection button of an application that can be surely used by the user, called a second selection button for selecting an application that can be used by acquiring and registering the tool .

  According to the invention described in item (10) above, the computer of the image processing apparatus can execute processing for displaying the first selection button and the second selection button on the display means in different display forms.

  According to the invention described in item (11) above, when the second selection button displayed on the display means is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration means, It is possible to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute processing for displaying that the second application or application tool is being registered.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (12), it is possible to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the process of changing the display mode of the second selection button after the registration of the second application or application tool.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (13), it is determined whether or not there is a third application that is not permitted to be used in the own device. If it is determined that the third application exists, the third application is supported. It is possible to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute a process for displaying the third selection button on the display unit in a manner in which the user can recognize that the third application cannot be used.

  According to the invention described in (14) above, the computer of the image processing apparatus is caused to execute the process of determining whether or not the user can use the third application based on the registration information of the other image processing apparatus. be able to.

  According to the invention described in the above item (15), when the third selection button is selected by the user, the process of displaying information of another image processing apparatus that can use the third application is performed. Can be run on any computer.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server system in which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of my panel information. It is a float chart for demonstrating the communication processing performed between the image processing apparatus and my panel server after a user performs login operation with respect to one of image processing apparatuses. It is a figure which shows the application selection screen displayed on the operation panel of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the application selection screen displayed on the operation panel of another image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the application selection screen displayed on the operation panel of another image processing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating a screen transition when a specific selection button is pushed among the selection buttons displayed on the application selection screen of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement until it displays with the said user's application selection screen (my panel) performed with the image processing apparatus in which the user logged in.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server system using an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this server system, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 1 to 3 and a server 4 are connected to each other via a network.

  In this embodiment, the image processing apparatuses 1 to 3 are configured by an MFP which is the above-described multifunction digital image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatuses 1 to 3 are also referred to as MFPs.

  The server 4 stores, for each user, My Panel information indicating an application that can be used by the user and an MFP that can use the application. Hereinafter, this server 4 is also referred to as a my panel server. The my panel server 4 is configured as a server different from an application server (not shown) on which an application used by the user is mounted. However, the application server and the my panel server 4 may be used together.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFPs 1 to 3. Since the configurations of the MFPs 1 to 3 are the same, the configuration of the MFP 1 will be described, and the descriptions of the configurations of the other MFPs 2 and 3 will be omitted.

  The MFP 1 includes a control unit 10, an automatic document feeder 11, a document reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation panel 15, and the like.

  The control unit 10 controls the overall operation of the MFP 1, and includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an EEPROM 104, a storage unit 105, a facsimile unit 106, and a communication interface unit (referred to as a communication I / F unit). 107), a card interface unit (denoted as a card I / F unit) 108, an authentication unit 109, and the like.

  The CPU 101 operates in accordance with an operation program to control the entire MFP 1 and control basic functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. In this embodiment, an application server (not shown) is accessed to acquire one or a plurality of predetermined applications (application main body and application-specific information), and the acquired application is stored in the storage unit 105 or the like. The application name and the like are registered in the EEPROM 104 and the like. Alternatively, an application tool, which is software for setting the application to use the application on the server, is acquired from the application server or the like, and the acquired application tool is stored in the storage unit 105 or the like and installed. Then, the name of the application tool (name of the application corresponding to the application tool) or the like is registered in the EEPROM 104 or the like.

  Further, the CPU 101 accesses the My Panel server 4 to acquire My Panel information of the user who has logged in to the MFP 1, and based on the acquired My Panel information, an application that the user is permitted to use on the own apparatus is displayed. If it is determined whether or not there is an application that the user is permitted to use on the device, the application is already registered or an application tool is registered. It is determined whether it is an application that can be used by being registered or by registering an application tool, but will be described in detail later.

  The ROM 102 is a memory for storing an operation program of the CPU 101 and the like.

  The RAM 103 is a memory that provides a work area when the CPU 101 operates according to an operation program.

  The EEPROM 104 is a storage medium in which data can be written / erased. In this embodiment, the name of an application acquired from a server and the name of an application tool are registered in the EEPROM 104.

  The storage unit 105 includes a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), for example, an application acquired from the server, an application tool, image data of a document read by the scanner unit 14, Data transmitted from other image forming apparatuses or user terminals 6 are stored.

  The facsimile unit 106 performs facsimile transmission / reception with an external facsimile apparatus.

  The communication interface unit 107 functions as a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the server 5 and other MFPs 2 and 3 via the network 7.

  The card interface unit 108 is an interface unit for connecting external elements such as the flash memory 8.

  The authentication unit 109 authenticates a user who has logged into the device, and collates user information such as an ID and password input by the user with user information stored in the storage unit 105 or the like. , Perform user authentication. This user authentication may be performed by an external server.

  The automatic document feeder 11 automatically conveys a document placed on a document placement unit (not shown) to a reading position of the document reading unit 12.

  The document reading unit 12 is a reading unit that reads a document transported from the automatic document transport device 11 or a still document image placed on a document table (not shown) and outputs image data.

  The image forming unit 13 instructs the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 12 or the print data transmitted from the terminal device 6 to the printing paper fed from the paper feeding unit 14 by the user. According to the specified mode.

  The operation panel 15 is used for various input operations and the like, and includes a display unit 151 including a touch panel type liquid crystal for displaying a message, an operation screen, and the like, a numeric keypad, a start key, a stop key, and the like. An operation unit 152 is provided.

  The My Panel server 4 is composed of a general-purpose personal computer, and can send and receive My Panel information and other data to and from the MFPs 1 to 3 as shown by the thick lines in FIG. The MFPs 1 to 3 can communicate with other MFPs via a network as indicated by thin lines in FIG. 1, and each MFP 1 to 3 has the name of an application or application tool registered therein. The license information (whether it is an application that can be used by any user) or the like can be notified to other MFPs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of my panel information of a user stored in the my panel server 4. In the following description and drawings, the application is also simply referred to as an application.

  The My Panel information includes the name of the application (Name) that the user can use upon receiving a license, the URL where the application is acquired or the access destination for using the application, the usage type (Type) of the application, The IP address (License) of the MFP that can use the application is described.

  In the example of FIG. 3, this user can use four applications A to D, and the application A is a server type and can be used by any MFP. The usage type will be described later.

  Further, it is shown that the usage type of the application B is a server type and can be used by the MFP 1 and the MFP 2 from the described IP address.

  In addition, it is shown that the usage type of the application C is a stand-alone type and can be used by the MFP 1 and the MFP 2 from the described IP address.

  In addition, the application D is a stand-alone usage type, and is shown to be usable by any MFP.

  Here, a server type and a stand-alone type, which are application usage types, will be described.

  With the server type application, the application (specific information such as the application main body and application setting values) exists on the server, and the MFPs 1 to 3 do not need to acquire the application. By acquiring an application tool, which is software for using the application, and temporarily registering and installing the application tool, it is possible to perform settings and the like for the application on the server using this tool. The acquisition destination of the application tool may be anywhere such as a server or another MFP.

  On the other hand, a stand-alone application is one in which the MFPs 1 to 3 acquire and register the application, and set and use the application in the MFP. In this case, the MFP in which the application is registered is often an MFP that is normally used by the user. The application may be acquired from an application server or distributed in the form of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

  Next, the operation of the server system in FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, the numbers described in the balloon display portions attached to the MFPs 1 to 3 are the IP addresses of the MFPs, and the applications A to D are the types of applications already registered.

  In FIG. 1, an MFP 1 is an MFP normally used by a user, and an application tool for using an application A, an application tool for using an application B, an application C, and an application D are all registered and installed. .

  Further, an application tool for using application A, an application tool for using application B, and application C are registered and installed in MFP 2.

  In addition, an application tool for using the application B is registered and installed in the MFP 3.

  FIG. 4 shows a communication process performed between the MFP and the My Panel server 4 after the user performs a login operation on any of the MFPs 1 to 3.

  If the authentication is successful in the MFPs 1 to 3, login is permitted. Based on the user's operation, an acquisition request for the corresponding user's My Panel information is transmitted from the MFPs 1 to 3 to the My Panel server 4. In response to this request, the my panel server 4 searches the database, extracts the corresponding user's my panel information, and transmits it to the MFPs 1 to 3 that have made acquisition requests.

  The MFPs 1 to 3 that have received the My Panel information confirm the license based on the acquired My Panel information, acquire application information including information on the application or application tool registered in the self apparatus, The my panel information is compared. Then, a predetermined application selection screen is constructed based on the comparison result, and the constructed application selection screen is displayed on the display unit 151 of the operation panel 15.

  When the user logs in to the MFP 1, the application selection screen L1 in FIG. 5 is displayed. Note that the user's My Panel information is as shown in FIG.

  In other words, application tools for using application A and application B, application C, and application D, respectively, are registered in MFP 1, and the user can use these applications A to D immediately. For this reason, selection buttons 153 to 156 for selecting the applications A to D are displayed on the user's application selection screen (My Panel) in addition to the “Copy” selection button and the “Scan” selection button. The selection buttons 153 to 156 are concepts including shortcuts.

  When the user selects any one of the selection buttons 153 to 156, the selected application is activated and the application can be used.

  Next, a case where the user logs in to the MFP 2 will be described.

  An application tool and an application C for using the application A and the application B are registered in the MFP 2, and the user can use these applications A to C immediately.

  On the other hand, if the application D is acquired for the application D, the user can use the application D.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in the application selection screen L2 in FIG. 6, the selection button 156 for selecting the application D is in a state in which the color is changed from the selection buttons 153 to 155 that can be used immediately (in FIG. 6). (Hatched by vertical lines).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the selection buttons 153 to 155 for selecting the application or application tool that is currently registered in the own device and can be used immediately, and the application or application tool that is not available immediately, are acquired. Then, a selection button 156 is displayed to select an application that can be used by registration, and a selection button for an application that can be surely used by the user is displayed. Therefore, even if the MFP 2 is different from the MFP 1 that is normally used by the user, it is easy to use. It can be a good MFP.

  Further, by displaying the selection button 156 in a color different from the colors of the selection buttons 153 to 155 that can be used immediately, the user can easily recognize that the application can be used by acquiring an application or a tool that cannot be used immediately. Can be used, and is easy to use. Instead of changing the color, the shape may be changed as long as it can be used as long as it can be used immediately by acquiring an application or a tool, but it can be recognized by the user.

  In this embodiment, the outer frame of the selection button 156 is outlined with a thick line to indicate that the application D is not registered in the MFP 2. Further, a message indicating that the application or application tool corresponding to the selection button displayed in a thick frame is not registered in the MFP 2 is displayed in the lower area of the application selection screen L2.

  Next, a case where the user logs in to the MFP 3 will be described.

  An application tool for using the application B is registered in the MFP 3, but as shown in the My Panel information in FIG. 3, the MFP that the user can use the application B is limited to the MFPs 1 and 2 according to the license. Has been. For this reason, the user cannot use the application B on the MFP 3.

  Therefore, as shown in the application selection screen L3 in FIG. 7, the selection button 154 corresponding to the application B is grayed out (hatched with diagonal lines in FIG. 6) so that it cannot be operated.

  In addition, since the user is not permitted to use the application C in the MFP 3, the selection button 155 corresponding to the application C is displayed in gray so that it cannot be operated.

  The application A can be used by the user if the MFP 3 acquires the application tool, and the application D can also be used by the user if the application D is acquired. Therefore, in this embodiment, the selection button 153 for selecting the application A and the selection button 156 for selecting the application D are changed in color as in the case of the selection button 156 on the selection screen L2 in FIG. It is displayed in a state (hatching by vertical lines in FIG. 7).

  In addition, in order to indicate that the application tool for using the application A, the application C, and the application D are not registered in the MFP 3, the outer frames of the corresponding selection buttons 153, 155, and 156 are outlined with thick lines. .

  In the lower area of the application selection screen L3, the application or application tool corresponding to the selection button displayed in a thick frame is not registered in the MFP 3, and the application corresponding to the selection button displayed in gray is used. A message indicating that it cannot be displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the selection buttons 154 and 155 corresponding to the applications B and C that cannot be used by the user are displayed in gray. However, such a selection button may not be displayed. However, by changing the display form and displaying, there is an advantage that the user can clearly recognize that the applications B and C cannot be used.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the MFP 3 performs the background processing as an application or application tool in a state where selection buttons 153 and 156 for selecting an application tool or an application that can be used by the user when the application is acquired are displayed. A process of acquiring from the server or the like and temporarily registering the information is executed, and when the selection buttons 153 and 156 are selected by the user, an indication that the application or the application is temporarily registered is displayed on the selection screen. Has been made.

  That is, as shown in the selection screen L4 displayed on the display unit 151 of the operation panel 15 of the MFP 3 in FIG. 8A, when the user presses the selection button 153 for using the application A, the application A can be used. And a message indicating that the application (tool) is temporarily registered is displayed on the selection screen, and the user can easily recognize that the MFP 3 is processing. be able to. In addition, when acquisition and registration take time, you may display together that the time until completion | finish of a process is long.

  When the acquisition / temporary registration of the application (tool) is completed, as shown in the selection screen L5 in FIG. 8B, the display form such as the color of the corresponding selection button 153 is the display form before completion. It is supposed to be displayed differently. The selection screen L5 in FIG. 8B indicates that the display form has been changed by adding lattice hatching.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in a state in which selection buttons indicating applications that cannot be used by the user (for example, selection buttons 154 and 155 on the selection screen L3 in FIG. 7) are displayed, the MFP 3 performs the background processing as the user A process of searching for an MFP that can use the is executed. That is, the MFP 3 acquires registration information about an application or application tool registered in the MFP from one or more other predetermined MFPs, and the user selects the application based on the acquired registration information. Determine whether there is any other MFP available. The MFP for acquiring the registration information may be performed for MFPs in a preset range, or may be performed based on MFP information described in My Panel information.

  In addition, when the selection button 154 or 155 indicating an application that cannot be used by the user is selected by the user in the MFP 3, information indicating the MFP that the user can use the application is displayed based on the search result of the other MFP. It has been made.

  That is, as shown in the selection screen L6 displayed on the MFP 3 in FIG. 8C, when the user presses the selection button 154 corresponding to the application B, the application B cannot be used and the application B can be used. A message indicating another MFP is displayed on the selection screen, and the user can easily recognize which MFP can use the application B. If there are a plurality of other MFPs that can use the application B, at least one MFP may be displayed. In this case, each MFP may be provided with position information, and the MFP closest to the MFP where the user is logged in may be displayed. If there is no other MFP that can be used, a message to that effect may be displayed. In addition, when there are a plurality of application selection buttons that cannot be used on the MFP to which the user has logged in, and there are applications that can be used on other MFPs and applications that cannot be used on other MFPs, The display form of the selection button of an application that can be used and an application that cannot be used by another MFP may be different.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation performed until the user application selection screen (My Panel) is displayed, which is executed by the MFPs 1 to 3 to which the user has logged in.

  This operation is executed when the CPUs 101 of the MFPs 1 to 3 operate according to an operation program recorded on a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

  When user authentication is performed in step S01 and login is permitted for the user's login operation, in step S02, connection is made to the my panel server 4 and my panel information is acquired from the server 4.

  Next, in step S03, it is determined whether or not the user has a license that can be used by the user apparatus for the first application described in the My Panel information. If it is held (YES in step S03), in step S04, it is determined whether or not this application or an application tool for using this application is registered in its own device.

  If it is registered (YES in step S04), in step S05, it is recognized that the application can be used immediately, and the process proceeds to step S14.

  If it is determined in step S03 that the user does not have a license that can be used by the user apparatus (NO in step S03), it is determined in step S11 whether or not a license with no use user restriction is registered in the user apparatus.

  If the license is registered (YES in step S11), the process proceeds to step S06. On the other hand, if no application or application tool is registered in the own device in step S04 (NO in step S04), the process proceeds to step S06.

  In step S06, it is determined whether the usage type of this application is a server type. If it is a server type (YES in step S06), it is recognized in step S07 that it is a server type application that can be temporarily registered, and then in step S08, the application tool for using the application on the application server is temporarily acquired. Process from registration to setup (installation). This process is executed in the background, and the process proceeds to step S14 without waiting for the end of the process.

  If the application usage type is not the server type in step S06 (NO in step S06), it is recognized in step S09 that it is a stand-alone type application that can be temporarily registered, and in step S10, the application is acquired and temporarily registered. Process up to. This process is executed in the background, and the process proceeds to step S14 without waiting for the end of the process.

  In step S11, if a license without using user restriction is not registered in the own device (NO in step S11), in step S12, it is recognized that the application cannot be used from the own device. Registered information from other MFPs, in other words, the names of registered applications and application tools and their license information (whether or not they can be used by any user) are acquired, and the process of searching for available MFPs by users is executed To do. This process is executed in the background, and the process proceeds to step S14 without waiting for the end of the process.

  In step S14, it is determined whether or not the next application exists in the My Panel information. If it exists (YES in step S14), the process returns to step S03 and the processes in steps S03 to 13 are repeated. If there is no next step (NO in step S14), an application selection screen on which an application selection button is arranged is displayed on the display unit 151 of the operation panel 15 in step S15. As described above, the application selection button is displayed differently depending on whether an application or tool is registered in its own device, when an application or tool is acquired and temporarily registered, or when a user cannot use the application or button. Displayed in form. Further, when the acquisition or temporary registration of the application or tool is completed, the display form of the corresponding selection button is changed.

1-3 MFP (image processing device)
4 My Panel Server 15 Operation Panel 151 Display Unit 10 Control Unit 101 CPU
102 ROM
104 EEPROM
105 storage unit 107 communication interface unit 153 to 156 selection button

Claims (15)

My panel information acquisition means for acquiring the My Panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing My Panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application; ,
Based on the user's My Panel information acquired by the My Panel information acquisition unit, a first determination unit that determines whether there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device;
A registration means for registering an application or an application tool for using the application;
When it is determined by the first determination means that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the own device, the application is registered in the registration means or an application tool is registered in the first A second determination means for determining whether the application is a second application that is not registered in the registration means but is registered or registered by registering an application tool;
Display means;
When the second determination means determines that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed on the display means, and the second When it is determined that the application is an application, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is acquired from the outside and the registration means is obtained. Control means to register with
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the first selection button and the second selection button on a display unit in different display forms.   If the second selection button displayed on the display means is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration means by the control means, the control means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display means displays that the second application or application tool is being registered.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a display form of the second selection button after registering the second application or the application tool.   The first determination means determines whether or not there is a third application that is not permitted to be used in the own device. If it is determined that the third application exists, the control means determines that the third application The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third selection button corresponding to is displayed on the display unit in a manner in which the user can recognize that the third application cannot be used. The control means acquires registration information about an application or application tool registered in the image processing apparatus from another image processing apparatus,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second determination unit determines whether there is another image processing apparatus that allows the user to use the third application based on the acquired registration information.   When the third selection button displayed on the display unit is selected by the user, the control unit displays information on the other image processing apparatus that allows the user to use the third application. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6. My panel information acquisition step of acquiring the My Panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing My Panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application; ,
Based on the user's My Panel information acquired in the My Panel information acquisition step, a first determination step of determining whether or not there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device;
A registration step of registering an application or an application tool for using the application in the registration means;
In the first determination step, when it is determined that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the own device, the application is registered in the registration unit or an application tool is registered. A second determination step of determining whether the application is a second application that is not registered in the registration means but is registered or registered when an application tool is registered;
In the second determination step, when it is determined that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed on a display unit, and the second application is displayed. If it is determined that the second application button is selected, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is acquired from outside and registered in the registration means. A control step to
A display control method for an application selection screen executed by the image processing apparatus. My panel information acquisition step of acquiring the My Panel information of the logged-in user from a server storing My Panel information indicating an application that the user is permitted to use and an image processing apparatus that can use the application; ,
Based on the user's My Panel information acquired in the My Panel information acquisition step, a first determination step of determining whether or not there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device;
A registration step of registering an application or an application tool for using the application in the registration means;
In the first determination step, when it is determined that there is an application that the user is permitted to use in the device, the application is registered in the registration unit or an application tool is registered. A second determination step of determining whether the application is a second application that is not registered in the registration means but is registered or registered when an application tool is registered;
In the second determination step, when it is determined that the application is the first application, a first selection button for selecting the first application is displayed on a display unit, and the second application is displayed. If it is determined that the second application button is selected, a second selection button for selecting the second application is displayed on the display means, and the second application or application tool is acquired from outside and registered in the registration means. A control step to
Is a display control program for an application selection screen for causing the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute.   The display control program according to claim 9, wherein the control step causes the computer to execute a process of displaying the first selection button and the second selection button on a display unit in different display forms.   If the second selection button displayed on the display means is selected by the user before the second application or application tool is registered in the registration means in the control step, the control step The display control program according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the computer executes a process of displaying on the display means that the second application or application tool is being registered.   The display control program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein in the control step, after the second application or application tool is registered, the computer executes a process of changing a display form of the second selection button. .   In the first determination step, it is determined whether or not there is a third application that is not permitted to be used in the own device. If it is determined that there is a third application, the control means step includes the third application. The computer according to any one of claims 9 to 12, which causes the computer to execute a process of displaying a third selection button corresponding to an application on the display unit in a manner in which the user can recognize that the third application cannot be used. Display control program described in 1. In the control step, registration information about an application or application tool registered in the image processing apparatus is acquired from another image processing apparatus,
The second determination step causes the computer to execute a process of determining whether or not there is another image processing apparatus that can use the third application based on the acquired registration information. The display control program described.   When the third selection button displayed on the display means is selected by the user, the control step displays information on the other image processing apparatus that allows the user to use the third application. The display control program according to claim 14, which causes the computer to execute processing.

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