JP2023030515A - Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique of activating an application in an operation mode corresponding to the application.SOLUTION: An information process system includes an information processing device on which a plurality of applications operate and an authentication server for identifying a user. The information processing device comprises: an operation receiving unit that receives an operation for activating an application; a control unit that determines an operation mode at the time of activation of the application received by the operation receiving unit on the basis of application information associating an operation mode with each application; and a management unit that activates the application in the operation mode determined by the control unit. The authentication server has an authentication unit for identifying a right of the user on the basis of user information associating a right with each user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

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

2. Description of the Related Art When using an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus, a user executes an application as a general user for an application that uses a standard function such as a copy function or a scan function. On the other hand, when executing an application that changes device settings or operates jobs executed by all users, the user needs to execute the application as an administrative user who has higher authority than general users. Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for switching the operation mode from general user to administrative user.

However, the conventional technology has a problem that the application is not activated in the operation mode corresponding to the application. Therefore, in some cases, switching of the operation mode is unnecessarily forced after starting the application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a technique for starting an application in an operation mode according to the application.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an information processing system having an information processing device running a plurality of applications and an authentication server for authenticating a user, wherein the information processing device performs an operation for starting the application. an operation accepting unit that accepts an operation; a control unit that determines the operation mode at the time of activation of the application accepted by the operation accepting unit based on application information in which an operation mode is associated with each application; a management unit that launches the application in the operation mode determined by the authentication server, and the authentication server includes an authentication unit that identifies the authority of the user based on user information in which authority is associated with each user. characterized by having

According to the embodiment of the present invention, by activating an application in an operation mode set for each application, it is possible to reduce the number of operations for switching the operation mode by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows an example of the schematic diagram of the information processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 illustrates an example hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the authentication server based on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing an example of the lineblock diagram of the functional block of the information processing system concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the application information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram showing an example of application execution processing in a general operation mode and a management operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of application execution processing according to the embodiment of the present invention; It is a figure which shows an example of the login screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an application (copy) execution screen in the general operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an application (copy) execution screen in the management operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention; It is a figure which shows an example of the execution screen of the application (device setting) in the management operation mode which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an application (device setting) execution screen in a general operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]
<System Overview>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 3 includes at least one or more image forming apparatuses 9 ( 9 A, 9 B, . . . ) and an authentication server 5 , each of which is connected to the communication network 2 .

A user logs in to the image forming apparatus 9 and uses applications such as copying, scanning, device setting, job management, and log management. The authentication server 5 performs user authentication when the user logs into the image forming apparatus 9 . There are two types of authority possessed by a user: administrator authority and general user authority, and the same user can have both administrator authority and general user authority. In an application, an operation mode in which the user uses the application is usually set as a prescribed operation mode. For example, a general operation mode is set (associated) with a copy or scanner application, and a management operation mode is set with a device setting, job management, and log management application. When a user launches an application, the application launches in a prescribed operating mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of times the user performs an operation mode switching operation after starting the application. The prescribed operation mode has settings common to all users for each application, but it is also possible to set a prescribed operation mode for each user.

The configuration of the information processing system 3 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and other configurations may be used. For example, the image forming apparatus 9 has a function of authenticating a user, so that the information processing system 3 does not include the authentication server 5, or the image forming apparatus 9 operates independently without being connected to the communication network 2. Such a configuration may be used. Also, in the following description, the application may be abbreviated as an application.

<Hardware configuration example (image forming apparatus 9)>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 9 (MFP, Multifunction Peripheral/Product/Printer) includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I/F 950. ing.

Among them, the controller 910 includes a CPU 901, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, and a local memory. (MEM-C) 907 , HDD controller 908 and HD 909 , and NB 903 and ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921 .

Among these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 9 . The NB 903 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 901, the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing with respect to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target. have

The MEM-P 902 is composed of a ROM 902a, which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b, which is used as a drawing memory for expansion of programs and data, memory printing, and the like. The program stored in the RAM 902b is configured to be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc. as a file in an installable format or an executable format. You may

SB 904 is a bridge for connecting NB 903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 906 is an image processing IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD 908 and MEM-C 907, respectively. This ASIC 906 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 907, and multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic. , and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931 and the printer unit 932 via the PCI bus 922 . Note that the ASIC 906 may be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

The near field communication circuit 920 has a card reader 920a for reading user authentication information stored in an IC card or the like.

The operation panel 940 has a touch panel 940a and a numeric keypad 940b for receiving input from the user. Further, the touch panel 940a displays application screens executed by the image forming apparatus 9 and the like.

<Hardware Configuration Example (Authentication Server 5)>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the authentication server 5 according to the embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the authentication server 5 is constructed by a computer, and includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, a HD (Hard Disk) 504, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, and an external device connection I/F. (Interface) 508 , network I/F 509 , bus line 510 , keyboard 511 , pointing device 512 , DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514 , and media I/F 516 .

Among these, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the authentication server 5 as a whole. The ROM 502 stores programs used to drive the CPU 501 such as IPL. A RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501 . The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls reading or writing of various data to/from the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501 . A display 506 displays various information such as cursors, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I/F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external device in this case is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a printer, or the like. A network I/F 509 is an interface for data communication using the network N2. A bus line 510 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

Also, the keyboard 511 is a type of input means having a plurality of keys used for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. A pointing device 512 is a kind of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. A DVD-RW drive 514 controls reading or writing of various data to a DVD-RW 513 as an example of a removable recording medium. The DVD-RW drive 514 is not limited to DVD-RW, and may be DVD-R or the like. A media I/F 516 controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 515 such as a flash memory.

<About functions>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration diagram of functional blocks of the information processing system 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing system 3 has a management section 10 , a control section 11 , an authentication section 12 , an operation reception section 13 , a display control section 14 , a first communication section 15 and a second communication section 20 . These units are functions or means realized by the CPU 901 and the CPU 501 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the image forming apparatus 9 and the authentication server 5, for example. In FIG. 4, as an example, the image forming apparatus 9 has a management unit 10, a control unit 11, an operation reception unit 13, a display control unit 14, and a first communication unit 15, and the authentication server 5 includes the authentication unit 12 and the second communication unit 20 are shown. The storage unit 16 may be in the authentication server 5 or the image forming apparatus 9 , or may be in a storage server other than the authentication server 5 and the image forming apparatus 9 . The information processing system 3 also uses the storage unit 16 having the user information storage unit 17 , the application information storage unit 18 , and the setting information storage unit 19 .

Upon receiving the application activation request from the operation accepting unit 13, the management unit 10 acquires the specified operation mode of the application from the application information 201 in the application information storage unit 18 and the setting information 202 in the setting information storage unit 19, and performs the acquired operation. The mode is transmitted to the control unit 11 . In addition, the management unit 10 receives the operation mode when the application is started, which is determined by the control unit 11 . In addition, the management unit 10 performs application execution and application termination processing based on requests received from the operation reception unit 13 .

The control unit 11 receives from the authentication unit 12 the information about the user authority (whether or not the user has the authority of a general user and an administrative user) and the predetermined operation mode of the application received from the management unit 10. Determine the operating mode. The operation mode at application startup is basically the default operation mode, but if the default operation mode is administrative user and the user does not have administrative user authority, the operation at application startup is Let the mode be the general operation mode. Also, the control unit 11 switches the operation mode based on a request from the management unit 10 . Here, the operation mode of a user who does not have administrative user authority cannot be switched to the administrative operation mode.

The authentication unit 12 performs user authentication by confirming whether or not the received authentication information matches the registered authentication information. Here, the authentication information is, for example, a user ID and password.

The operation reception unit 13 receives operations such as character input and button depression by the user.

The display control unit 14 displays screen information such as a login screen on the touch panel 940 a that is the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

The first communication unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 9 and the second communication unit 20 of the authentication server 5 transmit and receive information via the communication network 2 . However, in the following description, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed that other functional blocks transmit and receive information without going through the first communication section 15 and the second communication section 20 .

The user information storage unit 17 stores user information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of user information 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. User information 200 has items of user ID 100 , password 101 , and user authority 102 . User ID 100 is used to identify a user. ID is an abbreviation for Identification. The password 101 is information set by the user and known only to the user, and is used as authentication information together with the user ID in user authentication executed when logging into the image forming apparatus 9 or the like. User authority 102 indicates the authority (general user and administrative user) possessed by the user. A user having general user and administrative user authority has the authority to start an application and execute (process by) an application in the general user and administrative user operation modes, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 4, description will be made.

The application information storage unit 18 stores application information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of application information 201 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The application information 201 has items of an application 103 , a function 104 in management operation mode, a function 105 in general operation mode, and a specified operation mode 106 . The application 103 is the type of application that the image forming apparatus 9 has. The functions 104 in the management operation mode are functions processed by the application in the management operation mode. A function 105 in the normal operation mode is a function processed by the application in the normal operation mode. In this way, each application has different functions in two types of operation modes, namely, the management operation mode and the general operation mode. The prescribed operating mode 106 is the operating mode selected when launching the application. However, the application cannot be started in an operation mode in which the user does not have authority, and is changed to an operation mode in which the user has authority. For example, the prescribed operation mode of the device setting application is the administrator mode, but when a user having only general user authority starts the device setting application, the application is started in the general operation mode.

Returning to FIG. 4, description will be made.

The setting information storage unit 19 stores setting information. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of setting information 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The setting information 202 has items of an application 107 and a user ID 108 . Application 107 is the type of application. In the user ID 108, for each type of the application 107, a prescribed operation mode of the application is set exclusively for the user of the designated user ID. Note that the prescribed operation mode 106 set in FIG. 6 is a setting common to all users, and the setting of the setting information 202 is used with priority over the setting of the prescribed operation mode 106 .

<Flow chart of application execution processing>
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of application execution processing in the general operation mode and the management operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this flowchart, in the information processing system 3, the image forming apparatus 9 activates an application in a predetermined operation mode. Furthermore, after starting the application, the image forming apparatus 9 switches the operation mode based on the user's operation, and executes the processing of the application. Processing of each step will be described below.

Step S<b>31 : The display control unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a login screen on the touch panel 940 a that is the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S32: The operation reception unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 receives input of authentication information (user ID and password) by the user. The user inputs the authentication information using the touch panel 940a and numeric keypad 940b. Alternatively, the user may input the authentication information by holding an IC card in which the authentication information is recorded over the card reader 920a. Operation reception unit 13 of image forming apparatus 9 transmits a login request message including the input authentication information to authentication unit 12 of authentication server 5 .

Step S33: The authentication unit 12 performs user authentication using the received authentication information. Here, it is assumed that user authentication is successful.

Step S34: The authentication unit 12 acquires information as to whether or not the authenticated user has the authority of the administrative user and the general user as the information about the user authority of the authenticated user. Authentication unit 12 transmits the acquired information to control unit 11 .

Step S35: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts an operation by the user to start the application.

Step S36: The management section 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 acquires the prescribed operation mode of the application to be activated.

Step S37: The management unit 10 shifts the process to step S38 if the obtained prescribed operation mode is the general operation mode, and shifts the process to step S43 if it is the management operation mode.

Step S38: The management unit 10 starts the application in normal operation mode.

Step S39: If the user has administrative user authority, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S40; otherwise, shifts the process to step S42.

Step S<b>40 : The display control section 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a switch button to the management operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S41: When the operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts that the user presses the switch button to switch to the management operation mode, the process proceeds to step S44. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S42. . Here, before changing the operation mode from general user to administrative user, from the viewpoint of security, display a screen requesting authentication information so that the user can enter the authentication information and perform user authentication. may

Step S42: The management section 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 executes application processing in the general operation mode.

Step S43: If the user has administrative user authority, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S44; otherwise, shifts the process to step S38.

Step S44: The management section 10 activates the application in the management operation mode.

Step S<b>45 : The display control section 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a button for switching to the general operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S46: If the operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts that the user presses the button for switching to the general operation mode, the process proceeds to step S38; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S47. .

Step S47: The management section 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 executes application processing in the management operation mode.

Step S48: The management unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 executes application termination processing.

Step S49: The control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 9 executes logout processing.

<Application (copy) execution processing>
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of application execution processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this sequence, the user logs into the image forming apparatus 9 and activates a copy application. Since the prescribed operation mode of the copy application is the general operation mode, the image forming apparatus 9 starts the application in the general operation mode. The user runs the copy application in normal operating mode. Next, the user switches the operation mode to the administrative user and executes the copy application in the administrative operation mode. Processing of each step will be described below.

Step S<b>51 : The display control unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a login screen on the touch panel 940 a that is the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the login screen 110 according to the embodiment of the invention. A user ID entry field 111 , a password entry field 112 , and a login button 113 are displayed on the login screen 110 .

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S52: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts input of authentication information (user ID and password) and pressing of the login button 113 by the user.

Step S<b>53 : The operation reception section 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 transmits a login request message including the input authentication information to the authentication section 12 of the authentication server 5 .

Step S54: The authentication unit 12 performs user authentication using the received authentication information. Here, it is assumed that user authentication is successful.

Step S<b>55 : The authentication unit 12 acquires information on the user authority of the authenticated user from the user information 200 stored in the user information storage unit 17 . Here, it is assumed that the logged-in user has a user ID of USER_1 and has both general user and administrative user authority. The authentication unit 12 transmits information about the acquired user authority to the control unit 11 .

Step S<b>56 : The control section 11 holds the received information on user authority while the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 9 . Furthermore, the control unit 11 transmits a request message for displaying the menu screen to the display control unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S<b>57 : The display control section 14 displays the menu screen on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen 120 according to the embodiment of the invention. Menu screen 120 displays copy button 121, scanner button 122, print button 123, device setting button 124, job management button 125, and log management button 126 for executing each application of image forming apparatus 9. there is Also, on the menu screen 120, a user ID (USER_1) as user information 127 of the logged-in user, an operation mode (general user), an operation mode switching button 128, and a logout button 129 are displayed.

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S58: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the copy button 121 as an application (copy) activation operation by the user.

Step S<b>59 : The operation accepting unit 13 transmits to the management unit 10 a message requesting activation of the copy application (application activation request).

Step S60: The management unit 10 acquires the prescribed operation mode (=general operation mode) of the application (copy) from the application information 201 of the application information storage unit 18 and the setting information 202 of the setting information storage unit 19. FIG. Furthermore, the management unit 10 transmits the acquired prescribed operation mode to the control unit 11 .

Step S61: The control unit 11 determines the operation mode of the application at startup based on the received prescribed operation mode of the application and user authority. Here, the prescribed operation mode of the application is the general operation mode, and the user has general user authority, so the control unit 11 determines the operation mode for starting the application to be the general operation mode.

Step S62: The control unit 11 transmits to the management unit 10 the operation mode (=general operation mode) for starting the determined application.

Step S63: The management section 10 transmits to the display control section 14 a request message for displaying the screen of the application (copy) in the general operation mode.

Step S<b>64 : The display control unit 14 displays the application (copy) screen of the general operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an application (copy) execution screen 130 in the general operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The execution screen 130 displays a start button 131 for starting execution of copying, a user ID (USER_1) as user information 132 of the logged-in user, and an operation mode (general user). The execution screen 130 also displays an operation mode switching button 133 and an end button 134 for requesting the end of the application.

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S65: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts that the user presses the start button 131 to start executing the application (copy).

Step S66: The operation receiving unit 13 transmits a message requesting execution of the application (copy) to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S67: The management section 10 executes the application (copy).

Step S68: The management unit 10 transmits a message to the display control unit 14 requesting display of the application execution completion notification.

Step S<b>69 : The display control unit 14 displays an execution completion notification of the application (copy) on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S70: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts that the user presses the operation mode switching button 133 on the execution screen 130 of FIG.

Step S71: The operation reception unit 13 transmits a message requesting switching of the operation mode to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S72: The management unit 10 transmits a message requesting switching of the operation mode to the control unit 11. FIG.

Step S73: After confirming that the user has the user authority of the administrative user, the control section 11 switches the operation mode from the general user to the administrative user.

Step S74: The control unit 11 transmits a message notifying the operation mode switching result (success) to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S75: The management unit 10 transmits to the display control unit 14 a request message for displaying the screen of the application (copy) in the management operation mode.

Step S<b>76 : The display control unit 14 displays the application (copy) screen of the management operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an application (copy) execution screen in the management operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The execution screen 135 displays a common setting change button 136 for changing settings common to all users regarding the application (copy), a user ID (USER_1) as the user information 137 of the logged-in user, and an operation mode (administrative user). ing. The execution screen 135 also displays an operation mode switching button 138 and an end button 139 for requesting the end of the application. Compared to the execution screen 130 of FIG. 12, on the execution screen 135, the display of the operation mode is changed from the general user to the administrative user, and the common setting change button 136 is displayed instead of the start button 131 for starting the copy execution. .

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S77: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the common setting change button 136 for changing the settings common to all users regarding the application (copy) by the user.

Step S78: The operation receiving unit 13 transmits a message requesting execution of the application (copy) to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S79: The management unit 10 displays the setting screen on the screen and accepts the setting change by the user, thereby executing the setting change process. Although the details of the processing contents are omitted, it is assumed that the execution is successful.

Step S80: The management unit 10 transmits a message to the display control unit 14 requesting display of the application execution completion notification.

Step S<b>81 : The display control unit 14 displays an execution completion notification of the application (copy) on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S82: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the end button 139 requesting the end of the application by the user.

Step S83: The operation reception unit 13 transmits a message requesting termination of the application to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S84: The management section 10 terminates the application based on the received request.

Step S<b>85 : The management section 10 transmits a request message for displaying the menu screen to the display control section 14 of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S<b>86 : The display control section 14 displays the menu screen 120 of FIG. 11 on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S87: The operation accepting unit 13 accepts pressing of the logout button 129 on the menu screen 120 by the user.

Step S88: The operation accepting unit 13 transmits a message requesting logout to the control unit 11. FIG.

Step S89: The control unit 11 executes logout processing based on the received request.

Step S90: The control unit 11 transmits to the display control unit 14 a request message for displaying the login screen.

Step S<b>91 : The display control unit 14 displays the login screen 110 of FIG. 10 on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

<Application (device setting) execution processing>
Next, regarding the process of executing the device setting application, the processes of steps S58 to S81 in FIG. 9 will be described as steps S58′ to S81′ as differences from the above-described process of executing the copy application. Here, the user launches the device setting application. Since the specified operation mode of the device setting application is the management operation mode, the image forming apparatus 9 starts the application in the management operation mode. The user runs the device settings application in administrative mode of operation. Next, the user switches the operation mode to the general user, starts the device setting application in the general operation mode, and executes the application. Processing of each step will be described below.

Step S58′: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the device setting button 124 in FIG. 11 as an operation for starting an application (device setting) by the user.

Step S<b>59 ′: The operation accepting unit 13 transmits to the management unit 10 a message requesting activation of the device setting application (application activation request).

Step S60′: The management unit 10 acquires the prescribed operation mode (=management operation mode) of the application (device setting) from the application information 201 of the application information storage unit 18 and the setting information 202 of the setting information storage unit 19. FIG. Furthermore, the management unit 10 transmits the acquired prescribed operation mode to the control unit 11 .

Step S61′: The control unit 11 determines an operation mode for starting the application based on the received prescribed operation mode of the application and user authority. Here, the specified operation mode of the application is the management operation mode, and the user has administrative user authority.

Step S62': The control unit 11 transmits to the management unit 10 the operation mode (=management operation mode) for starting the determined application.

Step S63': The management unit 10 transmits to the display control unit 14 a request message for displaying the screen of the application (device setting) in the management operation mode.

Step S<b>64 ′: The display control unit 14 displays the application (device setting) screen of the management operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an application (device setting) execution screen 140 in the management operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The execution screen 140 displays a change button 141 for changing the date and time setting of the device, a cancel button 142 for canceling the change, a user ID (USER_1) as the user information 143 of the logged-in user, and an operation mode (administrative user). . The execution screen 140 also displays an operation mode switching button 144 and an end button 145 for requesting the end of the application.

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S65′: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the change button 141 for starting execution of the application (device setting) by the user.

Step S66′: The operation accepting unit 13 transmits a message requesting execution of the application (device setting) to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S67': The management unit 10 executes the application (device setting).

Step S68': The management unit 10 transmits a message to the display control unit 14 requesting display of the application execution completion notification.

Step S<b>69 ′: The display control unit 14 displays an execution completion notification of the application (device setting) on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

Step S70': The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts that the user presses the operation mode switching button 144 on the execution screen 140 of FIG.

Step S71′: The operation accepting unit 13 transmits a message requesting switching of the operation mode to the managing unit 10. FIG.

Step S72′: The management unit 10 transmits a message requesting switching of the operation mode to the control unit 11. FIG.

Step S73': After confirming that the user has the user authority of a general user, the control unit 11 switches the operation mode from the administrative user to the general user.

Step S74': The control unit 11 transmits a message to the management unit 10 notifying the operation mode switching result (success).

Step S75': The management unit 10 transmits to the display control unit 14 a request message for displaying the screen of the application (device setting) in the management operation mode.

Step S<b>76 ′: The display control unit 14 displays the application (device setting) screen of the management operation mode on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 . FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an application (device setting) execution screen in the general operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The execution screen 146 displays a display button 147 for confirming the date and time setting, a user ID (USER_1) as user information 148 of the logged-in user, and an operation mode (general user). The execution screen 146 also displays an operation mode switching button 149 and an end button 150 for requesting the end of the application. Compared with the execution screen 140 of FIG. 14, on the execution screen 146, the display of the operation mode is changed from the administrative user to the general user, and instead of the change button 141 for changing the date and time setting of the device and the cancel button 142 for canceling the change, the display button 147 are displayed.

Returning to FIG. 9, description will be made.

Step S77′: The operation accepting unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the display button 147 in the application (device setting) by the user.

Step S78′: The operation accepting unit 13 transmits a message requesting execution of the application (device setting) to the management unit 10. FIG.

Step S79′: Based on the received request, the management unit 10 displays the date and time set in the device on the screen.

Step S80′: The management unit 10 transmits a message to the display control unit 14 requesting display of the application execution completion notice.

Step S<b>81 ′: The display control unit 14 displays an application (device setting) execution completion notice on the display screen of the image forming apparatus 9 .

<First modification>
Regarding the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, differences from the above-described processing will be described. In the first modification, steps S58 to S61 in the sequence diagram of the application execution process of FIG. 12 are different from the above process. In steps S58 and S59, first, the operation accepting unit 13 accepts pressing of the copy button 121 as an application (copy) activation operation by the user. Here, the operation mode determined according to the button pressing time by the user is transmitted to the management unit 10 together with the application activation request. For example, if the button pressing time is longer than a predetermined length of time (for example, 3 seconds), the operation mode is set to the management mode, otherwise the operation mode is set to the general mode. In step S60, the management unit 10 transmits the operation mode received from the operation reception unit 13 to the control unit 11 as a prescribed operation mode. In step S61, the control unit 11 determines the operation mode of the application at startup based on the received prescribed operation mode of the application and user authority.
That is, the control unit 11 determines the operation mode when starting the application based on the method of starting the application (the length of time the button is pressed).

<About effect>
In the first embodiment of the present invention, for each application of the image forming apparatus 9, an operation mode in which a user normally uses the application is set as a prescribed operation mode. For example, the storage unit 16 stores a general operation mode for copy and scanner applications, and a management operation mode for device setting, job management, and log management applications. The image forming apparatus 9 determines an operation mode for starting an application based on a prescribed operation mode and user authority (whether or not the application has administrative user authority), and starts the application in the determined operation mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of times the user performs an operation mode switching operation after starting the application.

Although several modes for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is by no means limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and replacements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. be able to.

For example, the configuration diagram of the functional blocks in FIG. 4 is divided according to main functions in order to facilitate understanding of the processing by the information processing system 3 . The present invention is not limited by the division method or name of the unit of processing. The processing of the information processing system 3 can also be divided into more processing units according to the content of the processing. Also, one processing unit can be divided to include more processing.

Also, each function of the embodiments described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification means a processor programmed by software to perform each function, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to perform each function described above. ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), conventional circuit modules, and other devices.

Moreover, the described devices are only representative of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, information handling system 3 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster. Multiple computing devices are configured to communicate with each other over any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., to perform the processes disclosed herein.

Buttons (login button 113, etc.) displayed on the screen of the image forming apparatus 9 may also be referred to as display components.

Also, the first communication unit and the second communication unit may simply be called communication units.

2 communication network 3 information processing system 5 authentication server 9, 9A, 9B image forming apparatus 10 management unit 11 control unit 12 authentication unit 13 operation reception unit 14 display control unit 15 first communication unit 16 storage unit 17 user information storage unit 18 application Information storage unit 19 Setting information storage unit 20 Second communication unit 106 Prescribed operation mode

JP 2010-61583 A

Claims (9)

An information processing system having an information processing device running a plurality of applications and an authentication server for authenticating a user,
The information processing device is
an operation reception unit that receives an operation to start the application;
a control unit that determines the operation mode at the time of activation of the application received by the operation reception unit based on application information in which an operation mode is associated with each application;
a management unit that launches the application in the operation mode determined by the control unit;
has
The authentication server is
An information processing system having an authentication unit that identifies the authority of each user based on user information in which authority is associated with each user. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit that displays a display component for switching the operation mode on a screen of the application when the management unit activates the application. Even if the operation mode associated with the application accepted by the operation accepting unit in the application information is the second operation mode, if the authority of the user does not correspond to the second operation mode, 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines a first operation mode different from the second operation mode as the operation mode when the application is started. Based on setting information in which the operation mode is associated with each application and each user, the control unit gives priority to the operation mode associated with the application information, in the setting information. 4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the operation mode associated with the application received by the operation reception unit and the user authenticated by the authentication unit is determined as the operation mode when the application is started. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein when the control unit switches the operation mode of the application after activation by pressing the display component, the display control unit displays a screen requesting user authentication. 2. The control unit determines the operation mode when starting the application according to the duration of pressing of the display component by the operation for starting the application and the authority of the user associated with the user information. 4. The information processing system according to 3. An information processing device in which a plurality of applications operate,
an operation reception unit that receives an operation to start the application;
a control unit that determines the operation mode at the time of activation of the application received by the operation reception unit based on application information in which an operation mode is associated with each application;
a management unit that launches the application in the operation mode determined by the control unit;
Information processing device having An information processing method performed by an information processing device in which a plurality of applications operate,
an operation receiving step for receiving an operation for starting the application;
a control step of determining the operation mode at the time of activation of the application accepted by the operation accepting step based on application information in which an operation mode is associated with each application;
a managing step of launching the application in the operating mode determined by the controlling step;
An information processing method comprising: In an information processing device running multiple applications,
an operation receiving step for receiving an operation for starting the application;
a control step of determining the operation mode at the time of activation of the application accepted by the operation accepting step based on application information in which an operation mode is associated with each application;
a managing step of launching the application in the operating mode determined by the controlling step;
program to run.

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