JP2014178757A - Information processor and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor for, even when each user allows individual setting information to be read, preventing the other users from being affected.SOLUTION: An information processor for performing processing on the basis of setting information stored in first storage means includes: means for, when determining that predetermined setting information is present in external storage means, storing the setting information of the first storage means in second storage means; means for acquiring the predetermined setting information from the external storage means, and for storing it in the first storage means; and means for, when determining that the processing based on the predetermined setting information has ended, storing the setting information stored in the second storage means in the first storage means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multifunction machine having functions such as a facsimile, a printer, a copy, and a scanner is known. It takes a lot of time to manually set the setting information of a device having a plurality of functions. In particular, it is difficult to manually set all the devices held by a user who owns a plurality of devices. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for smoothly managing and operating a plurality of devices by enabling backup and restoration to a portable storage medium.

  In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, in a device shared by a plurality of users, if one of the users restores different setting information, there is a problem that other users are affected. It was. An object of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that does not affect other users even if each user reads individual setting information.

  In order to solve the above problem, claim 1 of the present application is an information processing apparatus that performs processing based on setting information stored in the first storage unit, and determines that the external storage unit has predetermined setting information Means for storing the setting information of the first storage means in a second storage means, means for acquiring the predetermined setting information from the external storage means, and storing the information in the first storage means; Means for storing the setting information stored in the second storage means in the first storage means when it is determined that the processing based on the predetermined setting information has been completed.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that does not affect other users even if each user reads individual setting information.

It is a block diagram of an example of an information processing system. It is a block diagram of another example of an information processing system. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of information processing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of an example of information processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of setting information output operation | movement. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the backup operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the setting information input operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the restore operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows an example of the operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the backup operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the restore operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows an example of the operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows an example of the operation | movement which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

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

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an information processing system 100. In the information processing system 100 of FIG. 1, a server device 101 and a plurality of information processing devices 102 are connected via a network 103. The numbers of the server apparatus 101 and the information processing apparatus 102 are examples, and other numbers may be used. The information processing apparatus 102 performs various processes based on various set values (hereinafter referred to as setting information).

  Further, the information processing apparatus 102 can store the setting information in the server apparatus 101 via the network 103. In addition, the setting information stored in the server apparatus 101 can be read into the information processing apparatus 102 and used as new setting information. Therefore, each information processing apparatus 102 can acquire each other's setting information via the server apparatus 101, and can use it as setting information of an own machine. Further, if each user stores personal setting information in the server apparatus 101, the user reads the personal setting information from an arbitrary information processing apparatus 102 and uses the information processing apparatus 102 with the personal setting information. be able to.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of another example of the information processing system 100. The information processing system 100 includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses 102 and a storage medium 201. The storage medium 201 is a recording medium that can read and write data by connecting to a predetermined interface of the information processing apparatus 102 such as a memory card, a USB memory, and a hard disk device. Note that the numbers of the storage medium 201 and the information processing apparatus 102 are examples, and other numbers may be used.

  In this configuration, the setting information can be stored in the storage medium 201 by connecting the storage medium 201 to the information processing apparatus 102. Also, the setting information stored in the storage medium 201 can be read and used as new setting information. If each user stores the personal setting information in the storage medium 201, the user connects the storage medium 201 to an arbitrary information processing apparatus 102, reads the personal setting information, and sets the information processing apparatus 102. Can be used in personal setting information.

  The system configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example, and it goes without saying that there are various system configuration examples depending on applications and purposes. For example, the server device 101 may be a storage unit such as a hard disk device connected to a network, or may be a client device.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus 102. Here, as an example, a hardware configuration when the information processing apparatus 102 is a multifunction machine will be described. The information processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a multifunction machine) 102 includes a controller board 300, an operation panel 309, an FCU 310, an imaging unit 315, and a printing unit 316. The controller board 300 includes a CPU 301 (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC 306, a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 308, a system memory (MEM-P) 302, a local memory (MEM-C) 307, North Bridge (hereinafter referred to as NB) 303, South Bridge (hereinafter referred to as SB) 304, Memory Card Interface 317, NIC 314 (Network Interface Card), USB Interface 311, IEEE 1394 Interface 312 and Centronics Interface 313 is included.

  The memory card interface 317 is an interface for reading and writing the memory card 318 as a storage medium. The USB interface 311 can be connected to a storage medium such as a USB memory 319 or an external hard disk device. The NIC 314 is an interface for connecting the multifunction peripheral 102 to the network 103 and communicating with, for example, the server apparatus 101.

  The operation panel 309 is connected to the ASIC 306 of the controller board 300. In addition, the SB 304, the NIC 314, the USB interface 311, the IEEE 1394 interface 312 and the Centronics interface 313 are connected to the NB 303 via a PCI bus. The FCU 310, the imaging unit 315, and the printing unit 316 are connected to the ASIC 306 of the controller board 300 via a PCI bus.

  In the controller board 300, the local memory 307, the HDD 308, and the like are connected to the ASIC 306, and the CPU 301 and the ASIC 306 are connected via the NB 303 of the CPU chip set. In this way, by connecting the CPU 301 and the ASIC 306 via the NB 303, it is possible to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 301 is not disclosed. The ASIC 306 and the NB 303 are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphic Port) 305.

  The CPU 301 is a processor that performs overall control of the multifunction machine 102. For example, the CPU 301 executes programs such as an operating system, applications, and various services stored in the HDD 308 and the like, and realizes each function of the multifunction peripheral 102.

  The NB 303 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 301, the system memory 302, the SB 304, and the ASIC 306. A system memory 302 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the multifunction machine 102. The SB 304 is a bridge for connecting the NB 303 to the PCI bus and peripheral devices. A memory card interface 317 is connected to the SB 304. The local memory 307 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. In the following description, the system memory 302 or the local memory 307 may be simply expressed as a memory or a storage area.

  The ASIC 306 is an IC for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing. The HDD 308 is a storage for storing images, programs, font data, forms, and the like. The operation panel 309 is an operation unit that accepts an input operation from the user and performs display for the user.

  Note that the above multifunction machine is an example of the information processing apparatus 102 and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 102 includes various image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles, copiers, scanners, printers, and digital cameras, and various apparatuses that do not necessarily form images, such as network devices, coffee makers, vacuum cleaners, and automobiles. Including.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus 102. The information processing apparatus 102 includes setting information storage means 401, processing means 402, backup means 403, backup information storage means 404, setting information input means 405, restore means 406, and setting information output means 407.

  The setting information storage unit 401 stores setting information of the information processing apparatus 102. The processing unit 402 realizes the function of the information processing apparatus based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401. For example, if the information processing apparatus 102 is a multifunction peripheral, at least a part of processing such as a facsimile, a printer, a copy, and a scanner is executed based on the setting information. When the backup unit 403 determines that there is user setting information to be acquired in the external storage unit 408, the backup unit 403 stores the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 in the backup information storage unit 404. The backup information storage unit 404 is included in a storage area of the information processing apparatus 102, for example.

  The setting information input unit 405 acquires the setting information stored in the external storage unit 408 and stores it in the setting information storage unit 401. The restore unit 406 stores the setting information stored in the backup information storage unit 404 in the setting information storage unit 401 when determining that the processing based on the setting information acquired from the external storage unit 408 has ended. The setting information output unit 407 stores the setting information of the setting information storage unit 401 in the external storage unit 408.

  Note that at least a part of the processing unit 402, the backup unit 403, the setting information input unit 405, the restoration unit 406, and the setting information output unit 407 is realized by a program operating on the CPU 301, for example.

  Further, the external storage means 408 includes storage means connected via the network 103, such as the server apparatus 101 of FIG. 1, the storage medium 201 of FIG. Furthermore, the storage medium 201 includes, for example, storage means such as a USB memory 319 connected to the USB interface 311 in FIG. 3, a memory card 318 connected to the memory card interface 317, and the like.

  With the above configuration, for example, when the storage medium 201 storing the setting information is connected to the information processing apparatus 102, the current setting information is automatically backed up in the backup information storage unit 404. In addition, user setting information stored in the storage medium 201 is stored in the setting information storage unit 401, and processing can be performed with user settings. Further, when the connection of the storage medium 201 is disconnected after the processing is completed, the setting information backed up in the backup information storage unit 404 is restored to the setting information storage unit 401. Therefore, each user can read the individual setting information and use the information processing apparatus 102, and is automatically restored to the original setting information after use, so that other users are not affected.

  In addition, the said structure is an example to the last, Comprising: The scope of the present invention is not limited. For example, the functions of the backup unit 403 and the restore unit 406 may be combined into one unit, or the backup unit 403 and the restore unit 406 may be divided into a plurality of units. Further, the backup information storage unit 404 may be provided outside the information processing apparatus 102.

<Description of operation>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation for storing the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 in the external storage unit 408. For example, when there is a setting information output request from a user or the like (S501), the setting information output unit 407 reads the setting information from the setting information storage unit 401 (S502), and stores the read setting information in the external storage unit 408. (S503). Thereby, when each user changes the setting information of the information processing apparatus 102, the changed setting can be stored in the external storage unit 408 as the setting information of each user. In S502 and S503, additional information such as a model ID for identifying the information processing apparatus 102, user identification information, and time information may be read together with the setting information and stored together in the external storage unit 408.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment is an example when the external storage unit 408 is a storage medium 201 such as a USB memory 319, a memory card 318, and an external hard disk device, for example. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the setting information backup operation according to the present embodiment. When it is detected that the storage medium 201 is connected to the information processing apparatus 102 (S601), the backup unit 403 confirms whether the connected storage medium 201 includes user setting information (S602). ). If it is determined that there is user setting information in the storage medium 201, the backup unit 403 reads the current setting information from the setting information storage unit 401 (S603), and stores the read setting information in the backup information storage unit (S603). S604). Further, the backup unit 403 requests the setting information input unit 405 to read the setting information of the user (S605). On the other hand, if there is no user setting information in the storage medium 201 in S602, the process is terminated.

  Note that the detection of the connection of the storage medium 201 may use, for example, a function of an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) operating on the CPU 301, or may be detected by the backup unit 403. Moreover, you may provide a detection means separately. Further, although the backup unit 403 determines whether or not the user setting information exists in the storage medium 201, another unit for checking the presence or absence of the user setting information may be provided. It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not the user setting information may be made by any method according to a system request or the like. For example, the determination may be made based on predetermined information such as the model ID of the information processing apparatus 102 and the user identification information, or may be made based on the file name, file type, file creation date and time, and the like.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation for inputting setting information from the storage medium 201. Upon receiving a user setting information reading request from the backup unit 403 or the like (S701), the setting information input unit 405 reads the user setting information from the storage medium 201 (S702) and stores it in the setting information storage unit 401. (S703). Thereafter, the processing unit 402 can perform processing based on the newly stored user setting information (S704).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation for restoring setting information from the backup information storage unit 404. When it is detected that the connection with the storage medium 201 has been disconnected (S801), the restore unit 406 determines that the processing based on the user setting information has been completed, and reads the setting information stored in the backup information storage unit 404. (S802). Further, the read setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit 401 (S803). Note that the detection of the disconnection from the storage medium 201 may be performed using, for example, the OS function described above, or may be detected by the restore unit 406. Or you may provide a detection means separately.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence chart showing an example of the operation according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, the backup unit 403 and the restore unit 406 are collectively referred to as backup / restore unit. When the connection of the storage medium 201 is detected (S901), the backup unit 403 checks whether there is user setting information in the storage medium 201 (S902). When there is user setting information in the storage medium 201 (S903), the backup unit 403 reads the setting information from the setting information storage unit 401 (S904, S905), and the read setting information is stored in the backup information storage unit 404. Save (S906). On the other hand, when there is no user setting information in the storage medium 201, the backup unit 403 ends the process. When the storage in the backup information storage unit 404 is completed, the backup unit 403 requests the setting information input unit 405 to read the setting information of the user (S907). Upon receiving the notification, the setting information input unit 405 acquires user setting information from the storage medium 201 (S908, S909), and stores the acquired user setting information in the setting information storage unit 401 (S910). As a result, the processing unit 402 can execute the processing based on the setting information of the user (S911).

  Thereafter, when it is detected that the connection with the storage medium 201 is disconnected (S912), the restore unit 406 reads the setting information from the backup information storage unit 404 (S913, S914), and stores the read setting information in the setting information storage. The data is stored in the means 401 (S915).

  With the above operation, when the storage medium 201 storing the user setting information is connected, it is possible to automatically perform processing with the user setting information. When the connection of the storage medium 201 is disconnected, the original setting information is automatically restored.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment shows an example in which the external storage unit 408 is a storage unit connected via a network, such as the server apparatus 101. Since the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the setting information backup operation according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, when it is detected that the user has logged in (S1001), the backup unit 403 is associated with the server device 101 connected via the network with the user identification information or the user affiliation information. It is confirmed whether there is user setting information (S1002). The user identification information includes, for example, a user ID used at the time of login. The user affiliation information includes, for example, a group ID of a group to which the user belongs.

  The server apparatus 101 may store data of a plurality of users, but the backup unit 403 searches for user setting information associated with the identification information or affiliation information of the logged-in user. When the server apparatus 101 has user setting information, the backup unit 403 stores the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 in the backup information storage unit 404 (S603, S604). Further, the backup unit 403 requests the setting information input unit 405 to read the user setting information (S605).

  It should be noted that the operation when there are a plurality of setting information related to the user in the server apparatus 101 may be specified in advance by the setting information. For example, when setting information associated with user identification information and setting information associated with user affiliation information is found, which setting information is used can be set. Furthermore, as a default value, for example, a setting that gives priority to user identification information may be used. In addition, when a plurality of setting information associated with the user identification information is found, the latest setting information is used or the plurality of found setting information is displayed on the operation panel 309 etc. It is good to be able to specify whether to make it select.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the setting information restore operation according to the second embodiment. When it is detected that the logged-in user has logged out (S1101), the restore unit 406 performs a restore operation (S802, S803). The restore operation may be the same as that in the first embodiment.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows a sequence chart showing an example of the operation according to the second embodiment. As a main difference from the first embodiment, when a user login is detected (S1201), the backup unit 403 is associated with the identification information of the user who logged into the server apparatus 101 or the user affiliation information. It is confirmed whether there is user setting information (S1202). If it is detected that the logged-in user has logged out, the backup unit 403 reads the setting information from the backup information storage unit 404 and stores it in the setting information storage unit (S913 to S915).

  With the above operation, when a user logs in to the information processing apparatus 102, processing can be automatically performed with the user's setting information. When the user logs out, the setting information is automatically restored.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 13 shows a sequence chart according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 13, the setting information input unit 405 and the setting information output unit 407 are collectively described as setting information input / output unit. In this embodiment, when the user logout is detected (S1203), the setting information output unit 407 reads the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 (S1301, S1302), and the user of the external storage unit 408 The setting information is updated (S1303). In addition, the restoration unit 406 is notified that the update has been completed (S1304). The restore unit 406 determines that the processing based on the user setting information has been completed based on the notification of the completion of the update, and stores the setting information stored in the backup information storage unit 404 in the setting information storage unit 401 (S913 to S915). ).

  With the above operation, the user's setting information can always be updated to the latest state. However, since there is a case where it is not desired to update the user setting information stored in the server device 101 or the like, the operation of the second embodiment and the operation of the third embodiment can be selected by setting the setting information, for example. It is good to do so.

[Other embodiments]
In each of the embodiments described above, if the user leaves the information processing apparatus 102 with a storage medium connected or logged on, the original setting state is not restored. For this reason, the information processing apparatus 102 may have a function of determining that the user's processing has been completed and restoring the original setting state when no operation has been performed for a predetermined time. . Further, another user may have a function of restoring the original setting by operating the operation panel 309 or the like.

101 Server apparatus 102 Information processing apparatus 201 Storage medium 401 Setting information storage means (first storage means)
402 Processing means 403 Backup means 404 Backup information storage means (second storage means)
405 Setting information input means 406 Restore means 407 Setting information output means 408 External storage means (third storage means)

Japanese Patent No. 4796450

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus that performs processing based on setting information stored in a first storage unit,
Means for storing the setting information of the first storage means in a second storage means when it is determined that there is predetermined setting information in the external storage means;
Means for acquiring the predetermined setting information from the external storage means and storing it in the first storage means;
Means for storing the setting information stored in the second storage means in the first storage means when it is determined that the processing by the predetermined setting information has been completed;
An information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external storage unit is a storage medium, and determines whether or not the predetermined setting information exists in the storage medium when the storage medium is connected.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection with the storage medium is disconnected, it is determined that the processing is completed.   The external storage means is storage means connected via a network, and determines whether the storage means has the predetermined setting information when a user logs in to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus described in 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined setting information is associated with identification information of the user or affiliation information of the user.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the user logs out, the information processing apparatus determines that the process has ended. After the user logs out, update the predetermined setting information of the storage means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the update is finished, it is determined that the process is finished.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the processing, when the operation is not performed for a predetermined time, the processing is determined to be completed. Means for performing processing based on the setting information stored in the first storage means;
Means for storing the setting information of the first storage means in the second storage means when it is determined that the third storage means has predetermined setting information;
Means for obtaining the predetermined setting information from the three storage means and storing it in the first storage means;
Means for storing the setting information stored in the second storage means in the first storage means when it is determined that the processing by the predetermined setting information has been completed;
An information processing system.

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