JP2019160170A - Information processing system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize the installation status of a Web application on an information processing device. An information processing system includes an external device 2 and an information processing device 100 connected to the external device 2 via a network. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 401 that communicates with the external device 2 via a Web browser, a registration unit 402 that registers an icon for starting a Web application, and a management unit 403 that manages the registered Web application. A transmission unit 404 for transmitting the registered web application list information to the external device and a display unit 405 for displaying the content screen acquired from the external device. The external device 2 includes a generation unit 601 that generates a content screen including the installation status of the web application based on the list information received from the information processing device 100. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) manage installed applications using application list information, for example, by an OS (Operating System). Therefore, in such a multi-function peripheral, the application installation status (whether or not installed) can be recognized using the application list information.

  In recent years, many information processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals can download and install a Web application from a Web page.

  However, since an information processing apparatus that uses a Web application registers a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) shortcut of the Web application using an icon or bookmark, there is a problem that the installation status of the Web application cannot be recognized.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that make it possible to recognize the installation status of a Web application in an information processing apparatus. The task is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes an external device and an information processing device connected to the external device via a network. The information processing apparatus includes: a communication unit that communicates with the external device via a Web browser; a registration unit that registers an icon for starting a Web application; a management unit that manages the registered Web application; A transmission unit configured to transmit the list information of the Web application to the external device; and a display unit configured to display a content screen acquired from the external device. The external apparatus includes a generating unit that generates a content screen including an installation status of the Web application based on the list information received from the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to recognize the installation status of a Web application in an information processing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a Web system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the MFP and the application server according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a home screen in the MFP according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of Web application information in the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP header in the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the Web application information and the access token in the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the Web system according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of a modified MFP and application server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of 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. Note that in the following embodiments, the Web application refers to a Web-type application configured with technologies such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript (registered trademark). A device that uses a Web application downloads and installs a Web application from a Web page. When a web application is activated using the apparatus, a URL or bookmark may be designated using a web browser, or a URL shortcut icon arranged on the home screen may be activated. Hereinafter, the Web application may be referred to as “application”, “Web application”, and “application”.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a Web system 1000 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the Web system 1000 includes an application server 2, a download server 3, a firewall 5, and an MFP 100. The application server 2 and the download server 3 are connected to the network N. MFP 100 is connected to network N via firewall 5. The network N is the Internet.

  The application server 2 manages Web application information (details will be described later) that is Web application information. Download server 3 manages Web application software and MFP 100 firmware. The firewall 5 is a device for information security.

  The MFP 100 is a multifunction device that provides functions such as copying, scanning, printing, and faxing. The MFP 100 is an information processing apparatus connected to external apparatuses such as the application server 2 and the download server 3 via the firewall 5 and the network N. Hereinafter, when the MFP 100 communicates with the application server 2 and the like via the firewall 5 and the network N, a description that the MFP 100 passes through the firewall 5 and the network N is omitted as appropriate.

  When operated by the user, the MFP 100 communicates with the application server 2, the download server 3, and the like, and can display, install, and update a Web application. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of MFPs 100 may be connected to the network N.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP 100 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes a main body device 300 and an operation device 200.

  The main device 300 and the operation device 200 are connected to each other via a dedicated communication path 209 so that they can communicate with each other. The communication path 209 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard communication path. Note that the communication path 209 may be either wired or wireless. The communication path 209 may be a network such as the Internet or a telephone line.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the case where the number of operation devices 200 connected to the main body device 300 is one is illustrated, but the number of operation devices 200 is not limited to this, and any number of operation devices 200 may be used. It can be. Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the case where the number of main devices 300 connected to the operation device 200 is one is illustrated, but the number of main devices 300 is not limited thereto, and any number of main devices 300 may be used. It can be the number.

  The main unit 300 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304, an engine 305, a connection I / F 306, and the like. And a communication I / F 307, which are connected to each other via a system bus 308.

  The engine 305 executes various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function, and is hardware that performs general-purpose information processing and processing other than communication for realizing these functions. is there. The engine 305 includes, for example, a scanner that reads an image of a document, a plotter that performs printing on a sheet material such as paper, and a fax unit that performs fax communication. The engine 305 may further include specific options such as a finisher for sorting printed sheet materials and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) for automatically feeding a document.

  The CPU 301 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body device 300. The CPU 301 executes a program stored in the ROM 302 or the HDD 304 using the RAM 303 as a work area. Thereby, the CPU 301 controls the operation of the main device 300 as a whole. That is, the CPU 301 causes the engine 305 to execute the above-described copy function, scanner function, fax function, printer function, and the like.

  The connection I / F 306 is an interface for communicating with the controller device 200 via the communication path 209. The communication I / F 307 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a network.

  Next, the operation device 200 will be described. The operation device 200 receives an input corresponding to a user operation. In addition, the controller device 200 displays various images (screens). The operating device 200 includes an OS and a screen transition mechanism. The main device 300 performs an operation according to the input received by the operation device 200.

  The operation device 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a flash memory 204, an operation panel 205, a connection I / F 206, and a communication I / F 207, which are mutually connected via a system bus 208. It is connected.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls the operation of the operation device 200. The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the operation device 200 by executing a program stored in the ROM 202 or the flash memory 204 using the RAM 203 as a work area. By executing this program, the CPU 201 realizes various functions to be described later.

  The connection I / F 206 is an interface for communicating with the main device 300 via the communication path 209. The communication I / F 207 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a network.

  The operation panel 205 accepts various inputs corresponding to user operations and displays various images (screens). In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the operation panel 205 is a touch panel that integrally includes both a reception function for receiving various inputs and a display function for displaying various images (screens). It is not limited to this. For example, the operation panel 205 may be configured with an input device that accepts various inputs and a display device that displays various information as separate units.

  FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the MFP 100 and the application server 2 according to the embodiment. In the MFP 100, the processing unit 400 includes, for example, a communication unit 401, a registration unit 402, a management unit 403, a transmission unit 404, and a display unit as functional units realized by the CPU 201 reading a program into the RAM 203 and executing the program. 405. The storage unit 500 is realized by, for example, the flash memory 204 or the HDD 304, and stores various types of information. In the following, a Web application is uniquely identified by being associated with an access token or a product ID (Identifier) (details will be described later).

  The communication unit 401 communicates with the application server 2 and the download server 3 via a Web browser. The registration unit 402 registers an icon for starting a Web application. Specifically, for example, the registration unit 402 registers an icon for starting a Web application as a shortcut icon on the home screen. The registration unit 402 may register an icon for starting a Web application in a bookmark of the Web browser.

  The management unit 403 manages the registered Web application. The transmission unit 404 transmits the registered Web application list information to the application server 2. The display unit 405 displays a content screen (details will be described later) acquired from the application server 2 on the operation panel 205. In the following, for processes other than the units 401 to 405 in the processing unit 400, the operating subject is referred to as a “processing unit 400”.

  In the application server 2, the processing unit 600 includes a generation unit 601 as a functional unit realized by, for example, the CPU reading a program into the RAM and executing the program. The storage unit 700 is realized by, for example, a flash memory or an HDD, and stores various types of information.

  The generation unit 601 generates a content screen including the installation status of the Web application based on the Web application list information received from the MFP 100.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a home screen in the MFP 100 according to the embodiment. On the home screen of the operation panel 205 of the MFP 100, for example, copy, fax, application site, printer, scan, and initial setting icons are displayed as functions of the Web application. When these icons are operated by the user, the corresponding Web application is activated.

  These icons are realized as URL shortcut icons, for example. Alternatively, the URL shortcut may be selected from the bookmark of the Web browser.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of Web application information in the embodiment. This Web application information relates to the Web application installed in the MFP 100. The Web application information includes elements such as a title, URL, shortcut registration location (bookmark / desktop), shortcut registration location (order in bookmark, desktop location, etc.), and product ID (ID for specifying the Web application). is doing.

  When the MFP 100 is connected to the application server 2 after installing the Web application, the MFP 100 transmits the Web application information. When the application server 2 receives the Web application information, the application server 2 records the serial number of the installed MFP 100 and the Web application information in association with each other. Each element in FIG. 5 is an example, and all elements are not necessarily required for the Web application information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP header in the embodiment. The HTTP header includes an access token (X-SS-AccessToken: ~). The access token may be included in the HTTP body instead of the HTTP header.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the Web application information and the access token in the embodiment. FIG. 7 discloses an example of specific elements of Web application information. In this Web application information, information necessary for creating a URL shortcut icon is a title, a URL, an application type, a shortcut registration location, and a shortcut registration location. The information for specifying the Web application is a product ID, a module ID, and an application version. Also, the device information necessary for operation is a device request version (for example, Ver. 3 or higher in the case of Web content printed from the cloud) and a request function (information such as a print function).

  The processing unit 400 manages, for example, Web application information and an access token in association with each other. Of the elements shown in FIG. 7, the device request version and the requested function do not need to be defined in the case of Web content that is simply displayed, for example, in the case of Web content for manual display or Web content for video help. is there.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the Web system 1000 according to the embodiment. First, the user uses the operation panel 205 of the MFP 100 to touch an icon (“application site” icon on the home screen in FIG. 4) for connecting to the application server 2 (step S1).

  Then, the communication unit 401 of the MFP 100 transmits a request to the application server 2 (step S2). Next, the transmission unit 404 of the MFP 100 transmits the list information of the Web applications registered in the MFP 100 to the application server 2 (step S3). The list information of the Web application includes, for example, information on the Web application registered in the bookmark as information on the Web application installed in the MFP 100. Also, the list information of the Web application includes, for example, information on the Web application registered as a shortcut icon on the home screen as information on the Web application installed in the MFP 100.

  Further, when transmitting the list information of the Web application, for example, an array of product IDs for specifying the Web application may be reflected in the HTTP body using the HTTP protocol. Further, if the information amount of the list information of the Web application is small, it may be transmitted by reflecting it in the HTTP header instead of the HTTP body.

  After step S <b> 3, the generation unit 601 of the application server 2 installs the Web application that can be used in the MFP 100, information about each Web application, and each Web application into the MFP 100 (that is, sets a URL shortcut to the bookmark or home page of the MFP 100. A list screen such as a button for adding to the screen is generated as a content screen (step S4). More specifically, for example, the generation unit 601 displays a display screen for information such as “not installed”, “installed”, and “updated” as a content screen for each Web application or as a list. Generate. In addition, a list display screen of other functionally related web applications may be generated for a predetermined web application.

  After step S4, processing unit 600 of application server 2 transmits the content including the content screen generated in step S4 to MFP 100 (step S5).

  After step S5, a content screen is displayed on operation panel 205 of MFP 100. For example, when the user designates a Web application to be installed on the content screen (install push) (step S6), an installation request is transmitted from the MFP 100 to the application server 2 (step S7), and the application server 2 transmits to the download server 3. A Web application acquisition request is transmitted (step S8).

  Next, the download server 3 transmits the corresponding Web application to the application server 2 (step S9). Next, the application server 2 installs the corresponding Web application in the MFP 100 (step S10).

  More specifically, in steps S8 to S10, the application server 2 confirms the firmware version of the MFP 100 necessary for the operation of the corresponding Web application, and if the upgrade is necessary, downloads the firmware from the download server 3. The MFP 100 is installed. The firmware version required for the operation is stored in the Web application information associated with each Web application.

  After step S10, the processing unit 400 of the MFP 100 updates the firmware as necessary, and then registers the Web application (registering in the bookmark or registering on the home screen).

  Note that the MFP 100 may directly access the download server 3.

  As described above, according to the Web system 1000 of the present embodiment, it is possible to recognize the installation status of the Web application in the MFP 100. Then, information such as “not installed”, “installed”, “update available”, and the like regarding the Web application is displayed on the operation panel 205 of the MFP 100 as a content screen, so that the user can check whether the Web application is installed or not. Since it is possible to easily grasp whether it is necessary, it is highly convenient.

  If an icon for starting a Web application is registered as a shortcut icon on the home screen of MFP 100, the Web application can be used with few operations.

(Modification)
Next, a modified example will be described. About the matter similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of the MFP 100 and the application server 2 according to a modification. In this modification, the Web application list information is managed by the application server 2 instead of the MFP 100.

  The MFP 100 in FIG. 9 does not include the transmission unit 404 as compared to the MFP 100 in FIG. Further, the application server 2 in FIG. 9 is added with a web application management unit 602 as compared with the application server 2 in FIG. Web application management unit 602 manages list information of Web applications registered in MFP 100. Also, the generation unit 601 generates a content screen including the installation status of the Web application based on the list information managed by the Web application management unit 602.

  As described above, according to the modification, the usage amount of the storage area in the MFP 100 can be reduced by managing the list information of the Web application not by the MFP 100 but by the application server 2.

  A program executed in the MFP 100 or the application server 2 according to the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM, CD-R, memory card, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), flexible disk (FD). And the like stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  Further, the program executed by MFP 100 or application server 2 of the present embodiment may be provided by storing it on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloading it via the network. Further, the program executed by MFP 100 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, a program executed by MFP 100 or application server 2 of the present embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  A program executed by the MFP 100 and the application server 2 according to the present embodiment has a module configuration for realizing the above-described units on a computer. As actual hardware, for example, the CPU reads out a program from the ROM to the RAM and executes the program, so that each functional unit is realized on the computer.

  The above-described embodiments are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP (MFP 100) has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an information processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network uses a Web application. In other cases, for example, a printing apparatus, a copying apparatus, an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, an image projection apparatus, or the like may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the application server 2 and the download server 3 are described as separate servers, but may be realized as the same server.

  2 ... Application server, 3 ... Download server, 5 ... Firewall, 100 ... MFP, 205 ... Operation panel, 400 ... Processing unit, 401 ... Communication means, 402 ... Registration means, 403 ... Management means, 404 ... Transmission means, 405 ... Display unit, 500... Storage unit, 600 .. processing unit, 601... Generation unit, 602 .. Web application management unit, 700.

JP 2005-297237 A

Claims (5)

An information processing system having an external device and an information processing device connected to the external device via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A communication means for communicating with the external device via a web browser;
Registration means for registering an icon for starting a Web application;
Management means for managing the registered web application;
Transmitting means for transmitting list information of the registered Web application to the external device;
Display means for displaying a content screen acquired from the external device,
The external device is
An information processing system comprising generating means for generating a content screen including an installation status of the Web application based on the list information received from the information processing apparatus. The registration means includes
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein an icon for starting the Web application is registered as a shortcut icon for a home screen. An information processing system having an external device and an information processing device connected to the external device via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A communication means for communicating with the external device via a web browser;
Registration means for registering an icon for starting a Web application;
Management means for managing the registered web application;
Display means for displaying a content screen acquired from the external device,
The external device is
Web application management means for managing list information of the Web applications registered in the information processing apparatus;
An information processing system comprising generating means for generating a content screen including an installation status of the Web application based on the list information. An information processing method by an information processing system having an external device and an information processing device connected to the external device via a network,
Executed by the information processing apparatus;
A communication step of communicating with the external device via a web browser;
A registration step of registering an icon for starting a web application;
A management step for managing the registered web application;
A transmitting step of transmitting the list information of the registered web application to the external device;
A display step of displaying a content screen acquired from the external device;
Executed by the external device;
An information processing method including a generation step of generating a content screen including an installation status of the Web application based on the list information received from the information processing apparatus. In the information processing apparatus in an information processing system having an external device and an information processing device connected to the external device via a network,
A communication step of communicating with the external device via a web browser;
A registration step of registering an icon for starting a web application;
A management step for managing the registered web application;
A transmitting step of transmitting the list information of the registered web application to the external device;
A display step for displaying a content screen acquired from the external device, and a program for executing
In the external device,
A program for executing a generation step of generating a content screen including an installation status of the Web application based on the list information received from the information processing apparatus.

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