JP2019070970A - Information processing device and license management method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing device for enabling a user to easily recognize that an application is installed even before starting to use the application while making it possible to start time limit management from when the user starts to use the application, and a license management method and a program.SOLUTION: In the case that an instruction to install an application is performed, the information processing device installs the application in a stop state S502 if a license of the application is a license having an available time limit S501: YES. In such a case, the license is temporarily held without being installed, and time limit management is not started S503. After that, an icon for using an icon of the application is displayed on a display S505. The time limit management of the application is started with a time point when the installed application starts to operate as a starting point, and the temporarily held license is installed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to the technology of license management.

  The image forming apparatus is equipped with basic functions such as copying, printing, and scanning functions as standard, but may have an extended function as an option. Generally, a user who wants to use such an extension can receive a license by using the application of the extension and can use the application. The availability period of the application may be set as a license, and for example, may be set by specifying a number of days (for example, 10 days) (hereinafter referred to as a license with an available period). Generally, licenses with availability periods start period management starting from the installation time of the application, and when the usage end date comes, the application can not be used. After installing the application, there is an example in which the application itself displays an icon for using the function of the application on the display only when the application is in the start state (see Patent Document 1). When installing an application on an image forming apparatus, a service representative may perform it in advance at a service site before shipping in order to reduce the installation time at the user site.

JP, 2016-162066, A

  However, if a service representative installs the application with a license with a usable period in advance, starting the period management before the user uses the application shortens the period during which the user can use the application. .

  As a solution, it is conceivable to install the application in a stopped state and start deadline management at the start time. However, when the application is in a stopped state, the icon is not displayed on the display, and the user is less likely to notice that the application is installed. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, when displaying the icon of the installed application unconditionally, even if the term management is started at the installation time with a license whose term of validity is an indefinite license (hereinafter, an indefinite license), In spite of the fact that the available period is not shortened, since the user needs an explicit instruction to start the application, the time and effort of the user increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is possible to start time limit management from the time the user starts using the application, and the application is installed even before the start of using. The purpose is to provide a mechanism that enables the user to recognize easily.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

According to one aspect of the invention, the invention provides an installation means for installing an application;
Means for displaying an icon corresponding to the application according to the installation of the application;
Start the installed application according to the user's instruction, and if it is necessary to manage the expiration date of the application, and if the management of the expiration date has not been started, start the management of the expiration date, An information processing apparatus comprising: control means for deleting an icon.

  According to the present invention, time limit management can be started when the user starts using the application, and the user can easily recognize that the application is installed even before the start of use.

Network system configuration diagram. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus and a server. (A) A diagram showing an example of a license with a usable period, (b) A diagram showing an example of a non-period-limited license. The flowchart figure at the time of being instructed to install a license. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing instructed to start an application. The figure which shows an example of the icon display for starting an application. The figure which shows an example of UI for deleting the icon for starting an application. Figure showing an example servlet screen for installing an application. A diagram showing an example of a trial available license.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to them. Further, in the present embodiment, a case where the usage period of the application is managed by “days” will be described as an example.

System Configuration FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram for describing the present embodiment, and is an overall view of a license management system. The image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus having a function of forming an image, represented by a multifunction peripheral including a scanner and a printer. The image forming apparatus 101 can additionally install and execute an application, and from that point of view it can also be called an information processing apparatus.

  The server 102 is a server for issuing a license of an application to be installed in the image forming apparatus 101. An application is a software program for making extended functions and / or standard functions available on the image forming apparatus 101. The data certifying that the user has the right to use the application is a license, and registering the data in the image forming apparatus 101 and activating the application corresponding to the license is called license installation. The user can use the activated application. The executable file for operating the application may be incorporated in advance in the firmware of the image forming apparatus 101, or may be later installed in the image forming apparatus 101 by downloading or the like. There are two types of license, a license 401 with an available period (also referred to as an expiration date) to be described later, and an indefinite license 402 without an expiration date. The server 102 may not be a specific server, but may be a service existing on an arbitrary server such as a cloud platform.

  The information terminal 103 is an information processing apparatus represented by a personal computer. The web browser can be operated via a keyboard, a mouse and a display, or a touch panel.

  The LAN 110 is a network line connecting the image forming apparatus 101 and the Internet 111 outside. The Internet 111 is a network line through which the image forming apparatus 101, the server 102, and the information terminal 103 can communicate. The image forming apparatus 101 and the information terminal 103 can communicate with the server 102 via the LAN 110 and the Internet 111.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 101. As shown in FIG. The CPU 201 executes programs and controls various processes. The non-volatile memory 202 is formed of, for example, a ROM, and stores programs and data necessary for the initial stage of the device activation process. The volatile memory 203 is composed of a RAM and is used as a temporary storage place for programs and data. The auxiliary storage device 204 is constituted by a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM drive, and stores large-volume data, holds an execution code of a program, and holds setting values of the image forming apparatus 101. Compared to the volatile memory 203, it stores data that needs to be held for a long time. Since the auxiliary storage device 204 is a non-volatile storage device, data can be stored continuously even if the power of the image forming apparatus 101 is turned off. The display 205 is a display device for conveying information to the user. The input device 206 is a device for receiving a user's selection instruction and transmitting it to the program via the internal bus 210. The display 205 and the input device 206 can realize a user interface. A network communication device 207 is a device for enabling the image forming device 101 to communicate with another information device via a network. The RTC 208 is a so-called real-time clock which can count dates and times even while the power of the apparatus is off and can be adjusted by the user since the battery is backed up by the internal battery 209. The internal bus 210 is a communication bus which connects each hardware device in a communicable state in the image forming apparatus 101. The hardware configuration of the server 102 and the information terminal 103 is the same as the configuration of FIG. 2, and the image forming apparatus 101 includes a printing unit and / or a scanner unit (not shown) in addition to the configuration of FIG. These interfaces and control units are also included.

Software Configuration FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 101 and the server 102. Each software unit held by the image forming apparatus 101 is stored in the non-volatile memory 202 or the auxiliary storage device 204 in the image forming apparatus 101, and exhibits functions by being executed by the CPU 201. Further, various information used at the time of execution is held in the volatile memory 203 or the auxiliary storage device 204 in the image forming apparatus 101 to exchange various information between the software. Similarly, each piece of software held by the server 102 is also stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) or the auxiliary storage device 204 held by the server 102, and exhibits functions by being executed by a CPU similar to the CPU 201. Further, various information used at the time of execution is held in a non-volatile memory (not shown) held by the server 102 or the auxiliary storage device 204 to exchange information between software.

  Each software unit held by the image forming apparatus 101 will be described below. The device clock management unit 303 has a function of applying the date and time information to the RTC 208 when the user of the image forming apparatus 101 changes the date and time of the device clock through the display 205. It also has a function of acquiring date and time information such as the current date and time from the RTC 208.

  The license status monitoring unit 304 is a unit that monitors the status of the license of the application operating on the image forming apparatus 101. The license state monitoring unit 304 stops the corresponding application by the function provided by the application control unit 307 when there is an application of which the license has expired.

  The license information storage unit 305 has a function of storing the installed license information in the non-volatile memory 202 for an application operating on the image forming apparatus 101.

  The license installation unit 306 has a function of installing the license that has received the installation instruction into the image forming apparatus 101. The license installation unit 306 confirms whether the device identifier 412 described in the license matches the device identifier of the image forming apparatus 101, and then uses the application start date and the usage end date based on the application identifier 411 in the license. The license information storage unit 305 is requested to save the license information.

  When the license with availability period 401 (or the license with expiration date 401) is installed, the license information storage unit 305 sets a value calculated from the current date and time based on the expiration date 413 and stores it. Also in the case where the indefinite license 402 is installed, the license information storage unit 305 sets and stores that the expiration date is indefinite based on the expiration date 415. By installing the license in the image forming apparatus 101, the application can be used.

  An application control unit 307 manages the life cycle of an application operating on the image forming apparatus 101. The application control unit 307 manages information such as an application version and a product name, and a state of being started or stopped for an application operating on the image forming apparatus 101. The application control unit 307 also provides a management screen (not shown) of an application for use by the system administrator. The system administrator can start and stop the application, uninstall the application, and install the application on the application installation screen 901 through the management screen.

  An application unit 308 is an application operating on the image forming apparatus 101 and provides extended functions and / or standard functions. The operation of the application is controlled by the license, and the application operates only when the license information data stored by the license information storage unit 305 has a valid license. The license status monitoring unit 304 searches for a record corresponding to the application identifier, and, in the case of the license with availability period 401, the current date and time indicates the usage end date of the license information data. It is determined by whether or not it has passed. In the case of the indefinite license 402, it is determined that the license is a valid license.

  Next, the software unit held by the server 102 will be described. The license issuing unit 311 is means for issuing a license in response to a request from the information terminal 103. The license is issued by inputting the application identifier 411 and the device identifier 412 of the application for which the license is to be issued, and the expiration date 413 and 415 in the license issuance screen (not shown).

License FIG. 4 shows an example of a license issued by the server 102. The license with availability period 401 and the permanent license 402 are file format licenses, and include information for specifying the usage right of the application.

  The application identifier 411 is an identifier for uniquely identifying an application operating on the image forming apparatus 101. In this example, they are represented by simple integers, but more complex strings or UUIDs may be used. The device identifier 412 is an identifier for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 101 using the license 401 with a usable period or the license 402 for a non-expired period. Expiration days 413 and 415 are the number of days that each of the license with availability period 401 and the unlimited license 402 can be used. The difference between a license with an available term and an indefinite license is whether a specific number of days is described in the expiration date, or information indicating "indefinite" is described.

  The electronic signature 414 is a certificate for verifying the legitimacy of the license with availability 401 and the permanent license 402.

Application Installation FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 101 when an application installation instruction is issued via an application installation screen 901 described later.

  In step S501, the license installation unit 306 determines whether the designated license is the license 401 with available period. If it is a license 401 with a usable period, the application control unit 307 installs the application in a stopped state in step S502. Then, in step S503, the license installing unit 306 does not install the license but temporarily holds the license on the non-volatile memory 202 so as not to start time limit management. Then, in step S504, the license installing unit 306 saves, as a history, that the term management has not been started on the non-volatile memory 202. Thereafter, in step S505, the application control unit 307 displays an icon for using the application on the display 205. When the user clicks the icon, for example, the corresponding application transitions from the stop state (or the executable state) to the execution state (also referred to as an operation state or a start state).

  In step S501, if the license 401 is not a license with an available period, that is, the license 402 is an indefinite license, the application control unit 307 instructs the application in step S506 (in the case of the stop instruction, the stop state, the start instruction) Is installed in the start state). Then, in step S507, the license installation unit 306 installs the license, and stores in the non-volatile memory 202 that the time limit management has been started in step S508 as a history.

    As a result of the above procedure, although the application to which the expired license has been granted is installed, the management of the license due date is not started. Also, an icon corresponding to the installed application is displayed to indicate to the user that the application has been installed.

Starting of Application FIG. 6 shows the case where the icon displayed by the application control unit 307 is pressed in step S505 or when an application start instruction is issued on an application management screen (not shown) provided by the application control unit 307. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 101. This procedure is also realized by the CPU 201 executing a program.

  In step S601, the license installation unit 306 determines based on the history created by the license installation unit 306 in step S504 and step S508 whether or not time limit management has been started.

  If it is determined that the term management has already been started, the license installing unit 306 installs the license information temporarily stored in the nonvolatile memory by the license installing unit 306 in step S503 in step S602. Then, in step S603, the license installation unit 306 saves the start of term management on the non-volatile memory 202 as a history. Then, in step S604, the application control unit 307 starts an application. At this time, before starting time limit management in step S602, the screen 702 of FIG. 7B is displayed first, and when the button is pressed, the process of step S602 described above is executed, and then FIG. 7C. Screen 703 is displayed. Although the screen is displayed here, a message indicating that license date management has been started may be output to the user.

  If it is determined in step S601 that the time limit management has been started, the processes of steps S602 and S603 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S604.

  Thereafter, in step S605, the application control unit 307 determines whether the icon displayed on the display 205 in step S505 is present on the display, and if it exists, deletes the icon in step S606.

  According to this procedure, license deadline management can be started from the time when the installed application starts operating.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of icons displayed on the home screen of the display 205 when the application A and the application B are installed. A screen 701 shows a state in which the application control unit 307 displays the icons of the application A and the application B on the display 205 in step S505.

  In this state, when the icon for starting the application B is pressed, a confirmation screen indicating that the application B is started and period management is also started is displayed on the screen 702 of FIG. 7B. When “Yes” is pressed, the application control unit 307 starts the application on the screen 703 of FIG. 7C after performing the processing of steps S602 to S604 described above, and the application control unit 307 displays a message indicating that the time limit management has started. Do. When the screen is closed, when the application B does not display an icon for using its own function, the icon disappears as shown in FIG. 7D. When the application B displays an icon for utilizing its own function, the icon displayed by the application B itself is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 (e).

  According to the procedure described above, time limit management can be started from when the user starts the application, and the user can easily recognize that the application with the available period is installed.

Second Embodiment
There are two types of license with availability period 401: a license for sale and provision for a fee, and a license for free provision for trial use for the purpose of promoting sale (hereinafter, trial license). In the latter case, it is not desirable from the viewpoint of usability if the icon that the user does not intend to use is continuously displayed on the display 205. For example, the image forming apparatus may be installed with the trial application installed in advance. In this case, the trial application may not be used by the user. In this case, although the trial application is installed and the icon is displayed in the procedure of FIG. 5, the trial application is not executed and the procedure of FIG. 6 is not performed. Therefore, there is no opportunity to delete the icon. In order to delete the icon, the trial application has to be executed, but for example, the user may be restricted from using the application for some reason. It is this embodiment which considered such a subject.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a trial license. If trial use 1001 is set to true, it is a trial license provided free of charge. If there is no trial use item 1001 or if it is set to false, it is a license with an available term of a paid provision.

  In step S501 of the first embodiment, the license installation unit 306 determines whether the license has an available period, but in the second embodiment, if the license has an available period, the item of trial use 1001 is true. Check if it is. If it is true, after the license installation unit 306 installs the application, the application control unit 307 displays an icon that can identify that the installed application is for trial use.

  A screen 801 in FIG. 8A is an example of an application control unit 307 displaying the application A on the display 205 when the application A is installed with a trial license. When the icon of the application B is pressed, the application control unit 307 displays a menu for deleting the icon of the application B as illustrated in the screen 802 of FIG. 8B. When the delete button of the icon is pressed, the application control unit 307 displays a warning that the icon of the application B is to be deleted as shown in the screen 803 of FIG. 8C. Then, when the “Yes” button is pressed, the application control unit 307 deletes the icon of the application B, and displays that the icon of the application B has been deleted as shown in the screen 804 of FIG. Then, when the “close” button is pressed, the screen is closed, and the screen returns to the screen where the icon of the application B is deleted as shown in the screen 805 of FIG. At this time, the application corresponding to the deleted icon may be uninstalled.

  According to the procedure described above, in the case of an application having a predetermined type of license, for example, a trial license, it is possible to delete the icon without starting the execution of the application. Further, the target of deletion is not limited to the application to which the trial license is given, and any installed application which has not been started yet but has an icon displayed may be used regardless of the type.

Third Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the start timing of deadline management is not when installing an application, but when the icon on the display 205 is pressed. However, the application may be installed not only by the service representative but also by the user, in which case the user may want to use the application immediately after installation. It will be troublesome for the user that the application can not be used unless the icon on the display 205 is pressed. It is this embodiment which considered such a subject.

  A screen 901 in FIG. 9A is an application installation screen. The information terminal 103 accesses the image forming apparatus 101 from the web browser via the LAN 110 and displays a servlet screen provided by the image forming apparatus 101. In the present embodiment, a user interface screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the information terminal 103, but installation and start of an application, management of a license, and the like are executed by the image forming apparatus 101.

  In the application installation screen 901, the user selects an application and a license stored in advance in the information terminal 103, and instructs installation of the application. In the installation screen 901, it is possible to select whether or not to start the application after installing the application. When the user selects to start the application, the application control unit 307 displays the application installation confirmation screen 902 (FIG. 9B) in response to the pressing of the install button, and the installation is performed on the screen. Post-application is started to display that the time limit management is started. When “Yes” is selected on the screen, the application control unit 307 installs and starts the application, and the license installation unit 306 installs a license and starts period management. Thereafter, the application control unit 307 displays the application installation completion screen 903 (FIG. 9C). On the screen, a message is displayed to notify the user that the application has been installed and deadline management has been started. Expiry management is initiated by an application licensed with an expiration date. At the time of installation of a licensed application having no expiration date, the screen 902 of FIG. 9B may be displayed, but may not be displayed. In this case, if it is specified to start the execution of the application along with the installation, step S602 to step S604 of FIG. 6 are executed to start deadline management, otherwise, step S506 to FIG. It suffices to execute S508.

  According to the procedure described above, when “start” processing after installation is selected at the time of installation instruction, time limit management can be started at the time of installation instruction. This reduces the effort of starting the application again after installation, reduces waiting time, and allows the application to be used immediately.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, it has been described that the license is already present when installing the application. However, the above embodiment can be applied to the case where the application is installed in advance, the executable state is maintained, and then the license with the expiration date is installed. In this case, time limit management is not started at the timing of license installation, and time limit management is started when an application is moved to an execution state according to a user operation or the like.

  The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. Can also be realized. It can also be implemented by a circuit (eg, an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

304 License status monitoring unit, 305 License information storage unit, 306 License installation unit, 307 application control unit, 308 application unit

Claims (9)

Installation means for installing the application,
Means for displaying an icon corresponding to the application according to the installation of the application;
Start the installed application according to the user's instruction, and if it is necessary to manage the expiration date of the application, and if the management of the expiration date has not been started, start the management of the expiration date, An information processing apparatus comprising: control means for deleting an icon. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An information processing apparatus characterized in that said control means, upon starting management of said expiration date, outputs a message indicating that management of said expiration date has been started. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
It further comprises means for installing a license of said application,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that, when the license of the application is a license with an expiration date, the control means determines that management of the expiration date is required. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
An information processing apparatus, further comprising: a deleting unit configured to delete the icon without starting the application according to an instruction of the user. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit allows the user to delete the icon when the icon corresponds to the application to which a predetermined type of license is given. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The installation means installs the application, starts the installed application according to the user's instruction, and starts management of the expiration date if management of the expiration date of the application is required. Information processing apparatus characterized by the above. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
An information processing apparatus further comprising a scanner and a printer.   A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Information processing device
Install the application
Displaying an icon corresponding to the application according to the installation of the application;
Start the installed application according to the user's instruction, and if it is necessary to manage the expiration date of the application, and if the management of the expiration date has not been started, start the management of the expiration date, A license management method characterized by deleting an icon.

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