JP4078388B2 - Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a program for controlling processing in the image forming apparatus, a method in the image forming apparatus, and a control program.

  Conventionally, a hard counter having a mechanical structure is generally used as a mechanism for counting the total number of outputs of the image forming apparatus. Since the hard counter is difficult to reduce the count value once it is counted up, it is difficult to tamper with the count value. Since then, the functions of the image forming apparatus have become complicated, and there has been a strong demand for dividing the service billing system by various modes such as small size / large size, color / monochrome, copy / print / FAX, The hard counter was simply increased to meet the demand. After that, a soft counter was proposed that can realize a large number of counters at low cost and space. The soft counter is a soft counter that stores a count value in a semiconductor memory.

  Previous software counters were apt to lose information in the memory due to their structure, but the reliability was low. However, internal information in a single storage means was prepared by preparing multiple storage means and storing the same values for each other. If the information is lost, the reliability is improved by a method of compensating information by using information in other storage means. Accordingly, a software counter is prepared for each function to be counted, and accurate count information can be held for each function. Hereinafter, the soft counter is simply referred to as a counter. In the embodiment of the present application, the counter is a general term for means capable of measuring and storing various usage amounts such as the number of times the program in the image forming apparatus is executed, the number of times the image forming apparatus is operated, and the usage time of the application program. It is used as.

  Printing apparatuses are being developed that provide a counter for each of various programs installed in an image forming apparatus and manage the number of application operations. In addition, development is progressing so that a user can receive various services by executing various programs installed in the printing apparatus. For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-92779, as a result of improvement of software technology used in the image forming apparatus, it is easy to add / change / delete various software that realizes processing provided by the image forming apparatus It is becoming. In addition, a printing apparatus that is provided with a counter for each application and includes a counter that counts the number of times the application is executed is being considered.

  However, various programs such as installed applications and control programs and data can be added / changed / deleted, but a counter is fixedly allocated in advance for each process provided by the image forming apparatus as described above. So there is a problem.

  For example, the program for providing processing in the image forming apparatus is increasingly changed, but the conventional static counter management cannot properly manage the functions provided by the image forming apparatus. There's a problem. Furthermore, printing apparatuses that provide multiple functions have appeared. However, how to use these functions for each function is a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can flexibly cope with changes in the configuration of functions provided by various programs installed in the image forming apparatus.

  Further, another aspect of the present invention is that the counter in the image forming apparatus can be safely managed by managing the counter using a predetermined counter management application programming interface instead of causing the application to directly operate the counter. It is to provide an architecture to manage.

  In order to achieve at least one of the above objects, the present invention provides the following means.

  One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus equipped with a program for controlling processing provided by the image forming apparatus, a usage amount managing unit that manages a usage amount for each program using a counter, and the image forming apparatus. Recognizing means for recognizing a counter capable of managing the usage of the program corresponding to the input identification information of the program in response to the identification information of the program being input to the apparatus, and the input Counter management means for managing the counter by associating the program with the counter recognized by the recognition means, and the counter management means determines a usage amount of an application used in the image forming apparatus as a predetermined counter control application program The counter is controlled using an interface.

  By managing the counter using a predetermined counter management application programming interface, instead of directly operating the counter by the application, an architecture for securely managing the counter in the image forming apparatus can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the entire system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a multi-function machine 100, which is a preferred example of an image forming apparatus, is a multi-function machine integrated with a scanner, a printer, a copy, and a fax function, and a network server which is a preferred example of an external information processing apparatus via a network. 12 and a host computer 11 which is a suitable example of the information processing apparatus. Furthermore, the multifunction device 100 is connected to other communication devices via a public line network. The multifunction peripheral 100 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be a digital copying machine, a printer with a copy function, or the like, and the number of peripheral devices connected to the network is not limited to the illustrated example. The image forming apparatus is not limited to the multifunction peripheral 100, and includes a single-function apparatus capable of forming an image, such as a printing apparatus such as a facsimile or a printer, a scanner apparatus, or the like, and also includes a controller built in each of the apparatuses. . The counter may be attached to a network board of various printing apparatuses, for example, the network interface unit 7 or the like.

  The multi-function device 100 mainly includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3. The reader unit 1 is connected to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3, reads an image of a document, and outputs the read image data to the printer unit 2 or the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 prints the image data output from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to an external network or a public network, inputs / outputs image data, accumulates usage when the user uses the MFP 100, and further connects to the network. Analyzes and controls jobs (printing commands, etc.) from the host computer 11 that have been executed.

  The image input / output control unit 3 includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7 that is an example of an acquisition unit, a PDL formatter unit 8, and a core unit 10. The facsimile unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 and the public line network, decompresses the compressed image data received from the public line network, and transmits the decompressed image data to the core unit 10. Also, the image data transmitted from the core unit 10 is compressed, and the compressed image data is transmitted to the public line network via the public line. The file unit 5 is connected to the core unit 10 and the storage device 6, compresses the image data transmitted from the core unit 10, and stores the compressed image data in the storage device 6 together with a keyword for searching the compressed image data. In the present embodiment, a hard disk drive is used for the storage device 6 which is a preferred example of the storage means, but it is of course not limited to this. Further, the file unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the storage device 6 based on the keyword transmitted from the core unit 10, reads out the compressed image data, decompresses it, and transmits it to the core unit 10. To do.

  The network interface unit 7 is an interface between the host computer 11 and the network server 12 and the core unit 10 connected via an external network. Reception of job control data from the host computer 11 and transmission of image data and the like to the host computer 11 are performed via the network interface unit 7. The job control data includes a job control command that is transmitted together with the PDL data. For example, the job control data is developed after the PDL data is expanded and printed as image data, and then stapled and discharged. The network interface unit 7 has a database called MIB (Management Information Base) built therein, and can communicate with the host computer 11 on the network via SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to manage the printer unit 2. It has become. Further, since the network interface unit 7 receives an installation request / uninstallation request / start request / stop request for an application that implements various functions on the image forming apparatus, other devices connected to the network are included in the MFP 100. It is possible to control the application.

  The formatter unit 8 is connected to the core unit 10 and develops PDL data transmitted from the host computer 11 into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2.

  The image memory unit 9 is for temporarily storing information from the reader unit 1 and information sent from the host computer 11 or the like via the network interface unit.

  The core unit 10 which is a preferable example of a unit that also serves as a storage unit and an analysis unit includes a reader unit 1, a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, and a PDL (Page Description Language) formatter unit. The job control data is analyzed along with the control of data flowing between each of the eight, and information such as the usage status of the user, the number of copies, the number of prints, and the number of scans is accumulated.

  The host computer 11 (information processing apparatus) is a personal computer or a workstation (PC / WS), and the network server 12 is a server that controls the entire network. The accounting server 13, which is an example of an external information processing apparatus, includes a server for managing accounting information of the multifunction peripheral 100. The accounting server device 13 can display and manage the usage amount counted by the counter of the copying machine 100 on the display. The operation unit 14 includes an operation panel, and can select and input an application to be executed using, for example, a touch panel and a copier function to be used for the application. An application execution command can be input from the operation unit 13 of the copying machine 100, but an execution command can also be input from the network server 12, which is an example of an external information processing apparatus. The usage amount of the executed application is counted by a counter described in detail after the copying machine 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a preferred example of the software module hierarchy of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The software module has an operating system (OS) 201. A controller module 202 for controlling various devices is provided on the OS 201, and an interpreter module 203 for sequentially executing programs is provided thereon. On the interpreter module 203, there is an application management module 204 for managing a plurality of dynamically detachable application groups. An application 205 that realizes various functions operates under the management of the application management module 204. An application module for providing a copier service can be operated via the interpreter module 203. For example, in response to the application module acquired from the external server device being incorporated in the image forming apparatus, the application management module 204 adds the application 205 as a management target or deletes the application program from the image forming apparatus. In response, the application management module 204 can remove the application 205 from the management target.

  An application installer 206 for installing and uninstalling the application 205 can also be operated on the application management module 204. The application is a suitable example of a program, but provides various processes to the user in cooperation with the image forming apparatus. For example, an application that performs image processing and compression, an application program that performs department management such as printing restrictions, a plug-in module that is incorporated as part of the application, a remote management program for copiers, and a unit such as a copier finisher Controlled bookbinding application, specific document data conversion / analysis program, document creation program such as so-called word processing software, schedule management program, spreadsheet program, database management program, and print service via the Internet A server program for realizing the above can be considered.

  These softwares are executed on a CPU (not shown) in the core unit 10. In the above embodiment, an interpreter and OS are incorporated in the copying machine. Of course, as long as the application 205 operates on the image forming apparatus and the application management module 204 operates appropriately, the module configuration is not limited to the above.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow when an application is installed in the multifunction peripheral 100. Next, processing in the application installer 206 when a new application is installed from the host computer 11 to the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIG. When an instruction to install an application is input on the operation screen of the host computer 11 by a pointing device (not shown) which is a preferred example of the instruction input means, the processing in FIG. 3 is started. First, in step S301, application information is received from the host computer 11. The application information includes, for example, a vendor name, an application ID, an application name, a used memory, a version number, and a last update date, which is a preferred example of program attribute information. This application information is used to manage the usage amount of an application which is a preferred example of a program.

  Upon receiving application information including an application ID, which is a preferred example of the above-described program attribute information, in step S301, the application installer 206 performs the process of step S302. In S302, the application installer 206 determines whether or not the same application has already been installed. The application installer 206 determines whether or not the same application is already installed by acquiring the application information received in step S301 and comparing it with the application information of the already installed application. If the application installer 206 determines in step S302 that the same application exists, the process ends. If it is determined that the same application does not exist, the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the application installer 206 (determination means) substitutes 0 for the variable n, and proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the application installer 206 determines whether or not the nth application counter is being used. If not, the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the counter number-application ID table is updated to associate the counter number n with the application ID. In the present application, the counter means a counter that counts the number of executions, which is an example of the usage amount of the application. The counter also includes measurement storage means that can count and hold a usage time such as the length of time for which the application is started.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a counter number-application ID table. The counter with the counter number 1 corresponds to the application with the application ID 11, the counter with the counter number 3 corresponds to the application with the application ID 51, and the other counters are unused. If the table is updated in step S305, the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, the application program is downloaded from the host, stored in the storage device 6 in the multifunction peripheral 100, the application can be used, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the counter n is in use, the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, the value of the variable n is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S308. In step S <b> 308, it is determined whether the value of the variable n is smaller than the total number N of application-specific counters prepared in the multifunction peripheral 100. If the value of the variable n is smaller than the total number N of application-specific counters, the process returns to step S304, and if not, the process ends.

  The application installed in this manner can execute a command group for instructing job processing, thereby controlling the reader unit, the printer unit, and the like, thereby realizing various functions.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a command group for instructing job processing. A command group for instructing job processing includes a job submission start command 501, a job attribute setting command 502, a job data transmission command 503, and a job submission completion command 504. The job submission start command 501 is a command for notifying the controller of the start of job submission, and includes a mode 511 and additional information 512 corresponding to the mode as parameters. Upon receipt of the job submission start command 501, the controller starts preparation for performing job processing. A job attribute setting command 502 is a command for setting an attribute representing a job function or status. The attributes include information such as application ID, job name, job type, data format, paper selection, and the like. With this command, a plurality of attributes can be set continuously.

  The job data transmission command 503 is a command for transmitting data to be subjected to job processing such as image data. However, depending on the contents of the job, the data to be processed may not be required. In this case, this command may be omitted. The job submission completion command 504 is a command for indicating that all command groups instructing job processing have been sent. A series of commands from the job submission start command 501 to the job submission completion command 504 are interpreted as one job processing instruction. When a job processing instruction is issued, the controller controls the reader unit 1, printer unit 2, file unit 5, etc., performs appropriate processing according to the given attributes, and issues an appropriate counter update request according to the job type. put out. Note that since the job start command also includes information on the application ID of the application that executed it, the controller and counter updating means can determine from which application the current job was executed. ing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing in the counter updating unit when the counter is updated in the first embodiment. The flow of processing in the counter management means when the counter is updated will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S601, a counter update request is received, and the process proceeds to step S602. In step S602, the application ID of the update request source is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S603. In step q003, 0 is substituted into the variable n, and the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, it is checked whether the n-th counter is assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S602 by referring to the table. If the n-th counter is assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S602, the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, the n-th counter for the current job type is updated, and the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, the counter for counting the total number is updated, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S604 that the n-th counter is not assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S602, the process proceeds to step S607. In step S607, it is determined whether the variable n is smaller than the total number N of application counters. If n <N, the value of n is incremented by 1 in step S608 and the process returns to step S604. If n <N is not satisfied in step S607, the process proceeds to step S606, where only the total count counter is updated and the process ends.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a counter that the multi-function device 100 has. In this example, there are three types of counters: a copy counter, a print counter, and a scan counter. For each of them, there is one counter for counting the total count and N counters for each application (counter numbers 1 to N). It shows that. When a copy job is processed, the copy counter is incremented every time one copy is made. Similarly, in the scan job, the scan counter is incremented every time one sheet is scanned, and in the print job, the print counter is incremented every time one sheet is printed.

  When the contents of the counter number-application ID table are as shown in FIG. 4, the counter of FIG. 7 (i) is used for the application of application ID No. 11, and the counter of FIG. used. For example, when the application with application ID 11 executes a copy job, the counter in FIG. 7 and the total count counter are counted up. Similarly, when a print job is executed, the counter and the general counter in FIG. 7 () are counted up, and when a scan job is executed, the counter and the general counter in FIG. Also, when a print job, scan job, copy job, etc. is submitted from a remote host, if the application ID of the job issuer has already been registered in the table, the counter corresponding to the application ID and the counter for counting the total number are counted. Is up. If the application ID of the job issuer is not registered in the table, the job is rejected.

  In this way, the count values corresponding to the number of combinations of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus and the applications that use the functions are managed, and the count values are summed for each application and for each function. You can count. Thus, as well as charging for each application, if a process that uses a specific function of the image forming apparatus in an application is called a predetermined operation, the usage amount can be counted for each predetermined operation. For example, if a specific image processing application is associated with the counter number 6, when copying is performed using this image processing application, for example, by inserting a digital watermark, for example, The copy counter corresponding to the counter number 6 is counted up. Thereby, it is possible to manage the usage amount of the predetermined operation of copying using the image processing application. Of course, the application is not limited to an image processing application, but may be an application for processing an XML document or a predetermined document file. Furthermore, the function provided by the image forming apparatus may be not only copying, printing, and scanning, but also so-called bookbinding processing such as finishing, bookbinding, and punch punching.

  Next, a process for uninstalling an application already installed in the image forming apparatus and assigned to a counter having an application ID will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when an application already installed in the copying machine 100 is uninstalled.

  First, in step S801, it is checked whether the specified application is operating. If it is in operation, the uninstallation process is terminated without doing anything. If it is not in operation, it can be safely uninstalled, and the process advances to step S802. In step S802, counter information and application information associated with the application to be uninstalled are transmitted to the accounting server 13, and the process proceeds to step S803. In step S803, it is checked whether or not the transmitted information has been correctly received by the billing server 13. If the information has been correctly received, the process proceeds to step S804. If it has not been received correctly, the process is terminated without actually uninstalling. In step S804, the counter number-application ID table is updated, and the counter to which the application ID of the application to be uninstalled is assigned is unused. In step S805, the application is deleted from the storage device 6 and uninstalled, and the process ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by dynamically assigning a counter that is not used at the time of application installation, and counting up, the counter corresponding to the application that caused the processing is counted up. It is possible to manage the copy / print / scan count for each application.

  In addition, when the application is uninstalled, the application information and the counter information used are stored in the billing server, so that the application can be installed and uninstalled freely without losing the count information. ing.

  In this embodiment, the process is terminated when the same application is already installed at the time of installation. However, it is also possible to determine the version information and automatically install it if it is a new version. The user may be allowed to select whether to continue the installation process.

  In the present embodiment, the application installer 206 is a kind of application that runs on the application management module 204, but may be a module incorporated in the controller 202.

  In this embodiment, three types of counters are prepared: a copy counter, a print counter, and a scan counter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of counters may be used. The counter may be further divided according to size or the like.

  In the present embodiment, one application is assigned to one counter set. However, a group ID or the like may be introduced so that a plurality of applications can share one counter set.

  Further, in the present embodiment, all counters other than the total count counter are dynamically allocated, but a counter may be fixedly allocated for an application preinstalled in the image forming apparatus.

  In this embodiment, an external job having an application ID not registered in the table is rejected. However, the job may be accepted by counting up only the total count counter. good.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 also shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment. Since this figure has been described in detail in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted here. However, in the second embodiment, the host computer 11 is a file server in which applications are stored. Hereinafter, parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the software module hierarchy of the copying machine 100 according to the second embodiment. The software module has an operating system (OS) 901. A controller module 902 for controlling various devices is provided on the OS 901, and an interpreter module 903 for sequentially executing programs on the OS 901 and a general-purpose counter control application program for controlling a general-purpose counter (described later). An interface (hereinafter referred to as general-purpose counter control API) 904 is included. On the interpreter module 903 and the general-purpose counter control API 904, an application management module 905 for managing a dynamically attachable / detachable application group is provided. An application 906 that implements various functions operates under the management of the application management module 905 (usage management means). An application installer 907 that is an application for installing / uninstalling an application also operates on the application management module 905. Each application 906 can use the general-purpose counter control API 904 via the application management module 905. These software are executed on a CPU (not shown) in the core unit 10.

  Next, the processing of the application installer 907 when the application stored in the host computer 11 is installed in the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. It is assumed that the host computer is equipped with a Web server and has a predetermined URL. For example, in the present embodiment, an application is arranged at a URL “http://www.kaisha.com/appfile”. When this URL is designated in the operation unit 14 of the copier, The designated application is downloaded from the storage area corresponding to the URL, and installation is automatically started. Of course, instead of using the operation unit 14, a URL input from the operation screen of the external computer 12 may be transmitted to the network, received by the image forming apparatus via the network interface, and input to the core unit 10. .

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when the application installer is installed in the second embodiment. This screen is displayed on the operation unit 14 of the multifunction peripheral 100 when installation is designated on the main screen (not shown) of the application installer 907. Specifically, a URL indicating the host computer 11 in which application information to be installed is stored in the text field 1001 is input, and in response to pressing the OK button 1002, the application installer executes an application from the host computer 11 Download and start the installation process. Pressing the cancel button on the screen of FIG. 10 returns to the application installer main screen (not shown).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing after the OK button 1002 is pressed. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a counter number-application ID table in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a count unit warning dialog screen when installing an application according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.

  When the OK button 1002 is pressed, first, the application installer 907 acquires information on the application at the location specified in the text field 1001 in step S1101. An example of elements constituting the application information is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows a table in which counter numbers assigned to the respective counters are associated with application IDs (application IDs) which are preferable examples of application identifiers. The monochrome printer function, the color printer function, and the color copy function It shows a state where a monochrome copy function and a scanner function are prepared. Note that the functions provided by the image forming apparatus are not limited to these functions. For example, the functions provided by the image forming apparatus include functions related to finishing such as a stapling function and a bookbinding function. Anything can be applied as long as it can recognize (for example, the number of times of use and use time). Here, 0xFFFFFFFF is a code indicating that the counter is not used.

  Returning to FIG. In step S1101, if the application installer 907 can acquire application information which is a preferable example of the attribute information of the program, the process proceeds to step S1102. If the application information cannot be acquired, the process ends. In step S1102, the application installer 907, which is a preferred example of the recognition means of the present invention, determines whether an unused counter is used in the type of counter specified in the application information in response to obtaining the application information. Perform recognition processing. If an unused counter number, that is, a newly added program, for example, input from the external host computer 11 or the like via the network interface unit (input unit) of the copier 100, the usage amount can be managed. If no possible counter is recognized, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1102 that unused counters can be recognized for all types described in the application information, the process advances to step S1103. In step S1103, a confirmation dialog (FIG. 13) about the count-up unit is displayed on the operation unit based on the application information. For example, an application name and a usage fee that is counted up when the application name is activated once are displayed. In step S1104, it is determined which button is pressed on the dialog (FIG. 13). If it is determined that the cancel button 1301 has been pressed, the process ends. If it is determined that the continue button 1302 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S1105. In step S1105, an attempt is made to download the main body of the program based on the archive file URL information described in the application information. If the download fails in step S1105, an error message is displayed as necessary, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the download is successful, the process proceeds to step S1106. In step S1106, the application installer (counter management unit) stores the program downloaded in step S1105 in the storage device 6, makes the program available, and proceeds to step S1107. In step S1107, the application installer adds and stores the counter number recognized in S1102 and the application ID pair included in the application information in the counter number-application ID table, and updates the application management module 204 as necessary. The usage amount of the counter that recognized the installer is initialized, and the process ends. If the unused counter cannot be recognized, that is, if the counter is insufficient, the application installer may newly create a counter for initializing the application and use it.

  In FIG. 13, the application name to be added is displayed on the application display unit, and count-up information (for example, billing information) when this application uses the scan function and copy function, which are functions provided by the copying machine 100, is displayed. Is displayed on the count-up information display unit 1304, the user can install the application after confirming the count-up information according to whether to use the function when executing the application.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of application information in the second embodiment. A table is prepared for each counter type, and holds the correspondence between counter numbers and application IDs. In this example, the first scan counter and the general counter are assigned to the application with the application ID No. 11, and the other counters are unused. Here, as an example of application information, a vendor name, an application ID and an application name that are application identifiers, a version, a last update date, a used counter number, a counter type, a count-up unit, a used memory, and a program source are shown. An archive file URL is described. When considering the process of counter management after acquiring the program first, the acquisition URL may be the application module itself. In other words, the application management means allows a specific program to use a function of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, for example, a predetermined operation such as a scan function operation, a copy function operation, a print function operation, a finishing operation, or the like. Based on the number of times the occurrence of the counter, the counter having the counter number determined by the table above can be counted up to manage the usage amount.

  As described above, the copying machine 100 includes the application management module 204 that manages the usage amount for each program using a counter. Then, the application installer 206 manages the usage amount of the application corresponding to the application ID which is an example of the identification information of the added program in response to the information indicating the attribute of the application being input to the copying machine 100. Recognize counters that can.

  Then, the application management module manages the counter by associating the added program with the counter recognized by the application installer 206.

  Here, the information for identifying the program includes all information that can identify the program. For example, in the case of an application program, an application ID and an application name can be considered, but the module of the application program provided in the form of a file itself includes a module name and a file name in which the application is stored. Of course, these file names and module names are naturally included in the category of program identification information. Accordingly, the program module itself integrated with the application information is input to the image forming apparatus via the network interface and stored in the storage device in the image forming apparatus. It is also possible to determine whether or not to associate them.

  As in the first embodiment, the installed application can control the reader unit 1, the printer unit 2, the finisher unit 15 and the like by executing a command group (FIG. 5) instructing job processing. The functions provided by various copiers can be realized. Details have been described in the first embodiment, and are omitted here.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow in the counter updating unit when the count-up is performed in the application management module in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, processing when a count-up request is made to each counter will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1501, the application management module receives a count-up request from the core unit, for example, and proceeds to step S1502. In step S1502, the update request source application ID is acquired, and the process advances to step S1503. In step S1503, 0 is substituted for variable n, and the flow advances to step S1504. In step S1504, the table is referenced to check whether the n-th counter is assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S1502. If the n-th counter is assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S1502, the process proceeds to step S1505.

  In step S1505, the application management unit acquires a count-up unit for the current job type from the application information. In step S1506, the n-th counter is counted up in the unit acquired in step S1505, and the process advances to step S1509. In step S1509, the application management unit counts up the counter for counting the total number in units specified by the application information, and ends the process. On the other hand, if the application management unit determines in step S1504 that the n-th counter is not assigned to the application with the application ID acquired in step S1502, the process proceeds to step S1507. In step S1507, it is determined whether the variable n is smaller than the total number N of application counters. If n <N, the value of n is incremented by 1 in step S1508, and the process returns to step S1504. If n <N is not satisfied in step S1507, the process proceeds to step S1509, where only the total count counter is counted up in the unit specified by the application information, and the process ends.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a counter included in the copying machine according to the second embodiment. In this example, there are six types of counters: a copy counter (monochrome), a scan counter, a print counter (monochrome), a color copy counter, a color print counter, and a general-purpose counter. One counter and application-specific counters (counter numbers 1 to N) are prepared. When a monochrome copy job is processed, the copy counter is incremented every time one copy is made. At this time, the increment of the counter is increased by the amount defined in the application information. Similarly, the scan counter, print counter, color copy counter, and color print counter are automatically incremented by the controller for each predetermined operation when a scan job, monochrome print job, color copy job, and color print job are executed. Is done. The general-purpose counter can be counted up at a timing convenient for the application by giving an instruction through the general-purpose counter control API.

  For example, in the situation shown in FIG. 14, when a scan job is executed by an application with an application ID of 11, the counter shown in FIG. In addition, if the application with the application ID of 11 calls the general-purpose counter API each time a job is issued, the counter in FIG. 16 (ro) is incremented by 1 each time the application with the application ID of 11 issues a job. Become.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow when an application installed in the copying machine is uninstalled in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, a process for uninstalling an application installed in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The application installer 203 first checks whether or not the application designated in step S1701 is operating. If it is in operation, the uninstallation process is terminated without doing anything. If it is not in operation, it can be safely uninstalled, and the process advances to step S1702. In step S1702, the application installer 203 (recognizing means) searches the counter number-application ID table to recognize counter information and application information associated with the application to be uninstalled, and recognizes the information and the nonvolatile information provided in the image forming apparatus. Save in the memory and go to step S1703.

  In step S1703, it is checked whether or not the data is correctly stored in the nonvolatile memory. If the data is stored correctly, the process proceeds to step S1704. If the data cannot be saved correctly, the process is terminated without actually uninstalling. In step S1704, the application management module 204 (counter management means) updates the counter number-application ID table, releases the counter to which the application ID of the application to be uninstalled is allocated, and puts it into an unused state. In step S 1705, the application is deleted from the storage device 6 and uninstalled, and the process ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by displaying a count-up information warning dialog when installing an application, the user can install the application after being convinced of the count-up unit per predetermined operation. become. In addition, by making the general-purpose counter available from an application, it is possible to manage the number of uses and the amount of processing for each application.

  In addition, when the application is uninstalled, the application information and the counter information that was used can be saved in the memory of the device, so that the installation and uninstallation of the application can be freely repeated without compromising the count information. It becomes.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the main features.

(Other embodiments)
Each processing shown in the drawings and specification of the present application is performed by the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus by a program installed from the outside. In this case, even when a group of information including a program is supplied to each information processing apparatus and image forming apparatus from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, flash memory, or FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. The present invention is applicable.

  As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, DVD, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  According to each embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of counters are prepared on the image forming apparatus, the association between the application and the counter is dynamically performed when the application is installed, and the unused counter is dynamically set when the application is installed. Can be assigned. Further, by releasing the counter at the time of uninstallation, it becomes possible to appropriately manage the count information for each application even in a situation where an application is added / deleted. This also makes it possible to appropriately distribute the billing corresponding to the usage amount of the application to the application vendor who has developed the application on the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, the count information can be individually managed for each process provided by each program provided by the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that can easily manage the usage amount of each program can be provided.

  Furthermore, since the counter is managed so as to release the counter as each program provided by the image forming apparatus is deleted, an unnecessary increase in the counter is prevented, and it is actually used in the current image forming apparatus. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily manage the usage amount of each program.

  Furthermore, as the attribute information of each program provided by the image forming apparatus is added, the counter is managed so as to release the counter, so the program is reliably associated with the counter and managed as a table. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably acquire, display and manage the usage amount of each program currently used in the image forming apparatus.

  Further, since the usage is managed for each function of the image forming apparatus used by each program, charging or use is made according to the value added by the application, the processing provided by the application, and the function provided by the copier. Volume control can be performed.

  Since the counter control API having high portability and reusability, which is interpreted and executed by the interpreter, is provided, it is easy to create a counter control program, and the counter control program can be reused and applied to other image forming apparatuses. Easy to transplant.

It is a lineblock diagram showing the whole system concerning a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows a suitable example of the software module hierarchy of the copying machine in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the flow of a process when an application is installed in the multifunctional machine shown in FIG. 1 in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the counter number-application ID table in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the command group which instruct | indicates job processing. It is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the counter update means at the time of counter update in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the counter which the multifunctional machine in 1st embodiment has. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow when an application already installed in the copier is uninstalled in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a software module hierarchy of a copying machine according to a second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen at the time of installation of the application installer in 2nd embodiment. In 2nd embodiment, it is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the flow of a process after the OK button of FIG. 10 is pushed. It is a figure which shows the example of the counter number-application ID table in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the count unit warning dialog screen at the time of application installation in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the application information in 2nd embodiment. In 2nd embodiment, it is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the counter update means at the time of count-up being performed. It is a figure which shows the example of the counter which the copying machine in 2nd embodiment has. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow when an application installed in a copier is uninstalled in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Fax part 5 File part 6 Storage device 7 Network interface part 8 Formatter part 9 Image memory part 10 Core part 11 Host computer 12 Network server 13 Charge server 14 Operation part 15 Finisher part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MFP 201 Operating system 202 Controller 203 Interpreter 204 Application management 205 Application program 206 Application installer 501 Job submission start command 502 Job attribute setting command 503 Job data transmission command 504 Job submission completion command 511 Mode 512 Additional information 901 Operating system 902 Controller 903 Interpreter 904 counter PI
905 Application management program 906 Application 907 Application installer 1001 URL input unit 1002 OK button 1301 Cancel button 1302 Continue button 1303 Application name display unit 1304 Count-up information display unit

Claims (10)

In an image forming apparatus controlled by an operating system and capable of mounting an application for controlling a function provided by the image forming apparatus,
A counter that manages usage for each application,
Usage management means for managing the usage of the application using the counter using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided in the same hierarchy as the interpreter operating on the operating system;
A specific means for identifying a counter that can associate an installed application;
When the specifying unit cannot specify a counter that can associate the application, the usage amount managing unit creates a new counter and associates the input application with the image forming apparatus. . In an image forming apparatus controlled by an operating system and capable of mounting an application for controlling a function provided by the image forming apparatus,
A counter that manages usage for each application,
Usage management means for managing the usage of the application using the counter using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided in the same hierarchy as the interpreter operating on the operating system;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the usage amount managing unit manages the counter using a table that associates an identifier corresponding to the application with an identifier corresponding to the counter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the usage amount management unit initializes the counter specified by the specifying unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage amount management unit manages the usage amount of the application based on the number of times the application is executed.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage amount management unit manages the usage amount of the application according to a time when the application is used.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage amount managing unit manages the usage amount of the application based on a predetermined number of operations of the image forming apparatus caused by the application.   7. The usage amount management unit manages the usage amount by a combination of a function provided by the image forming apparatus and the application using the function provided by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the items. In an information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus controlled by an operating system and capable of mounting an application that controls a function provided by the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus manages the usage of the application using a counter for each application, and uses the counter using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided at the same level as the interpreter operating on the operating system. Usage management process to manage the usage of the application
A specific process for identifying a counter that can associate an installed application;
If the identifying step fails to identify a counter that can associate the application, the usage management step creates a new counter and associates the input application with the image. An information processing method executed by a forming apparatus. In an information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus controlled by an operating system and capable of mounting an application that controls a function provided by the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus manages the usage of the application using a counter for each application, and uses the counter using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided at the same level as the interpreter operating on the operating system. And a usage management process that manages the usage of the existing applications,
In the usage amount management step, the image forming apparatus executes a method of managing the counter using a table that associates an identifier corresponding to the application and an identifier corresponding to the counter. . A control program for causing an image forming apparatus to execute the method according to claim 8.

Images