JP2016032119A - Information processing device, management system, information processing device control method, management system control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an impact which the synchronization processing of a setting value has on the operation of an information processing device such as a multi-functional peripheral device, and to reduce the total traffic of a network in the synchronization processing.SOLUTION: In order to synchronize a setting value managed by a setting data management unit 510 with a setting value of a multi-functional peripheral device 121 managed by a setting value management server 110, when the setting value managed by the setting data management unit 510 is updated, a communication control unit 520 in the multi-functional peripheral device 121 transmits update information on the updated setting value to the setting value management server 110. The communication control unit 520 in the multi-functional peripheral device 121 puts off the transmission of the update information on the setting value depending on the state of the multi-functional peripheral device 121, such as during shut-down processing and during start-up processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for synchronizing a setting value stored in an information processing apparatus and a setting value stored in a management apparatus connected to a network.

  In recent years, with respect to setting values of information processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction peripherals”), master data can be stored in other information processing apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as “servers”) such as servers connected to a network for centralized management. is there. These values are synchronized, and when the value of the master data on the server is changed, the changed value is notified to the multifunction device, and the setting value in the multifunction device is also changed. Similarly, when the value of the setting value in the multifunction device is changed, the value of the master data on the server is also changed. Some setting values synchronize values between multiple MFPs. If the setting value of a certain MFP changes, the master data on the server and all the MFPs to be synchronized The set value in the aircraft is changed. On the other hand, some setting values do not synchronize with other multifunction devices, and if those setting values are changed in a certain multifunction device, the value of the setting value of the master data on the server Only changes.

  The setting value synchronization processing is performed using network communication. Since the multi-function peripheral changes a large number of setting values during its operation, a large number of network communications are executed between the multi-function peripheral and the server. Depending on the contents of the operation of the multifunction device, the execution of such a large number of network communication processes in parallel with the operation becomes an execution load, which may affect the operation of the multifunction device.

As a data transmission technique from the multifunction machine to the server in view of such influence, there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1.
The technology described in Patent Document 1 is a system that transmits image data and execution history information handled by a multifunction peripheral to the server. In a system in which the multifunction peripheral performs job execution such as copying or printing, image data from the multifunction peripheral is transmitted. And prohibiting transmission of history information to the server prevents a decrease in job performance in the multifunction peripheral.

JP 2006-246445 A

However, when the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used for the setting value synchronization processing of the multifunction peripheral, there are concerns about the following two problems.
The first problem is that control in a specific power supply processing state of the multifunction device, such as during shutdown processing or activation processing of the multifunction device, which is an operation of the multifunction device in which the synchronization processing may have a great influence, is not considered. .
If data transmission to the server is executed during the shutdown of the multifunction peripheral, the execution load due to the data transmission affects the shutdown process. Some multifunction devices forcibly shut off power after a certain period of time has elapsed since shutdown, and the power can be cut off without completing normal shutdown processing due to the execution load due to the above data transmission, etc. There is sex.
If data transmission to the server is executed during the activation process of the multifunction peripheral, the execution load due to the data transmission affects the activation process as in the case of the shutdown. As a result, there is a possibility that the time until the user can use the multifunction machine after the start-up process is completed increases and usability is impaired.

The second problem is that the communication amount of network communication related to data synchronization between the multifunction peripheral and the server is not reduced even if the technique of Patent Document 1 is used.
The technique of Patent Document 1 controls to execute a data synchronization operation at a timing when the load of the multifunction device is low, and does not reduce the number of communication times or the communication amount in one communication. For this reason, the total amount of network traffic of the system at a certain point in time exceeds the amount of communication allowed by the system, which may affect the operation of the entire synchronous system.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can reduce the influence of a setting value synchronization process on the operation of an information processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or reduce the total amount of network traffic in the synchronization process.

  The present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a management apparatus that manages setting values of an information processing apparatus via a network, managed by the management means that manages the setting values of the information processing apparatus, and the management means A transmission unit that transmits update information of the updated setting value to the management apparatus when the set value is updated, and the transmission unit transmits the update information according to a state of the information processing apparatus. And a control means for deferring, wherein the control means defers transmission of the update information when it is in the startup process or the shutdown process.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the influence which the synchronous process of a setting value has on operation | movement of information processing apparatuses, such as a multifunction machine, can be reduced, and the sum total of the network traffic in a synchronous process can be reduced.

System configuration diagram showing the entire setting value synchronization system Hardware configuration diagram of the setting value management server Hardware configuration diagram of MFP Configuration diagram of master data managed by the setting value management server Software configuration diagram of MFP Flow chart of device setting value update processing in MFP Flowchart of Immediate Update Notification Determination Process in Multifunction Device of Embodiment 1 Diagram explaining power state transition of MFP Diagram explaining the job execution status transition of a multifunction device Software configuration diagram of the setting value management server Flow chart of update process in setting value management server Flow chart of difference data acquisition processing in the multifunction device Flow chart of difference data transmission processing in setting value management server Diagram explaining network communication enable / disable state transition of MFP Flowchart of Immediate Update Notification Determination Process in Multifunction Device of Embodiment 2

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating the entire set value synchronization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the setting value synchronization system of the present embodiment, a setting value management server 110 and a plurality of multifunction devices (such as multifunction devices 121 and 122) are connected via a network 100 so as to be communicable. Yes. The setting value synchronization system is a management system that manages setting values of a plurality of multifunction peripherals in the setting value management server 110. Note that there may be three or more multifunction peripherals.

  The setting value management server 110 is a management device that manages master data of setting values of the multifunction machine 121 and the multifunction machine 122. When there is a change in the master data, the setting value management server 110 notifies the MFP 121 and the MFP 122 of the change information via the network 100. The setting value management server 110 changes the value of its own master data when receiving setting value change information from the multifunction machine 121 and the multifunction machine 122.

  The multifunction peripherals 121 and 122 are information processing apparatuses such as image forming apparatuses that realize a plurality of types of functions, such as copying and faxing, and store therein setting values used when executing those functions. The multifunction peripherals 121 and 122 notify the setting value management server 110 of the change information via the network 100 when the setting values stored therein are changed. In addition, when the multifunction peripherals 121 and 122 receive the change information of the master data of the setting value from the setting value management server 110, the multifunction peripherals 121 and 122 change the value of its own setting value.

  Here, a description will be given using an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) as an information processing apparatus that synchronizes its own setting value with the setting value management server 110. However, the information processing apparatus that synchronizes with the setting value management server 110 stores therein setting values used when executing functions, and can be any device that can communicate with the setting value management server 110 via a network. It may be. For example, a personal computer or a home appliance may be used.

  Depending on the setting value, there may be a value that is synchronized between a plurality of multifunction devices such as the multifunction device 121 and the multifunction device 122. With respect to setting values for synchronizing values among a plurality of MFPs, if there is a change in master data on the setting value management server 110, setting value change information for both the MFPs 121 and 122 Will be notified. In addition, regarding setting values for synchronizing values among a plurality of MFPs, if any of the setting values of either the MFP 121 or the MFP 122 is changed, first the change information is sent to the setting value management server 110. After that, the change information is also notified to the other MFP via the setting value management server 110.

  A detailed description of the setting value management server 110 and the multifunction peripherals 121 and 122 will be described later. In this case, the multifunction device 121 will be described as an example, but the multifunction device 122 has the same configuration as the multifunction device 121.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the setting value management server 110.
The set value management server 110 includes a controller unit 200, an operation unit 220, and a display unit 230. The controller unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 203. The CPU 203 activates an OS (Operating System) stored in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205 by a boot program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 206.

The CPU 203 executes application programs stored in the HDD 205 on this OS, thereby executing various processes. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 204 is used as a work area of the CPU 203.
The HDD 205 stores the application program, master data of setting values of the multifunction machine 121, and the like. Details regarding the master data management method will be described later. Instead of the HDD 205 or in addition to the HDD 205, another storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be provided.

  An operation unit I / F 201, a display unit I / F 202, a network 207, and the like are connected to the CPU 203 through the system bus 210 together with the ROM 206 and the RAM 204. The operation unit I / F 201 is an interface with the operation unit 220 including a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and sends information input by the user through the operation unit 220 to the CPU 203. The display unit I / F 202 outputs image data to be displayed on the display unit 230 such as a display to the display unit 230. A network 207 is a network interface that is connected to the network 100 and inputs / outputs information to / from each device on the network 100 via the network 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the multifunction machine 121.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the multifunction machine 121 includes a controller unit 300, an operation unit 320, a scanner 330, and a printer 340. The controller unit 300 is connected to an operation unit 320 and is also connected to a scanner 330 as an image input device and a printer 340 as an image output device.

  The controller unit 300 includes a CPU 302, and the CPU 302 activates the OS stored in the ROM 306 or the HDD 305 by a boot program stored in the ROM 306. The CPU 302 executes application programs stored in the HDD 305 on this OS, thereby executing various processes. A RAM 303 is used as a work area of the CPU 302. A RAM 303 provides a work area for the CPU 302 and an image memory area for temporarily storing image data.

  The HDD 305 stores the application program, image data, and various setting values. A setting value management method in the multifunction machine 121 will be described later. Instead of the HDD 305 or in addition to the HDD 205, another storage device such as an SSD may be provided.

  An operation unit I / F 301, a device I / F 304, a network 307, an image processing unit 308, and the like are connected to the CPU 302 through a system bus 310, along with the ROM 306 and the RAM 303.

  The operation unit I / F 301 is an interface with the operation unit 320 having a touch panel, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 320 to the operation unit 320. In addition, the operation unit I / F 301 sends information input by the user through the operation unit 320 to the CPU 302. A scanner 330 and a printer 340 are connected to the device I / F 304, and the device I / F 304 performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The network 307 is a network interface that is connected to the network 100 and inputs / outputs information to / from each device on the network 100 via the network 100. The image processing unit 308 performs processing such as input image processing from the scanner 330, output image processing to the printer 340, image rotation, image compression, resolution conversion, color space conversion, and gradation conversion.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of master data managed by the setting value management server 110. The master data 401 includes a setting value information DB 410, a device common setting value DB 411, a registered device management DB 412, a device individual setting value DB 413, a device configuration information management DB 414, a user information DB 415, and a user setting value DB 416. The

First, the setting value information DB 410 will be described.
Table 1 shows an example of data stored in the setting value information DB 410.

  The setting value information DB 410 is a database that stores metadata regarding each setting value managed by the setting value management server 110. The setting value information DB 410 includes a key identifier for identifying a setting value when communicating with the multifunction machine 121, a wording (UI display wording) when presenting to the user, an initial value, a value range, an applicable model / firm version, Stores display conditions for setting values. Each set value managed by the set value information DB 410 differs depending on the model of the multifunction machine 121 and the firmware version, and information such as whether or not a set value exists and information such as a set value range and an initial value are different. There is.

In Table 1, the setting value whose key identifier is represented by “settings.pattern” is present in all individuals in model A and model B, but the firmware version is “3.01” in “model C”. It indicates that it exists only in subsequent individuals. Further, the setting value whose key identifier is represented by “settings.density” indicates that in “model B”, the range of the setting value and the initial value differ depending on the version of the installed firmware.
The setting values following “settings.density” shown in Table 1 indicate that they are the same value range or initial value regardless of the model and firmware version.

  Further, the setting value information DB 410 manages information indicating the management type indicating how each setting value is managed. There are two types of information indicating management types: “edit / reference” and “reference only”. “Edit / reference” indicates an item that can be edited and referred to by the user on the setting value management server 110 (an item that can be edited and referred to). On the other hand, “reference only” indicates an item that can be referred to by the user on the setting value management server 110 but cannot be edited (an item that cannot be edited and can be referred to). The setting value of “edit / reference” is reflected in the setting value management server 110 when the corresponding setting value is edited on the multifunction device 121, and the multifunction device when the setting value is edited on the setting value management server 110. 121 is reflected. On the other hand, since the setting value of “reference only” cannot be changed on the setting value management server 110, the setting value is only reflected on the setting value management server 110 when it is changed on the multifunction machine 121.

  Further, the setting value information DB 410 manages information indicating the type of MFP that each setting value is a synchronization target. There are two types of information indicating synchronization targets: “can be shared” and “individual only”. “Common” indicates that the setting value is a setting value that can be synchronized with another multifunction device (a target to be synchronized with another multifunction device). “Individual only” indicates that the setting value is a setting value that can be synchronized only with a multifunction device of the same individual (not a target to be synchronized with another multifunction device).

Next, the device common setting value DB 411 will be described.
Table 2 shows an example of data stored in the device common setting value DB 411.

The device common setting value DB 411 is a database that manages setting values that are shared and synchronized by all of the plurality of MFPs that manage setting values by the setting value management server 110.
The device common setting value DB 411 stores a key identifier, a value corresponding to the identifier, the last update date / time of the setting value, the adaptive model / firm version described above (Table 1), information on the management type, and information on the synchronization target. . The key identifier is an identifier having the same system as the key identifier of the setting value information DB 410.

Next, the device individual setting value DB 413 will be described.
Table 3 shows an example of data stored in the device individual setting value DB 413.

  The device individual setting value DB 413 is a database that manages setting values having different values in each of the plurality of multifunction peripherals 121 that manage setting values by the setting value management server. In the device individual setting value DB 413, it is assumed that not only “individual only” but also “setting common” setting values are managed as information to be synchronized. Further, it is assumed that there are a plurality of device individual setting values DB 413 corresponding to the individual MFPs. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, there are a device individual setting value DB corresponding to the multifunction device 121 and a device individual setting value DB corresponding to the multifunction device 122.

  The device individual setting value DB 413 includes a key identifier, a setting value value corresponding to the identifier, a last update date and time of the setting value, an adaptive model / firm version described above (Table 1), management type information, and synchronization target information. Stored. The key identifier is an identifier having the same system as the key identifier of the setting value information DB 410. Both setting values of the setting value whose synchronization target information is “individual only” and the setting value of “common” are stored in the device individual setting value DB 413.

Next, the device configuration information management DB 414 will be described.
Table 4 exemplifies the contents of device configuration information for each MFP managed by the device configuration information management DB 414.

  The device configuration information management DB 414 is a database that stores and manages a plurality of device configuration information for each MFP. This device configuration information includes an individual identifier for identifying the individual multifunction device 121, a model name, firmware version, license information indicating available functions, and the like. The model name, firmware version, license, and the like have the same system as that stored in the setting value information DB 410.

Next, the registered device management DB 412 will be described.
The registered device management DB 412 is a database for managing the individual identifiers of the individual MFPs 121 whose setting values are managed by the setting value management server 110. An example of data stored in the registered device management DB 412 is not shown.

Next, the user information DB 415 will be described.
Table 5 shows an example of data stored in the user information DB 415.

  The user information DB 415 is a database for managing information regarding users who use the multifunction machine 121. The user information DB 415 stores a user ID for uniquely identifying the user, a user name input by the user at the time of login, a first name, a last name, and the like.

Next, the user set value DB 416 will be described.
Table 6 shows an example of data stored in the user setting value DB 416.

  The user setting value DB 416 is a database for managing setting values for each user that can be used by each user who uses the multifunction machine 121. The user setting value DB 416 stores a user ID for uniquely identifying the user, a key identifier for uniquely identifying the setting value, the content of the setting value, and the last update date and time of the setting value. The user ID has the same system as that in the user information DB 415.

  The setting value management server 110 uses the above-described databases of the master data 401 to set different setting values for each managed MFP 121, setting values common to all managed MFPs, and setting values. It is possible to collectively manage its own metadata.

Next, the configuration of the setting value DB 511 (shown in FIG. 5 described later) stored in the HDD 305 of the multifunction machine 121 will be described.
Table 7 shows an example of the configuration of the setting value DB 511.

  The setting value DB 511 is a database that stores setting values used in the multifunction machine 121. The setting value stored in the setting value DB 511 includes a key identifier for identifying the setting value, a value of the setting value, a UI display wording, an initial value, a value range, an applicable model / firmware version, display conditions, management type information, and synchronization. It consists of elements such as target information. These elements are managed in the same system as that managed by the master data 401. When the setting value is changed in the setting value management server 110 or the multifunction machine 121, the setting value is synchronized by communicating at least the key identifier and the value among the data shown in Table 7.

  The setting value synchronization processing described above is performed by communication between the network 207 of the setting value management server 110 and the network 307 of the multifunction peripheral 121 via the network 100.

Next, the software configuration of the multifunction machine 121 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a setting data management application operating on the multifunction peripheral 121 in the synchronization system according to the present invention. The setting value synchronization client application 500 shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 302 of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 3 reading and executing a program corresponding to the setting value synchronization client application 500 stored in the ROM 306.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the setting value synchronization client application 500 includes a setting data management unit 510, a communication control unit 520, a power management unit 530, and a job management unit 540.

  A setting data management unit 510 manages setting data of the multifunction machine 121. A setting value DB 511 managed by the setting data management unit 510 is stored in the HDD 305, the RAM 303, the ROM 306, or the like. The power management unit 530 manages the power state of the multifunction machine 121. The job management unit 540 manages the job execution state in the multifunction machine 121. The communication control unit 520 includes a plurality of blocks, and controls communication performed via the network 307.

  The communication control unit 520 includes a control unit 521 that controls setting value synchronization processing with the setting value management server 110, a timing management unit 522 that manages setting data synchronization timing, a communication processing unit 523 that performs communication processing via the Network 307, and the like. Consists of Details of processing performed by each processing unit will be described below.

  When the communication control unit 520 acquires the setting value update information from the setting value management server 110, the setting data management unit 510 receives the update information from the communication control unit 520 and reflects it in the setting value DB 511 managed by itself. Process. Also, the setting data management unit 510 reflects the update information in the master data 401 managed by the setting value management server 110 to the communication control unit 520 when the information of the setting value DB 511 is updated in the multifunction machine 121. Ask.

  The communication control unit 520 controls setting value synchronous communication with the setting value management server 110. The timing management unit 522 determines acquisition timing for periodically acquiring update information of the master data 401 from the setting value management server 110. Further, the timing management unit 522 receives the request from the control unit 521 and acquires the power management state and job execution state of the multifunction machine 121 from the power management unit 530 and the job management unit 540, respectively. Then, the timing management unit 522 determines whether or not to notify the setting value management server 110 of the update information of the setting value DB 511 from the acquired power management state and job execution state.

  Upon receiving the notification from the timing management unit 522, the control unit 521 instructs the communication processing unit 523 to execute communication processing with the setting value management server 110. In addition, the control unit 521 receives the update information of the master data 401 acquired from the setting value management server 110 by the communication processing unit 523 and requests the setting data management unit 510 to reflect the update information.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the execution procedure of the setting value synchronization process (device setting value update process) when the information in the setting value DB 511 is updated in the setting value synchronization process of the multifunction machine 121. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 302 of the multifunction peripheral 121 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 306.

First, in step S <b> 601, the control unit 521 acquires update information of the setting value DB 511 from the setting data management unit 510.
Subsequently, in S602, the control unit 521 transmits the update information of the setting value DB 511 acquired in S601 to the timing management unit 522, and whether or not the update information can be immediately transmitted to the setting value management server 110. Inquire. Upon receiving this inquiry, the timing management unit 522 determines whether immediate update notification is possible, and notifies the control unit 521 of the determination result as a result of the inquiry. Details of the determination processing in S602 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Subsequently, in S603, the control unit 521 can acquire the update information in S601 based on the result inquired in S602 (determination result by the timing management unit 522) and immediately transmit the update information. Determine.

If it is determined in S603 that it is impossible to transmit immediately (No in S603), the control unit 521 advances the process to S604.
In S604, the control unit 521 first stores the update information in the HDD 305, and further instructs the timing management unit 522 to notify when the update information transmission timing to the setting value management server 110 is reached, and the process proceeds to S605. To do.

  In step S <b> 605, the timing management unit 522 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the time point instructed by the control unit 521 in step S <b> 604. When it is determined that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed (No in S605), the timing management unit 522 continues the determination in S605. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in S605), the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 of the fact and advances the process to S606. In step S606, the control unit 521 reads the update information stored in the HDD 305 in step S604, and advances the process to step S602 again. That is, when it is impossible to immediately transmit the update information, the control unit 521 postpones the transmission of the update information (execution of the synchronization process) until the update information can be immediately transmitted. To control.

  If it is determined in S603 that transmission can be performed immediately (Yes in S603), the control unit 521 immediately transmits a setting information update request to the setting value management server 110. The communication processing unit 523 is instructed. Upon receiving the instruction, the communication processing unit 523 performs an update notification (update request) for transmitting the set value update information to the set value management server 110 in S607. Subsequently, in S608, the control unit 521 deletes the setting value update information transmitted in S607 and ends the processing of this flowchart.

  When there are a plurality of set value update information to be transmitted to the set value management server 110, the control unit 521 performs the determination process of S602 for each set value update information, and can immediately notify the server. The determined set value update information is transmitted to the set value management server 110 (S607 to S608). On the other hand, the set value update information determined to be incapable of immediate notification to the server is sent to the set value management server 110. Control is performed to postpone the execution of the transmission process (S604 to S606). Note that when setting value update information is transmitted to the setting value management server 110, if update information exists for a plurality of types of setting values, they are collectively transmitted to the setting value management server 110.

  Tables 8, 9, and 10 show the forms of update information stored in the HDD 305 in S604 of FIG.

First, when the update information acquired in S601 is “settings.copy_cur_page”, as shown in Table 8, for the setting value, information equivalent to the information stored in the setting value DB 511 described in Table 7 is: In step S604, the data is stored in the HDD 305.
When the value of “settings.copy_cur_page” is further updated from the state of Table 8, the information stored in the HDD 305 in S604 is updated only as shown in Table 9 (multiple values). Updates are integrated). In other words, the control unit 521 stores the updated setting value in the HDD 305 with the latest update information when it is impossible to immediately transmit the updated setting value and the setting value is updated. When the update information of the same setting value is overwritten and integrated, and the setting value can be sent immediately, only the latest update information of the setting value (integrated update information) Control is performed so as to be transmitted to the set value management server 110. As described above, when the setting value update is performed again before executing the update processing of the updated setting value update information, when executing the transmission processing of the setting value update information, By transmitting only update information obtained by integrating a plurality of update information related to setting values (the latest configuration information integrated by overwriting in the above example), the total amount of network traffic in the setting value synchronization processing can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the value of “settings.pattern” is updated from the state of Table 8, the information stored in the HDD 305 in S604 is the information added to the setting value as shown in Table 10. Become. In other words, the control unit 521 stores the update information in the HDD 305 when the values of the different setting values are updated and cannot be transmitted immediately, and the update information is immediately updated. Control to be transmitted to the setting value management server 110 when it becomes possible to transmit to the setting value management server 110.
As described above, during the postponement of the execution of the synchronization processing, the update information stored in the HDD 305 is deleted by the control unit 521 after the update notification to the server (S607) (S608).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of an execution procedure of the determination process in S602 of FIG. 6 in the first embodiment. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 302 of the multifunction peripheral 121 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 306.

  First, in step S <b> 701, the timing management unit 522 obtains the power management unit 530 by inquiring about the power state of the multifunction machine 121. Here, the transition of the power state of the multifunction machine 121 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the power state of the multifunction machine 121.
First, when the power switch (not shown) of the multifunction machine 121 is turned on from the power-off state 804 where the power of the multifunction machine 121 is OFF, the multifunction machine 121 transitions to 801 during startup processing. When the activation process is completed, the MFP 121 transitions to a normal state 802 in which the multifunction device 121 operates normally. When the power switch is turned off in the startup process 801 or the normal state 802, the process transits to the shutdown process 803 in which the shutdown process is executed, and when the shutdown process is completed, the process transits to the power-off state 804.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The power management unit 530 that has received an inquiry from the timing management unit 522 in step S701 as described above notifies the timing management unit 522 of the power state at that time. The timing management unit 522 acquires the power state of the multifunction machine 121 by receiving this notification. However, in the power OFF state 804, neither the timing management unit 522 nor the power management unit 530 operates, so that such operation is not performed.

  In step S <b> 702, the timing management unit 522 determines whether the power state of the multi-function peripheral 121 is a startup process 801 or a shutdown process 803 based on the power state acquired in step S <b> 701.

  If it is determined in S702 that the power supply state is 801 during the startup process or 803 during the shutdown process (Yes in S702), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S707. In S707, the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 that it is impossible to immediately transmit the update information of the setting value DB 511 acquired in S601 of FIG. 6 to the setting value management server 110 (immediate notification is impossible). To end the processing of this flowchart. That is, the timing management unit 522 is managed by the setting value management server 110 and the setting value managed by the setting data management unit 510 when the multi-function peripheral 121 is in a specific power supply processing state (during shutdown processing or activation processing). It is determined that it is not the timing of the synchronization processing with the setting value of the multifunction device.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S702 that the power state is neither the startup process 801 nor the shutdown process 803 (that is, the normal state 802) (No in S702), the timing management unit 522 performs the process in S703. Proceed.

  In step S <b> 703, the timing management unit 522 acquires the job management unit 540 by inquiring whether the multifunction peripheral 121 is in a job execution state such as copying or printing. Here, the transition of the job state of the multifunction machine 121 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining job state transition of the multifunction machine 121.
First, a transition is made from an idle state 901 in which no job such as copying or printing has been submitted to a job execution 902 when a job is submitted. When the job execution is completed normally, the state transitions again to the idle state 901. On the other hand, when the job execution cannot be continued as it is due to, for example, a paper jam, a paper shortage, or a toner shortage, a transition is made to an error occurrence state 903. If the error factor is eliminated and the job can be resumed during the error occurrence 903, the process proceeds to the job execution 902. On the other hand, when the execution of the submitted job is canceled without removing the cause of the error, the state transits to the idle state 901.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The job management unit 540 that has received an inquiry from the timing management unit 522 in step S <b> 703 notifies the timing management unit 522 of the job status at that time with respect to the power state of the multifunction peripheral 121 as described above. The timing management unit 522 acquires the job status of the multifunction machine 121 by receiving this notification.

  In step S <b> 704, the timing management unit 522 determines whether the job status of the multifunction peripheral 121 is “job in progress” 902 based on the job status acquired in step S <b> 703.

If it is determined in S704 that the job status is not job execution 902, that is, the job execution status is the idle status 901 or error occurrence 903 (No in S704), the timing management unit 522 performs S706. Proceed with the process.
In S706, the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 that the update information of the setting value DB 511 acquired in S601 of FIG. 6 can be immediately transmitted to the setting value management server 110 (immediate notification is possible). Then, the process of this flowchart ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S704 that the job status is 902 during job execution (Yes in S704), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S705.
In S705, the timing management unit 522 first reads the update information received from the control unit 521 in S602 of FIG. 6, and the management type is “reference only” for each setting value item included in the read update information. It is determined whether or not.

  If it is determined that the management type is “reference only” (Yes in S705), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S707. In S707, the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 that immediate transmission to the setting value management server 110 of the update information of the setting value DB 511 acquired in S601 of FIG. 6 is impossible (immediate notification is impossible). Then, the process of this flowchart ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S705 that the management type is “edit / reference” (No in S705), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S706. In S706, the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 that the update information of the setting value DB 511 acquired in S601 of FIG. 6 can be immediately transmitted to the setting value management server 110 (immediate notification is possible). Then, the process of this flowchart ends.
The setting value update information in the multifunction machine 121 is transmitted to the server 110 by the flow described above.

  In the description of FIG. 7, in S705, the timing management unit 522 determines whether the management type of the setting value included in the update information transmitted to the setting value management server 110 is “reference only” or “edit / reference”. The case where it is determined whether or not there is described. However, in the determination process of S705, the timing management unit 522 determines whether the synchronization target of the setting value included in the update information transmitted to the setting value management server 110 is “individual only” or “common”. You may do it. If it is determined that the synchronization target is “individual only” (that is, the target is not synchronized with another multifunction device), the timing management unit 522 determines Yes in S705 and indicates that immediate notification is impossible. Notify the controller 521. On the other hand, if it is determined that the synchronization target is “can be shared” (that is, a target that is synchronized with another multifunction device), the timing management unit 522 determines No in S705 and indicates that immediate notification is possible. The control unit 521 is notified.

Hereinafter, the details of the configuration and processing contents of the server 110 that receives the setting value update information in the multifunction peripheral 121 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a setting value management application operating on the setting value management server 110 in the synchronization system according to the present invention. The device setting value management server application 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is executed by the CPU 203 of the setting value management server 110 shown in FIG. 2 reading and executing a program corresponding to the device setting value management server application 1000 stored in the HDD 205 or the like. Realized.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the device setting value management server application 1000 includes a setting data management unit 1010 and a communication control unit 1020.
The setting data management unit 1010 manages the device common setting value DB 411 and the device individual setting value DB 413 illustrated in FIG. 4 among the setting data on the setting value management server 110. Among these, the device individual setting value DB 413 exists as many as the number of MFPs 121 whose setting values are synchronized with the setting value management server 110. In the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 121 and the multifunction device 122 are managed by the setting value management server 110, and the device individual setting value DB 413 a and the device individual setting value DB 413 b are set data in this order. Managed by the management unit 1010.
The device common setting value DB 411 and the device individual setting value DB 413 managed by the setting data management unit 1010 are stored in the HDD 205, the RAM 204, the ROM 206, and the like.

The communication control unit 1020 includes a plurality of blocks, and controls communication via the network 207.
The communication control unit 1020 includes a control unit 1021 that controls setting value synchronization processing with the multifunction peripheral 121 and a communication processing unit 1022 that performs communication processing via the network 207. Details of processing performed by each processing unit will be described below.

  When the communication control unit 1020 receives the setting value update information from the multifunction machine 121, the setting data management unit 1010 performs a process of reflecting the device common setting value DB 411 and the device individual setting value DB 413 managed by the setting value management server 110. Do. In addition, when the communication control unit 1020 receives a setting value difference data acquisition request from the multifunction device 121, the setting data management unit 1010 creates difference data for the setting value to be transmitted to the multifunction device 121. Processing to notify the control unit 1020 is performed.

The communication control unit 1020 controls set value synchronous communication with the multifunction machine 121.
When the communication processing unit 1022 receives the setting value update information from the multifunction machine 121, the control unit 1021 performs a process of notifying the setting data management unit 1010 of the setting value update information. In addition, when the communication processing unit 1022 receives a setting value difference data acquisition request from the multifunction device 121, the control unit 1021 acquires the setting value difference data of the multifunction device 121 from the setting data management unit 1010, and Processing for instructing the communication processing unit 1022 to transmit to the MFP 121 is performed.
The communication processing unit 1022 executes communication processing with the multifunction machine 121 described above.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an execution procedure of a process (server-side update process) of reflecting the set value update information received from the MFP 121 in the master data 401 in the set value synchronization process of the set value management server 110. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 203 of the setting value management server 110 reading and executing a program stored in the HDD 205 or the like.

  First, in step S1101, the communication processing unit 1022 determines whether or not the setting value update information (update request) transmitted from the multifunction machine 121 in S607 of FIG. 6 has been received. And when it determines with not having received (in the case of No in S1101), the communication process part 1022 repeats determination of S1101 until it receives.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1101 that the setting value update information has been received (Yes in S1101), the communication processing unit 1022 notifies the control unit 1021 that the setting value update information has been received, and the process proceeds to S1102. To do.

  In step S1102, the control unit 1021 first transmits the received setting value update information to the setting data management unit 1010, and requests update information reflection in the device common setting value DB 411 and the device individual setting value DB 413. Upon receiving this request, the setting data management unit 1010 reflects the received setting value update information in the device individual setting value DB 413 (413a in this embodiment) corresponding to the multifunction machine 121 that has transmitted the setting value management server 110. And the process proceeds to S1103.

  In step S <b> 1103, the setting data management unit 1010 determines whether the item to be synchronized is “individual only” for each setting value item included in the received setting value update information. When it is determined that the synchronization target is a setting value item of “individual only” (Yes in S1103), the setting data management unit 1010 ends the process of this flowchart.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the synchronization target is a setting value item of “can be shared” (No in S1103), the setting data management unit 1010 advances the process to S1104. In step S1104, the setting data management unit 1010 reflects the setting value whose synchronization target is “common” in the device common setting value DB 411, and advances the process to step S1105. In S1105, the setting data management unit 1010 converts the setting value reflected in the device common setting value DB 411 in S1104 to another multifunction device (a multifunction device different from the multifunction device 121 that received the setting value update request in S1101). In this embodiment, it is reflected in the device individual setting value DB 413 (413b in this embodiment) corresponding to the multifunction machine 122), and the processing of this flowchart ends.
As described above, the device setting value updated by the multifunction machine 121 is reflected in the setting value management server 110 by the processing procedure described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 11.

Next, a processing procedure for synchronizing the update data of the device individual setting value DB 413 updated on the setting value management server 110 with each corresponding multifunction peripheral will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the execution procedure of the setting value synchronization process (client side difference data acquisition process) of the multifunction machine 121 when the information of the device individual setting value DB 413 is updated on the setting value management server 110. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 302 of the multifunction peripheral 121 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 306.

  First, in step S <b> 1201, the timing management unit 522 determines whether it is time to acquire the difference data of the setting value from the setting value management server 110. This timing determination may be made based on whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous execution of this flowchart, or may be based on other determinations. For example, the determination may be made based on whether or not a specific time set in advance is reached. It may be determined that the timing is not the above when the state of the MFP 121 is any of the startup process, the shutdown process, and the job execution. Further, when the startup process or the shutdown process is being performed, it may be determined that the timing is not reached.

  If it is determined in S1201 that it is not time to acquire the difference data of the set value (No in S1201), the timing management unit 522 repeats the process of S1201 until the timing is reached.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S1201 that it is the timing at which the difference data of the set value should be acquired (Yes in S1201), the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 to that effect, and transitions to S1202. .

  In S <b> 1202, the control unit 521 first instructs the communication processing unit 523 to acquire setting value difference data from the setting value management server 110. Next, upon receiving this instruction, the communication processing unit 523 creates a setting value difference data acquisition request for the setting value management server 110 and transmits the setting value difference data acquisition request to the setting value management server 110 (difference data acquisition request processing). To do. It should be noted that in the setting value difference data acquisition request, in order for the setting value management server 110 to specify the difference data, the information on the previous execution time of the difference data acquisition request processing in S1202 is the difference data acquisition request for the current setting value. Shall be included. It is assumed that the previous execution time information is stored in the HDD 305 or the like, for example.

In S1203, the communication processing unit 523 receives the setting value difference data from the previous execution time of the difference data acquisition request processing in S1202 from the setting value management server 110, and notifies the control unit 1021 to that effect, and S1204. Transition to.
In step S1204, the control unit 521 first transmits setting value difference data to the setting data management unit 510. Then, the setting data management unit 510 that has received this reflects the difference data of the setting values received from the control unit 521 in the setting value DB 511, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

  13, the setting value management server 110 receives the setting value difference data acquisition request received as a result of the execution by the multifunction device 121 in S1202 of FIG. 12, and creates and transmits setting value difference data for the multifunction device 121. It is a flowchart which illustrates the procedure of the process (server side difference data transmission process) to perform. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 203 of the setting value management server 110 reading and executing a program stored in the HDD 205 or the like.

  First, in step S1301, the communication processing unit 1022 determines whether or not the setting value difference data acquisition request transmitted from the multifunction peripheral 121 in step S1202 of FIG. If it is determined that the difference data acquisition request for the set value has not been received (No in S1301), the communication processing unit 1022 repeats the process in S1301 until it is received.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that a difference data acquisition request for setting values has been received (Yes in S1301), the communication processing unit 1022 notifies the control unit 1021 to that effect, and proceeds to S1302.

  In step S <b> 1302, the control unit 1021 first requests the setting data management unit 1010 to acquire difference data of setting values to be transmitted to the multifunction machine 121. Next, the setting data management unit 1010 that has received this request, among the setting values included in the corresponding device individual setting value DB 413, has the update time included in the difference data acquisition request for the setting value received from the multifunction device 121. What is after the example time is acquired. Furthermore, the setting data management unit 1010 notifies the control unit 1021 of only the setting values whose management type is “edit / reference” among the acquired setting values as the difference data of the setting values, and the process proceeds to S1303. To do.

In step S1303, the control unit 1021 first instructs the communication processing unit 1022 to transmit the setting value difference data acquired in step S1302 to the multi-function peripheral 121. Next, upon receiving this instruction, the communication processing unit 1022 executes processing for transmitting difference data of setting values to the multifunction machine 121, and ends the processing of this flowchart.
As described above, the device setting values updated on the setting value management server 110 are acquired and synchronized by each multifunction device 121 by the processing procedure described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

<Specific example 1>
Hereinafter, the fact that the first problem among the above-described conventional problems is solved by the present invention will be described based on specific operations of the multi-function peripheral and setting value change examples.
An example will be described in which the multifunction device 121 is restarted after a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing license is input to the multifunction device 121 whose power state is in the normal state 802.

When the multifunction machine 121 is restarted, its power state transitions once to the power OFF state 804 and then transitions to 801 during startup processing. During the activation process 801, the value of “settings.pattern” in Table 7 is changed from the initial value “0” to “1” in accordance with the input of the tint block printing license. Along with this setting value update, the setting value synchronization client application 500 of the multifunction peripheral 121 starts the processing shown in FIG.
First, in step S <b> 601, the control unit 521 reads setting value update information received from the setting data management unit 510. Data read at this time is as shown in Table 11 below.

  In step S <b> 602, the control unit 521 transmits the setting value update information to the timing management unit 522, and inquires whether the update information can be immediately transmitted to the setting value management server 110. Receiving this, the timing management unit 522 determines whether an immediate update notification is possible. First, in step S <b> 701, the timing management unit 522 acquires the power state of the multifunction machine 121 from the power management unit 530. As a result, the timing management unit 522 receives information indicating that the activation process is in progress 801, and notifies the control unit 521 that it is impossible to immediately transmit the update information through S702 and S707 (immediate transmission is impossible). In response to this, the control unit 521 stores the setting value update information in the HDD 305 via S603 and S604, and the process proceeds to S605.

  Assume that the activation process of the multifunction peripheral 121 is completed while the timing management unit 522 waits for the elapse of a predetermined time in S605, and the power supply state transitions from the activation process in progress 801 to the normal state 802. Thereafter, after a predetermined time in S605 has elapsed, the setting value update information stored in the HDD 305 is read in S606, and the process proceeds to S602 again. After the subsequent S701 and S702, since the power state of the multifunction machine 121 is the normal state 802, the process proceeds to S703. Here, assuming that the job execution state of the multifunction machine 121 is the idle state 901, the process proceeds to S706 via S703 and S704. Subsequently, the timing management unit 522 determines that the update information can be immediately transmitted, notifies the control unit 521 to that effect (can be notified immediately), and passes through S603 and S607 to manage the set value update information as the set value management. Send to server 110. In step S608, the update information stored in the HDD 305 is deleted.

  The setting value management server 110 that has received the setting value update information from the multi-function peripheral 121 executes a process of reflecting the setting value update information in the master data 401 based on the procedure shown in FIG. After S1101, in the subsequent S1102, the received setting value update information is “settings.pattern” whose synchronization target is “individual only”, and thus the process proceeds to S1102. In step S1102, the process of reflecting the setting value update information with respect to the device individual setting value DB 413a corresponding to the multifunction machine 121 is executed.

By implementing the present invention as in the first specific example described above, even when the device setting value is updated on the multifunction device during the start processing or shutdown processing of the multifunction device, the update information is not immediately transmitted to the server. Can be controlled. As a result, it is possible to prevent the data transmission process to the server from affecting the time required to complete the start-up process and the shutdown process of the multifunction machine.
This is the end of the description of specific example 1.

<Specific example 2>
With the control method described in the first specific example, the first problem described above can be solved. Subsequently, it is shown that the second problem described above can be solved by implementing the present invention as in the second specific example different from the first specific example.

First, it is assumed that the power state of the multifunction peripheral 121 is in the normal state 802 and the job state is in the idle state 901. In this state, the user of the multifunction machine 121 uses the scanner 330 to copy a 100-page document. When execution of copying is started, the job status of the multifunction peripheral 121 changes to “job in progress” 902. When copying the first page of the 100-page document, “settings.copy_cur_page”, which is a setting value indicating the page number being copied, is updated from “0” to “1”. Along with this setting value update, the setting value synchronization client application 500 of the multifunction peripheral 121 operates, and processing based on the flowchart described in FIG. 6 is started.
In step S <b> 601, the control unit 521 reads the setting value update information received from the setting data management unit 510. The data read at this time is as shown in Table 12 below.

  In step S602, the control unit 521 transmits the information shown in Table 12 to the timing management unit, and inquires whether immediate transmission to the setting value management server 110 is possible. In step S <b> 701 after step S <b> 602, the timing management unit 522 first inquires the power management unit 530 about the current power state of the multifunction machine 121. Here, since the power supply state is the normal state 802, the determination in the subsequent S702 is No, and the process proceeds to S703. In step S <b> 703, the timing management unit 522 inquires the job management unit 540 about the current job execution state of the multifunction machine 121. Here, since the copy job is being executed, the timing management unit 522 is notified from the job management unit 540 that the job is being executed 902. As a result, the determination in S704 is Yes, and the process proceeds to S705. In step S <b> 705, the timing management unit 522 determines Yes because the management type of “settings.copy_cur_page” in the setting value update information illustrated in Table 12 is “reference only”. In subsequent S707, the timing management unit 522 notifies the control unit 521 that immediate transmission is impossible (immediate notification is impossible). The control unit 521 determines that the subsequent S603 is No, and repeats the steps S604, S605, S606, S602, and S603 in this order until the copy job of the multifunction machine 121 is completed. When the copying to the 100th page is completed and the job execution state of the multifunction peripheral 121 changes from the job execution state 902 to the idle state 901, the setting value update information stored in the device setting value management server application 1000 is shown in the table below. 13 is shown.

  Thereafter, the timing management unit 522 determines No in S704 because the job execution state of the multifunction machine 121 is the idle state 901, and in the subsequent S706, the control unit 521 indicates that immediate transmission is possible (immediate notification is possible). Notify Receiving this, the control unit 521 transmits the data shown in Table 13 as the setting value update information to the setting value management server 110 through S603, S607, and S608. Thereafter, the processing procedure in which the setting value management server 110 reflects the setting value update information of the multifunction machine 121 is the same as that described in the first specific example, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

A setting in which the management type is “reference only”, which is updated in the job operation of the multifunction device 121 by transmitting the setting value update information of the multifunction device 121 to the setting value management server 110 by the processing procedure as described above. With respect to values, the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced.
This is the end of the description of specific example 2.

<Specific example 3>
By implementing the control method described in the first specific example and the second specific example, the first problem and the second problem described above can be solved. Here, by implementing the present invention as in the specific example 3 different from these, the setting value to be synchronized with the other multifunction device can be immediately reflected on the server even while the multifunction device performs the job operation. Indicates that it will be possible to execute.

  First, similarly to the example described in the second specific example, it is assumed that the user of the multi-function peripheral 121 is executing a copy of a 100-page document using the scanner 330. Assume that the sleep time “settings.sleep_time” of the multifunction peripheral 121 is changed from “0” to “3600” during the copy process of the 66th page. The setting value update information stored in the device setting value management server application 1000 is as shown in Table 14 below.

  At this time, in step S <b> 704, the timing management unit 522 determines Yes because the current job execution state of the multifunction peripheral 121 is “job in progress 902”, and proceeds to step S <b> 705. In step S705, the timing management unit 522 reads the data of each setting value item of the setting value update information shown in Table 14, and determines the management type for each. As a result of the determination, since the management type of “settings.copy_cur_page” is “reference only”, it is determined Yes and the same processing as the procedure described in the specific example 2 is performed. On the other hand, since the management type of “settings.sleep_time” is “edit / reference”, it is determined as No and the process proceeds to S706. In step S708, the timing management unit 522 notifies the setting value update information shown in Table 15 below that immediate transmission to the setting value management server 110 is possible.

  Receiving this, the control unit 521 transmits the data shown in Table 15 as the setting value update information to the setting value management server 110 through S603, S607, and S608. In step S <b> 608, information on a portion related to “settings.sleep_time” (that is, data shown in Table 15) in the set value update information shown in Table 14 is deleted by the control unit 521.

  As a result of the setting value management server 110 receiving the setting value update information shown in Table 15, the device setting value management server application 1000 described with reference to FIG. 10 operates and starts the processing described with reference to FIG. In S1102 after S1101, the setting data management unit 1010 first reflects the setting value update information shown in Table 15 in the device individual setting value DB 413a corresponding to the multifunction machine 121. In subsequent S1103, the setting data management unit 1010 determines whether the synchronization target type of the setting value update information shown in Table 15 is “individual only”. As a result of the determination, the result is No, and the process proceeds to S1104. In subsequent S1104, the setting data management unit 1010 reflects the setting value update information shown in Table 15 on the device common setting value DB 411. In subsequent S1105, the setting data management unit 1010 reflects the information in the device individual setting value DB corresponding to the MFP different from the MFP 121 that is the setting value update request source. That is, in the system described with reference to FIG. 1, it is reflected in the device individual setting value DB 413 b corresponding to the multifunction machine 122. At this time, the device individual setting value DB 413b corresponding to the multifunction machine 122 is in the state shown in Table 16 below.

  Thereafter, in the multi-function peripheral 122, it is assumed that the timing management unit 522 of the multi-function peripheral 122 detects that the timing at which the difference data of the set values described in S1201 should be acquired from the set value management server 110. In subsequent S <b> 1202, the communication processing unit 523 transmits a setting value difference data acquisition request to the setting value management server 110 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 521. At this time, in the setting value difference data acquisition request created by the communication processing unit 523, the previous difference acquisition request is transmitted, and “2013/9/10/09: 40” is the time when the setting value difference data is reflected. Information is included. Upon receiving the setting value difference data acquisition request from the MFP 122, the setting value management server 110 executes the processing described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 1301, the communication processing unit 1023 receives a setting value difference data acquisition request from the multifunction peripheral 122, determines Yes, and proceeds to step S <b> 1302. In subsequent S1302, the control unit 1021 requests the setting data management unit 1010 to acquire difference data of setting values to be transmitted to the multifunction machine 122. Next, the setting data management unit 1010 that has received this update time from the time “2013/9/10/09: 40” included in the setting value difference data acquisition request in the device individual setting value DB 413b shown in Table 16. And setting items whose management type is “edit / reference” are extracted as difference data of setting values. The difference data of the extracted setting values is as shown in Table 17 below.

  Subsequently, the control unit 1021 that has received the instruction instructs the communication processing unit 1023 to transmit the difference data of the setting values shown in Table 17 to the multifunction machine 122. In response to this instruction, the communication processing unit 1023 executes transmission processing of difference data of setting values. Subsequently, in S1203 of the MFP 122, the difference data of the setting values shown in Table 17 is received, and is reflected in the setting value DB 511 of the MFP 122 through S1204.

  By implementing the present invention as in the third specific example described above, the setting value to be synchronized with another multifunction device is synchronized with the immediate server even when the multifunction device whose setting value has been updated is executing a job. And can synchronize with other multifunction devices as soon as possible.

  In the second embodiment, when the setting value is changed on the MFP, even if the setting value cannot be synchronized due to a network communication failure with the setting value management server 110, the present invention can be used to correctly synchronize after the network recovery. The structure which can perform a process is shown. Note that the description of the same system configuration, hardware configuration, software configuration, data structure, and processing procedure as those described in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating state transitions that indicate whether communication with the network 307 of the multifunction peripheral 121 according to the second embodiment is possible.
The normal state 1401 indicates a state in which the network 307 is operating normally, the network 100 and the network 207 of the setting value management server 110 are operating normally, and communication with the setting value management server 110 is possible. Here, when the network 100 is disconnected due to some cause such as a failure of the network 100, the communication error state 1402 is entered. In the communication error state 1402, the setting value synchronization processing between the multifunction machine 121 and the setting value management server 110 cannot be executed. When the disconnection factor of the network 100 is removed, the state transits to the normal state 1401 again.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating details of an execution procedure of the determination process in S602 of FIG. 6 according to the second embodiment. The execution procedure (each step) of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 302 of the multifunction peripheral 121 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 306. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the step same as FIG. Further, steps other than S1501 and S1502 shown in FIG. 15 are the same as the steps described in FIG.

In S702, when the timing management unit 522 determines that the power state is neither the startup process 801 nor the shutdown process 803 (that is, the normal state 802) (No in S702), the process proceeds to Step S1501.
In step S <b> 1501, the timing management unit 522 obtains the communication processing unit 523 through the control unit 521 by inquiring about the communication availability state of the MFP 121 at that time.

  In step S1502, the timing management unit 522 determines whether a communication error is occurring based on the network communication availability state acquired in step S1501. If it is determined that the normal state 1401 (that is, no communication error is occurring) (No in S1502), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S703.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1502 that the communication error state 1402 (that is, a communication error is occurring) (Yes in S1502), the timing management unit 522 advances the process to S707. Thereafter, through S707 and S604, the setting value update information regarding the setting value updated at the time of the communication error is stored in the setting value DB 511. Thereafter, when the communication error state 1402 of the multifunction peripheral 121 is canceled and the state transitions to the normal state 1401, the setting value update information stored in the setting value DB 511 until that time is changed to the setting value according to the procedure described above. It is transmitted to the management server 110.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to execute the setting value synchronization process with the server in the procedure for dealing with the first problem and the second problem described above even when a network communication failure occurs. Become.

  In S1201 of FIG. 12, even when the communication state between the MFP 121 and the setting value management server 110 is a communication error, the above-described setting value difference data should be acquired from the setting value management server 110. It may be determined that it is not timing.

  As described above, it is possible to reduce the influence of the setting value synchronization processing on the operation of the information processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, and to reduce the total amount of network traffic in the synchronization processing. Therefore, a setting value synchronization system (management system) that solves the first problem and the second problem described above can be constructed.

It should be noted that the configuration and contents of the various data described above are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the various data and configurations are configured according to the application and purpose.
Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.
Moreover, all the structures which combined said each Example are also contained in this invention.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.
Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not. That is, the present invention includes all the combinations of the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof.

110 Setting value management server 121, 122 MFP 401 Master data 500 Setting value synchronization client application 511 Setting value DB
1000 Device setting value management server application

Claims (13)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a management apparatus that manages setting values of the information processing apparatus via a network,
Management means for managing setting values of the information processing apparatus;
A transmission unit configured to transmit update information of the updated setting value to the management device when the setting value managed by the management unit is updated;
Control means for delaying transmission of the update information by the transmission means in accordance with the state of the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit postpones transmission of the update information when the start process or the shutdown process is being performed.   When the setting means updates the setting value again before transmitting the setting value update information, the transmitting unit transmits a plurality of pieces of update information related to the setting value when transmitting the setting value update information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein update information obtained by integrating the information is transmitted. The set value includes information indicating whether or not the set value is a target to be synchronized with another information processing apparatus,
The control unit defers transmission of update information of the setting value when the updated setting value is not a target to be synchronized with the other information processing apparatus when a job is being executed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the control unit postpones transmission of the update information when communication with the management apparatus is impossible. 5. apparatus.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflection unit that acquires a setting value changed in the management device from the management device and reflects the acquired setting value in a setting value managed by the management unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A management system in which a plurality of information processing devices and a management device that manages setting values of the plurality of information processing devices can communicate via a network,
Each of the information processing devices
Management means for managing setting values of the information processing apparatus;
A transmission unit configured to transmit update information of the updated setting value to the management device when the setting value managed by the management unit is updated;
Control means for delaying transmission of the update information by the transmission means in accordance with the state of the information processing apparatus,
The control system postpones transmission of the update information when the control unit is in a startup process or a shutdown process. The set value includes information indicating whether or not the set value is a target to be synchronized with another information processing apparatus,
The control unit defers transmission of update information of the setting value when the updated setting value is not a target to be synchronized with the other information processing apparatus when a job is being executed. The management system according to claim 7. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a management apparatus that manages setting values of the information processing apparatus via a network,
A transmission step of transmitting update information of the updated setting value to the management device when the setting value of the information processing device managed by the information processing device is updated;
A control step of delaying transmission of the update information by the transmission step according to the state of the information processing device,
The information processing apparatus control method according to claim 1, wherein the control step includes postponing transmission of the update information when the startup process or the shutdown process is being performed. The set value includes information indicating whether or not the set value is a target to be synchronized with another information processing apparatus,
The control step is characterized in that, when a job is being executed, if the updated setting value is not a target to be synchronized with the other information processing apparatus, transmission of the setting value update information is postponed. The control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 9. A control method of a management system in which a plurality of information processing devices and a management device that manages setting values of the plurality of information processing devices can communicate via a network,
Each of the information processing devices executes,
A transmission step of transmitting update information of the updated setting value to the management device when the setting value of the information processing device managed by the information processing device is updated;
A control step of delaying transmission of the update information by the transmission step according to the state of the information processing device,
A control method for a management system, wherein the control step postpones transmission of the update information when the startup process or the shutdown process is in progress. The set value includes information indicating whether or not the set value is a target to be synchronized with another information processing apparatus,
The control step is characterized in that, when a job is being executed, if the updated setting value is not a target to be synchronized with the other information processing apparatus, transmission of the setting value update information is postponed. The control method of the management system of Claim 11.   The program for functioning a computer as a means as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6.

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