JP6672591B2 - Information processing apparatus, service receiving method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for receiving a service such as a so-called cloud service.

  Conventionally, services such as online storage, schedule management, and Web mail are provided via the Internet. These services are provided by a so-called cloud server, and are generally called “cloud services”.

  The user can receive the service by operating the terminal device. Depending on the service, a web browser and / or a dedicated application may be selectively used. Which one to use may be different each time.

  When using a web browser, the user accesses the service website. As long as a web browser that satisfies the predetermined requirements is provided, the platform of the terminal device does not matter, so that the versatility is high. However, since the resolution is used in various terminal devices, the usability of the screen may be poor depending on the terminal device.

  On the other hand, since the screen design of a dedicated application is designed for each platform in accordance with the characteristics thereof, the usability is often better than when a web browser is used. In addition, functions that are difficult to realize with a web browser can be installed. However, the service provider must create an application for each platform, which imposes a heavy burden.

  In recent years, a web browser has also been provided in an image forming apparatus such as a “multifunction peripheral” or “MFP (Multi Function Peripherals)”, which is provided with functions such as copying, printing, and facsimile. Thus, the service can be received by the image forming apparatus.

  If the service provider publishes a service Web API (Application Program Interface), the maker of the image forming apparatus can create a dedicated application and provide it to the user. Depending on the environment of the organization (for example, a company) where the image forming apparatus is installed, a custom-made dedicated application can be provided to the user.

  In addition, the following method has been proposed as a method of providing a service or the like by a web browser.

  According to the method described in Patent Document 1, the content change registration program is called at the time of content change, and records a change history record in the content change management table. The content change reference program is called by the WWW server program when the requested content is not found in the content, refers to the content change management table, converts the specified URL into a moved URL, and returns the URL to the WWW server program. . If the specified URL has been deleted, the URL of the content displaying the deletion message is returned to the WWW server program.

  According to the method described in Patent Literature 2, a URL analysis process that determines whether a URL of a Web site to be accessed is registered in advance, and the URL is registered in advance as a result of the URL analysis process In this case, the line connection with the provider server by the provider line is automatically switched to the line connection with the Web site by the automatic ringing billing service line, and the Web site is connected to the user terminal by using the URL. And executing a homepage transmission process of transmitting homepage information on which the designated product information is posted via an automatic incoming call charging service line.

JP-A-2002-140224 JP-A-2002-232589

  Service providers often want users to use dedicated applications rather than web browsers for ease of use.

  Therefore, when you access the service's website using a web browser, a message is displayed indicating that a dedicated application is provided, and the web browser is moved to the web page for downloading it, The service provider prepares a mechanism for starting the service.

  Then, the user appropriately downloads the dedicated application and installs it on the terminal device.

  However, this mechanism cannot be applied unless a dedicated application is provided by a service provider. This is because the web site of the service provider does not guide a web page for downloading the dedicated application created by the maker of the image forming apparatus. In particular, custom-made dedicated applications are often not published on the Internet, and this mechanism cannot be applied. Even if the methods described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are used, access to a dedicated application cannot be facilitated.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention makes it easier for a user to access a dedicated application even when a dedicated application for the service is provided by a service provider other than the service provider. That is the purpose.

An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus having a function of acquiring and displaying a web page for receiving a service, wherein the web page corresponds to an application for receiving the service. Storage means for storing correspondence data indicating that, when the web page is specified, the notifying means for notifying that the application corresponding to the web page exists; If the application is selected after the notification of the application, the application is started based on the correspondence data instead of displaying the web page, and if the web page is selected after the notification, The web browser instead of launching the application. To access the Bupeji, having a service access unit.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores, as the correspondence data, data in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page is associated with an identifier of the application, and the service access unit receives the URL. Then, the application is started.

  Alternatively, there is provided a registration unit for registering the correspondence data in the storage unit when installing the application in the information processing apparatus.

  Alternatively, the storage unit further stores, for each user, selection data indicating which of the application and the web page has been selected by the user, and the service access unit uses the information processing apparatus. If the selection data of the user is stored in the storage unit, the application is started or the web browser accesses the web page according to the selection data.

  Alternatively, when the application is started without depending on the service access unit, if the correspondence data between the application and the web page is not stored in the storage unit, the correspondence data is stored in the storage unit. And a second registration unit for storing the information in the second registration unit.

  According to the present invention, even when a dedicated application for a service is provided by a service provider other than the service provider, it is possible to make the user's access to the dedicated application easier than ever.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a network system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of service attribute data. It is a figure which shows the example of notification necessity data. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of an initial registration process. It is a figure showing an example of a tool selection screen. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of the process at the time of URL input. It is a figure showing an example of a will reconfirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a notification necessity selection screen. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a process at the time of application startup. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a process at the time of application startup. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of the whole process for receiving the service of a web server.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the network system 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 4 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a plurality of web servers 2, a communication line 3, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus 1 and each web server 2 can communicate via the communication line 3. As the communication line 3, the Internet, a public line, a so-called LAN (Local Area Network) line, or the like is used.

  The web server 2 provides services such as online storage, schedule management, and Web mail. These services are commonly referred to as "cloud services." Cloud services include Google Drive and G-Mail from Google, Evernote from Evernote, and OneDrive from Microsoft. The web server 2 is generally called a “cloud server”.

  In the present embodiment, each web server 2 provides a different service. One web server 2 may provide a plurality of services.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an image processing apparatus generally called a multifunction peripheral or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals), and is an apparatus in which functions such as copy, print, fax, document server, and e-mail are integrated.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is shared by a plurality of users. A unique user identifier such as “USER_A”, “USER_B”,... Is given to each user. The user can use the image forming apparatus 1 after logging in to the image forming apparatus 1 with his / her user identifier.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10a, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10b, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10c, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 10d, and an auxiliary storage device. 10e, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 10f, a modem 10g, a card interface 10h, a touch panel display 10i, an operation key panel 10j, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 10k, a scanner 10m, a paper feed unit 10n, a printer 10p, and the like. .

  The NIC 10f communicates with the web server 2 and the like using a protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

  The modem 10g converts digital image data into an analog signal and transmits the analog signal to the fax terminal, or converts an analog signal received from the fax terminal into image data.

  The card interface 10h reads data from a portable recording medium such as a memory card and writes data on the recording medium.

  Touch panel display 10i displays a screen showing a message to the user, a screen for the user to input a command or information, a screen showing the result of processing executed by CPU 10a, and the like. Also, the touch panel display 10i sends a signal indicating the touched position to the CPU 10a.

  The operation key panel 10j is a so-called hardware keyboard, and includes ten keys, a start key, a stop key, a function key, and the like.

  The ADF 10k conveys the paper set at a predetermined position to the scanner 10m. When a plurality of sheets are set, they are conveyed one by one.

  The scanner 10m reads an image written on a sheet set on a platen glass or a sheet conveyed by the ADF 10k to generate image data.

  The paper feed unit 10n is configured by a paper feed tray, a transport mechanism, and the like. Blank paper is stocked in the paper feed tray. The transport mechanism transports blank sheets one by one from the paper feed tray to the printer 10p.

  The printer 10p prints not only the image read by the scanner 10m but also the image indicated by the image data received from another device on a blank sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 10n.

  The ROM 10c, the EEPROM 10d, or the auxiliary storage device 10e stores programs and data for implementing the above-described functions such as copying.

  The web browser 13 is stored in the EEPROM 10d or the auxiliary storage device 10e.

  Furthermore, a dedicated application (hereinafter, referred to as “dedicated application 14”) for receiving the service of the web server 2 using the image forming apparatus 1 as a client can be installed in the EEPROM 10d or the auxiliary storage device 10e. . The dedicated application 14 is not executed on the web browser 13, but is executed independently of the web browser 13.

  The dedicated application 14 is provided by a provider (service provider) for each service. The dedicated application 14 is described in conformity with a service Web API (Application Program Interface). When the provider publishes the Web API, the maker of the image forming apparatus 1 can independently create and provide the dedicated application 14.

  Hereinafter, each dedicated application 14 may be separately described as “dedicated application 141”, “dedicated application 142”,.

  Further, for each service, a website for the user to receive the service is prepared in the web server 2 that provides the service. The user can receive the service by accessing the website using the web browser 13 instead of the dedicated application 14.

  One website is prepared for one service. In addition, one dedicated application 14 may be used for only one service, or may be used commonly for a plurality of services.

  Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the dedicated application 141 is used for two services, the service S0 and the service S1, the dedicated application 142 is used only for the service S2, and the dedicated application 143 is used only for the service S3.

  In the EEPROM 10d or the auxiliary storage device 10e, an initial registration unit 101, a correspondence storage unit 102, a notification necessity storage unit 103, a first registration screen display unit 107, a first use necessity registration unit 108 shown in FIG. The functions of the service use start processing unit 109, the appropriateness determination unit 121, the intention reconfirmation screen display unit 122, the second registration screen display unit 123, the second use necessity registration unit 124, and the notification necessity update unit 125 are realized. A program for performing the operation.

  These functions may be realized by one program, or may be realized by a plurality of programs and files.

  For example, the initial registration unit 101 is realized by an installer of the dedicated application 14, and the correspondence relationship storage unit 102 and the notification necessity storage unit 103 are realized by CSV (Comma Separated Value) format files, respectively. The unit 107 or the service use start processing unit 109 may be realized by a program for extending the web browser 13 (for example, an add-in), and the appropriateness determination unit 121 or the notification necessity update unit 125 may be realized as a resident program. The functions of the first registration screen display unit 107 to the service use start processing unit 109 may be provided as standard functions of the web browser 13.

  The programs listed above are loaded into the RAM 10b and executed by the CPU 10a.

  Next, each unit shown in FIG. 3 will be described focusing on the process of selectively using the web browser 13 and the dedicated application 14 in the image forming apparatus 1.

[Preparation]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the service attribute data 5A. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the notification necessity data 5B. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the initial registration process.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the service storage unit 102 stores service attribute data 5A for each service.

  The service attribute data 5A includes the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the top page of the website of the corresponding service, the identifier of the dedicated application 14 of the service (hereinafter, referred to as “application identifier”), and the user. The intention to use is indicated.

  The “application identifier” is, for example, a file name of the dedicated application 14.

  “Intention to use” is an intention of the user to use the dedicated application 14 or not. “Use” means that the dedicated application 14 is used. “Not used” means that the dedicated application 14 is not used and the web browser 13 is used instead. “Undecided” means that it is not yet decided which of the web browser 13 and the dedicated application 14 to use.

  At the time when no dedicated application 14 is installed, no service attribute data 5A is stored in the correspondence storage unit 102. The generation and registration of the service attribute data 5A will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the notification necessity data 5B for each service is stored in the notification necessity storage unit 103.

  The notification necessity data 5B indicates the URL of the website top page of the corresponding service, the application identifier of the dedicated application 14 of the service, and the notification necessity of each user. “Notification necessity” indicates the necessity of displaying a notification necessity selection screen 62 described later.

  The service attribute data 5A and the notification necessity data 5B are registered in the correspondence storage unit 102 by the initial registration unit 101 in the procedure shown in FIG. 6 when the dedicated application 14 is installed.

  Here, a procedure for registering the service attribute data 5A and the notification necessity data 5B will be described.

  The initial registration unit 101 checks whether there is a website corresponding to the service in which the dedicated application 14 is used (# 701 in FIG. 6). The confirmation can be performed, for example, as follows.

  The installer of the dedicated application 14 is designed so that the URL of the top page of the website is written in a predetermined file as a part of the installation process. Then, the initial registration unit 101 checks whether or not there is a website based on the predetermined file.

  If there is a corresponding website (Yes in # 702), the initial registration unit 101 generates the service identifier data 5A indicating the application identifier of the dedicated application 14, the URL of the website, and the intention to use for each user. Is stored in the correspondence storage unit 102 (# 703). At this point, any user's intention to use is “undecided”.

  Furthermore, the initial registration unit 101 generates the application identifier of the dedicated application 14, the URL of the website, and the notification necessity data 5B indicating the necessity of notification for each user, and stores the notification necessity data 5B in the notification necessity storage unit 103 ( # 704). At this point, it is "necessary" whether or not the notification of any user is necessary.

  If there are a plurality of corresponding websites, the initial registration unit 101 generates service attribute data 5A and notification necessity data 5B for each website, and stores them in the correspondence storage unit 102 and the notification necessity storage unit 103, respectively. Let it. For example, the dedicated application 141 is used for the two services S0 and S1 as described above, so that there are two corresponding websites. Therefore, service attribute data 5A (5A1, 5A2) is generated for each of service S0 and service S1, and stored in correspondence storage unit 102, and notification necessity data 5B (5B1, 5B2) is generated and notification necessity storage unit 103 is generated. Remember.

  When the initial registration unit 101 is realized by the installer, the service attribute data 5A is written into the correspondence storage unit 102 and the notification necessity data 5B is transmitted to the notification necessity storage unit 103 without performing the confirmation process in step # 701. You just need to design the installer to write to the.

  Similarly, the service attribute data 5A (5A3, 5A4) and the notification necessity data 5B (5B1, 5B2) of the services S2, S3,... Are registered by the above-described processing when the dedicated application 14 is installed.

[When trying to use the service with the web browser 13]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the tool selection screen 61. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a URL input process.

  If there is a service that the user wants to use, the user inputs the URL of the website of the service to the image forming apparatus 1. When the first registration screen display unit 107 or the service use start processing unit 109 is realized by a program for extending the web browser 13, the user activates the web browser 13 and sends the URL to the web browser 13. input. Hereinafter, this case will be described as an example.

  The input of the URL may be performed by operating the software keyboard or the operation key panel 10j displayed on the touch panel display 10i and typing each character constituting the URL. Alternatively, it may be performed by touching the hyperlink of the URL. Alternatively, it may be performed by selecting from a bookmark (favorite) of the web browser 13.

  The first registration screen display unit 107 displays the tool selection screen 61 shown in FIG. 7 on the touch panel display 10i. How to use the tool selection screen 61 will be described later.

  The first use necessity registration unit 108 performs a process of registering whether to use the dedicated application 14 in the service attribute data 5A (see FIG. 4).

  The service use start processing unit 109 causes the web browser 13 or the dedicated application 14 to start using the service.

  The processing of the first registration screen display unit 107 to the service use start processing unit 109 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  When a URL is input (# 711 in FIG. 8), processing is performed as follows. The service attribute data 5A indicating the URL is stored in the correspondence storage unit 102 (Yes in # 712), but if the service attribute data 5A indicates "use" as the user's intention to use (# 713). (Yes in # 714), the service use start processing unit 109 activates the dedicated application 14 of the application identifier indicated in the service attribute data 5A, and terminates the web browser 13 (# 719). Then, the user starts using the service by the dedicated application 14.

  Alternatively, if the service attribute data 5A indicates “not used” as the intention of the user (Yes in # 713, No in # 714), the service use start processing unit 109 accesses the web page of the URL. Then, the web page is displayed on the touch panel display 10i by the web browser 13 (# 720). Then, the user starts using the service by the website.

  Alternatively, when “undecided” is indicated as the user's intention to use in the service attribute data 5A (No in # 713), the first registration screen display unit 107 displays the tool selection screen 61 (see FIG. 7) on the touch panel. It is displayed on the display 10i.

  Here, when the user wants to use the service by the dedicated application 14, the user touches the radio button 61a to select it. Alternatively, if the user wants to use the website, the user touches the radio button 61b to select it. Further, in the case of following the current selection, the user touches the check box 61c to turn it on. Then, the execution button 61d is touched.

  Then, if the check box 61c is turned on (Yes in # 716), the first use necessity registration unit 108 sets the value of the user's intention to use indicated in the service attribute data 5A as follows. (# 717). When the radio button 61a is selected, it is updated to "use". Thereby, for this user, the dedicated application 14 is associated with the website. When the radio button 61b is selected, it is updated to “not used”. As a result, the dedicated application 14 is not associated with the website for the user. That is, activation of the dedicated application 14 from the URL is invalidated.

  Then, when the radio button 61a is selected (Yes in 718), the service use start processing unit 109 activates the dedicated application 14 of the application identifier indicated in the service attribute data 5A, and terminates the web browser 13 ( # 719). On the other hand, when the radio button 61b is selected (No in # 718), the web page of the URL is accessed, and the web page is displayed on the touch panel display 10i by the web browser 13 (# 720).

[When an attempt is made to use the service by the dedicated application 14]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the intention reconfirmation screen 63. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the notification necessity selection screen 62. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts for explaining an example of the flow of the process at the time of starting the application.

  As described above, the user can start the dedicated application 14 from the web browser 13 and use the service, but can also start the dedicated application 14 directly.

  As described above, the service attribute data 5A (see FIG. 4) of a service is registered in the correspondence storage unit 102 by the initial registration unit 101 when the dedicated application 14 of the service is installed.

  However, the user may activate the dedicated application 14 without relying on the service use start processing unit 109 (that is, directly) before accessing the website of the service by the web browser 13.

  Further, although the user has selected on the tool selection screen 61 (see FIG. 7) that the dedicated application 14 is not to be used (not used), the dedicated application 14 may be directly started thereafter. In this case, it is considered that the user wants to use the dedicated application 14. Alternatively, it is considered that the user wants to use the dedicated application 14 and the website properly.

  Further, there are cases where the service attribute data 5A has not been successfully registered in the correspondence storage unit 102, and cases where the service attribute data 5A has been deleted or invalidated from the correspondence storage unit 102 after registration.

  In view of these circumstances, the appropriateness determination unit 121, the intention reconfirmation screen display unit 122, the second registration screen display unit 123, the second use necessity registration unit 124, and the notification necessity update unit 125 are provided with service attribute data. 5A is re-registered or updated.

  The suitability determining unit 121 determines whether or not the contents of the service attribute data 5A are appropriate. The intention reconfirmation screen display unit 122 displays the intention reconfirmation screen 63 shown in FIG. 9 on the touch panel display 10i. The second registration screen display unit 123 displays the notification necessity selection screen 62 shown in FIG. 10 on the touch panel display 10i.

  The second use necessity registration unit 124 newly generates the service attribute data 5A or updates the existing service attribute data 5A. The notification necessity update unit 125 updates the notification necessity data 5B.

  Specifically, the appropriateness determination unit 121 or the notification necessity update unit 125 performs processing according to the procedures shown in FIGS. 11 to 12 when the dedicated application 14 is activated.

  When a certain user directly starts a certain dedicated application 14, the appropriateness determination unit 121 determines the appropriateness of the service attribute data 5A of the dedicated application 14 (# 731 in FIG. 11).

  Specifically, the appropriateness determination unit 121 checks whether there is service attribute data 5A indicating the application identifier of the dedicated application 14, and further checks whether the URL is indicated in the service attribute data 5A. If the URL is indicated, it is determined that the service attribute data 5A is appropriate. If the service attribute data 5A does not exist and no URL is indicated, it is determined that the service attribute data is inappropriate.

  If it is determined that the user is appropriate (Yes in # 732), "not used" or "undecided" is indicated in the service attribute data 5A as the value of the user's intention to use (Yes in # 733), and When “necessary” is indicated as the notification necessity value of the user in the notification necessity data 5B (see FIG. 5) of the dedicated application 14 (Yes in # 734), the intention reconfirmation screen display unit 122 displays The reconfirmation screen 63 is displayed (# 735).

  That is, if the URL is associated with the dedicated application 14 and the user has previously selected not to use the dedicated application 14 on the tool selection screen 61 (see FIG. 7), the intention reconfirmation screen is displayed. 63 is displayed. However, since there is a possibility that the website and the dedicated application 14 are used properly, the display is made only when the notification necessity of the user indicates “necessary”.

  Here, the user operates as follows. If the user wants to exclusively use the dedicated application 14 without using the website of the URL in the future, the user selects the radio button 63a by touching it. When it is desired to use both, the radio button 63b is touched to select. At this time, if the user does not want to determine, touch the radio button 63c to select it. Then, the execution button 63d is touched.

  Then, the second use necessity registration unit 124 and the notification necessity update unit 125 perform the following processing.

  If the radio button 63a is selected (No in # 736, Yes in # 737), the second use necessity registration unit 124 stores the service attribute data 5A in the value of the user's intention to use "use". (# 738).

  Alternatively, when the radio button 63b is selected (No in # 736, No in # 737), the second use necessity registration unit 124 stores the service attribute data 5A and the value of the user's intention to use "5. It is updated so as to be “unused” (# 739). If the value is “unused”, step # 739 is skipped.

  Then, regardless of which of the radio button 63a and the radio button 63b is selected, the notification necessity update unit 125 sets the value of the notification necessity of the user in the notification necessity data 5B of the dedicated application 14 to “unnecessary”. (# 740). As a result, the intention reconfirmation screen 63 is not displayed when the user activates the dedicated application 14 next time.

  Alternatively, if the radio button 63c is selected (Yes in # 736), neither the service attribute data 5A nor the notification necessity data 5B is updated.

  Similarly, when the notification necessity value of the user is “unnecessary” (No in # 734), neither the service attribute data 5A nor the notification necessity data 5B is updated.

  On the other hand, when the appropriateness determination unit 121 determines that the service attribute data 5A is inappropriate (No in # 732), the second registration screen display unit 123 determines whether there is a website corresponding to the dedicated application 14. Is confirmed (# 741 in FIG. 12). For example, if a predetermined file (for example, a setting file of the dedicated application 14) has a URL, it may be determined that there is a website.

  Then, the second registration screen display unit 123 can confirm that there is a website (Yes in # 742), and, in the notification necessity data 5 B of the dedicated application 14, the “necessity of notification” of the user is displayed. When “necessary” is indicated as the value (Yes in # 743), the notification necessity selection screen 62 is displayed (# 744).

  Here, when the user wants to associate the URL with the dedicated application 14, the user touches the button 62a and selects that. If the user does not want to associate, the user touches the button 62b and selects that. To suspend the selection this time, touch the button 62c.

  When the button 62a or the button 62b is touched (No in # 745), the second use necessity registration unit 124 performs a process of registering the URL and the dedicated application 14 (# 746).

  Specifically, when the service attribute data 5A indicating the URL is already stored in the correspondence storage unit 102, the second use necessity registration unit 124 indicates the application identifier of the dedicated application 14. The service attribute data 5A is updated. If the service attribute data 5A indicating the URL is not yet stored in the initial registration unit 101, the service attribute data 5A indicating the URL and the application identifier of the dedicated application 14 is generated and stored in the correspondence storage unit 102. .

  Thereby, the association between the URL and the dedicated application 14 is completed. Subsequently, the association process for the user is performed as follows.

  When the button 62a is touched (Yes in # 747), the updated or generated service attribute data 5A is updated so that the value of the user's intention to use becomes "use" (# 748).

  Alternatively, when the button 62b is touched (No in # 747), the service attribute data 5A is updated so that the value of the user's intention to use becomes "unused" (# 749).

  Then, even when one of the button 62a and the button 62b is touched, the notification necessity update unit 125 updates the value of the notification necessity of the user in the notification necessity data 5B of the dedicated application 14 to “unnecessary”. (# 750). As a result, when the user activates the dedicated application 14 next time, the notification necessity selection screen 62 is not displayed.

  Alternatively, when the radio button 62c is selected (Yes in # 745), neither the update of the service attribute data 5A, the generation of the service attribute data 5A, nor the update of the notification necessity data 5B is performed. However, in order to effectively utilize the result of the process in step # 741, the process in step # 746 may be performed. The same applies to the case where “unnecessary” is indicated as the value of “notification necessity” for the user (No in # 743).

  In step # 731 of FIG. 11, a plurality of service attribute data 5A may be found in one dedicated application 14. In this case, the processing of steps # 732 to # 750 is executed for each piece of service attribute data 5A. In addition, a plurality of URLs may be found in step # 741 in FIG. In this case, the processing of steps # 742 to # 750 is executed for each URL.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow for receiving the service of the web server 2.

  The image forming apparatus 1 executes the processing illustrated in FIG. 13 in response to a user operation or an event in the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the dedicated application 14 is newly installed (Yes in # 761), the image forming apparatus 1 executes a process of registering the service attribute data 5A and the notification necessity data 5B of the dedicated application 14 (# 762). . The procedure of this process is as described above with reference to FIG.

  Alternatively, when the user inputs a URL (Yes in # 763), the image forming apparatus 1 accesses the web page of the URL by using the web browser 13 or the dedicated application 14 based on the service attribute data 5A of the user. Is started (# 764). This is as described in FIG.

  Alternatively, when the user activates the dedicated application 14 without going through the web browser 13 (Yes in # 765), a process for checking and associating the dedicated application 14 with the URL is performed (# 766). The details of this processing are as described in FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, after the installation of the dedicated application 14 on the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to notify the user of the presence of the dedicated application 14 regardless of which user attempts to access the corresponding website. it can. Therefore, even when the dedicated application 14 is provided by a service provider other than the service provider, it is possible to make it easier for the user to access the dedicated application 14 than before. In particular, the present embodiment is suitably used in an environment in which the dedicated application 14 cannot be installed by an administrator or an environment shared by a plurality of users.

  In the present embodiment, whether or not to display the notification necessity selection screen 62 and the intention reconfirmation screen 63 is determined based on common notification necessity data (see FIG. 5). The necessity data may be prepared, and the determination may be performed.

  In the tool selection screen 61 (see FIG. 7), the notification necessity selection screen 62 (see FIG. 10), and the intention reconfirmation screen 63 (see FIG. 9), even if a description describing the dedicated application 14 for processing is arranged. Good. The description may be described in a predetermined file of the dedicated application 14 in advance. For example, at the time of installation, a file indicating a description may be stored in a predetermined folder.

  When the dedicated application 14 is uninstalled from the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 sets the service attribute data 5A (see FIG. 4) indicating the application identifier of the dedicated application 14 and the notification necessity data 5B (see FIG. 5). ) May be deleted from the correspondence storage unit 102 and the notification necessity storage unit 103, respectively.

  When the URL of the top page of the website is changed, the image forming apparatus 1 updates the URL of the service attribute data 5A and the notification necessity data 5B corresponding to the URL. In addition, the shortcut and the bookmark of the web browser 13 are similarly updated.

  The service attribute data 5A and the notification necessity data 5B may be updated or deleted by a user having administrator authority by operating the touch panel display 10i or the operation key panel 10j.

  In addition, the configuration of the entire network system 4 and the image forming apparatus 1 or each unit, processing contents, processing order, screen configuration, data configuration, and the like can be appropriately changed in accordance with the gist of the present invention.

1 Image forming device (information processing device)
101 Initial Registration Unit (Registration Means)
102 Correspondence storage unit (storage means)
107 First registration screen display (notification means)
109 Service use start processing unit (service access means)
124 second use necessity registration part (second registration means)
13 Web browser 14 Dedicated application 5A Service attribute data (correspondence data)

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus having a function of acquiring and displaying a web page for receiving a service,
Storage means for storing correspondence data indicating that the web page and the application for receiving the service correspond to each other;
When the web page is specified, a notification unit that notifies that the application corresponding to the web page exists,
If the application is selected after the notification of the application corresponding to the web page, the application is activated based on the correspondence data instead of displaying the web page, and the web page is displayed after the notification. If is selected, a service access means for allowing a web browser to access the web page instead of launching the application ;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The storage unit further stores, for each user, selection data indicating which of the application and the web page has been selected by the user,
The service access unit, when the selection data of the user using the information processing apparatus is stored in the storage unit, starts the application according to the selection data or sends the web page to the web browser. Access,
The information processing device according to claim 1. The storage unit stores, as the correspondence data, data in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page is associated with an identifier of the application,
The service access unit activates the application when the URL is input;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 . When installing the application in the information processing device, the correspondence data is registered in the storage unit, and a registration unit is provided.
Claims 1 information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3. When the application is activated without depending on the service access unit, if the correspondence data between the application and the web page is not stored in the storage unit, the correspondence data is stored in the storage unit. Having a second registration means,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A method for enjoying a service in an information processing apparatus having a function of acquiring and displaying a web page for receiving a service,
Correspondence data indicating that the web page corresponds to the application for receiving the service is stored in storage means,
When the web page is specified, it notifies that the application corresponding to the web page exists,
If the application is selected after the notification of the application corresponding to the web page, the application is activated based on the correspondence data instead of displaying the web page, and the web page is displayed after the notification. If is selected, let the web browser access the web page instead of launching the application,
A service receiving method characterized by the following. In the storage unit, further, for each user, storing selection data indicating which of the application and the web page the user has selected,
If the selection data of the user using the information processing device is stored in the storage unit, start the application according to the selection data or let the web browser access the web page,
A service receiving method according to claim 6. A computer program used for a computer having a function of acquiring and displaying a web page for receiving a service,
On the computer,
Causing the storage unit to execute a process of storing correspondence data indicating that the web page and the application for receiving the service correspond to each other,
When the web page is specified, the notification that the application corresponding to the web page exists is executed,
If the application is selected after the notification of the application corresponding to the web page, the application is activated based on the correspondence data instead of displaying the web page, and the web page is displayed after the notification. If is selected, the web page is accessed by a web browser instead of launching the application,
A computer program characterized by the above-mentioned. The storage means, further for each user, executing a process of storing selection data indicating which of the application and the web page the user has selected,
When the selection data of the user using the computer is stored in the storage unit, the computer activates the application according to the selection data or accesses the web page by the web browser,
A computer program according to claim 8.

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