Device, information processing apparatus, recording medium, and computer program product

Abstract

The present invention prevents an information processing element copied from a first device to a second device from being associated with a storage area in a second device that is associated with a user who is different from a user associated with a storage area in the first device. The present invention provides a device, an information processing apparatus, a recording medium, and a computer program product. A backup generation unit of a certain device generates backup data and sends it to a user. The backup data includes a designated one-click application, a number of a file box that is an output target of a processing result of the one-click application, and information about the owner of the file box. The user inputs the backup data to another device. If the owner of the file box in the device indicated by the number of the backup data is different from the person indicated by the owner information in the backup data, the application copying unit of the device will select the file box with the person indicated by the information in the device as the output target of the processing result of the one-click application as the file box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device, an information processing apparatus, a recording medium, and a computer program product. Background Art

[0002] In devices such as multifunction machines (devices that have the functions of a printer, scanner, fax machine, etc.), there is a logical storage area called a private document box or a security box, etc., which stores fax data, scanned data, printed data, etc. There are multiple such storage areas, and users who can access each storage area can be restricted by setting a password or using authorized persons. In addition, there is also a known structure: for storage areas such as private document boxes, there is associated with a program (also called an "instruction sheet" or "job flow") that specifies the processing flow that combines the functional groups possessed by the device, and the corresponding processing flow is executed for the data stored in the storage area.

[0003] Furthermore, a user who can access the storage area is associated with the storage area. Such a user is called the owner of the storage area or a person with access rights.

[0004] In addition, such a device may accept registration of an information processing element such as a program that specifies processing related to a storage area, and execute processing in accordance with the information processing element in response to an instruction from a user.

[0005] Here, the storage area is associated with the information processing element, for example, as a storage destination for the result data of the processing specified by the information processing element. Moreover, the information processing element is a program or setting information that specifies a part or all of the processing content. For example, an information processing element that specifies the process of saving the scanned data obtained by scanning using a built-in scanner of the device in a specific storage area is an example of such an information processing element. The information processing element includes, for example, information indicating the type of processing, i.e., "scanning", parameters of the scanning process (e.g., parameters indicating resolution, etc.), and identification information of the storage area of ​​the storage destination of the scanned data obtained as a result of the scanning process.

[0006] Furthermore, there is also a device capable of registering information processing elements for a user, which represent processing contents freely specified by the user within a specific (ie, predetermined) range.

[0007] As a prior art regarding a storage area provided in a device, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a box setting screen is provided for setting a private box (an example of a storage area), and the private box is set as a temporary storage destination for received fax data for paperless fax forwarding. An automatic input button is provided on the box setting screen. When the setter presses the automatic input button, the control unit of the device searches for the largest box number among the "unregistered" box numbers in the box management information, and sets the found box number in the number input field. Thus, as a private box used for paperless fax forwarding of faxes from a certain line, a private box with the box number that has not been registered so far is set.

[0008] [Prior art literature]

[0009] [Patent Document]

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-007145 Summary of the invention

[0011] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0012] For example, when a device is replaced with a new one, it is sometimes convenient if the information processing element registered in the first device can be copied to a second device that is different from the first device. If the information processing element associated with the storage area corresponding to a certain identification information (referred to as the first identification information) in the first device is simply copied to the second device, the information processing element will be associated with the storage area corresponding to the same first identification information in the second device. Here, the following situation may arise, namely: the user associated with the storage area corresponding to the first identification information in the second device is not the same as the user (referred to as the first user) associated with the storage area corresponding to the first identification information in the first device. At this time, if the first user who uses the information processing element in his own storage area corresponding to the first identification information in the first device executes the processing of the information processing element copied to the second device, the processing will be executed using the storage area of ​​other people corresponding to the same first identification information. Therefore, sometimes the execution of the information processing element in the second device may cause an unexpected situation for the first user.

[0013] The present invention provides a structure for preventing an information processing element copied from a first device to a second device from being associated with a storage area in the second device that is associated with a user who is different from the user associated with the storage area in the first device.

[0014] [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0015] According to the invention of technical solution 1, a device includes: a generating component, which generates backup data, wherein the backup data includes an information processing element possessed by the device itself, identification information of a storage area associated with the information processing element among multiple storage areas within the device itself, and associated user information representing a user associated with the storage area; and a copying component, which, when second backup data generated by the generating component of another device is input, copies the information processing element in the second backup data to the device itself, and, if a user is already associated with the storage area represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data among multiple storage areas within the device itself, associates the storage area determined based on the associated user information contained in the second backup data among the multiple storage areas within the device itself to the information processing element copied to the device itself.

[0016] The invention according to technical solution 2 is a device according to technical solution 1, wherein the copying component associates a storage area in its own device that is associated with the user represented by the associated user information with the information processing element copied to its own device in priority to a storage area that is not associated with the user.

[0017] The invention according to Technical Solution 3 is a device according to Technical Solution 2, wherein, if there are multiple storage areas associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the storage area within its own device, the copy component will associate the storage areas among the multiple storage areas that have more attributes consistent with the storage areas in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data with higher priority to the information processing element copied to its own device.

[0018] The invention according to technical solution 4 is a device according to technical solution 2 or 3, wherein the copying component associates a storage area in its own device that is associated with the user represented by the associated user information and has specified required attributes that are consistent with the storage area in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data, to the information processing element copied to its own device.

[0019] The invention according to technical solution 5 is a device according to any one of technical solutions 2 to 4, wherein, if there is no storage area in the storage area within its own device that is associated with the user represented by the associated user information, and the storage area has a specified required attribute that is consistent with the storage area in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data, then the copy component determines the storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to its own device from the storage area in its own device that is not associated with the user.

[0020] The invention according to technical solution 6 is a device according to technical solution 4 or 5, wherein the essential attribute of the storage area is the processing performed on the data stored in the storage area.

[0021] The invention according to technical solution 7 is a device according to any one of technical solutions 4 to 6, wherein the essential attribute of the storage area is a network that is permitted to access the storage area among a plurality of networks to which the device itself is connected.

[0022] The invention according to technical solution 8 is a device according to any one of technical solutions 1 to 7, wherein, when there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the own device, or when user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if there is no associated user relative to the storage area represented by the identification information in the own device, the copying component determines the storage area as a storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to the own device.

[0023] The invention according to technical solution 9 is a device according to any one of technical solutions 1 to 8, wherein, when there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the own device, or when user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if there is an associated user relative to the storage area represented by the identification information in the own device, the copying component determines the storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to the own device from the storage areas in the own device that are not associated with the user.

[0024] The invention according to technical solution 10 is a device according to any one of technical solutions 1 to 7, wherein, when there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the own device, or when user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if the forwarding target set as the forwarding target of the data stored in the storage area represented by the identification information in the other device meets the specified conditions, the copying component determines the storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to its own device from the shared storage area in the storage area within its own device, which is set as a shared storage area in which any user can save data.

[0025] The invention according to technical solution 11 is a device according to technical solution 10, wherein the prescribed condition regarding the forwarding target is that the forwarding target is a place accessible to anyone.

[0026] According to the invention of technical solution 12, it is a recording medium storing a program, which is used to enable a computer to perform the following functions, namely: a generation step, generating backup data, the backup data including an information processing element possessed by its own device, identification information of a storage area associated with the information processing element among multiple storage areas within its own device, and associated user information representing a user associated with the storage area; and a copying step, when second backup data generated by the generation component of another device is input, the information processing element in the second backup data is copied to its own device, and if a user is already associated with the storage area represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data among multiple storage areas within its own device, then the storage area determined based on the associated user information contained in the second backup data among the multiple storage areas within its own device is associated with the information processing element copied to its own device.

[0027] According to the invention of technical solution 13, it is an information processing device, which includes: an acquisition component, which acquires an information processing element possessed by a first device, identification information of a first storage area associated with the information processing element among multiple storage areas in the first device, and associated user information representing a user associated with the first storage area; a copying component, which copies the information processing element to a second device; and an association component, which associates a storage area in the storage area in the second device determined based on the associated user information to the information processing element copied to the second device if a user association already exists with the storage area represented by the identification information in the storage area in the second device.

[0028] According to the invention of technical solution 14, it is a recording medium storing a program, which is used to enable a computer to perform the following functions, namely: an acquisition step, acquiring an information processing element possessed by a first device, identification information of a first storage area associated with the information processing element among multiple storage areas within the first device, and associated user information representing a user associated with the first storage area; a copying step, copying the information processing element to a second device; and an association step, if a user is already associated with the storage area represented by the identification information in the storage area within the second device, then associating the storage area in the storage area within the second device determined based on the associated user information to the information processing element copied to the second device.

[0029] [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to the invention of technical solutions 1, 12 to 14, it is possible to prevent the information processing elements copied from the copy source device to the copy target device from being associated with the storage area in the copy target device that is associated with the following user, who is a user different from the user associated with the storage area that is associated with the copy source device.

[0031] According to the invention of technical solution 2, if there is a storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the copy target device, the storage area associated with the user can be associated with the copied information processing element compared to the idle storage area without the associated user.

[0032] According to the invention of claim 3, a storage area in the copy destination device having an attribute as close as possible to a storage area already associated with an information processing element in the copy source device can be associated with the copied information processing element.

[0033] According to the invention of technical solutions 4, 6 and 7, it is possible to associate the storage area in the copy target device, which has the same required attributes as the storage area already associated with the information processing element in the copy source device, with the copied information processing element.

[0034] According to the inventions of claim 5, claim 8, and claim 9, it is possible to avoid associating a storage area already associated with another user with the copied information processing element.

[0035] According to the invention of claim 10 and claim 11, it is possible to avoid associating the shared storage area with the copied information processing element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing an example of a system according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 2 The diagram schematically shows an example of a UI screen of a device.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of the data content of the document box management information.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of the data content of an instruction sheet.

[0040] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of a process flow of a backup creation unit in the device according to the embodiment.

[0041] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing a part of an example of a processing flow of an application copying unit in a device according to an embodiment.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing another part of an example of the processing flow of the application copying unit in the device according to the embodiment.

[0043] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing still another part of an example of the processing flow of the application copying unit in the device according to the embodiment.

[0044] Fig. 9 This is a diagram showing a part of an example of a process flow of a backup creation unit in the device according to Modification 1.

[0045] Fig.10 This is a diagram showing an example of a system according to Modification 3.

[0046] Fig.11 This is a diagram showing a part of an example of a processing flow of an application copy control unit according to Modification 3.

[0047] [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 100: Equipment

[0049] 110: Operation panel

[0050] 120: Control Department

[0051] 122: Backup generation unit

[0052] 124: Application replication department

[0053] 126: Client UI

[0054] 130: Storage device

[0055] 132: Document Box

[0056] 134: File box management information

[0057] 136: One-click application

[0058] 200: Client PC

[0059] 202: Application copy control unit

[0060] 250: Authentication system

[0061] 300: Network DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] <System configuration example>

[0063] Figure 1 The system structure of the embodiment is illustrated in FIG. The system includes a group of devices 100 connected to a network 300 such as a local area network, a client personal computer (PC) 200 , and an authentication system 250 .

[0064] The client PC 200 is a PC used by a user when performing a one touch application copy operation between devices 100. The authentication system 250 is a system for performing user authentication for a user who wants to use the device 100. In addition, a plurality of different authentication systems 250 may exist on the network 300. Furthermore, there may be a device 100 with a built-in authentication system 250. Which authentication system 250 a device 100 on the network 300 uses to authenticate a user is set for each device 100.

[0065] The device 100 includes an operation panel 110 , a control unit 120 , and a storage device 130 .

[0066] The operation panel 110 includes, for example, a graphical user interface (GUI) input / output device such as a touch panel display device, displays a UI (user interface) screen to the user, and accepts operation input from the user on the UI screen. In addition, the operation panel 110 may also have an input device other than the display device, such as a start button for instructing the start of processing execution or a numeric keypad for numerical input.

[0067] The control unit 120 is a part responsible for the information processing function of the device 100, and has hardware for the information processing function, that is, a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory for primary storage. In addition, the control unit 120 has programs such as an operating system (OS), firmware, and various application programs that are executed using this hardware. The backup generation unit 122, application copying unit 124, or client UI unit 126 shown in the control unit 120 are functions realized by executing the program. These functions will be described later.

[0068] The storage device 130 is a secondary storage device, i.e., a device for storing data semi-permanently (i.e., data is stored continuously as long as there is no clear instruction to delete it). The storage device 130 is, for example, a disk device (e.g., a hard disk or a solid state disk). The storage device 130 is managed, for example, by the file system of the OS of the control unit 120. The storage device 130 stores data such as file box management information 134 and one-touch applications 136. Furthermore, in the storage device 130, one or more file boxes 132 as an example of a storage area described later may be provided. The file box 132 may also be installed, for example, as a folder in the file system.

[0069] In general, the device 100 has an information processing function for executing a computer program. The control unit 120 is a part in charge of the information processing function of the device 100.

[0070] Furthermore, the device 100 may include hardware for functions other than the information processing function, such as a printing mechanism, a scanning mechanism, a fax transmission and reception mechanism, and a network communication device. An example of the device 100 is an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction machine.

[0071] The device 100 has one or more logical storage areas for storing data such as documents. In a multifunction machine as an example of the device 100, one or more storage areas such as a private document box or a safe can be set. Figure 1 In the example of , such a storage area is expressed as a document box 132. In the document box 132, various data such as scanned image data obtained by the scanning function, data obtained by processing the scanned image data, fax data received by the fax function, and emails received by the mail receiving function of the device 100 can be stored.

[0072] A user who can access the storage area can be associated with or set for the storage area in the device 100. Here, such a user is referred to as the owner of the storage area.

[0073] Furthermore, a process applicable to the data stored in the storage area may be associated with each storage area in the device 100. The process associated with the storage area is applied or executed to the data stored in the storage area.

[0074] The processing applied to the data stored in the storage area includes processing specified by the functions of the device 100 and setting information about the functions (eg, various parameters), and processing specified by a program executed as an information processing function.

[0075] As an example of the former, there is a printing process that specifies the printing density or printing mode (i.e., a mode that determines whether it is black and white printing or full color printing) as setting information, or a fax transmission process that specifies the destination FAX number as setting information. In this example, as information indicating the process applicable to the data stored in the storage area, information including identification information of the function of the device 100 used for the process (e.g., identification information indicating the printing function) and setting information applicable to the function (e.g., a combination of printing density and printing mode) is associated with the storage area and registered in the device 100.

[0076] Furthermore, in the latter case, i.e., in the case where the processing of the data stored in the storage area is specified by a program, the user may also create a program that specifies the processing, and associate (i.e., set) the created program to the storage area as information that specifies the processing. Furthermore, the user may also select one of the existing programs prepared in the device 100, and input the data content of the user-definable part of the program (e.g., setting information such as parameters), and use this method to create information that specifies the processing, and associate the information to the storage area. The information includes, for example, information that identifies the existing program selected by the user, and the data content input by the user for each customizable part of the program.

[0077] In this way, the information that specifies the processing applicable to the data stored in the storage area can also be constituted as data called an instruction sheet or a workflow, as in the example described later. The instruction sheet is data that specifies the processing that can be executed using one or more functions of the device 100. The functions of the device 100 include functions implemented by the information processing of the control unit 120, functions implemented by hardware mechanisms such as scanners or printers of the device 100, and functions implemented by a combination of the information processing of the control unit 120 and hardware mechanisms such as scanners. The processing specified in the instruction sheet includes both processing specified by the functions of the device 100 and setting information about the functions, and processing specified by a program executed by the information processing function of the device 100. Information such as the instruction sheet that specifies the processing applicable to the data stored in the storage area is installed in, for example, the storage device 130 of the device 100.

[0078] Furthermore, in the device 100, information processing elements can be registered. An information processing element is data that specifies a process that can be performed using one or more functions of the device 100. The processes specified by the information processing elements include processes specified by the functions of the device 100 and setting information about the functions (e.g., various parameters), and processes specified as programs executed by the information processing functions of the device 100. As an example of the former, there is a specific scan process specified by a group of a scan function and scan setting information (e.g., scan resolution). And as an example of the latter, there is a process of running a scan function and saving the scanned image data obtained thereby into a specific storage area.

[0079] In the former example, the information processing element includes information indicating identification information of a function of the device 100 used for processing and setting information about the function.

[0080] In the latter example, the user may create a program that specifies the processing and register the created program as an information processing element in the device 100. In addition, the user may select one of the existing programs prepared in the device 100 and input the data content of the user-customizable part (e.g., setting information such as parameters) in the program, and use this method to create an information processing element and register the information processing element in the device 100. In this case, the information processing element includes, for example, information that specifies the existing program selected by the user and the data content input by the user for each customizable part in the program.

[0081] The information processing elements exemplified above may be created as data called, for example, an instruction sheet or a workflow.

[0082] When an execution instruction of an information processing element is explicitly issued by the user, or when the execution conditions pre-set for the device 100 are satisfied with respect to the information processing element, the device 100 executes the processing specified by the information processing element. When the information processing element includes a program that specifies the content of the processing, the program is executed by the information processing function of the device 100. In order to accept the execution instruction of the information processing element from the user, an icon representing the information processing element may also be displayed on a UI (user interface) screen displayed on the operation panel 110 of the device 100. In this case, when the user selects the icon of the information processing element on the UI screen and performs the operation of the execution instruction, the processing specified by the information processing element is executed.

[0083] If the processing specified by the information processing element is to output the result of the processing as electronic data (hereinafter referred to as processing result data), the information processing element includes information that specifies the output destination of the processing result data. As the output destination of the processing result data, a storage area such as a private document box can also be selected. In this case, the information processing element includes identification information that uniquely identifies the storage area (i.e., the storage area) of the output destination of the processing result data. Figure 1 File box 132 in the example shown).

[0084] The identification information of the storage area is not globally unique, but is unique among the storage areas provided in the same device 100. Therefore, if an information processing element in the first device 100 that uses a storage area corresponding to certain identification information (referred to as the first identification information) as a processing result output destination is simply copied to the second device 100, the processing result of the information processing element in the second device 100 will be output to the storage area in the second device 100 corresponding to the same first identification information.

[0085] Figure 1 In the example of , a one-touch application 136 as an example of an information processing element is installed in the device 100. These one-touch applications 136 are stored in the storage device 130 in the device 100. On the UI screen displayed on the operation panel 110, icons of each one-touch application 136 are displayed.

[0086] For example, in Figure 2On the UI screen 400 of the illustrated device 100, icons 410 are arranged in a matrix, and the icons 410 represent buttons for calling various processing functions provided by the device 100. If the number of processing functions is too large to be contained in one screen, the group of icons 410 may also be displayed in other screen display areas displayed by scrolling or turning pages. Among the icons 410 displayed on the UI screen 400, there are those corresponding to the inherent (native) functions that the device 100 has in the factory state, such as the copy button 412 and the FAX send button 414. Moreover, these icons 410 may include icons 416 for one-touch applications 136. The one-touch application 136 is, for example, software that represents functions brought about by various information processing performed by the control unit 120, or a composite function that combines one or more inherent functions of the device 100 with information processing. For example, Figure 2 The one-touch application 136 represented by the icon 416 “for sending to YYY company” illustrated in the figure is software that indicates a function of sending an image read by the scanning function of the device 100 to the fax number of the YYY company using the fax transmission and reception function of the control unit 120. The user can create data of the one-touch application 136 that specifies the processing content that the user desires and install it in the device 100.

[0087] When the user presses an icon 416 on the UI screen 400 by a touch operation or the like, the one-touch application 136 corresponding to the icon 416 is executed by the control unit 120 .

[0088] In the one-touch application 136 installed in the device 100, any of the boxes 132 is designated as an output destination of the processing result data obtained as a result of executing the one-touch application 136. Such one-touch application 136 includes identification information of the box 132 designated as the output destination.

[0089] The box management information 134 is information used to manage the box 132 group provided in the storage device 130 of the device 100. The box 132 is an example of a storage area in the device 100. Figure 3 An example of the data content of the box management information 134 is shown. Figure 3 The illustrated file box management information includes columns such as file box number, owner, instruction, network number, and automatic deletion for each file box 132. The file box number is identification information of the file box 132, and the columns below the owner represent attribute items of the file box 132.

[0090] In the box number column, a box number is registered as an example of identification information of the box 132. The box number is a serial number assigned to each box 132 in the device 100, and is an example of identification information of a storage area. In addition, the identification information of the storage area is not limited to a number format such as a box number. The identification information of the storage area may be any information as long as it has information content that can uniquely identify the storage area from a plurality of storage areas in the device 100.

[0091] In the owner column, identification information (hereinafter also referred to as user ID) of a user having access rights to the file box 132 is registered. A plurality of owners may be registered for the file box 132. Furthermore, when the file box 132 is set to be usable by anyone, the owner column of the file box 132 is, for example, "anyone" or a blank column. The user ID shown in the owner column as an attribute item of the file box 132 is an example of "associated user information indicating a user associated with the storage area".

[0092] In the instruction column, information that specifies the instruction applicable to the data stored in the file box 132 (for example, identification information that indicates the main body data of the instruction stored in the storage device 130) is registered. The instruction is data that specifies the processing performed by the device 100. In addition, although not shown in the figure, the file box management information 134 may also include an attribute item indicating whether the association between the instruction shown in the instruction column and the file box 132 is in automatic execution mode. In the automatic execution mode, the instruction associated with the file box 132 is automatically executed when data is saved in the file box 132. In contrast, the instruction that is not associated with the file box 132 in the automatic execution mode is not executed only by saving the data in the file box 132, but is executed only after receiving a clear execution instruction from the user.

[0093] For the data stored in the document box 132, the processing specified by the instruction indicated in the instruction column corresponding to the document box 132 (hereinafter also referred to as "the instruction corresponding to the document box 132") is executed for the data. In addition, it can be set whether the instruction corresponding to the document box 132 is automatically applied to the data stored in the document box 132 or whether the application is waited for the user's instruction. In the case of setting to the latter, the data is only stored in the document box 132, and the instruction corresponding to the document box 132 is not applied to the data. In this case, the instruction is applied to the data after the user selects the data in the document box 132 and instructs the execution of the instruction. In the former case, that is, when the automatic application of the instruction corresponding to the document box 132 is set for the document box 132, the instruction is automatically applied to the data when the data is stored in the document box 132. In addition, the so-called application of the instruction to the data means that the processing specified by the instruction is executed on the data.

[0094] In the network number column, the number of the network that can use the file box 132 among the one or more networks to which the device 100 having the file box 132 is connected is registered. The network number is a number for identifying each of the one or more networks. The file box 132 can be accessed only from the network shown in the network number column.

[0095] In the automatic deletion column, whether or not the data stored in the document box 132 is automatically deleted is registered. When the value of the column is "yes", the data stored in the document box 132 is deleted from the document box 132 when a predetermined condition (for example, a condition that a predetermined length of time has passed since the storage time) is satisfied.

[0096] Figure 3 The owner, instruction, and network number of the attribute items of the document box 132 shown as an example are classified as mandatory attributes. The so-called mandatory attributes are attributes of the output destination document box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 that must be consistent between the copy source device 100 and the copy destination device 100 of the one-touch application 136. In contrast, the automatic deletion attribute is not a mandatory attribute.

[0097] Figure 4An example of the data content contained in the instruction book. The illustrated instruction book contains items such as "Name", "Update Date and Time", "Owner", "Description", "Hash Value", "Processing Content", "Processing Type", "FAX", "Mail", "FTP", and "Print". "Name" is the name of the instruction book, for example, determined by the person who made the instruction book (that is, the owner of the instruction book). "Update Date and Time" is the date and time when the content of the instruction book was last updated. The user ID of the owner of the instruction book is registered in the item "Owner". In the item "Description", user-oriented instructions such as the processing content of the instruction book are registered. In the item "Hash Value", there is a hash value of the data contained in the item "Processing Content" to be described next.

[0098] In the item "processing content", data indicating the processing content specified in the instruction sheet, such as a program describing the processing content or a group of functions and setting information that determine the processing content, are registered. The aforementioned "hash value" is a hash value of the data of the "processing content". When the "processing content" is a program, the program may be described in a script language or in an executable format such as binary code.

[0099] The item “processing type” is the type of processing indicated by the item “processing content.” In the example shown in the figure, the type of processing content is FAX transmission.

[0100] In the item "FAX", when the "processing content" specified in the instruction includes the sending of FAX (i.e., fax), the FAX number of the sending destination is registered. In the item "Mail", the email address of the sending destination to which the output image (e.g., image to be printed, image to be sent by FAX, etc.) obtained as a result of the processing of the "processing content" specified in the instruction is registered. In this example, it is assumed that the image to be sent by FAX is sent to the manager who manages the business (e.g., for subsequent inspection, etc.), and the email address of the manager is registered in the item "Mail". In the item "FTP", when the "processing content" specified in the instruction includes, for example, the processing of forwarding the processing result data to a remote server via the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating the forwarding destination is registered. In the item "Print", when the "processing content" specified in the instruction includes the printing of the image obtained by the processing result, the printing setting information of the image is registered.

[0101] <Structure for copying of one-click application>

[0102] The device 100 includes a backup generation unit 122 , an application copy unit 124 , and a client UI unit 126 in a control unit 120 as functional modules for one-click application copying.

[0103] The backup generation unit 122 generates backup data of the one-touch application 136 in the storage device 130 according to the instruction from the user. The backup data generated by the backup generation unit 122 includes, in addition to the data of the one-touch application 136 itself, information indicating the user ID of the owner of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136. This information is called owner attribute. In addition, the data of the one-touch application 136 itself included in the backup data includes identification information (e.g., file box number) of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136.

[0104] If the output destination of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 to be backed up is other than a document box, the owner attribute is not included in the backup data.

[0105] In this example, the one-touch application 136 is an example of an information processing element, and the document box 132 is an example of a storage area. Furthermore, the owner attribute of the document box 132 is an example of associated user information indicating a user associated with the storage area. The backup generation unit 122 is an example of a generation component.

[0106] The application copying unit 124 receives the backup data inputted from the user, and copies the one-touch application 136 included in the backup data to the storage device 130 of the own device. The inputted backup data is generated by the backup generation unit 122 of another device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the "copy source device"). In the one-touch application 136, a file box number of a file box 132 set as the output destination of the processing result of the application is set, but if the owner of the file box 132 indicated by the file box number is different in the copy source device 100 and the copy target device 100, a problem in information security may occur. Therefore, the application copying unit 124 determines whether the owner of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data is consistent in the copy source device 100 and the own device 100 (that is, the device 100 equipped with the application copying unit 124). If they do not match, the following process is performed, that is, the one-touch application 136 is assigned another document box 132 in the own device 100 as the output destination of the processing result.

[0107] The client UI unit 126 provides a UI screen for operating the device 100 to the client PC 200 via the network 300. The client UI unit 126 provides a UI screen for backup processing of the one-touch application 136 or a copy processing of backup data generated by the copy source device. The provision of the UI screen is performed, for example, using a web technology.

[0108] Figure 5 The following is an example of the process flow executed by the backup creation unit 122 .

[0109] When the user accesses the client UI unit 126 of the device 100 from the client PC 200, the client UI unit 126 provides a menu screen to the client PC 200. On the menu screen, "one-click application backup" is included as one of the menu items. When the user instructs to execute the menu item, the execution Figure 5 The processing flow.

[0110] In the above flow, the client UI unit 126 provides the client PC 200 with a selection screen displaying a list of one-touch applications 136 installed in the storage device 130 of the own device 100. Then, the user is accepted to select a one-touch application 136 to be backed up (S10).

[0111] When the user selects the one-touch application 136 as the backup object on the selection screen, the client PC 200 sends the result of the selection to the client UI unit 126. The backup generation unit 122 receives the selection result from the client UI unit 126, and analyzes the data of the processing content of the one-touch application 136 represented by the selection result. In the analysis, it is checked whether an output target file box 132 of the processing result data is specified for the one-touch application 136. That is, it is checked whether the data of the processing content of the one-touch application 136 contains the file box number of the output target file box 132 of the processing result data of the one-touch application 136. Furthermore, if an output target file box 132 of the processing result data is specified for the one-touch application 136, the backup generation unit 122 generates the backup file based on the file box management information (refer to Figure 3 ) to obtain the attribute information of the document box 132.

[0112] The backup generation unit 122 generates backup data using the analysis result (S12). The backup data includes data of the one-touch application 136 to be backed up, the file box number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136, the attribute information of the file box 132, and the ID (identification information) of the authentication system. The file box 132 in the copy source device 100 corresponding to the file box number is called "copy source file box 132". The attribute information of the file box 132 included in the backup data includes the owner attribute of the copy source file box 132. In addition, the ID of the authentication system is the identification information of the authentication system 250 used by the copy source device 100 for user authentication.

[0113] The backup creation unit 122 transmits the created backup data file to the client PC 200 ( S16 ).

[0114] Next, refer to Figures 6 to 8 An example of the flow of processing executed by the application copy unit 124 will be described.

[0115] User based Figure 5 After obtaining the backup data file of the one-touch application 136 in a certain device 100 to the client PC 200, the client UI unit 126 of the other device 100 as the copy target is accessed. The client UI unit 126 provides a menu screen to the client PC 200. The menu screen includes "copy of the backed-up one-touch application" as one of the menu items. When the user instructs to execute the menu item, the execution Figures 6 to 8 The processing flow shown.

[0116] At this time, if Figure 6 As shown, the client UI unit 126 provides the client PC 200 with a screen for accepting the selection of backup data to be copied (S20). The user inputs one of the backup data files stored in the client PC 200 into the input field of the screen displayed on the client PC 200. The client PC 200 sends the selected backup data file to the client UI unit 126.

[0117] The application copy unit 124 of the device 100 receives the backup data file from the client UI unit 126 and analyzes the data content of the file ( S22 ).

[0118] Next, the application replication unit 124 uses the result of the analysis to determine whether user authentication can be performed between the replication source device 100 (i.e., the device 100 that generated the backup data) and the own device 100 (S23). The determination is, for example, to compare the ID of the authentication system 250 used for user authentication in the own device 100 with the ID of the authentication system contained in the backup data. If the two are consistent, it means that the own device 100 and the replication source device 100 use the same authentication system. If the user ID in the own device 100 and the user ID in the replication source device 100 are the same value, the user referred to by the user ID is the same person. At this time, the determination result of S23 is yes. On the contrary, if the two are inconsistent, it cannot be guaranteed that the same user ID refers to the same person. At this time, the determination result of S23 is no, and the process proceeds to step 2. Figure 8 The processing shown (details will be described later).

[0119] If the result of S23 is yes, the application copying unit 124 checks whether the data of the processing content of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data contains the file box number of the output target file box 132 of the processing result data of the one-touch application 136. If the file box number is not included, the output target file box 132 of the processing result has not been set for the one-touch application 136 in the backup data. This is a case where the output target of the processing result is a target other than the file box 132, such as a print output or FAX sending target number. In this case, there will be no problem caused by the different owners of the file box 132 with the same number as the copy source. In this case, it is outside the processing object of this embodiment and is not applicable. Figures 6 to 8 At this time, the application copying unit 124 only needs to simply copy the one-touch application 136 in the backup data to the own device 100.

[0120] If the data of the processing content of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data contains the file box number of the output target file box 132 of the processing result data of the one-touch application 136, the application copying unit 124 performs the following processing. That is, the application copying unit 124 refers to the file box management information 134 to determine whether an owner is set for the file box 132 with the file box number in its own device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "the file box with the same number" in the sense of having the same number as the copy source file box 132) (S24). If no owner is set for the file box with the same number, the determination result of S24 is no. At this time, proceed to Figure 7The processing shown. In addition, for the document box 132 set as a shared document box that can be used by anyone, the owner "Everyone" is set. The document box 132 that has not been set with an owner is a so-called "free" document box 132 that has not yet been registered to use the document box 132. In the following examples, the document box number is a serial number starting from 1, and the number corresponding to the maximum number of document boxes 132 that can be set in the device 100 is its upper limit number.

[0121] If the result of the determination in S24 is yes, the application copy unit 124 compares the user ID of the owner of the file box 132 with the user ID of the owner attribute of the copy source file box 132 in the backup data to determine whether the two are consistent (S26). If the result of the determination is no, the process proceeds to step S27. Figure 7 Processing shown.

[0122] If the result of S26 is yes, the application copy unit 124 obtains other necessary attributes of the file box 132 with the same number from the file box management information 134, and determines whether these necessary attributes are consistent with the necessary attributes of the copy source file box 132 in the backup data (S28). Figure 3 In the illustrated file box management information 134, the instruction and the network number are required attributes. At this time, in S28, the application copying unit 124 determines whether the processing content of the instruction and the network number are consistent in the copy source file box 132 and the file box with the same number. If the processing content of the instruction is inconsistent, if the one-touch application 136 in the backup data is copied to the own device 100 and executed, the instruction with processing content different from that of the copy source device 100 will be executed on the processing result of the one-touch application 136. In addition, if the network number in the copy source file box 132 and the file box with the same number is inconsistent, the following situation may occur, that is, the file box with the same number can be accessed from the network that cannot access the copy source file box 132. This situation is not ideal in terms of data security of the processing result of the one-touch application 136. Therefore, in S28, it is checked whether the instruction and the network number are consistent in the copy source file box 132 and the file box with the same number. In addition, if the instruction attribute of the copy source file box 132 is "no instruction" (that is, there is no instruction suitable for outputting the processing results to the file box 132), then the judgment result of S28 is yes, which means that the instruction attribute of the file box 132 with the same number is also "no instruction".

[0123] If the result of determination in S28 is yes, the application copying unit 124 copies the one-touch application 136 in the backup data directly to the storage device 130 in the own device 100 (S29). The processing result when the copied one-touch application 136 is executed is input to the file box 132 with the same number. At this time, the instruction sheet for the processing result stored in the file box 132 with the same number and the network capable of accessing the file box are the same as those of the copy source file box 132. In addition, as another example, in S28, it may be determined whether all attributes including attributes that are not essential attributes are consistent.

[0124] If the determination result of S28 is no, the application copy unit 124 jumps to Figure 7 Processing shown.

[0125] exist Figure 7 In the processing flow shown, the application copy unit 124 searches the file box management information 134 for a file box in the backup data in the own device 100 whose owner attribute of the copy source file box is set as the owner (S30). It determines whether a file box 132 that meets this condition is found (S32). If the determination result is no, the process proceeds to step 134. Figure 8 processing.

[0126] If the result of S32 is yes, the application copy unit 124 searches for a file box 132 found in S30 whose required attributes are consistent with the required attributes of the copy source file box in the backup data, and determines whether such a file box 132 is found (S34). If the result of S34 is no, the process proceeds to Figure 8 processing.

[0127] If the result of determination in S34 is yes, the application copying unit 124 identifies the file box 132 found in S34, which has the largest number of attribute items having the same values ​​as the attribute items of the copy source file box in the backup data, including all attribute items other than the required attributes. And the file box number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data is reset to the file box number of the identified file box 132 (S36). Then, the application copying unit 124 copies the one-touch application 136 whose settings have been changed in this way to the storage device 130 (S38).

[0128] Furthermore, in addition to information indicating the processing contents of the one-touch application 136, the data of the one-touch application 136 also includes data defining the icon 410 of the application displayed on the UI screen. The file box number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 copied in S38 is different from the file box number of the copy source file box, and is automatically selected by the application copying unit 124, so it is a number unknown to the user. Therefore, the application copying unit 124 adds the display of the file box number of the file box 132 set as the output destination in S36 to the icon 410 of the one-touch application 136 copied in S38. Thus, the user can know the number of the file box where the processing result when executing the one-touch application 136 is stored by viewing the icon 410 of the one-touch application 136 displayed on the UI screen 400 of the device 100.

[0129] If the result of determination in S23, S32 or S34 is negative, the application copy unit 124 executes Figure 8 That is, the application copying unit 124 refers to the file box management information 134 to determine whether an owner is set for the file box 132 with the same number in its own device 100 (S40). If the result of the determination is no, the file box 132 with the same number is an idle file box. At this time, the application copying unit 124 copies the one-touch application 136 in the backup data to the storage device 130 (S42). At this time, if the instruction attribute of the copy source file box 132 contained in the backup data contains the identification information of the instruction, the application copying unit 124 can also obtain the instruction corresponding to the identification information from the copy source device 100 and associate it with the file box 132 with the same number.

[0130] If the result of the determination in S40 is YES, an owner different from the owner of the copy source box 132 is set for the same numbered box 132. In this case, if the output destination of the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136 is set to the same numbered box 132, the above problem will occur. Therefore, the application copying unit 124 selects the output destination box of the processing result set for the one-touch application 136 in the backup data from the free boxes in the own device 100.

[0131] In order to make the selection, the application copy unit 124 determines whether the attribute item related to the instruction in the backup data is the automatic execution mode (S44).

[0132] If the copy source file box 132 is not associated with an instruction, or although the copy source file box 132 is associated with an instruction but the association is not in automatic execution mode, the judgment result of S44 is no. At this time, the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136 is saved in any file box 132. The user who has instructed the execution of the one-touch application 136 opens the file box 132 in which the processing result is saved to instruct further processing of the processing result. To open the file box 132, the user must open a file box overview screen (omitted in the figure) on the UI screen of the device 100 that displays the icons of the file boxes 132 at a glance, and determine the file box 132 on the overview screen. Here, there are as many as hundreds of file box numbers in the device 100 such as a multifunction machine, so it is impossible to display the icons of all these file boxes 132 on one screen. To search for the desired file box 132 on the overview screen, it is sometimes necessary to scroll the screen continuously.

[0133] Therefore, if the result of the determination in S44 is negative, the screen scrolling operation for searching the file box 132 storing the processing result is reduced as much as possible. That is, at this time, the application copying unit 124 selects a file box having a file box number closest to the output target file box number set for the one-touch application 136 in the backup data from the free file boxes 132 in the own device 100 (S46). The application copying unit 124 resets the file box number of the output target file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data to the file box number of the file box 132 selected in S46. The one-touch application 136 reset in this way is copied to the storage device 130 (S48). At this time, the application copying unit 124 adds the display of the file box number of the file box 132 set as the output target to the icon 410 of the one-touch application 136 copied in S48.

[0134] Through the processing of S46 and S48, a file box having a number close to the output target file box 132 in the copy source device 100 is selected as the output target of the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136. As a result, the user can use the one-touch application 136 in his own device 100 with a feeling similar to that when using the one-touch application 136 in the copy source device 100 (that is, the degree of screen scrolling operation of the file box list screen for opening the output target file box 132 is the same as that in the copy source device 100).

[0135] If the result of the determination in S44 is yes, the instruction sheet is already associated with the copy source file box 132 in the automatic execution mode. Therefore, in order to allow the user to use the one-touch application 136 copied to the own device 100 with the same feeling as in the copy source device 100, it is ideal to associate the same instruction sheet with the file box 132 in the own device 100 set as the output destination of the one-touch application 136 in the automatic execution mode. This is because if the instruction sheet is already associated with the file box 132 in the automatic execution mode, saving data in the file box 132 will apply the instruction sheet to the data. Therefore, the possibility that the user opens the file box 132 to manually operate the data in it is low.

[0136] Therefore, if the result of the determination in S44 is yes, the application copying unit 124 selects the box with the largest box number among the free boxes by referring to the box management information 134 (S47). Next, the box number of the output destination box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data is reset to the box number of the box 132 selected in S47. Then, the one-touch application 136 reset in this way is copied to the storage device 130 (S48). At this time, the application copying unit 124 obtains the instruction sheet associated with the copy source box 132 from the copy source device 100, and associates the instruction sheet with the box 132 selected in S47 in the automatic execution mode. Moreover, the application copying unit 124 adds the display of the box number of the box 132 set as the output destination to the icon 410 of the one-touch application 136 copied in S48.

[0137] The document box list screen is usually displayed in order starting from the document box 132 with the smallest document box number, so the larger the document box number, the more screen scrolling operations are required. However, the document box 132 associated with the instruction form of the automatic execution mode is less likely to be opened manually, so the time for such scrolling operations can be ignored. By preferentially selecting the document box with the largest document box number as the document box 132 associated with the instruction form of the automatic execution mode as in S47, an idle document box with the smallest document box number that requires less scrolling operations for manual opening is reserved.

[0138] The above mentioned Figures 6 to 8In the processing flow of , as the output destination of the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136, the file box 132 to which the owner different from the owner of the copy source file box 132 is set is not selected. Furthermore, when there is no file box 132 with the same owner as the copy source file box 132 in the own device 100 (that is, the result of determination in S23 or S32 is No), an idle file box 132 is first selected as the output destination of the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136. This means that as the output destination of the processing result of the copied one-touch application 136, the file box 132 in the own device 100 with the same owner as the copy source file box 132 is selected in priority to the file box 132 in the own device 100 that is not such a file box. Here, the so-called "file box 132 in the own device 100 that is not such a file box" refers to an idle file box 132 and a file box 132 with a different owner.

[0139] The so-called “prioritized” selection of the document box 132 satisfying the first condition means that when there are multiple document boxes 132 with the same other conditions, the document box 132 satisfying the first condition is selected from among the multiple document boxes 132 .

[0140] <Variation 1>

[0141] An example will be described regarding a case where a shared document box exists among the plurality of document boxes 132 in the device 100 .

[0142] A shared file box is a file box in which the users who can save data are not limited. Anyone who uses the device 100 can save data in the shared file box. The access rights management for the data saved in the shared file box includes a case where it is accessible to everyone and a case where it is accessible only to specific users. As an example of the latter, there is the following usage: a shared file box is prepared that is accessible only to managers of a specific business, and each user in charge of the business scans the documents of the business and saves them in the shared file box, thereby submitting the documents to the manager.

[0143] In the above modification, in the process of the application copying unit 124, the process after the determination result of S23, S32 or S34 is negative is the same as that of the above embodiment (i.e. Figure 8 The process is different.

[0144] If the result of determination in S23, S32 or S34 is no, the application copy unit 124 will Fig. 9As shown, it is determined whether the attribute item indicating the processing type of the instruction in the backup data contains a value indicating the type of shared file box that can be used (S50). As the processing content of this type, there is a processing of forwarding data to a place that can be accessed by anyone. And, as another example, the processing of forwarding data to a place that can only be accessed by an administrator who is registered as an access right holder for any shared file box in the own device 100, or the communication address (for example, email address) of the administrator, etc., also corresponds to this type.

[0145] In order to generate backup data containing the above-mentioned type of information, the backup generation unit 122 of the copy source device 100 performs the following processing. That is, the backup generation unit 122 specifies the file box 132 as the output destination of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 as the backup object, and if the file box 132 is associated with an instruction, the processing content of the instruction is analyzed. In addition, if the processing content is data forwarding using various protocols, information such as the location or address of the forwarding target is obtained from the instruction, etc. If the forwarding target is a location on the network, the backup generation unit 122 obtains information about users who have access rights to the location from the system that manages the location. At this time, if the location is accessible to anyone, the information that anyone can access is obtained. The information of users who have access rights to the location of the forwarding target and the information of the address of the forwarding target obtained in this way are information that determines the forwarding target user. As an example of the above-mentioned information, there is the information "accessible to anyone".

[0146] When the processing content of the instruction sheet is data forwarding, the backup generating unit 122 incorporates an attribute item of the processing type "forwarding" and an attribute item indicating information identifying a forwarding destination user into the backup data.

[0147] The application replication unit 124 of the replication target device 100 refers to the values ​​of these attribute items in the backup data to perform the determination of S50. That is, if the processing type indicates something other than "forwarding", the determination result of S50 is No. Moreover, if, although the processing type is "forwarding", it is determined that the information of the forwarding target user does not match the access right holder of any shared file box in the device 100, the determination result of S50 is No. The determination result of S50 is Yes in the case where the processing type is "forwarding" and the information of the forwarding target user is determined to match the access right holder of any shared file box in the device 100. For example, if the information of the forwarding target user is determined to be "accessible to anyone", and there is a shared file box in the device 100 in which anyone can access the data located therein, the determination result of S50 is Yes.

[0148] If the result of determination in S50 is negative, the application copy unit 124 performs Figure 8Processing after S40.

[0149] If the result of the determination in S50 is yes, the application copying unit 124 selects a shared file box to be set as the output destination of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data (S52). In S52, if the information for determining the forwarding destination user in the backup data is "accessible to anyone", the output destination is selected from the shared file boxes that satisfy the condition that is set as "accessible to anyone". Furthermore, if the information for determining the forwarding destination user indicates the ID or address of a specific user, the output destination is selected from the shared file boxes that satisfy the condition that the specific user is set as the access right holder.

[0150] Furthermore, in S52, when there are multiple shared file boxes that meet the conditions, the application copy unit 124 selects one shared file box as the output destination according to a certain criterion. Figure 7 The process of S36 of the present invention is similar to the process of S36, that is, the criterion of selecting the file box with the largest attribute item that is consistent with the copy source file box. Moreover, as another example of the criterion, there is a criterion of selecting the file box with the smallest amount of stored data (e.g., files). According to the criterion, it is easy to select a shared file box with a large free capacity. Moreover, as another example of the criterion, there is a criterion of selecting the file box that is least used (i.e., the file box with the least number of input / output times of data from the user group). If the criterion is used, it is easy to select a shared file box with a small access load from users.

[0151] After S52, the application copying unit 124 resets the file box number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136 in the backup data to the file box number of the file box 132 selected in S52. The one-touch application 136 reset in this way is copied to the storage device 130 (S54). At this time, the application copying unit 124 additionally displays the file box number of the file box 132 set as the output destination to the icon 410 of the one-touch application 136 copied in S54.

[0152] <Variation 2>

[0153] In the above embodiment, when the output destination box number of the one-touch application 136 in the copy destination device 100 is changed from that in the copy source device, the application copying unit 124 displays the changed box number on the icon of the copied one-touch application 136 .

[0154] In addition to such measures, the following measures are available as measures for reducing erroneous operations by the user when the output destination box number of the one-touch application 136 is changed.

[0155] (1) The first countermeasure is to link the file box number before the change to the file box number after the change. In the countermeasure, the application copying unit 124 sets the file box number after the change as an attribute for the file box number (i.e., the file box number before the change) set as the processing result output destination for the one-touch application 136 in the backup data in its own device 100. In addition, the application copying unit 124 sets the attribute indicating the user ID of the user who performed the copy operation of the backup data to the file box 132 in association with the attribute.

[0156] When receiving an operation from a user to open a document box 132 having an attribute of a changed document box number, the control unit 120 of the own device 100 determines whether the user is the user indicated by the user ID attribute corresponding to the attribute. If the result of the determination is yes, the control unit 120 opens the document box 132 indicated by the attribute of the changed document box number instead of the document box 132 having the document box number before the change. If the result of the determination is no, the control unit 120 opens the document box 132 for which the user has performed the opening operation.

[0157] (2) In another measure, each time the control unit 120 executes the one-touch application 136 according to the user's instruction, it records the date and time of the execution, the user ID of the user, and the number of the output destination file box where the processing result obtained by the execution is output. In other words, the user's execution history of the one-touch application 136 is recorded. The recorded execution history may further store information (e.g., name) that specifies the executed one-touch application 136.

[0158] Furthermore, the control unit 120 provides the following screen in response to a request from the user, the screen displaying a list of the execution history of the one-touch application 136 of the user. The user specifies and selects the execution history that matches the processing result of the one-touch application 136 that the user wants to view from the list on the screen based on information such as date and time. The control unit 120 opens the file box 132 of the file box number included in the execution history selected by the user, and displays a list of data in the file box 132. The user selects data to be viewed or operated on from the list.

[0159] The control unit 120 performs the processing of recording the list of such execution histories and accepting the user's selection of the list during a predetermined period starting from the time when the one-touch application 136 is copied according to the instruction from the user. The predetermined period is a period of length required until the user becomes accustomed to the change of the number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result of the one-touch application 136.

[0160] <Variation 3>

[0161] In the above-described embodiments and variations, the control for copying the one-touch application 136 between the devices 100 is performed by the control unit 120 of the device 100, but this is only an example. As another example, the control for copying the one-touch application 136 may be performed by the client PC 200 operated by the user.

[0162] In the modification 3, Fig.10 As shown, the control for copying the one-touch application 136 between the devices 100 is performed by the application copy control unit 202 in the client PC 200 .

[0163] Fig.11 2 shows a part of the processing flow of the application copy control unit 202. Fig.11 In the illustrated flow, when the user operates the client PC 200 to start the application copy control unit 202, the application copy control unit 202 accepts the designation of the copy source and copy destination devices (S60). In the above step, the application copy control unit 202, for example, provides a screen showing a list of devices 100 on the network 300, and accepts the selection of the copy source and copy destination devices 100 on the screen.

[0164] Next, the application copy control unit 202 accesses the control unit 120 of the designated copy source device 100, obtains a list of one-touch applications 136 in the device 100 from the control unit 120, and displays the list. The user selects a one-touch application 136 to be copied from the list. The application copy control unit 202 receives the selection result (S62).

[0165] Furthermore, the application copy control unit 202 determines whether user authentication can be performed between the copy source device 100 and the copy destination device 100 (S64). Figure 6 The same process can be performed in S23.

[0166] The subsequent processing of the application copy control unit 202 may be similar to the processing of the application copy unit 124 in the above-described embodiment, etc., except that the one-touch application 136 or the box management information 134 as the copy target in the copy source device 100 is referred to instead of the backup data.

[0167] For example, if the result of determination in S64 is yes, the application copy control unit 202 obtains the file box number of the output destination file box 132 of the processing result data of the one-touch application 136 from the copy source device 100 (S66). Then, the application copy control unit 202 refers to the file box management information 134 to determine whether an owner is set for the file box 132 with the file box number in the copy destination device 100 (i.e., "the file box 132 with the same number") (S68).

[0168] If the result of determination in S68 is YES, the application copy control unit 202 compares the user ID of the owner of the file box 132 with the same number with the user ID of the owner attribute of the copy source file box 132 to determine whether the two are consistent (S70).

[0169] If the result of determination in S70 is YES, the application copy control unit 202 determines whether the required attributes are consistent between the copy source file box 132 and the file box 132 with the same number (S72). If the result of determination in S72 is YES, the application copy control unit 202 directly copies the one-touch application 136 as the copy object to the storage device 130 as the copy destination (S74).

[0170] If the result of determination in step S64 is negative, the application copy control unit 202 executes the same Figure 8 If the result of determination in S68, S70 or S72 is negative, the application copy control unit 202 executes the same process as shown in FIG. Figure 7 The same processing as shown in the figure. Although the subject of executing the processing is the same as Figure 7 and Figure 8 Although the process situations are different, the processing contents themselves are roughly the same and can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, so the description of these processes is omitted.

[0171] In addition, the device 100 may also be provided with the function of the application copy control unit 202.

[0172] The information processing mechanism of the device 100 and the client PC 200 of the above-described embodiments and variants are realized by executing a program on a computer, and the program represents the functions of the element group constituting the device 100 or the client PC 200. Here, as hardware, the computer has, for example, the following circuit structure, that is, a processor, a memory (one-time storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM), a controller for controlling a fixed storage device such as a flash memory or a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), various input / output (I / O) interfaces, a network interface for controlling the connection with a network such as a local area network, etc., for example, connected via a bus, etc. The program describing the processing content of each function is saved in a fixed storage device such as a flash memory via a network, etc., and installed in the computer. The functional module group illustrated above is realized by reading the program stored in the fixed storage device into the RAM and executing it by the processor.

[0173] Here, the so-called processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, including a general-purpose processor (such as a central processing unit (CPU)) or a special-purpose processor (such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device, etc.).

[0174] Furthermore, the actions of the processors in the above-described embodiments and variations may not be performed by only one processor, but may be performed collaboratively by multiple processors located in physically separate locations. Figure 1 The processing actions of each element are not limited to the order described in the above-mentioned implementation mode and each modified example, and can also be changed appropriately.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a generating means for generating backup data, the backup data including an information processing element possessed by the own device, identification information of a storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the own device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the storage area; as well as A copy component, when inputted with second backup data generated by the generating component of another device, copies the information processing elements in the second backup data to its own device, and if, relative to a storage area represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data among a plurality of storage areas within its own device, there is already an association with a user other than the user indicated by the associated user information contained in the second backup data, searches for a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing elements copied to its own device based on the associated user information contained in the second backup data from a plurality of storage areas within its own device other than the storage area indicated by the identification information.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein The copying means associates, among the storage areas in the own device, the storage areas associated with the user indicated by the associated user information, with the information processing element copied to the own device in preference to the storage areas not associated with the user.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein If there are multiple storage areas associated with the user represented by the associated user information in the storage area within the own device, the copying component will give priority to associating, among the multiple storage areas, a storage area with more attributes that are consistent with the storage area in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data, to the information processing element copied to its own device.

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The copy component associates a storage area in its own device that is associated with the user represented by the associated user information and whose specified required attributes are consistent with the storage area in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data, to the information processing element copied to its own device.

5. The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein If, among the storage areas in the own device that are associated with the user represented by the associated user information, there is no storage area whose specified required attributes are consistent with the storage area in the other device represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data, the copy component determines the storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to its own device from the storage areas in its own device that are not associated with the user.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein The essential attribute of the storage area is a process performed on the data stored in the storage area.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein The essential attribute of the storage area is a network that is permitted to access the storage area among a plurality of networks to which the own device is connected.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein In a case where there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information within the own device, or in a case where user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if there is no associated user with respect to the storage area represented by the identification information within the own device, the copying component determines the storage area as a storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to the own device.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein In a case where there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information within the own device, or in a case where user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if there is an associated user relative to the storage area represented by the identification information within the own device, the copying component determines a storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to the own device from the storage areas within the own device that are not associated with the user.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein In a case where there is no storage area associated with the user represented by the associated user information within the own device, or in a case where user authentication cannot be performed between the other device and the own device, if the forwarding target set as the forwarding target of the data stored in the storage area represented by the identification information in the other device satisfies the specified conditions, the copying component determines the storage area to be associated with the information processing element copied to its own device from the shared storage area in the storage area within its own device that is set as a shared storage area in which any user can save data.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein The prescribed condition regarding the forwarding destination is that the forwarding destination is a place accessible to anyone.

12. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as follows: a generating step of generating backup data, the backup data including an information processing element possessed by the own device, identification information of a storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the own device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the storage area; and A copying step, when second backup data generated by a generating component of another device is input, the information processing elements in the second backup data are copied to the own device, and if there is already a user association other than the user indicated by the associated user information contained in the second backup data with respect to the storage area represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data among multiple storage areas within the own device, then a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing elements copied to the own device is searched based on the associated user information contained in the second backup data from multiple storage areas within the own device other than the storage area indicated by the identification information.

13. An information processing device, comprising: an acquisition component for acquiring an information processing element of a first device, identification information of a first storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the first device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the first storage area; A copy component, which copies the information processing element to a second device; as well as An associating component searches for a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing element copied to the second device from storage areas other than the storage area indicated by the identification information in the second device based on the associated user information if there is already an association with a user other than the user indicated by the associated user information relative to the storage area indicated by the identification information in the storage area within the second device.

14. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as follows: An acquisition step of acquiring an information processing element possessed by a first device, identification information of a first storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the first device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the first storage area; A copying step, copying the information processing element to a second device; as well as An association step, if there is already a user association other than the user indicated by the associated user information with respect to the storage area in the second device represented by the identification information, then a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing element copied to the second device is searched from the storage areas in the second device other than the storage area indicated by the identification information based on the associated user information.

15. A computer program product comprising a program for causing a computer to function as follows: a generating step of generating backup data, the backup data including an information processing element possessed by the own device, identification information of a storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the own device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the storage area; and A copying step, when second backup data generated by a generating component of another device is input, the information processing elements in the second backup data are copied to the own device, and if there is already a user association other than the user indicated by the associated user information contained in the second backup data with respect to the storage area represented by the identification information contained in the second backup data among multiple storage areas within the own device, then a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing elements copied to the own device is searched based on the associated user information contained in the second backup data from multiple storage areas within the own device other than the storage area indicated by the identification information.

16. A computer program product comprising a program for causing a computer to function as follows: An acquisition step of acquiring an information processing element possessed by a first device, identification information of a first storage area associated with the information processing element among a plurality of storage areas in the first device, and associated user information indicating a user associated with the first storage area; A copying step, copying the information processing element to a second device; as well as An association step, if there is already a user association other than the user indicated by the associated user information with respect to the storage area in the second device represented by the identification information, then a storage area suitable for associating with the information processing element copied to the second device is searched from the storage areas in the second device other than the storage area indicated by the identification information based on the associated user information.

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