Cloud system, cloud linking system, image forming apparatus, control method, and storage medium

Abstract

The present application relates to a cloud system, a cloud linking system, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium. The cloud linking system is connected to another cloud linking system. A first cloud service connected to the cloud linking system and not connected to the other cloud linking system and a second cloud service connected to the other cloud linking system are included in a cloud service list.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cloud system, a cloud link system, an imaging device, a control method, and a non-transitory storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In response to recent trends in diversified work styles, businesses have adopted new work methods, including remote work and satellite offices, and are actively using cloud services to improve operational efficiency. Consequently, imaging devices, traditionally used primarily in the office, are now accessible from user location, and solutions for transferring scanned image data to cloud services are being added to the functionality of these imaging devices. Examples of such solutions also include those for printing documents retrieved from cloud services. These solutions provide a cloud link service between the imaging device and the cloud service, with the cloud service serving as the connection destination, thus enabling the link between the imaging device and the cloud service. This allows users to select the desired cloud service using the imaging device's user interface (UI) panel, allowing them to access cloud services via the imaging device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-88759 discusses how an administrator of an imaging device can set up the availability of cloud services for each user and display the cloud services that users are allowed to use on the UI panel of the imaging device.

[0004] In the system configuration where the cloud link service connects to multiple cloud services as described above, as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-88759, it is shown that... Figure 5B The image shown is for selecting a cloud service that can be connected from the imaging device. However, the technology discussed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-88759 is not applicable to the system configuration that connects multiple cloud link services as described below. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cloud system includes: a cloud linking system configured to provide a cloud linking service, the cloud linking system being connected via a network to an imaging device and one or more cloud services; and an imaging device, wherein the imaging device includes: a receiving unit configured to accept a selection of the cloud linking service as a function to be used by a user; a requesting unit configured to send an acquisition request to the cloud linking system, upon the receiving unit accepting the selection of the cloud linking service, to acquire information relating to a cloud service that can be used in the imaging device; a receiving unit configured to receive information relating to the cloud service transmitted from the cloud linking system; and a display control unit. The display control unit is configured to control the display unit to display a list of cloud services by using received information related to the cloud services. The cloud linking system includes: a management unit configured to manage information related to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the information related to the cloud services to the imaging device based on the information managed by the management unit and according to the acquisition request. The cloud linking system is connected to another cloud linking system, and the list of cloud services includes a first cloud service connected to the cloud linking system but not to the other cloud linking system, and a second cloud service connected to the other cloud linking system.

[0006] Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is an overall view of the cloud system's configuration examples.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an imaging device.

[0009] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example for a cloud link service.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the sequence of processes between the illustrated devices.

[0011] Figures 5A to 5C These are examples of service selection screens for their respective imaging devices.

[0012] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the duplicate service control process in the cloud link service.

[0013] Figures 7A to 7CThese are examples of service selection screens for their respective imaging devices. Detailed Implementation

[0014] Examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments described below do not limit the invention referenced in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the exemplary embodiments are necessary for resolving the present invention.

[0015] Figure 1 The illustration shows the configuration of a cloud system according to this exemplary embodiment.

[0016] In recent years, in order to meet various usage needs, for example, Figure 1 As shown, a connection is established between Cloud Link Service 120 and Cloud Link Service 121. Cloud Link Service 120 is managed by the satellite office, while Cloud Link Service 121 is managed by headquarters. Figure 1 In the middle, cloud link service 120 is connected to cloud services 130 and 131, while cloud link service 121 is connected to cloud services 132 and 133.

[0017] The connection between the two cloud link services 120 and 121 enables the imaging device 110, installed in the satellite office, to access cloud link service 121 via cloud link service 120. The imaging device 110 can also access cloud services 132 and 133 connected to cloud link service 121. In other words, the connection between the two cloud link services 120 and 121 allows the imaging device 110 to access not only cloud services 130 and 131, but also cloud services 132 and 133 via cloud link services 120 and 121. Similarly, the imaging device 111 can access not only cloud services 132 and 133, but also cloud services 130 and 131 via cloud link services 120 and 121.

[0018] When the two cloud link services 120 and 121 are interconnected in the manner described above, such as Figure 5A As shown, three icons are displayed on screen 501 of the UI panel of the imaging device 110 installed in the satellite office. Specifically, in addition to the icons for cloud services 130 and 131, an icon for cloud link service 121 is also displayed. When the user selects cloud link service 121, as... Figure 5B As shown, on screen 502 of the UI panel, two icons for cloud services 132 and 133 connected to cloud link service 121 are displayed.

[0019] More specifically, if a user wishes to use cloud service 133 via imaging device 110 in a satellite office, the user must sequentially select the icon for cloud link service 121 on screen 501 of the UI panel and then select the icon for cloud service 133 on screen 502 of the UI panel. In other words, the complexity of user operation increases with the complexity of system configuration, thus reducing the operability of the user in selecting cloud services.

[0020] Client terminals 100 and 101 are the client terminals for setting up cloud link services 120 and 121, respectively. Imaging devices 110 and 111 are multifunctional devices, each with multiple functions such as scanning and printing. Cloud link services 120 and 121 are examples of services that have the function of transferring image files scanned by imaging devices 110 and 111 to external cloud services 130 to 133. Cloud link services 120 and 121 are services provided by the cloud link system, and each is connected to one or more cloud services. Cloud services 130 to 133 are web services that can be used as various applications such as storage devices, infrastructure systems, and operating systems.

[0021] In the above configuration, the imaging device 110 transmits scanned images to cloud services 130 and 131 via cloud link service 120. Furthermore, cloud link service 120 can access cloud services 132 and 133 via cloud link service 121. That is, the imaging device 110 can also transmit scanned images to cloud services 132 and 133 via cloud link services 120 and 121.

[0022] Examples of methods for operating multiple services in a linked manner in a system according to an exemplary embodiment include using authentication methods such as Open Authentication (OAuth). This technology enables establishing links between cloud link service 120 and cloud services 130 and 131, between cloud link service 121 and cloud services 132 and 133, and between cloud link services 120 and 121.

[0023] While the system according to the exemplary embodiment has a configuration including imaging devices 110 and 111 and cloud link services 120 and 121, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, imaging device 110 may also function as cloud link service 120. Cloud link services 120 and 121 may be provided and interconnected on a local area network (LAN) server rather than on the Internet. The aforementioned components communicate with each other via a network connection. For example, the network may be any one of a LAN, a wide area network (WAN), a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, and the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) of the Internet. Alternatively, the network may be a communication network of a combination of the aforementioned networks. Any network can be used, as long as it can transmit and receive data.

[0024] Figure 2 An example of the hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus is illustrated. According to an exemplary embodiment, the information processing apparatus includes a server computer in a data center, the data center being equipped with a cloud link system providing cloud link service 120. The same configuration applies to cloud link service 121 and cloud services 130 to 133. According to an exemplary embodiment, a general hardware configuration for the information processing apparatus can also be applied to client terminals 100 and 101 and imaging devices 110 and 111, and may have… Figure 2 Configuration not shown in the diagram.

[0025] The Central Processing Unit (CPU) 201 directly or indirectly controls devices (Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.) internally connected to the CPU 201 to execute programs for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. ROM 202 stores the Basic Input / Output System (BIOS). RAM (Direct Storage Device) 203 serves as the working area of ​​the CPU 201 and as the main storage device for loading software modules for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Storage device 204 stores the operating system (OS) that acts as the base software and applications. Specific examples of storage device 204 include hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Network interface (I / F) 205 is an interface for connecting to the Internet and networks. Cloud link services 120 and 121 accept processing requests from client terminals 100 and 101, imaging devices 110 and 111, and cloud services 130 to 133 via the respective network I / F 205, perform various processing, and transmit and receive information.

[0026] Figure 3 Examples of software configurations for Cloud Link Services 120 and 121 are illustrated. Cloud Link Service 120 is described as a typical example, and redundant descriptions will be omitted since Cloud Link Service 121 has a similar configuration to Cloud Link Service 120.

[0027] This is achieved by, for example, CPU 201 reading the program stored in ROM 202 into RAM 203 and executing the program. Figure 3The software configuration is shown below. The settings management unit 301 stores settings related to various functions of the cloud link service 120 in memories such as RAM 203 and storage device 204, and reads settings from said memories. The job management unit 302 saves jobs received from the imaging device 110 in the data storage unit 305. The communication unit 303 has functions for connecting components. The authentication control unit 304 has functions for implementing authentication such as OAuth. The user interface (UI) control unit 306 has functions for implementing UI display and various functions on the cloud link service 120.

[0028] [Software Processing in the First Exemplary Embodiment]

[0029] The following describes a method to improve the operability of the UI panel when the user selects a service linked to the cloud link service 121 from the imaging device 110.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the processing performed by imaging device 110 and cloud link services 120 and 121. In this sequence, imaging device 110 displays a list of services linked to cloud link services 120 and 121.

[0031] When the user operates the imaging device 110, in step S401, the imaging device 110 determines whether to select the cloud link service 120 on the UI panel. If the imaging device 110 determines to select the cloud link service 120, the process proceeds to step S402.

[0032] In step S402, the imaging device 110 requests the cloud link service 120 to obtain a list of link services.

[0033] In step S403, cloud link service 120 obtains a list (A) of services linked to cloud link service 120. Table 1 is an example of service list (A) and includes service names and service Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Table 1 includes service A 130, service B 131, and cloud link service 121, and these three services are linked to cloud link service 120. The information that can be obtained as a service list is not specifically limited, as long as the information is related to the services linked to cloud link service 120.

[0034] [Table 1]

[0035] Service List (A)

[0036] Service A 130 http: / / service-a.com / Service B 131 http: / / service-b.com / Cloud Link Service 121 http: / / server121.image-handle.com /

[0037] In step S404, cloud link service 120 determines whether cloud link service 121 is in service list (A). For example, if the service URL in service list (A) obtained in step S403 includes a specific domain (e.g., "image-handle.com"), cloud link service 120 determines that cloud link service 121 is in service list (A). If cloud link service 120 determines that cloud link service 121 is in service list (A), the process proceeds to step S405. If cloud link service 120 determines that cloud link service 121 is not in service list (A), the process proceeds to step S409. Although the existence of a service is determined based on the URL of a domain in the first exemplary embodiment, the determination method is not specifically limited, as long as it can determine whether the service exists.

[0038] In step S405, cloud link service 120 requests cloud link service 121 to obtain a list of services linked to cloud link service 121.

[0039] In step S406, cloud link service 121 obtains a list (B) of services linked to cloud link service 121. Table 2 is an example of the service list (B) and includes service names and service URLs. Table 2 includes services C 132 and D 133, and these two services are linked to cloud link service 121.

[0040] [Table 2]

[0041] Service List (B)

[0042] Service C 132 http: / / service-c.com / Service D 133 http: / / service-d.com /

[0043] In step S407, cloud link service 121 notifies cloud link service 120 of the service list (B).

[0044] In step S408, cloud link service 120 combines service list (A) and service list (B). The combined service list (Table 3) manages information related to cloud services that can be used in imaging device 110. The combined service list includes cloud services 130 and 131 connected to cloud link service 120, and cloud services 132 and 133 connected to cloud link service 121. Cloud link service 121, which is included in service list (A), is not included here.

[0045] [Table 3]

[0046] List of combined services (A+B)

[0047] Service A 130 http: / / service-a.com / Service B 131 http: / / service-b.com / Service C 132 http: / / service-c.com / Service D 133 http: / / service-d.com /

[0048] In step S409, cloud link service 120 notifies imaging device 110 of the service list (A+B) combined in step S408. Cloud link service 120 transmits information related to cloud services available for use in imaging device 110 to imaging device 110. Meanwhile, in step S404, if cloud link service 120 determines that cloud link service 121 is not in service list (A), the only information to be notified is service list (A). In step S410, imaging device 110 uses the received information related to cloud services to control a display unit (not shown) to display the cloud service list. The display unit can be the operation panel of imaging device 110 or a display of a different device. The user can select any one of cloud services 130 to 133 from the cloud service list displayed on the display unit.

[0049] As described above, conventionally, users must perform two selection operations on screens 501 and 502 of the UI panel of the imaging device 110 to select a service linked to the cloud link service 121 on the imaging device 110. Using a method for displaying a service list, according to the first exemplary embodiment, a list of services linked to the cloud link services 120 and 121 is displayed on the UI panel of the imaging device 110. Therefore, as... Figure 5C As shown, users can select a service linked to the cloud link service 121 by making a selection operation on screen 503 of the UI panel of the imaging device 110, thereby improving user operability. Although information related to the service list is obtained each time the user performs an operation in the first exemplary embodiment, if information related to the service list has been obtained in the past, a series of processes can be skipped by using cached information obtained during the previous processing execution.

[0050] [Software Processing in the Second Exemplary Embodiment]

[0051] In the above description, according to the first exemplary embodiment, services linked to cloud link services 120 and 121 are collectively displayed. However, according to the method, when cloud link services 120 and 121 are linked to the same service, the same service is repeatedly displayed on the UI panel of the imaging device 110. For example, in Figure 7A On screen 701 of the UI panel shown, cloud service 130 linked to cloud link service 120 and cloud service 121 are displayed as duplicate icons. Because the display area of ​​the UI panel is limited, if there are many linked services, they cannot be displayed on a single screen, thus reducing usability.

[0052] Therefore, in cases where services are displayed repeatedly, hiding one service can improve usability. However, this measure is not always effective. For example, if the same service is used by different accounts for repeated displays, hiding one of the duplicate service icons simply to avoid duplication would prevent users from accessing the service using the intended account.

[0053] This type of problem will be specifically described using an example case where the account used to link to cloud service 130 via cloud link service 120 is "User A" and the account used to link to cloud service 130 via cloud link service 121 is "User B". In this case, if cloud service 130 linked to cloud link service 120 is hidden from the UI panel, the user will not be able to use cloud service 130 on imaging device 110 using account "User A".

[0054] In the second exemplary embodiment, in addition to the method in the first exemplary embodiment, a method for efficiently repeating the display of services without reducing the usability of the UI panel is also described. According to the second exemplary embodiment, redundant descriptions related to system configuration, application UI, etc., similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment, are omitted.

[0055] [Software Processing and Flowchart in the Second Exemplary Embodiment]

[0056] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the detailed processes related to recurring services in the cloud link service 120. This process begins after the processing in step S408 is executed in the first exemplary embodiment.

[0057] In step S601, it is determined whether there are duplicate services. For example, Table 4 shows an example of a service list (A+B), which includes the service name, service URL, cloud link service, and account.

[0058] [Table 4]

[0059] List of combined services (A+B)

[0060] Service A 130 http: / / service-a.com / 120 User A Service A 130 http: / / service-a.com / 121 User A Service B 131 http: / / service-b.com / 121 User B

[0061] In Table 4, service A130 is managed as a service linked to cloud link service 120 associated with account "User A". Furthermore, service A130 is managed as a service linked to cloud link service 121 associated with account "User A", and service B131 is managed as a service connected to cloud link service 121 associated with account "User B". That is, service A130 is managed repeatedly in Table 4, therefore duplicate services are identified. If duplicate services exist ("Yes" in step S601), the process proceeds to step S602. If no duplicate services exist ("No" in step S601), the process ends.

[0062] In step S602, it is determined whether the accounts for the duplicate services are the same. For example, as shown in Table 4, service A130 is managed repeatedly, and the accounts for the duplicate services are all the same "User A". In this case, it is determined that the accounts for the duplicate services are the same. If the accounts are the same ("Yes" in step S602), the process proceeds to step S603. If the accounts are different ("No" in step S602), the process ends.

[0063] In step S603, one of the items in Table 4 that are repeatedly managed and use the same account is removed from the service list to obtain Table 5, and the process ends.

[0064] [Table 5]

[0065] Service list after duplicate services are deleted (A+B)

[0066] Service A 130 http: / / service-a.com / 120 User A Service B 131 http: / / service-b.com / 121 User B

[0067] Due to the processing in step S603, the cloud link service 120 can avoid sending a duplicate service notification to the imaging device 110 in step S409, therefore... Figure 7B The minimum required services are displayed as shown in screen 702 of the UI panel shown. Although service A 130 linked to cloud link service 121 is removed in the second exemplary embodiment, service A 130 linked to cloud link service 120 may also be removed.

[0068] The above describes a method for displaying the minimum required services on the UI panel of the imaging device 110 based on information related to duplicate services and the account using the duplicate services. According to this method, duplicate services are displayed effectively without reducing the usability of the UI panel.

[0069] In the second exemplary embodiment, duplicate display of the service is suppressed to avoid decreased availability. However, in cases where different accounts use the same service, such as... Figure 7AAs shown in screen 701, services with the same name are displayed on the UI panel of the imaging device 110. Therefore, for example, if a user expects to select cloud service 130 with user B's account, the user cannot identify which account to select and thus uses the desired account to access the cloud service. Therefore, as... Figure 7C As shown in screen 703, each icon displays not only the cloud service name but also at least one of the specific name of the cloud-linked service and the account associated with it. Therefore, even in cases where duplicate services exist and the accounts using these services differ, the desired service with the desired account can be appropriately selected.

[0070] According to the first and second exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, in a system location where multiple cloud link services are interconnected, user availability for selecting cloud services can be improved.

[0071] Other embodiments

[0072] Embodiments of this disclosure can also be implemented by a computer that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform one or more of the functions described above, and / or includes a system or apparatus comprising one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing one or more of the functions described above. Furthermore, embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented using methods by which the computer of the system or apparatus, for example, reads and executes computer-executable instructions from a storage medium to perform one or more of the functions described above, and / or controls the one or more circuits to perform one or more of the functions described above. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU)) and may include separate computers or a network of separate processors to read and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), the memory of a distributed computing system, or an optical disc (such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile optical disc (DVD), or a Blu-ray disc (BD)). TM One or more of the following: flash memory devices and memory cards.

[0073] The embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by providing software (programs) that perform the functions of the above embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer or central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor unit (MPU) of the system or device reads out and executes the program.

[0074] Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The appended claims should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense to cover all such variations and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A cloud system, the cloud system comprising: A first cloud link system, configured to provide a first cloud link service, the first cloud link system being connected to an imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network; A second cloud link system, configured to provide a second cloud link service, is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. as well as Imaging device, The imaging device includes: The receiving unit is configured to accept the user's selection of the first cloud link service. A requesting unit, configured to send an acquisition request to the first cloud linking system upon acceptance by the receiving unit of the selection of the first cloud linking service, to obtain information related to cloud services that can be used in the imaging device. A receiving unit, configured to receive information relating to the cloud service that can be used in the imaging device, the information being transmitted from the first cloud link system, and The display control unit is configured to control the display unit to display a list of cloud services by using received information relating to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device. The first cloud connection system includes: The management unit is configured to manage information related to the first cloud service connected to the first cloud link system. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire information related to the second cloud service connected to the second cloud linking system when the managed information related to the first cloud service includes information related to the second cloud linking service provided by the second cloud linking system. The determining unit is configured to determine whether the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services, and if they are determined to be duplicate services, further determine whether the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same. A transmission unit is configured to, based on the acquisition request, transmit one of the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device if it is determined that the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same; and transmit both the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device if it is determined that the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are different.

2. The cloud system according to claim 1, wherein, The user can select any cloud service from the cloud service list, including the first cloud service and the second cloud service.

3. The cloud system according to claim 1, wherein, When the receiving unit accepts the selection of the first cloud link service, the display control unit causes the display unit to display a list of cloud services including the first cloud service and the second cloud service by using the received information related to the cloud service that can be used in the imaging device.

4. The cloud system according to claim 1, wherein, The management unit manages information related to cloud services, including the first cloud service and the second cloud service, as cloud services that can be used in the imaging device.

5. The cloud system according to claim 1, wherein, The management unit manages information related to the one or more first cloud services connected to the first cloud link system.

6. The cloud system according to claim 1, in, The first cloud connection system also includes: The second request unit is configured to send a second request to the second cloud link system to obtain information related to one or more second cloud services connected to the second cloud link system. The second receiving unit is configured to receive information related to the second cloud service, including information related to the second cloud service, from the second cloud link system. The management unit manages the information related to the second cloud service received by the second receiving unit.

7. The cloud system according to claim 1, in, The management unit manages the information related to the first cloud service in such a way that each of the first cloud services is associated with an account, and Wherein, if the information related to the first cloud service managed by the management unit includes information related to multiple cloud services that are the same cloud service and have the same account, the information related to the multiple cloud services will be managed as information related to one cloud service.

8. The cloud system according to claim 7, wherein, When the information managed by the management unit related to the first cloud service includes information related to multiple cloud services that are the same cloud service and have the same account, the display control unit displays the information related to the multiple cloud services as the information related to the one cloud service in the cloud service list.

9. The cloud system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The display control unit displays at least one of the following in the cloud service list: information related to the cloud link system connected to the cloud service and information related to the account associated with the cloud service.

10. The cloud system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, If it is determined that the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services, in the cloud service list, the display control unit displays, in association with the first cloud service, at least one of the information related to the first cloud link system connected to the first cloud service and the information related to the account corresponding to the first cloud service, and in association with the second cloud service, displays at least one of the information related to the second cloud link system connected to the second cloud service and the information related to the account corresponding to the second cloud service.

11. The cloud system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The display unit is included in the imaging device.

12. A cloud-connected system, the cloud-connected system being connected to an imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network, the cloud-connected system comprising: A management unit configured to manage information relating to a first cloud service connected to the cloud link system; An acquisition unit is configured to acquire information related to a second cloud service connected to the other cloud linking system when the managed information related to the first cloud service includes information related to another cloud linking service provided by another cloud linking system. The determining unit is configured to determine whether the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services, and if they are determined to be duplicate services, further determine whether the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same. A transmission unit is configured to, in response to a request to obtain information relating to a cloud service that can be used in the imaging device, transmit one of the managed information relating to the first cloud service and the obtained information relating to the second cloud service to the imaging device if it is determined that the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same, and transmit both the managed information relating to the first cloud service and the obtained information relating to the second cloud service to the imaging device if it is determined that the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are different.

13. An imaging apparatus connected to a first cloud linking system providing a first cloud linking service, the imaging apparatus comprising: A receiving unit, configured to accept a user's selection of the first cloud link service; A requesting unit is configured to send an acquisition request to the first cloud linking system to obtain information related to cloud services that can be used in the imaging device, provided that the receiving unit accepts the selection of the first cloud linking service. A receiving unit configured to receive information relating to the cloud service that can be used in the imaging device, the information being transmitted from the first cloud link system; as well as The display control unit is configured to control the display unit to display a list of cloud services by using information received by the receiving unit relating to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device. The first cloud link system is connected to the second cloud link system. The first cloud link system is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. The second cloud link system provides a second cloud link service and is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. Specifically, the first cloud linking system manages information related to a first cloud service connected to the first cloud linking system. If the managed information related to the first cloud service includes information related to a second cloud linking service provided by the second cloud linking system, the system acquires information related to a second cloud service connected to the second cloud linking system. It then determines whether the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services. If they are duplicate services, it further determines whether the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same. If the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same, the system transmits one of the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device according to the acquisition request. Furthermore, if the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are different, the system transmits both the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device.

14. A control method for an imaging device, the imaging device being connected to a first cloud link system providing a first cloud link service, the control method comprising: Accept the user's choice of the first cloud link service; Upon accepting the selection of the first cloud link service, a request is sent to the first cloud link system to obtain information related to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device. Receive information relating to the cloud service that can be used in the imaging device, the information being transmitted from the first cloud link system; as well as By using the received information related to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device, the display unit is controlled to display a list of cloud services. The first cloud link system is connected to the second cloud link system. The first cloud link system is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. The second cloud link system provides a second cloud link service and is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. The system includes a first cloud linking system that manages information related to a first cloud service connected to it. If the managed information related to the first cloud service includes information related to a second cloud service provided by a second cloud linking system, the system acquires information related to a second cloud service connected to the second cloud linking system. It then determines whether the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services. If they are duplicate services, it further determines whether the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same. If the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same, the system transmits one of the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device according to the acquisition request. If the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are different, the system transmits both the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, wherein, The program causes the processor of the imaging device connected to the first cloud link system providing the first cloud link service to perform: Accept the user's choice of the first cloud link service; Upon accepting the selection of the first cloud link service, a request is sent to the first cloud link system to obtain information related to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device. Receive information relating to the cloud service that can be used in the imaging device, the information being transmitted from the first cloud link system; as well as By using the received information related to the cloud services that can be used in the imaging device, the display unit is controlled to display a list of cloud services. The first cloud link system is connected to the second cloud link system. The first cloud link system is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. The second cloud link system provides a second cloud link service and is connected to the imaging device and one or more cloud services via a network. The system includes a first cloud linking system that manages information related to a first cloud service connected to it. If the managed information related to the first cloud service includes information related to a second cloud service provided by a second cloud linking system, the system acquires information related to a second cloud service connected to the second cloud linking system. It then determines whether the first cloud service and the second cloud service are duplicate services. If they are duplicate services, it further determines whether the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same. If the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are the same, the system transmits one of the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device according to the acquisition request. If the account corresponding to the first cloud service and the account corresponding to the second cloud service are different, the system transmits both the managed information related to the first cloud service and the acquired information related to the second cloud service to the imaging device.

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