Information processing system, recording medium, and information processing method

Abstract

An information processing system, a recording medium, and an information processing method. The information processing system includes: a physical device; a service device that performs a service for updating the application program installed in the physical device; and a virtual device of the physical device that holds metadata including information indicating the number of versions of the application program installed in the physical device. The information processing system is provided with one or more processors that: when a service device references metadata and transmits an updated application program to a physical device that is specified as a device to be updated for an application program, the service device transmits request information requesting transmission of the application program to the physical device to a virtual device; when the virtual device receives the request information from the service device, the virtual device transmits the updated application program or instruction information for instructing the application program to be received from the service device to the corresponding physical device, and when the physical device receives the application program or the instruction information from the virtual device, the physical device updates the application program.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, a recording medium and an information processing method. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a web server which aims to improve the operability of settings when sending scanned image data to a cloud service.

[0003] The web server is a web server that can access a cloud service, and is characterized by comprising: a providing unit that provides a setting screen for making settings related to image data to be sent to a client device; a sending unit that sends the image data to be sent to the cloud service according to the settings related to the image data to be sent received from a user of the client device on the setting screen; and a storage unit that stores the settings related to the image data to be sent received from the user on the setting screen in association with the type of the image data to be sent and information of the user, wherein when providing the setting screen for making settings related to image data to be newly sent, the providing unit provides the setting screen for making settings related to the image data to be newly sent in a state reflecting the settings stored in the storage unit, which are stored in association with image data of the same type as the image data to be newly sent and in association with information of the same user who makes the settings related to the image data to be newly sent.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-163983

[0005] In recent years, the technology of virtually implementing the functions and settings of actual devices as shadows on cloud servers has become popular. In addition, the "device" mentioned here refers to various devices, and the "shadow" refers to a virtual device that virtually implements the device.

[0006] In the digital shadow technology, by performing synchronization based on communication between the device and the shadow and performing the following operations, the user can manage the device through the shadow of the cloud server.

[0007] At least one of operating and setting the device is performed by at least one of operating and setting the shadow.

[0008] The shadow is reflected by performing at least one of operation and setting on the device.

[0009] On the other hand, actual devices (hereinafter referred to as "physical devices") update pre-installed or additionally installed applications relatively frequently. In the case of such an update, it is necessary to access multiple physical devices widely circulated in the market. After the physical device to be updated is determined, the application needs to be updated for the physical device, and there is a problem that the update cannot be performed at the same time. In addition, this problem occurs not only in the update of the application itself, but also in the update of the setting information of the application. Hereinafter, this method including this method is referred to as "application update". Summary of the invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, a recording medium, and an information processing method, which can update an application program for a physical device at a time without accessing all the physical devices that may become targets.

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the information processing system involved in the first method includes: a physical device; a service device that performs a service for updating an application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device, which is a virtual device of the physical device and maintains metadata, wherein the metadata includes information indicating the version number of the application installed in the physical device, and the information processing system has one or more processors, and the processors perform the following processing: when the service device sends the updated application to the physical device determined as the device to be updated for the application by referring to the metadata, the service device sends request information requesting the application to be sent to the physical device to the virtual device; when the virtual device receives the request information from the service device, the virtual device sends the updated application to the corresponding physical device, or indicates information indicating receipt of the application from the service device; when the physical device receives the application or the indication information from the virtual device, it performs processing to update the application.

[0012] Furthermore, in the information processing system according to the second aspect, in the information processing system according to the first aspect, after the physical device executes the process of updating the application program, the physical device transmits result information indicating the result of the update to the virtual device.

[0013] Furthermore, in the information processing system according to the third aspect, in the information processing system according to the first aspect or the second aspect, when the physical device receives the instruction information from the virtual device, it pulls and receives the application from the service device.

[0014] Furthermore, in the information processing system involved in the fourth aspect, in the information processing system involved in the third aspect, the indication information includes information indicating a storage destination of the application, and the physical device, when receiving the indication information from the virtual device, receives the application from the service device using the information indicating the storage destination.

[0015] Furthermore, in the information processing system according to a fifth aspect, in the information processing system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the service device is a cloud platform device.

[0016] Furthermore, in the information processing system according to a sixth aspect, in the information processing system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the update of the application is an update of setting information of the application.

[0017] Furthermore, in the information processing system involved in the seventh embodiment, in the information processing system involved in the sixth embodiment, the physical device is an image forming device having an image reading function, and the information serving as an update object in the setting information includes information indicating a transmission destination of the image information obtained by the image reading function of the image forming device.

[0018] Furthermore, in the information processing system according to an eighth aspect, in the information processing system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the application is an add-on application.

[0019] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the recording medium involved in the 9th method records a program, and the program is executed by the service device in the information processing system, and the information processing system includes: a physical device; a service device, which performs a service of updating the application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device, which is a virtual device of the physical device and maintains metadata, and the metadata includes information indicating the version number of the application installed in the physical device, and the program causes the computer to perform the following processing: when sending the updated application to the physical device determined as the device as the update object of the application by referring to the metadata, sending request information for sending the application to the physical device to the virtual device.

[0020] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the information processing method involved in the 10th mode is executed by the service device in the information processing system, and the information processing system includes: a physical device; a service device, which performs a service of updating the application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device, which is a virtual device of the physical device and maintains metadata, and the metadata includes information indicating the version number of the application installed in the physical device, and the information processing method includes the following steps: when sending the updated application to the physical device determined as the device as the update object of the application by referring to the metadata, sending request information for sending the application to the physical device to the virtual device.

[0021] Effects of the Invention

[0022] According to the first aspect, the ninth aspect, and the tenth aspect, it is possible to update the application program to the physical devices at once without accessing all the physical devices that may become the target.

[0023] According to the second aspect, the virtual device can be made aware of the completion of the update of the application program, and as a result, the service device can also be made aware of the completion of the update.

[0024] According to the third aspect, the application program can be transferred to the physical device without passing through the virtual device.

[0025] According to the fourth aspect, the application program can be received using information indicating a storage location.

[0026] According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to handle more physical devices than when the service device is a local device.

[0027] According to the sixth aspect, the setting information of the application can be updated at the same time.

[0028] According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to cope with the update of the transmission destination of the image information obtained by the image forming apparatus having the image reading function.

[0029] According to the eighth aspect, it is possible to cope with additional applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrical system of a first cloud server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an electrical system of a second cloud server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrical system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a metadata database involved in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing involved in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the information processing system involved in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Fig.11 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing involved in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Fig.12 is a flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Fig.13 is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Fig.14 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing involved in the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Fig.15 is a flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Fig.16 This is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Explanation of symbols

[0048] 1-information processing system, 10-first cloud server, 11-CPU, 11A-second transmission unit, 12-memory, 13-storage unit, 13A-second information processing program, 13B-metadata database, 14-input unit, 15-display unit, 16-medium reader / writer, 17-recording medium, 18-communication I / F unit, 30-second cloud server, 31-CPU, 31A-first transmission unit, 32-memory, 33-storage unit, 33A -1st information processing program, 34-input unit, 35-display unit, 36-medium reader / writer, 37-recording medium, 38-communication I / F unit, 50-image forming device, 51-CPU, 51A-execution unit, 51B-3rd sending unit, 52-memory, 53-storage unit, 53A-3rd information processing program, 54-input unit, 55-display unit, 56-medium reader / writer, 57-recording medium, 58-communication I / F unit, N-network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this embodiment, a case where the technology of the present invention is applied to an information processing system that provides a service called digital shadow is described. In the above-mentioned service, various data stored in a physical device connected via a communication line such as the Internet are maintained synchronously with the physical device. Here, the above-mentioned physical device includes various devices such as an image forming device and a personal computer. In addition, the above-mentioned various data include various data such as setting information, history information, status information, structure information, and a recipient table. Hereinafter, a case where an image forming device is applied as the above-mentioned physical device is described.

[0050] [First embodiment]

[0051] First, refer to Figure 1 The configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first cloud server 10 and a second cloud server 30 configured as cloud servers, and a plurality of image forming devices 50A, 50B, ... In addition, hereinafter, when the image forming devices 50A, 50B, ... are not distinguished from each other, they are collectively referred to as "image forming devices 50".

[0053] As examples of the first cloud server 10 and the second cloud server 30, information processing devices such as personal computers and server computers can be cited. In addition, in the present embodiment, a digital multifunction machine having an image printing function, an image reading function, and an image sending function is used as the image forming device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and other image forming devices such as an image forming device having only an image printing function, an image forming device having only an image printing function and an image reading function can also be used as the image forming device 50.

[0054] The first cloud server 10 , the second cloud server 30 , and the image forming apparatus 50 are connected via a network N, and these apparatuses can communicate with each other via the network N.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, a network N is a combination of a public communication line such as the Internet and a telephone line network and an intra-company communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and a WAN (Wide Area Network), but the present invention is not limited to this method. For example, the network N may be a combination of only one of the public communication line and the intra-company communication line. In addition, in this embodiment, a wired and wireless communication line is used as the network N, but the present invention is not limited to this method, and the network N may be a combination of only one of a wireless communication line and a wired communication line.

[0056] Next, refer to Figure 2 The configuration of the first cloud server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrical system of the first cloud server 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the first cloud server 10 involved in this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit: Central Processing Unit) 11 as a processor, a memory 12 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 13, an input unit 14 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 15 such as a liquid crystal display, a medium reader / writer (R / W) 16, and a communication interface (I / F) unit 18. The CPU 11, the memory 12, the storage unit 13, the input unit 14, the display unit 15, the medium reader / writer 16, and the communication I / F unit 18 are connected to each other via a bus B1. The medium reader / writer 16 reads information written in the recording medium 17 and writes information to the recording medium 17.

[0058] The storage unit 13 involved in this embodiment is implemented by a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, etc. A second information processing program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 as a storage medium. The second information processing program 13A is stored (installed) in the storage unit 13 by connecting a recording medium 17 on which the program 13A is written to a medium reader / writer 16, and the medium reader / writer 16 reads the program 13A from the recording medium 17. The CPU 11 reads the second information processing program 13A from the storage unit 13 as appropriate, expands it to the memory 12, and sequentially executes the processes of the second information processing program 13A.

[0059] Furthermore, a metadata database 13B is stored in the storage unit 13. The metadata database 13B will be described in detail later.

[0060] Next, refer to Figure 3 The configuration of the second cloud server 30 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrical system of the second cloud server 30 according to the present embodiment.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the second cloud server 30 involved in this embodiment includes a CPU 31 as a processor, a memory 32 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 33, an input unit 34 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 35 such as a liquid crystal display, a medium reader / writer (R / W) 36, and a communication I / F unit 38. The CPU 31, the memory 32, the storage unit 33, the input unit 34, the display unit 35, the medium reader / writer 36, and the communication I / F unit 38 are connected to each other via a bus B2. The medium reader / writer 36 reads information written in the recording medium 37 and writes information to the recording medium 37.

[0062] The storage unit 33 involved in this embodiment is implemented by a HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, etc. A first information processing program 33A is stored in the storage unit 33 as a storage medium. The first information processing program 33A is stored (installed) in the storage unit 33 by connecting a recording medium 37 on which the program 33A is written to a medium reader / writer 36, and the medium reader / writer 36 reads the program 33A from the recording medium 37. The CPU 31 reads the first information processing program 33A from the storage unit 33 as appropriate, expands it to the memory 32, and sequentially executes the processes of the first information processing program 33A.

[0063] Next, refer to Figure 4 The structure of the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 4This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrical system of the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment.

[0064] like Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 51 as a processor, a memory 52 as a temporary storage area, a nonvolatile storage unit 53, an input unit 54 such as various switches, a display unit 55 such as a liquid crystal display, a medium reader / writer (R / W) 56, and a communication I / F unit 58. The CPU 51, the memory 52, the storage unit 53, the input unit 54, the display unit 55, the medium reader / writer 56, and the communication I / F unit 58 are connected to each other via a bus B3. The medium reader / writer 56 reads information written in a recording medium 57 and writes information to the recording medium 57.

[0065] The storage unit 53 involved in this embodiment is implemented by a HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, etc. A third information processing program 53A is stored in the storage unit 53 as a storage medium. The third information processing program 53A is stored (installed) in the storage unit 53 by connecting a recording medium 57 on which the program 53A is written to a medium reader / writer 56, and the medium reader / writer 56 reads the program 53A from the recording medium 57. The CPU 51 reads the third information processing program 53A from the storage unit 53 as appropriate, expands it to the memory 52, and sequentially executes the process of the third information processing program 53A.

[0066] In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, each image forming device 50 is set as the above-mentioned physical device, and virtual devices corresponding to the physical devices, that is, multiple virtual devices, are constructed in the first cloud server 10. The first cloud server 10 maintains metadata in each virtual device, and the metadata includes information indicating the version number of the application installed in the corresponding physical device. Then, in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the second cloud server 30 is set as a service device that performs a service of updating the application installed in each physical device.

[0067] Next, refer to Figure 5 The functional configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 5 It is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0068] like Figure 5As shown, the second cloud server 30 involved in this embodiment includes a first sending unit 31A, the first cloud server 10 includes a second sending unit 11A, and the image forming device 50 includes an execution unit 51A and a third sending unit 51B. The CPU 31 of the second cloud server 30 functions as the first sending unit 31A by executing the first information processing program 33A. In addition, the CPU 11 of the first cloud server 10 functions as the second sending unit 11A by executing the second information processing program 13A. In addition, the CPU 51 of the image forming device 50 functions as the execution unit 51A and the third sending unit 51B by executing the third information processing program 53A.

[0069] The first sending unit 31A of the second cloud server 30 according to the present embodiment identifies the image forming device 50 as the update target of the application by referring to the metadata stored in the first cloud server 10. Then, when sending the updated application to the identified image forming device 50, the first sending unit 31A sends request information for sending the application to the image forming device 50 to the virtual device, that is, the first cloud server 10.

[0070] On the other hand, when receiving request information from the second cloud server 30 , the second transmission unit 11A of the first cloud server 10 according to the present embodiment transmits the updated application to the corresponding image forming device 50 .

[0071] Then, when receiving the application from the first cloud server 10 , the execution unit 51A of the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment executes a process of updating the application (in the present embodiment, a process of overwriting the received application on the installed application).

[0072] Here, after executing the process of updating the application, the third sending unit 51B of the image forming device 50 according to the present embodiment sends result information indicating the result of the update to the virtual device. In the present embodiment, success or failure information indicating whether the update of the application is successful is applied as the result information, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to the success or failure information, if the update fails, cause information indicating the cause of the failure is applied as the result information.

[0073] In addition, the second cloud server 30 according to the present embodiment is a cloud-type platform device. Therefore, it is possible to handle more image forming devices 50 than when the second cloud server 30 is a local device.

[0074] Furthermore, the application program according to the present embodiment is an add-on application program. Thus, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment can handle the add-on application program.

[0075] Next, refer to Figure 6 The metadata database 13B according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of the metadata database 13B according to the present embodiment.

[0076] The metadata database 13B according to the present embodiment is a database for registering metadata of the image forming device 50 corresponding to the virtual device constructed in the first cloud server 10. Figure 6 As shown, each information of device information and metadata is stored in association with each other.

[0077] The device information is information that is predetermined as different information so that the information processing system 1 can individually identify each of the target image forming devices 50. In addition, in the present embodiment, the UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) ​​of the corresponding image forming device 50 is used as the device information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following method may be used: a combination of the model and serial number of the corresponding image forming device 50 is used as the device information.

[0078] The metadata is information indicating the metadata itself of the corresponding image forming apparatus 50 , and in the present embodiment includes an application ID (Identification), an application name, a version number, setting information, and the like.

[0079] The application ID is information that is predetermined as different information for each application installed in the corresponding image forming apparatus 50 to be individually identified. The application name is information indicating the name of the corresponding application, and the version number is information indicating the version number of the corresponding application. The setting information is information set for the corresponding application.

[0080] exist Figure 6 In the example, the application named as the first application performs the following processing: the image is read (scanned) by the image reading function of the image forming device 50 installed in the application, and the image information obtained thereby is transmitted to a predetermined device. Figure 6As shown, the setting information at this time includes information indicating the transmission destination of the image information, information indicating a user authentication key, etc. In this embodiment, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the transmission destination is used as the information indicating the transmission destination. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and the following method may be used: the UUID of the transmission destination device, the combination of the model and serial number of the transmission destination device, the email address, etc., which indicates other transmission destination devices, is used as the information indicating the above transmission destination.

[0081] Next, refer to Figure 7 to Figure 10 The operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0082] First, refer to Figure 7 The role of the second cloud server 30 when executing the first information processing will be described. Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing according to the present embodiment.

[0083] In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the information processing system 1 receives an update instruction for updating to a newer version of the application from a service center provided by a manufacturer of the target image forming device 50, the CPU 31 of the second cloud server 30 executes the first information processing program 33A to execute the update instruction as an example. Figure 7 The first information processing shown. In addition, in order to avoid complication, the following describes the case where the metadata database 13B has been constructed. And, the following describes the following case: together with the above-mentioned update instruction, the corresponding updated application (hereinafter referred to as "update program") itself and the name information indicating the name of the application and the version number information indicating the version number are sent from the above-mentioned service center to the second cloud server 30.

[0084] exist Figure 7 In step S100 , the CPU 31 refers to all metadata in the metadata database 13B of the first cloud server 10 .

[0085] In step S102, CPU 31 determines whether there is an application represented by the name information received together with the update instruction in the referenced metadata, and an application with a version number lower than the version number represented by the received version number information. Then, if the result of the determination is a negative determination, CPU 31 deems that there is no application to be updated, and ends the first information processing. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is a positive determination, CPU 31 deems that there is an application to be updated (hereinafter referred to as "update object program"), and transfers to step S104.

[0086] In step S104 , the CPU 31 specifies the image forming apparatus 50 in which the update target program is installed (hereinafter referred to as “update target apparatus”) from the device information corresponding to the update target program.

[0087] In step S106, the CPU 31 sends a request message for sending an update program to the corresponding update target device to the first cloud server 10. At this time, the CPU 31 sends the name information, information indicating the update target device (in this embodiment, referred to as the device information of the update target device (hereinafter referred to as "update target device information")), version number information, and the update program itself to the first cloud server 10 in addition to the above request information, and then ends the first information processing.

[0088] Next, refer to Figure 8 The role of the first cloud server 10 when executing the second information processing will be described. Figure 8 This is a flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in this embodiment.

[0089] In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the request information is received from the second cloud server 30, the CPU 11 of the first cloud server 10 executes the second information processing program 13A to execute the second information processing program 13A as an example. Figure 8 In order to avoid complication, the following description will be given for a case where there is only one update target device.

[0090] exist Figure 8 In step S200 , the CPU 11 identifies the update target device indicated by the update target device information received from the second cloud server 30 together with the request information.

[0091] In step S202 , the CPU 11 transmits instruction information instructing to update the update target program indicated by the name information received from the second cloud server 30 together with the request information, to the determined update target device together with the name information and the update program received from the second cloud server 30 .

[0092] Upon receiving the instruction information, the update target device attempts to update the update target program to the received update program, and transmits result information indicating the result to the first cloud server 10 .

[0093] Therefore, in step S204, the CPU 11 waits until the result information is received. In step S206, the CPU 11 determines whether the received result information indicates a problem (update failure in this embodiment), and in the case of an affirmative determination, the process moves to step S208.

[0094] In step S208, the CPU 11 executes a problem handling process that is predetermined as a process for solving the problem, and then terminates the second information processing. In addition, in the present embodiment, the process of sending the update program to the update target device again and causing the update target device to update the update target program again with the sent update program is applied as the problem handling process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following method may be used: the update of the update target program is stopped, and a process of sending information indicating that a problem has occurred in the service center is applied as the problem handling process.

[0095] On the other hand, if the determination is negative in step S206, it is considered that there is no particular problem and the process moves to step S210. In step S210, CPU 11 updates the version number information of the update target program in metadata database 13B to the version number information received from second cloud server 30 and then terminates the second information processing.

[0096] Next, refer to Fig. 9 The operation of the image forming apparatus 50 when executing the third information processing will be described. Fig. 9 This is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in this embodiment.

[0097] In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the instruction information is received from the first cloud server 10, the CPU 51 of the image forming device 50 executes the third information processing program 53A to execute the following steps as an example: Fig. 9 The third information processing is shown.

[0098] exist Fig. 9 In step S300 , the CPU 51 executes a process of updating the update target program indicated by the name information received from the first cloud server 10 together with the instruction information with the received update program (an overwriting process in the present embodiment).

[0099] In step S302 , the CPU 51 transmits the success / failure information as result information to the first cloud server 10 , and then terminates the third information processing.

[0100] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0101] As an example, Fig.10 As shown, in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when receiving an update instruction of an application (an additional application in the present embodiment) from the service center, the second cloud server 30 searches the metadata held by the first cloud server 10 and identifies the physical device as the update target of the application, that is, the image forming device 50. Then, the second cloud server 30 sends the request information to the first cloud server 10, requesting the identified image forming device 50 to update the target application.

[0102] When receiving the request information from the second cloud server 30 , the first cloud server 10 transmits the instruction information together with the updated application to the corresponding image forming device 50 to instruct the update of the application.

[0103] On the other hand, upon receiving the instruction information, the image forming device 50 attempts to update the corresponding application to the application received together with the instruction information, and transmits result information indicating the result to the first cloud server 10 .

[0104] When the first cloud server 10 receives the result information, if the result information indicates that there is a problem (in the present embodiment, if the update fails), the first cloud server 10 executes a process for solving the problem.

[0105] [Second embodiment]

[0106] In this embodiment, an example of a method is described in which, instead of sending the update program to the physical device, information indicating the storage destination of the update program (URL in this embodiment) is sent to the physical device, and the physical device pulls (PULL) the update program from the second cloud server 30. In addition, since the structure of the information processing system 1 involved in this embodiment is substantially the same as the structure involved in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

[0107] Below, reference Figure 11 to Figure 13 The operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0108] First, refer to Fig.11 The role of the second cloud server 30 when executing the first information processing will be described. Fig.11 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing involved in this embodiment. Figure 7In the steps of the same processing as the first information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 7 The same step numbers are used and their descriptions are omitted. In addition, the following describes a case where, together with the update instruction, a URL indicating the storage destination of the update program, name information, and version number information are sent from the service center to the second cloud server 30.

[0109] In step S106B, the CPU 31 sends a request message for sending an update program to the corresponding update target device to the first cloud server 10. At this time, the CPU 31 sends the name information, update target device information, and version number information to the first cloud server 10 in addition to the request message, and sends a URL indicating the storage destination of the update program to the first cloud server 10 instead of the update program, and then ends the first information processing.

[0110] Next, refer to Fig.12 The role of the first cloud server 10 when executing the second information processing will be described. Fig.12 is a flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in this embodiment. Figure 8 In the steps of the same processing as the second information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 8 The same steps are numbered and their descriptions are omitted.

[0111] In step S202B, CPU 11 transmits instruction information for updating the update target program indicated by the name information received from second cloud server 30 together with the request information, to the update target device determined in step S200 , together with the name information and the URL received from second cloud server 30 .

[0112] Upon receiving the instruction information, the update target device attempts to update the update target program to the update program stored in the storage destination indicated by the received URL, and transmits result information indicating the result to the first cloud server 10 .

[0113] Then, in step S208B, the CPU 11 executes a problem handling process that is predetermined as a process for solving the result information received from the update target device, and then terminates the second information processing. In addition, in the present embodiment, the process of sending the URL to the update target device again and causing the update target device to update the update target program again with the update program stored in the storage destination indicated by the sent URL is applied as the problem handling process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following method may be adopted: the update of the update target program is stopped, and the process of sending information indicating that a problem has occurred in the service center is applied as the problem handling process.

[0114] Next, refer to Fig.13 The operation of the image forming apparatus 50 when executing the third information processing will be described. Fig.13 is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in this embodiment. Fig. 9 In the steps of the same processing as the third information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Fig. 9 The same steps are numbered and their descriptions are omitted.

[0115] In step S300B, CPU 51 downloads the update program using the URL received from first cloud server 10 together with the instruction information. Then, CPU 51 executes a process of updating the update target program indicated by the name information received from first cloud server 10 together with the instruction information with the downloaded update program (an overwrite process in this embodiment).

[0116] [Third Embodiment]

[0117] In this embodiment, an example of a method for updating the setting information of an application instead of updating the application is described. Since the structure of the information processing system 1 involved in this embodiment is substantially the same as the structure involved in the first embodiment, the description is omitted here. In addition, as the situation where the above-mentioned setting information is updated, it is possible to exemplify a situation where the cloud-side authentication policy is changed and the user's authentication key needs to be changed, and a situation where the transmission destination of the image information obtained by the image reading function of the image forming device 50 needs to be changed.

[0118] Below, reference Figure 14 to Figure 16 The operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0119] First, refer to Fig.14 The role of the second cloud server 30 when executing the first information processing will be described. Fig.14 is a flowchart showing an example of the first information processing involved in this embodiment. Figure 7In the steps of the same processing as the first information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 7 The same steps are numbered and their descriptions are omitted.

[0120] In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the second cloud server 30 receives an update instruction for updating the setting information of the application from the service center, the CPU 31 of the second cloud server 30 executes the first information processing program 33A to execute the following steps as an example: Fig.14 The first information processing shown. In addition, the following is described below: together with the above-mentioned update instruction, the corresponding updated setting information (hereinafter referred to as "updated setting information") and the name information indicating the name of the application are also sent from the above-mentioned service center to the second cloud server 30.

[0121] In step S100B, the CPU 31 refers to the setting information in the metadata of the metadata database 13B of the first cloud server 10 .

[0122] In step S102B, CPU 31 determines whether there is an application represented by the name information received together with the update instruction in the referenced setting information, and setting information different from the setting information represented by the received update setting information. Then, if the result of the determination is a negative determination, CPU 31 deems that there is no setting information as the update object, and ends the first information processing. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is a positive determination, CPU 31 deems that there is setting information as the update object (hereinafter referred to as "update object setting information"), and transfers to step S104B.

[0123] In step S104B, CPU 31 identifies image forming apparatus 50 (hereinafter also referred to as “update target apparatus”) in which update target setting information is set, from the device information corresponding to the update target setting information.

[0124] In step S106C, the CPU 31 sends a request message for sending update setting information to the corresponding update target device to the first cloud server 10. At this time, the CPU 31 sends the name information, update target device information, and update setting information itself to the first cloud server 10 in addition to the request message, and then ends the first information processing.

[0125] Next, refer to Fig.15 The role of the first cloud server 10 when executing the second information processing will be described. Fig.15 A flowchart showing an example of the second information processing involved in this embodiment is performed with Figure 8In the steps of the same processing as the second information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 8 The same steps are numbered and their descriptions are omitted.

[0126] In step S202C, CPU 11 sends the indication information together with the name information and the update setting information received from the second cloud server 30 to the update object device determined in step S200, wherein the indication information indicates the setting information indicating the update object program represented by the name information received together with the request information from the second cloud server 30.

[0127] Upon receiving the instruction information, the update target device attempts to update the setting information of the update target program to the received update setting information, and transmits result information indicating the result to the first cloud server 10 .

[0128] Then, in step S208C, the CPU 11 executes a problem handling process that is predetermined as a process for solving the result information received from the update target device, and then terminates the second information processing. In addition, in the present embodiment, the process of sending the update setting information to the update target device again and causing the update target device to update the setting information of the update target program to the sent update setting information is applied as the problem handling process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following method may be used: the update of the setting information of the update target program is stopped, and the process of sending information indicating that a problem has occurred in the service center is applied as the problem handling process.

[0129] In step S210B, the CPU 11 updates the update target setting information of the update target program in the metadata database 13B with the update setting information received from the second cloud server 30 , and then terminates the second information processing.

[0130] Next, refer to Fig.16 The operation of the image forming apparatus 50 when executing the third information processing will be described. Fig.16 is a flowchart showing an example of the third information processing involved in this embodiment. Fig. 9 In the steps of the same processing as the third information processing involved in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Fig. 9 The same steps are numbered and their descriptions are omitted.

[0131] In step S300C, CPU 51 executes a process (overwrite process in the present embodiment) of updating the setting information of the update target program indicated by the name information received together with the instruction information with the update setting information received together with the instruction information from the first cloud server 10 .

[0132] In the above embodiments, the image forming device 50 is used as the physical device of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, other devices such as personal computers and mobile information terminals that can use digital shadowing technology can be used as the physical device of the present invention.

[0133] The above embodiments are described, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and the methods to which the changes or improvements are applied are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0134] Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments do not limit the invention involved in the claims, and do not limit all combinations of features described in the embodiments to be the solution means of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiments include inventions of various stages, and various inventions are extracted based on the combination of multiple components disclosed. Even if several components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments, as long as the effect can be obtained, the structure in which the several components are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0135] Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, including a general-purpose processor (for example, a CPU, etc.) or a dedicated processor (for example, a GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0136] Furthermore, the actions of the processors in the above-mentioned embodiments may be performed not only by one processor but also by a plurality of processors in physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the actions of the processors is not limited to the order described in the above-mentioned embodiments but may be changed as appropriate.

[0137] Furthermore, although the “system” in each of the present embodiments is described as being composed of a plurality of devices as an example, it may be composed of a single device.

[0138] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where various processes are implemented by executing a program and using a computer according to a software structure is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can also be set as follows: various processes are implemented by a hardware structure, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software structure.

[0139] Furthermore, the configurations of the first cloud server 10 , the second cloud server 30 , and the image forming device 50 described in the above embodiments are merely examples, and unnecessary portions may be deleted or new portions may be added without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0140] Furthermore, the various processing flows described in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples, and it is apparent that unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0141] (Note) (1)

[0143] An information processing system comprising: a physical device; a service device that performs a service of updating an application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device that is a virtual device of the physical device and holds metadata, the metadata including information indicating the version number of the application installed in the physical device.

[0144] The information processing system comprises one or more processors.

[0145] The processor performs the following processing:

[0146] The service device, when sending the updated application to the physical device determined as the device to be updated by referring to the metadata, sends request information requesting the application to be sent to the physical device to the virtual device,

[0147] When the virtual device receives the request information from the service device, the virtual device sends the updated application to the corresponding physical device, or instruction information for instructing the application to be received from the service device.

[0148] The physical device executes a process of updating the application program when receiving the application program or the instruction information from the virtual device. (2)

[0150] The information processing system according to (1), wherein:

[0151] After executing the process of updating the application program, the physical device transmits result information indicating the result of the update to the virtual device. (3)

[0153] The information processing system according to (1) or (2), wherein:

[0154] The physical device pulls and receives the application from the service device when receiving the instruction information from the virtual device. (4)

[0156] The information processing system according to (3), wherein:

[0157] The indication information includes information indicating a storage destination of the application program.

[0158] When receiving the instruction information from the virtual device, the physical device receives the application from the service device using the information indicating the storage destination. (5)

[0160] The information processing system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein:

[0161] The service device is a cloud-type platform device. (6)

[0163] The information processing system according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein:

[0164] The updating of the application is the updating of the setting information of the application. (7)

[0166] The information processing system according to (6), wherein:

[0167] The physical device is an image forming device having an image reading function,

[0168] The information to be updated in the setting information includes information indicating a transfer destination of image information obtained by the image reading function of the image forming apparatus. (8)

[0170] The information processing system according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein:

[0171] The application is an add-on application.

[0172] According to the information processing system of (1), it is possible to update the application program to the physical devices at once without accessing all the physical devices that may become the target.

[0173] According to the information processing system of (2), the virtual device can be informed of the completion of the update of the application program, and as a result, the service device can also be informed of the completion of the update.

[0174] According to the information processing system according to (3), the application program can be transferred to the physical device without passing through the virtual device.

[0175] According to the information processing system of (4), the application program can be received using the information indicating the storage destination.

[0176] According to the information processing system according to (5), it is possible to handle more physical devices than when the service device is a local device.

[0177] According to the information processing system of (6), it is possible to update the setting information of the application program at the same time.

[0178] According to the information processing system of (7), it is possible to cope with the update of the transmission destination of the image information obtained by the image forming apparatus having the image reading function.

[0179] According to the information processing system involved in (8), it is possible to cope with additional applications.

[0180] The above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are provided for the purpose of illustration and description. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention do not fully and exhaustively include the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the disclosed methods. Obviously, various modifications and changes are self-evident to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. The present embodiment is selected and described in order to most easily understand the principles of the present invention and its application. Thus, other technicians in the art can understand the present invention through various variations optimized for specific uses assumed to be various embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the above claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising: Physical device; A service device for performing a service of updating an application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device which is a virtual device of the physical device and holds metadata including information indicating a version number of the application installed in the physical device, The information processing system comprises one or more processors. The processor performs the following processing: The service device transmits request information for requesting the physical device to transmit the application to the virtual device when transmitting the updated application to the physical device determined as the device to be updated by referring to the metadata. When the virtual device receives the request information from the service device, the virtual device sends the updated application to the corresponding physical device, or instruction information instructing the device to receive the application from the service device. The physical device executes a process of updating the application program when receiving the application program or the instruction information from the virtual device.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: After executing the process of updating the application program, the physical device transmits result information indicating the result of the update to the virtual device.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The physical device pulls and receives the application from the service device when receiving the instruction information from the virtual device.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein: The indication information includes information indicating a storage destination of the application program. When receiving the instruction information from the virtual device, the physical device receives the application from the service device using the information indicating the storage destination.

5. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The service device is a cloud-type platform device.

6. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The updating of the application is the updating of the setting information of the application.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein: The physical device is an image forming device having an image reading function, The information to be updated in the setting information includes information indicating a transfer destination of image information obtained by the image reading function of the image forming apparatus.

8. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The application is an add-on application.

9. A recording medium having a program recorded thereon, wherein the program is executed by a service device in an information processing system, the information processing system comprising: Physical device; A service device for performing a service of updating an application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device which is a virtual device of the physical device and holds metadata including information indicating a version number of the application installed in the physical device, wherein the program causes the computer to execute the following processing: When the updated application is transmitted to the physical device determined as the device to be updated for the application by referring to the metadata, request information for requesting transmission of the application to the physical device is transmitted to the virtual device.

10. An information processing method, which is executed by a service device in an information processing system, the information processing system comprising: A physical device; a service device that performs a service of updating an application installed in the physical device; and a virtual device which is a virtual device of the physical device and holds metadata, the metadata including information indicating the version number of the application installed in the physical device, the information processing method comprising the following steps: When the updated application is transmitted to the physical device determined as the device to be updated for the application by referring to the metadata, request information for requesting transmission of the application to the physical device is transmitted to the virtual device.

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