Information processing system and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system and a program capable of performing synchronization processing without affecting user work.SOLUTION: From among synchronization processes for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the system itself, a processor is provided for executing processes that affect user work at a timing that does not affect the user work.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes an information processing device that can switch the reflection process for a request to change setting data in accordance with the configuration and capabilities of options, thereby completing the setting reflection process while reducing unnecessary restart processes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6574558 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is known an information processing system that periodically performs a synchronization process to synchronize data stored in an external device with data in the system, or performs the process based on instructions from an administrator user, etc., so that information such as the system's settings and usage status can be sent from the system to an external device and reflected in the data stored in the external device, or the settings of the data stored in the external device can be reflected in the system.

[0005] Since the synchronization process includes a process for changing the settings required for the operation of the system itself, the processes that can be executed in the system are limited during the execution of the synchronization process. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the user's operations in the system during the execution of the synchronization process, which causes a problem of affecting the user's work.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing system and a program capable of performing synchronization processing without affecting user work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing system of the first aspect includes a processor, and the processor executes a synchronization process for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the system, the synchronization process affecting a user's work, at a timing that does not affect the user's work.

[0008] An information processing system of a second aspect is the information processing system of the first aspect, wherein the processor executes a synchronization process within a preset time range.

[0009] An information processing system of a third aspect is the information processing system of the second aspect, wherein the processor sets a time range based on an instruction from a user.

[0010] In an information processing system of a fourth aspect, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor executes a synchronous process that is instructed to be executed exceptionally, regardless of a preset time range.

[0011] In an information processing system of a fifth aspect, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor executes a synchronous process instructed to be executed immediately, regardless of a preset time range.

[0012] In a sixth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, when the synchronization processing includes synchronization processing of setting information, which is information regarding settings necessary for the operation of the system, the processor successively executes the synchronization processing of the setting information and the restart processing associated with the synchronization processing, and sets the period during which the synchronization processing of the setting information and the restart processing associated with the synchronization processing are being executed to a prohibited period during which operation input from the user is prohibited.

[0013] In an information processing system of a seventh aspect, in the information processing system of the sixth aspect, the processor accepts operation inputs other than those related to instructions to execute processing even during a prohibited period.

[0014] In an information processing system of an eighth aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor accepts operation input from a user even during synchronization processing, and if the processing of the content of the operation input cannot be executed in parallel with the synchronization processing, the processor stops the ongoing synchronization processing and executes the processing of the content of the operation input.

[0015] An information processing system of a ninth aspect is the information processing system of the eighth aspect, wherein the processor executes the stopped synchronization process after the execution of the process corresponding to the content of the operational input is completed.

[0016] The program of the tenth aspect causes a computer to execute a step of executing a synchronization process that synchronizes data stored in an external device with data in the system, the process affecting user operations, at a timing that does not affect the user operations. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the information processing system of the first aspect, it is possible to perform synchronization processing without affecting the user's work.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, it is possible to carry out the synchronization process at a time when the user is not expected to use the information processing system.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, it is possible to carry out the synchronization process at a time desired by the user.

[0020] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, necessary synchronous processing can be executed even during a time period when synchronous processing is set not to be executed.

[0021] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, it is possible to execute synchronous processing that requires immediate execution even during a time period when synchronous processing is set not to be executed.

[0022] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, the prohibition period can be made shorter than when the entire period during the synchronization process is set as the prohibition period.

[0023] According to the information processing system of the seventh aspect, even during the prohibited period, it is possible to allow the user to perform operation input other than that related to an instruction to execute a process.

[0024] According to the information processing system of the eighth aspect, even during the synchronization process, the processing of the content of the operation input by the user can be executed with priority over the synchronization process.

[0025] According to the information processing system of the ninth aspect, the stopped synchronization process can also be executed.

[0026] According to the program of the tenth aspect, it is possible to carry out synchronization processing without affecting the user's work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a digital shadow according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 11 is a diagram for explaining a synchronization process performed between a cloud server and an image forming apparatus; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the type of synchronization process and a prohibited period. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a digital shadow system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a synchronization process performed between a cloud server 20 and image forming devices 10A and 10B.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the digital shadow system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that two image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B installed at a site A and a cloud server 20 are connected via the Internet 30. The image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B are connected to each other via a network 40 within the site A. The image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B are devices called multifunction devices having multiple functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B are an example of an information processing system in the technology of the present disclosure. The cloud server 20 is an example of an external device in the technology of the present disclosure.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the cloud server 20 provides a service called digital shadow that synchronizes and holds various data such as setting information, history information, status information, device information, and address lists stored in physical devices connected via the Internet 30 with the physical devices.

[0031] Specifically, the cloud server 20 stores various data such as setting information, history information, status information, device information, and destination list of the image forming devices 10A and 10B, which are physical devices, while performing synchronization processing with the image forming devices 10A and 10B.

[0032] Here, the setting information is information related to settings required for the operation of the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B.

[0033] In addition, the history information is information regarding the history of jobs such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing performed on image forming devices 10A and 10B, such as the execution time of the job, the number of times it was performed, and the amount charged when these jobs were executed.

[0034] In addition, status information is information regarding the state of image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B that changes over time, such as the remaining amounts of consumables such as toner and paper in image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B, and the operating status of image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B (operating normally or stopped due to an abnormality).

[0035] The device information is information about the device configuration of the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B, that is, information about the functions implemented in the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B.

[0036] The destination table is information such as the name, facsimile number, and email address managed for each destination.

[0037] According to such a service, even if a terminal device that manages a certain device cannot directly connect to the device to be managed, the terminal device can check the status of the device and manage the device by changing settings, etc. For example, a case where an external terminal device 60 attempts to change the setting information of the image forming device 10A will be described. First, the external terminal device 60 changes the setting information of the image forming device 10A in the cloud server 20. Then, when the image forming device 10A executes a synchronization process with the cloud server 20, the image forming device 10A acquires the updated setting information and changes the setting information of its own device.

[0038] In other words, by using such a service, even if the external terminal device 60 cannot connect to the image forming devices 10A and 10B set at site A, it will be possible to check the status of the image forming devices 10A and 10B, update the setting information, etc.

[0039] Next, the image forming apparatus 10A in the digital shadow system of this embodiment will be described in detail. In the following description, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10A will be mainly described, but the image forming apparatus 10B and the like also have the same configuration.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10A in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the image forming apparatus 10A has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device via a network, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 including a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a scan unit 16, and an image forming unit 17. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 18.

[0041] The CPU 11 is a processor that executes a predetermined process based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13 to control the operation of the image forming apparatus 10A. In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 is described as reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but is not limited to this. The control program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a form recorded on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The control program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication IF 14.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10A realized by executing the above control program. As shown in Fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 10A of the present embodiment has an operation input unit 31, a display unit 32, a control unit 33, a data transmission / reception unit 34, and a data storage unit 35. Note that functional blocks related to image formation processing and the like are omitted in the block diagram shown in Fig. 4.

[0043] Various pieces of operational information performed by a user are input to the operation input unit 31. The display unit 32 is controlled by the control unit 33 and displays various pieces of information to the user.

[0044] Control unit 33 performs control processing of the overall operation of image forming apparatus 10A. Control unit 33 also stores shared data acquired from cloud server 20 via data transmission / reception unit 34 in data storage unit 35, and performs synchronization processing to synchronize the shared data in data storage unit 35 with the shared data stored in cloud server 20, for example, by periodically communicating with cloud server 20.

[0045] The data transmission / reception unit 34 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the cloud server 20. The data storage unit 35 stores various data such as an address list that is synchronized with the cloud server 20.

[0046] The synchronization processing executed in the digital shadow system includes a number of types of synchronization processing, such as periodic synchronization processing in which synchronization processing is performed periodically, and real-time synchronization processing in which real-time execution is instructed by the user.

[0047] In either case, the synchronization process may include a process for changing settings necessary for the operation of image forming device 10A, so essentially, the processes that can be executed by image forming device 10A are limited while the synchronization process is being executed.

[0048] Specifically, for example, the execution of processes such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile (hereinafter referred to as jobs) is restricted, and the operation input for instructing the execution of these jobs is also restricted. Even if a job has already been requested by the user, if a synchronization process that is performed at a fixed time such as a periodic synchronization process occurs, the job requested by the user may be postponed.

[0049] In this way, while the synchronization process is being performed, there is a risk that the user's work will be affected, for example, the user's operational input will be restricted or a job requested by the user will be postponed.

[0050] In order to solve such problems, the control unit 33 in this embodiment executes, among the synchronization processes for synchronizing the data stored in the cloud server 20 with the data of the image forming device 10A, processes that affect the user's work at a timing that does not affect the user's work.

[0051] Specifically, the control unit 33 may execute the synchronization process within a preset time range. Here, the time range may be any timing that does not affect the user's work, and may be, for example, a lunch break time in a company (e.g., between 12:00 and 13:00) or a nighttime period (e.g., between 0:00 and 5:00). The control unit 33 may set the time range based on an instruction from the user.

[0052] Note that the control unit 33 may execute the synchronization process that is instructed to be executed exceptionally or the immediate synchronization process regardless of the preset time range.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the synchronization process includes synchronization process of setting information, which is information regarding settings necessary for the operation of image forming device 10A, control unit 33 may successively execute the synchronization process of the setting information and the reboot process (restart process) associated with the synchronization process, and may set the period during which the synchronization process of the setting information and the reboot process associated with the synchronization process are being executed as a prohibited period during which operation input from the user is prohibited.

[0054] 5, the synchronization process of the setting information and the reboot process associated with the synchronization process are executed at the beginning of the synchronization process, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the process may be executed in the middle or at the end of the synchronization process. Also, there is no particular restriction on the order of execution of the synchronization processes other than the synchronization process of the setting information, and the order may be set appropriately.

[0055] Furthermore, if the reboot process accompanying the synchronization process of the setting information is not necessary, the reboot process may be omitted. Furthermore, if the reboot process accompanying the synchronization process of the setting information does not need to be performed immediately after the synchronization process of the setting information, the reboot process may be performed after other processes.

[0056] Note that control unit 33 may accept operation inputs other than those related to instructions to execute a job even during the prohibited period. Here, operation inputs other than those related to instructions to execute a job refer to operations that are not affected by the ongoing synchronization process, such as confirmation of the job execution history in image forming apparatus 10A or an operation to change information that does not require immediate synchronization.

[0057] In addition, the control unit 33 may accept operational input from the user even during synchronization processing, and if the job corresponding to the operational input cannot be executed in parallel with the synchronization processing, the control unit 33 may stop the synchronization processing being executed and execute the job corresponding to the operational input.

[0058] In such an embodiment, when executing synchronization processing including updating the settings of the own device, the old settings are stored in a separate recording area in the data storage unit 35 until the synchronization processing is completely completed. If the synchronization processing including updating the settings of the own device is stopped midway, the job with the contents input by the user can be executed using the old settings stored in the data storage unit 35, without using the settings being updated.

[0059] The control unit 33 may execute the stopped synchronization process after the execution of the job specified by the operation input is completed.

[0060] [Variations] An information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0062] In addition, the operations of the processor in the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor, but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0063] In addition, the term "system" in this embodiment includes both a system made up of multiple devices and a system made up of a single device.

[0064] [Note] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0065] (((1))) A processor is provided. The processor, Among the synchronization processes for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the system itself, processes that affect user work are executed at a timing that does not affect the user's work. Information processing system.

[0066] (((2))) The processor executes a synchronization process within a preset time range. An information processing system according to (((1))).

[0067] (((3))) The processor sets a time range based on a user's instruction. The information processing system according to (((2))).

[0068] (((4))) The processor executes the synchronous process that is instructed to be executed exceptionally regardless of the preset time range. The information processing system according to (((2))) or (((3))).

[0069] (((5))) The processor executes a synchronous process that is instructed to be executed immediately, regardless of a preset time range. The information processing system according to (((2))) or (((3))).

[0070] (((6))) When the synchronization process includes a synchronization process of setting information that is information related to settings required for the operation of the own system, the processor successively executes the synchronization process of the setting information and a restart process associated with the synchronization process, and sets a period during which the synchronization process of the setting information and the restart process associated with the synchronization process are being executed as a prohibited period during which operation input from the user is prohibited. 1. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

[0071] (((7))) The processor accepts operation inputs other than those related to instructions to execute a process even during a prohibited period. An information processing system according to (((6))).

[0072] (((8))) The processor accepts an operational input from a user even during the synchronization process, and if the processing of the content of the operational input cannot be executed in parallel with the synchronization process, stops the synchronization process being executed and executes the processing of the content of the operational input. 1. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0073] (((9))) The processor executes the stopped synchronous process after the execution of the process corresponding to the operation input is completed. An information processing system according to (((8))).

[0074] (((10))) A step of executing a process that affects a user's operation among the synchronization processes for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the own system at a timing that does not affect the user's operation. A program for causing a computer to execute the following.

[0075] The effects of the above configuration are described below.

[0076] According to the information processing system (((1))), it is possible to carry out synchronization processing without affecting the user's work.

[0077] According to the information processing system (((2))), synchronization processing can be performed at a time when the user is not expected to use the information processing system.

[0078] According to the information processing system (((3))), synchronization processing can be performed at a time desired by the user.

[0079] According to the information processing system of (((4))), necessary synchronization processing can be performed even during a time when synchronization processing is not set to be performed.

[0080] According to the information processing system of (((5))), it is possible to execute synchronous processing that requires immediate execution even during a time period when synchronous processing is set not to be executed.

[0081] According to the information processing system of (((6))), the prohibition period can be made shorter than when the entire period during synchronization processing is set as the prohibition period for operations.

[0082] According to the information processing system of (((7))), even during the prohibited period, it is possible to allow the user to perform operational input other than that related to an instruction to execute processing.

[0083] According to the information processing system of (((8))), even during synchronization processing, processing of content input by a user can be executed with priority over the synchronization processing.

[0084] According to the information processing system of (((9))), it is possible to execute the stopped synchronization process.

[0085] The program (((10))) makes it possible to carry out synchronization processing without affecting the user's work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10A, 10B Image forming device 11 CPU 12. Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Scan Unit 17 Image forming unit 18 Control Bus 20 Cloud Server 30 Internet 31 Operation input section 32 Display section 33 Control Unit 34 Data transmission and reception unit 35 Data storage unit 40 Network 60 Terminal Equipment

Claims

1. A processor is provided. The processor, Among the synchronization processes for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the system itself, processes that affect user work are executed at a timing that does not affect the user's work. Information processing system.

2. The processor executes a synchronization process within a preset time range. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor sets a time range based on a user's instruction. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor executes the synchronous process that is instructed to be executed exceptionally regardless of the preset time range. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

5. The processor executes a synchronous process that is instructed to be executed immediately, regardless of a preset time range. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

6. When the synchronization process includes a synchronization process of setting information that is information related to settings required for the operation of the own system, the processor successively executes the synchronization process of the setting information and a restart process associated with the synchronization process, and sets a period during which the synchronization process of the setting information and the restart process associated with the synchronization process are being executed as a prohibited period during which operation input from the user is prohibited. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

7. The processor accepts operation inputs other than those related to instructions to execute a process even during a prohibited period.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6.

8. The processor accepts an operational input from a user even during the synchronization process, and if the processing of the content of the operational input cannot be executed in parallel with the synchronization process, stops the synchronization process being executed and executes the processing of the content of the operational input. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

9. The processor executes the stopped synchronous process after the execution of the process corresponding to the operation input is completed. The information processing system according to claim 8.

10. A step of executing a process that affects a user's operation among the synchronization processes for synchronizing data stored in an external device with data in the own system at a timing that does not affect the user's operation. A program for causing a computer to execute the following.

Images