Program, apparatus, and method

Abstract

To further reliably transmit a command to an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A program is provided with a storage process, a transmission process, and a deletion process. In the storage process, a command is stored in a database. In the transmission process, in response to the reception of a request, the command stored in the database is transmitted to an image forming apparatus corresponding to the request as a transmission destination. In the deletion process, the command whose storage time has elapsed is deleted from the database. In the storage process, a specific command is stored in the database due to the reception of specific data from the image forming apparatus. The specific command is not deleted from the database by the deletion process even when the storage time has elapsed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a program for managing an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a system is known in which a certificate management server manages digital certificates of image forming devices connected to a network. In such a system, communication between the server and the image forming devices is performed using a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

[0003] In this type of communication protocol, when a command to be sent to an image forming device occurs, the server stores the command in a database. Meanwhile, the image forming device periodically sends requests to the server, and when the server receives a request, if the command to be sent to the image forming device that sent the request is stored in the database, the server sends the command to the image forming device. Furthermore, if the server does not receive a request from the destination of the command after a certain period of time has passed after storing the command for the image forming device in the database, the server deletes the command from the database. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-239930 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, when the image forming device is, for example, turned off or is performing a process with a high load for a long time, it may not be possible to send a request from the image forming device to the server. As a result, commands with the image forming device as the destination may be deleted from the database, and the image forming device may not be able to execute processes necessary for the operation of the system.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to more reliably transmit commands to an image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a program executable by a computer, which is capable of causing the computer to execute a saving process, a transmitting process, and a deleting process. The saving process saves a command having an image forming device as a destination in a database. The transmitting process, upon receiving a request, transmits a command stored in the database having an image forming device corresponding to the request as a destination. The deleting process deletes the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database. The saving process saves a specific command in the database, which is a command having the image forming device as a destination, due to receiving predetermined specific data from the image forming device. The deleting process does not delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the specific command is not deleted from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database, so that the command can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus more reliably.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus corresponding to a computer that operates in accordance with the program, and a method that is realized by the program. According to such an aspect, it is possible to more reliably transmit commands to an image forming apparatus. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a management system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-house server. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a management PC. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a collection PC. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a low-performance image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a highly functional image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart of a deletion process. [Figure 8] 11 is a sequence diagram when a high performance image forming apparatus transmits a registration request. [Figure 9] 11 is a sequence diagram when a low-performance image forming apparatus transmits a registration request. [Figure 10] 13 is a sequence diagram when a low-performance image forming apparatus in Modification 1 transmits a registration request. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a management system including a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as "PC") capable of executing a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This specification discloses a management system that centrally manages multiple image forming apparatuses from a remote location.

[0012] [1. Overall composition] 1, the management system 1 includes an in-house server 10, a management PC 20, a collection PC 30, a low-function image forming device 40, and a high-function image forming device 50. The low-function image forming device 40 and the high-function image forming device 50 (hereinafter collectively referred to as image forming devices) each have both or one of a function as a printer (as an example, a label printer) and a function as a scanner. Note that the management system 1 may have, for example, only a printer, more specifically, only a label printer, or only a scanner, as the image forming device.

[0013] The in-house server 10 holds information on each image forming device to be managed. The management PC 20 is provided in the management department of an organization that manages the multiple image forming devices included in the management system 1, and is used by a manager in charge of managing the image forming devices. The manager operates the management PC 20 to manage each image forming device using the information held in the in-house server 10. The in-house server 10 and the management PC 20 may be configured as a single device having both functions. The management system 1 may also include multiple management PCs 20 having similar functions. The in-house server 10 may also be configured as multiple servers that function in cooperation with each other.

[0014] 2, the in-house server 10 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, and a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 13 connectable to the Internet 100 and a wide area communication network 120. The memory 12 stores a management program 121 and a management database (hereinafter referred to as "management DB") 122. The processing for implementing the functions of the management system 1 executed by the in-house server 10 is executed by the CPU 11 operating in accordance with the management program 121. Hereinafter, the subject of the processing executed by the CPU 11 operating in accordance with the management program 121 may be referred to as the management program 121. The memory 12 is configured as a so-called non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0015] 3, the management PC 20 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, a user interface (hereinafter, referred to as a “user IF”) 23, and a communication IF 24 connectable to the Internet 100. A browser 221 is stored in the memory 22.

[0016] Each image forming device to be managed by the management system 1 is installed in a branch office in each region and used by a user belonging to that branch office. The low-performance image forming device 40 does not have a function to directly communicate with the in-house server 10 of the management department. On the other hand, the high-performance image forming device 50 has a function to directly communicate with the in-house server 10 via a wide area communication network 120. The wide area communication network 120 may be the Internet. In addition, a device ID, which is identification information unique to the image forming device, is set in each image forming device.

[0017] The collection PC 30 has a function of communicating with the in-house server 10 via the wide area communication network 120, and a function of communicating with the low-function image forming device 40 by local communication. The collection PC 30 is provided, for example, in each branch office having one or more low-function image forming devices 40, and mediates information between the in-house server 10 and each low-function image forming device 40 in the branch office. Note that a collection PC 30 may not be provided in a branch office that has a high-function image forming device 50 but does not have a low-function image forming device 40. The collection PC 30 may also mediate information between the in-house server 10 and the high-function image forming device 50.

[0018] 4, the collection PC 30 includes a CPU 31, a memory 32, a first communication IF 33 connectable to the wide area communication network 120, and a second communication IF 34 for performing local communication with the low function image forming device 40. The memory 32 stores a device list 321 which is a list of device IDs of the low function image forming devices 40 which mediate information.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the low-function image forming device 40 includes a CPU 41, a memory 42, a user IF 43, a second communication IF 44 for performing local communication with the collection PC 30, a printing engine 45, and a reading engine 46.

[0020] 6, the highly functional image forming device 50 includes a CPU 51, a memory 52, a user IF 53, a first communication IF 54 connectable to the wide area communication network 120, a print engine 55, and a reading engine 56. The highly functional image forming device 50 may also have a function of performing local communication.

[0021] Although details will be described later, memories 42, 52 of the image forming device may store an electronic certificate 200. Furthermore, print engines 45, 55 in the image forming device are parts for printing, and read engines 46, 56 are parts for scanning. Furthermore, the image forming device may have only one of the print engine and the read engine. Furthermore, the management system 1 may include multiple image forming devices of the same model, or multiple image forming devices of different models.

[0022] The CPUs of the in-house server 10, the management PC 20, the collection PC 30, the low-performance image forming device 40, and the high-performance image forming device 50 execute various processes according to programs read from the memory of the device and based on user operations. These memories also store various programs and data other than those shown in the figure, and are used as work areas when executing various processes.

[0023] The user IF in each of the management PC 20, the low-performance image forming device 40, and the high-performance image forming device 50 includes hardware for displaying a screen for notifying the user of information, and hardware for accepting operations by the user. The user IF may include a touch panel having a screen display function and an operation acceptance function, or may be a combination of a display and a keyboard or a mouse. The in-house server 10 and the collection PC 30 may or may not include a user IF.

[0024] The management system 1 of the present embodiment may be a system that manages a plurality of image forming devices using a service provided by a so-called MDM (Mobile Device Management) system, as shown in Fig. 1. The external server 110 shown in Fig. 1 is a server owned by a company that provides the service.

[0025] The in-house server 10 and the management PC 20 of the management system 1 each have a function of communicating with an external server 110 via the Internet 100. The collection PC 30 and the high-performance image forming device 50 each have a function of communicating with the in-house server 10 via a wide area communication network 120, but may or may not further have a function of communicating with the external server 110.

[0026] [2. Communication with internal servers] The in-house server 10 (in other words, the management program 121), the collecting PC 30, and the high-function image forming device 50 communicate in accordance with a communication protocol such as https (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) or http. That is, the management program 121 stores in the management DB 122 a command whose destination is one of the image forming devices. The collecting PC 30 and the high-function image forming device 50 periodically transmit requests to the management program 121. Then, upon receiving a request, if a command whose destination is the high-function image forming device 50, which is the sender of the request, or the low-function image forming device 40 through which the sending PC 30, which is the sender, mediates information, is stored in the management DB 122, the management program 121 transmits a response including the command.

[0027] A response addressed to the high-function image forming device 50 is sent directly from the management program 121 to the high-function image forming device 50. On the other hand, a response addressed to the low-function image forming device 40 is sent to the collection PC 30 having a device list 321 in which the device ID of the low-function image forming device 40 is registered. The collection PC 30 then sends the command included in the received response to the low-function image forming device 40, which is the destination.

[0028] Alternatively, the communication protocol between the in-house server 10 and the collection PC 30 and the high-function image forming device 50 may be, for example, MQTT. In this case, the in-house server 10, for example, stores the command in the management DB 122 and transmits a notification that the command has been generated to the high-function image forming device 50, which is the destination of the command, or to the collection PC 30, which acts as an intermediary between the low-function image forming device 40, which is the destination. Then, the high-function image forming device 50 or the collection PC 30 that has received the notification transmits a request to the in-house server 10. The in-house server 10 that has received the request similarly transmits a command to the high-function image forming device 50 or the low-function image forming device 40.

[0029] [3. Deleting commands] The management program 121 executes a deletion process for deleting commands that have been saved in the management DB 122 for a predetermined storage time. The deletion process is executed periodically for each command saved in the management DB 122. However, specific commands, which are predetermined commands, are not deleted from the management DB 122 even if their storage time has elapsed. The deletion process will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7.

[0030] In S100, management program 121 determines whether or not a storage time has elapsed for the command to be deleted after it was saved in management DB 122. If a positive determination is obtained (S100: Yes), management program 121 proceeds to S105, and if a negative determination is obtained (S100: No), it ends this process.

[0031] In S105, the management program 121 judges whether the command to be deleted is a specific command. If a negative judgment is obtained (S105: No), the management program 121 deletes the command from the management DB 122 (S110) and ends this process. On the other hand, if a positive judgment is obtained (S105: Yes), the management program 121 ends this process.

[0032] [4. Functions of the management program] The management program 121 collects information (hereinafter, device information) about each image forming apparatus that is a management target. The device information may be, for example, the device ID of the image forming apparatus, the version of the program installed in the image forming apparatus, information indicating the location of the image forming apparatus, the user name, various setting values ​​related to the image forming function, and the like.

[0033] Specifically, the high-function image forming apparatus 50 directly transmits device information to the management program 121. On the other hand, the low-function image forming apparatus 40 transmits device information to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30. Then, the management program 121 stores the received device information in the management DB 122 in association with the device ID of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the device information.

[0034] Furthermore, the administrator can obtain the device information stored in the management DB 122, for example, by accessing the external server 110 via the browser 221 of the management PC 20. That is, in response to an instruction from the management PC 20, the external server 110 accesses the management DB 122 via the management program 121 and receives the device information, and generates a Web page including the received device information and transmits it to the management PC 20. Then, the administrator operating the management PC 20 obtains the device information included in the Web page via the browser 221.

[0035] Furthermore, the management program 121 performs processes for changing settings in each image forming apparatus, updating data stored in each image forming apparatus, and installing programs such as firmware and digital certificate 200 in each image forming apparatus. These processes may be realized by the management program 121 sending commands to the image forming apparatus in accordance with instructions from an administrator, thereby controlling the image forming apparatus. At this time, the management program 121 may receive instructions from the administrator via, for example, a setting tool 123 installed in the in-house server 10. Furthermore, for example, the administrator may send instructions to the management program 121 to the external server 110 via, for example, a browser 221 of the management PC 20, and the external server 110 may send the instructions to the management program 121.

[0036] [5. Installing the digital certificate] Each time the image forming device is turned on, it transmits a registration request to the management program 121. Meanwhile, when the management program 121 receives an initial registration request from each image forming device, it instructs the image forming device that sent the request to install a predetermined electronic certificate 200. The following describes the process when the high function image forming device 50 and the low function image forming device 60 transmit a registration request to the management program 121 with reference to FIGS.

[0037] In S200, the management program 121 accepts input of the URL of the certificate server 130 from which the digital certificate 200 is downloaded. Specifically, for example, the URL may be input via a setting tool 123 installed in the in-house server 10. Also, for example, the URL may be input from an external server 110 that operates in response to an instruction from a browser 221 of the management PC 20 operated by the administrator.

[0038] In the next S205, management program 121 saves the URL in management DB 122 and notifies setting tool 123 used to input the URL, etc., of the completion of saving (S210). Note that, as one example, the acceptance of the input of the URL and the saving in management DB 122 are realized by an API provided in management program 121.

[0039] In S215, when the management program 121 receives a registration request from the high-performance image forming apparatus 50, it executes an API for saving registration information included in the registration request (for example, the device ID of the sending image forming apparatus) in the management DB 122. Then, based on the registration information already saved in the management DB 122, the management program 121 determines whether or not the registration request from the high-performance image forming apparatus 50 has been received for the first time (S220, S225).

[0040] Specifically, for example, when registration information included in a received registration request is not stored in management DB 122, management program 121 determines that the registration request is a first time request, and stores the registration information in management DB 122. On the other hand, when the registration information has already been stored in management DB 122, management program 121 determines that the registration request is received for the second or subsequent time.

[0041] If the registration request is received for the first time, the process proceeds to S230, where management program 121 acquires the URL of certificate server 130 from management DB 122. Then, in S235, management program 121 downloads electronic certificate 200 from the URL and saves an installation instruction, which is a command for instructing installation, in management DB 122. Note that the installation instruction corresponds to the specific command described above. Therefore, the installation instruction is not deleted from management DB 122 by the deletion process described above, even if the storage time has elapsed.

[0042] After receiving the registration request, the management program 121 may send a command indicating that the registration request has been received to the image forming apparatus that has sent the registration request. In S240, the management program 121 receives a request from the high performance image forming device 50 that is the sender of the registration request. In the following S245, the management program 121 transmits a response, which is stored in the management DB 122, to the high performance image forming device 50, including an installation instruction for the high performance image forming device 50.

[0043] In S250, the high performance image forming device 50 that has received the installation instruction transmits a notification to the management program 121 (in other words, the in-house server 10) that it has started processing to download and install the electronic certificate 200. In the following S255, the high performance image forming device 50 transmits a deletion request to the management program 121 to request that the installation instruction be deleted from the management DB 122.

[0044] When management program 121 receives the deletion request, it deletes the installation instruction from management DB 122, for example, by using an API (S260). After deleting the installation instruction, management program 121 may transmit a notification to the effect that the installation instruction has been deleted to the image forming apparatus that is the sender of the deletion request.

[0045] In other words, the deletion request is sent in response to the receipt of an installation instruction, regardless of whether the download or installation of the digital certificate 200 has been successful. This ensures that the transmitted installation instruction is deleted from the management DB 122, and prevents the installation instruction from being repeatedly sent even when the download or installation of the digital certificate 200 cannot be executed.

[0046] Furthermore, the highly functional image forming device 50 that has received the installation instruction downloads the electronic certificate 200 from the received URL (S265, S270). After that, the highly functional image forming device 50 installs the downloaded electronic certificate 200 (S275) and transmits a notification to the effect that the installation has been completed to the management program 121 (S280).

[0047] The high performance image forming device 50 may notify the user whether the download and installation of the electronic certificate 200 performed in response to the installation instruction was successful or not via the user IF 53. This allows the user to know if the download or installation of the electronic certificate 200 has failed, and if such a failure occurs, the user can take measures to deal with the failure.

[0048] As with the high function image forming device 50, an installation instruction including the URL of the certificate server 130 stored in the management DB 122 in S200 and S205 is also sent to the low function image forming device 40. That is, as shown in Fig. 9, the low function image forming device 40 sends a registration request to the collection PC 30 (S300), and the collection PC 30 sends the received registration request to the management program 121 (S305). That is, the low function image forming device 40 sends the registration request to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30.

[0049] When the management program 121 receives the registration request, it stores the registration information included in the registration request in the management DB 122, similar to S220 and S225, and determines whether or not the registration request from the low function image forming device 40 is received for the first time (S310, S315). If the registration request is received for the first time, the management program 121 obtains the URL of the certificate server 130 from the management DB 122 (S320), similar to S230 and S235, and stores an installation instruction in the management DB 122 (S325). Note that the installation instruction has the sender of the registration request set as the final destination.

[0050] In S330, the management program 121 receives a request from the collection PC 30, which acts as an intermediary for the low-function image forming device 40 that is the sender of the registration request. In the following S335, the management program 121 transmits a response including an installation instruction, which is stored in the management DB 122 and is addressed to the low-function image forming device 40, to the collection PC 30. Then, upon receiving the response, the collection PC 30 transmits the installation instruction included in the response to the low-function image forming device 40 (S340).

[0051] In S345 and S350, the low function image forming device 40 that has received the installation instruction transmits a notification to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30 that it has started processing to download and install the electronic certificate 200. In the following S355 and S360, the low function image forming device 40 transmits a request to delete the installation instruction to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30, similar to S255. Meanwhile, upon receiving the deletion request, the management program 121 deletes the installation instruction from the management DB 122, similar to S260 (S365).

[0052] Furthermore, the low function image forming device 40 that has received the installation instruction downloads the electronic certificate 200 from the received URL (S370, S375).Then, the low function image forming device 40 installs the downloaded electronic certificate 200 (S380) and transmits a notification that the installation has been completed to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30 (S385, S390).

[0053] The low-performance image forming apparatus 40 may also notify the user via the user IF 43 whether the download and installation of the electronic certificate 200 performed in response to an installation instruction has been successful.

[0054] [6. Variation 1] 9, the low function image forming device 40 that has received an installation instruction from the collection PC 30 downloads the electronic certificate 200 from the certificate server 130 and installs it. However, the electronic certificate 200 may be downloaded by the collection PC 30.

[0055] 10, when the collection PC 30 receives an installation instruction from the management program 121 in S335, it downloads the electronic certificate 200 from the URL included in the received installation instruction (S340, S345). The collection PC 30 also transmits the downloaded electronic certificate 200 and an installation instruction for installing the electronic certificate 200 to the low-function image forming device 40 (S350).

[0056] Then, collection PC 30 sends a notification to management program 121 that the process for installing digital certificate 200 has begun (S355), similar to S350 in Fig. 9, and also sends a request to delete the installation instruction to management program 121 (S360), similar to S360 in Fig. 9. Upon receiving the deletion request, management program 121 deletes the installation instruction from management DB 122 (S365), similar to S365 in Fig. 9.

[0057] On the other hand, the low-function image forming device 40 that has received the installation instruction and the electronic certificate 200 installs the electronic certificate 200 (S370), similar to S380 in FIG. 9, and sends a notification that the installation is complete to the management program 121 via the collection PC 30 (S375, S380), similar to S385 and S390 in FIG. 9.

[0058] [7. Variation 2] The management program 121 may have a function that allows the user to select the type of electronic certificate 200 to be installed. The type of electronic certificate 200 may be, for example, a CA certificate, a client certificate, or the like.

[0059] That is, in S200, the management program 121 may receive input for specifying the type of electronic certificate 200 to be downloaded and additional information, along with input of the URL, via the setting tool 123 or the external server 110 (see FIG. 8). The additional information may be, for example, a password required for installing a client certificate. Then, in S205, the management program 121 may store the input URL, type of electronic statement, and additional information in the management DB 122.

[0060] Furthermore, in S230 and S320, management program 121 acquires the URL of certificate server 130, the type of electronic certificate 200, and additional information from management DB 122. Then, in S235 and S325, management program 121 downloads electronic certificate 200 of the acquired type from the acquired URL, issues an instruction to install it, and saves an installation instruction, which is a command including the additional information, in management DB 122.

[0061] In S265 and S270, or S370 and S375, the image forming device downloads the electronic certificate 200 of the type indicated by the installation instruction from the URL indicated by the installation instruction. Then, in S275 and S380, the image forming device installs the downloaded electronic certificate 200 as the electronic certificate 200 of the type indicated by the installation instruction.

[0062] [8. Effects] (1) It is assumed that the image forming apparatus updates data or installs a program or electronic certificate 200 in accordance with a command from the management program 121. In such a case, the image forming apparatus may download the data to be updated or the program or electronic certificate 200 to be installed from a server instructed by the management program 121. When downloading such data from the server, a separate electronic certificate 200 may be required.

[0063] In preparation for such a case, it is desirable to install the highly necessary electronic certificate 200 in each image forming device, for example, during initial setup. However, if a command is sent from management program 121 to each image forming device at once to have each image forming device download and install the electronic certificate 200, the processing load on management program 121 may become large.

[0064] Furthermore, after management program 121 saves a command in management DB 122, when the save time has elapsed, management program 121 deletes the command from management DB 122. On the other hand, for example, when the power is OFF or when a process with a high load is being executed, the image forming device may not be able to send a request to management program 121. Therefore, such an image forming device may not be able to receive the command, and installation of electronic certificate 200 may not be executed.

[0065] In contrast, according to the above embodiment, a specific command such as an installation instruction is not deleted from management DB 122 even if the storage time has elapsed after being stored in management DB 122. Therefore, the installation instruction can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus more reliably.

[0066] (2) When an initial registration request is sent from an image forming apparatus, management program 121 sends an installation instruction to the image forming apparatus that sent the request. This makes it possible to more reliably send to the image forming apparatus a specific command that should be sent as a result of the registration of the image forming apparatus. Also, it makes it possible to more reliably send to the image forming apparatus a command to download and install a certificate.

[0067] (3) Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus receives an installation instruction, it transmits a deletion request for the installation instruction to the management program 121. Therefore, the transmitted installation instruction can be deleted from the management DB 122 more reliably.

[0068] (4) Furthermore, in the management program 121 of the modified example, in addition to the URL for downloading the digital certificate 200, the type of digital certificate 200 to be downloaded can be set. Therefore, an appropriate type of digital certificate 200 can be installed in the image forming apparatus according to an instruction from the management program 121.

[0069] 9. Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, upon receiving an initial registration request from an image forming apparatus, the management program 121 transmits an instruction to install the electronic certificate 200 to the image forming apparatus that transmitted the registration request. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and upon receiving an initial registration request, for example, a specific command may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus that transmitted the registration request, instructing the download and installation of a program such as firmware to be installed in the image forming apparatus. In addition, the specific command transmitted upon receiving an initial registration request may be, for example, an instruction to download data used in printing or the like, or an instruction to perform a process other than downloading data. Furthermore, upon receiving a command other than a registration request from an image forming apparatus, the management program 121 may transmit a specific command such as an installation instruction to the image forming apparatus that transmitted the registration request.

[0070] (2) In the above embodiment, when the image forming apparatus receives an installation instruction from management program 121, it transmits a deletion request to management program 121 (S255, S355). However, this is not limiting, and for example, the image forming apparatus may transmit a deletion request to management program 121 after downloading electronic certificate 200 from certificate server 130 in accordance with the installation instruction. Also, for example, the image forming apparatus may transmit a deletion request to management program 121 after accessing certificate server 130 in accordance with the installation instruction, regardless of whether downloading electronic certificate 200 has been successful.

[0071] (3) Multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0072] (4) In addition to the in-house server 10 and management program 121 described above, the present disclosure can also be realized in various forms, such as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive, in which the management program 121 is stored, or a method equivalent to the processing executed by the management program 121.

[0073] [10. Correspondence of Wording] The deletion process in FIG. 7 corresponds to an example of a deletion unit. Furthermore, S200 in the sequence diagrams of Figures 8 and 9 corresponds to an example of a reception process, S235 and S325 correspond to an example of a storage process and a storage unit, S245 and S335 correspond to an example of a transmission process and a transmission unit, and S260 and S365 correspond to an example of a deletion process.

[0074] Moreover, a registration request sent from an image forming apparatus to the management program 121 corresponds to an example of specific data. [11. Technical Concepts Disclosed in This Specification] [Item 1] A program executable by a computer, The computer includes: a storing process for storing a command having the image forming apparatus as a destination in a database; a transmission process for transmitting the command stored in the database to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the request as the transmission destination when the request is received; a deletion process of deleting the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; It is possible to execute the storing process includes storing, in the database, a specific command that is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion process does not delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. A program that is structured as follows.

[0075] [Item 2] In the program described in item 1, The specific data is a request to register the image forming device. program.

[0076] [Item 3] In the program described in item 1 or 2, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus of the destination to download data from a predetermined server. program.

[0077] [Item 4] In the program described in any one of items 1 to 3, The deletion process further includes deleting the specific command from the database upon receiving a deletion request from the image forming apparatus that is the destination of the specific command. program.

[0078] [Item 5] In the program described in any one of items 1 to 4, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus of the destination to download a digital certificate from a predetermined server and install the downloaded digital certificate. program.

[0079] [Item 6] In the program described in item 5, The computer may further be caused to execute a reception process of receiving a designation of the type of the electronic certificate to be downloaded from the server, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus to download the electronic certificate of the type accepted in the acceptance process from the server and to install the downloaded electronic certificate. program.

[0080] [Item 7] 1. An apparatus configured to manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses, comprising: a storage unit configured to store commands destined for the image forming device in a database; a transmission unit configured to, upon receiving a request, transmit the command stored in the database to the image forming device corresponding to the request as the transmission destination; a deletion unit configured to delete the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; Equipped with the storage unit is configured to store, in the database, a specific command, which is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion unit is configured not to delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. Device.

[0081] [Item 8] A method for managing a plurality of image forming devices, comprising: performing a storing process of storing a command having the image forming apparatus as a destination in a database; When a request is received, a transmission process is performed to transmit the command stored in the database to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the request as the transmission destination. performing a deletion process of deleting the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; Equipped with the storing process includes storing, in the database, a specific command that is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion process does not delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1... management system, 10... in-house server, 11... CPU, 12... memory, 121... management program, 122... management DB, 13... communication IF, 20... management PC, 30... collection PC, 40... low-performance image forming device, 50... high-performance image forming device, 100... Internet, 110... external server, 120... wide area communication network, 130... certificate server, 200... electronic certificate.

Claims

1. A program executable by a computer, The computer includes: a storing process for storing a command having the image forming apparatus as a destination in a database; a transmission process for transmitting the command stored in the database to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the request as the transmission destination when the request is received; a deletion process of deleting the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; It is possible to execute the storing process includes storing, in the database, a specific command that is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion process does not delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. A program that is structured as follows.

2. The program according to claim 1, The specific data is a request to register the image forming device. program.

3. In the program according to claim 1 or 2, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus of the destination to download data from a predetermined server. program.

4. In the program according to claim 3, The deletion process further includes deleting the specific command from the database upon receipt of a deletion request from the image forming apparatus that is the destination of the specific command. program.

5. In the program according to claim 3, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus of the destination to download a digital certificate from the server and install the downloaded digital certificate. program.

6. The program according to claim 5, The computer may further be caused to execute a reception process of receiving a designation of the type of the electronic certificate to be downloaded from the server, The specific command instructs the image forming apparatus to download the electronic certificate of the type accepted in the acceptance process from the server and to install the downloaded electronic certificate. program.

7. 1. An apparatus configured to manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses, comprising: a storage unit configured to store commands destined for the image forming device in a database; a transmission unit configured to, upon receiving a request, transmit the command stored in the database to the image forming device corresponding to the request as the transmission destination; a deletion unit configured to delete the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; Equipped with the storage unit is configured to store, in the database, a specific command, which is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion unit is configured not to delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. Device.

8. A method for managing a plurality of image forming devices, comprising: performing a storing process of storing a command having the image forming apparatus as a destination in a database; When a request is received, a transmission process is performed to transmit the command stored in the database to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the request as the transmission destination. performing a deletion process of deleting the command from the database when a predetermined storage time has elapsed after the command is stored in the database; Equipped with the storing process includes storing, in the database, a specific command that is the command having the image forming device as the destination, when predetermined specific data is received from the image forming device; The deletion process does not delete the specific command from the database even if the storage time has elapsed after the specific command is stored in the database. method.

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