Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program

Abstract

To allow setting data that a user wants to apply, of previous setting data, to be selectively applied to a target apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus acquires information on various setting values applicable to the apparatus from a scanned image of a sheet on which the information on various setting values is printed, and on the basis of the acquired information, applies a setting value designated by a user, of the various setting values, to the apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for backing up and restoring setting data of an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, methods using barcodes have been known as a method for backing up setting data of information processing devices such as multifunction peripherals and restoring backed-up setting data. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a barcode encoding the setting data and a character string indicating the content of the setting data are printed side by side, and even if the barcode cannot be deciphered due to dirt or the like, the barcode and the character string can be collated to enable manual registration of the setting data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-44299 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When reinstalling a broken device after repair or purchasing and expanding an existing device of the same type, there are cases where you want to apply only part of the previous setting data, not all of it. For example, in the case of a multifunction device, you may want to apply print settings such as 2-in-1 or single-sided / double-sided printing, but not the network settings because you want to use a different fixed IP address. Conventional technologies, including the one described in Patent Document 1, have not been able to address use cases like this where you want to apply only part of the previous setting data to the target device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device according to the present disclosure is characterized by having an acquisition means for acquiring various setting values applicable to the device from a scanned image of a sheet of paper on which information about the various setting values is printed, and an application means for applying to the device a setting value designated by a user from among the various setting values based on the acquired information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to selectively apply setting data that a user desires to apply from among previous setting data to a target device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the software configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a backup process for setting data. [Figure 4] A diagram showing how the setting value is converted into a QR code. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a setting UI screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of a backup image, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of a backup form with check marks filled in. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a setting data restore process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen for restoration, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of a mark in which portions relating to setting values that do not need to be restored are filled in. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing examples of restore guide UI screens. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a pop-up message screen prompting the user to perform backup processing. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a setting data restore process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a backup form with check marks filled in. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings, etc. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the technology of the present disclosure, and all of the configurations described in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems.

[0009] [Embodiment 1] <Hardware configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral having multiple functions such as printing and scanning. The multifunction peripheral 100 has a controller unit 101, which controls a scanner unit 111, a printer unit 112, an operation unit 107, and a communication unit 109. When a user uses the copy function, the controller unit 101 reads an original placed on a platen (not shown) with the scanner unit 111 to obtain a scanned image, and causes the printer unit 112 to print based on the scanned image. When a user uses the scan function, the controller unit 101 reads an original placed on a platen (not shown) with the scanner unit 111 to obtain a scanned image, and transmits the scanned image to an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 109. An instruction to execute a process for each of these functions is called a "job," and the multifunction peripheral 100 executes a predetermined process in accordance with the job corresponding to each function.

[0010] The controller unit 101 is composed of a CPU 102, RAM 103, ROM 104, HDD 105, operation unit I / F 106, network I / F 108, and device I / F 110, which are connected via a system bus 120. The CPU 102 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls the entire system of the multifunction peripheral 100. The RAM 103 is a system work memory that loads various data and programs such as the operating system and application software, and enables the CPU 102 to operate. The RAM 103 also serves as an image memory for temporarily storing image data, and stores scanned images read by the scanner unit 111 and images to be printed received via the communication unit 109. The ROM 104 is a non-volatile memory that stores the system boot program, etc. The hard disk drive (HDD) 105 is a large-capacity storage device that stores the operating system, application software, various setting values, etc. The operation unit I / F 106 is an interface that outputs a UI screen to be displayed on the display of the operation unit 107 to the operation unit 107 and accepts user instructions via the operation of the physical buttons of the operation unit 107 or the UI screen. The network I / F 108 is an interface that controls various communications with external devices (not shown) via a communication unit 109. The device I / F 110 is an interface that connects the controller unit 101 to a scanner unit 111 and a printer unit 112 that read and print image data, and inputs and outputs image data. The scanner unit 111 performs a scan process that optically reads an original placed on a platen (not shown). The printer unit 112 performs a print process on paper placed on a paper tray (not shown) based on print instruction data (PDL data) input from an external device or a scanned image obtained by the scan process. The printer unit 112 also prints a backup image that includes code information obtained by encoding various setting values of the multifunction peripheral 100.

[0011] The above-described multifunction peripheral is merely an example of an information processing device that can be used to back up and restore configuration data, and is not limited to this. For example, a printer device specialized in print functions or a scanner device specialized in scan functions may also be used. The method of this embodiment can be widely applied to information processing devices whose operation is controlled according to configuration data.

[0012] <Software configuration> 2 is a functional block diagram showing the software configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to this embodiment. The functions shown by the blocks in FIG. 2 are realized by the CPU 102 reading and expanding software stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executing the software.

[0013] The UI control unit 211 controls the generation and display of various user interface screens (UI screens) for presenting necessary information to the user and accepting information input from the user. The scanner control unit 212 controls the scanner unit 111 via the device I / F 110, optically reading an original placed on a platen and generating image data (scanned image data). The printer control unit 213 controls the printer unit 112 via the device I / F 110, and performs printing on paper based on print image data (halftone image data) that has been converted by various image processing methods so that it can be handled by the printer unit 112.

[0014] The code processing unit 214 performs code processing such as encoding various setting values of the multifunction device 100 and converting them into code information, and decodes the code information and converts it into setting values to be applied to the multifunction device 100. The setting data management unit 215 performs processing to acquire various setting values currently applied to the device in order to back up the setting data. Furthermore, in order to apply the backed-up setting data to the device in question, the setting data management unit 215 identifies the setting category (synonymous with "setting item"; hereinafter simply referred to as "category") to be applied from the scanned image of the backup paper, and applies only the necessary setting values.

[0015] <Operation of information processing device> <<Backup>> Next, the configuration data backup process performed by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 3. The flowchart of Fig. 3 is implemented by the CPU 102 executing a predetermined program. The CPU 102 starts the backup process when it receives, via the operation unit I / F 106, a user instruction to start the backup process entered on a UI screen (not shown). Alternatively, it may start the backup process when it receives, via the network I / F 108, a similar instruction entered via a web browser. In the following description, the symbol "S" denotes a step.

[0016] In S301, the setting data management unit 215 reads all of the various setting values currently being applied that are stored in the HDD 105 or the like into the RAM 103. The various setting values read here are, for example, character strings or numeric strings corresponding to each category, such as "2 in 1" or "double-sided" for the category "print settings," or "JP (Japanese)" or "EN (English)" representing the language type for the category "language settings." In other words, the various setting values are the device settings of the multifunction device and the print settings used when printing.

[0017] In S302, the code processing unit 214 converts (encodes) the various setting values read in S301 into code information. Here, the code information is obtained by linking the various setting values read out with each category and encoding them, for example, using a key-value system, and refers to a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the read setting values are converted into a QR code. In encoding, one setting value may be encoded as one QR code, or if the amount of information for one setting value is too large to fit into one QR code, it may be divided into multiple QR codes. Also, multiple setting values may be encoded together into one QR code. In the setting data 401 shown in FIG. 4, hashtags represent category levels, and each level corresponds to the menu structure of the setting UI screen (see FIG. 5) displayed on the operation unit 107 of the multifunction peripheral 100. In FIG. 4, the single hashtag "Settings" corresponds to the top-level menu "Settings" on the setting UI screen shown in FIG. 5. The two hashtags "Machine Settings" correspond to the lower-level (second-level) menu "Machine Settings." Furthermore, the three hashtags "Email Address book" and "Email Group" correspond to the lower-level (third-level) menus "Email Address book" and "Email Group," respectively.

[0018] In S303, the setting data management unit 215 generates a backup image of the setting data based on the code information generated in S302. FIG. 6A shows an example of a backup image corresponding to the setting data 401 in FIG. 4. The backup image 600 in FIG. 6A includes a check box 601 for specifying the setting values to be applied, between a hash tag indicating the category hierarchy and the category name. In addition to a QR code encoding the setting values, the backup image also includes a character string 602 indicating the date and time the backup was performed, a character string 603 indicating the name and model of the device, and a character string 604 indicating the number of pages. Here, the character string 604 reads "Page 1 / 10," indicating that the backup image consists of 10 pages. Thus, the backup image may span multiple pages. The generated backup image data is subjected to predetermined image processing by the CPU 201, converted into print image data, and passed to the printer control unit 213.

[0019] In S304, the printer control unit 213 acquires print image data corresponding to the backup image generated in S303 from the CPU 201 and causes the printer unit 112 to execute print processing.

[0020] The above is the content of the setting data backup process. Hereinafter, the paper on which the backup image obtained by this backup process is printed will be referred to as the "backup paper." Note that in this embodiment, blank check boxes are provided on the assumption that the user will specify the setting values to be applied by checking them with a pencil or the like on the paper on which the backup image is printed, but the method of specification is not limited to this. For example, a step may be inserted in which the user selects the setting values to be restored on the UI, and the check boxes may be printed with check marks. In this case, the user does not have to manually check the check boxes for the setting values that need to be restored later.

[0021] <<When restoring>> Next, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7 , the configuration data restoration process performed by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to this embodiment will be described. The original meaning of "restore" here is to return a device or other device to its original state. Therefore, applying the configuration data of an existing device to a new device during equipment expansion does not strictly fall under the category of restoration. However, for the sake of convenience, this specification will refer to such cases as well. That is, in this embodiment, the information device subjected to the restoration process may be physically identical to the information device that performed the backup process described above, or may be a different device of the same model. Essentially, any information device to which the backed-up configuration data can be applied is sufficient. The flowchart in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 102 executing a predetermined program. The CPU 102 starts the restoration process when it receives a user instruction to start the restoration process on a UI screen (not shown) via the operation unit I / F 106. Alternatively, the CPU 102 may start the restoration process when it receives a similar instruction via a web browser via the network I / F 108. In the following description, the symbol "S" denotes a step.

[0022] In S701, a document sensor (not shown) provided in the scanner unit 111 is used to determine whether paper to be read is placed on the document platen of the scanner unit 111. FIG. 6B shows an example of a backup sheet 610 in which a check mark is placed in the check box for the category name "Copy" to be restored. In the example of FIG. 6B, the user marks the check box on the backup sheet by filling it in with black, for example, a pencil. However, the method of marking is not limited to this; for example, a circle or a check mark may be used, and any mark may be used as long as it can identify the category of the setting value that needs to be restored. If a backup sheet with a mark entered based on the user's instruction is placed on the document platen, the process proceeds to S703; if not, the process proceeds to S702.

[0023] In S702, a process is performed to prompt the user to place backup paper. For example, a process is performed in which a message screen prompting the user to place backup paper is displayed on the display of the operation unit 107 together with an illustration of a document table.

[0024] In S703, the scanner control unit 212 causes the scanner unit 111 to read the backup paper. This generates a scanned image of the backup paper with a check mark placed in the check box for the category of the setting value to be restored.

[0025] In S704, the setting data management unit 215 analyzes the scanned image obtained in S703 and acquires the contents written on the backup paper. Specifically, it determines whether or not a check mark is present in the checkbox provided for each setting item, identifies the backup date and time, page number, etc. The image analysis methods required to acquire these contents, such as OCR (Optional Character Recognition) and pattern recognition, are well-known technologies and therefore will not be described here.

[0026] In S705, the next process to be executed is determined based on the analysis result in S704 and on whether the category of interest (hereinafter referred to as "category of interest") is applicable. If the checkbox of the category of interest is checked, the category is applicable, so S706 is executed next. On the other hand, if the checkbox of the category of interest is not checked, the category is not applicable, so S706 to S708 are skipped and S709 is executed.

[0027] In S706, the next process to be executed is determined depending on whether or not there is code information corresponding to the focused category. If there is code information corresponding to the focused category, S707 is executed next. On the other hand, if there is no code information corresponding to the focused category, S707 and S708 are skipped and S709 is executed. For example, in the example of FIG. 6(b) described above, there is no corresponding code information for "Settings" with one hashtag and "Machine Settings" with two hashtags, so in these cases S707 and S708 are skipped.

[0028] In S707, the code processing unit 214 decodes the code information associated with the target category and obtains its setting value. At this time, if there is more than one piece of code information associated with the target category, all of them are decoded. The setting value of the target category obtained by the decoding (hereinafter referred to as the "decoded setting value" for convenience) is passed to the setting data management unit 215.

[0029] In S708, the setting data management unit 215 stores the decryption setting value acquired in S707 in a list (hereinafter referred to as the "application list") that stores setting values to be applied to the device itself, linking the decryption setting value to its category. This application list is held in RAM 103.

[0030] In S709, the next process to be executed is determined based on the analysis result in S704 and on whether all categories have been checked. If there are unchecked categories, the process returns to S705, the next category of interest is determined, and the same process is continued. On the other hand, if all categories have been checked, the process proceeds to S710.

[0031] In S710, the next process to be executed is determined depending on whether all the backup sheets have been read. This determination may be made by displaying a UI screen (not shown) on the operation unit 107 for the user to instruct completion of reading of the backup sheets, and based on a user operation via the UI screen. Alternatively, the number of pages that have been read may be counted, and it may be determined that all pages have been read when the count reaches the number of pages of the backup sheets acquired in S704. If there are any backup sheets that have not yet been read, the process returns to S703 and the backup sheets are read. On the other hand, if all the backup sheets have been read, S711 is executed next.

[0032] In S711, the setting data management unit 215 applies various setting values to the device itself based on the application list stored in the RAM 103. After application, the device itself or specific software is restarted as necessary.

[0033] The above is the content of the restore process according to this embodiment. Note that if the analysis of the scanned image in S704 reveals that the loaded paper is not appropriate backup paper, the user may be notified of this and prompted to redo the restore process.

[0034] <Variation 1> In the above-described embodiment, the user selects a checkbox corresponding to a category of setting values to be applied, thereby identifying the setting values to be applied from among many other setting values. However, if there are many categories of setting values to be applied, the task of selecting checkboxes for all of the categories may be a significant burden for the user. Therefore, the category of setting values to be applied may be identified by selecting checkboxes corresponding to categories of setting values that are not to be applied. FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a restore UI screen (restore screen) according to this modification. This restore screen 800 is displayed, for example, by navigating from an execution menu screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107 or by pressing hard keys (not shown) constituting the operation unit 107 in a specific order. The restore screen 800 in FIG. 8A includes a radio button 801 that allows the user to exclusively select whether to select a category to be applied or a category not to be applied. Furthermore, an "OK" button 802 for executing the restore and a "Cancel" button 803 for canceling the restore are provided. When the user selects "Specify categories not to restore" using radio button 801, checked categories will no longer be determined as applicable in S705 of the flow in FIG. 7 described above. In other words, categories without check marks will be determined as applicable. If there are fewer categories to apply, the user can simply select "Specify categories to restore" using radio button 801. Note that, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(b), setting values that do not need to be restored may be marked by filling them in, including a character string representing the hashtag and category name. The key is to be able to distinguish between categories that need to be restored and categories that do not. According to this modification, the user can more efficiently specify setting values to be restored from among many setting values.

[0035] <Variation 2> In the above-described embodiment, the restoration process is triggered by a user instruction via a UI screen. However, for example, when installing new equipment, there is a possibility that the user may inadvertently start configuring various settings manually. Therefore, a guide may be displayed when the restoration target device is first started up. (a) to (c) of FIG. 9 show an example of a restoration guide UI screen (restore guide screen) displayed at the initial startup. First, the first screen 900 shown in FIG. 9(a) is displayed first, for example, when the multifunction device is started up for the first time. This first screen 900 is a UI screen that prompts the user to prepare backup paper when there is another multifunction device from which the configuration data will be transferred. It includes a "Next" button 901 for proceeding to the next step and a "Cancel" button 902 for canceling the restoration process. When the user has completed preparing the backup paper and pressed the "Next" button 901, the screen transitions to the second screen 910 shown in FIG. 9(b). The second screen 910 prompts the user to check the backup form prepared when the first screen is displayed and includes a “Next” button 911 for proceeding to the next step and a “Cancel” button 912 for canceling the restore process. When the user finishes checking the backup form and presses the “Next” button 912, the screen transitions to the third screen 920 shown in FIG. 9(c). The third screen 920 prompts the user to perform the restore process using the backup form with the checkmarks prepared when the second screen 910 is displayed and corresponds to the restore screen 800 shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the third screen 920 includes a radio button 921 for the user to select a category designation method, an “OK” button 922 for starting the restore process, and a “Cancel” button 923 for canceling the restore process. The functions of each button are the same as those of the restore screen 800 shown in FIG. 8, and therefore will not be described here. This modification can prevent the user from forgetting to perform the restore process and manually setting various settings, for example, when installing new equipment.

[0036] <Variation 3> It is desirable for the various setting values to be restored to be the most recent. Therefore, it is desirable to back up the setting values whenever a user or administrator changes them. However, there are cases where users forget to back up the setting values. Therefore, a guide message prompting the user to perform a backup process when the user changes the setting values may be displayed. FIG. 10 illustrates a pop-up message screen 1000 prompting the user to perform a backup process. The message screen 1000 includes an "OK" button 1001 for executing a backup and a "Cancel" button 1002 for canceling the backup. For example, a pop-up message like the one shown in FIG. 10 may be displayed when the number of changes to the setting values exceeds a threshold. This threshold may be fixed or variable. The number of changes to the setting values may be counted by simply incrementing (+1) each time a change is made, or by retaining the changed setting items and their contents and decrementing (-1) when the settings are restored. In this way, by displaying a UI prompting the user to perform a backup when a setting value is changed, the setting data to be restored can be kept up to date or equivalent.

[0037] <Other variations> In the above-described embodiment, the user manually checks the checkboxes of the setting value categories that the user wants to apply, but this is not limiting. For example, at the time of backup, the user may be allowed to select desired setting values via a UI screen (not shown), and a backup image may be generated with checkmarks already placed in the checkboxes of the setting value categories selected by the user.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the setting values are converted into code information when backing up, but they may be printed as character strings. Furthermore, a backup image may be generated in a form in which code information such as a QR code and character strings are mixed.

[0039] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to selectively apply to the target information device only the setting values that the user wishes to restore from among the previous setting data.

[0040] [Embodiment 2] Depending on the category of setting data, if the parent setting value is not set correctly, the child setting value cannot be set (or even if it is set, the function that should be obtained cannot be obtained). For example, suppose that the multifunction peripheral to be restored has a file server function and the user wants to set that function to "valid." In this case, the use of a fixed IP address and the setting of the IP address at that time are required. In this case, the use of a fixed IP address and the setting related to the IP address to be used at that time are the parent setting, and the setting related to the file server function are the child setting. Therefore, in the case where a parent-child relationship exists between the setting values to be restored, whether or not the parent setting is applied is checked, and if the application of the parent setting cannot be confirmed, the user is notified. This will be described as the second embodiment. Note that the following will omit the description of the commonalities with the first embodiment and will focus on the restore process, which is the difference.

[0041] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of restore processing according to this embodiment. The following explanation follows the flow in Fig. 11. Note that the processes of S1101 to S1108 correspond to S701 to S708 in the flow in Fig. 7 described above, and there are no particular differences, so explanations will be omitted.

[0042] In S1109, the next process to be executed is determined based on whether a parent setting ID (Parent ID) associated with the decrypted setting value acquired in S1107 exists in the parent setting checklist. The parent setting checklist is a list used to check whether a setting value of a parent setting corresponding to the decrypted setting value stored in the application list in S1108 has already been stored in the application list, and is created in S1113, which will be described later. The parent setting ID is an identifier that indicates that the setting value is a parent setting, and is assigned in advance to a setting value that has a parent setting relationship with a certain setting value. In this embodiment, when backing up a setting value of a child setting in the above-described parent-child relationship, the setting value is encoded and associated with a parent setting ID that can identify the parent setting, and code information is generated. If the parent setting ID exists in the parent setting checklist, S1110 is executed next; if the parent setting ID does not exist, S1111 is executed next.

[0043] In S1110, the parent setting ID associated with the decryption setting value acquired in S1107 is deleted from the parent setting checklist. This ensures that if a parent setting exists for the decryption setting value stored in the application list, the setting value of that parent setting is also stored in the application list. In S1111, the next process to be executed is determined depending on whether a parent setting exists for the decryption setting value acquired in S1107. If a parent setting exists for the decryption setting value, S1112 is executed next, and if a parent setting does not exist, S1114 is executed next.

[0044] In S1112, the next process to be executed is determined depending on whether the setting value of the parent setting of the decryption setting value exists in the application list. By checking whether the setting value of the parent setting of the decryption setting value exists in the application list, the application of the decryption setting value, which is its child setting, is guaranteed. If the setting value of the parent setting of the decryption setting value exists in the application list, S1114 is executed next, and if not, S1113 is executed next. Then, in S1113, the parent setting ID associated with the decryption setting value is stored in the parent setting checklist.

[0045] The subsequent processes of S1114 and S1115 correspond to S709 and S710 in the flow of FIG. 7, and there are no particular differences, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] After all backup sheets have been scanned, in step S1116, the next process to be executed is determined based on whether a parent setting ID exists in the parent setting checklist. If a parent setting ID remains in the parent setting checklist, step S1117 is executed next. If no parent setting ID remains, step S1118 is executed next. In step S1117, a warning screen (not shown) is displayed on the operation unit 107 based on the parent setting ID remaining in the parent setting checklist. This warning screen is a screen for notifying the user that there are setting values that cannot be applied because there are no setting values for the parent setting. For example, information about the required parent setting may be displayed together with a warning message. Furthermore, instead of the warning screen, a UI screen may be displayed that prompts the user to input the setting values for the required parent setting. Alternatively, a UI screen may be displayed that confirms the user's intention to apply the setting values related to the warning and allows the user to choose whether to continue or abandon the application.

[0047] The process of S1118 corresponds to S711 in the flow of FIG. 7 described above, and there is no particular difference, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] The above is the content of the restore process according to this embodiment. Here, a specific flow of the restore process according to this embodiment will be explained using the backup form with check marks filled in as an example shown in FIG. 12. Currently, in the backup form 1200 of FIG. 12, "Machine Settings" and "Network Settings" exist as second-level categories below the top-level category "Settings." Furthermore, "Use as a file server" exists as a third-level category below "Machine Settings," and "IP Address" exists as a third-level category below "Network Settings." Of the check boxes, only the "IP Address" check box is not checked. In this case, the process proceeds as follows:

[0049] 1) First, "Settings" at the top level and "Machine Settings" at the first second level are processed in order as the focused category. Since there is no corresponding code information in either level (No in S1106), the process moves on to the next level, "Use as a file server," as the focused category.

[0050] 2) "Use as a file server" in the third layer is a setting item related to the function of using the target device as a file server. Currently, the corresponding QR code 1201 has "valid" encoded as its setting value, and this content is obtained as a decoded setting value and stored in the application list (S1107, S1108). Furthermore, a parent setting ID that specifies the setting value of the parent setting required when the function of using the target device as a file server is "valid" is also obtained by decoding from the QR code 1201. Specifically, the parent setting ID "1111" corresponding to the setting value "Use fixed IP Address" and the parent setting ID "2222" corresponding to the setting value "IP Address" are obtained. These parent setting IDs are not yet stored in the parent setting checklist immediately after being obtained (No in S1109), but they are stored in the parent setting checklist in S1113 when the determination in the following S1111 is Yes and the determination in the following S1112 is No.

[0051] 3) Next, the second level, "Network Settings," is processed as the focus category. This "Network Settings" has two mutually exclusive settings: "Use fixed IP Address" and "Use DHCP." "Use fixed IP Address" indicates the use of a fixed IP address, while "Use DHCP" indicates the use of a function that automatically assigns an IP address each time the device connects to the network. Note that DHCP is an abbreviation for "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol." To enable the function to use the target device as a file server, the "Network Settings" setting must be "Use fixed IP Address." A numerical example of the IP address to be used is also required. Therefore, when the "Use as a file server" setting in the third level is "valid," the settings of "Use fixed IP Address" and "IP Address" become the parent settings of "Use as a file server." In FIG. 12, QR code 1202 is obtained by encoding "valid" as the content of the setting value "Use fixed IP Address." QR code 1203 is obtained by encoding "invalid" as the content of the setting value "Use DHCP." A check mark is currently placed in the "Network Settings" checkbox. Therefore, the two QR codes 1202 and 1203 are decoded, and "valid" is stored in the application list as the decoded setting value for "Use fixed IP Address" (Yes in S1106, S1107, S1108). At this point, the parent setting checklist stores two parent setting IDs, "1111" and "2222," associated with the decoded setting values. Therefore, the parent setting ID "1111" corresponding to the setting value stored in "Use fixed IP Address" is deleted from the parent setting checklist (Yes in S1109, S1110).Since QR code 1202 does not encode any information other than "valid" which indicates the content of "Use fixed IP Address" (it does not include information on the parent setting ID), the routine is exited (No in S1111).

[0052] 4) In the next routine, QR code 1204, which encodes a numeric string representing the category "IP Address" (for example, (192.168.xx.xx)), should be decoded. However, the checkbox for the category "IP Address" is not currently checked. Therefore, QR code 1204 is not decoded and the routine exits (No in S1115). As a result, the parent setting ID "2222" remains in the parent setting checklist (Yes in S1116), and a warning is displayed (S1117). In response to this warning, the user may rescan the backup paper with the "IP Address" checkbox checked. This causes all the necessary setting values to be applied appropriately (S1118).

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the application of setting data from failing in cases where a child setting value cannot be set unless a parent setting value is set correctly.

[0054] <Other variations> The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0055] The present disclosure also includes the following configurations and methods. [Configuration 1] an acquisition unit for acquiring various setting values applicable to the device from a scanned image of a sheet on which information on the various setting values is printed; an application unit that applies a setting value designated by a user among the various setting values to the device itself based on the acquired information; An information processing device comprising: [Configuration 2] a receiving means for receiving an instruction from the user; a determining means for determining whether or not a setting value is to be applied to the device itself, for each setting item, based on the received user instruction; and the application means applies the setting values of the setting items determined to be applied by the determination means to the own device. 2. The information processing device according to configuration 1, [Configuration 3] The form has a check box for each setting item, the determining means determines the setting value to be applied to the device itself based on whether or not a check mark is present in a checkbox in the scanned image. 3. The information processing device according to configuration 2. [Configuration 4] The determination means determines that the setting value of the setting item corresponding to the checked checkbox is the setting value to be applied to the device itself. 4. The information processing device according to configuration 3. [Configuration 5] The determination means determines that the setting value of the setting item corresponding to the checkbox without a check mark is the setting value to be applied to the device itself. 4. The information processing device according to configuration 3. [Configuration 6] The information processing device according to any one of configurations 3 to 5, further comprising a warning means for warning a user when the setting value of a setting item determined by the determination means to be applied to the device itself is not determined to be applied to the device itself. [Configuration 7] 7. The information processing device according to configuration 6, wherein the warning means notifies information about the parent setting together with the warning. [Configuration 8] The information on the various setting values includes code information that encodes the setting values, further comprising a decoding means for decoding the code information; 8. The information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7. [Configuration 9] 9. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user to apply various setting values using the paper when the apparatus is first started up. [Configuration 10] 10. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, further comprising a scanning unit that scans the paper to obtain the scanned image. [Configuration 11] 11. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, further comprising a printing unit that prints information on various setting values applied to the information processing apparatus on paper in accordance with a user instruction. [Configuration 12] 12. The information processing device according to claim 11, further comprising a notification means for notifying a user to print the paper when the number of changes to various setting values applied to the device exceeds a threshold value. [Configuration 13] 12. The information processing apparatus according to configuration 11, wherein the printing means prints on paper information on a specific setting value based on a user instruction from among various setting values applied to the apparatus itself. [Method 1] A control method for an information processing device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring various setting values applicable to the device from a scanned image of a sheet of paper on which information of the various setting values is printed; an application step of applying a setting value designated by a user among the various setting values to the device itself based on the acquired information; A control method comprising: [Configuration 14] A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 13.

Claims

1. an acquisition unit for acquiring various setting values applicable to the device from a scanned image of a sheet on which information on the various setting values is printed; an application unit that applies a setting value designated by a user among the various setting values to the device itself based on the acquired information; An information processing device comprising:

2. a receiving means for receiving an instruction from the user; a determining means for determining whether or not a setting value is to be applied to the device itself, for each setting item, based on the received user instruction; and the application means applies the setting values of the setting items determined to be applied by the determination means to the own device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The form has a check box for each setting item, the determining means determines the setting value to be applied to the device itself based on whether or not a check mark is present in a checkbox in the scanned image.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

4. The determination means determines that the setting value of the setting item corresponding to the checked checkbox is the setting value to be applied to the device itself.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

5. The determination means determines that the setting value of the setting item corresponding to the checkbox without a check mark is the setting value to be applied to the device itself.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

6. The information processing device according to claim 3, further comprising a warning means for warning a user when the setting value of a setting item determined by the determination means to be applied to the device itself is not determined to be applied to the device itself.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said warning means notifies information about said parent setting together with said warning.

8. The information on the various setting values includes code information that encodes the setting values, further comprising a decoding means for decoding the code information; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

9. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user to apply various setting values using the paper when the apparatus is first started up.

10. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanning unit for scanning the paper to obtain the scanned image.

11. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit for printing information on various setting values applied to the apparatus on a sheet of paper in accordance with a user instruction.

12. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user to print the paper when the number of times various setting values applied to the information processing apparatus have been changed exceeds a threshold value.

13. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the printing means prints on paper information on a specific setting value based on a user instruction, among various setting values applied to the apparatus itself.

14. A control method for an information processing device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring various setting values applicable to the device from a scanned image of a sheet of paper on which information of the various setting values is printed; an application step of applying a setting value designated by a user among the various setting values to the device itself based on the acquired information; A control method comprising:

15. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 14.

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