Information processing device and information processing system

Abstract

To allow data to be uploaded and downloaded between a storage on a network and an image processing device without requiring updating of software integrated in the image processing device or adding of an application.SOLUTION: An information processing device 3 includes: a communication unit 32 that performs data communication with an external device; an access right information storage unit 332 that stores access right information for a storage 21 in association with user identification information; and a control unit 310 that, in the case that the access right information associated with the user identification information of a user requesting the processing is stored in the access right information storage unit 332 when a processing request for the storage 21 is received from an image forming device 1, accesses the storage 21 in accordance with the processing request from the user. The control unit 310 executes processing for uploading and downloading data between the storage 21 and the image forming device 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing system, and more particularly to a technique for accessing storage on a network. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image processing devices, such as multifunction peripherals, read and print image data stored in network storage (e.g., cloud storage), or store scanned image data in the storage. Examples of cloud storage include Google Drive, OneDrive (registered trademark), and Evernote (registered trademark). Furthermore, Patent Documents 1 to 4 listed below describe printing using image data stored in network storage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10,394,505 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 08310703 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 08823986 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 10,785,200 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Image processing devices such as multifunction peripherals may be equipped with dedicated applications for each storage device in order to access storage devices on a network. Furthermore, storage specifications may change, and when the specifications change, the software (e.g., firmware) installed in the image processing device must be updated.

[0005] However, unlike general-purpose personal computers, updating the software built into image processing devices is not easy. Also, adding a storage device requires installing a new application for the storage device.

[0006] The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to enable data uploading and downloading between storage on a network and an image processing device without the need to update the software built into the image processing device or add applications. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a communication unit that communicates data with an external device via a network, an access right information storage unit that stores access right information for storage on the network in association with user identification information that identifies the user, and a control unit that, when the communication unit receives a processing request from a user for the storage from an external image processing device, executes processing to access the storage in accordance with the processing request from the user if the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user requesting the processing is stored in the access right information storage unit, and the control unit executes processing to upload and download data between the storage and the image processing device via the communication unit.

[0008] An information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including an image processing device and an information processing device, wherein the information processing device comprises a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device via a network, an access right information storage unit that stores access right information for the storage in association with user identification information that identifies the user, and a control unit that, when the communication unit receives a processing request from a user for storage on the network from the external image processing device, executes processing to access the storage in accordance with the processing request from the user if the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user requesting the processing is stored in the access right information storage unit, wherein the control unit executes processing to upload and download data between the storage and the image processing device via the communication unit, and the image processing device comprises a reception unit that receives login information required for logging in to the information processing device from the user, and a data transmission / reception unit that transmits the login information received by the reception unit to the information processing device, and the control unit of the information processing device receives the login information from the image processing device via the communication unit, and, when login to the information processing device is permitted based on the login information, executes processing to upload and download data between the storage and the image processing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, direct communication between storage on a network and an image processing device is not required, so that data can be uploaded and downloaded between storage on a network and an image processing device without updating software or adding applications built into the image processing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an entire information processing system configured to include an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the information processing device. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which a user who has an account for a storage acquires access right information for the storage via a terminal device. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the flow of processing in which the image forming apparatus 1 uploads and downloads data to and from the storage 21 via the information processing apparatus 3. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An information processing device and an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the entire information processing system configured to include an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The information processing system 11 includes an image forming apparatus 1 and an information processing apparatus 3. The image forming apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 3 are connected to each other via a network NW. In addition to the image forming apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 3, a management apparatus 2, a storage 21, and a terminal apparatus 4 are also connected to each other via the network NW. The management apparatus 2 manages data stored in the storage 21 on the network NW, and executes processes for uploading and downloading data to and from the storage 21.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device that has multiple functions, such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and is an example of an image processing apparatus defined in the claims.

[0014] The management device 2 is, for example, a storage server that provides storage services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, and Evernote.

[0015] The information processing device 3, for example, serves as an intermediate server and executes a process for uploading and downloading data between the storage 21 on the network NW and the image forming device 1.

[0016] The terminal device 4 is, for example, a personal computer, and performs data communication with an external device via the network NW. The terminal device 4 also transmits user authentication information required to log in to the storage service to the information processing device 3 via the network NW. The information processing device 3 transmits the received user authentication information to a management device 2 that manages the storage service when logging in to the storage 21, and obtains access right information for the storage 21 from the management device 2 that manages the storage service, which stores the access right information in the access right information storage unit in association with the user identification information.

[0017] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the main internal configuration of the information processing device 3. The information processing device 3 serving as an intermediate server includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, and a storage device 33.

[0018] The communication unit 32 is a communication interface that performs data communication with external devices via the network NW. For example, the communication unit 32 performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 1, the management device 2, the storage 21, and the terminal device 4 shown in FIG.

[0019] The storage device 33 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various control programs and connection programs for accessing the management device 2 and the storage 21 (for example, programs that enable logging in to Google Drive, OneDrive, Evernote, etc. and sending and receiving data; for example, applications provided by each of these storage services, or browsers having the URLs of each of these storage services). The storage device 33 also has a qualified person information storage unit 331 and an access right information storage unit 332 in its storage area.

[0020] The qualified person information storage unit 331 stores authentication information of users who are permitted to log in to the information processing device 3. The authentication information stored in the qualified person information storage unit 331 is composed of user identification information (user ID) and a password for identifying users who are permitted to log in. This authentication information for the information processing device 3 is not login information (authentication information) used to log in to the management device 2.

[0021] The access right information storage unit 332 stores access right information for the storage 21 in association with the user identification information for each user identification information. Here, the access right is the right to access the storage 21 and read and acquire data from the storage 21. When the information processing device 3 transmits login information required to log in to the storage service provided by the storage 21 to the management device 2, the management device 2 permits the information processing device 3 to access the storage 21. At this time, the management device 2 transmits an authorization signal permitting access to the storage 21 to the information processing device 3 at regular intervals. While the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives this authorization signal at regular intervals, the control unit 310 determines that the information processing device 3 has the access right to the storage 21, and stores information indicating the access right to the storage 21 as access right information in the access right information storage unit 332 in association with the user identification information of the user who logged in to the storage 21. Note that the storage of access right information in the access right information storage unit 332 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The control unit 31 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 31 includes a control unit 310 and an authentication unit 311.

[0023] The control unit 31 functions as a control unit 310 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program or the like stored in the storage device 33. However, the control unit 310 can also be configured by a hardware circuit, without relying on the operation in accordance with a control program or the like by the control unit 31. Unless otherwise specified below, the same applies to each embodiment.

[0024] The control unit 310 is responsible for overall operational control of the information processing device 3. The control unit 310 is connected to the communication unit 32 and the storage device 33, and controls the operations of the above-mentioned components connected thereto, and transmits and receives signals or data to and from the components.

[0025] In addition, when the control unit 310 receives a processing request from a user for the storage 21 sent from the image forming device 1, and if access right information is stored in the access right information storage unit 332 linked to the user identification information of the user requesting the processing, the control unit 310 executes processing to upload and download data between the storage 21 and the image forming device 1 in accordance with the processing request from the user.

[0026] 3 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that, although the present embodiment will be described taking a multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus, any image forming apparatus having a printing function, such as a printer or a copier, may be used.

[0027] The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to include a control unit 11, an input receiving unit 12, an image reading unit 13, an image forming unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a communication unit 16. The input receiving unit 12 includes a touch panel 121 that receives touch operations from the user, and a display unit 122. The display unit 122 displays operation screens, messages, etc., and may be configured integrally with the touch panel. The input receiving unit 12 also includes hard keys such as a decision key and a start key that are used to confirm various operations and settings.

[0028] Image reading unit 13 includes a scanner and the like, and reads an image of a document to obtain image data. Image forming unit 14 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image, and a transfer device that transfers the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to recording paper, and prints an image represented by the image data on recording paper. Image forming unit 14 prints the image data obtained by image reading unit 13 and the image data stored in memory unit 15, etc., on paper.

[0029] The storage unit 15 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores image data, various programs, data tables, etc. The communication unit 16 is composed of a communication module, etc., and transmits and receives various data to and from external devices via a network.

[0030] The control unit 11 is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 11 functions as a control unit 111 when the processor executes a control program stored in the ROM, etc. Note that the control unit 111 may be composed of hardware circuits, regardless of the operation based on the control program.

[0031] The control unit 111 is responsible for overall operational control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 111 executes processes required for transmitting and receiving data to and from the information processing device 3 in accordance with instructions from the user input via the input receiving unit 12.

[0032] Next, a process will be described in which a user who has an account for the storage 21 (a registered user) acquires access right information for the storage 21 via the terminal device 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of this process.

[0033] In accordance with an instruction from a user, the terminal device 4 transmits login information required to log in to the storage 21 to the information processing device 3 (S1). In the information processing device 3, when the control unit 310 receives the login information from the terminal device 4 via the communication unit 32 (S2), it transmits the login information (authentication information) to the management device 2 (S3).

[0034] When the management device 2 receives login information from the information processing device 3 (S4), it performs authentication processing of the login information (S5), and for login information that is recognized as valid, it permits access to the storage 21 and transmits an authorization signal permitting access to the storage 21 to the information processing device 3 (S6).

[0035] In the information processing device 3, when the control unit 310 receives the permission signal from the management device 2 via the communication unit 32 (S7), the control unit 310 stores the access right information for the storage 21 in the access right information storage unit 332 (S8). While the access right information is stored in the access right information storage unit 332, the information processing device 3 maintains the state in which it is accessing the storage 21.

[0036] Next, a description will be given of a process in which the information processing device 3 uploads and downloads data between the storage 21 and the image forming device 1. Figures 5(A) and (B) are diagrams showing the flow of a process in which the image forming device 1 uploads and downloads data to and from the storage 21 via the information processing device 3.

[0037] 5(A), the image forming device 1 requests the information processing device 3 to download image data (an example of data; the same applies below) stored in the storage 21 as a print target. At this time, it is assumed that the image forming device 1 has already transmitted to the information processing device 3 user identification information required to log in to the information processing device 3, and the information processing device 3 has already approved the login for the user.

[0038] When the information processing device 3 (control unit 310) receives the request, it determines whether access right information linked to the user identification information of the user of the image forming device 1 is stored in the access right information storage unit 332. If the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user is stored in the access right information storage unit 332, the control unit 310 requests the storage 21 to download the image data designated as the print target, acquires the image data from the storage 21 (the storage 21 transmits the image data), and transmits the acquired image data to the image forming device 1. This enables the image forming device 1 to read the image data from the storage 21 and print the image indicated by the image data.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5(B), the image forming apparatus 1 requests the information processing apparatus 3 to upload image data to the storage 21. When the information processing apparatus 3 (control unit 310) receives the request, it determines whether access right information linked to the user identification information of the user of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the access right information storage unit 332. If the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user is stored in the access right information storage unit 332, the control unit 310 transmits the image data to be saved that was sent and received from the image forming apparatus 1 to the storage 21. The image data is then saved in the storage 21.

[0040] When the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives a logout request for the information processing device 3 from the image forming device 1, the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 performs a logout process for the information processing device 3 with respect to the image forming device 1 (user identification information of the user who approved the login). At the same time, the control unit 310 transmits a logout request to the management device 2 of the storage 21 via the communication unit 32 to cancel the login state maintained for the user in the storage 21. When the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives logout information from the management device 2 via the communication unit 32, indicating that the login state approved using the user identification information of the user has been canceled, the control unit 310 deletes the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user from the access right information storage unit 332.

[0041] Next, a management process of the access right information stored in the access right information storage unit 332 in the information processing device 3 will be described.

[0042] First, we will explain the process of updating the access right information stored in the access right information storage unit 332. When the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives, at regular intervals, information from the management device 2 of the storage 21 via the communication unit 32, inquiring whether or not to maintain a login state to the storage 21 that has been approved using the user's user identification information, the control unit 310 determines whether or not to maintain a login state to the information processing device 3 for the user identification information of the user.

[0043] When the control unit 310 determines that the login state of the user in the information processing device 3 is to be maintained for the user identification information of the user, the control unit 310 transmits information requesting the maintenance of the login state to the storage 21 authorized using the user identification information of the user to the management device 2 of the storage 21 via the communication unit 32. This maintains the login state authorized using the user identification information of the user. That is, the control unit 310 updates the access right information stored in the access right information storage unit 332.

[0044] On the other hand, when the control unit 310 determines that the login state of the user in question is not maintained for the information processing device 3 using the user identification information, it transmits information (logout request) requesting cancellation of the login state to the storage 21 that was approved using the user identification information of the user to the management device 2 of the storage 21 via the communication unit 32. This causes the login state that was approved using the user identification information of the user in question to be cancelled.

[0045] Next, a description will be given of a process for deleting access right information from the access right information storage unit 332. When the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 cancels the login state of the user identification information of the image forming device 1 to the information processing device 3, the control unit 310 deletes, from the access right information storage unit 332, the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user of the image forming device 1 whose login state has been canceled.

[0046] In addition, if the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 does not receive any instructions regarding upload or download processing to the storage 21 from the image forming device 1 logged in to the information processing device 3 via the communication unit 32 for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 310 deletes the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user of the image forming device 1 logged in to the information processing device 3 from the access right information storage unit 332.

[0047] According to the above embodiment, direct communication between the storage 21 on the network and the image forming device 1 is not required, so data can be uploaded and downloaded between the storage 21 on the network and the image forming device 1 without updating the software built into the image forming device 1 or adding an application.

[0048] 5(A), when the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives a download request from the image forming device 1 to download image data stored in the storage 21 as a print target, and acquires the image data designated as a print target from the storage 21, the control unit 310 may convert the acquired image data into print data (page description language) that can be printed by the image forming device 1, and transmit the converted print data to the image forming device 1 via the communication unit 32. This reduces the data processing load on the image forming device 1.

[0049] 5(B), when the control unit 310 of the information processing device 3 receives image data and a request to upload the image data to the storage 21 from the image forming device 1 and uploads the image data to the storage 21, the control unit 310 may perform character recognition processing on the image data using existing OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology and transmit the data that has undergone the character recognition processing to the storage 21 together with the image data or in place of the image data. This makes it possible to convert the image data into character data or convert the text portion of the image data into character data and store it in the storage 21. It is also possible to reduce the data processing load on the image forming device 1.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the terminal device 4 is assumed to send login information required to log in to the storage 21 to the information processing device 3 in accordance with instructions from the user, but the terminal device 4 may also function as an information processing device, and may accept login information required to log in to the storage 21 from the user and send the login information to the management device 2, and the terminal device 4 (its control unit) may act as the information processing device 3 and perform the processes required to log in to the storage 21, the processes required to maintain and release the login state, and the processes for uploading and downloading data between the storage 21 and the image forming device 1, which are executed by the above-mentioned information processing device 3.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 5 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and it is not intended that the present invention be limited to these configurations and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Image forming device 2 Management device 3. Information processing equipment 4 Terminal Devices 21. Storage 32 Communications Department 310 Control Unit 332 Access right information storage unit

Claims

1. a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device via a network; an access right information storage unit that stores access right information for storage on a network in association with user identification information that identifies a user; a control unit that, when the communication unit receives a processing request for the storage from an external image processing device from a user, executes processing to access the storage in accordance with the processing request from the user if the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user requesting the processing is stored in the access right information storage unit; The control unit executes a process of uploading and downloading data between the storage and the image processing device via the communication unit.

2. The control unit when the communication unit receives authentication information of the user that is requested at the time of logging in to the storage from an external terminal device, the authentication information of the user is transmitted via the communication unit to a management device that manages the storage at the time of logging in to the storage; An information processing device as described in claim 1, wherein when the access right information sent from the management device in response to the transmission of the user's authentication information is received via the communication unit, the received access right information is linked to the user identification information and stored in the access right information storage unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit executes a process for updating the access right information stored in the access right information storage unit for the management apparatus at predetermined time intervals.

4. The control unit performing data communication between the information processing device and the image processing device that has logged in via the communication unit; The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the login status for the image processing device is cancelled, the access right information linked to the user identification information obtained from the image processing device whose login status has been cancelled is deleted from the access right information storage unit.

5. The information processing device described in claim 2, wherein the control unit deletes from the access right information storage unit the access right information linked to the user identification information received for login from the image processing device that has approved the login, if the control unit does not receive instructions regarding upload or download processing to the storage via the communication unit from the image processing device that has approved the login for a predetermined period of time.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives a download request from the image processing device via the communication unit for data stored in the storage to be printed, the control unit obtains the data to be printed from the storage using the access right information, converts the obtained data into print data in a format that can be printed by the image processing device, and transmits the print data to the image processing device via the communication unit.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives image data to be uploaded to the storage and an upload request from the image processing device via the communication unit, it performs character recognition processing on the image data, and uses the access right information to send and store the image data that has undergone the character recognition processing to the storage via the communication unit.

8. An information processing system including an image processing device and an information processing device, The information processing device includes: a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device via a network; an access right information storage unit that stores access right information for storage on a network in association with user identification information that identifies a user; a control unit that, when the communication unit receives a processing request for the storage from an external image processing device from a user, executes processing to access the storage in accordance with the processing request from the user if the access right information linked to the user identification information of the user requesting the processing is stored in the access right information storage unit; the control unit executes a process of uploading and downloading data between the storage and the image processing device via the communication unit; The image processing device includes: a reception unit that receives login information required for logging in to the information processing device from a user; a data transmission / reception unit that transmits the login information accepted by the acceptance unit to the information processing device, The control unit of the information processing device An information processing system that receives the login information from the image processing device via the communication unit, and when login to the information processing device is permitted based on the login information, executes a process to upload and download data between the storage and the image processing device.

Images