Information processing system, information processing program, and information processing method

Abstract

To determine an initial setting of a parameter on the basis of a setting having a high degree of importance.SOLUTION: An information processing system 80 includes at least one processor. The processor acquires a job history of at least one image formation device 40, executes importance degree imparting processing of weighting a use state of a setting of a parameter included in each job, and determines the setting having a high degree of importance as an initial setting of a parameter at the time of new job execution of an image formation device 20 different from the image formation device 40 for which the job history has been acquired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes an automatic customization system that includes an image copy tool that makes an image copy of information held by a master machine, and the information image copied by the image copy tool is customized and copied to multiple duplicate machines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-157682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to determine initial parameter settings based on settings with high importance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing system of the first aspect includes at least one processor, which acquires the job history of at least one image forming device, performs an importance assignment process that weights the usage status of parameter settings included in each job, and determines the setting with the highest importance as the initial setting of the parameter when a new job is executed on an image forming device other than the image forming device from which the job history was acquired.

[0006] In a second aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor, in the importance assignment process, assigns a coefficient to the setting of the parameter included in the new job that is greater than the setting of the parameter included in the old job, calculates the sum of the assigned coefficients for each setting, and determines the setting with the largest sum of the coefficients as the setting with the highest importance.

[0007] In a third aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor determines whether there is a job in the job history that includes a combination of parameters whose settings are identical to the initial settings, and if there is not, re-determines the initial settings.

[0008] In a fourth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor performs the importance assignment process on combinations of settings of multiple parameters included in the job, and determines the combination with the highest importance as the initial setting of parameters when a new job is executed on an image forming device other than the image forming device from which the job history was obtained.

[0009] In an information processing system of a fifth aspect, in addition to the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor executes the importance level assignment process for each user who uses the image forming apparatus, and determines the initial setting for each user.

[0010] In an information processing system of a sixth aspect, in addition to the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor acquires job histories of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and executes the importance level assignment process.

[0011] An information processing system according to a seventh aspect is the information processing system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the processor weights the plurality of image forming apparatuses in a common method in the importance level assignment process.

[0012] The information processing program of the eighth aspect causes a computer to acquire the job history of at least one image forming device, perform an importance assignment process that weights the frequency of use of the setting values ​​of parameters included in each job, and determine the setting value with the highest importance as the initial setting value of the parameter when a new job is executed on an image forming device other than the image forming device from which the job history was acquired.

[0013] An information processing method of a ninth aspect acquires the job history of at least one image forming device, performs an importance assignment process that weights the usage status of parameter settings included in each job, and determines the setting with the highest importance as the initial setting of the parameter when a new job is executed on an image forming device other than the image forming device from which the job history was acquired. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the information processing system of the first aspect, the information processing program of the eighth aspect, and the information processing method of the ninth aspect, the initial setting of the parameter can be determined based on the setting with the highest importance.

[0015] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, the setting of an old job is less likely to be reflected in new settings than when the coefficient is constant.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, it is possible to prevent a combination of parameters that is not in the job history from being determined as the initial settings for a new job.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to prevent a combination of parameter settings that is not in the job history from being determined as the initial setting for a new job.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, the number of new jobs for which parameters need to be set can be reduced compared to when initial settings are not determined for each user.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, parameter settings of a job executed in a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be reflected in a new image forming apparatus.

[0020] According to the information processing system of the seventh aspect, compared to when weighting is not performed using a common method, the job history of a specific image forming apparatus is less likely to be biasedly reflected in a new image forming apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a table showing an example of a job history acquired by the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4A] 10 is a table showing weighting factors assigned to the parameter settings of each job in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4B] 10 is a table showing initial parameter settings determined from the sum of weighting coefficients when a new job is executed by an image forming apparatus in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5A] 10 is a table showing weighting factors assigned to the parameter settings of each job in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5B] 10 is a table showing initial settings and modified initial settings of parameters in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6A] 10 is a table showing weighting factors assigned to the parameter settings of each job in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6B] 10 is a table showing initial parameter settings when a new job is executed by an image forming apparatus, the initial parameter settings being determined from the sum of weighting factors calculated for each combination of parameter settings in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7A]10 is a table showing weighting factors assigned to the parameter settings of each job for each user in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7B] 10 is a table showing initial parameter settings for each user when a new job is executed by an image forming apparatus, the initial parameter settings being determined from the sum of weighting coefficients in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 8A] 10 is a table showing weighting factors assigned to the parameter settings of each job for each image forming apparatus in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 8B] 10 is a table showing initial parameter settings for executing a new job in an image forming apparatus, determined from the sum of weighting factors assigned to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a cloning process in the information processing system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated by the same reference numerals in the drawings are the same components. However, unless otherwise specified in the specification, each component is not limited to one, and multiple components may exist.

[0023] Furthermore, descriptions of overlapping configurations and symbols in each drawing may be omitted. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and may be implemented by making appropriate modifications, such as omitting configurations, replacing them with different configurations, or combining one embodiment with various modified examples, within the scope of the purpose of the present disclosure.

[0024] <Information Processing System> 1 is a system built in an image forming apparatus 20. In this disclosure, the term "system" includes a system built with a single apparatus, a system built with multiple apparatuses, and a system built within a higher-level apparatus or system.

[0025] That is, the information processing system of the present disclosure may be constructed across multiple devices other than the image forming device 20. For example, the information processing system 80 of the present embodiment may be constructed including a server with which the image forming device 20 can communicate, another image forming device 40 connected via a network, and the like.

[0026] In addition, the various processes executed by the information processing system 80 can also be executed on the cloud, an on-premise server, an edge server, an end point, or the like.

[0027] Although details will be described later, the information processing system 80 is used when copying (in other words, cloning) parameter settings for executing various jobs from one or more image forming apparatuses 40 to the image forming apparatus 20.

[0028] This cloning does not simply duplicate the parameter settings for various jobs in the image forming apparatus 40. The information processing system 80 derives settings with high importance from the job history of the image forming apparatus 40, and can determine the initial parameter settings for when the image forming apparatus 20 executes a job based on these settings with high importance.

[0029] In the following description, the image forming apparatus 40 that is the source of the parameter settings will be referred to as the “local machine,” and the image forming apparatus 20 that is the destination of the parameter settings will be referred to as the “master machine.” The image forming apparatuses 20 and 40 may or may not be connected to the same network.

[0030] <Image forming device> The image forming apparatuses 20 and 40 according to the present embodiment accept jobs input by a user and execute the specified jobs. One example of a job executed by the image forming apparatus 20 is a print job for forming an original image generated from a scanned original or the like onto a recording medium such as paper.

[0031] The image forming apparatuses 20 and 40 do not necessarily have to have the same configuration, but the main parts described below have similar configurations. In other words, the image forming apparatus 40 also has the various configurations of the image forming apparatus 20 described below.

[0032] The document to be read by the image forming apparatus 20 may be a document set in an image reading unit 26 (described later) or may be a document obtained from a network.

[0033] The image forming apparatus 20 is configured to include an image forming section 22 , an input section 24 , an image reading section 26 , an output section 28 and a recognition section 30 .

[0034] (Image forming section) The image forming unit 22 forms an original image generated by an image reading unit 26 (not shown) on a recording medium such as paper using, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet recording method.

[0035] (Input section) The input unit 24 is an interface that allows a user to input a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus 20, and includes a display unit 24A and an operation unit 24B.

[0036] The display unit 24A is a display screen configured by combining, for example, a touch panel with a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, etc. Images, etc. are displayed on the display unit 24A in response to touch operations by the user and processing of the image forming device 20, etc. The operation unit 24B is an operation key, operation button, power button, etc. provided on the image forming device 20.

[0037] By performing a touch operation on display unit 24A, a user can specify job contents and input instructions to execute a job to image forming apparatus 20. Note that some of the user's input operations may be performed via operation unit 24B.

[0038] Furthermore, information for starting and ending the information processing program 13A, which will be described later, is displayed on the display unit 24A. The user can execute operations for starting and ending the information processing program 13A via the input unit 24.

[0039] (Image reading unit) The image reading unit 26 includes a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and the like that reads a document set on a paper tray (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 20 and generates a document image.

[0040] The paper tray is, for example, a paper tray provided in a duplexing auto document feeder (DADF) installed at the upper end of the image forming apparatus 20. The paper tray may also be a manual paper tray provided on the side of the image forming apparatus 20.

[0041] (output section) Output unit 28 is configured to include a paper output tray provided on the side of image forming apparatus 20. An output object on which an original image has been formed in image forming unit 22 is output to the paper output tray. Output unit 28 may be provided with only one paper output tray or multiple paper output trays.

[0042] (Identification section) The identification unit 30 is a reading device that reads a user ID. The user ID is personal identification information that is uniquely assigned to each user as an identifier for identifying the user who uses the image forming apparatus 20.

[0043] The user ID may be read from a card on which the user ID is stored, or may be input by the user operating the input unit 24. After logging in to the image forming apparatus 20 using the user ID, the user can issue an instruction to execute a desired job and then log out via the input unit 24, for example.

[0044] (Control device) The image forming apparatus 20 is equipped with a control device 10, which will be described below. The image forming apparatus 40 is also configured with a control device having a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor), but the electrical configuration and functional configuration of the control device in the image forming apparatus 40 do not necessarily match those of the control device 10.

[0045] (Electrical configuration of the control device) The control device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor) 11, a memory 12 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 13, a medium read / write device (R / W) 16, a communication interface (I / F) unit 18, and an external I / F unit 19. The CPU 11, memory 12, storage unit 13, medium read / write device 16, communication I / F unit 18, and external I / F unit 19 are connected to one another via a bus B1.

[0046] The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the control device 10. The medium reading / writing device 16 reads information written in the recording medium 17 and writes information to the recording medium 17. The communication I / F unit 18 is an interface for communicatively connecting the control device to, for example, a server provided outside the control device 10 or various terminals used by users. The communication I / F unit 18 uses communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and LAN (Local Area Network).

[0047] (Storage part) The storage unit 13 is realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, or the like. An information processing program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 as a storage medium. The information processing program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 by setting a recording medium 17 on which the information processing program 13A is written in the medium reading and writing device 16 and having the medium reading and writing device 16 read the information processing program 13A from the recording medium 17. The CPU 11 reads the information processing program 13A from the storage unit 13, expands it in the memory 12, and sequentially executes the processes of the information processing program 13A. A job information database 13B, which will be described later, is stored in the storage unit 13.

[0048] (Functional configuration of the control device) Next, the functional configuration of the control device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11A, an evaluation unit 11B, a setting unit 11C, and a control unit 11D. The CPU 11 of the control device 10 executes an information processing program 13A to function as the acquisition unit 11A, the evaluation unit 11B, the setting unit 11C, and the control unit 11D.

[0049] (Acquisition Department) The acquisition unit 11A receives an instruction to execute the cloning process from the user via the input unit 24. The instruction to execute the cloning process includes a specification of whether or not to execute the importance level assignment process, which will be described later. In addition, when there are multiple image forming apparatuses 40 that are local machines, the instruction to execute the cloning process also includes a specification of which image forming apparatus 40 the job history of which is to be cloned to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the master machine.

[0050] The acquisition unit 11A acquires the job history via the network from one or more image forming apparatuses 40. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 11A can acquire the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 from a terminal or storage medium to which the job history has been copied.

[0051] Furthermore, the acquiring unit 11A can acquire, in addition to the job history, for example, an address book showing a list of fax destinations and a list of users who are authenticated to use the image forming device 40 from the image forming device 40. The job history, address book, and user list are stored in a storage unit of the image forming device 40.

[0052] (Job History) The job history acquired by the acquisition unit 11A is acquired from a job information database stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the job history stores the job number, status, end time, and settings of various parameters for each type of job.

[0053] The job number is an identifier for distinguishing each job from other jobs. In FIG. 3, an example of job numbers is shown in which "1, 2, ..." are assigned in chronological order, but the form of the job number is not particularly limited. If a job can be distinguished from other jobs by its end time, the job number may be omitted. In the following description, jobs assigned job numbers 1, 2, ... may be referred to as jobs 1, 2, ..., respectively.

[0054] The status is information indicating the state of completion of a job. The status is stored as "OK" or the like if the job is completed, "NG" or the like if the job is interrupted due to some kind of error, or "Cancel" or the like if the job is interrupted by a user's interrupt instruction.

[0055] The end time is information indicating the time when the job was completed or interrupted. In Fig. 3, the end time is stored as the year, month, and day, but the end time may also be stored as the hour, minute, and second.

[0056] Parameters are variables that the user can specify for each job. If the user does not specify any settings, predefined initial settings are used. Print job parameters include, for example, color settings, density, saturation, layout, double-sided printing (not shown), scale (not shown), etc.

[0057] The color setting is information indicating whether the setting is "black and white printing" or "color printing," and is stored as "Mono" for black and white printing and "Color" for color printing.

[0058] Density is information that indicates the print density setting, and for light printing it is stored as "Lighten+1," "Lighten+2," "Lighten+3," etc., with the larger number indicating lighter printing. On the other hand, for dark printing it is stored as "Darken+1," "Darken+2," "Darken+3," etc., with the larger number indicating darker printing.

[0059] Saturation is information that indicates the setting of print saturation, and for high saturation printing, it is stored as "Higher+1," "Higher+2," "Higher+3," etc., with the larger number indicating higher saturation. On the other hand, for low saturation printing, it is stored as "Lower+1," "Lower+2," "Lower+3," etc., with the larger number indicating lower saturation.

[0060] The layout is information indicating the setting of the number of pages contained in one sheet of paper, and is stored as "1up" if the number of pages contained in one sheet of paper is 1, "2up" if it is 2, "3up" if it is 3, "4up" if it is 4, etc.

[0061] In addition, the job history stores specific settings corresponding to various parameters. In addition to print jobs, the job history also stores parameters corresponding to jobs such as copy jobs, fax jobs, and scan jobs (not shown).

[0062] Note that the job history described here has been described as an example of a job history stored in the image forming device 40, which is the source of the parameter settings, but a similar job history can also be stored in the job information database 13B of the image forming device 20, which is the destination of the parameter settings.

[0063] (Evaluation section, setting section) The evaluation unit 11B shown in Fig. 2 executes a "weighting process." The weighting process is a process for weighting the usage status of parameter settings included in a job. The jobs whose parameter settings are weighted are each job included in the job history acquired by the acquisition unit 11A.

[0064] Then, the setting unit 11C determines the setting determined to have high importance as a result of weighting by the evaluation unit 11B as the initial setting of the parameters for the image forming apparatus 20 when a new job is executed.

[0065] (Weighting example 1) As an example of weighting, the evaluation unit 11B assigns a larger coefficient to the setting of a parameter included in a new job than to the setting of the parameter included in an old job.

[0066] For example, the evaluation unit 11B changes the weighting coefficient to be assigned for each predetermined period, as shown in column K1 in Fig. 4A. For example, the weighting coefficient to be assigned is changed every month, and a larger coefficient is assigned to jobs executed in new months than to jobs executed in older months.

[0067] For example, the evaluation unit 11B assigns a weighting factor of "1.0" to the setting content "Color" of the "Color setting" parameter of jobs 1 and 2. Also, it assigns a weighting factor of "0.9" to the setting content "Color" of the "Color setting" parameter of job 3. Jobs 1 and 2 were executed later than job 3.

[0068] On the other hand, the evaluation unit 11B assigns a weighting factor of "0" to the setting content "Color" of the "Color Settings" of the interrupted jobs 3 and 4. In other words, the evaluation unit 11B does not assign a weighting factor to the interrupted jobs.

[0069] Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the evaluation unit 11B calculates the sum of the weighting factors assigned to each parameter setting. For example, the sum of the weighting factors assigned to the color setting "Color" is calculated to be "2.9." On the other hand, the sum of the weighting factors assigned to the color setting "Mono" is calculated to be "2.1." The evaluation unit 11B then determines the setting with the largest sum of weighting factors as the setting with the highest importance.

[0070] Next, the setting unit 11C determines the setting with the highest importance as the initial setting of the parameters when the image forming apparatus 20 executes a new job, as shown in the K2 column in FIG. 4B.

[0071] For example, the setting unit 11C determines the setting content "Color" (sum of weighting coefficients is 2.9) of the parameter "Color setting" and "Mono" (sum of weighting coefficients is 2.1) to be the setting content "Color" with the larger sum of weighting coefficients as the initial setting of the parameter when a new job is executed on the image forming device 20.

[0072] Similarly, the setting unit 11C determines the parameters “density,” “saturation,” “layout,” etc., and their respective setting contents “Lighten+1,” “Higher+1,” “1up,” etc., as the initial parameter settings when a new job is executed by the image forming device 20.

[0073] The "default setting" is a setting that is automatically selected without the user's specification when instructing execution of a job. In this example, when a user executes a print job on image forming apparatus 20, color printing is automatically executed as a "color setting." If black and white printing is desired, the user must perform an input operation via input unit 24.

[0074] (Verifying the validity of the initial settings) The setting unit 11C determines whether or not there is a job in the job history that includes a combination of parameters that are set identically to the determined initial settings.

[0075] Specifically, based on the weighting coefficients shown in column K3 of Figure 5A assigned by the evaluation unit 11B, the setting unit 11C determines the initial settings of the parameters when the image forming device 20 executes a new job, as shown in column K4 of Figure 5B.

[0076] To avoid confusion, the following description will be given assuming that the job parameters shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are only four: "color setting," "density," "saturation," and "layout."

[0077] Specifically, the setting unit 11C initially determines the setting contents of the parameters "color setting," "density," "saturation," and "layout" as "Mono," "Lighten+1," "Higher+2," and "1up" as the initial parameter settings when the image forming device 20 executes a new job.

[0078] Then, the setting unit 11C determines whether or not there is a job in the job history of the image forming device 40 that includes a combination of parameters that are set identically to the determined initial settings. Here, none of the jobs 1 to 8 includes the combination of settings "Mono," "Lighten+1," "Higher+2," and "1up." Note that the setting unit 11C can also exclude the interrupted jobs 4 and 5 from the targets of this determination.

[0079] (Re-determining the initial settings) If there is no job in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 that includes a combination of parameters that are set identically to the initial settings, the setting unit 11C re-determines the initial settings.

[0080] For example, the setting unit 11C extracts jobs in which the setting contents of N-1 parameters (three in this example) out of N parameters (four in this example) including "color setting," "density," "saturation," and "layout" are the same as the determined initial settings.

[0081] For example, as shown in column K5 of Figure 5B, the setting unit 11C extracts a job whose setting contents of the parameters "Color Setting," "Density," and "Saturation" are the same as the determined initial settings ("Mono," "Lighten+1," and "Higher+2") (Job 7).

[0082] In addition, as shown in column K6 of Figure 5B, the setting unit 11C extracts jobs (jobs 2 and 6) whose setting contents of the parameters "color setting," "density," and "layout" are the same as the determined initial settings ("Mono," "Lighten+1," and "1up").

[0083] In this way, the setting unit extracts jobs with settings equal to the determined initial settings for each combination of N-1 parameters (three in this example) excluding one parameter from the N parameters (four in this example).

[0084] If it is not possible to extract a job with settings identical to the determined initial settings, a job with settings identical to the determined initial settings is extracted for each of the N-2 parameter combinations.

[0085] Here, the setting unit 11C determines the setting contents of the job (jobs 2 and 6) having the parameter combination that is the most frequently extracted by the number of jobs (two) as the modified initial setting.

[0086] In this case, the setting unit 11C adopts the setting with the larger sum of weighting factors for the parameter "saturation" that does not match the initial setting. That is, the "saturation" settings for jobs 2 and 6 are "Higher+1" (sum of weighting factors is 1.5) and "Lower+2" (sum of weighting factors is 0.8), respectively. Therefore, the setting unit 11C adopts "Higher+1" as the setting for the parameter "saturation."

[0087] That is, the setting unit 11C determines the parameter combination in job 2 as the modified initial setting. As a result, jobs including a parameter combination that is the same as the modified initial setting are included in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40.

[0088] (Weighting example 2) In the above-mentioned "Weighting Example 1," the evaluation unit 11B assigns a weighting coefficient to each parameter setting ("Color," "Mono," "Lingten+1," "Lingten+1," . . . ).

[0089] On the other hand, the evaluation unit 11B may perform a process of assigning importance to a "combination" of multiple parameter settings included in a job (such as "Color, Lighten+1, Higher+1, 1up"), as shown in Figures 6A and 6B.

[0090] For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, jobs 1 and 2 have the setting combination of “Color, Lingten+1, Higher+1, 1up,” and as shown in FIG. 6B, the sum of the weighting coefficients assigned to each combination is “2.0.”

[0091] Furthermore, jobs 7 and 8 have the setting combination "Mono, Lingten+1, Higher+1, 4up", and as shown in FIG. 6B, the sum of the weighting factors assigned to each combination is "1.3".

[0092] Therefore, the setting unit 11C determines the combination of parameter settings with the largest sum of weighting coefficients (Color, Lighten+1, Higher+1, 1up) as the initial setting of the parameters when the image forming apparatus 20 executes a new job.

[0093] The setting unit 11C can adopt either "Weighting Example 1" or "Weighting Example 2" as the importance level assignment process.

[0094] (Weighting example 3) In the above-described "weighting example 1" and "weighting example 2," the initial setting of the parameters when a new job is executed in the image forming apparatus 20 is a "common" setting for all users.

[0095] 7A and 7B, the evaluation unit 11B can execute the importance assignment process described in "Weighting Example 1" or "Weighting Example 2" for "each user" who uses the image forming device 40. In this case, the setting unit 11C can determine the initial setting of parameters for when the image forming device 20 executes a new job for each user.

[0096] For example, when each job in the job history obtained from the image forming device 40 is stored in association with the user ID (user information) that instructed the job to be executed, the evaluation unit 11B can perform an importance assignment process for each user.

[0097] However, if the user ID is not included in each job in the job history acquired from the image forming apparatus 40, it is not necessary to perform the importance assignment process for each user.

[0098] Although only two users A and B are shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the number of users is not particularly limited.

[0099] (Weighting example 4) In the above-mentioned "Weighting Example 1," "Weighting Example 2," and "Weighting Example 3," the importance level assignment process is executed on the job history of one image forming apparatus 40.

[0100] On the other hand, the evaluation unit 11B may perform the above-mentioned importance assignment process on job histories acquired from multiple image forming devices 40 (local machine A, local machine B, etc.), as shown in Figures 8A and 8B.

[0101] In this case, the evaluation unit 11B can assign weights in a common method to the multiple image forming devices 40. For example, the evaluation unit 11B assigns the same weight coefficient to jobs executed in the same month in the local machine A and the local machine B.

[0102] In this case, the parameter settings in the job history of each of the local devices A and B are cloned equally to the master device C.

[0103] The evaluation unit 11B can also weight the multiple image forming devices 40 in different ways. In this case, as an example, a larger weighting coefficient is assigned to the local device A compared to the local device B.

[0104] In this case, the master device C is cloned such that the parameter settings in the job history of the local device A are more strongly reflected than the parameter settings in the job history of the local device B.

[0105] 8A and 8B show only two local devices A and B, but the number of image forming devices 40 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, if there is only one image forming device 40, "Weighting Example 4" is not executed. Alternatively, even if there are multiple image forming devices 40, if only one image forming device 40 that is the source of the parameter settings is specified, "Weighting Example 4" is not executed.

[0106] (Weighting example 5) In the above-mentioned "Weighting Example 1" to "Weighting Example 4", the importance assigning process has been described in which a larger weighting coefficient is assigned to the parameter settings included in a new job than to the parameter settings included in an old job.

[0107] On the other hand, in the present disclosure, all weighting factors may be set to "1." In this case, regardless of the order in which the jobs are executed, the setting content that is most frequently instructed to be executed becomes the initial setting of the parameters when the image forming apparatus 20 executes a new job.

[0108] (Weighting example 6) The evaluation unit 11B can also execute the importance assignment process for an address book showing a list of fax destinations by combining, for example, weighting examples 1, 4, and 5.

[0109] For example, if the number of destinations registered in the address books of two image forming devices 40 (number of unique destinations) is 60, and the number of destinations that can be registered in the address book of image forming device 20 is 50, evaluation unit 11B can weight the usage status of the destinations. Then, the 50 destinations with the largest sum of weighting coefficients are registered in the address book of image forming device 20.

[0110] Similarly, the evaluation unit 11B can also perform a process of assigning importance to a list of users who are authorized to use the image forming device 40 by combining, for example, weighting examples 1, 4, and 5.

[0111] For example, if the number of users (number of unique users) authenticated to use two image forming devices 40 is 60 and the number of users that can be registered in the user list of the image forming device 20 is 50, the evaluation unit 11B can weight the usage status of the users. Then, the 50 users with the largest sum of the weighting coefficients are registered in the address book of the image forming device 20.

[0112] (Control unit) The control unit 11D controls the image forming unit 22, the display unit 24A, the image reading unit 26, the output unit 28, the recognition unit 30, and various other functions of the image forming device 20.

[0113] <Cloning process> The CPU of the image forming apparatus 20 executes the "cloning process" shown in FIG. 9 in response to an instruction to execute the cloning process from the user via the input unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 20.

[0114] When issuing an instruction to execute the cloning process, the user can select one or more image forming apparatuses 40 as the source of the parameter settings. Furthermore, when issuing an instruction to execute the cloning process, the user can specify whether or not to execute the importance level assignment process.

[0115] When the cloning process is executed, in step S102, the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 20 determines whether or not the importance level assignment process is specified when the execution instruction for the cloning process is issued. If the determination in step S102 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if the determination in step S102 is negative, the process proceeds to step S120.

[0116] In step S104, the CPU 11 acquires job histories from the image forming apparatus 40 (one or more) designated when issuing the instruction to execute the cloning process. After step S104, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0117] In step S106, the CPU 11 determines whether or not user information is present for each job in the job history acquired from the image forming apparatus 40. If the determination in step S106 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the determination in step S106 is negative, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0118] In step S108, CPU 11 executes a process of assigning importance to each user and determines, for each user, initial settings of parameters to be used when a new job is executed by image forming apparatus 20. CPU 11 stores these initial settings in storage unit 13. After step S108, the process proceeds to step S114.

[0119] In step S110, CPU 11 executes a level of importance assignment process and determines initial parameter settings common to each user when a new job is executed in image forming apparatus 20. CPU 11 stores these initial settings in storage unit 13. After step S110, the process proceeds to step S114.

[0120] In step S114, CPU 11 determines whether or not a job including a parameter combination that is the same as the initial setting exists in the job history of image forming apparatus 40. If the determination in step S114 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S130. On the other hand, if the determination in step S114 is negative, the process proceeds to step S116.

[0121] In step S116, the CPU 11 resets the initial settings to the settings stored in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40. After step S116, the process proceeds to step S130.

[0122] In step S120, CPU 11 acquires the initial parameter settings for various jobs from image forming apparatus 40 designated as the source of parameter settings duplication, and uses these initial settings to determine the initial parameter settings for when image forming apparatus 20 executes a new job. That is, the initial parameter settings for various jobs in image forming apparatus 40 are used as they are as the initial parameter settings for when image forming apparatus 20 executes a new job. CPU 11 stores these initial settings in storage unit 13. After step S120, the process proceeds to step S130.

[0123] If multiple image forming apparatuses 40 are designated as the source of parameter settings, CPU 11, in step S120, for example, acquires the initial settings of the image forming apparatus 40 with the largest number of jobs stored. Alternatively, CPU 11, in step S120, may display a message on display unit 24A of image forming apparatus 20 prompting the user to select one image forming apparatus 40 as the source of parameter settings. In this case, CPU 11 acquires the initial settings of parameters for various jobs from the image forming apparatus 40 designated by user input.

[0124] In step S130, the CPU 11 notifies the user via the display unit 24A or the like that the initial settings have been stored in the storage unit 13, and ends the cloning process.

[0125] <Action and effect> In the information processing system 80 disclosed herein, the job history of at least one image forming device 40 is acquired, and an importance assignment process is performed to weight the usage of parameter settings included in each job, and the setting with the highest importance is determined as the initial setting of the parameters when a new job is executed on an image forming device 20 other than the image forming device 40 from which the job history was acquired.

[0126] This allows the initial setting of parameters when cloning from the image forming apparatus 40 to the image forming apparatus 20 to be determined based on the setting with the highest importance.

[0127] In addition, in the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, a coefficient greater than that of the parameter settings included in the new job is assigned to the parameter settings included in the old job, the sum of the coefficients assigned for each setting is calculated, and the setting with the largest sum of coefficients can be determined as the setting with the highest importance.

[0128] This reduces the influence of the settings of the old job on the new settings, compared to when the coefficient is constant.

[0129] In addition, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure can determine whether or not there is a job in the job history of the image forming device 40 that includes a combination of parameters that are set identically to the determined initial settings, and if there is not, can re-determine the initial settings of the image forming device 20.

[0130] This makes it possible to prevent a combination of parameters that is not in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 from being determined as the initial setting for a new job of the image forming apparatus 20 .

[0131] Furthermore, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure can also perform a process of assigning importance to a "combination" of multiple parameter settings included in a job.

[0132] This makes it possible to prevent a combination of parameter settings that is not in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 from being determined as the initial setting for a new job.

[0133] Furthermore, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure can execute the importance assignment process for each user who uses the image forming apparatus 40, and can also determine the initial settings of the image forming apparatus 20 for each user.

[0134] This reduces the number of new jobs that require parameter setting compared to when initial settings are not determined for each user.

[0135] Furthermore, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure can acquire job histories from multiple image forming apparatuses 40 and execute a process of assigning importance to the job histories. It can also assign weights to the multiple image forming apparatuses in a common manner.

[0136] This allows the parameter settings of jobs executed in multiple image forming apparatuses 40 to be reflected in the new image forming apparatus 20. Furthermore, compared to when weighting is not performed using a common method, the job history of a specific image forming apparatus 40 is less likely to be reflected disproportionately in the new image forming apparatus 20.

[0137] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the importance assignment process involves assigning weighting coefficients to the parameter settings included in each job, and determining the setting with the highest importance by calculating the sum of the weighting coefficients (i.e., weighting is done based on frequency of use), but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this.

[0138] For example, such a weighting factor does not need to be assigned. For example, for each job, the most recent setting included in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 may be determined as the setting with the highest importance, and may be set as the initial setting of the image forming apparatus 20.

[0139] In the above embodiment, if there is no job in the job history of the image forming apparatus 40 that includes a combination of parameters that are the same as the determined initial settings, the initial settings are determined again, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. Such redetermining of the initial settings does not necessarily have to be performed.

[0140] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the following various processors can be used as the hardware structure of the processing unit that executes each process of the acquisition unit 11A, evaluation unit 11B, setting unit 11C, and control unit 11D. As described above, the various processors include a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (programs) and functions as a processing unit, as well as dedicated electrical circuits that are processors having a circuit configuration specifically designed to execute specific processes, such as a programmable logic device (PLD), which is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0141] The processing unit may be configured with one of these various processors, or may be configured with a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). The processing unit may also be configured with a single processor. Some or all of these processors may be configured on the cloud. At least each of the processes described in the above embodiments may be executed by a processor on the cloud.

[0142] Examples of configuring a processing unit with a single processor include, first, a form in which one processor is configured with a combination of one or more CPUs and software, and this processor functions as the processing unit, as typified by computers such as client and server. Second, a form in which a processor is used to realize the functions of the entire system, including the processing unit, on a single IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, as typified by systems on chips (SoCs). In this way, the processing unit is configured using one or more of the above-mentioned various processors as a hardware structure.

[0143] Furthermore, the hardware structure of these various processors may be, more specifically, an electric circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. As such, the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways.

[0144] <Additional Notes> (((1))) at least one processor; The processor: Acquire the job history of at least one image forming device; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the usage status of the parameter settings included in each job, The setting having a high degree of importance can be determined as the initial setting of parameters when a new job is executed in an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history is acquired. Information processing system.

[0145] (((2))) The processor: In the importance assignment process, assigning a coefficient to the setting of the parameter included in the new job that is greater than the setting of the parameter included in the old job; For each setting, the sum of the assigned coefficients is calculated; determining the setting with the largest sum of the coefficients as the setting with the highest importance; The information processing system according to (((1))).

[0146] (((3))) The processor: determining whether or not a job including a combination of the parameters that is set equal to the initial setting exists in the job history; If not, re-determine the initial settings. The information processing system according to (((1))) or (((2))).

[0147] (((4))) The processor: performing the importance level assignment process on a combination of the settings of a plurality of the parameters included in the job; determining the combination with a high degree of importance as an initial setting of parameters for a new job to be executed by an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history was acquired; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))).

[0148] (((5))) The processor: executing the importance level assignment process for each user who has used the image forming apparatus; determining the initial settings for each user; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))).

[0149] (((6))) The processor: acquiring job histories of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and executing the importance level assignment process; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))).

[0150] (((7))) The processor: In the importance assignment process, weighting the plurality of image forming devices in a common manner; The information processing system according to (((6))).

[0151] (((8))) Acquire the job history of at least one image forming device; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the frequency of use of the parameter setting values ​​included in each job, determining the setting value with a high degree of importance as an initial setting value of a parameter when a new job is executed in an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history is acquired; An information processing program executed by a computer.

[0152] (((9))) Acquire the job history of at least one image forming device; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the usage status of the parameter settings included in each job, determining the setting with a high degree of importance as an initial setting of parameters for a new job to be executed by an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history was acquired; Information processing methods.

[0153] According to the information processing system (((1))), the information processing program (((8)) and the information processing method (((9))), the initial setting of parameters when cloning an image forming apparatus can be determined based on settings with high importance.

[0154] According to the information processing system of (((2))), the reflection (influence) of the settings of an old job on new settings is suppressed compared to when the coefficient is constant.

[0155] According to the information processing system of (((3))), it is possible to prevent a combination of parameters that is not in the job history from being determined as the initial setting for a new job.

[0156] According to the information processing system of (((4))), it is possible to prevent a combination of parameter settings that does not exist in the job history from being determined as the initial setting for a new job.

[0157] According to the information processing system (((5))), the number of new jobs for which parameters need to be set can be reduced compared to when initial settings are not determined for each user.

[0158] According to the information processing system (((6))), parameter settings for jobs executed in a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be reflected in a new image forming apparatus.

[0159] According to the information processing system of (((7))), compared to when weighting is not performed using a common method, the job history of a specific image forming apparatus is less likely to be biasedly reflected in a new image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0160] 11 CPU (processor) 13A Information Processing Program 20 Image forming device 40 Image forming device 80 Information Processing Systems

Claims

1. at least one processor; The processor: Acquire the job history of at least one image forming apparatus; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the usage status of the parameter settings included in each job, determining the setting with a high degree of importance as an initial setting of parameters for a new job to be executed by an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history was acquired; It is possible to Information processing system.

2. The processor: In the importance assignment process, assigning a coefficient to the setting of the parameter included in the new job that is greater than the setting of the parameter included in the old job; For each setting, the sum of the assigned coefficients is calculated; determining the setting with the largest sum of the coefficients as the setting with the highest importance; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: determining whether or not a job including a combination of the parameters that is set equal to the initial setting exists in the job history; If not, re-determine the initial settings. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor: performing the importance level assignment process on a combination of the settings of a plurality of the parameters included in the job; determining the combination with a high degree of importance as an initial setting of parameters for a new job to be executed by an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history was acquired; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The processor: executing the importance level assignment process for each user who has used the image forming apparatus; determining the initial settings for each user; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. The processor: acquiring job histories of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and executing the importance level assignment process; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

7. The processor: In the importance assignment process, weighting the plurality of image forming devices in a common manner; The information processing system according to claim 6.

8. Acquire the job history of at least one image forming apparatus; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the frequency of use of the parameter setting values ​​included in each job, determining the setting value with a high degree of importance as an initial setting value of a parameter when a new job is executed in an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history is acquired; An information processing program executed by a computer.

9. Acquire the job history of at least one image forming apparatus; Executes a priority assignment process that weights the usage status of the parameter settings included in each job, determining the setting with a high degree of importance as an initial setting of parameters for a new job to be executed by an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus from which the job history was acquired; Information processing methods.

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