Information processing system and program

Abstract

To make it possible for a first information processing system to efficiently confirm whether data has been registered at a server when a second information processing system, which is remotely operated by a first information processing system, instructs a server to register the data.SOLUTION: An information processing system is provided with one or more processors. The one or more processors monitor the system itself and a shared area within the system that is shared between the system itself and the information processing system remotely operated by the system itself. When registration information indicating that the other information processing system has registered data at the server is stored in the shared area, the processors start monitoring whether the data has been registered at the server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a printing system in which a cloud print service notifies a multifunction device of an event indicating that a print job has been accepted from a client PC, and when the multifunction device accepts the event, it stores the event in its own queue and stops the event notification by notifying the cloud print service that printing processing will be performed for the print job, and if a preceding print job is already being processed for printing, it notifies the cloud print service to stop event notification for the print job stored in its own queue. Patent Document 2 describes an image processing system in which a printer transfers a print job received from a host computer to a cloud server, requests the cloud server for the end time of processing the print job on the cloud server, receives the end time returned from the cloud server, transitions the printer into a sleep state for the end time, and after returning from the sleep state after the end time has passed, requests the cloud server for the processed data of the print job, receives the processed data returned from the cloud server, and prints the processed data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-34375 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-164171 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system does not know that the second information processing system has instructed the server to register data. Therefore, it is not efficient for the first information processing system to constantly monitor whether data has been registered in the server.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to enable a first information processing system to efficiently confirm whether data has been registered in a server when a second information processing system remotely controlled by the first information processing system instructs the server to register data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is an information processing system comprising one or more processors, which monitor a shared area within the system that is shared between the system and another information processing system remotely controlled by the system, and when registration information indicating that the other information processing system has registered data on a server is stored in the shared area, begin monitoring whether the data has been registered on the server. The invention described in claim 2 is an information processing system described in claim 1, wherein, when the one or more processors obtain the data from the server, they notify the other information processing system via the shared area that they have obtained the data from the server. The invention described in claim 3 is an information processing system described in claim 2, in which the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the acquisition by deleting the registration information stored in the shared area. The invention described in claim 4 is an information processing system described in claim 1, wherein, when the one or more processors are unable to obtain the data from the server, they notify the other information processing systems via the shared area that they are unable to obtain the data from the server. The invention described in claim 5 is an information processing system described in claim 4, in which the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the inability to obtain the data from the server by storing information indicating that the data cannot be obtained in the shared area. The invention described in claim 6 is an information processing system comprising one or more processors, which monitor a shared area within another information processing system that is shared between the system itself and the other information processing system that remotely operates the system itself, and when registration information indicating that the system itself has registered data on a server is stored in the shared area, detects the results of monitoring initiated by the other information processing system to determine whether the data has been registered on the server. The invention described in claim 7 is an information processing system described in claim 6, in which the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area that the other information processing system has obtained the data from the server. The invention described in claim 8 is an information processing system described in claim 7, in which the one or more processors detect the acquisition by the deletion of the registration information stored in the shared area. The invention described in claim 9 is an information processing system described in claim 6, in which the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area that the other information processing system is unable to obtain the data from the server. The invention described in claim 10 is an information processing system described in claim 9, in which the one or more processors detect the inability to obtain the data from the server when information indicating that the other information processing system cannot obtain the data is stored in the shared area. The invention described in claim 11 is a program for enabling a computer to implement the following functions: a function of monitoring a shared area within the computer that is shared between the computer and another computer remotely controlled by the computer; and a function of starting to monitor whether the data has been registered on the server when registration information indicating that the other computer has registered data on the server is stored in the shared area. The invention described in claim 12 is a program for enabling a computer to implement the following functions: a function of monitoring a shared area in another computer that is shared between the computer and another computer that remotely controls the computer; and a function of detecting the results of monitoring initiated by the other computer to determine whether the data has been registered on the server when registration information indicating that the computer has registered data on the server is stored in the shared area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered on the server. According to the invention of claim 2, the fact that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server can be notified to the second information processing system through simple processing. According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to notify the second information processing system that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server without storing new information. According to the invention of claim 4, the first information processing system can notify the second information processing system that it is unable to acquire data from the server through simple processing. According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to notify the second information processing system that the first information processing system cannot acquire data from the server without storing the information in advance. According to the invention of claim 6, when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the second information processing system can know, through a simple process, that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server. According to the invention of claim 8, the second information processing system can know that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server without storing new information. According to the invention of claim 9, the second information processing system can know, through a simple process, that the first information processing system cannot acquire data from the server. According to the invention of claim 10, the second information processing system can know that the first information processing system cannot acquire data from the server without storing the information in advance. According to the invention of claim 11, when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. According to the invention of claim 12, when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing when processing is performed normally in the printing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing when an error occurs in the printing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a first information processing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a second information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second information processing device in the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first information processing device in the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [Outline of this embodiment] This embodiment provides a first information processing system that monitors a shared area within its own system that is shared between its own system and another information processing system remotely controlled by its own system, and when registration information indicating that the other information processing system has registered data on a server is stored in the shared area, begins monitoring whether data has been registered on the server.

[0011] In addition, this embodiment also provides a second information processing system that monitors a shared area within the other information processing system that is shared between the system itself and another information processing system that remotely operates the system itself, and detects the results of monitoring initiated by the other information processing system to determine whether data has been registered on the server when registration information indicating that the system itself has registered data on the server is stored in the shared area.

[0012] Here, a "system" may be composed of a single device or multiple devices. In the following, a first information processing system will be described as a system composed of a single device, with the single device being a first information processing device. In addition, a second information processing system will be described as a system composed of a single device, with the single device being a second information processing device. Although remote operation can be performed using any technology, the following description will be given using a remote desktop as an example. Here, remote desktop is a technology that allows access to a remote information processing device via a communication line and operation from a local information processing device. The shared area may be any storage area shared between the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus, but the following description will be given taking a shared folder as an example. Furthermore, the data may be any data, but the following description will be given taking print data as an example. Furthermore, the server may be any server, but the following description will be given taking a cloud server as an example.

[0013] [Overall configuration of the printing system] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing system 1 includes a first information processing device 10a, a second information processing device 10b, a printing device 40, and a cloud server 50. The first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b are connected to the cloud server 50 via a communication line 81, and the printing device 40 is connected to the first information processing device 10a via a communication line 82. Although the figure shows the first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b, they may also be referred to as information processing device 10 when there is no need to distinguish between them.

[0014] The first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b are computers used by a user. The first information processing device 10a is installed, for example, at home and serves as a remote desktop connection source. The second information processing device 10b is installed, for example, at a company and serves as a remote desktop connection destination. For example, the user creates a print document on the first information processing device 10a while displaying the screen of the second information processing device 10b, and registers print data including the print document and print parameters on the cloud server 50. The user then downloads print data from the cloud server 50 to the first information processing device 10a and instructs the printing device 40 to print based on the print data. The first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b may be, for example, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a mobile information terminal, or the like. Although only one first information processing device 10a and one second information processing device 10b are shown in the figure, multiple first information processing devices 10a and multiple second information processing devices 10b may be provided. In this embodiment, if a first information processing device 10a is provided as an example of an information processing system and the local system, a second information processing device 10b is provided as an example of another information processing system remotely controlled by the local system. Also, in this embodiment, if a second information processing device 10b is provided as an example of an information processing system and the local system, the first information processing device 10a is provided as an example of another information processing system that remotely controls the local system.

[0015] The printing device 40 is a device that prints information on a recording medium such as paper. The printing device 40 is installed, for example, at home, and performs printing based on print data in response to a print instruction from the first information processing device 10a. Although only one printing device 40 is shown in the figure, multiple printing devices 40 may be provided.

[0016] The cloud server 50 is a server computer that provides a cloud printing service that stores print data registered from the second information processing device 10b and sends the print data to the first information processing device 10a so that the print data can be printed on the printing device 40. Although only one cloud server 50 is shown in the figure, multiple cloud servers 50 may be provided. Also, a normal server computer may be used instead of the cloud server 50.

[0017] The communication line 81 is a line used for information communication between the first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b and the cloud server 50. As the communication line 81, for example, the Internet may be used. The communication line 82 is a line used for information communication between the first information processing device 10a and the printing device 40. As the communication line 82, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) may be used.

[0018] [Hardware configuration of information processing device] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of information processing device 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, information processing device 10 includes processor 11, main memory 12, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13, communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication I / F") 14, display device 15, and input device 16. The processor 11 executes various software such as an OS (Operating System) and applications, and realizes the functions described below. The main memory 12 is a memory used as a working memory for the processor 11, etc. The HDD 13 is, for example, a magnetic disk device that stores input data for various software programs and output data from various software programs. The communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various information to and from other devices via a communication line. For example, in the first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b, the communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various information to and from the cloud server 50 via a communication line 81. In addition, in the first information processing device 10a, the communication I / F 14 also transmits and receives various information to and from the printing device 40 via a communication line 82. The display device 15 is, for example, a display that displays various types of information. The input device 16 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse that a user uses to input information.

[0019] 2 can also be regarded as the hardware configuration of cloud server 50. However, when describing cloud server 50, processor 11, main memory 12, HDD 13, communication I / F 14, display device 15, and input device 16 in FIG. 2 will be represented as processor 51, main memory 52, HDD 53, communication I / F 54, display device 55, and input device 56, respectively.

[0020] [Printing device hardware configuration] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a printing device 40 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated, the printing device 40 includes a processor 41, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 42, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 43, a HDD 44, an operation panel 45, a printing unit 47, and a communication I / F 48.

[0021] The processor 41 loads various programs stored in the ROM 43 or the like into the RAM 42 and executes them to realize various functions, which will be described later. The RAM 42 is a memory used as a working memory for the processor 41, etc. The ROM 43 is a memory that stores various programs executed by the processor 41. The HDD 44 is, for example, a magnetic disk device that stores print data and the like used in the print process in the printing unit 47 . The operation panel 45 is, for example, a touch panel that displays various information and accepts operation inputs from the user. Here, the operation panel 45 is composed of a display that displays various information and a position detection sheet that detects a position indicated by an indication means such as a finger or a stylus pen. Alternatively, a display and a keyboard may be used instead of the touch panel.

[0022] The printing unit 47 prints information on a recording medium such as paper. Here, the printing unit 47 is, for example, a printer, and it is preferable to use an electrophotographic system in which toner attached to a photosensitive member is transferred to a recording medium to form an image, or an inkjet system in which ink is ejected onto a recording medium to form an image. The communication I / F 48 transmits and receives various information to and from other devices via a communication line. For example, the communication I / F 48 transmits and receives various information to and from the first information processing device 10a via a communication line 82.

[0023] [Printing system issues and solutions] In the printing system 1 described above, the user registers print data from the second information processing device 10b to the cloud print service of the cloud server 50. Then, the user downloads the print data from the cloud server 50 and issues a print instruction based on the print data using a print agent (hereinafter simply referred to as "agent"), which is software running on the first information processing device 10a. As a result, printing based on the print data is performed by the printing device 40.

[0024] However, if the user needs to perform some operation on the agent to print using the printing device 40, such as checking the print data on the cloud server 50 or issuing a print instruction to the printing device 40, the following problem arises. First, the user works by displaying the screen of the second information processing device 10b, which is the remote desktop connection destination, and registers print data in the cloud server 50. Therefore, in order to issue a print instruction to the printing device 40, it is necessary to switch to the screen of the first information processing device 10a and operate the agent, which is time-consuming. Second, it may take some time for the registration of print data to be completed on the cloud server 50. This is because, for example, uploading large files or image conversion processing takes time. Therefore, when the user checks the registration of the print data, that is, when the agent makes an inquiry, the registration of the print data may not be complete. In such cases, it is necessary to wait a while and check again. Furthermore, continuously monitoring the cloud server 50 as a countermeasure against this situation is costly, as it increases communication loads and wastes resources.

[0025] Therefore, in this embodiment, when an agent running on the first information processing apparatus 10a establishes a remote desktop connection, it shares a specific folder on the first information processing apparatus 10a with the second information processing apparatus 10b and monitors the specific folder. Then, a cloud printing driver (hereinafter simply referred to as "driver") running on the second information processing apparatus 10b starts monitoring the cloud server 50 when a print information file is stored in the specific folder. It is preferable to share the folder using existing technology related to remote desktop connection.

[0026] [Printing system processing overview] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the process when the process is performed normally in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0027] As shown in the figure, when a user starts and logs into the first information processing device 10a, the agent 20 starts monitoring a specific folder in the first information processing device 10a (A1). Here, the specific folder may be a folder that is created when the agent 20 is installed in the first information processing device 10a and that is user-dependent. For example, the path to the specific folder may be "C:\Users\(user name)\Documents\PrintAgent\Temp," and this path may not be changeable by the user. Note that monitoring a folder in the first information processing device 10a requires less cost for the agent 20 than monitoring the cloud server 50.

[0028] Next, the user establishes a remote desktop connection from the first information processing apparatus 10a to the second information processing apparatus 10b (A2). At this time, the user establishes the remote desktop connection by specifying a setting for sharing a specific folder of the first information processing apparatus 10a as a connection option. Hereinafter, a specific folder that has been set up to be shared in this way will be referred to as a "shared folder 21." Furthermore, for convenience, a specific folder that is scheduled to be set up to be shared may also be referred to as a "shared folder 21" even before it has been set up to be shared.

[0029] In this state, the driver 30 registers the print data in the cloud server 50 (A3). As a result, the cloud server 50 performs a registration process for the print data in the cloud print service (A4). Here, the registration process includes, for example, image conversion of the print data.

[0030] When the print data is registered in the cloud server 50 in this way, the driver 30 copies the print information file 211 to the shared folder 21 (A5).

[0031] Specifically, first, the driver 30 checks whether the second information processing apparatus 10b is connected via remote desktop. As a result, if the second information processing apparatus 10b is connected via remote desktop, the driver 30 acquires the name of the PC and the user name of the connecting source using existing technology. Then, when the name of the PC and the user name of the connecting source are acquired, the driver 30 determines the path of the shared folder 21. For example, the driver 30 may determine "\\(PC name)\Users\(user name)\Documents\PrintAgent\Temp" as the path of the shared folder 21. Then, the driver 30 copies the print information file 211 to the shared folder 21 of this path. Note that the driver 30 that can cooperate with the agent 20 is assumed to know the "\Documents\PrintAgent\Temp" portion. On the other hand, if the second information processing apparatus 10b is not connected via remote desktop, the driver 30 does not copy the print information file 211.

[0032] Here, the print information file 211 may be any file that can uniquely identify the print data. For example, the print information file 211 may identify the print data only by the file name of the print target. Also, the print information file 211 may be empty as long as it can identify the print data.

[0033] Thereafter, the driver 30 monitors the shared folder 21 until the print information file 211 is deleted by the agent 20 (A6).

[0034] Meanwhile, the agent 20 detects that the print information file 211 has been stored in the shared folder 21 that it is monitoring (A7).Then, the agent 20 starts monitoring the cloud server 50 at predetermined intervals (A8).That is, the agent 20 inquires of the cloud server 50 whether the print data identified by the print information file 211 has been registered. As a result, if the corresponding print data has already been registered in the cloud server 50, the agent 20 downloads the print data (A9). If the print data is canceled on the cloud server 50, the agent 20 receives this information and deletes the print information file 211 from the shared folder 21. Next, the agent 20 searches for a printing device 40 that can print or identifies a default printing device 40 that has been set in advance, and sends the print data to the searched or identified printing device 40 to print based on the print data (A10). Then, when printing based on the print data is completed, the agent 20 deletes the print information file 211 from the shared folder (A11).

[0035] When the print information file 211 is deleted in this manner, the driver 30 considers that the monitoring of the cloud server 50 by the agent 20 has ended (A12), and thus the monitoring of the shared folder 21 by the driver 30 also ends.

[0036] Now, suppose that some kind of error occurs after agent 20 starts monitoring cloud server 50. Such an error may be, for example, a communication error. In that case, the following problem occurs. The first problem is when the agent 20 should finish monitoring the cloud server 50. The second problem is how to notify a user viewing the screen of the second information processing device 10b of error information including the fact that an error has occurred and that monitoring of the cloud server 50 has been stopped.

[0037] Regarding the first problem, in this embodiment, if the error is not resolved after the agent 20 retries for a predetermined period of time, the agent 20 ends monitoring of the cloud server 50. To address the second problem, in this embodiment, when the driver 30 detects that an error information file has been stored in the shared folder 21, the driver 30 displays the error information on the screen.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the processing to be performed when such an error occurs in the printing system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0039] B1 to B8 are the same as A1 to A8 in FIG. 4, and therefore the explanation will be omitted. Assume that while monitoring cloud server 50 in B8, agent 20 detects the occurrence of an error and is unable to recover from the error even after retrying for a predetermined period of time (B9). In this case, the agent 20 stores the error information file 212 in the shared folder 21 and stops monitoring the cloud server 50 (B10).

[0040] When the error information file 212 is stored in this manner, the driver 30 determines that an error has occurred on the agent 20 side (B11). As a result, the error information is notified to the user on the screen of the second information processing device 10b displayed on the first information processing device 10a. Also, monitoring of the shared folder 21 by the driver 30 ends.

[0041] [Functional configuration of information processing device] 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a first information processing device 10a according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the first information processing device 10a includes a shared folder 21, a shared folder monitoring unit 22, a cloud server monitoring unit 23, a print data acquisition unit 24, and a print data output unit 25. Of these functions, the functions of the shared folder monitoring unit 22, the cloud server monitoring unit 23, the print data acquisition unit 24, and the print data output unit 25 are realized by the operation of an agent 20 on the first information processing device 10a.

[0042] As described above, the shared folder 21 is a storage area shared between the first information processing apparatus 10a and the second information processing apparatus 10b when the first information processing apparatus 10a is connected to the second information processing apparatus 10b via remote desktop. As described above, the shared folder 21 is shared by setting the shared folder 21 to be shared when the first information processing apparatus 10a is connected to the second information processing apparatus 10b via remote desktop. In this embodiment, the shared folder 21 is used as an example of a shared area within the local system that is shared between the local system and another information processing system remotely operated by the local system.

[0043] When the user starts up and logs in to the first information processing device 10a, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 starts monitoring the shared folder 21. Specifically, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 determines whether a print information file indicating that the second information processing device 10b has registered print data in the cloud server 50 has been stored in the shared folder 21. The shared folder monitoring unit 22 monitors the shared folder 21 until the user logs out from the first information processing device 10a. In this embodiment, this processing by the shared folder monitoring unit 22 is an example of monitoring a shared area. In this embodiment, the print information file is used as an example of registration information indicating that another information processing system has registered data in the server.

[0044] Furthermore, when the print data acquisition unit 24 acquires print data from the cloud server 50, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 notifies the second information processing device 10b to that effect via the shared folder 21. At this time, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 may notify the second information processing device 10b that print data has been acquired from the cloud server 50 by any method, but may notify the second information processing device 10b by deleting the print information file stored in the shared folder 21, for example. In this embodiment, this process by the shared folder monitoring unit 22 is performed as an example of notifying another information processing system via a shared area that data has been acquired from the server when data has been acquired from the server. Furthermore, in this embodiment, this process by the shared folder monitoring unit 22 is performed as an example of notifying another information processing system of the acquisition by deleting registration information stored in the shared area.

[0045] Furthermore, when the cloud server monitoring unit 23 detects the occurrence of an error and the print data acquisition unit 24 fails to acquire print data from the cloud server 50, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 notifies the second information processing device 10b of the failure via the shared folder 21. At this time, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 may notify the second information processing device 10b of the failure to acquire print data from the cloud server 50 by any method, but may notify the second information processing device 10b by, for example, storing an error information file in the shared folder 21. In this embodiment, this process by the shared folder monitoring unit 22 is performed as an example of notifying another information processing system via a shared area when data cannot be acquired from the server. Also, in this embodiment, an error information file is used as an example of information indicating that data cannot be acquired from the server. In this embodiment, this process by the shared folder monitoring unit 22 is performed as an example of notifying another information processing system of the failure to acquire data by storing such information in the shared area.

[0046] When the shared folder monitoring unit 22 determines that the print information file is stored in the shared folder 21, the cloud server monitoring unit 23 starts monitoring the cloud server 50. Specifically, the cloud server monitoring unit 23 determines whether print data associated with the user ID entered when the user logged in to the first information processing device 10a has been registered in the cloud server 50. The cloud server monitoring unit 23 also detects the occurrence of an error while monitoring the cloud server 50. The cloud server monitoring unit 23 monitors the cloud server 50 until the print data acquisition unit 24 acquires the print data or until the occurrence of an error is detected. In this embodiment, when the registration information is stored in the shared area, the processing of the cloud server monitoring unit 23 is performed as an example of starting monitoring to determine whether data has been registered in the server.

[0047] If the cloud server monitoring unit 23 determines that the print data linked to the user ID is registered in the cloud server 50, the print data acquisition unit 24 acquires the print data from the cloud server 50.

[0048] The print data output unit 25 outputs the print data to the printing device 40 so that the printing device 40 performs printing based on the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 24.

[0049] 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the second information processing device 10b according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the second information processing device 10b includes a print data registration unit 31, a shared folder monitoring unit 32, and a notification unit 33. These functions are realized by the operation of a driver 30 on the second information processing device 10b.

[0050] When the user issues an instruction on the second information processing device 10b to register print data including a document to be printed and print parameters, the print data registration unit 31 registers the print data in the cloud server 50. Specifically, the print data registration unit 31 registers the print data in the cloud server 50, linking it to the user ID entered by the user when logging in to the first information processing device 10a.

[0051] When the print data registration unit 31 has successfully registered the print data in the cloud server 50, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 stores a print information file that identifies the print data in the shared folder 21.

[0052] Furthermore, once the print information file is stored in the shared folder 21, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 starts monitoring the shared folder 21. The shared folder monitoring unit 32 monitors the shared folder monitoring unit 32 until the print data acquisition unit 24 acquires the print data or until an error is detected. In this embodiment, the shared folder 21 is used as an example of a shared area in another information processing system that is shared between the system itself and another information processing system that remotely operates the system itself. In this embodiment, this processing by the shared folder monitoring unit 32 is performed as an example of monitoring a shared area.

[0053] Specifically, shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects the results of monitoring of cloud server 50 by cloud server monitoring unit 23 from shared folder 21. In this embodiment, a print information file is used as an example of registration information indicating that the system has registered data on the server. In this embodiment, this process by shared folder monitoring unit 32 is performed as an example of detecting the results of monitoring whether data has been registered on the server started by another information processing system when registration information is stored in the shared area.

[0054] For example, when print data acquisition unit 24 acquires print data from cloud server 50, shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects this via shared folder 21 as a result of monitoring cloud server 50. At this time, shared folder monitoring unit 32 may detect that print data has been acquired from cloud server 50 based on any state of shared folder 21, but may detect this based on, for example, a state in which a print information file has been deleted from shared folder 21. In this embodiment, this processing by shared folder monitoring unit 32 is an example of detecting, via a shared area, that another information processing system has acquired data from a server as a result of server monitoring. Also, in this embodiment, this processing by shared folder monitoring unit 32 is an example of detecting that registration information stored in the shared area has been deleted, thereby detecting that acquisition has occurred.

[0055] Furthermore, when cloud server monitoring unit 23 detects the occurrence of an error and print data acquisition unit 24 is unable to acquire print data from cloud server 50, shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects this via shared folder 21 as a result of monitoring cloud server 50. At this time, shared folder monitoring unit 32 may detect the inability to acquire print data from cloud server 50 based on any state of shared folder 21. For example, shared folder monitoring unit 32 may detect this based on the state of an error information file stored in shared folder 21. In this embodiment, this process by shared folder monitoring unit 32 is performed as an example of detecting, via the shared area, that another information processing system is unable to acquire data from the server as a result of server monitoring. In this embodiment, the error information file is used as an example of information indicating that another information processing system is unable to acquire data from the server. In this embodiment, this process by shared folder monitoring unit 32 is performed as an example of detecting that such information is stored in the shared area and therefore unable to acquire data.

[0056] If the print data registration unit 31 fails to register the print data in the cloud server 50, the notification unit 33 notifies the user of this via the display device 15.

[0057] Furthermore, when the shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects the result of monitoring of the cloud server 50 by the cloud server monitoring unit 23, the notification unit 33 notifies the user of the monitoring result via the display device 15. For example, when the shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects that the print data acquisition unit 24 has acquired print data from the cloud server 50, the notification unit 33 notifies the user of this via the display device 15. When the shared folder monitoring unit 32 detects that the print data acquisition unit 24 has not acquired print data from the cloud server 50, the notification unit 33 notifies the user of this via the display device 15.

[0058] [Operation of information processing device] First, when a user logs in to the first information processing device 10a, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 starts monitoring the shared folder 21 in the first information processing device 10a. Next, when the user logs in from the first information processing apparatus 10a to the second information processing apparatus 10b via remote desktop, after the remote desktop connection is established, the shared folder 21 of the first information processing apparatus 10a is shared with the second information processing apparatus 10b. In this state, it is assumed that the user issues an instruction to register print data in the cloud server 50 on the second information processing apparatus 10b. The following describes the subsequent operations of the first information processing device 10a and the second information processing device 10b.

[0059] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second information processing device 10b. As shown in the figure, in the second information processing device 10b, first, the print data registration unit 31 links the print data specified by the user to the user ID entered by the user when logging in to the first information processing device 10a and registers it in the cloud server 50 (step 301). Next, the print data registration unit 31 determines whether or not the print data has been successfully registered in the cloud server 50 (step 302).

[0060] As a result, if it is determined in step 302 that the registration of the print data to the cloud server 50 has been successful, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 stores a print information file that identifies the print data in the shared folder 21 of the first information processing device 10a (step 303). Next, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 starts monitoring the shared folder 21 (step 304). Then, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 determines whether or not a change in a file stored in the shared folder 21 has been detected (step 305). Here, a change in a file stored in the shared folder 21 can occur when an error information file is stored in step 206 of Fig. 9 or when a print information file is deleted in step 207 of Fig. 9. Therefore, the folder monitoring unit 32 determines whether or not a print information file has been deleted from the shared folder 21 or an error information file has been stored in the shared folder 21.

[0061] If it is determined in step 305 that no file change has been detected, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 repeats the process of step 305 . If it is determined in step 305 that a file change has been detected, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 determines whether or not an error information file is stored in the shared folder 21 (step 306).

[0062] If it is determined in step 306 that an error information file is stored in the shared folder 21, the notification unit 33 notifies the user of the contents of the error information file via the display device 15 (step 307). Then, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 deletes the error information file from the shared folder 21 (step 308), and the process proceeds to step 309. Assume that it is determined in step 306 that no error information file is stored in the shared folder 21. In other words, it is determined whether or not only the print information file has been deleted from the shared folder 21. In this case, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 proceeds to step 309 without performing the processes of steps 307 and 308. Thereafter, the shared folder monitoring unit 32 ends monitoring of the shared folder 21 (step 309).

[0063] On the other hand, suppose that it is determined in step 302 that the registration of the print data to the cloud server 50 was not successful. That is, suppose that an error occurred during the registration of the print data to the cloud server 50, and the error was not resolved even after a retry. In this case, the notification unit 33 notifies the user via the display device 15 that an error has occurred (step 310).

[0064] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first information processing device 10a. As shown in the figure, in the first information processing device 10a, first, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 determines whether or not a print information file is stored in the shared folder 21 (step 201).

[0065] If it is determined in step 201 that the print information file is not stored in the shared folder 21, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 repeats the process of step 201. If it is determined in step 201 that a print information file is stored in shared folder 21, cloud server monitoring unit 23 starts monitoring cloud server 50 (step 202). Then, cloud server monitoring unit 23 determines whether or not it has detected registration in cloud server 50 of print data associated with the user ID entered when the user logged in to first information processing device 10a (step 203).

[0066] If it is determined in step 203 that registration of such print data in cloud server 50 has been detected, print data acquisition unit 24 downloads the print data from cloud server 50 (step 204). Then, print data output unit 25 outputs the print data to printing device 40 so that printing based on the print data is performed by printing device 40 (step 205), and the process proceeds to step 207. Assume that it is determined in step 203 that registration of such print data to cloud server 50 has not been detected. In other words, suppose that an error occurs while cloud server monitoring unit 23 is monitoring cloud server 50, and the error is not resolved even after a retry, so that registration of such print data to cloud server 50 has not been detected. In this case, shared folder monitoring unit 22 stores in shared folder 21 an error information file indicating that an error has occurred and that monitoring of cloud server 50 will be stopped (step 206), and the process proceeds to step 207. Thereafter, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 deletes the print information file from the shared folder 21 (step 207). Then, cloud server monitoring unit 23 ends monitoring of cloud server 50 (step 208).

[0067] In the above description, after the print data is downloaded and output to the printing device 40, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 deletes the print information file and the cloud server monitoring unit 23 ends monitoring of the cloud server 50. However, this is not limiting. After the print data is downloaded, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 may delete the print information file, the cloud server monitoring unit 23 may end monitoring of the cloud server 50, and then the print data may be output to the printing device 40.

[0068] Thereafter, when the user disconnects the remote desktop connection from the first information processing apparatus 10a to the second information processing apparatus 10b, the setting for sharing the shared folder 21 of the first information processing apparatus 10a becomes invalid. Finally, when the user logs out from the first information processing device 10a, the shared folder monitoring unit 22 in the first information processing device 10a ends monitoring of the shared folder 21.

[0069] [Processor] In this embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.). Furthermore, the operations of the processor in this embodiment may not only be performed by one processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in this embodiment, and may be changed.

[0070] [program] The processes performed by the information processing device 10a in this embodiment are prepared as programs such as application software, for example. In this case, the program that realizes this embodiment can be seen as a program that enables a computer to realize the following functions: a function of monitoring a shared area within the computer that is shared between the computer and another computer remotely controlled by the computer; and a function of starting to monitor whether data has been registered on the server when registration information indicating that another computer has registered data on the server is stored in the shared area.

[0071] The processes performed by the information processing device 10b in this embodiment are also prepared as a program such as application software. In this case, the program that realizes this embodiment can be seen as a program that enables a computer to realize the following functions: a function of monitoring a shared area in another computer that is shared between the computer and another computer that remotely controls the computer; and a function of detecting the results of monitoring initiated by the other computer to determine whether data has been registered on the server when registration information indicating that the computer has registered data on the server is stored in the shared area.

[0072] The program for realizing this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by being stored on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0073] [Note] (((1))) one or more processors; the one or more processors: Monitor a shared area in the system that is shared between the system and another information processing system that is remotely controlled by the system; when registration information indicating that the other information processing system has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area, start monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server. Information processing system. (((2))) The information processing system described in (((1))), wherein when the one or more processors obtain the data from the server, they notify the other information processing systems via the shared area that they have obtained the data from the server. (((3))) The information processing system described in (((2))), wherein the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the acquisition by deleting the registration information stored in the shared area. (((4))) An information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))), wherein, when the one or more processors are unable to obtain the data from the server, they notify the other information processing systems via the shared area that they are unable to obtain the data from the server. (((5))) The information processing system described in (((4))), wherein the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the inability to obtain the data from the server by storing information indicating that the data cannot be obtained in the shared area. (((6))) one or more processors; the one or more processors: monitor a shared area in another information processing system that is shared between the system and the other information processing system that remotely controls the system; When registration information indicating that the system has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area, the other information processing system detects a result of monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server, the monitoring having been started by the other information processing system; Information processing system. (((7))) The information processing system described in (((6))), wherein the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area that the other information processing system has acquired the data from the server. (((8))) The information processing system according to (((7))), wherein the one or more processors detect the acquisition by the registration information stored in the shared area being deleted. (((9))) An information processing system described in any of (((6))) to (((8))), wherein the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area that the other information processing system is unable to obtain the data from the server. (((10))) The information processing system described in (((9))), wherein the one or more processors detect that the other information processing system cannot obtain the data from the server when information indicating that the other information processing system cannot obtain the data is stored in the shared area. (((11))) On the computer, a function of monitoring a shared area in the computer that is shared between the computer and another computer remotely controlled by the computer; a function of starting to monitor whether the data has been registered in the server when registration information indicating that the other computer has registered the data in the server is stored in the shared area; A program to achieve this. (((12))) On the computer, a function of monitoring a shared area in another computer that is shared between the computer and the other computer that remotely controls the computer; a function of detecting the result of monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server, which is started by the other computer, when registration information indicating that the computer has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area; A program to achieve this.

[0074] According to the invention (((1))), when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. According to the invention (((2))), the fact that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server can be notified to the second information processing system through simple processing. According to the invention (((3))), it is possible to notify the second information processing system that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server without storing new information. According to the invention (((4))), the first information processing system can notify the second information processing system that it is unable to acquire data from the server through simple processing. According to the invention (((5))), the first information processing system can notify the second information processing system that it cannot acquire data from the server without storing the information in advance. According to the invention (((6))), when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. According to the invention (((7))), the second information processing system can know through simple processing that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server. According to the invention (((8))), the second information processing system can know that the first information processing system has acquired data from the server without storing new information. According to the invention (((9))), the second information processing system can know, through simple processing, that the first information processing system cannot acquire data from the server. According to the invention (((10))), the second information processing system can know that the first information processing system cannot acquire data from the server without storing the information in advance. According to the invention (((11))), when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. According to the invention (((12))), when a second information processing system remotely controlled by a first information processing system instructs a server to register data, the first information processing system can efficiently confirm whether the data has been registered in the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1...printing system, 10a...first information processing device, 10b...second information processing device, 20...agent, 21...shared folder, 22...shared folder monitoring unit, 23...cloud server monitoring unit, 24...print data acquisition unit, 25...print data output unit, 30...driver, 31...print data registration unit, 32...shared folder monitoring unit, 33...notification unit

Claims

1. one or more processors; the one or more processors: Monitor a shared area in the system that is shared between the system and another information processing system that is remotely controlled by the system, when registration information indicating that the other information processing system has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area, start monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server. Information processing system.

2. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the one or more processors acquire the data from the server, the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems via the shared area that the data has been acquired from the server.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the acquisition by deleting the registration information stored in the shared area.

4. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein, when the one or more processors are unable to acquire the data from the server, the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems via the shared area that the data cannot be acquired from the server.

5. 5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more processors notify the other information processing systems of the inability to acquire the data from the server by storing information indicating that the data cannot be acquired from the server in the shared area.

6. one or more processors; the one or more processors: monitor a shared area in another information processing system that is shared between the system and the other information processing system that remotely controls the system; When registration information indicating that the system has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area, the other information processing system detects a result of monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server, the monitoring having been started by the other information processing system; Information processing system.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area, that the other information processing system has acquired the data from the server.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors detect the acquisition by the registration information stored in the shared area being deleted.

9. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors detect, as a result of monitoring the server, via the shared area, that the other information processing system is unable to acquire the data from the server.

10. 10. The information processing system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors detect the inability to acquire the data from the server by storing information indicating that the other information processing system cannot acquire the data from the server in the shared area.

11. On the computer, a function of monitoring a shared area in the computer that is shared between the computer and another computer remotely controlled by the computer; a function of starting to monitor whether the data has been registered in the server when registration information indicating that the other computer has registered the data in the server is stored in the shared area; A program to achieve this.

12. On the computer, a function of monitoring a shared area in another computer that is shared between the computer and the other computer that remotely controls the computer; a function of detecting the result of monitoring whether the data has been registered in the server, which is started by the other computer, when registration information indicating that the computer has registered data in the server is stored in the shared area; A program to achieve this.

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