Management device

Abstract

This reduces the effort required for users to issue and register license keys for optional functions of image forming apparatuses. [Solution] The management device 2, which manages the image forming apparatus 1 via a network, includes a request unit 212 that sends second information (Product ID key) to a license key issuer that issues license keys for the type of optional function indicated by first information (Function type) to request the issuance of a license key, and a transmission unit 214 that logs in by sending fourth information (Login username, Login password) to the destination image forming apparatus indicated by third information (Device IP address), and transmits the license key issued by the license key issuer to the image forming apparatus in response to the request by the request unit, thereby registering the license key for the type of optional function indicated by first information to the image forming apparatus 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device capable of managing a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network.

Background Art

[0002] Some image forming apparatuses such as multifunctional printers are provided with several optional functions, such as a card authentication kit (software that enables personal authentication by card) or an Internet fax kit (software that enables fax via the Internet).

[0003] Some of the optional functions require registration of a license key to the image forming apparatus in order to be used normally. The license key is issued, for example, by accessing a specified website (a website operated by the vendor of the card authentication kit etc.) and entering necessary information (such as a serial number) into the website.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In order to enable the optional function to be used normally, the user may have to perform operations for issuing a license key and operations for registering the license key to the image forming apparatus. Also, in order to register the license key to the image forming apparatus, the user has to go to the apparatus body.

[0006] However, in offices and companies, numerous image forming machines are often installed. It is extremely time-consuming and laborious for users to issue license keys for each image forming machine and register the license key for each machine individually. Patent Document 1 describes the transfer of license keys, but the invention described in Patent Document 1 does not reduce the burden on users in issuing and registering license keys.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to reduce the effort required of users in issuing and registering license keys for optional functions of an image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A management device according to one aspect of the present invention is a management device capable of managing a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network, comprising: a communication unit that communicates with the outside via the network; an input receiving unit that receives input of: first information indicating the type of optional function that the image forming apparatus has; second information necessary for issuing a license key for the optional function; third information indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus; and fourth information necessary for logging into the image forming apparatus; a requesting unit that transmits the second information via the communication unit to a predetermined license key issuer that issues the license key for the type of optional function indicated by the first information, and sends an instruction to request the issuance of the license key; and a transmitting unit that transmits the fourth information via the communication unit to the image forming apparatus at the destination indicated by the third information to log in, and transmits the license key received from the license key issuer to the image forming apparatus in response to the instruction from the requesting unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In this invention, the user does not need to go to the image forming apparatus itself to register a license key. Therefore, the effort required of the user to issue and register license keys for optional functions of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows the overall structure of an information processing system that includes a management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) is a diagram showing an example of the first to fourth pieces of information that the input receiving unit accepts as input. (B) is a diagram showing specific examples of the various pieces of information shown in (A). [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the information stored in the license information storage unit. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the process for registering license keys by the management device. [Figure 6] This is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, a management device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall information processing system which includes the management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] An information processing system 11 according to one embodiment comprises a plurality of image forming devices 1, a management device 2, and a license key issuer 3, all located on a network such as the Internet. The image forming device 1 is a multifunction device that combines multiple functions, such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a fax function.

[0013] The management device 2 is, for example, a computer, and manages the image forming device 1 via a network. The management device 2 can manage a plurality of image forming devices 1. The license key issuer 3 issues license keys for optional functions (for example, card authentication kits, etc.) that the image forming device 1 has. The license key issuer 3 is, for example, a server.

[0014] When the license key issued by the license key issuer 3 is registered in the image forming device 1, the image forming device 1 can normally use the optional function corresponding to the license key.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device 2 according to the first embodiment. The management device 2 includes a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication unit 24, and a storage unit 25. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to each other via a communication bus.

[0016] The operation unit 22 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., inputs commands and characters to the control unit 21, and further operates a pointer on the screen in the display unit 23. The operation unit 22 receives input of instructions from the user based on the operation by the user. The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and displays responses and data results from the control unit 21.

[0017] The communication unit 24 communicates with the outside via a network. For example, the communication unit 24 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data to and from external devices such as the image forming device 1 and the license key issuer 3 within a local area or on the Internet.

[0018] The storage unit 25 is a large-capacity storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various control programs, etc. The storage unit 25 also has a device information storage unit 250 and an option information storage unit 251.

[0019] The device information storage unit 250 is a storage area that stores the device information of the image forming apparatus 1 that is the management target of the management apparatus 2. In the device information storage unit 250, as the device information of the image forming apparatus 1, identification information (serial number) for identifying the image forming apparatus 1, destination information (IP address) indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus 1, the login username of a user having administrator authority, and the login password are associated and stored as, for example, a file in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format.

[0020] The option information storage unit 251 is an area that stores, in association with each other, a license key, the type of option function corresponding to the license key, the image forming apparatus 1 (serial number) in which the license key is registered, and the expiration date of the license key, as, for example, a file in XML format. Note that the storage method and format of the device information and the license key information are not limited to this.

[0021] The control unit 21 is configured to include a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), etc. The control unit 21 includes a control section 210, an input reception section 211, a request section 212, a storage section 213, and a transmission section 214.

[0022] The control unit 21 functions as a control unit 210, an input receiving unit 211, a request unit 212, a storage unit 213, and a transmission unit 214, through operation by the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the memory unit 25. However, the control unit 210, etc., can also be configured by hardware circuits, rather than by operation in accordance with the control program etc. by the control unit 21. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise specified.

[0023] The control unit 210 is responsible for the overall operation control of the management device 2. The control unit 210 is connected to the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, the communication unit 24, and the storage unit 25, and performs drive control and other functions for each of these units.

[0024] The input receiving unit 211 receives input of the following: first information indicating the type of optional function that the image forming apparatus 1 has; second information necessary for issuing a license key for the optional function; third information indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus 1; and fourth information necessary for logging into the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the input receiving unit 211 receives input of various information from the user via the operation unit 22.

[0025] Figure 3(A) shows an example of the first to fourth pieces of information. The first piece, "Device IP address," indicates the destination of the image forming apparatus 1, and this information constitutes the third piece of information. The second piece, "Login username," indicates the login username, and the third piece, "Login password," indicates the login password, and these pieces of information constitute the fourth piece of information. The fourth piece, "Function type," indicates the type of optional function, and this information constitutes the first piece of information. The fifth piece, "Product ID key," is the product ID key (serial number) of the optional function, and this information constitutes the second piece of information.

[0026] Furthermore, since the device information storage unit 250 stores the serial number and IP address of the image forming apparatus 1 in association, the input receiving unit 211 may accept the serial number instead of the IP address as information indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0027] Figure 3(B) is a diagram showing specific examples of the various pieces of information shown in Figure 3(A). Figure 3(B) shows that the destination of the image forming apparatus 1 is "10.191.21.50", the login username is "Admin", the login password is "XXXXXXXX", the type of optional function is "CARD_AUTHENTNICATION_KIT (Card Authentication Kit)", and the product ID key for the optional function is "3U8S-3FHN-8STR-J0G1".

[0028] The request unit 212 sends an instruction to the license key issuer 3, which issues license keys for the type of optional function indicated by the first information, via the communication unit 24, requesting the issuance of a license key by sending the second information. For example, the request unit 212 accesses the website of the license key issuer 3, which issues license keys for the optional function "card authentication kit," registers the product ID key on the website, and performs processing to send an instruction requesting the issuance of a license key.

[0029] Upon receiving the above registration, License Key Issuer 3 issues a license key. For example, License Key Issuer 3 transmits the license key and information indicating the expiration date of the license key to Management Device 2 via the network. Known technologies are used for the processing of license key issuance and transmission by License Key Issuer 3.

[0030] The storage unit 213 associates the type of optional function corresponding to the license key, the image forming apparatus 1 to which the license key is registered, and the expiration date of the license key with each other and stores them in a predetermined storage area (for example, the storage area in the storage unit 25).

[0031] For example, as shown in Figure 4, the storage unit 213 stores in the option information storage unit 251, for each type of option function, the serial number (Machine_Serial_Number) of the image forming apparatus 1 to which the license key is registered, the license key (License_Key), the license key issuance date (Date_Issued), and the license key expiration date (Expiry_Date) as data for the license key of that option function.

[0032] The transmitting unit 214 transmits the fourth information to the image forming apparatus 1, the destination indicated by the third information, via the communication unit 24 to log in. Subsequently, in response to a request from the requesting unit 212, it transmits the license key issued by the license key issuer 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 and performs processing to register the license key for the type of optional function indicated by the first information to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0033] For example, the transmission unit 214 requests the logged-in image forming apparatus 1 to register the license key for the optional function "card authentication kit". The image forming apparatus 1 registers the license key for the optional function "card authentication kit" in accordance with the request from the management device 2 (transmission unit 214). Known technology is used for the registration process of the entered license key in the image forming apparatus 1. From this point onward, the control unit (CPU, etc.) of the image forming apparatus 1 makes the optional function "card authentication kit" usable in a normal state.

[0034] Next, an example of the process related to license key registration by the management device 2 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 5.

[0035] When the input receiving unit 211 of the management device 2 receives input via the operation unit 22 based on the user's operation of the operation unit 2, including first information (Function type) indicating the type of optional function that the image forming apparatus 1 has, second information (Product ID key) necessary for issuing a license key for the optional function, third information (Device IP address) indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus 1, and fourth information (Login username, Login password) necessary for logging into the image forming apparatus 1 (S1), the request unit 212 accesses the website of a predetermined license key issuer 3 that issues license keys for the optional function that the image forming apparatus 1 has, which is indicated by the first information (Function type) (S2).

[0036] Next, the request unit 212 transmits the Product ID key to the website based on the second information via the communication unit 24 and registers the Product ID key with the website (S3). Known technology is used for the process of registering the Product ID key by the license key issuer 3. When the license key issuer 3 registers the Product ID key, it transmits the license key corresponding to the Product ID key and information indicating the expiration date of the license key to the management device 2 via the network.

[0037] When the storage unit 213 receives information indicating the license key and expiration date transmitted by the license key issuer 3 via the communication unit 24, it stores the license key data in the optional information storage unit 251, as shown in the example in Figure 4 (S4).

[0038] Then, the transmitting unit 214 accesses the image forming apparatus 1, the destination (Device IP address) indicated by the third information, via the communication unit 24 (S5), transmits the fourth information (Login username and Login password) (S6), and logs in to the image forming apparatus 1. The transmitting unit 214 transmits the license key issued by the license key issuer 3 in response to the above instructions transmitted by the request unit 212, and received by the communication unit 24, to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24 (S7). The image forming apparatus 1 registers the received license key with the optional function associated with that license key. Then, the transmitting unit 214 performs the process to log out of the image forming apparatus 1 (S8). This process is then completed.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the user does not need to go to the image forming apparatus 1 to register a license key. Therefore, the effort required of the user to issue and register license keys for optional functions of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced.

[0040] Figure 6 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device according to the second embodiment. Configurations similar to those of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 will not be described. In the management device 2 according to the second embodiment, the control unit 21 functions as an automatic execution unit 215 in addition to the control unit 210, input receiving unit 211, request unit 212, storage unit 213, and transmission unit 214, through operation by the processor according to the control program etc. stored in the storage unit 25.

[0041] When the remaining time until the expiration date of a license key stored in the option information storage unit 251 becomes less than a predetermined first setting value (for example, 1 day) (i.e., the expiration date becomes shorter), the automatic execution unit 215 identifies an image forming apparatus 1 that has the option function of the license key whose expiration date has become shorter, based on the contents stored in the option information storage unit 251, and causes the request unit 212 to make a request and the transmission unit 214 to register the license key with a shortened expiration date that is registered in the identified image forming apparatus 1. This prevents the license key from expiring and the option function from becoming unusable.

[0042] For example, the automatic execution unit 215 refers to the option information storage unit 251 to determine whether the period until the license key expires is less than a predetermined first setting value, and further refers to the option information storage unit 251 to identify the image forming apparatus 1 that has the option function of the license key whose expiration date has been shortened.

[0043] Then, the request unit 212 transmits the second information via the communication unit 24 to a predetermined license key issuer 3, which issues a license key for an optional function whose type has been identified by the automatic execution unit 215, based on the contents stored in the device information storage unit 250, and sends an instruction to request the reissuance of the license key. The transmission unit 214 identifies the image forming apparatus 1 to which the original license key of the reissued license key is registered, based on the contents stored in the device information storage unit 250, and transmits the fourth information of the license key to the identified image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24 to log in, receives the reissued license key from the management device 2, and transmits the license key to the identified image forming apparatus 1. In the image forming apparatus 1, the previous license key is updated to the new reissued license key.

[0044] Figure 7 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the management device according to the third embodiment. Configurations similar to those of the second embodiment shown in Figure 6 will not be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 21 functions as a notification unit 216 in addition to the control unit 210, input receiving unit 211, request unit 212, storage unit 213, transmission unit 214, and automatic execution unit 215, through operation by the processor according to the control program etc. stored in the storage unit 25.

[0045] When the period until the expiration date of the license key becomes shorter than a predetermined second setting value (for example, 30 days), the automatic execution unit 215 identifies the type of optional function corresponding to the license key with a shortened expiration date and the image forming apparatus 1 to which the license key is registered, based on the contents stored in the optional information storage unit 251.

[0046] The notification unit 216 processes a notification to the user regarding the image forming apparatus 1 and optional functions whose license key expiration dates have been identified by the automatic execution unit 215. For example, the notification unit 216 displays a message on the display unit 23 indicating the identified image forming apparatus 1 and optional functions whose license key expiration dates have been shortened. This prevents the user from forgetting to renew their license key.

[0047] For example, the notification unit 216 refers to the option information storage unit 251 to determine whether the remaining period until the license key expires is less than a predetermined second setting value, and further refers to the option information storage unit 251 to identify the image forming apparatus 1 that has the option function of the license key whose expiration date has been shortened.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiments using Figures 1 to 7 are merely one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such configuration and processing. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1. Image forming apparatus 2 Management device 3. License Key Issuer 24 Communications Department 211 Input Reception Section 212 Request part 213 Preservation Department 214 Transmitter 215 Automatic Execution Unit 216 Notification Department 250 Device Information Storage Unit

Claims

1. A management device capable of managing multiple image forming apparatuses via a network, A communication unit that communicates with the outside world via the aforementioned network, An input receiving unit that receives input of: first information indicating the type of optional function the image forming apparatus has; second information necessary for issuing a license key for the optional function; third information indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus; and fourth information necessary for logging into the image forming apparatus. A request unit transmits, via the communication unit, an instruction to a predetermined license key issuer that issues the license key for the type of optional function indicated by the first information, to transmit the second information and request the issuance of the license key. A management device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the fourth information via the communication unit to the image forming apparatus designated as the destination by the third information to log in, and a transmission unit that transmits the license key received from the license key issuer to the image forming apparatus in response to the instructions from the request unit.

2. If the license key issued by the license key issuer in response to the instruction from the request unit has an expiration date, the storage unit stores the license key, the type of optional function corresponding to the license key, the image forming apparatus in which the license key is registered, and the expiration date of the license key in a predetermined storage area, in association with each other. The system further includes an automatic execution unit that, when the period until the expiration date of the license key becomes less than a predetermined first setting value, identifies the type of optional function corresponding to the license key based on the contents stored in the storage unit, The request unit sends an instruction to the license key issuer, which issues the license key for the optional function whose type has been identified by the automatic execution unit, via the communication unit, to send the second information and request the reissuance of the license key. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the fourth information of the license key to the image forming apparatus where the license key is registered, which is stored in the storage unit, via the communication unit to log in, and receives the license key reissued by the license key issuer in response to the instructions from the requesting unit and transmits it to the image forming apparatus.

3. If the license key issued by the license key issuer in response to the request unit has an expiration date, the storage unit stores in a predetermined storage area the type of optional function corresponding to the license key, the image forming apparatus in which the license key is registered, and the expiration date of the license key, in association with each other. The system further includes an automatic execution unit that, when the period until the expiration date of the license key becomes less than a predetermined second setting value, identifies the type of optional function corresponding to the license key and the image forming apparatus to which the license key is registered, based on the contents stored in the storage unit. The management device according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming apparatus whose type has been identified by the automatic execution unit; and a notification unit that performs processing to notify the user of an optional function whose license key has a shortened expiration date.

Images