REGISTRATION PROGRAM, REGISTRATION DEVICE, REGISTRATION METHOD, AND REGISTRATION SYSTEM

Abstract

To suppress work loads when registering a plurality of devices.SOLUTION: A registration device registers a device used for service, to at least one server configured so as to provide the service. The registration device acquires authentication information generated in at least one server, and used for registration of the device, and accepts designation of the plurality of devices as a registration object (S200). Then, the registration device transmits the same authentication information to a plurality of designated devices (S205).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to techniques for registering devices. [Background technology]

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a printing system is known that has a server group, a client, and an image forming device connected to a network. In this printing system, in response to a print instruction received by a client from a user, print data of content is transmitted to the image forming device via the server group, and printing is performed by the image forming device based on the print data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-131016 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, when registering an image forming device in a printing system, the user must operate the image forming device to be newly registered to generate registration information and transmit the registration information from the image forming device to a server. Therefore, the workload increases when registering a large number of image forming devices.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to reduce the workload when registering multiple devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a registration program that causes a computer to operate as a registration device for registering devices used in a service to at least one server configured to provide the service, the registration program causing the computer to operate as an acquisition unit, a reception unit, and a transmission unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire authentication information generated in the at least one server and used to register the devices. The reception unit is configured to accept designation of multiple devices as targets for registration. The transmission unit is configured to transmit the same authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit to the multiple devices designated via the reception unit.

[0007] According to the above configuration, when multiple devices are registered in at least one server, the same authentication information is sent to each device, so there is no need to prepare authentication information for each device individually. Therefore, the workload when registering multiple devices can be reduced.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a registration device having a configuration provided by the above registration program may be provided, or a registration method having a procedure realized by the above registration program may be provided. Furthermore, a registration system including the above registration device, a plurality of devices, and at least one server may be provided, or a registration method having a procedure realized by the registration system may be provided.

[0009] In the same manner, the registration apparatus, registration method, and registration system can also reduce the workload when registering a plurality of devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a registration device and a user terminal. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus and a server. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart of an authentication information acquisition process. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of an authentication information transmission process. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart of a registration process. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart of a registration confirmation process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Overall composition] The printing system 1 of this embodiment includes at least one registration device 2, at least one user terminal 3, multiple image forming devices 4, and a server 5 (see FIG. 1). Note that the server 5 in this embodiment may be a single server, or multiple servers connected via a network and configured to perform distributed processing. These devices constituting the printing system 1 are connected to each other via a wide area network 6. Note that the wide area network 6 may include the Internet.

[0012] Furthermore, these devices included in the printing system 1 may be connected to the wide area network 6 via a local area network 7. In the printing system 1 shown in Fig. 1, as an example, a registration device 2 and a plurality of image forming devices 4 are connected to the local area network 7, which are connected to the wide area network 6 via the local area network 7. Note that the local area network 7 may include at least one of a wireless LAN and a wired LAN.

[0013] The printing system 1 provides a cloud service (hereinafter, printing service) in which printing based on print data generated by a user terminal 3 is performed by an image forming device 4. That is, a main ID and multiple user IDs associated with the main ID can be registered in the management database of the server 5. Also, the device ID of the image forming device 4 included in the printing system 1 is registered in the management database of the server 5 in association with the main ID.

[0014] Then, when a user inputs a user ID and password into the user terminal 3 and these are sent from the user terminal 3 to the server 5, the user can log on to the printing system 1. In order to use a printing service, the logged-on user can request the server 5 to search for device IDs of available image forming devices 4 via the user terminal 3. Upon receiving the request, the server 5 searches the management database for device IDs of image forming devices 4 associated with the same main ID as the user ID of the user, and sends the search results to the user terminal 3. Meanwhile, the user terminal 3 displays the search results received from the server, and accepts from the user the selection of an image forming device 4 to be used for printing.

[0015] Thereafter, the user terminal 3 transmits the print data and the device ID of the image forming device 4 selected by the user to the server 5, and the server 5 transmits the print data to the image forming device 4 indicated by the device ID. Then, the image forming device 4 that has received the print data performs printing based on the print data.

[0016] In other words, various types of image forming devices 4 can be connected to the printing system 1, and by using the printing service, printing can be performed on the image forming devices 4 without installing applications corresponding to the various types of image forming devices 4 on the user terminal 3.

[0017] As an example of the printing service of this embodiment, Microsoft Azure (registered Known among these are Universal Print (registered trademark) provided by Microsoft 365 (registered trademark) and Universal Print (registered trademark) provided by Microsoft 365 (registered trademark). The server 5 in the printing system 1 can operate in the same manner as a server that provides Universal Print.

[0018] Although details will be described later, the registration device 2, server 5, and multiple image forming devices 4 in the printing system 1 function as a registration system 10 that collectively registers these image forming devices 4 in the server 5.

[0019] [2. Registration device] The registration device 2 is, for example, an information processing device such as a PC, and includes a control unit 20, a communication unit 23, a display unit 24, an input unit 25, and a storage unit 26 (see FIG. 2).

[0020] The control unit 20 includes a CPU 21 and a memory 22. The memory 22 is a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, which is a non-transient substantial recording medium, and is used as a main memory. The CPU 21 operates and executes processing according to a program loaded into the memory 22 from the storage unit 26 or the like. Note that the processing mainly performed by the control unit 20 described below may be understood to be realized by processing executed by the CPU 21 according to the program.

[0021] The communication unit 23 is a component for performing communication via a network. The display unit 24 is a part that displays various images under the control of the control unit 20, and is configured as a liquid crystal display, for example.

[0022] The input unit 25 is a part that receives operations from a user, and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, etc. The input unit 25 generates operation information in response to the operation from the user and outputs it to the control unit 20, and the control unit 20 performs processing in response to the operation information from the input unit 25.

[0023] The storage unit 26 includes a storage such as a solid state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD), and stores various programs and data. The storage unit 26 stores a registration program 26a (described in detail later) for collectively registering a plurality of image forming devices 4 in the server 5.

[0024] [3. User terminal] The user terminal 3 is an information processing device such as a PC, and includes a control unit 30, a communication unit 33, a display unit 34, an input unit 35, and a storage unit 36 ​​(see FIG. 2). These components have the same configuration as those provided in the registration device 2.

[0025] [4. Image forming device] The image forming device 4 has a function as a printer, and includes a control unit 40, a communication unit 43, a display unit 44, an input unit 45, and a printing unit 46 (see FIG. 3). Note that the image forming device 4 may be configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that further has a function as a scanner.

[0026] The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41 and a memory 42. The memory 42 can include a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory in addition to a RAM, and the non-volatile memory can store computer programs, data, etc. The CPU 41 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 4 by executing processes according to the computer programs stored in the memory 42.

[0027] The communication unit 43 is a part for performing communication via a network. The display unit 44 is a part that displays various images under the control of the control unit 40, and is configured as a liquid crystal display, for example.

[0028] The input unit 45 is a part that accepts operations from a user, and may be configured as, for example, a touch panel provided on the liquid crystal display that is the display unit 44. The printing section 46 is configured to be controlled by the control section 40 to print an image on a sheet.

[0029] [5. Server] The server 5 includes a control unit 50, a communication unit 53, and a storage unit 54 (see FIG. 3). The control unit 50 includes a CPU 51 and a memory 52. ​​The memory 52 is a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, which is a non-transient tangible recording medium, and is used as a main memory. The CPU 51 operates and executes processing according to a program loaded into the memory 52. ​​It may be understood that processing mainly performed by the control unit 50 is realized by processing executed by the CPU 51 according to the program.

[0030] The communication unit 53 is a part for performing communication via a network. The storage unit 54 includes a storage such as a solid state drive or a hard disk drive, and stores various programs and data. The storage unit 54 also stores the management database of the above-mentioned print service.

[0031] [6. Registration of image forming device] As described above, the registration system 10 including the registration device 2 executing the registration program 26a and the server 5 is configured to collectively register multiple image forming devices 4 used for the print service in the server 5. Specifically, the registration device 2 acquires one piece of authentication information (in other words, a token) generated in the server 5 and associated with the main ID of the print service, and transmits the authentication information to the multiple image forming devices 4. Then, each image forming device 4 that receives the authentication information transmits the authentication information to the server 5, and the image forming device 4 is registered in the management database of the server 5 in a state associated with the main ID. In other words, multiple image forming devices 4 are registered in the server 5 using the same authentication information.

[0032] In addition to completely identical authentication information, multiple pieces of substantially identical authentication information may also fall under the category of the same authentication information transmitted to multiple image forming apparatuses 4, and for example, the following multiple pieces of authentication information may be included in the same authentication information: That is, multiple pieces of authentication information having a common part, or a common part and an additional part, where the common part is the same as the common part of other authentication information but the additional part may differ from the additional part of other authentication information, may be included in the same authentication information.

[0033] The same authentication information transmitted to each image forming apparatus 4 may be data compressed, and the data compression method may be different or the same for each destination image forming apparatus 4. The same authentication information transmitted to each image forming apparatus 4 may be encrypted, and the encryption method may be different or the same for each destination image forming apparatus 4.

[0034] The process of registering a plurality of image forming devices 4 in the server 5 collectively will be described in detail below. [7. Authentication information acquisition process] First, an authentication information acquisition process for acquiring one piece of authentication information used for registering a plurality of image forming devices 4 in the registration device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. The process in the registration device 2 in the authentication information acquisition process is realized by the registration device 2 executing the registration program 26a.

[0035] In S100, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 accepts input of a user ID and a password for logging on to the printing system 1. Then, in the following S105, the control unit 20 transmits a transmission request for one piece of authentication information together with the user ID and the password to the server 5 (S105).

[0036] The control unit 50 of the server 5 that has received the request to transmit the authentication information performs user authentication based on the received user ID and password. If the user authentication is successful, the control unit 50 identifies the main ID associated with the user ID, generates one piece of authentication information associated with the main ID, and transmits the authentication information to the registration device 2 (S110).

[0037] Then, upon receiving the authentication information from the server 5, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 stores the authentication information in the storage unit 26 (S115). The method of acquiring the authentication information is not limited to this, and for example, another information processing device may acquire the authentication information from the server 5 in a similar manner, and the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 may acquire the authentication information by communicating with the information processing device. Also, for example, a recording medium (e.g., a USB memory, an SD card (registered trademark), a magneto-optical disk, etc.) in which the acquired authentication information is stored may be connected to the registration device 2. Then, the control unit 20 may read out the authentication information from the recording medium.

[0038] [8. Authentication information transmission process] Next, an authentication information transmission process for transmitting the same authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition process to multiple image forming devices 4 designated by a user will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5. The process in the registration device 2 in the authentication information transmission process is realized by the registration device 2 executing the registration program 26a.

[0039] In S200, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 accepts, from the user via the input unit 25, designation of a plurality of image forming devices 4 to be registered in the server 5. Specifically, for example, the control unit 20 may accept input of identification information of the image forming device 4 to be registered. The identification information of the image forming device 4 may be, for example, identification information of the image forming device 4 on the network, such as an IP address, a MAC address, an email address, or a URL. The identification information of the image forming device 4 may be, for example, identification information uniquely assigned to the image forming device 4 itself, such as a serial number or management ID of the image forming device 4. In addition, for example, the control unit 20 may display a list of a plurality of unregistered image forming devices 4 on the display unit 24, accept selection of these image forming devices 4, and grasp the identification information of the image forming device 4 to be registered based on the selection result.

[0040] In S205, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 transmits a registration instruction to each image forming device 4 specified in S200 to instruct the image forming device 4 to register in the server 5. Specifically, for example, when identification information of the image forming device 4 on the network is input in S200, the control unit 20 may transmit the registration instruction to the identification information as the destination. Also, for example, when identification information of the image forming device 4 itself is input in S200, the control unit 20 may transmit the registration instruction to the destination specified based on the identification information. At this time, a user ID and a password for logging on to the image forming device 4 are transmitted together with the registration instruction. Also, the same authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition process is transmitted to each image forming device 4 together with the registration instruction.

[0041] The control unit 40 of each image forming apparatus 4 that has received the registration instruction performs user authentication based on the received user ID and password, and if the user authentication is successful, determines whether or not to perform registration in the server 5 based on the authentication information (S210). If the information format is not compatible with the image forming device 4, if the image forming device 4 is not compatible with printing by the printing system 1, or if user authentication has failed, it may be determined not to register. On the other hand, if none of these conditions apply, the control unit 40 may determine to register. Then, the control unit 40 transmits the result of this determination to the registration device 2 (S215).

[0042] In S220, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 stores the determination result of the registration to the server 5 received from the image forming device 4 in the storage unit . In S225, if the control unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 4 is to register the image forming apparatus 4 to the server 5 based on the received authentication information (S225: Yes), the control unit 40 executes a registration process (described in detail later) of the image forming apparatus 4 (S230) and ends this process. On the other hand, if the registration is not to be performed (S225: No), the control unit 40 ends this process.

[0043] [9. Registration process] Next, a registration process in which the image forming device 4 registers itself in the server 5 using the authentication information received from the registration device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0044] In S300, the control unit 40 of the image forming device 4 transmits a registration request for the image forming device 4 to the server 5. At this time, the device information and the authentication information received from the registration device 2 are transmitted to the server 5 together with the registration request. Note that the device information may include, for example, identification information of the image forming device 4, a name given to the image forming device 4 by a user, the name of the manufacturer that manufactured the image forming device 4, and the model name of the image forming device 4.

[0045] The control unit 50 of the server 5 that has received the registration request transmits a registration ID to the image forming device 4 that has sent the registration request (S305), and starts authentication processing for the image forming device 4. If the authentication processing is successful, a device ID is set for the image forming device 4, and the image forming device 4 is registered in the management database with its device information and device ID associated with each other, and the image forming device 4 is registered. On the other hand, for example, if the authentication information has expired, the authentication processing fails, and the image forming device 4 is not registered.

[0046] Thereafter, the control unit 40 of the image forming device 4 that has received the registration ID performs polling to check the progress of the registration process. Specifically, after receiving the registration ID, the control unit 40 repeatedly transmits an inquiry about the progress along with the registration ID to the server 5 at regular intervals (S310).

[0047] Then, every time an inquiry about the progress is received, the control unit 50 of the server 5 transmits a registration response to the image forming device 4 that is the transmission source, indicating whether or not the registration of the image forming device 4 has been completed (S315, 320). When transmitting the registration response indicating the completion of registration, the control unit 50 transmits the device ID set in the image forming device 4 together with the registration response. Also, if the registration has failed, the image forming device 4 is notified of this by the registration response indicating the completion of registration.

[0048] The control unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 4, which has received the registration response indicating the completion of registration and the device ID, stores the device ID in the memory 42 (S325) and ends the registration process. [10. Registration confirmation process] Next, a registration confirmation process for inquiring of the image forming device 4 performing the registration process to the server 5 as to whether or not the registration has been completed will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 7. The process in the registration confirmation process in the registration device 2 is realized by the registration device 2 executing the registration program 26a.

[0049] In S400, the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 transmits a registration confirmation request to all image forming devices 4 that have received the determination result that registration with the server 5 will be performed in S220 of the authentication information transmission process (in other words, the image forming devices 4 that will execute the registration process). The registration confirmation request is an inquiry about the result of the registration process with the server 5. In addition, the control unit 20 transmits a user ID and a password for logging on to the image forming device 4 together with the registration confirmation request to each image forming device 4 that transmitted the registration confirmation request.

[0050] The process of S400 is executed at a predetermined timing after the registration instruction (in other words, the authentication information) is transmitted to each image forming apparatus 4 in the authentication information transmission process. Specifically, the process of S400 may be executed when a predetermined time has elapsed after the registration instruction is transmitted, or when an instruction is received from the user via the input unit 25.

[0051] The control unit 40 of the image forming device 4 that has received the registration confirmation request performs user authentication based on the user ID and password received together with the registration confirmation request, and if the user authentication is successful, determines whether or not the registration to the server 5 has been completed (S405). Specifically, if a registration response indicating the completion of the registration has been received from the server 5, the control unit 40 determines that the registration has been completed (S405: Yes), and transmits a registration completion notification indicating the completion of the registration to the registration device 2 together with the device ID acquired from the server 5 (S410). On the other hand, if not (S405: No), the control unit 40 transmits a registration incomplete notification to the registration device 2 (S410). Note that if a registration response indicating the failure of the registration has been received from the server 5, the control unit 40 may transmit a registration incomplete notification indicating the failure of the registration to the registration device 2.

[0052] Then, when the control unit 20 of the registration device 2 receives a registration completion notice or a registration incompletion notice, the registration process ends. [11. Effects] (1) According to the above embodiment, when multiple image forming devices 4 are registered in the server 5, the same authentication information is transmitted from the registration device 2 to each image forming device 4, so there is no need to prepare authentication information individually for each image forming device 4. Therefore, the workload when registering multiple image forming devices 4 can be reduced.

[0053] (2) Furthermore, each image forming device 4 that has received the authentication information transmits a determination result indicating whether or not registration to the server 5 using the authentication information is possible to the registration device 2. This allows the registration device 2 to check whether or not registration based on the authentication information is being performed by the image forming device 4. This makes it easier to grasp the progress of the process of registering multiple image forming devices 4.

[0054] (3) When the image forming device 4 has completed registration to the server 5 using the authentication information, the image forming device 4 transmits a registration completion notification to the registration device 2. When the registration is incomplete, the image forming device 4 transmits a registration incomplete notification to the registration device 2. This allows the registration device 2 to check whether the registration of the image forming device 4 is complete. This makes it easier to grasp the progress of the process of registering multiple image forming devices 4.

[0055] (4) Furthermore, the image forming device 4 that has completed registration transmits a registration completion notification together with its device ID to the registration device 2. This allows the registration device 2 to grasp the device ID of the registered image forming device 4, making it easier to grasp the progress of the process of registering multiple image forming devices 4.

[0056] (5) Furthermore, the process performed by the server 5 to register the image forming device 4 may take time. In contrast, in the above embodiment, the registration device 2 transmits authentication information to each image forming device 4, and then transmits a registration confirmation request to the image forming device 4 at a predetermined timing. Therefore, after transmitting the authentication information from the registration device 2 to each image forming device 4, the registration confirmation request is transmitted to the image forming device 4 with an interval. This makes it possible to prevent the registration device 2 from transmitting the registration confirmation request to the image forming device 4 before the registration of the image forming device 4 in the server 5 is completed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the communication load when registering multiple image forming devices 4.

[0057] [12. Other embodiments] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0058] (1) In the above embodiment, the printing service is provided by the printing system 1, and the registration system 10 collectively registers multiple image forming devices 4 used for the printing service in the server 5. However, this is not limited to the above, and a registration system may be configured to collectively register multiple devices used for a cloud service in a server that provides a cloud service other than the printing service, in the same manner as in the above embodiment. Even in such a case, the same effect can be obtained.

[0059] (2) Multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted.

[0060] (3) In addition to the above-mentioned registration device 2, registration program 26a, and registration system 10, the present disclosure can also be realized in various forms, such as a non-transient physical recording medium such as a semiconductor memory storing the registration program 26a, or a method corresponding to processing performed by the registration device 2 or the registration system 10.

[0061] [13. Correspondence of Words] The image forming apparatus 4 corresponds to an example of a device. Moreover, S110 of the authentication information acquisition process corresponds to an example of an acquisition unit.

[0062] Moreover, S200 of the authentication information transmission process corresponds to an example of a reception unit, S205 corresponds to an example of a transmission unit, and S215 corresponds to an example of a first reception unit. Moreover, the registration determination result transmitted in S215 corresponds to an example of a first response.

[0063] Furthermore, S400, S410, and S415 of the registration confirmation process correspond to an example of a second receiving unit, the registration completion notification and the registration incomplete notification correspond to an example of a second response, the device ID corresponds to an example of identification information, and the registration confirmation request corresponds to an example of a request to send a second response. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...registration system, 10...printing system, 3...user terminal, 2...registration device, 26A...registration program, 4...image forming device, 5...server, 20, 30, 40, 50...control unit, 23, 33, 43, 53...communication unit, 24, 34, 44...display unit, 25, 35, 45...input unit, 26, 36, 54...memory unit, 46...printing unit.

Claims

1. A registration program for operating a computer as a registration device for registering a device used in a service with at least one server configured to provide the service, the program comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire authentication information generated at the at least one server, the authentication information being used to register the device; a reception unit configured to receive designation of a plurality of the devices as targets of the registration; a transmission unit configured to transmit, to a plurality of the devices designated via the reception unit, a registration instruction for instructing the devices to register in the at least one server, the registration instruction including the same authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit; A registered program that runs a computer.

2. 2. The registration program according to claim 1, further operating the computer as a first receiver configured to receive a first response from the device that has received the authentication information; The first response indicates whether or not the device should perform the process for the registration using the authentication information. Registration program.

3. The registration program according to claim 1 or 2, further operating the computer as a second receiver configured to receive a second response from the device that received the authentication information; The second response indicates whether the registration is complete. Registration program.

4. 4. The registration program according to claim 3, The second response includes an identification information configured for the device that has been registered with the at least one server. Registration program.

5. The registration program according to claim 3 or 4, The second receiving unit is configured to transmit a transmission request for the second response to the device at a predetermined timing after the transmitting unit transmits the plurality of pieces of authentication information. Registration program.

6. A registration device for registering a device used for a service with at least one server configured to provide said service, the registration device comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire authentication information generated at the at least one server, the authentication information being used to register the device; a reception unit configured to receive designation of a plurality of the devices as targets of the registration; a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the plurality of devices designated via the reception unit, a registration instruction for instructing the devices to register in the at least one server, the registration instruction including the same authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit; and A registration device comprising:

7. 1. A method for registering a device used in a service with at least one server configured to provide said service, comprising: obtaining, at a registration device, authentication information generated by the at least one server, the authentication information being used to register the device; receiving, by the registration device, designation of a plurality of the devices as targets of the registration; transmitting, from the registration device, to a plurality of designated devices, registration instructions for instructing the devices to register with the at least one server, the registration instructions including the same authentication information; A registration method comprising:

8. 1. A registration system comprising: at least one server configured to provide a service; A plurality of devices used for the service; a registration device for registering the device in the at least one server; The registration device includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire authentication information generated at the at least one server, the authentication information being used to register the device; a reception unit configured to receive designation of a plurality of the devices as targets of the registration; a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the plurality of devices designated via the reception unit, a registration instruction instructing the devices to register in the at least one server, the registration instruction including the same authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit. Registration system.

9. 1. A method for registering a device used in a service with at least one server configured to provide said service, comprising: obtaining, at a registration device, authentication information generated by the at least one server, the authentication information being used to register the device; receiving, by the registration device, designation of a plurality of the devices as targets of the registration; transmitting, from the registration device, to a plurality of designated devices, registration instructions for instructing the devices to register with the at least one server, the registration instructions including the same authentication information; transmitting the authentication information received from the registration device from the device to the at least one server; performing, at the at least one server, the registration of the device based on the authentication information received from the device; A registration method comprising:

Images