Information processing device and information processing program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that may change the authority of a second user without individually changing the authority of the second user under the control of a first user in a case where the authority of the first user is changed.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU 11. The CPU 11 is configured to: receive an instruction to change an authority of a first user from a first authority to a second authority; and change the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority and change an authority of a second user who is under the control of the first user from the first authority.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an access control program for controlling user access to an object, which is an information resource. This access control program causes a computer to execute a procedure for acquiring a role corresponding to a user who has requested access from a role management unit that manages roles in which target object information and target operation information are registered. The access control program also causes the computer to execute a procedure for determining the operations permitted to the user on the object based on the acquired role. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-301756 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When changing the authority of a first user, there was a problem in that the authority of the second user had to be changed individually even if a second user under the management of the first user was granted the same authority as the first user before the change.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an information processing device and an information processing program that, when changing the authority of a first user, can change the authority of a second user without changing the authority of the second user individually. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an information processing device according to a first aspect includes a processor, which receives an instruction to change the authority of a first user from a first authority to a second authority, changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, and changes the authority of a second user under the management of the first user from the first authority.

[0007] In addition, in an information processing device according to a second aspect, in the information processing device according to the first aspect, the processor changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, and changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority.

[0008] In addition, in an information processing device according to a third aspect, in the information processing device according to the second aspect, the processor changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority when there is no predetermined changed authority of the second user.

[0009] In addition, in an information processing device according to a fourth aspect, in the information processing device according to the first aspect, the processor changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, and changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to a third authority different from the second authority.

[0010] In addition, an information processing device according to a fifth aspect is an information processing device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the second authority is an authority associated with the first authority and is more restricted than the first authority, and the third authority is an authority associated with the second authority and is more restricted than the second authority.

[0011] In addition, an information processing device according to a sixth aspect is an information processing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the processor accepts a selection of whether or not to change the authority of the second user from the first authority, and if a selection to change from the first authority is accepted, the processor changes the authority of the second user from the first authority, and if a selection not to change from the first authority is accepted, the processor does not change the authority of the second user from the first authority.

[0012] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing program according to a seventh aspect causes a computer to execute a process of receiving an instruction to change the authority of a first user from a first authority to a second authority, changing the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, and changing the authority of a second user under the management of the first user from the first authority. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first and seventh aspects, when the authority of the first user is changed, the authority of the second user can be changed without changing the authority of the second user individually.

[0014] According to the second aspect, when changing the authority of the first user, the authority of the second user can be changed from the first authority to the second authority without changing the authority of the second user individually.

[0015] According to the third aspect, when changing the authority of the first user, even if there is no predetermined authority of the second user after the change, the authority of the second user can be changed.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect, when the authority of the first user is changed, the authority of the second user can be changed from the first authority to the third authority without changing the authority of the second user individually.

[0017] According to the fifth aspect, when the authority of the first user is changed, the authority of the second user can be changed to an authority that is more restricted than the second authority, without changing the authority of the second user individually.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to select whether or not the authority of the second user is to be changed from the first authority. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a user database according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a second role selection screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a role change selection screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case where the invention according to the first embodiment is not applied when the authority of a second user is changed in the same way as that of a first user. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case where the invention according to the first embodiment is applied when the authority of a second user is changed in the same way as that of a first user. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display process according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a role selection screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a belonging user list screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case where the invention according to the first embodiment is applied when the authority of a second user is changed to an authority different from that of a first user. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case where the invention according to the second embodiment is applied when the authority of the second user is changed to an authority different from that of the first user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the technology of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or equivalent components and parts in each drawing are given the same reference numerals. Also, the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present technology. The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, a digital multifunction peripheral having image printing functions, image reading functions, image transmission functions, etc. However, the information processing device 10 is not limited to this example. For example, a personal computer or the like may also be applied as the information processing device 10.

[0022] 1, the information processing device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 17. These components are connected to each other via a bus 20 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0023] The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, the CPU 11 reads programs from the ROM 12 or the storage 14 and executes the programs using the RAM 13 as a work area. The CPU 11 controls the above components and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in the ROM 12 or the storage 14. In this embodiment, the ROM 12 or the storage 14 stores an information processing program and a display processing program.

[0024] The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 14 is configured with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs including an operating system and various data. In this embodiment, the storage 14 stores a user database 14A. The user database 14A will be described in detail later.

[0025] The input unit 15 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used to input various types of information. The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various types of information. The display unit 16 may also function as the input unit 15 by employing a touch panel system.

[0026] The communication interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0027] In addition to the components shown in FIG. 1 , the information processing device 10 includes a device status detection unit that detects the status of the information processing device 10, an application management unit that manages application software available on the information processing device 10, a USB device communication unit for communicating with external devices such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the information processing device 10. The USB device communication unit includes an IC card reader that reads an IC (Integrated Circuit) card and an externally connected device such as a media reader. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 1 , the information processing device 10 also includes a scanner unit that reads an image of a document placed on the information processing device 10 and generates image data, a print unit that prints based on the image data, and a fax communication unit that communicates image data via a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 1 , the information processing device 10 also includes a user management unit that manages users who can use the information processing device 10, a role management unit that manages roles (described later), and an Internet service for connecting to the Internet.

[0028] Next, the user database 14A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In the user database 14A shown in Fig. 2, information on roles, authorities, and users is associated with each other.

[0029] The role is information representing a role corresponding to authority regarding the use of the information processing device 10. The authority is information representing authority regarding the use of the information processing device 10. The user is information representing a user belonging to the associated role. In the example shown in FIG. 2, user D and user E are under the management of user C. Specifically, user D and user E are subordinates of user C. In the example shown in FIG. 2, user A belongs to role SA, and user B, user C, user D, and user E belong to role CO1. In other words, user A can use the information processing device 10 without any restrictions, and user B, user C, user D, and user E cannot use the color printing function of the information processing device 10.

[0030] Next, the operation of the information processing device 10 will be described.

[0031] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing by the information processing device 10. The CPU 11 reads out an information processing program from the ROM 12 or the storage 14, loads it into the RAM 13, and executes it, thereby performing information processing.

[0032] In step S100 of FIG. 3, the CPU 11 displays a second role selection screen on the display unit 16 in accordance with a predetermined format.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the second role selection screen according to this embodiment displays a user whose role is to be changed and a message prompting the user to select a new role after the change.

[0034] In step S102, CPU 11 waits until it receives, on the second role selection screen, a selection of a user whose role is to be changed and a role after the change for the user via input unit 15. When CPU 11 receives, on the second role selection screen, a selection of a user whose role is to be changed and a role after the change for the user via input unit 15 (step S102: YES), CPU 11 proceeds to step S104. Hereinafter, a user whose selection is received by CPU 11 on the second role selection screen will be referred to as a first user. Also, hereinafter, a role to which the first user belongs before the change will be referred to as a first role, and a role to which the first user belongs after the change, in other words, a role whose selection is received by CPU 11 on the second role selection screen will be referred to as a second role. Also, hereinafter, an authority associated with the first role will be referred to as a first authority, and an authority associated with the second role will be referred to as a second authority. That is, when CPU 11 receives an instruction to change the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority (step S102: YES), it proceeds to step S104.

[0035] In this embodiment, the second authority is an authority associated with the first authority but more restricted than the first authority. Specifically, in this embodiment, if the first authority is an authority that allows the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10, the second authority is an authority that does not allow the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10. However, this is not limiting. For example, the second authority may be an authority that is not associated with the first authority or an authority that is less restricted than the first authority. Specifically, if the first authority is an authority that does not allow the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10, the second authority may be an authority that allows management of users who can use the information processing device 10 or an authority that allows the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10.

[0036] In step S104, the CPU 11 changes the role to which the first user belongs from the first role to the second role, that is, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority.

[0037] In step S106, CPU 11 reads user database 14A and determines whether or not a second user under the control of the first user exists. If a second user exists (step S106: YES), CPU 11 proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if a second user does not exist (step S106: NO), CPU 11 ends this information processing.

[0038] In step S108, the CPU 11 determines whether the second user belongs to the first role. In other words, the CPU 11 determines whether the second user has the first authority. If the second user belongs to the first role (step S108: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if the second user does not belong to the first role (step S108: NO), the CPU 11 ends this information processing. Note that if there are multiple second users, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S108 if at least one second user belongs to the first role. Then, if all second users do not belong to the first role, the CPU 11 ends this information processing.

[0039] In step S110, the CPU 11 displays on the display unit 16 a role change selection screen in accordance with a predetermined format.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the role change selection screen according to this embodiment displays a message prompting the user to select whether or not to change the role to which second users (users D and E in the example shown in FIG. 5) belong from the first role (CO1 in the example shown in FIG. 5). If the user wants to change the role to which the second users belong from the first role, the user selects Yes button 16A via input unit 15. If the user does not want to change the role to which the second users belong from the first role, the user selects No button 16B via input unit 15. In other words, if the user wants to change the authority of the second user from the first authority, the user selects Yes button 16A, and if the user does not want to change the authority of the second user from the first authority, the user selects No button 16B via input unit 15.

[0041] In step S112, the CPU 11 determines whether or not it has accepted a selection to change the role to which the second user belongs from the first role. In other words, the CPU 11 determines whether or not it has accepted selection of the Yes button 16A on the role change selection screen via the input unit 15. If the CPU 11 has accepted a selection to change the role to which the second user belongs from the first role (step S112: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S112. On the other hand, if the CPU 11 has accepted a selection not to change the role to which the second user belongs from the first role (step S112: NO), the CPU 11 ends this information processing. In other words, if the CPU 11 has accepted a selection not to change the authority of the second user from the first authority, the CPU 11 does not change the authority of the second user from the first authority.

[0042] In step S114, the CPU 11 changes the role to which the second user belongs from the first role to the second role. In other words, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority. Then, the CPU 11 ends this information processing.

[0043] Next, using Figures 6 and 7, when the authority of the second user is changed from the first authority to the second authority, as with the first user, a comparison is made between when the invention according to the first embodiment is not applied and when the invention according to the first embodiment is applied.

[0044] As shown in Figure 6, if user A belongs to role SA and user B, user C, user D, and user E belong to role CO1, and the roles to which user C and users D and E under user C's management belong are changed from CO1 to CO2, it will be necessary to change the roles individually unless the invention of the first embodiment is applied.

[0045] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, when the invention according to the first embodiment is applied, the roles to which user C and users D and E under user C's management belong can be changed from CO1 to CO2 without changing the roles individually.

[0046] Next, a flow of display processing by the information processing device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The CPU 11 reads a display processing program from the ROM 12 or the storage 14, loads it into the RAM 13, and executes it, thereby performing display processing.

[0047] In step S200 of FIG. 8, the CPU 11 displays a role selection screen on the display unit 16 in accordance with a predetermined format.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 9, the role selection screen according to this embodiment displays a message prompting the user to select a role to which the users belonging to the role are to be displayed.

[0049] In step S202, the CPU 11 waits until the selection of any role on the role selection screen is accepted via the input unit 15. When the selection of any role on the role selection screen is accepted via the input unit 15 (step S202: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S204.

[0050] In step S204, the CPU 11 displays a belonging user list screen in accordance with a predetermined format on the display unit 16. Then, the CPU 11 ends this display process.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 10, the assigned user list screen according to this embodiment displays users (user B, user C, user D, and user E in the example shown in FIG. 10) who belong to the role (CO1 in the example shown in FIG. 10) selected on the role selection screen. The assigned user list screen according to this embodiment also displays which users of the users who belong to the role selected on the role selection screen are under the management of which other user. For example, the example shown in FIG. 10 displays that user B is the superior, and user C, user D, and user E are subordinates of user B. In other words, the example shown in FIG. 10 displays that user C, user D, and user E are under the management of user B.

[0052] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, when the CPU 11 receives an instruction to change the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority. In the second embodiment, when the CPU 11 receives an instruction to change the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority and there is no predetermined changed authority for the second user, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Note that the hardware configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the flow of the display process is also the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] A flowchart showing the flow of information processing by the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 11. Note that steps that execute the same processes as those in the information processing flow shown in Fig. 3 are assigned the same step numbers as in Fig. 3, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0054] The information processing flow shown in FIG. 11 is obtained by adding the processes of steps S113 and S116 to the information processing flow shown in FIG.

[0055] In step S113 of FIG. 11, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a predetermined changed role for the second user. In other words, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a predetermined changed authority for the second user. If there is a predetermined changed role for the second user (step S113: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S116. On the other hand, if there is no predetermined changed role for the second user (step S113: NO), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S114. In other words, if there is no predetermined changed authority for the second user, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, if there is no predetermined changed authority for the second user, the CPU 11 may not change the authority of the second user from the first authority.

[0056] In step S116, the CPU 11 changes the role of the second user from the first role to the predetermined role of the second user after the change. In other words, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the predetermined authority of the second user after the change. Then, the CPU 11 ends this information processing.

[0057] In the present embodiment, the predetermined changed role of the second user is a third role, which is a role associated with the second authority and a third authority that is more restricted than the second authority. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the second authority is an authority that allows the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10, the third authority is an authority that allows the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10 but does not allow the use of single-sided printing. However, this is not a limitation. For example, the predetermined changed role of the second user may be an authority that is not associated with the second authority, or an authority that is less restricted than the second authority. Specifically, when the second authority is an authority that does not allow the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10, the predetermined changed role of the second user may be an authority that allows the use of the single-sided printing function of the information processing device 10 or an authority that allows the use of the color printing function of the information processing device 10.

[0058] Next, using Figures 12 and 13, we will compare the application of the invention according to the first embodiment with the application of the invention according to the second embodiment when changing the authority of the second user to an authority different from that of the first user.

[0059] 12, in a case where user A belongs to role SA and user B, user C, user D, and user E belong to role CO1, if the invention according to the first embodiment is applied, when the role to which user C belongs is changed to CO2, the roles to which users D and E, who are under the management of user C, belong are also changed to CO2. Therefore, when the roles to which users D and E belong are changed to CO2-1 other than CO2, it is necessary to change the roles individually.

[0060] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 13, if CO2-1 is previously determined as the role to which user D and user E will change, by applying the invention of the second embodiment, the role to which user D and user E belong can be changed from CO1 to CO2-1 without changing the roles individually.

[0061] In this embodiment, when there are multiple second users, the CPU 11 changes the roles to which the multiple second users belong to all to the same role. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, when there are multiple second users, the CPU 11 may change the roles to which the multiple second users belong to each to a different role.

[0062] Although the embodiments have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention, and such modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0063] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. The above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by combining the disclosed multiple constituent elements. Even if some constituent elements are deleted from all of the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, as long as the effect is obtained, the configuration from which these constituent elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0064] For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the CPU 11 accepts a selection of whether to change the authority of the second user from the first authority, and when the selection of changing from the first authority is accepted, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user from the first authority. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, the CPU 11 may change the authority of the second user from the first authority regardless of whether the selection of changing the authority of the second user from the first authority is accepted.

[0065] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the CPU 11 changes the authority of the second user together with the authority of the first user when the authority of the second user is the same as the authority of the first user. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, the CPU 11 may change the authority of the second user together with the authority of the first user, regardless of whether the authority of the second user is the same as the authority of the first user. Furthermore, the CPU 11 may change the authority of the second user together with the authority of the first user when the authority of the second user is more limited than the authority of the first user.

[0066] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, 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.).

[0067] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single 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 each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0068] In the present embodiment, the information processing program and the display processing program are installed in the ROM 12 or the storage 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing program and the display processing program according to the present embodiment may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the information processing program and the display processing program according to the present embodiment may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a form recorded on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. Furthermore, the information processing program and the display processing program according to the present embodiment may be obtained from an external device via the communication interface 17.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the information processing and display processing are implemented by a software configuration using a computer by executing a program, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information processing and display processing may be implemented by a hardware configuration or a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

[0070] Furthermore, the configuration of the information processing device 10 described in the above embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted or new parts may be added within the scope of the present invention.

[0071] Furthermore, the processing flow of the information processing program described in the above embodiment (see Figures 3 and 11) is also an example, and it goes without saying that unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10. Information processing equipment 11 CPU

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: receiving an instruction to change the authority of a first user from a first authority to a second authority that is more restricted than the first authority; When changing the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority and changing the authority of a second user under the management of the first user from the first authority, Accepting a selection of whether to change the authority of the second user from the first authority; When a selection to change from the first authority is received, the authority of the second user is changed from the first authority; When a selection not to change from the first authority is accepted, the authority of the second user is not changed from the first authority. Information processing device.

2. the processor changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority and changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the processor changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to the second authority when there is no predetermined authority after the change of the second user; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. the processor changes the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority, and changes the authority of the second user from the first authority to a third authority different from the second authority; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. the second authority is an authority associated with the first authority, the third authority is an authority associated with the second authority and is more restricted than the second authority; The information processing device according to claim 4 .

6. receiving an instruction to change the authority of a first user from a first authority to a second authority that is more restricted than the first authority; When changing the authority of the first user from the first authority to the second authority and changing the authority of a second user under the management of the first user from the first authority, Accepting a selection of whether to change the authority of the second user from the first authority; When a selection to change from the first authority is received, the authority of the second user is changed from the first authority; When a selection not to change from the first authority is accepted, the authority of the second user is not changed from the first authority. An information processing program that causes a computer to execute a process.

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