Information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide a device, a system, and a method capable of obtaining information about a plurality of apparatuses and providing information about available services to users.SOLUTION: An information processing device is a device that provides information about available services to a user, and includes: acquisition means 61 for acquiring information about each apparatus from each of a plurality of apparatuses; service identification means 62 for identifying a service achieved by a combination of two or more apparatuses based on the acquired information about each apparatus; and communication means 60 or display control means 65 for transmitting information about the identified service to display means viewable by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method for providing information about available services to a user. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices connected to a network are usually shared and used by an unspecified number of people. In most cases, devices are used individually, rather than in combination.

[0003] One reason for this is that without a thorough understanding of the specifications of each device, it is difficult to know what services can be realized when they are combined. Another reason is that differences exist depending on the model and manufacturer, so it is unclear whether the expected service can be realized, and since the means of realizing functions may differ depending on the manufacturer, it is difficult for manufacturers to present how to use the combined devices.

[0004] Therefore, in order to suggest to users services that can be realized when multiple devices are combined, a technology has been proposed in which multiple devices are photographed with a camera, the models are identified using AR (Augmented Reality) technology, and functions that can be realized by combining those devices are presented (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] With conventional technology, it is necessary to either ask users to take photos or for manufacturers to obtain permission to take photos and visit the users themselves without knowing what devices are available or what services can be provided when these devices are combined. However, in such a situation, it is not easy to request or obtain permission to take photos, and there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain information about multiple devices.

[0006] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an apparatus, system, and method that can acquire information about multiple devices and provide information about available services to users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing device that provides information on available services to a user, comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring information about each of the plurality of devices from each of the plurality of devices; a service specifying means for specifying a service realized by a combination of two or more devices based on the acquired information about each device; a transmitting means for transmitting information about the identified service to a display means that can be viewed by a user; An information processing device is provided, including: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain information about a plurality of devices and provide information about available services to a user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an information processing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a table held in a database. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by an information processing apparatus. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of displaying a list of services. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system. The information processing system includes a plurality of devices, one of which functions as an information processing device and provides information (service information) about available services to users. Here, one of the plurality of devices is used as the information processing device, but this is not limiting, and the configuration may also include an information processing device installed separately from the plurality of devices.

[0012] The information processing system shown in Fig. 1 has a configuration similar to that of a typical office in which multiple information devices are connected to an in-house network. The network is an intranet 10, and multiple devices connected to it include a copy machine 11 from Company A, an electronic whiteboard 12, a projector 13, a copy machine 14 from Company B, a printer 15, a scanner 16, and three PCs (Personal Computers) 17-19. In Fig. 1, the copy machine 11 from Company A functions as an information processing device.

[0013] Company A's copier 11 is a copier manufactured by Company A and includes a transport unit that transports paper, a scanner unit that reads the original, and an image forming unit that prints the read original on paper. Company B's copier 14 is a copier manufactured by Company B and has the same configuration as Company A's copier 11. Electronic whiteboard 12 displays video information as still images or moving images on the screen of an external PC, detects when an electronic pen or the like touches the display of electronic whiteboard 12, identifies the coordinates, and draws and displays lines, characters, etc. on the displayed still image, etc.

[0014] The projector 13 is connected to a PC or the like, acquires image data from the PC or the like, modulates projection light from a light source based on the acquired image data, and projects the resulting modulated light as an image onto the projection surface of a screen through a projection lens. The printing machine 15 is, for example, an inkjet printer, and forms an image on the printing paper by moving a discharge head having multiple nozzles in the main scanning direction and discharging droplets of ink or the like from the multiple nozzles onto the printing paper being transported in the sub-scanning direction. The printing machine 15 may also be a laser printer or the like that attaches toner to a photosensitive member, transfers it to the printing paper being transported, and fixes it with heat and pressure.

[0015] The scanner 16 irradiates light from a light source onto an original or the like, reads the reflected light reflected from the original or the like with an optical sensor, and converts the light into image data. Note that the scanner 16 is not limited to a system that reads reflected light with an optical sensor, but may also be a system that reads transmitted light that has passed through the original or the like. As the optical sensor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, or the like can be used. The PCs 17 to 19 may be any of notebook PCs, desktop PCs, and tablet PCs. The PCs 17 to 19 input characters, etc., select data, etc., run programs, display images, etc., and communicate with other devices.

[0016] Here, copiers, electronic whiteboards, projectors, printers, scanners, and PCs have been listed as information devices, but the information processing system may include other devices. Furthermore, the number of electronic whiteboards and the like is not limited to one, but may include two or more of each. When two or more devices are included, they may all be from the same manufacturer, or some or all of them may be from different manufacturers. Furthermore, when two or more devices are from the same manufacturer, they may all be the same model, or some or all of them may be different models.

[0017] Company A's copier 11, which functions as an information processing device, communicates with other devices (such as the electronic whiteboard 12) connected to the intranet 10 to which it is also connected when it is started up or at regular intervals to obtain information about the devices (device information). Company A's copier 11 obtains device information about the electronic whiteboard 12, projector 13, Company B's copier 14, printer 15, scanner 16, and three PCs 17-19. The device information includes the name of the manufacturer that produced the device, a manufacturer model number that indicates a serial number that individually identifies the device, etc.

[0018] Company A's copier 11 has a database within it, and uses device information acquired from each device and service information previously stored in the database to check whether or not a service is available for the user, and if so, identifies that service. Company A's copier 11 then transmits the identified service information to a display unit viewable by the user. The display unit viewable by the user may be a display unit (e.g., an operation panel) included in Company A's copier 11, or a display unit (e.g., a display) of a PC 17 or the like other than Company A's copier 11.

[0019] The intranet 10 is connected to the Internet 22 via a hub 20 and a router 21. A company A server 23 is connected to the Internet 22. If the database held by the company A copier 11 does not contain a corresponding service, the company A copier 11 makes an inquiry to the company A server 23 via the Internet 22. If the company A server 23 has a service that it can provide, the company A copier 11 obtains information about the available services from the company A server 23 and transmits the obtained service information to the display unit.

[0020] 2, the hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) serving as Company A's copier 11 will be described. The MFP includes a controller 30, a short-range communication circuit 31, an engine control unit 32, an operation panel 33, and a network I / F .

[0021] The controller 30 includes a CPU 40, which is the main part of the computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 41, a north bridge (NB) 42, a south bridge (SB) 43, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 44, a local memory (MEM-C) 45, an HDD controller 46, and an HD 47. The NB 42 and the ASIC 44 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 48.

[0022] The CPU 40 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP. The NB 42 is a bridge that connects the CPU 40 with the MEM-P 41, the SB 43, and the AGP bus 48, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 41, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0023] The MEM-P41 includes a ROM 41a, which is memory for storing programs and data for realizing the functions of the controller 30, and a RAM 41b, which is used for expanding the programs and data and as a drawing memory during memory printing. The programs stored in the RAM 41b may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD.

[0024] The SB43 is a bridge connecting the NB42 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC44 is an IC for image processing applications that has hardware elements for image processing and functions as a bridge connecting the AGP bus 48, PCI bus 49, HDD controller 46, and MEM-C 45. The ASIC44 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC44, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 45, and multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic, etc. The ASIC44 also includes a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 50 and the printer unit 51 via the PCI bus 49. The ASIC44 may be configured to connect to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

[0025] MEM-C45 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer. HD47 is a storage device for storing image data, font data used during printing, and forms. HD47 controls the reading and writing of data from and to HD47 under the control of CPU40. AGP bus 48 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphics processing, and direct high-throughput access to MEM-P51 enables the graphics accelerator card to operate at high speed.

[0026] The short-distance communication circuit 31 is a communication circuit that uses NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

[0027] The engine control unit 32 is made up of a scanner unit 50 and a printer unit 51. The operation panel 33 is equipped with a panel display unit 33a such as a touch panel that displays current setting values, selection screens, etc. and accepts input from the user, and an operation panel unit 33b that includes a numeric keypad that accepts setting values ​​for image formation conditions such as density setting conditions, a start key that accepts a copy start instruction, etc.

[0028] The controller 30 controls, for example, drawing, communication, and input from the operation panel 33. The scanner unit 50 or the printer unit 51 includes an image processing unit that performs error diffusion, gamma conversion, and the like.

[0029] The MFP can be switched between document box function, copy function, printer function, and facsimile function in sequence using the application switching key on the operation panel 33. When each function is selected, the corresponding mode is entered.

[0030] The network I / F 34 is an interface that connects to the intranet 10 and performs data communication with devices on the intranet 10 and with devices on the Internet 22 via the hub 20 and router 21. The short-range communication circuit 31 and the network I / F 34 are electrically connected to the ASIC 44 via the PCI bus 49.

[0031] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of Company A's copier 11. Each function of Company A's copier 11 can be realized by a processing circuit such as a CPU 40. The processing circuit includes a processor programmed to execute each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, and devices such as an ASIC, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to execute each function described above.

[0032] The copying machine 11 of company A includes a communication means 60, an acquisition means 61, an information holding means 62, a service specifying means 63, a database 64, and a display control means 65 in addition to the functions of a conveying section, a scanner section, and an image forming section.

[0033] The communication means 60 functions as a sending means and a receiving means, and communicates with each device on the intranet 10, and also with devices on the Internet 22 via the hub 20 and the router 21. The acquisition means 61 searches for devices on the intranet 10 to which the A company's copier 11 is connected via the communication means 60 when the A company's copier 11 is started up or at regular intervals, and acquires device information from the devices it has discovered. The information storage means 62 stores the device information acquired by the acquisition means 61.

[0034] The database 64 contains data that associates services that can be provided only when specific devices are connected to the same network with the manufacturer name, manufacturer model number, etc. of the device required for the service.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in database 64. The data is managed, for example, in a table, and the manufacturer name and manufacturer model number of the device that realizes the service are associated with the service name that identifies the service. Service A is a service realized by two devices: a copier from company A with model number "abcd1234" and a copier from company B with model number "efgh5678." For example, this service scans an original using company A's copier with model number "abcd1234" and prints it out using company B's copier with model number "efgh5678."

[0036] The data held in the database 64 is not limited to data associating the service name of a service that can be provided with both the manufacturer name and the manufacturer model number, but may be data associating the service name with either the manufacturer name or the manufacturer model number. In this case, the acquisition means 61 can acquire either the manufacturer name or the manufacturer model number as device information.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 3 , upon receiving the device information stored in the information storage means 62, the service identification means 63 compares the information stored in the information storage means 62 with the data stored in the database 64 to search for and identify services available to the user. When the service identification means 63 identifies a service, it instructs the display control means 65 to transmit service information indicating that a service is available and the details of that service to the operation panel 33, which serves as a display unit viewable by the user. In response to this, the display control means 65 transmits the service information to the operation panel 33 and displays it. Note that if the display unit is a display unit of a device other than the A company's copier 11, the service identification means 63 instructs the communication means 60, which functions as a transmission means, to transmit the service information. Note that if there is no identified service, the service identification means 63 does not instruct the communication means 60 or the display control means 65 to transmit the service information.

[0038] The service information transmitted by the display control means 65 or the like is displayed on the operation panel 33 or the like. The user views the service information displayed on the operation panel 33 or the like and determines whether or not the service is necessary. If the user determines that the service is necessary, the user performs a user operation, such as checking a checkbox displayed next to the service. This user operation is an example and is not limited to this operation. In response to the user operation, the A company copier 11 can install a program for implementing the service determined to be necessary by the user operation. By executing the installed program, the user can receive the service that the user has determined to be necessary.

[0039] The process up to service identification executed by Company A's copier 11 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5. Company A's copier 11 executes this process at startup or at regular intervals. "Startup" includes not only when the power is turned on to start up, but also when returning from power saving mode. The time interval at which this process is executed may be any time interval, and can be set as desired by the system administrator.

[0040] The process starts at step 100. In step 101, the acquiring means 61 acquires device information from devices connected to the intranet 10 via the communication means 60. The device information includes the manufacturer name, manufacturer model number, etc., and the manufacturer name and manufacturer model number can be acquired, for example, from a MAC (Media Access Control) address. A MAC address consists of 12 characters (48 bits), with the first 6 characters (24 bits) being a unique number assigned to the manufacturer and the last 6 characters (24 bits) being a number assigned individually to each product. For example, by using the ping command and the arp command, it is possible to confirm the presence of devices on the intranet 10 and acquire MAC addresses from existing devices. The acquiring means 61 stores the acquired device information in the information holding means 62.

[0041] In step 102, in response to the device information being stored in the information holding means 62, the service identification means 63 uses the stored information to create a device combination. For example, if the search results include the A company copier 11, the electronic whiteboard 12, the projector 13, the B company copier 14, the printer 15, the scanner 16, and three PCs 17 to 19, in step 102, two or more of these devices are used to create one device combination, such as the A company copier 11 and the electronic whiteboard 12.

[0042] In step 103, the service identification means 63 determines whether there are no more combinations to be created and whether to end the combination creation. If the combinations are not to be ended in step 103, the process proceeds to step 104, where the service identification means 63 searches the database 64 for a service corresponding to the created combination, and if so, acquires the service information. In step 105, the service identification means 63 checks whether a corresponding service exists, and if not, returns to step 102 to create the next device combination. On the other hand, if there is a corresponding service, the process proceeds to step 106 to check whether the service is already provided, and if it is, returns to step 102. On the other hand, if the service is not provided, the process proceeds to step 107, where the unprovided service is registered in temporary storage means such as a cache, and the process returns to step 102.

[0043] Here, since the user already knows that services that are already provided are available, there is no need to display the known services. For this reason, the following description will be given assuming that processing is performed to display only unprovided services that the user does not know are available. However, the processing is not limited to displaying only unprovided services, and all available services, including services that are already provided, may be displayed. The service names, etc., of provided services can be registered in, for example, a database 64. This makes it possible to confirm which services have already been provided.

[0044] If the service identification means 63 determines in step 103 that the combination has been completed, the process proceeds to step 108, where the service identification means 63 acquires information about the unprovided services if there are any unprovided services in the temporary storage means. Then, in step 109, the service identification means 63 checks whether there are any unprovided services, and if there are any unprovided services, the process proceeds to step 110, where the service identification means 63 instructs the communication means 60 or the display control means 65 to transmit information about the unprovided services, and the communication means 60 or the display control means 65 transmits the information about the unprovided services as service information to the display unit and displays it. After displaying it on the display unit, the process proceeds to step 111, where the process ends. On the other hand, if there are no unprovided services, there are no services to display, so the process proceeds directly to step 111, where the process ends.

[0045] If there are multiple unprovided services, it is possible to display a list of services that can be provided and the details of those services, and if there is only one unprovided service, it is possible to display a list of services that can be provided and the details of that service. Also, if there are no unprovided services, it is possible to display a list of services that cannot be provided.

[0046] With reference to Figure 6, the processing from identifying a service to displaying service information will be described in detail. Processing begins at step 200, and in step 201, the service identification means 63 determines whether any services remain to be sent and displayed. If so, the processing proceeds to step 202, where the service is sent to the display unit along with its content. The display unit displays the service along with its content. The user views the service and its content and determines whether or not the service is necessary. The user inputs whether or not the service is necessary by operating the operation panel 33 of company A's copier 11.

[0047] In step 203, it is determined whether an operation from the user has been accepted. If no operation from the user has been accepted, this indicates that the user's decision has not yet been completed, and the decision process of step 203 is repeated until an operation from the user is accepted. On the other hand, if an operation has been accepted, the process proceeds to step 204, and a decision is made as to whether or not the service is necessary based on the operation. For example, if the user checks a checkbox next to a service and presses the OK button, this indicates that the user has decided that the service is necessary, and if the user does not check the checkbox and presses the OK button, this indicates that the user has decided that the service is unnecessary, and it is possible to determine whether or not the service is necessary. Note that this operation is just one example, and any other operation may be used as long as it can determine whether or not the service is necessary.

[0048] If the user determines in step 204 that the service is necessary, the process proceeds to step 205, where the service is installed and becomes available for the user to use. On the other hand, if the user determines that the service is unnecessary, the process returns to step 201, where it is determined whether any services remain to be displayed as the next available service.

[0049] The processing from step 201 to step 205 is repeated until there are no more services available. If it is determined in step 201 that there are no more services available, the processing proceeds to step 206, where the processing for displaying service information is terminated.

[0050] In the example shown in Figure 6, the available services are displayed one by one multiple times, and the user's intention is confirmed each time, but this is not limited to this. Multiple available services may be displayed on one screen, allowing the user to decide whether or not they are needed all at once.

[0051] Service information is stored not only in database 64 but also in company A's server 23, which is an external device connected to the Internet 22, and company A's server 23 stores more service information. Therefore, if there is no corresponding service in database 64, communication means 60 can be used to access company A's server 23, and the information can be compared with the data stored in company A's server 23 to obtain service information that can be used by the user.

[0052] In this case, the obtained list of services may be displayed on the display unit together with the details of the services, or only the services not yet provided to the user from the obtained list of services may be displayed on the display unit together with the details of the services.

[0053] As described above, it is possible to easily obtain information about multiple devices and provide the user with information about available services. It is also possible to provide only information about available services, excluding services that have already been provided.

[0054] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified within the scope conceivable by a person skilled in the art, such as by changing or deleting components of the present embodiment, or by adding other components to the components of the present embodiment. In any aspect, as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved, it is included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10. Intranet 11... Company A copier 12...Electronic whiteboard 13...Projector 14... Company B copier 15...Printing machine 16...Scanner 17~19...PC 20...Hub 21...Router 22. Internet 23...Company A's server 30...Controller 31...Near field communication circuit 32...Engine control unit 33...Operation panel 33a...Panel display section 33b...Operation panel section 34...Network I / F 40...CPU 41...MEM-P 41a…ROM 41b...RAM 42…NB 43…SB 44...ASIC 45...MEM-C 46...HDD controller 47…HD 48...AGP bus 49...PCI bus 50...Scanner section 51...Printer section [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0056] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-201500

Claims

1. An information processing device that provides information about available services to a user, an acquisition means for acquiring information about each of the plurality of devices from each of the plurality of devices; a service specifying means for specifying a service realized by a combination of two or more devices based on the acquired information about each device; a transmitting means for transmitting information about the identified service to a display means that can be viewed by the user; information storage means for storing information about each of the devices acquired by the acquisition means; a storage means for storing information relating to a combination of devices and a service realized by the combination of devices in association with each other; Including, The service identification means creates a combination of devices using information about each device stored in the information storage means, and identifies a service by comparing the created combination of devices with a combination of devices associated with information about the service stored in the storage means.

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information about the device includes at least one of a manufacturer name of the device and information for identifying the device.

3. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the service identification means, when unable to identify the service using a combination of devices associated with the information about the service stored in the storage means, identifies the service using information held by an external device.

4. 4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein, if there is an unprovided service among the identified services, the service specifying means instructs the transmitting means to transmit information regarding the unprovided service.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transmission means transmits to said display means, as information regarding said unprovided service, information indicating that there is a service that can be provided and the content of said service.

6. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires information about each of the plurality of devices on the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected from the plurality of devices.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the acquisition means acquires the information about each of the devices when the information processing apparatus is started or at regular intervals.

8. 8. An information processing system comprising: the information processing device according to claim 1; and a plurality of devices used in combination to provide a service.

9. A method for providing information on available services to a user by an information processing device, the information processing device including: a storage means for storing a combination of devices and information on services realized by the combination of devices in association with each other; and an information holding means; acquiring information about each of the plurality of devices from each of the plurality of devices; storing the acquired information about each device in the information storage means; a step of identifying a service realized by a combination of two or more devices based on the acquired information about each of the devices, the step of creating the device combination using the information about each of the devices stored in the information storage means, and identifying the service by comparing the created device combination with a device combination associated with information about the service stored in the storage means; transmitting information about the identified service to a display means viewable by the user; A method comprising:

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