Setting information management method, setting information management system, and printer driver

Abstract

To deliver sharing setting information used in a plurality of information processing devices to each information processing device as needed and update it when needed to reduce an operation work load of a user in charge of setting information input operations.SOLUTION: A setting information management method includes the steps of: storing setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to a predetermined function; saving collective setting information including setting contents that are respectively set for the plurality of setting items; determining whether it is enabled that the collective setting information is commonly used in information processing devices by information of collective setting sharing, the setting contents including the information of the collective setting sharing determining whether the saved collective setting information is commonly used in the plurality of information processing devices or not; delivering the collective setting information to the plurality of information processing devices when it is enabled that the collective setting information is commonly used; and acquiring the delivered collective setting information by the information processing devices to save it as sharing setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a setting information management method and a setting information management system that manage setting information related to a specified function, and in particular, to a setting information management method and a setting information management system that distributes setting information related to printing of an image forming device to an information processing device that uses the image forming device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses having multiple functions such as a printing function, a document reading function, a read image data transmission function, an image data acquisition function, and a character recognition function have been used. When a user intends to use an image forming apparatus via a network from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer owned by the user, driver software for using the image forming apparatus is installed in the information processing apparatus, and the driver software is started to execute the desired functions of the image forming apparatus.

[0003] Furthermore, for example, when executing a printing function in a specific application program included in an information processing device, the user selects and inputs setting information for printing-related setting items (number of copies to be printed, document size, print orientation, color / black and white selection, print paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, etc.) on the information processing device, and then starts printing.Information about the document to be printed and the selected and input setting information are then sent to the image forming device, and the image forming device executes the printing process using the setting information.

[0004] In principle, the user must input setting information for a printing function or the like each time the function is executed. However, when there are many settings to be entered, in order to reduce the time and effort required for the user to enter the settings, the setting information that the user normally uses is saved together as batch setting information, and when the function is executed, the saved batch setting information is called up and the setting information for each setting item is automatically set.

[0005] Patent document 1 also describes an information processing system that consists of a client PC, a printer, and a server PC connected via a network, and the server PC is equipped with a language monitor that has the function of sharing information between the server and the client; when the server PC starts printing, the setting information (setting file) set and stored in the server PC is written to the language monitor; when an application on the client PC is launched, the application starts an update process for the setting information and instructs the language monitor to update the setting file, so that the setting file is passed from the language monitor to the client PC; the setting information used by the application is written to a specified memory area on the client PC, and the setting information of the driver set on the server PC is applied to each client PC; and when software such as a printer driver is added, the burden of setting the software that works with that software is reduced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-176532 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, if the user needs to input setting information each time a function is executed and the user uses multiple information processing devices, the same settings must be made on each of those information processing devices, which places a heavy burden on the user in inputting the setting information.

[0008] Furthermore, even if a user can save collective setting information that compiles multiple pieces of setting information that they normally use, the user must make similar settings for each of multiple information processing devices and then save the information as collective setting information, which places a heavy burden on the user in terms of inputting the setting information. Furthermore, as in Patent Document 1, when applying the driver setting information set on a server PC to each client PC, even if the setting information can be shared among a large number of client PCs, the setting information set independently on the client PC may be overwritten by the setting information set on the server PC. Also, even if it is not desired to share the setting information on the client PC, the setting information set on the server PC may be distributed to the client PC, and the setting information on the client PC may be automatically changed to something not intended by the user of the client PC.

[0009] Therefore, this disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a setting information management system that can distribute shared setting information used by multiple information processing devices to each information processing device as needed, update the shared setting information when an update is necessary, and reduce the operational burden on users associated with inputting setting information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This disclosure provides a setting information management method for a setting information management system that manages setting information related to the functions of an image forming device executed on an information processing device, the setting information management method including: a storage step that stores setting contents of multiple setting items related to the functions of the image forming device; a setting information storage step that stores batch setting information including setting contents set for each of the multiple setting items; batch setting sharing information that determines whether the saved batch setting information is to be used in common among multiple information processing devices, the multiple setting items including batch setting sharing information, a shared setting determination step that determines whether the batch setting information is enabled to be used in common among multiple information processing devices based on the batch setting sharing information; a setting information distribution step that distributes the saved batch setting information to the multiple information processing devices when it is determined in the shared setting determination step that the batch setting information is enabled to be used in common among multiple information processing devices; and a setting information acquisition step that acquires the batch setting information distributed to the information processing devices and saves it as shared setting information, characterized in that the batch setting information is used in common among the multiple information processing devices when the batch setting sharing information enables the batch setting information to be used in common among multiple information processing devices.

[0011] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, when the batch setting sharing information is set to enable the batch setting information to be commonly used by multiple information processing devices, if new batch setting information is added and saved in the setting information saving step, the added and saved batch setting information is distributed to the multiple information processing devices in the setting information distribution step.

[0012] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, when the batch setting sharing information is set to enable the batch setting information to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices and the batch setting sharing information is changed to disable the batch setting information from being used in common among a plurality of information processing devices, it further includes a setting information deletion request step of sending a batch setting information deletion request to the information processing devices with which the batch setting information was shared, requesting the deletion of all batch setting information, and when the information processing device receives the batch setting information deletion request, deleting all shared setting information stored in the information processing device.

[0013] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, when the batch setting information stored in the storage step is deleted, in the setting information deletion request step, a deletion request is sent to an information processing device with which the deleted batch setting information was shared, requesting the deletion of the deleted batch setting information, and when the information processing device receives the deletion request, the shared setting information stored in the information processing device, which corresponds to the deleted batch setting information, is further included.

[0014] In addition, this setting information management method further includes a setting information request receiving step for receiving a setting information request sent from the information processing device, and when the setting information request is received in the setting information request receiving step, the batch setting information stored in the storage step is distributed to the information processing device that sent the setting information request in the setting information distribution step.

[0015] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, in the setting information saving step, when saving the batch setting information, the batch setting information is saved in association with date information on which the batch setting information is saved, and if the shared setting information saved in the information processing device is also stored in association with shared setting date information, which is date information on which the batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information was saved, and if the latest date information on which the batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information was saved is newer than the shared setting date information, in the setting information distribution step, the batch setting information saved on the latest date is distributed to the information processing device, and the shared setting information saved in the information processing device is updated to the distributed batch setting information.

[0016] In addition, this setting information management method further includes a date information request step in which the information processing device requests the transmission of the latest date information on which batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information stored in the information processing device was saved; a date information acquisition step in which the saved date information, which is the latest date information, is acquired; a shared setting date determination step in which the saved date information is compared with the shared setting date information stored in correspondence with the shared setting information; and a setting information request step in which, if the saved date information is newer than the shared setting date information, the batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information is sent; and is characterized in that, in the setting information distribution step, the batch setting information saved on the requested latest date is distributed to the information processing device.

[0017] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, if the shared setting information stored in the information processing device is not stored in correspondence with the shared setting date information, in the setting information distribution step, batch setting information equivalent to the shared setting information and including the latest date information on which the batch setting information was saved is distributed to the information processing device.

[0018] In addition, this setting information management method further includes a unique setting information saving step in which the information processing device saves unique setting information that is used only by that information processing device and includes setting contents that have been set for each of a plurality of setting items related to a specified function, and the unique setting information can only be added in the information processing device in which the unique setting information is saved, and can only be deleted by a deletion request executed in the information processing device to which the unique setting information was added.

[0019] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that, in the setting information saving step, when the batch setting information is saved, it is saved with a predetermined name, and further, when new batch setting information is saved as an additional setting, it is saved with a name different from that of the batch setting information already saved, and when new batch setting information is saved with the same name as that of the batch setting information already saved, an update warning screen is displayed indicating that the batch setting information will be overwritten and updated.

[0020] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized in that the batch setting information is information including setting contents set for each of multiple setting items related to printing functions executed by an image forming device, and the batch setting sharing information is print setting sharing information that determines whether or not the batch setting information related to the printing functions will be used in common by the multiple information processing devices.

[0021] Furthermore, this setting information management method is characterized by further comprising an operation step of setting the batch setting sharing information to enable or disable the batch setting information to be commonly used by multiple information processing devices.

[0022] The disclosure also provides a setting management device that stores commonly used batch setting information and is connected to an information processing device via a network to execute functions of an image forming device using the batch setting information, the setting management device including: a memory unit that stores setting contents of multiple setting items related to the functions of the image forming device; a setting information storage unit that stores the batch setting information, including the setting contents set for each of the multiple setting items, in the memory unit; batch setting sharing information that determines whether the saved batch setting information is to be used in common among the multiple information processing devices, and a shared setting determination unit that determines whether the batch setting sharing information has been enabled to allow the batch setting information to be used in common among the multiple information processing devices; and a setting information distribution unit that distributes the batch setting information stored in the memory unit to the multiple information processing devices when the shared setting determination unit determines that the batch setting information is to be used in common among the multiple information processing devices, and the batch setting information is used in common by the setting management device and the multiple information processing devices only when the batch setting sharing information has been enabled to allow the batch setting information to be used in common among the multiple information processing devices.

[0023] The disclosure also provides a setting information management system in which a setting management device that stores collective setting information to be used in common and an information processing device that executes functions of an image forming device using the collective setting information are connected via a network, wherein the setting management device includes a storage unit that stores setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to functions of the image forming device, and a setting information storage unit that stores the collective setting information, including setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items, in the storage unit, and the plurality of setting items include collective setting sharing information that determines whether the stored collective setting information is to be used in common among the plurality of information processing devices, and the collective setting information is used in common among the plurality of information processing devices based on the collective setting sharing information. The present invention provides a setting information management system comprising: a shared setting determination unit that determines whether the shared setting determination unit has determined that the shared use of the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices is enabled; and a setting information distribution unit that distributes the collective setting information stored in the storage unit to the plurality of information processing devices when the shared setting determination unit has determined that the shared use of the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices is enabled; the information processing device has a setting information acquisition unit that acquires the distributed collective setting information and saves it as shared setting information; and when the shared setting information has determined that the shared use of the collective setting information among the plurality of information processing devices is enabled, the collective setting information is used in common by the setting management device and the plurality of information processing devices.

[0024] The setting management device is further characterized in that it comprises a printer driver that executes the functions of the setting information storage unit, the shared setting determination unit, and the setting information distribution unit, and the information processing device is characterized in that it comprises a printer driver that executes the functions of the setting information acquisition unit.

[0025] This disclosure also provides a printer driver for a setting management device that stores commonly used batch setting information and is connected to an information processing device via a network that uses the batch setting information to execute functions of an image forming device, the printer driver storing setting contents for multiple setting items related to the functions of the image forming device, storing the batch setting information including setting contents set for each of the multiple setting items, the multiple setting items including batch setting sharing information that determines whether the saved batch setting information is to be used in common among multiple information processing devices, the batch setting sharing information determining whether the shared use of the batch setting information among multiple information processing devices is enabled, and if it is determined that the shared use of the batch setting information among multiple information processing devices is enabled, distributing the saved batch setting information to the multiple information processing devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to this disclosure, batch setting information including setting contents set for each of a plurality of setting items is stored in a memory unit, and the plurality of setting items include batch setting sharing information that determines whether the saved batch setting information is to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices, and when it is determined that the batch setting sharing information has enabled the batch setting information to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices, the batch setting information stored in the memory unit is distributed to the plurality of information processing devices, and the distributed batch setting information is used in common among the setting management device and the plurality of information processing devices.Therefore, the batch setting information shared among a plurality of information processing devices can be distributed to each information processing device as needed, the shared setting information can be updated when an update, etc. is required, and the operational burden on the user associated with input operations to share the batch setting information among a plurality of information processing devices can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a setting information management system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a setting management device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 4] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of information stored in a storage unit of a setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of information stored in a storage unit of an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of collective setting information stored in a registry of a storage unit of a setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of collective setting information stored in a registry of a storage unit of a setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 8] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 9] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 10] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 11] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 12] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 13] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of setting information stored in a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein; [Figure 14] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 15] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 16] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 17]10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 18] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 19] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 20] 10 is a communication sequence of an embodiment of a communication process between a setting management device and an information processing device disclosed herein. [Figure 21] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a shared setting process in the setting management device of the present disclosure. [Figure 22] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information distribution process in the setting management device of the present disclosure. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information acquisition process in the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a shared setting process in the setting management device of the present disclosure. [Figure 25] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information distribution process in the setting management device of the present disclosure. [Figure 26] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information acquisition process in the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure. [Figure 27] 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information acquisition process in the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure. [Figure 28] 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (printer driver setting screen) including print setting sharing in the setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 29] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items in the setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 30] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items in the setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 31]1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items in the setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 32] 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items in the setting management device disclosed herein; [Figure 33] 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a setting information update warning screen in the setting management device disclosed herein; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples.

[0029] <Configuration of the setting information management system> The disclosed setting information management system is a management system in which a setting management device that stores setting information (hereinafter referred to as batch setting information) that is commonly used by multiple information processing devices and an information processing device that uses the batch setting information to execute specified functions are connected via a network.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a setting information management system according to the present disclosure. The setting information management system in Figure 1 is a system that manages the setting contents of multiple setting items used when executing specified functions on an image forming device or the like, as well as batch setting information, and is mainly composed of a setting management device 1 connected to a network 4 such as the Internet or a LAN, an information processing device 2, and an image forming device 3. The setting management device 1, the information processing device 2, and the image forming device 3 are capable of mutual data communication via a network 4.

[0031] In addition, in the setting information management system, setting information (bulk setting information) that is commonly used by multiple information processing devices is set and saved in the setting management device 1, and then, for example, upon request from the information processing device 2, the saved bulk setting information is distributed from the setting management device 1 to the information processing device 2.

[0032] The setting management device 1 (SV) is a device that stores the setting contents of multiple setting items related to specified functions and sets, saves, and distributes commonly used setting information (bulk setting information), and is also called the management server, or simply the server or SV. The information processing device 2 (PC) is a device that uses commonly used setting information (bulk setting information) to cause the image forming device to perform specified functions, sets and saves its own setting information (called unique setting information), and uses this unique setting information to cause the image forming device to perform specified functions, and is also called a client personal computer, client PC, or simply a personal computer or PC. It is assumed that not only one information processing device 2 (PC) but a plurality of information processing devices 2 (PCs) can be connected to the setting management device 1 and the image forming device 3 via the network 4.

[0033] Here, the commonly used setting information (bulk setting information) is information that includes the setting contents set for each of multiple setting items related to a specified function, for example, information that includes the setting contents set for each of multiple setting items related to a printing function executed by the image forming device 3. In other words, the collective setting information is information that collectively stores the setting contents that have been input for a plurality of setting items related to a predetermined function, and is also called "favorites" in the following embodiment.

[0034] Like the bulk setting information, the unique setting information is information that collectively stores the setting contents entered for multiple setting items related to a specified function, but it is information that is set and saved on each information processing device 2 and is only used on the information processing device in which the unique setting information is saved. Unique setting information also corresponds to "favorites."

[0035] In the following examples, the setting contents of multiple setting items, batch setting information, and unique setting information are described as relating to functions executed by the image forming device 3, but are not limited to functions executed by the image forming device 3. For example, if a scanner device, an external storage device, a communication control device such as a router, and a display device are connected to the network 4 and an information processing device 2 (PC) uses these devices, the setting information regarding the functions executed by the scanner device, etc. may be set and saved in the setting management device 1 or the information processing device 2.

[0036] In addition, in this disclosure, it is assumed that the setting management device 1 can set "distribution availability" to determine whether or not the saved collective setting information is to be distributed to a plurality of information processing devices. The setting of whether or not distribution is possible means a setting of "whether or not setting sharing is possible" which determines whether or not the same batch setting information is used by a plurality of information processing devices.

[0037] In the following embodiment, the multiple setting items stored in the setting management device 1 include batch setting sharing information (hereinafter simply referred to as batch setting sharing) that determines whether the saved batch setting information is to be used in common by multiple information processing devices 2. For example, it is assumed that the setting items of the setting management device 1 include a "batch setting sharing" for setting "whether settings sharing is possible" of batch setting information used for functions executable by the image forming device. This collective setting sharing information is used by the shared setting determination unit 22, which will be described later, to determine whether or not the collective setting information is enabled to be used in common by a plurality of information processing devices.

[0038] "Bulk setting sharing" is set to either "Share" or "Do not share." The batch setting sharing information may be set for each executable function. For example, information that determines whether batch setting information related to the printing function among the multiple functions that can be executed by an image forming device is to be used in common by multiple information processing devices is referred to as print setting sharing information, or simply as "print setting sharing."

[0039] When "print setting sharing" is set to "shared," batch setting information used for print functions set and saved in the setting management device 1 can be distributed to a plurality of information processing devices. On the other hand, if "Print setting sharing" is set to "Do not share," the batch setting information used for the printing functions set and saved in the setting management device 1 will not be distributed to multiple information processing devices, and batch setting information that has already been distributed to multiple information processing devices may be deleted.

[0040] The image forming device 3 (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral) is a device that processes image data, and inputs, forms, outputs, saves, transfers, etc., image data. The image forming apparatus 3 is also called a multifunction peripheral, or simply an MFP. A user who wishes to execute a predetermined function in the image forming apparatus 3 performs an input operation using operation keys or the like provided on the image forming apparatus 3 to execute the predetermined function. In addition, it is possible to send information such as a print request from the information processing device 2 to the image forming device 3 via the network 4 by remote control from the information processing device 2, and cause the functions of the image forming device 3 to be executed. It is assumed that not only one image forming apparatus 3 (MFP) but a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 (MFP) can be connected to the setting management device 1 and the information processing device 2 via the network 4.

[0041] <Configuration of the setting management device (management server)> FIG. 2 shows a configuration block diagram of one embodiment of a setting management device (management server) disclosed herein. In Figure 2, the setting management device (SV) 1 of this disclosure mainly includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, a communication unit 14, a setting information storage unit 21, a sharing setting determination unit 22, an inquiry request receiving unit 23, a setting information request receiving unit 24, a date information request receiving unit 25, an inquiry response unit 26, a setting information distribution unit 27, a saved date transmission unit 28, a date information acquisition unit 29, a setting information deletion unit 30, a setting information deletion request unit 31, a setting information display control unit 32, and a memory unit 40.

[0042] The control unit 11 is a part that controls the operation of each component such as the operation unit and display unit, and is realized mainly by a microcomputer that includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, an I / O controller, a timer, and the like. The CPU organically operates various hardware components based on a control program pre-stored in a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, and executes the setting information storage function, setting information distribution function, etc. in the management server SV.

[0043] Furthermore, among the above components, the setting information storage unit 21, the sharing setting determination unit 22, the date information acquisition unit 29, the setting information deletion unit 30, etc. are functional blocks in which the CPU executes each process based on a predetermined program.

[0044] The operation unit 12 is an input device for the administrator of the management server SV to perform predetermined input operations. For example, it is a part for inputting information such as characters and selecting functions, and may use a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, or the like. The keys operated by the administrator include an operation start key, a function selection key, a setting key, and the like. The administrator selects and inputs the settings of the setting items relating to the printing functions of the image forming apparatus MFP, for example, by operating a touch panel or pressing predetermined setting keys.

[0045] Alternatively, if you want to save the batch setting information in the storage unit 40, after selecting and inputting the setting contents of the specified setting items, you give the batch setting information a name that identifies it and perform an input operation that corresponds to saving. In addition, in this disclosure, the operation unit 12 has a sharing setting means for setting whether or not to enable the collective setting information to be used in common by multiple information processing devices in the information on collective setting sharing described above. The shared setting means may be, for example, a dedicated key for setting the information for collective shared setting, or may be a display area for the information for collective shared setting displayed on the display unit 13 in a selectable manner.

[0046] Display unit 13 is a part that displays information, and displays information necessary for executing each function, the results of the execution of the function, etc. to inform the administrator. For example, if an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like is used and a touch panel is used as operation unit 12, display unit 13 and the touch panel are arranged so as to overlap each other. The display unit 13 displays, for example, a function selection screen related to the image forming device, a screen displaying the settings of setting items related to printing functions, and information necessary to execute specified functions using characters, symbols, figures, images, icons, animations, videos, etc.

[0047] In addition, in this disclosure, the display unit 13 displays a setting display screen (printer driver setting screen) including print setting sharing, as described later, a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items, and the like. Alternatively, if the new batch setting information is to be saved in the memory unit 40 with the same name as that of the batch setting information already saved, an update warning screen indicating that the batch setting information will be overwritten and updated may be displayed on the display unit 13.

[0048] The communication unit 14 is a part that performs data communication with the information processing apparatus PC and the image forming apparatus MFP via the network 4. For example, an inquiry request sent from the information processing device PC is received. Moreover, when "print setting sharing" is set to shared, the batch setting information is transmitted to the information processing device PC.

[0049] The network 4 can be any existing communication network such as the Internet or a LAN, and the communication format can be either wired communication or wireless communication.

[0050] The setting information storage unit 21 is a part of the setting management device SV that stores in the storage unit 40 the setting contents of the setting items input by the administrator or the like of the setting management device SV. In addition, the collective setting information including the setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items is stored in the storage unit 40. When saving the batch setting information, the setting information saving section 21 gives a predetermined name and saves it in the storage section 40, and when saving additional new batch setting information, gives a name different from the batch setting information already saved and saves it in the storage section 40. Here, the name of the collective setting information is set and input by the administrator of the setting management device SV in principle, but may be automatically assigned based on a predetermined naming standard.

[0051] Furthermore, when saving the collective setting information in the storage unit 40, the setting information saving unit 21 may save the collective setting information in association with date information when the collective setting information is saved in the storage unit 40. When the batch setting information is updated with the same name, the update date, that is, the latest date information on when the batch setting information was saved, is associated with the new batch setting information and saved.

[0052] The shared setting determination unit 22 is a part that determines whether or not collective setting information is to be shared among a plurality of information processing devices PC. As described above, this determination is made based on whether the batch setting sharing information, which is one of the setting items that can be set in the setting management device SV, has enabled the batch setting information to be used in common by multiple information processing devices. For example, whether or not collective setting information regarding print functions is shared among multiple information processing devices is determined depending on whether "print setting sharing," which is one of the setting items for the print functions of the image forming device, is enabled.

[0053] "Bulk setting sharing" is not limited to "printing setting sharing", but may be provided for each other function executed by the image forming device (for example, document reading function, etc.), or may be "bulk setting sharing" corresponding to the functions of other devices other than the image forming device that are remotely controlled by the information processing device PC.

[0054] As will be described later, "print setting sharing" is one of the setting items of the printer driver that executes the printing function of the image forming device MFP. If "print setting sharing" is set to "shared," it is determined that the batch setting information is to be shared; on the other hand, if "print setting sharing" is set to "not shared," it is determined that the batch setting information is not to be shared.

[0055] If it is determined that the collective setting information is to be shared, the collective setting information can be shared among multiple information processing devices PC that can be connected to the setting management device SV. For example, when the setting management device SV receives a setting information request from the information processing device PC, the collective setting information is distributed from the setting management device SV to the information processing device PC.

[0056] If it is determined that the collective setting information is not to be shared, the collective setting information is not shared among a plurality of information processing devices PC connectable to the setting management device SV, and therefore the collective setting information stored in the setting management device SV is not distributed to the information processing devices PC. Furthermore, if the setting for "Print Setting Sharing" is changed from "Share" to "Do Not Share," a request to delete the batch setting information may be sent to each information processing device PC, as described below, and the batch setting information already stored in each information processing device PC may be deleted.

[0057] The setting contents of "Print setting sharing" are stored in the shared setting flag F described below. If it is set to share the batch setting information, the shared setting flag F stores 2, indicating enabled (ON), and if it is set not to share the batch setting information, the shared setting flag F stores 1, indicating disabled (OFF). However, if the information indicating whether sharing of the bulk setting information is enabled or disabled is stored in another format, for example, if the bulk setting information including the information indicating whether sharing is enabled or disabled is stored in a registry in the memory area of ​​the setting management device SV, the setting flag F may not be necessary.

[0058] The inquiry request receiving unit 23 is a part that receives an inquiry request sent from the information processing device PC. Inquiry requests from the information processing device PC include, for example, a request to inquire whether batch setting information is stored in the setting management device SV, a request to distribute batch setting information if the batch setting information is stored, and a request to transmit the date when the batch setting information was stored if the batch setting information is stored. The inquiry request receiving unit 23 includes a setting information request receiving unit 24 and a date information request receiving unit 25, which will be described below.

[0059] The setting information request receiving unit 24 is a part that receives a setting information request transmitted from the information processing device PC. The setting information request is information that requests that collective setting information be delivered to the information processing device PC when collective setting information is stored in the setting management device SV. When the setting management device SV receives a setting information request, if the setting content of "print setting sharing" is set to share as described above, the setting information distribution unit 27 described later distributes the batch setting information stored in the memory unit 40 of the setting management device SV to the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request. On the other hand, when the setting management device SV receives a setting information request, if the setting content of "print setting sharing" is set to not share, the setting management device SV does not distribute the batch setting information even if the batch setting information is stored in the setting management device SV.

[0060] The date information request receiving unit 25 is a part that receives a date information request sent from the information processing device PC. The date information request is information that requests that, when batch setting information is stored in the setting management device SV, the date information (saved date information) on which the batch setting information was stored in the setting management device SV be sent to the information processing device PC. When a date information request is sent and received, it is assumed that when the collective setting information is saved in the setting management device SV, the saving date (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) is included in and stored in the collective setting information. For example, when the collective setting information is saved in a registry in the storage area of ​​the setting management device SV, it may be saved as information in a format that includes saved date information as part of the collective setting information, as shown in FIG. 6 described later.

[0061] When the setting management device SV receives a date information request, it reads the date on which the batch setting information stored in the setting management device SV was saved (saved date information), and the saved date transmission unit 28, which will be described later, sends the read saved date information to the information processing device PC that sent the date information request.

[0062] The inquiry response unit 26 is a part that transmits a response to an inquiry request transmitted from the information processing device PC. Responses to an inquiry request from the information processing device PC may include, for example, distributing the batch setting information if the batch setting information has been saved, or transmitting the date on which the batch setting information was saved if the batch setting information has been saved. The inquiry response unit 26 includes a setting information distribution unit 27 and a storage date transmission unit 28, which will be described below.

[0063] The setting information distribution unit 27 is a part that distributes the collective setting information stored in the memory unit 40 of the setting management device SV to multiple information processing devices PC when the shared setting determination unit 22 determines that the collective setting information is enabled to be used in common by multiple information processing devices. In other words, the batch setting information is shared between the setting management device SV and multiple information processing devices PC only when the batch setting sharing information is enabled to be shared by multiple information processing devices.

[0064] Furthermore, for example, when the information for collective setting sharing is set to enable the collective setting information to be commonly used by a plurality of information processing devices, if new collective setting information is added and saved in the memory unit 40 by the setting information saving unit 21, the setting information distribution unit 27 distributes the added and saved collective setting information to a plurality of information processing devices PC. Furthermore, as described above, when a setting information request is received from the information processing device PC, the setting management device SV delivers the batch setting information stored in the storage unit 40 to the information processing device PC in response to the request.

[0065] In particular, when saving batch setting information, the batch setting information is stored in association with the date information for saving the batch setting information in the memory unit 40, and the shared setting information saved in the information processing device PC is also stored in association with the shared setting date information, which is the date information for saving the batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information in the memory unit 40 of the setting management device SV, and if the latest date information for saving the batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information in the memory unit 40 is newer than the shared setting date information, the setting information distribution unit 27 will distribute the batch setting information saved on the latest date to the information processing device. In this case, the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC is updated to the distributed collective setting information. This allows the batch setting information stored in the setting management device SV and the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC corresponding to the batch setting information to always be the same latest information and shared.

[0066] On the other hand, if the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC is not stored in association with the shared setting date information, the date information cannot be compared, so the setting information distribution unit 27 distributes to the information processing device PC collective setting information that is equivalent to the shared setting information and includes the latest date information when the collective setting information was stored in the storage unit 40. In this case as well, the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC is updated to the distributed collective setting information, and the collective setting information and the shared setting information can always be shared using the same latest information.

[0067] The saved date transmission unit 28 is a part that, when it receives a date information request from the information processing device PC, transmits the saved date information of the batch setting information saved in the setting management device SV to the information processing device PC in response to the request. If one batch setting information is stored in the setting management device SV, it is sufficient to transmit the date information when that batch setting information was saved, but if multiple batch setting information are saved, the saved date information of all batch setting information is transmitted in association with information identifying each batch setting information. Alternatively, if the received date information request includes information specifying the batch setting information, only the date information in which the batch setting information specified in the date information request is saved may be transmitted.

[0068] The date information acquisition unit 29 is a part that acquires the current date (for example, year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) from the clock function of the setting management device SV when batch setting information is to be saved. The acquired date is stored as storage date information in association with the batch setting information to be stored.

[0069] The setting information deletion unit 30 is a part that deletes the collective setting information stored in the storage unit 40 of the setting management device SV. For example, when an administrator of the setting management device SV performs an input operation to delete the collective setting information, the collective setting information stored in the storage unit 40 is deleted.

[0070] Furthermore, when the collective setting information is deleted from the setting management device SV, there is no collective setting information to be shared, so it is preferable to also delete the collective setting information from the information processing device PC in which the collective setting information is saved.

[0071] The setting information deletion request unit 31 is a part that transmits a request to delete collective setting information to the information processing device PC. For example, in the setting management device SV, when batch setting information stored in the memory unit 40 is deleted, the setting information deletion request unit 31 sends a deletion request to the information processing device PC with which the deleted batch setting information was shared, requesting the deletion of the deleted batch setting information. When the information processing device PC receives this deletion request, it deletes the shared setting information corresponding to the deleted collective setting information from the shared setting information stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0072] In addition, in the setting management device SV, when "bulk setting sharing" is set to enable common use of bulk setting information among multiple information processing devices, if the information for bulk setting sharing is changed to disable common use of bulk setting information among multiple information processing devices, the setting management device SV sends a bulk setting information deletion request to the information processing devices with which the bulk setting information was shared, requesting the deletion of all bulk setting information. When the information processing device PC receives this collective setting information deletion request, it deletes all the shared setting information stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0073] The setting information display control unit 32 is a part that controls the display of a screen relating to setting information displayed on the display unit 13 . For example, when an administrator performs a predetermined input operation to change the contents of a setting item for executing a predetermined function of the image forming device, the display unit 13 displays a list of the setting items. When checking or changing the setting items of the print functions of the image forming apparatus, a display screen (printer driver setting screen) including the setting items of the printer driver of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 29 described later is displayed.

[0074] Furthermore, when changing the settings of multiple print setting items for executing the print function or adding or deleting batch setting information (favorites), a display screen (print setting screen for print setting items) containing the initial settings of the batch setting information (favorites) is displayed, as shown in Figure 29 described below. Alternatively, when updating batch setting information (favorites), that is, when saving batch setting information (favorites) with the same name as already saved batch setting information, an update warning screen such as that shown in Figure 33, which will be described later, is displayed.

[0075] The memory unit 40 is a part that stores the information and programs necessary to execute each function of the setting management device SV disclosed herein, and may use semiconductor memory elements such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs, or other storage media. The storage unit 40 stores, for example, client information 41, batch setting information 42, shared setting flag 43, storage date information 44, and the like.

[0076] The client information 41 is information relating to the information processing devices PC that can be connected to the setting management device SV, and is set and stored in advance. The client information 41 includes, for example, the name of the information processing device PC, the model number, the IP address, and information required for connection (authentication number ID, password PW).

[0077] As described above, the collective setting information 42 is information that collectively stores the setting contents input for multiple setting items related to a specified function, and is setting information that is commonly used by multiple information processing devices PC. For example, the collective setting information 42 is setting information relating to the print function, and is information including the setting contents set for each of a plurality of setting items relating to the print function executed by the image forming apparatus. In this case, the collective setting sharing information is print setting sharing information that determines whether collective setting information related to print functions is to be used in common by a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

[0078] For example, if the multiple setting items related to the printing function include the number of copies to be printed, the document size, the document orientation, the page aggregation, and the double-sided printing, and the settings stored are "1" for the number of copies to be printed, "A4" for the document size, "portrait" for the document orientation, "none" for the page aggregation, and "none" for the double-sided printing, then the information including all the settings stored for these multiple setting items is batch setting information 42.

[0079] The collective setting information 42 (SD) can store a plurality of collective setting information, and each collective setting information is saved with a different name so that it can be identified. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of information (collectively set information 42 (SD)) stored in the storage unit 40 of the setting management device. The collective setting information 42 (SD) in FIG. 4 includes a setting information name (NO), a function item name (FC), whether or not sharing is possible (F), saved date information (SVDT), and setting contents (SET). Here, the sharing possibility (F) is information corresponding to the current setting of “print setting sharing” and is the setting of the sharing setting flag F. Furthermore, the setting contents (SET) include, as described above, the setting contents stored for the setting items relating to the five printing functions, for example.

[0080] FIG. 4 shows five different batch setting information 42(SD). For example, the first batch setting information 42 (SD) in Figure 4 stores the setting information name NO as "S_001", its function name FC as "FC01", shareability F as "2 (enabled)", storage date information SVDT as "DT001", and setting content SET as "SET01", all of which are associated with each other. For example, "DT001" stores a date such as 12:34:50 on April 20, 2022, and "SET01" stores information corresponding to the settings such as the number of copies to be printed being "1," the manuscript size being "A4," the manuscript orientation being "portrait," page combining being "none," and double-sided printing being "none." Furthermore, this initial batch setting information SD is information that can be distributed to the information processing device PC because "print setting sharing" is enabled.

[0081] Similarly, the second batch setting information SD stores the setting information name NO as "S_002", its function name FC as "FC02", sharing possibility F as "2 (enabled)", storage date information SVDT as "DT002", and setting content SET as "SET02", all of which are associated with each other. Similarly, the third to fifth batch setting information SD are stored in association with information such as setting information name (NO), function item name (FC), and the like.

[0082] In the batch setting information SD in Figure 4, the sharing possibility F can be set for each batch setting information SD, and in the first to fourth batch setting information SD, the sharing possibility F is set to "2 (enabled)", but in the fifth batch setting information SD, the sharing possibility F is set to "1 (disabled)". In this case, the first to fourth batch setting information SD are delivered to and shared with the information processing device PC, but the fifth batch setting information SD is not delivered to and shared with the information processing device PC. However, the "print setting sharing" does not have to be set for each batch setting information SD, and the same setting may be applied to all batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV.

[0083] Furthermore, the batch setting information SD is not limited to these pieces of information, and other information may be added, or may be saved in other description formats. For example, if the storage date information is not managed, the storage date information does not need to be stored. The storage date information may be managed and stored when the batch setting information SD stored in the information processing device PC is always updated to the latest information using the storage date information.

[0084] The batch setting information SD in FIG. 4 may also include the date of distribution to the information processing device PC and information about the information processing device PC that has distributed the information. By storing this information, it is possible to manage when and to which information processing devices PC the collective setting information SD has been distributed. As already explained, the contents of the collective setting information 42 may be configured in a format that can be saved in the registry of the storage unit 40, and the collective setting information 42 may be saved in the registry.

[0085] 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of collective setting information stored in the registry of the storage unit 40 of the setting management device. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the collective setting information SD stored in the registry when "print setting sharing" is enabled (shared setting flag F is 2). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the collective setting information SD stored in the registry when "print setting sharing" is disabled (shared setting flag F is 1).

[0086] In the registry of FIG. 6, the information in the line with the name beginning with "share_daytime_func" corresponds to the collective setting information SD disclosed here. The batch setting information SD stored in the registry is written in a format corresponding to the registry description format, and the name, type, and data are stored in association with each other. The data is also assumed to consist of the setting value of the shared setting flag F, "2," storage date information, and a function name.

[0087] In the registry of Figure 6, for example, the batch setting information SD named "share_daytime_func_carbon_copy" has a type of "REG_SZ", data of "2,20211222165701,carbon_copy", the setting value of the shared setting flag F is "2", the storage date information is "20211222165701" (December 22, 2021, 16:57:01), and the function name is "carbon_copy". This batch setting information SD has a setting value of "2" for the shared setting flag F, so "print setting sharing" is enabled and the information can be distributed to the information processing device PC. Similarly, for other batch setting information SDs with names beginning with "share_daytime_func" stored in the registry in Figure 6, the setting value of the shared setting flag F is "2", so "print setting sharing" is enabled and the information can be distributed to the information processing device PC.

[0088] In the registry of FIG. 7, the information in the line with the name beginning with "share_daytime_func" corresponds to the collective setting information SD disclosed here. The collective setting information SD in FIG. 7 has the same configuration as the collective setting information SD in FIG. 6, but the function name portion is omitted. In addition, in these batch setting information SD in FIG. 7, "print setting sharing" is disabled (shared setting flag F is 1), so the setting value of the shared setting flag F in the data is set to "1". In these batch setting information SD in FIG. 7, the setting value of the shared setting flag F is "1", so "print setting sharing" is disabled, and the information processing device PC is not delivered to the information processing device PC, and the information processing device PC does not share the information setting information SD.

[0089] The shared setting flag 43(F) is information indicating whether "print setting sharing" is enabled or disabled. As shown in FIG. 4, when the shared setting flag 43(F) is "1", this means that "print setting sharing" is disabled, that is, the collective setting information SD is not shared by the information processing apparatus PC. On the other hand, if the shared setting flag 43(F) is "2", this means that "print setting sharing" is enabled, that is, the collective setting information SD is shared by the information processing apparatuses PC.

[0090] As described above, the storage date information 44 is the date (SVDT) when the collective setting information SD is stored in the setting management device SV.

[0091] <Configuration of information processing device (client PC)> FIG. 3 shows a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure. The information processing device 2 (PC) is a device that causes the image forming apparatus MFP to execute predetermined functions via the network 4, and corresponds to an electronic device owned by a user who uses the image forming apparatus MFP. For example, a user selects and inputs the settings for the setting items related to the functions that the user wants to execute on the image forming device MFP, sends specified image data to the image forming device MFP, and executes functions such as copying, printing, and document reading (scanning).

[0092] In addition, in this disclosure, the batch setting information SD transmitted from the management server SV is received, and the batch setting information SD is used to execute a predetermined function of the image forming apparatus MFP. Alternatively, the user inputs and sets unique setting information in the information processing device 2 (PC), saves the unique setting information as unique setting information, and uses the unique setting information to execute a predetermined function of the image forming device MFP.

[0093] In Figure 3, the information processing device 2 (PC) disclosed herein mainly includes a control unit 61, an operation unit 62, a display unit 63, a communication unit 64, a unique setting information storage unit 71, a setting information request unit 72, a setting information acquisition unit 73, a date information request unit 74, a date information acquisition unit 75, a shared setting date determination unit 76, a unique setting information deletion unit 77, a shared setting information deletion unit 78, and a memory unit 90.

[0094] The control unit 61 is a part that controls the operation of each component such as the display unit 63 and the communication unit 64, and is realized mainly by a microcomputer that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a timer, and the like. The CPU organically operates various hardware components based on a control program stored in advance in a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM, and executes functions such as storing unique setting information and acquiring setting information of the information processing device PC.

[0095] Among the above components, the unique setting information storage unit 71, the shared setting date determination unit 76, the unique setting information deletion unit 77, etc. are functional blocks in which the CPU executes the respective processes based on a predetermined program.

[0096] The operation unit 62 is an input device for a user of the information processing device 2 to perform a predetermined input operation. For example, it is a part for inputting information such as characters and selecting and inputting functions, and may use a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, or the like. Keys operated by the user include an operation start key, a function selection key, a setting key, and the like. The user selects and inputs the setting contents of the setting items relating to the predetermined functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, by operating a touch panel or inputting predetermined setting keys.

[0097] Display unit 63 is a part that displays information, and displays information necessary for executing each function, the results of executing the function, etc., to inform the user. For example, if an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like is used and a touch panel is used as operation unit 62, display unit 63 and the touch panel are arranged so as to overlap each other. The display unit 63 displays, for example, the settings of the setting items used for printing, etc. of the image forming device, the information necessary to execute the document reading function, etc., and the operation screen of the selected function using characters, symbols, figures, images, icons, animations, videos, etc.

[0098] The communication unit 64 is a part that performs data communication with the management server SV, the image forming apparatus MFP, and the like via the network 4. The information processing device PC receives, via the communication unit 64, for example, collective setting information distributed from the management server SV. Alternatively, the management server SV may transmit information requesting the setting information or information requesting the date on which the batch setting information was saved. The connection with the network 4 can be made using any existing communication network, and the communication can be either wired or wireless.

[0099] The unique setting information storage unit 71 is a part that is used only by the information processing device PC and stores unique setting information (CD) that includes setting contents set for each of a plurality of setting items related to a predetermined function. For example, when a user who owns an information processing device PC sets and inputs his / her own settings for setting items related to a specific function to be executed on the information processing device 2 (PC), the information that collectively stores the unique settings is saved as unique setting information (CD).

[0100] However, the unique setting information CD is information that is used only by the information processing device PC in which the unique setting information CD is saved, and can only be added to the information processing device PC in which it is saved.Furthermore, it can only be deleted by a deletion request executed on the information processing device PC in which the unique setting information CD was added, and is not commonly used by other information processing device PCs.

[0101] The setting information request unit 72 is a part that requests the setting management device SV to distribute setting information. The setting information requested here means setting information that can be shared by all information processing devices PC, and is assumed to be the collective setting information SD described above. For example, when a user operates the information processing device PC to display a setting screen related to a printing function, a setting information request for requesting the distribution of collective setting information SD is transmitted to the setting management device SV. The setting screen for the print function is, for example, a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 29, which will be described later.

[0102] In addition, the setting information request unit 72 requests transmission of batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information when the storage date information of the batch setting information stored in the setting management device SV is newer than the shared setting date information stored in association with the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC. In this case, the setting information distribution unit 27 of the setting management device SV distributes the batch setting information saved on the requested most recent date to the information processing device PC.

[0103] The setting information acquisition unit 73 is a part that acquires the collective setting information SD distributed from the setting management device SV and stores it in the storage unit 90 as shared setting information 93 . In principle, the batch setting information SD is distributed from the setting management device SV to all information processing devices PC that can connect to the setting management device SV, and the same batch setting information SD is stored as shared setting information 93 in each information processing device PC.

[0104] In addition, the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV includes the date information when the batch setting information SD was stored, and when the batch setting information SD including the date information is distributed to the information processing device PC, the shared setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC also includes the date information when the batch setting information SD was stored in the setting management device SV. The date information included in the shared setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC is called shared setting date information 95 . The shared setting date information 95 is not the date when the shared setting information 93 was saved in the information processing device PC, but the date when the batch setting information SD corresponding to the shared setting information 93 was saved in the setting management device SV, and is compared with the saved date information 94 described below.

[0105] The date information requesting section 74 is a section that requests the setting control device SV to transmit the date information of the collective setting information SD. Here, the date information is the date on which the collective setting information SD with the same name as the shared setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC was stored in the setting management device SV, and means the most recent storage date. That is, the date information request unit 74 requests the setting management device SV to transmit the latest date information (latest saved date) stored in the memory unit 40 of the setting management device SV for the batch setting information SD of the same name that corresponds to the shared setting information 93 saved in the information processing device PC.

[0106] Since multiple batch setting information SD may be stored in the setting management device SV, when requesting only the date of a specific batch setting information SD, it is preferable that the date information request sent from the date information request unit 74 include, for example, the identification information of the information processing device PC that sent it and the setting information name (NO) of the requested batch setting information SD.

[0107] When the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV is distributed to the information processing device PC, generally, unless the batch setting information SD is updated, the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV and the shared setting information 93 distributed to and stored in the information processing device PC are the same, and therefore the date information stored in the setting management device SV is also the same. If the collective setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV is the same as the shared setting information 93, there is no need to update the shared setting information 93.

[0108] However, once the batch setting information (SD-1) has been delivered to the information processing device PC, batch setting information with the same name may be updated in the setting management device SV, and the updated new batch setting information (SD-2) may be stored in the setting management device SV. The date on which this new batch setting information (SD-2) was saved is different from the date on which the initially saved batch setting information (SD-1) was saved. If the collective setting information (SD-1) with the same name has not been updated in the setting management device SV, there is no need to distribute the collective setting information (SD-1) again to the information processing device PC.

[0109] On the other hand, if the batch setting information SD with the same name has been updated in the setting management device SV, it is preferable to distribute the new updated batch setting information (SD-2) to the information processing devices PC from the viewpoint of allowing all information processing devices PC to share the same batch setting information SD. Therefore, in order to confirm whether the batch setting information SD with the same name has been updated in the setting management device SV, the setting management device SV is requested to send the storage date of the latest batch setting information (SD-2) currently stored in the setting management device SV.

[0110] If the storage date of the latest batch setting information SD currently stored in the setting management device SV is not the same as the storage date in the setting management device SV of the shared setting information 93 currently stored in the information processing device PC, it is preferable to request that the latest batch setting information SD be delivered to the information processing device PC.

[0111] The date information acquisition unit 75 is a part that acquires saved date information 94, which is the latest date information transmitted from the setting management device SV in response to the request to transmit the date information, and stores the saved date information 94 in the storage unit 90. As described above, when the setting management device SV receives a request from the information processing device PC to send date information, it reads the latest saved date of the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV and sends the read saved date to the information processing device PC that has requested the sending of date information.

[0112] The shared setting date determination unit 76 is a part that compares the saved date information 94 acquired by the date information acquisition unit 75 with the shared setting date information 95 stored in association with the shared setting information 93 saved in the information processing device PC. By this comparison, it is determined whether the acquired storage date information 94 is newer than the sharing setting date information 95 of the sharing setting information 93.

[0113] The acquired storage date information 94 is compared with the shared setting date information 95 described above, and if the two dates match, it is determined that the collective setting information SD has not been updated. In this case, information requesting transmission of the batch setting information SD to the information processing device PC (setting information request) is not transmitted. This makes it possible to avoid unnecessary communication of requesting the transmission of the same batch setting information SD.

[0114] On the other hand, the acquired storage date information 94 is compared with the above-mentioned shared setting date information 95, and if the dates are different and the acquired storage date information 94 is newer, it is determined that the batch setting information SD with the same name has been updated and the new batch setting information SD is stored in the setting management device SV. Therefore, if the acquired storage date information 94 is newer than the shared setting date information 95, information (setting information request) is sent to the setting management device SV requesting that the updated new batch setting information SD be sent to the information processing device PC.

[0115] That is, a setting information request is sent to the setting management device SV only when the collective setting information SD is updated to new information in the setting management device SV, thereby avoiding unnecessary communication and reliably updating the collective setting information SD in each information processing device PC, thereby enabling the sharing of setting information with the same content as the collective setting information stored in the setting management device SV.

[0116] The unique setting information deleting unit 77 is a part that deletes the unique setting information 92 stored in the information processing device PC. For example, when a user performs an input operation to delete the unique setting information 92 in the information processing device PC, the unique setting information 92 stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC is deleted. The information to be deleted in the information processing device PC is limited to the unique setting information 92 that is uniquely stored in the information processing device PC, and the shared setting information 93 that is distributed from the setting management device SV and stored is not deleted.

[0117] Even if an input operation for deleting the sharing setting information 93 is performed on the information processing device PC, the sharing setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC is not deleted. The shared setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC is deleted only when a deletion request sent from the setting management device SV is received, as shown below.

[0118] The shared setting information deletion unit 78 is a part that deletes the shared setting information 93 stored in the information processing device PC. For example, as described above, the setting information deletion request unit 31 of the setting management device SV transmits a deletion request requesting the deletion of the batch setting information deleted by the setting management device SV, and when the information processing device PC receives this deletion request, the shared setting information deletion unit 78 deletes the shared setting information 93 corresponding to the deleted batch setting information SD from the shared setting information stored in the memory unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0119] In addition, the setting information deletion request unit 31 of the setting management device SV sends a batch setting information deletion request to the information processing device PC with which the batch setting information was shared, requesting the deletion of all batch setting information, and when the information processing device PC receives this batch setting information deletion request, the shared setting information deletion unit 78 deletes all shared setting information 93 stored in the memory unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0120] The memory unit 90 is a part that stores information and programs necessary to execute each function of the information processing device PC disclosed herein, and may use semiconductor memory elements such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs, or other storage media. The storage unit 90 stores, for example, server information 91, unique setting information 92, shared setting information 93, saved date information 94, shared setting date information 95, and the like. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of information stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device.

[0121] The server information 91 is information relating to the setting management device SV connectable to the information processing device PC, and is set and stored in advance. The server information 91 includes, for example, the name of the setting management device SV, the model number, the IP address, and information required for connection (authentication number ID, password PW).

[0122] As already explained, the unique setting information 92 is information that collectively stores the setting contents entered for multiple setting items related to a specified function, and corresponds to a "favorite" that is used only on the information processing device PC in which the settings are saved. FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the unique setting information 92 (CD) stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0123] The unique setting information 92 (CD) in FIG. 5 includes a setting information name (CDNO), a function item name (CDFC), storage date information (CDDT), and setting contents (CDSET). The storage date information (CDDT) is the date when the unique setting information 92 (CD) was stored in the information processing device PC. The setting contents (CDSET) include, for example, setting contents stored for setting items related to print functions, similar to the setting contents (SET) of the collective setting information SD. The unique setting information 92 (CD) does not have a sharability (F) like the collective setting information SD, and is not shared with other information processing devices PC.

[0124] FIG. 5 shows two different sets of unique setting information 92 (CD). For example, the first unique setting information 92 (CD) stores the setting information name CDNO as "C1_001", its function name CDFC as "FC11", its storage date information CDDT as "DT101", and the setting content CDSET as "CST101", all of which are associated with each other. For example, "DT101" stores a date such as 14:56:23 on April 30, 2022, and "CST101" stores information corresponding to the settings such as the number of copies to be printed being "1," the manuscript size being "B4," the manuscript orientation being "landscape," page combining being "none," and double-sided printing being "on." Since the above-described unique setting information CD is information that is valid on the information processing device PC in which it is stored, it can be deleted by input operations on the information processing device PC, but it cannot be deleted by a deletion request from the setting management device SV or another information processing device PC.

[0125] As described above, the shared setting information 93 corresponds to the collective setting information SD distributed from the setting control device SV. In order to distinguish the batch setting information SD stored in the information processing device PC from the batch setting information SD distributed from the setting management device SV, the name has been changed to "shared setting information." FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the shared setting information 93 (SD) stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC.

[0126] The shared setting information 93 (SD) in Figure 5 is shown to consist of setting information name (SDNO), function item name (SDFC), whether it can be shared (F), shared setting date information (PCDT), and setting content (PCSET), and these items correspond to the setting information name (NO), function item name (FC), whether it can be shared (F), saved date information (SVDT), and setting content (SET) of the batch setting information 42 (SD) shown in Figure 4, respectively. Therefore, the shared setting date information (PCDT) is not the date saved in the information processing device PC but the date saved in the setting management device SV. As described above, when the batch setting information SD is configured in a format that can be saved in a registry, the shared setting information 93 (SD) is also configured in a format that can be saved in a registry.

[0127] The saved date information 94 is information about the date sent from the setting management device SV when the date information request unit 74 sends a date information request to the setting management device SV. The information on the date transmitted from the setting control device SV is information on the date when the collective setting information SD was saved in the setting control device SV, and corresponds to the saved date information 44 (SVDT) described above. In the setting management device SV, if batch setting information SD with the same name has been updated several times, information on the last updated date (storage date information 44 (SVDT)) is sent to the information processing device PC, so that the storage date information 94 is also equal to the information on the last updated date. When a plurality of batch setting information SDs are stored in the setting management device SV, and the storage date information SVDT of all the batch setting information SDs is transmitted, the storage date information 94 is stored in association with the shared setting information 93 corresponding to each batch setting information SD.

[0128] The shared setting date information 95 means the date contained in the shared setting information 93 (SD) stored in the memory unit 90, and corresponds to the shared setting date information (PCDT) contained in the shared setting information 93 (SD) shown in Figure 5. As already explained, the sharing setting date determination unit 76 compares the above-mentioned storage date information 94 with the sharing setting date information 95 .

[0129] For example, as shown in Figure 5, assume that DT111 (=April 25, 2022) is stored as the received saved date information 94 (SVDT), and March 1, 2022 is stored as the shared setting date information 95 (PCDT) of the shared setting information 93 (SD) stored in the information processing device PC. In this case, since the received storage date information 94 (SVDT) is newer than the shared setting date information 95 (PCDT), the collective setting information SD with the same name as the shared setting information 93 has already been updated in the setting management device SV. Therefore, in order to make the shared setting information 93(SD) coincide with the updated collective setting information SD, the shared setting information 93(SD) stored in the information processing device PC is also updated.

[0130] <Outline of the setting management device and the setting information stored in the information processing device> Below is an example of the changes in the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device when performing an operation to save batch setting information SD in the setting management device SV or an operation to save unique setting information CD in the information processing device PC.

[0131] (Example 1 of setting information: Adding batch setting information) FIG. 8 shows an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device (server SV) and the information processing device (client PC). FIG. 8 shows the setting information stored in the server SV and two client computers (PC1 and PC2). First, it is assumed that unique setting information CD is stored in each of two client personal computers (PC1, PC2). At this time, in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the unique setting information C1_001 is stored in PC1, and the unique setting information C2_001 is stored in PC2.

[0132] Next, it is assumed that batch setting information SD named S_001 is additionally saved in the server SV. Also, assume that the sharing setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON). In this case, the batch setting information named S_001 is distributed to two client computers (PC1 and PC2).

[0133] After distribution, the two client computers (PC1 and PC2) store the shared setting information SD named S_001. That is, the additionally saved batch setting information SD named S_001 is shared by the setting management device SV and the two client personal computers (PC1, PC2).

[0134] FIG. 14 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. It is assumed that the unique setting information CD named "C1_001" is saved in step PA1 of the information processing apparatus PC1 in FIG. Also, assume that the unique setting information CD named "C2_001" is saved in step PB1 of the information processing apparatus PC2 in FIG.

[0135] It is assumed that print setting sharing is initially set to disabled (OFF) in step SA1 of the setting management device SV in FIG. At this time, the shared setting flag F stores "1" indicating invalid (OFF). It is assumed that in step SA2 of the setting management device SV, batch setting information SD named "S_001" is additionally saved. At this time, if the batch setting information SD is saved in a format that can be saved in the registry, the batch setting information SD is saved as information including "1" in its data, as shown in FIG.

[0136] Assume that print setting sharing is enabled (ON) in step SA3. At this time, the shared setting flag F is changed to "2" indicating validity (ON). Furthermore, if the batch setting information SD is saved in a format that can be saved in the registry, the data of the batch setting information SD is rewritten to include "2", for example, as shown in FIG.

[0137] Thereafter, in step PA2 of the information processing apparatus PC1, the user performs an operation to display a print setting screen. In this case, in step PA3, the information processing device PC1 transmits a setting information request to the setting control device SV. In step SA4, the setting management device SV receives a setting information request.

[0138] In step SA5, since print setting sharing is enabled (ON), the batch setting information (S_001) stored in the setting management device SV is read out. In step SA6, since print setting sharing is enabled (ON), the read batch setting information (S_001) is distributed to the information processing apparatus PC1 that has sent the setting information request. In step PA4, the information processing device PC1 receives the collective setting information (S_001). Here, the received batch setting information (S_001) is stored as shared setting information SD. As a result, the information processing device PC1 is in a state where the unique setting information (C1_001) and the shared setting information (S_001) are saved.

[0139] If the batch setting information (S_001) is information that should be shared among all information processing devices PC that can connect to the setting management device SV, since it has been sent to one information processing device PC1, it may also be distributed to other information processing devices PC. Therefore, in step SA7 of the setting management device SV, the collective setting information (S_001) is distributed to other connectable information processing devices PC2, similarly to step SA6.

[0140] In step PB2, the information processing device PC2 receives the collective setting information (S_001). Here, the received batch setting information (S_001) is stored as shared setting information SD. As a result, the information processing device PC2 stores the unique setting information (C2_001) and the shared setting information (S_001). The batch setting information (S_001) may be delivered to the information processing device PC2 after a setting information request is received from the information processing device PC2.

[0141] FIG. 15 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. Like Figure 14, the communication sequence in Figure 15 corresponds to the storage state of the setting information in Figure 8, but unlike the communication sequence in Figure 14, it shows a sequence in which the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV is delivered to the information processing device PC when print setting sharing is set to enabled (ON) in the setting management device SV, even if a setting information request is not received from the information processing device PC.

[0142] In the communication sequence of FIG. 15, steps PA1, PB1, SA1, SA2, and SA3 are the same as those in the communication sequence of FIG. However, since print setting sharing was enabled (ON) in step SA3, the process immediately proceeds to step SA5, where the batch setting information (S_001) is read, and in step SA6, the batch setting information (S_001) is distributed to the information processing device PC1. The subsequent steps SA7, PA4, and PB2 are the same as those in the communication sequence of FIG.

[0143] (Example 2 of setting information: Adding batch setting information) FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device. Like Figure 8, Figure 9 also shows the setting information stored on the server SV and two client computers (PC1, PC2), and assumes that the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON). In addition, in FIG. 9, it is assumed that after the saving state in FIG. 8, batch setting information SD named S_002 is additionally saved in the server SV.

[0144] In this case, since the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON), the batch setting information named S_002 is distributed to two client computers (PC1, PC2).

[0145] After distribution, the two client computers (PC1 and PC2) will have additional shared setting information SD named S_002 saved therein. That is, two sets of collective setting information (S_001, S_002) are shared by the setting management device SV and two client personal computers (PC1, PC2).

[0146] FIG. 16 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. In the communication sequence of Figure 16, it is assumed that the setting management device SV stores batch setting information S_001, the information processing device PC1 stores unique setting information C1_001 and shared setting information S_001, and the information processing device PC2 stores unique setting information C2_001 and shared setting information S_001.

[0147] It is assumed that in step SA11 of the setting management device SV in FIG. 16, batch setting information SD named "S_002" is additionally saved. At this time, if the batch setting information SD is saved in a format that can be saved in the registry, it is saved as information including "2" in the data of the batch setting information SD, for example, as shown in FIG.

[0148] In step SA12, it is confirmed whether or not print setting sharing is enabled (ON). That is, it is confirmed whether the shared setting flag F is "2" indicating validity (ON). If the shared setting flag F is "2", the process proceeds to step SA13. If the shared setting flag F is "1" (disabled (OFF)), the following process is not executed.

[0149] In step SA13, since print setting sharing is enabled (ON), the batch setting information (S_002) newly added and saved in the setting management device SV is read out. In step SA14, the read collective setting information (S_002) is distributed to the information processing device PC1. In step PA11, the information processing device PC1 receives the collective setting information (S_002). Here, the received collective setting information (S_002) is stored as shared setting information SD. As a result, the information processing device PC1 stores the unique setting information (C1_001) and the two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002).

[0150] In step SA15, similarly to step SA14, the read collective setting information (S_002) is distributed to connectable information processing devices PC2. In step PB11, the information processing device PC2 receives the collective setting information (S_002). Here, the received collective setting information (S_002) is stored as shared setting information SD. As a result, the information processing device PC2 stores the unique setting information (C2_001) and the two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002).

[0151] (Example 3 of setting information: Addition of unique setting information) FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device. Like Figure 8, Figure 10 shows the setting information stored on the server SV and two client computers (PC1, PC2), and assumes that the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON). 10, it is assumed that after the storage state of FIG. 9, unique setting information CD named C1_002 is additionally stored in the client personal computer PC1. In this case, the unique setting information C1_002 is simply additionally saved in the client computer PC1, and there is no change in the saved state in the server SV or the other client computer PC2.

[0152] FIG. 17 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. In the communication sequence of Figure 17, it is assumed that two pieces of batch setting information S_001 and S_002 are stored in the setting management device SV, unique setting information C1_001 and two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the information processing device PC1, and unique setting information C2_001 and two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the information processing device PC2.

[0153] It is assumed that an operation to additionally save unique setting information CD named "C1_002" is performed in step PA21 of the information processing apparatus PC1 in FIG. In step PA22, the unique setting information CD named "C1_002" is simply stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC1, and the storage state of the setting control device SV and the information processing device PC2 remains unchanged. That is, two pieces of unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the information processing device PC1.

[0154] (Example 4 of configuration information: Deleting batch configuration information on the server) FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device. Like Figure 8, Figure 11 shows the setting information stored on the server SV and two client computers (PC1, PC2), and assumes that the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON). In addition, in FIG. 11, it is assumed that after the saving state in FIG. 10, the collective setting information SD named S_002 is deleted from the server SV.

[0155] In this case, the collective setting information S_002 is deleted from the server SV, and the collective setting information S_001 is saved. Furthermore, since the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON), the batch setting information named S_002 is deleted from the two client computers (PC1, PC2). The batch setting information S_002 is deleted in the client computers (PC1, PC2) after receiving a deletion request from the server SV. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the information processing device PC1 stores two pieces of unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and the shared setting information S_001. In addition, the information processing device PC2 stores the unique setting information C2_001 and the shared setting information S_001.

[0156] FIG. 18 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. In the communication sequence of Figure 18, it is assumed that two pieces of batch setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the setting management device SV, two pieces of unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the information processing device PC1, and unique setting information C2_001 and two pieces of shared setting information (S_001, S_002) are stored in the information processing device PC2.

[0157] It is assumed that an input operation to delete the collective setting information SD named "S_002" is performed in step SA21 of the setting management device SV in FIG. In step SA22, the collective setting information S_002 is deleted from the storage unit 40 of the setting control device SV. On the other hand, the collective setting information S_001 is not deleted.

[0158] In step SA23, a request to delete the collective setting information S_002 is sent to the information processing device PC1. In step PA31, the information processing device PC1 receives a request to delete the collective setting information S_002. In step PA32, the collective setting information S_002 is deleted from the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC1.

[0159] Similarly, in step SA24, a request to delete the collective setting information S_002 is sent to the information processing device PC2. In step PB31, the information processing device PC2 receives a request to delete the collective setting information S_002. In step PB32, the collective setting information S_002 is deleted from the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC2.

[0160] Therefore, the shared collective setting information S_002 is deleted from the setting management device SV and the two information processing devices (PC1, PC2). As shown in Figure 18, in the setting management device SV, the batch setting information S_001 is stored, in the information processing device PC1, two unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and the shared setting information S_001 are stored, and in the information processing device PC2, the unique setting information C2_001 and the shared setting information S_001 are stored.

[0161] (Example 5 of Configuration Information: Deleting Bulk Configuration Information on Client PCs) FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device. Like Figure 8, Figure 12 shows the setting information stored on the server SV and two client computers (PC1, PC2), and assumes that the shared setting flag F of the server SV is set to "enabled" (ON).

[0162] In addition, in FIG. 12, it is assumed that after the saving state in FIG. 11, an operation to delete the batch setting information SD named S_001 is performed in the client personal computer PC1. In this case, the collective setting information S_001 is information shared by all the information processing devices PC, and therefore cannot be deleted by the client personal computer PC1, and can only be deleted by the setting management device SV.

[0163] Therefore, the collective setting information S_001 remains saved in the setting management device SV and the two client personal computers (PC1, PC2), and the saved state is the same as that shown in FIG. When an operation to delete the batch setting information SD is performed on the client computer PC, a warning screen may be displayed indicating that the operation is invalid.

[0164] FIG. 19 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. In the communication sequence of Figure 19, it is assumed that the setting management device SV stores batch setting information S_001, the information processing device PC1 stores two unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and shared setting information S_001, and the information processing device PC2 stores unique setting information C2_001 and shared setting information S_001.

[0165] It is assumed that an operation to delete the collective setting information SD named "S_001" is performed in step PA41 of the information processing apparatus PC1 in FIG. As mentioned above, the batch setting information S_001 cannot be deleted on the information processing device PC1. The input operation is ignored. Therefore, there is no change in the saved state of the setting management device SV and the two information processing devices (PC1, PC2).

[0166] (Example 6 of setting information: Setting the shared setting flag to disabled (OFF)) FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the setting information stored in the setting management device and the information processing device. Like FIG. 8, FIG. 13 also shows the setting information stored in the server SV and two client personal computers (PC1, PC2). However, in FIG. 13, it is assumed that the sharing setting flag F of the server SV is changed to "invalid" (OFF) after the saving state of FIG.

[0167] Since the shared setting flag F is now "invalid" (OFF), the sharing of the batch setting information SD is cancelled. That is, if the shared collective setting information SD is stored in the information processing device PC, it is deleted from the information processing device PC. However, the batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV is not deleted. The batch setting information SD stored in the information processing device PC is deleted when a deletion request sent from the setting management device SV is received.

[0168] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the storage state of the setting management device SV does not change, and the shared setting information S_001 remains stored. However, in the information processing device PC1, the shared setting information S_001 is deleted, and two pieces of unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) are saved. In addition, in the information processing device PC2, the shared setting information S_001 is deleted, and only the unique setting information C2_001 is saved.

[0169] FIG. 20 shows a communication sequence of an embodiment of communication processing between a setting management device and an information processing device. This communication sequence corresponds to the saved state of the setting information in FIG. In the communication sequence of Figure 20, it is assumed that the setting management device SV stores batch setting information S_001, the information processing device PC1 stores two unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) and shared setting information S_001, and the information processing device PC2 stores unique setting information C2_001 and shared setting information S_001.

[0170] Assume that an input operation to disable (OFF) print setting sharing is performed in step SA31 of the setting management device SV in FIG. At this time, the shared setting flag F is changed to "1." Since the print setting sharing has been disabled (OFF), a request to delete all batch setting information is sent to all information processing devices PC in order to cancel the sharing of batch setting information.

[0171] In step SA32, a request to delete all batch setting information is sent to the information processing device PC1. In step PA51, the information processing device PC1 receives a request to delete the collective setting information. In step PA52, all the collective setting information (S_001) is deleted from the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC1.

[0172] Similarly, in step SA33, a request to delete all batch setting information is sent to the information processing device PC2. In step PB51, the information processing device PC2 receives a request to delete batch setting information. In step PB52, all the collective setting information (S_001) is deleted from the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC2.

[0173] Therefore, all the shared collective setting information is deleted from the two information processing devices (PC1, PC2), but the collective setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV is not deleted. As shown in Figure 20, in the setting management device SV, the batch setting information S_001 remains saved, but in the information processing device PC1, the batch setting information S_001 is deleted and two unique setting information (C1_001, C1_002) are saved, and in the information processing device PC2, the batch setting information S_001 is deleted and only the unique setting information C2_001 is saved.

[0174] <Example of distribution and acquisition process of setting information> The shared setting process in the setting management device SV, the distribution process of the collective setting information stored in the setting management device SV, and the acquisition process of the collective setting information in the information processing device PC will be described below.

[0175] (Example 1 of configuration information distribution and acquisition process) (One embodiment of shared setting processing in a setting management device) FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a shared setting process in the setting management device. Here, it is assumed that the setting management device SV has a display area for setting "collective setting sharing" in a setting screen (printer driver setting screen) for setting multiple setting items of the printer driver.

[0176] In addition, in the shared setting process, an administrator or the like of the setting management device SV assigns a name to the batch setting information SD, performs an input operation to save the batch setting information SD, and further sets "Batch Setting Sharing" to enabled (share) or disabled (do not share), which determines whether or not the batch setting information SD is to be shared. For example, when setting up "print setting sharing," which corresponds to "bulk setting sharing," a printer driver setting screen such as that shown in FIG. 28, which will be described later, is displayed, and "print setting sharing" is enabled (shared) or disabled (not shared).

[0177] In step S1 of FIG. 21, it is checked whether or not an input operation for saving the batch setting information SD has been performed. In the input operation to save the batch setting information SD, for example, after selecting and inputting the setting contents of the setting items related to the printing function (number of copies to be printed, document size, document orientation, etc.), the input operation meaning "save" is performed by naming the batch setting information (favorites) SD. In step S2, if an input operation for saving the batch setting information SD has been performed, the process proceeds to step S3, and if not, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0178] In step S3, the collective setting information SD is stored in the storage unit 40. If a batch setting information SD with the same name has already been stored, the batch setting information SD is updated (overwritten and saved).

[0179] In step S4, it is checked whether "Batch setting sharing" has been input. Here, check whether "Bulk Setting Sharing" is set to "Enabled" (share) or "Disabled" (do not share). For example, if an administrator wants to share the batch setting information SD for printing functions saved among multiple information processing devices PC, the administrator can simply perform an input operation to enable (share) "print setting sharing," which corresponds to "batch setting sharing."

[0180] In step S5, if "enabled" (share) is entered in "Bulk setting sharing", proceed to step S6; otherwise, if "disabled" (do not share) is entered in "Bulk setting sharing", proceed to step S7. In step S6, the sharing setting flag F is set to "valid" (ON) (F=2), and the process returns to step S1. In step S7, the shared setting flag F is set to "invalid" (OFF) (F=1), and the process returns to step S1.

[0181] As described above, after the shared setting flag F is set, if the shared setting flag F is set to "enabled" (ON), as in the process described below, the batch setting information SD is distributed to multiple information processing devices PC and shared among those information processing devices PC. On the other hand, when the shared setting flag F is set to "invalid" (OFF), the collective setting information SD is stored in the setting management device SV but is not distributed to the multiple information processing devices PC.

[0182] When the batch setting information SD is saved in the registry as shown in Figures 6 and 7 above, if "Batch Setting Sharing" is set to "Enabled" (shared), "2" will be written to the beginning of the batch setting information SD data. On the other hand, when "Batch Setting Share" is set to "Disabled" (not shared), "1" is written to the beginning of the batch setting information SD data.

[0183] (One embodiment of a setting information distribution process in a setting management device) FIG. 22 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information distribution process in the setting management device. Here, we will explain the process of distributing the collective setting information SD currently stored in the setting management device SV to the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request when a setting information request for collective setting information is received from the information processing device PC. In addition, when the shared setting flag is enabled (F=2), the batch setting information SD is distributed, and when the shared setting flag changes from enabled (F=2) to disabled (F=1), a request to delete the batch setting information SD (a batch setting information deletion request) is sent to the information processing device PC.

[0184] In step S11 of FIG. 22, it is checked whether a setting information request has been received from the information processing device PC. In step S12, if a setting information request is received, the process proceeds to step S13, and if not, the process returns to step S11.

[0185] In step S13, if the sharing setting flag is enabled (F=2), the process proceeds to step S14, and if not, that is, if the sharing setting flag is disabled (F=1), the process proceeds to step S16. In step S14, the current batch setting information SD stored in the storage unit 40 is read out. In step S15, the read collective setting information SD is distributed to the information processing device PC that has sent the setting information request, and the process returns to step S11.

[0186] However, since the shared setting flag is set to enabled and the read batch setting information SD is set to "shared," it is preferable to distribute it to all information processing devices PCs that can connect to the setting management device SV, including not only the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request, but also information processing devices PCs that did not send the setting information request. Furthermore, for each batch setting information SD stored in the setting management device SV, whether or not it has been distributed and the distribution date and time are stored, and only batch setting information that has not been distributed to the information processing device PC is distributed, and batch setting information that has been distributed does not need to be distributed.

[0187] In step S16, if the shared setting flag F is currently "invalid" but has changed from "valid" at the previous check to "invalid", the process proceeds to step S18, and if the shared setting flag F remains invalid, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0188] In step S17, as a response to the setting information request from the information processing device PC, a "sharing disabled response" indicating that sharing of batch setting information is currently set to disabled (OFF) is sent to the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request, and the process returns to step S11. However, it is not necessary to send a "sharing disabled response." If the information processing device PC does not receive the batch setting information SD after a certain period of time has elapsed, it can determine that the sharing of batch setting information is disabled (OFF).

[0189] In step S18, if the shared setting flag F changes from "enabled" to "disabled," it is determined that the sharing of the batch setting information is to be terminated, and information requesting the deletion of the batch setting information SD (a batch setting information deletion request) is sent to all information processing devices PC that can be connected to the setting management device SV, and the process returns to step S11.

[0190] As described above, when a setting information request is received from the information processing device PC and the shared setting flag F is set to "valid", the collective setting information SD is distributed. As a result, when the administrator of the setting management device SV wishes to share the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices PC, the collective setting information SD can be shared.

[0191] In FIG. 22, the condition for distributing the collective setting information SD is that a setting information request is received, but this is not limiting. For example, when new batch setting information SD is added to the setting management device SV, or when batch setting information SD with the same name is updated, the added or updated batch setting information SD may be distributed to all information processing devices PC that can be connected to the setting management device SV, even if no setting information request is received from the information processing device PC.

[0192] (One embodiment of setting information acquisition processing in information processing device) FIG. 23 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information acquisition process in an information processing device. When the user sets and inputs unique setting information CD that is valid only in the information processing device PC, the unique setting information CD is stored in the storage unit 90. Furthermore, after transmitting a setting information request to the setting management device SV, if collective setting information SD is transmitted from the setting management device SV, the collective setting information SD is stored as shared setting information. Furthermore, when a request to delete collective setting information is sent from the setting control device SV, all collective setting information (shared setting information) already saved in the storage unit 90 is deleted.

[0193] In step P1 of FIG. 23, it is checked whether or not setting information has been input. The setting information here is setting information for setting items that are used only in the information processing device PC where the input operation is being performed. In step P2, if setting information has been input, the process proceeds to step P3, and if not, the process returns to step P1.

[0194] In step P3, if an input operation is performed to change the unique setting information (unique favorites) of the information processing device PC or to save new unique setting information, proceed to step P4; otherwise, proceed to step P5.

[0195] In step P4, the unique setting information CD in the information processing device PC is updated and saved, and then the process returns to step P1. For example, if a unique setting information CD is given a new name and saved, a new unique setting information CD is added; if it is saved with the same name, the contents of the unique setting information CD are changed; and if an operation to delete a unique setting information CD is performed, that unique setting information CD is deleted.

[0196] In step P5, if the contents of a predetermined setting item of the information processing device PC have been changed but no input operation to change the unique setting information has been performed, a setting information request is sent to the setting management device SV. In step P6, it is checked whether a response is received from the setting management device SV.

[0197] In step P7, if the collective setting information SD is received from the setting control device SV, the process proceeds to step P8, otherwise the process proceeds to step P9. In step P8, the received batch setting information SD is saved as shared setting information SD, and the process returns to step P1. In the information processing device PC, if the shared setting information SD with the same name already exists, the shared setting information SD is updated, and if the shared setting information SD with the same name does not exist, the shared setting information SD is added.

[0198] In step P9, if a request to delete the collective setting information is received, the process proceeds to step P10, otherwise the process returns to step P1. In step P10, all collective setting information (shared setting information SD) stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC is deleted, and the process returns to step P1.

[0199] As described above, the information processing device PC stores the unique setting information, and further stores or deletes the collective setting information from the setting management device SV. The unique setting information saved by the user in the information processing device PC and the shared setting information to be shared are saved separately in a storage unit 90, so even if the shared setting information shared by a plurality of information processing devices PC is deleted, the unique setting information saved independently is not deleted. In other words, the shared shared setting information SD is deleted by a deletion request from the setting management device SV, and is not deleted by a deletion operation input on the information processing device PC, whereas the unique setting information CD stored independently on the information processing device PC is deleted by a deletion operation input at the user's discretion on the information processing device PC, and is not deleted by a deletion request from the setting management device SV.

[0200] (Example 2 of configuration information distribution and acquisition process) (One embodiment of shared setting processing in a setting management device) FIG. 24 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a shared setting process in the setting management device. This differs from the shared setting process of FIG. 21 in that when the collective setting information SD is saved in the storage unit 40, the date of saving (save date information 44) is stored in association with the collective setting information SD.

[0201] In step S31 of FIG. 24, it is checked whether or not each setting item for a predetermined function has been input. For example, it is checked whether or not an input operation to change the content of each setting item related to the printing function included in the printer driver has been performed. In step S32, if an input to change any of the setting items has been made, the process proceeds to step S33, otherwise the process returns to step S31.

[0202] In step S33, the contents of the changed setting items are stored. In step S34, similarly to step S1, it is checked whether or not an input operation for saving the collective setting information SD has been performed. In step S35, if an input operation for saving the batch setting information SD has been performed, the process proceeds to step S36, and if not, the process proceeds to step S38.

[0203] In step S36, the collective setting information SD is stored in the storage unit 40. If a batch setting information SD with the same name has already been stored, the batch setting information SD is updated (overwritten and saved). In step S37, the date on which the collective setting information SD was saved (storage date information 44) is stored in association with the collective setting information SD.

[0204] In step S38, similarly to step S4, it is checked whether or not "collective setting sharing" has been input. Here, check whether "Bulk Setting Sharing" is set to "Enabled" (share) or "Disabled" (do not share).

[0205] In step S39, if "enabled" (share) is entered in "Batch setting sharing", proceed to step S40; otherwise, if "disabled" (do not share) is entered in "Batch setting sharing", proceed to step S41. In step S40, the sharing setting flag F is set to "valid" (ON) (F=2), and the process returns to step S31. In step S41, the shared setting flag F is set to "invalid" (OFF) (F=1), and the process returns to step S31.

[0206] As described above, in the setting control device SV, the date on which the collective setting information SD is saved (storage date information 44) is added to the collective setting information SD saved in the storage unit 40. In this way, by adding the storage date information 44 and saving the batch setting information SD, the batch setting information saved with the new storage date information added can be distributed to the information processing device PC, as described below.

[0207] (One embodiment of a setting information distribution process in a setting management device) FIG. 25 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a setting information distribution process in the setting management device. Here, as in Figure 22, we will explain the process of delivering the collective setting information SD currently stored in the setting management device SV to the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request when a setting information request requesting collective setting information is received from the information processing device PC. However, it differs from FIG. 22 in that when a date information request is received from an information processing device PC, saved date information of saved batch setting information is sent to the information processing device PC.

[0208] In step S51 of FIG. 25, it is checked whether a date information request has been received from the information processing device PC. In step S52, if a date information request is received, the process proceeds to step S53, otherwise the process proceeds to step S55.

[0209] In step S53, the storage date information 44 of the collective setting information SD stored in the setting control device SV is read out. Here, if the batch setting information SD has been updated with the same name, the most recent saved date information (update date) is read out. In step S54, the read saved date information 44 is sent to the information processing device PC that sent the date information request, and the process returns to step S51.

[0210] In step S55, similarly to step S11 in FIG. 22, it is checked whether or not a setting information request has been received from the information processing device PC. In step S56, if a setting information request is received, the process proceeds to step S57, and if not, the process returns to step S51.

[0211] In step S57, if the sharing setting flag is valid (F=2), the process proceeds to step S58, otherwise, that is, if the sharing setting flag is invalid (F=1), the process proceeds to step S60. In step S58, the current batch setting information SD stored in the storage unit 40 is read out, similar to step S14. In step S59, similarly to step S15, the read collective setting information SD is distributed to the information processing device PC that has sent the setting information request, and the process returns to step S51.

[0212] However, since the shared setting flag is set to enabled and the read batch setting information SD is set to "shared," it is preferable to distribute it to all information processing devices PCs that can connect to the setting management device SV, including not only the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request, but also information processing devices PCs that did not send the setting information request.

[0213] In step S60, if the shared setting flag F is currently "invalid" but has changed from "valid" at the time of the previous check to "invalid", the process proceeds to step S62, and if the shared setting flag F remains invalid, the process proceeds to step S61.

[0214] In step S61, as in step S17, in response to the setting information request from the information processing device PC, a "sharing disabled response" indicating that sharing of batch setting information is currently set to disabled (OFF) is sent to the information processing device PC that sent the setting information request, and then the process returns to step S51. However, it is not necessary to send a "sharing disabled response." If the information processing device PC does not receive the batch setting information SD after a certain period of time has elapsed, it can determine that the sharing of batch setting information is disabled (OFF).

[0215] In step S62, as in step S18, if the shared setting flag F changes from "enabled" to "disabled," it is determined that the sharing of the batch setting information is to be canceled, and information requesting the deletion of the batch setting information SD (a batch setting information deletion request) is sent to all information processing devices PC that can be connected to the setting management device SV, and the process returns to step S51.

[0216] As described above, when a setting information request is received from the information processing device PC and the shared setting flag F is set to "valid", the collective setting information SD is distributed. As a result, when the administrator of the setting management device SV wishes to share the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices PC, the collective setting information SD can be shared. Furthermore, when a date information request is received from the information processing device PC, the update date of the batch setting information SD (the most recent saved date information 44) is transmitted. In FIG. 25, similarly to FIG. 22, the condition for distributing the collective setting information SD is that a setting information request is received, but this is not limiting.

[0217] (One embodiment of setting information acquisition processing in information processing device) 26 and 27 show a flowchart of an embodiment of the setting information acquisition process in the information processing device. Here, similarly to FIG. 23, when the user sets and inputs unique setting information CD that is valid only in the information processing device PC, the unique setting information CD is stored in the storage unit 90. Furthermore, when a request to delete collective setting information is sent from the setting control device SV, all collective setting information (shared setting information) already saved in the storage unit 90 is deleted.

[0218] However, unlike Figure 23, after sending a date information request to the setting management device SV, if the setting management device SV sends the storage date information of the batch setting information SD in response, the received storage date information is compared with the date information of the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC (shared setting date information), and if the storage date information is newer, the batch setting information SD with the newer storage date information is received from the setting management device SV and saved as shared setting information SD93.

[0219] In step P21 of FIG. 26, similarly to step P1 of FIG. 23, it is checked whether or not setting information has been input. In step P22, if setting information has been input, the process proceeds to step P23, and if not, the process returns to step P21.

[0220] In step P23, if an input operation is performed to change the unique setting information (unique favorites) of the information processing device PC, or if an input operation is performed to save new unique setting information, proceed to step P24; otherwise, proceed to step P25.

[0221] In step P24, similarly to step P4 in FIG. 23, the unique setting information CD in the information processing device PC is updated and saved, and then the process returns to step P21. For example, if a unique setting information CD is given a new name and saved, a new unique setting information CD is added; if it is saved with the same name, the contents of the unique setting information CD are changed; and if an operation to delete a unique setting information CD is performed, that unique setting information CD is deleted.

[0222] In step P25, a date information request is sent to the setting management device SV. In step P26, it is checked whether a response is received from the setting management device SV. In step P27, if the storage date information is received from the setting control device SV, the process proceeds to step P28, otherwise the process returns to step P26.

[0223] In step P28, the received storage date information is stored. In step P29, the date (shared setting date information) of the shared setting information SD stored in the information processing device PC is read out. In step P30, if the shared setting information SD includes a storage date, the process proceeds to step P31; otherwise, the process proceeds to step P41 in FIG.

[0224] In step P31, the received storage date information is compared with the read sharing setting date information. In step P32, if the received storage date information is newer, the process proceeds to step P41 in FIG. 27; otherwise, the process returns to step P21.

[0225] In step P41 of FIG. 27, a setting information request is sent to the setting management device SV, similarly to step P5 of FIG. In step P42, it is checked whether a response is received from the setting management device SV.

[0226] In step P43, if the collective setting information SD is received from the setting control device SV, the process proceeds to step P44, otherwise the process proceeds to step P45. In step P44, similarly to step P8, the received batch setting information SD is saved as shared setting information SD, and the process returns to step P21 in FIG. In the information processing device PC, if the shared setting information SD with the same name already exists, the shared setting information SD is updated, and if the shared setting information SD with the same name does not exist, the shared setting information SD is added.

[0227] In step P45, similarly to step P9, if a request to delete the collective setting information is received, the process proceeds to step P46, and if not, the process returns to step P21 in FIG. In step P46, similarly to step P10, all collective setting information (shared setting information SD) stored in the storage unit 90 of the information processing device PC is deleted, and the process returns to step P21 in FIG.

[0228] As described above, the information processing device PC stores unique setting information, and when it receives batch setting information SD from the setting management device SV with a newer storage date than the shared setting information SD93 stored in the information processing device PC, it stores the batch setting information SD as the shared setting information SD93. In this way, the collective setting information SD is stored in the setting management device SV with the storage date information 44 added, and the collective setting information stored with the new storage date information added is distributed to the information processing device PC, so that the shared setting information stored in the information processing device PC can always be updated to the latest information.

[0229] In this embodiment, as in Figure 23, the shared shared setting information SD is deleted by a deletion request from the setting management device SV, and is not deleted by a deletion operation input on the information processing device PC, whereas the unique setting information CD stored independently on the information processing device PC is deleted by a deletion operation input at the user's discretion on the information processing device PC, and is not deleted by a deletion request from the setting management device SV.

[0230] <Example of print setting sharing display screen> In order to input settings for the setting items of the functions of the image forming apparatus MFP in the setting management device SV, a printer driver for the image forming apparatus MFP is installed in the setting management device SV. Similarly, in the information processing device PC, a printer driver for the image forming apparatus MFP is installed in the information processing device PC.

[0231] In the printer driver, for example, the setting contents of setting items related to printing functions can be set, but in the setting management device SV, when the administrator performs a predetermined input operation, a setting screen (printer driver setting screen) for setting the setting contents of setting items such as the number of copies to be printed, the paper tray containing the printing paper, and image quality is displayed on the display unit 13 of the setting management device SV. In this disclosure, the printer driver setting screen of the setting management device SV is provided with a display area for the above-mentioned "print setting sharing" as one of the setting items.

[0232] FIG. 28 shows an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a setting display screen (printer driver setting screen) including print setting sharing in the setting management device. The printer driver setting screen (G1) in FIG. 28A shows a display area for "print setting sharing" with selection areas for "share" and "not share." On this screen G1, if you want to share the batch setting information SD among multiple information processing devices PC, select and input "Share", and if you do not want to share the batch setting information SD among multiple information processing devices PC, select and input "Do not share".

[0233] By selecting and inputting "Share" and then selecting and inputting in the "OK" display area, "Print setting sharing" becomes enabled, the shared setting flag F becomes "2" indicating enabled (ON), and the batch setting information SD becomes shareable. Furthermore, when the batch setting information SD is saved in the registry, if "print setting sharing" is enabled, "2" is stored at the beginning of the data of the batch setting information SD.

[0234] On the other hand, by selecting and inputting "Do not share" and then selecting and inputting in the "OK" display area, "Print setting sharing" will be disabled, the shared setting flag F will become "1" indicating disabled (OFF), and the batch setting information SD will not be shared. Furthermore, when the batch setting information SD is saved in the registry, if "print setting sharing" is disabled, "1" is stored at the beginning of the batch setting information SD data.

[0235] The printer driver setting screen (G1) in FIG. 28(B) shows a check area (checkbox) displayed to the left of "Share favorite print settings" in the display area for "Share print settings." On this screen G1, if you want to share the batch setting information SD among multiple information processing devices PC, select and input the check area, and if you do not want to share the batch setting information SD among multiple information processing devices PC, uncheck the check area so that it is not selected and input. Screen G1 in FIG. 28(B) shows a state in which the checked areas have been selected and input, and the collective setting information SD has been shared.

[0236] Also on screen G1 of Figure 28(B), by selecting and inputting the check box for "Share favorite print settings" and then selecting and inputting the display area for "OK", "Share print settings" becomes enabled, the shared settings flag F becomes "2" indicating enabled (ON), and the batch setting information SD becomes shareable. Furthermore, when the batch setting information SD is saved in the registry, if "print setting sharing" is enabled, "2" is stored at the beginning of the data of the batch setting information SD.

[0237] On the other hand, by deselecting the check box for "Share favorite print settings" and then selecting the "OK" display area, "Share print settings" will be disabled, the shared settings flag F will become "1" indicating disabled (OFF), and the batch setting information SD will not be shared. Furthermore, when the batch setting information SD is saved in the registry, if "print setting sharing" is disabled, "1" is stored at the beginning of the batch setting information SD data.

[0238] Figure 28 shows two examples of a printer driver setting screen (G1) with a display area for "print setting sharing," but the printer driver setting screen (G1) is not limited to that shown in Figure 28, and the display area for "print setting sharing" is not limited to the configuration of the display area in Figure 28, and it may be any screen that allows selection and input of "print setting sharing."

[0239] <Example of print setting screen> Here, an embodiment will be described in which the contents of print setting items related to print functions are input and set in the setting management device SV, and batch setting information (favorites) is saved. 29 to 32 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a setting display screen (print setting screen) for print setting items in the setting management device SV. It should be noted that the print setting screens are not limited to those shown in FIGS.

[0240] The print setting screen G2 of FIG. 29 shows a display area for setting items related to print functions (number of copies, document size, document orientation, page aggregation) and a display area for collective setting information (favorites).

[0241] On the print setting screen G2 of the print setting items in Figure 29, the display area for the batch setting information (favorites) displays "Initial settings", but this indicates that the batch setting information (favorites) has not yet been saved. For example, a desired setting item is selected and input from among the setting items related to the print function, and after performing an input operation to change the content of the setting item, an operation to save the batch setting information (favorites) is performed.

[0242] When a selection input is made on screen G2 to change a setting item related to the print function, a print setting screen G3 such as that shown in FIG. 30 is displayed. On the print setting screen G3 in FIG. 30, "Not registered" and "Saved" are displayed in the display area for the batch setting information (favorites). "Not registered" indicates that the batch setting information (favorites) is not currently registered, and "Save" is an area selected to save the batch setting information (favorites).

[0243] When the "Save" display area is selected and input on the screen G3, a print setting screen G4 as shown in FIG. 31 is displayed. Print setting screen G4 in FIG. 31 displays setting items related to print functions and their setting contents, and in the display area for batch setting information (favorites), an area for inputting the name of the favorite is displayed. The administrator of the setting management device SV can check the contents displayed on this screen G4 to see whether the settings of the setting items related to the printing function are as intended. Furthermore, if the settings for the setting items related to the print function are as intended, the user inputs a desired name in the area for inputting a favorite name.

[0244] The print setting screen G4 in FIG. 31 shows a state in which "S_001" has been entered as the name of the favorite. However, if the setting contents of the setting items related to the print function are not as intended, the user selects and inputs the "Cancel" display area to redo the setting, and then resets the setting contents of the setting items to the intended contents.

[0245] On the screen G4, if the name of the favorite "S_001" is input and then the display area of ​​"OK" is selected and input, the batch setting information (favorite) named "S_001" is saved in the storage unit 40. Furthermore, when the "OK" display area is selected and input, a print setting screen G5 such as that shown in FIG. 32 is displayed. On the print setting screen G5, the name of the favorite "S_001" and "Delete" are displayed in the display area for the batch setting information (favorites). By checking the contents displayed on this screen G5, the administrator of the setting management device SV can know that the batch setting information (favorites) named "S_001" has been saved.

[0246] However, if batch setting information (favorite) named "S_001" is already stored in the memory unit 40, it is preferable to display an update warning screen (G6) as shown in FIG. 33 to prevent unintentional overwriting and updating. The update warning screen G6 in FIG. 33 may display a warning message such as "Your favorite name has already been registered. Do you want to update the registered information?" along with display areas for "OK" and "Cancel."

[0247] If the administrator of the setting management device SV is okay with overwriting and updating, he or she simply selects and inputs "OK", and if "OK" is selected and input, the batch setting information (favorites) named "S_001" will be overwritten and updated. If the administrator of the setting management device SV does not want to overwrite or update, he or she can simply select and input "Cancel." If "Cancel" is selected and input, the screen returns to screen G4, where the name of the batch setting information (favorite) can be entered again.

[0248] Furthermore, when the display area for "Delete" is selected and input on the print setting screen G5, the batch setting information (favorites) named "S_001" is deleted. When the collective setting information (favorites) is deleted, as described above, if the collective setting information named "S_001" is already shared in the information processing device PC, a deletion request is transmitted to the information processing device PC. [Explanation of symbols]

[0249] 1. Configuration management device (management server), 2. Information processing device (client computer), 3. Image forming device, 4 network, 11 control section, 12 Operation section, 13 Display section, 14 Communications Department, 21 Setting information storage section, 22 Shared setting determination section, 23 Query request receiving unit, 24 setting information request receiving unit, 25 Date information request receiving unit, 26 Query response section, 27 Setting information distribution unit, 28 Saved date transmission unit, 29 Date information acquisition unit, 30 setting information deletion unit, 31 setting information deletion request unit, 32 setting information display control section, 40 storage section, 41 Client Information; 42 Bulk setting information, 43 shared settings flag, 44 Storage date information, 61 control section, 62 Operation section, 63 Display section, 64 Communications Department, 71 unique setting information storage unit, 72 Setting information request section, 73 setting information acquisition unit, 74 Date information request section, 75 Date information acquisition unit, 76 Shared setting date determination unit, 77 unique setting information deletion unit, 78 Shared setting information deletion section, 90 storage section, 91 Server Information, 92 unique setting information, 93 Shared settings information, 94 Storage date information, 95 Shared Settings Date Information

Claims

1. A setting information management method for a setting information management system that manages setting information related to functions of an image forming apparatus executed by an information processing apparatus, comprising: a storage step of storing setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to functions of the image forming apparatus; a setting information saving step of saving collective setting information including setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items; a shared setting determination step of determining whether or not the plurality of information processing devices are enabled to commonly use the batch setting information, the plurality of setting items including batch setting sharing information for determining whether or not the saved batch setting information is to be commonly used among the plurality of information processing devices, based on the batch setting sharing information; a setting information distribution step of distributing the stored collective setting information to the plurality of information processing devices when it is determined in the shared setting determination step that the collective setting information is enabled to be used in common among the plurality of information processing devices; a setting information acquisition step of acquiring the batch setting information distributed to the information processing device and storing the batch setting information as shared setting information; A setting information management method of a setting information management system, characterized in that when the information of the batch setting sharing is enabled to be used in common by the multiple information processing devices, the batch setting information is used in common by the multiple information processing devices.

2. When the information of the collective setting sharing is set to enable the collective setting information to be commonly used by a plurality of information processing devices, 2. A setting information management method for a setting information management system according to claim 1, wherein, when new batch setting information is added and saved in the setting information saving step, the added and saved batch setting information is distributed to the plurality of information processing devices in the setting information distribution step.

3. When the information on collective setting sharing is set to enable common use of the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices, and the information on collective setting sharing is changed to disable common use of the collective setting information among a plurality of information processing devices, a setting information deletion request step of transmitting a batch setting information deletion request to request deletion of all batch setting information to the information processing devices with which the batch setting information has been shared; The setting information management method of the setting information management system described in claim 1, further comprising a step of deleting all shared setting information stored in the information processing device when the information processing device receives the batch setting information deletion request.

4. If the batch setting information saved in the storage step is deleted, In the setting information deletion request step, a deletion request is sent to an information processing device with which the deleted collective setting information has been shared, the deletion request requesting deletion of the deleted collective setting information; The setting information management method of the setting information management system described in claim 3, further comprising a step of deleting shared setting information corresponding to the deleted batch setting information from the shared setting information stored in the information processing device when the information processing device receives the deletion request.

5. a setting information request receiving step of receiving a setting information request transmitted from the information processing device, In the setting information request receiving step, when the setting information request is received, 2. The setting information management method of claim 1, wherein in the setting information distribution step, the batch setting information stored in the storage step is distributed to the information processing device that sent the setting information request.

6. In the setting information saving step, when the collective setting information is saved, the collective setting information is saved in association with date information on when the collective setting information is saved; When the shared setting information stored in the information processing device is also stored in association with shared setting date information, which is date information on when the collective setting information corresponding to the shared setting information was saved, A setting information management method for a setting information management system as described in claim 1, characterized in that if the latest date information on which batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information was saved is newer than the shared setting date information, in the setting information distribution step, the batch setting information saved on the latest date is distributed to an information processing device, and the shared setting information saved on the information processing device is updated to the distributed batch setting information.

7. a date information request step in which the information processing device requests transmission of latest date information on when collective setting information corresponding to the shared setting information stored in the information processing device was stored; a date information acquisition step of acquiring storage date information which is the latest date information; a sharing setting date determination step of comparing the acquired storage date information with sharing setting date information stored in association with the sharing setting information; a setting information request step of requesting transmission of collective setting information corresponding to the shared setting information when the storage date information is newer than the shared setting date information; 7. The setting information management method of claim 6, wherein in the setting information distribution step, the batch setting information saved on the requested latest date is distributed to the information processing device.

8. If the sharing setting information stored in the information processing device is not stored in association with the sharing setting date information, A setting information management method for a setting information management system as described in claim 6, characterized in that in the setting information distribution step, batch setting information corresponding to the shared setting information and including the latest date information on which the batch setting information was saved is distributed to the information processing device.

9. The information processing device further includes a unique setting information saving step of saving unique setting information that is used only in the information processing device and includes setting contents set for each of a plurality of setting items related to a predetermined function, A setting information management method for a setting information management system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the unique setting information can only be added in the information processing device in which the unique setting information is saved, and can only be deleted by a deletion request executed in the information processing device in which the unique setting information was added.

10. In the setting information saving step, When saving the batch setting information, a predetermined name is given and saved, Furthermore, when saving new batch setting information, give it a different name from the batch setting information already saved and save it.

2. The setting information management method of claim 1, wherein when the same name as the batch setting information already saved is assigned to the batch setting information and saved, an update warning screen is displayed indicating that the batch setting information will be overwritten and updated.

11. the collective setting information is information including setting contents set for each of a plurality of setting items related to a printing function executed by the image forming apparatus, A setting information management method for a setting information management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the information on collective setting sharing is information on print setting sharing that determines whether or not collective setting information regarding the printing functions is to be used in common among the plurality of information processing devices.

12. The setting information management method of the setting information management system described in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an operation step of setting whether or not to enable the collective setting information to be commonly used by multiple information processing devices in the collective setting sharing information.

13. A setting management device that stores commonly used collective setting information and is connected to an information processing device via a network, the information processing device executing functions of an image forming device using the collective setting information, a storage unit that stores setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to functions of the image forming apparatus; a setting information storage unit configured to store the collective setting information including the setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items in the storage unit; a shared setting determination unit that determines whether or not the plurality of information processing devices are enabled to use the collective setting information in common based on the collective setting sharing information, the plurality of setting items including collective setting sharing information that determines whether or not the plurality of information processing devices are enabled to use the collective setting information in common based on the collective setting sharing information; a setting information distribution unit that distributes the collective setting information stored in the storage unit to the plurality of information processing devices when the shared setting determination unit determines that common use of the collective setting information among the plurality of information processing devices is enabled; A setting management device characterized in that the batch setting information is used in common by the setting management device and the multiple information processing devices only when the batch setting sharing information is enabled to be used in common by the multiple information processing devices.

14. A setting information management system in which a setting management device that stores commonly used collective setting information and an information processing device that executes functions of an image forming device using the collective setting information are connected via a network, The setting management device a storage unit that stores setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to functions of the image forming apparatus; a setting information storage unit configured to store the collective setting information including the setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items in the storage unit; the plurality of setting items include collective setting sharing information for determining whether or not the saved collective setting information is to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices, and a shared setting determination unit for determining whether or not the collective setting information is enabled to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices based on the collective setting sharing information; a setting information distribution unit that distributes the collective setting information stored in the storage unit to the plurality of information processing devices when the shared setting determination unit determines that common use of the collective setting information among the plurality of information processing devices is enabled; the information processing device includes a setting information acquisition unit that acquires the distributed collective setting information and stores it as shared setting information; A setting information management system characterized in that, when the information of the batch setting sharing is enabled to be used in common by the multiple information processing devices, the batch setting information is used in common by the setting management device and the multiple information processing devices.

15. the setting management device includes a printer driver that executes the functions of the setting information storage unit, the sharing setting determination unit, and the setting information distribution unit; 15. The setting information management system according to claim 14, wherein the information processing device includes a printer driver that executes the function of the setting information acquisition unit.

16. A printer driver for a setting management device connected to an information processing device that stores commonly used batch setting information and executes functions of an image forming device using the batch setting information via a network, storing setting contents of a plurality of setting items relating to functions of the image forming apparatus; storing the collective setting information including the setting contents set for each of the plurality of setting items; the plurality of setting items include batch setting sharing information for determining whether or not the saved batch setting information is to be used in common among a plurality of information processing devices, and it is determined based on the batch setting sharing information whether or not the use of the batch setting information in common among a plurality of information processing devices is enabled; A printer driver for a setting management device, characterized in that when it is determined that the batch setting information is enabled to be used in common by multiple information processing devices, the stored batch setting information is distributed to the multiple information processing devices.

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