Information processing device and program

Abstract

To allow a plurality of information processing apparatuses to share common setting information available for a plurality of users.SOLUTION: A control unit 35 of an image forming apparatus 10A receives, from image forming apparatuses 10B, 10C, common setting information registered in each of the image forming apparatuses 10B, 10C at a preset interval. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A transmits, to the image forming apparatuses 10B, 10C, common setting list information in which the common setting information registered in the image forming apparatuses 10B, 10C and common setting information registered in the image forming apparatus 10A are aggregated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an image processing device that, if the job condition setting set for a selected job execution button among the displayed job execution buttons is not a job condition that can be executed by the image processing device, displays a list of devices that can execute the job condition setting set for the selected job execution button on an operation display unit.

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses a printing device that, when it is determined that a print job stored in another printing device cannot be printed, performs a notification process to prompt a printing device of the same model as the other printing device to print the print job. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-98692 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-82469 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a process is executed, the setting items at the time of execution are stored as history information, and when the user selects this history information, the process is executed or a screen for executing the process is displayed with the setting item associated with the history information selected.

[0006] In addition, there is a demand for other users to be able to select history information, rather than only the user who executed the process being able to select the history information of the process. There is also a demand for shared setting information, in which multiple users execute processes using the same setting information, to be used in the same way on multiple information processing devices.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a program that enable shared setting information available to a plurality of users to be shared among a plurality of information processing devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An information processing device of a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor, and the processor receives, at predetermined intervals, shared setting information from one or more other information processing devices, which is registered in each of the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing content are stored for each setting item, and which is used by multiple users to execute processing; the processor registers the shared setting information registered in the other information processing devices received in the information processing device itself; and transmits the shared setting information registered in the information processing device itself to the other information processing devices.

[0009] A second aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device of the first aspect, in which the processor generates list information that aggregates shared setting information registered in the other information processing device and shared setting information registered in the own device, and transmits the list information to the other information processing device.

[0010] A third aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the second aspect, wherein the processor receives from the other information processing device configuration information of the other information processing device and dynamic information that changes depending on the usage status of the device, and aggregates the received configuration information and dynamic information of the other information processing device and the configuration information and dynamic information of its own device to generate the list information.

[0011] An information processing device of a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a processor, and the processor transmits, at predetermined intervals, shared setting information that is registered in the device itself and that is used by multiple users to execute processing, from setting information in which setting values ​​for processing content are stored for each setting item, to a predetermined specific information processing device, receives from the specific information processing device shared setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device, and registers the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing devices in the information processing device itself.

[0012] An information processing device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of the fourth aspect, in which the processor receives list information that aggregates shared setting information registered in the other information processing device and shared setting information registered in the information processing device itself.

[0013] An information processing device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of the fifth aspect, wherein the processor transmits configuration information of the specific information processing device and dynamic information that changes depending on the usage status of the device to the specific information processing device, and receives from the specific information processing device the list information that aggregates the configuration information and dynamic information of the specific information processing device and the configuration information and dynamic information of the other information processing device that it transmitted.

[0014] An information processing device of a seventh aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein, if the shared setting information is shared setting information that includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the device, the processor notifies the device that the setting value cannot be executed.

[0015] An information processing device of an eighth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of the seventh aspect, in which, when there is an alternative process that can be executed by changing the setting value of shared setting information that cannot be executed on the device itself, the processor notifies the device whether or not to change the setting value in the shared setting information to a setting value that can be executed on the device itself and execute the process.

[0016] An information processing device of a ninth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of the eighth aspect, in which, when it is selected to change the setting values ​​to be executable on the own device and execute them, the processor changes the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the own device to setting values ​​that can be executed on the own device and executes them.

[0017] An information processing device of a 10th aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the 8th aspect, wherein when it is selected not to change the setting values ​​to those that can be executed on the own device and execute them, the processor notifies information about another information processing device that can be used as an alternative device to execute the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the own device.

[0018] An eleventh aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the seventh aspect, wherein, when there is another information processing device that can be used as an alternative device to execute shared setting information including setting values ​​that cannot be executed by the information processing device itself, the processor notifies the other information processing device whether or not to execute the shared setting information.

[0019] In a 12th aspect of the information processing device of the present invention, in the information processing device of the 11th aspect, when execution by the other information processing device is selected, the processor notifies the other information processing device that the operation should not be performed until the shared setting information is executed in the other information processing device.

[0020] In a 13th aspect of the information processing device of the present invention, in the information processing device of the 11th aspect, when the processor selects not to execute the shared setting information by the other information processing device, it notifies the processor whether or not to change the setting value of the shared setting information that cannot be executed by the other information processing device to a setting value that can be executed by the other information processing device and execute the shared setting information.

[0021] In a 14th aspect of the information processing device of the present invention, in the information processing device of the 7th aspect, when the shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the own device, the processor simultaneously notifies the information processing device whether to change the setting values ​​to setting values ​​that can be executed on the own device and execute the information, or to execute the information on another information processing device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information.

[0022] An information processing device of a 15th aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the 10th to 12th aspects, in which, when there are multiple other information processing devices that can be the alternative device, the processor determines the other information processing device to be the alternative device based on the location information of each of the other information processing devices.

[0023] An information processing device of a 16th aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the 10th to 12th aspects, wherein, when there are multiple other information processing devices that can be the alternative device, the processor determines the other information processing device to be the alternative device based on dynamic information of each of the other information processing devices.

[0024] A 17th aspect of the program of the present invention causes a computer to perform the following steps: receiving, at predetermined intervals, from one or more other information processing devices, shared setting information that is registered in each of the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing content are stored for each setting item, and that is used by multiple users to execute processing; registering the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing devices in the computer's own device; and transmitting the shared setting information registered in the computer's own device to the other information processing devices.

[0025] The program of the 18th aspect of the present invention causes a computer to perform the following steps: sending, at predetermined intervals, shared setting information that is registered in the computer's own device and in which setting values ​​for processing content are stored for each setting item, to a predetermined specific information processing device; receiving from the specific information processing device shared setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; and registering the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing devices in the computer's own device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the information processing device of the first aspect of the present invention, shared setting information available to a plurality of users can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices.

[0027] According to the information processing device of the second aspect of the present invention, shared setting information can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices simply by transmitting the aggregated list information to the other information processing devices.

[0028] According to the information processing device of the third aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, an alternative measure can be proposed.

[0029] According to the information processing device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, shared setting information available to a plurality of users can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices.

[0030] According to the information processing device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, shared setting information can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices simply by receiving the aggregated list information from a specific information processing device.

[0031] According to the information processing device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the process based on the shared setting information is a process that cannot be executed by the own device, an alternative measure can be proposed.

[0032] According to the information processing device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make the user aware that the shared setting information is processing content that cannot be executed on the own device.

[0033] According to the information processing device of the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, it is possible to propose an alternative processing.

[0034] According to the information processing device of the ninth aspect of the present invention, even if the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, it can be executed by an alternative process.

[0035] According to the information processing device of the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, an alternative device can be suggested.

[0036] According to the information processing device of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, it is possible to suggest an alternative device.

[0037] According to the information processing device of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, even if the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, the processing can be immediately executed on the alternative device.

[0038] According to the information processing device of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is for processing content that cannot be executed on the own device, it is possible to propose an alternative processing.

[0039] According to the information processing device of the 14th aspect of the present invention, when the shared setting information is a process that cannot be executed on the device itself, it is possible to simultaneously suggest whether to execute the process using an alternative process or an alternative device.

[0040] According to the information processing device of the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of alternative devices, it is possible to immediately suggest an alternative device that is operable.

[0041] According to the information processing device of the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of alternative devices, it is possible to immediately suggest an alternative device that is operable.

[0042] According to the program of the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, shared setting information available to a plurality of users can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices.

[0043] According to the program of the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, shared setting information available to a plurality of users can be shared among a plurality of information processing devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10A according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10A according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing an example of device information of an image forming apparatus 10A stored in a storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a personal setting information management table stored in a storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a shared setting information management table stored in a storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen when a user A executes pinned shared setting information. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of device list information of image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C stored in storage unit 37 after information sharing. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sharing setting list information management table stored in the storage unit 37 after information is shared. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen when user A executes pinned shared setting information after sharing information. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a user executes pinned shared setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when pinned shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when pinned shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself. [Figure 15]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when pinned shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of an alternative device when pinned shared setting information is executed on the alternative device. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when pinned shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes image forming apparatuses 10A-10C and a terminal device 20 interconnected via a network 30. The terminal device 20 generates print data and transmits the generated print data to the image forming apparatuses 10A-10C via the network 30. The image forming apparatuses 10A-10C each receive the print data transmitted from the terminal device 20 and output an image corresponding to the print data onto paper. Note that the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B are multifunction peripherals (multi-function devices) that have multiple functions, such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile functions. The image forming apparatus 10C is a printer that also has a printing function. The image forming apparatus 10A aggregates device information, a personal setting information management table, and a shared setting information management table (described later) from the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C to generate list information, and serves as a parent device that distributes the generated list information to the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C.

[0048] Next, the main hardware configuration of image forming apparatus 10A in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 2. Note that image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C have the same configuration as image forming apparatus 10A, and therefore their description will be omitted below.

[0049] 2, the image forming apparatus 10A has a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 that transmits and receives data to and from external devices via a network 30, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 that includes a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a scanner 16, and a print engine 17. These components are connected to one another via a control bus 18.

[0050] The print engine 17 prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing.

[0051] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10A by executing predetermined processes based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13. While the present embodiment has been described as the CPU 11 reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, this is not limiting. The control program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The control program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication interface 14.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of image forming apparatus 10A that is realized by executing the above control program.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming device 10A of this embodiment includes an authentication unit 31, an operation input unit 32, a display unit 33, a data transmission / reception unit 34, a control unit 35, an image reading unit 36, a memory unit 37, and an image output unit 38.

[0054] The authentication unit 31 executes authentication processing for a user who attempts to use the image forming apparatus 10A. The display unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 35 and displays various information to the user. The operation input unit 32 inputs various operation information performed by the user.

[0055] The data transmission / reception unit 34 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the terminal device 20 and the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C.

[0056] The control unit 35 controls the overall operation of the image forming device 10A, generates print data based on a print job received from the terminal device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 34, controls the output of the generated print data from the image output unit 38, and controls the reading of the document image by the image reading unit 36, etc.

[0057] The storage unit 37 stores job history information indicating the execution history of various jobs, such as print jobs, scan jobs, copy jobs, and fax jobs, executed by the control unit 35, as well as setting information in which setting values ​​used when executing processing are stored for each setting item. Here, the job history information is history information on the processing content of jobs executed in the past.

[0058] The image output unit 38 outputs an image onto a recording medium such as printing paper under the control of the control unit 35. The image reading unit 36 ​​reads an original image from a set original under the control of the control unit 35.

[0059] The storage unit 37 stores device information such as configuration information of the image forming device 10A, a personal setting information management table for managing personal setting information in which setting values ​​for job processing details are stored for each setting item and which can be used only by a specific user, and a shared setting information management table for managing shared setting information in which setting values ​​for job processing details are stored for each setting item and which can be used by multiple users to execute processing. Here, the configuration information of the image forming device 10A includes location information of the image forming device 10A.

[0060] An example of the device information of the image forming apparatus 10A stored in the storage unit 37 is shown in FIG.

[0061] Referring to Figure 4, the information shared with image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C includes static information such as configuration information of the image forming apparatus 10A itself, and device information including dynamic information that changes depending on the status of consumables and the usage status of the image forming apparatus.

[0062] Here, static information is information that does not change over time, and dynamic information is information that changes over time. Static information includes, for example, the device name, location information, information about functions such as copy, print, fax, and scan, whether or not the device has a printer or finisher, and whether or not it has a color printing function. Dynamic information includes information about paper such as the remaining amount of paper, paper size, and paper loading status, the status of consumables such as the remaining toner, the usage status of the device, the number of accumulated jobs, etc.

[0063] Next, an example of the personal setting information management table stored in the storage unit 37 is shown in FIG.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, the personal setting information management table manages job history information consisting of the name, job type, setting contents, and last used date and time of each job executed in the past, as well as personal setting information pinned by user operation from this job history information.

[0065] When a user wants to execute a job with the same settings as those of a previously executed job, the user can select job history information and execute the job with the same settings, such as the setting values, in the job history information. Job history information is also included in personal setting information that is available only to specific users. In other words, job history information is personal setting information that is not pinned. In the following description, however, pinned setting information that is available only to specific users will be referred to as personal setting information, and unpinned setting information that is available only to specific users will be referred to as job history information.

[0066] When a user uses the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a job, new job history information is generated each time the job is executed. However, there is a limit to the data storage area, and storing all the job history information may result in insufficient data storage area. For this reason, an upper limit is set, such as keeping job history information for only the most recent 200 jobs, and job history information exceeding the upper limit is deleted starting with the oldest execution date and time.

[0067] Therefore, you can pin job history that you do not want to delete so that it will not be deleted. Pinned job history is managed as personal setting information and will remain without being deleted even if the number of jobs executed later exceeds the upper limit.

[0068] For example, referring to the personal setting information management table in Fig. 5, it can be seen that setting information named "Save in Box" and "Copy" is pinned and managed separately from regular job history information. In other words, this pinned personal setting information remains and continues to be displayed on the operation screen regardless of the number of jobs executed later. Therefore, if frequently used job history information is pinned and registered as personal setting information, it becomes possible to use that personal setting information multiple times and execute jobs with the same setting contents.

[0069] Here, the personal setting information and job history information shown in FIG. 5 are setting information that can only be used by a specific user, such as user A. However, there are cases where such setting information is desired to be used by multiple users. For this reason, the personal setting information can be changed to shared setting information that can be used by multiple users. The shared setting information is available to all logged-in users. Furthermore, the shared setting information only accepts an operation to register the personal setting information as shared setting information from an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the device.

[0070] Here, a general user is a user who is permitted to use the device but is not permitted to change the settings of the device, and an administrator user, also known as a machine administrator, is a user who is granted broader authority than a general user by requiring authentication such as entering a special password, and is a user who is entrusted with managing the device.

[0071] In other words, only the administrator user who is the administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 can register, delete, and edit the shared setting information. However, other general users can also select the shared setting information and execute a job based on the processing content of the shared setting information.

[0072] In addition, the control unit 35 executes a preset authentication process for the administrator user, thereby permitting operations that cannot be performed by general users, including the operation of registering personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0073] In addition, when the control unit 35 displays a setting screen including personal setting information and shared setting information on the display unit 33, in the initial setting state, the shared setting information is displayed above the personal setting information.

[0074] Next, an example of the shared setting information management table stored in the storage unit 37 is shown in FIG.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 6, the shared setting information management table manages shared setting information registered by an administrator user in the image forming apparatus 10, such as the name of each job, the job type, and setting contents.

[0076] For example, referring to the shared setting information management table in Fig. 6, the shared setting information named "Save in Box" has a job type of "scan" and the setting contents are stored. Also, the shared setting information named "Copy 1" has a job type of "copy" and the setting contents are stored, with a setting value of "5 copies" set for the setting item "number of copies," a setting value of "full color" set for the setting item "color settings," a setting value of "double-sided" set for the setting item "double-sided / single-sided," and a setting value of "100%" set for the setting item "magnification."

[0077] 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen when, for example, user A executes pinned shared setting information on the image forming apparatus 10 after authentication. Referring to FIG. 7, the operation screen displays shared setting information, personal setting information, and job history information in this order from top to bottom.

[0078] Here, there are cases where shared setting information registered in one image forming apparatus is desired to be used in another image forming apparatus. Furthermore, even if the shared setting information can be executed by one image forming apparatus, it may not be executable by another image forming apparatus because the configuration, etc., differs depending on the image forming apparatus. For example, when shared setting information registered in image forming apparatus 10A is desired to be used by image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, even if the shared setting information can be executed by image forming apparatus 10A, it may not be executable by image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C.

[0079] For example, when executing shared setting information named "Shared Copy 1" on the operation screen shown in Fig. 7, the setting value "Full Color" is set for the setting item "Color Settings," so the shared setting information named "Shared Copy 1" cannot be executed on image forming device 10C, which does not have a color printing function and can only perform monochrome copying or monochrome printing. In other words, a user who wants to execute the shared setting information named "Shared Copy 1" must search for and move to an image forming device that has a color printing function and can perform full color copying.

[0080] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, image forming devices 10A, 10B, and 10C that use the same shared setting information are registered as group G, and the image forming devices 10A to 10C that make up group G are connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, so that they can communicate with each other via HTTP.

[0081] The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A, which is the parent apparatus, receives device information of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C from the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C at preset intervals. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then aggregates the received device information of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C with the device information of the image forming apparatus 10A itself to generate device list information. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then transmits the generated device list information to the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. Note that the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A is not limited to receiving the device information of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C at preset intervals, and may also receive the device information of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C when the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A accepts execution of shared setting information.

[0082] Furthermore, the control units 35 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, which are slave apparatuses, transmit device information of their own apparatuses to the image forming apparatus 10A, which is a specific image forming apparatus that has been preset, at predetermined intervals. Then, the control units 35 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C receive device list information that aggregates the transmitted device information of their own apparatuses and the device information of the other image forming apparatuses 10. Note that the control units 35 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C are not limited to transmitting the device information of their own apparatuses to the image forming apparatus 10A at predetermined intervals. Instead, the control units 35 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C may transmit device information to the image forming apparatus 10A and receive device list information when the execution of shared setting information is accepted in the image forming apparatus.

[0083] Furthermore, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A, which is the parent apparatus, receives shared setting information and personal setting information registered in the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C from the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C at predetermined intervals. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then generates shared setting list information that aggregates the shared setting information registered in the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C and the shared setting information registered in the image forming apparatus 10A itself. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then transmits this shared setting list information to the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A also transmits the personal setting information registered in the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C to the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. In addition, the control unit 35 of the image forming device 10A is not limited to receiving the shared setting information and personal setting information registered in the image forming devices 10B and 10C from the image forming devices 10B and 10C at predetermined intervals, but may also receive the shared setting information and personal setting information registered in the image forming devices 10B and 10C when the control unit 35 accepts execution of the shared setting information on the image forming device 10A.

[0084] Furthermore, each control unit 35 of image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, which are slave apparatuses, transmits the shared setting information and personal setting information registered in the respective apparatuses to image forming apparatus 10A, which is a specific image forming apparatus set in advance, at predetermined intervals. Then, each control unit 35 of image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C receives shared setting list information and personal setting information, which are aggregated versions of the shared setting information registered in each of image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C, from image forming apparatus 10A. Then, each control unit 35 of image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C registers the received shared setting list information and personal setting information in the respective apparatuses. In addition, the control units 35 of the image forming devices 10B and 10C are not limited to transmitting the shared setting information and personal setting information registered in their own devices to the image forming device 10A at predetermined intervals, but may also transmit the registered shared setting information and personal setting information to the image forming device 10A when the execution of the shared setting information is accepted in their own devices, and receive the shared setting list information and personal setting information.

[0085] That is, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A, which is the parent apparatus, receives the device information, personal setting information management table, and shared setting information management table stored in the storage unit 37 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C in the same group G at predetermined intervals, for example, every few minutes, such as 1 to 5 minutes. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then aggregates the device information, personal setting information management table, and shared setting information management table of the image forming apparatus 10B and 10C it has received with the device information, personal setting information management table, and shared setting information management table of its own apparatus to generate list information. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10A then transmits the aggregated list information to the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. This allows the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C in the group G to share the device information of each image forming apparatus, the personal setting information management table registered in each image forming apparatus, and the shared setting information management table registered in each image forming apparatus.

[0086] FIG. 9 shows an example of device list information stored in the storage unit 37 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C after the information has been shared among the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C of group G.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 9, the memory unit 37 of each of the image forming devices 10A to 10C stores device list information, such as the device name, location information, information about functions such as copy, print, fax, scan, etc., whether or not the device has a DAF or finisher, and whether or not it has a color printing function, as well as dynamic information such as information about paper such as the remaining amount of paper, paper size, and paper setting status, the remaining amount of consumables such as the remaining amount of toner, the device usage status, and the number of jobs stored.

[0088] That is, the device information of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C is configured to be shared among the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C as device list information. Then, by aggregating and using static information and dynamic information such as the configuration information of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C, each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C of group G can notify the apparatus whether or not it can execute the shared setting information specified by the user, or can notify the apparatus of an alternative process or an alternative apparatus when the setting value cannot be executed by the apparatus.

[0089] FIG. 10 shows an example of the shared setting list information management table stored in the storage unit 37 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C after information has been shared among the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C of the group G.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 10, the storage unit 37 of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C stores shared setting information registered in each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C as a shared setting list information management table.

[0091] That is, the shared setting information management table of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C is configured to be shared among the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C as a shared setting list information management table, so that the same shared setting information is displayed on the operation screen of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C in group G.

[0092] Then, using the shared setting list information management table and device list information stored in the memory unit 37, if the selected shared setting information is shared setting information that includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself, the control unit 35 notifies the device itself that the setting values ​​in the selected shared setting information cannot be executed.

[0093] In addition, if there is an alternative process that can be executed by changing the setting value of shared setting information that cannot be executed on the control unit 35, the control unit 35 notifies the control unit 35 whether or not to change the setting value of the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the control unit 35 to a setting value that can be executed on the control unit 35 and execute the process.

[0094] Then, when it is selected to change the setting values ​​to values ​​that can be executed on the own device and execute the setting values, the control unit 35 changes the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the own device to setting values ​​that can be executed on the own device and executes the setting values.

[0095] In addition, if the user selects not to change the setting values ​​to values ​​that can be executed on the device itself, the control unit 35 notifies the user of information about other image forming devices that can be used as alternative devices to execute the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the device itself.

[0096] In addition, if there is another image forming device that can be used as an alternative device to execute shared setting information including setting values ​​that cannot be executed by the control unit 35, the control unit 35 notifies the other image forming device whether or not the selected shared setting information will be executed by the other image forming device.

[0097] Then, when execution by another image forming apparatus is selected, the control unit 35 notifies the other image forming apparatus not to execute the operation until the shared setting information is executed in the other image forming apparatus.

[0098] In addition, if another image forming device selects not to execute the setting, the control unit 35 notifies the other device whether to change the setting value of the shared setting information that cannot be executed by the device itself to a setting value that can be executed by the device itself and execute the setting.

[0099] Furthermore, when there are multiple image forming apparatuses that can be used as substitute apparatuses, the control unit 35 determines which image forming apparatus to use as the substitute apparatus based on static information about each image forming apparatus. For example, when there are multiple image forming apparatuses that can be used as substitute apparatuses, the control unit 35 determines which image forming apparatus to use as the substitute apparatus based on the location information about each image forming apparatus.

[0100] Furthermore, when there are multiple image forming apparatuses that can serve as alternative apparatuses, the control unit 35 determines which image forming apparatus will serve as the alternative apparatus based on the dynamic information of each image forming apparatus.

[0101] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0102] The example operation screen shown in Fig. 11 is an example of a display screen in which the shared setting information registered in each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C is displayed as a list on the operation screen of each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C after the shared setting information registered in each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C has been shared among the group G. Note that the example operation screen shown in Fig. 11 is an example of a display screen that is displayed when user A logs in to one of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C in a state in which the shared setting list information management table shown in Fig. 10 is stored in the storage unit 37. However, due to display space limitations, part of the shared setting list information management table and the personal setting information management table and the job history displayed on the job history list display screen are omitted.

[0103] In the example operation screen shown in FIG. 11, the shared setting information is displayed with a pinned mark 50 indicating that it is in a pinned state.

[0104] The user can then execute the job with the desired settings without having to configure detailed settings by simply selecting the settings that are the same as or similar to the settings of the job to be executed from the list of shared setting information that is pinned and displayed in this manner.

[0105] For example, as shown in FIG. 11, user A can perform full-color copying by simply selecting the shared setting information with the pinned mark 50 named "Shared Copy 1" without having to input various setting values ​​such as the number of copies and color settings.

[0106] First, in step S101, the control unit 35 receives an instruction to execute shared pinning, which is shared setting information in a pinned state.

[0107] Then, in step S102, the control unit 35 determines whether the received shared setting information is a setting that can be executed by the own device, that is, whether it includes a setting value that cannot be executed by the own device.

[0108] If the control unit 35 determines in step S102 that the received shared setting information can be executed by the own device, the control unit 35 executes processing in step S108 using the received shared setting information.

[0109] For example, when an instruction to execute a shared pin named "Shared Copy 1" is received and it is determined that the pin can be executed on the device itself, a full-color copy is executed with the settings of the shared pin named "Shared Copy 1," which are "5 copies" for the setting item "Number of copies," "Full color" for the setting item "Color settings," "Double-sided" for the setting item "Double-sided / Single-sided," and "100%" for the setting item "Magnification."

[0110] If the control unit 35 determines in step S102 that the received shared setting information is not executable by the device itself and includes a setting value that cannot be executed by the device itself, the control unit 35 determines in step S103 whether or not there is an alternative parameter that is an alternative process that can be executed by changing the setting value of the shared setting information that includes the setting value that cannot be executed by the device itself. That is, the control unit 35 determines whether or not the received shared setting information can be executed with the alternative parameter.

[0111] In step S103, if there are alternative parameters that can be used to change the setting values ​​of shared setting information that cannot be executed by the device itself, the control unit 35 notifies the user that alternative parameters that can be used to change the setting values ​​exist, and then notifies the user by displaying whether or not the received shared setting information can be executed using the alternative parameters that can be used to change the setting values.

[0112] Then, in step S103, if it is selected to execute the accepted shared setting information using alternative parameters that can be executed by changing the setting values, the control unit 35 temporarily changes the setting values ​​in the setting contents of the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the device itself to setting values ​​that can be executed on the device itself in step S107, and executes the processing in step S108.

[0113] For example, if an instruction to execute a pinned mark 50 named "Shared Copy 1" is given on the operation screen of image forming apparatus 10C, the image forming apparatus 10C does not have a color printing function, and therefore the accepted shared pin settings include a setting value that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 , the control unit 35 of image forming apparatus 10C determines that the accepted shared pin includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C, and displays on the display unit 33 a message indicating that the setting value "Full Color Copy" cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. Here, image forming apparatus 10C has an alternative process that allows execution of the pinned mark 50 named "Shared Copy 1" by changing the setting value "Full Color Copy" in the accepted shared pin to the setting value "Monochrome Copy," which can be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. Therefore, the display unit 33 displays a message indicating that the shared pin setting "Full Color Copy" can be changed to the setting value "Monochrome Copy," which can be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. Furthermore, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C notifies the user by displaying on the display unit 33 whether or not to change the setting value "full color copy" that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C to the setting value "monochrome copy" that can be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. When "Yes" is selected on the display screen shown in Fig. 13, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C temporarily changes the setting value "full color copy" that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C to the setting value "monochrome copy" that can be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C, and executes the accepted shared pinning.

[0114] Then, in step S103, if the control unit 35 selects not to execute the accepted shared setting information using alternative parameters that can be executed by changing the setting values, in step S104, it detects other image forming devices that can be used as alternative devices and that can execute the shared setting information including setting values ​​that cannot be executed by the image forming device itself, based on static information such as configuration information of each image forming device in the device list information stored in the memory unit 37.

[0115] Then, in step S105, if there are multiple image forming devices that can be used as alternative devices, the control unit 35 assigns priorities, i.e., priorities, to the image forming devices to be displayed as alternative devices based on the location information or dynamic information of each image forming device in the device list information stored in the memory unit 37, and determines an image forming device that can be used as an alternative device that can execute shared setting information that includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the control unit itself.

[0116] Then, in step S106, the control unit 35 notifies information about the image forming device that will be the alternative device. Furthermore, if there are multiple image forming devices that will be the alternative device, the control unit 35 notifies information about the image forming device with the highest priority as the alternative device.

[0117] Here, the priority is calculated based on, for example, the location information or dynamic information of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C. Specifically, the control unit 35 notifies the image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus being operated by the user as an alternative apparatus based on the location information in the device list information. That is, the notification is prioritized so as to shorten the user's travel distance. Furthermore, the notification may be prioritized based on the remaining amount of paper or toner, the device usage status, or the number of jobs stored. For example, the priority may be higher for an image forming apparatus with a large amount of remaining paper or toner, and higher for an image forming apparatus that is unused, has a small number of jobs stored, or has a high processing speed. Furthermore, the priority may be assigned based on a combination of the location information and dynamic information described above.

[0118] For example, when "No" is selected on the operation screen shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 35 of the image forming device 10C detects the image forming devices 10A and 10B, which have color printing capabilities, as alternative devices that can execute shared pinning named "Shared Copy 1," which includes the setting value "Full Color," which cannot be executed on the image forming device itself.

[0119] Then, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C notifies the image forming apparatus 10B, which is on the third floor, the same floor as the image forming apparatus 10C, as an alternative apparatus based on the location information of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10C in the device list information stored in the storage unit 37. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C notifies the image forming apparatus 10B by displaying information about the image forming apparatus 10B that can execute the accepted shared pinning on the display screen. For example, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C displays information about the image forming apparatus 10B suggesting that full-color copying be performed using the device name "multifunction machine B." Note that the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C may also display location information about the image forming apparatus 10B as information about the image forming apparatus 10B.

[0120] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a modified example of the display screen of image forming apparatus 10C when shared setting information including setting values ​​that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus itself is selected.

[0121] 15, the control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C displays a message indicating that the setting value "full color copy" in the received shared pinned setting content cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 10C. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C then displays information about the image forming apparatus 10B that is the alternative apparatus and can execute the setting value "full color copy" that the image forming apparatus 10C cannot execute. The control unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 10C then controls the display to notify the user of whether or not full color copying will be executed on the device name "multifunction device B" as information about the image forming apparatus 10B that is the alternative apparatus.

[0122] In other words, when the control unit 35 determines that the setting contents of the received shared setting information include setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself, it may first determine, based on the device list information stored in the memory unit 37, whether there is another image forming device that can be used as an alternative device and can execute the shared setting information including the setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself, and then display and notify the user of the image forming device that is the alternative device.

[0123] 15, when execution by image forming apparatus 10B serving as the alternate apparatus is selected, control unit 35 notifies image forming apparatus 10B serving as the alternate apparatus that no operations should be performed until shared pinning is performed on image forming apparatus 10B serving as the alternate apparatus. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, control unit 35 of image forming apparatus 10 serving as the alternate apparatus that executes shared setting information displays on display unit 33 that no other processing should be performed on the apparatus until the shared setting information is executed. That is, control unit 35 of image forming apparatus 10 serving as the alternate apparatus that executes shared setting information controls to lock other operations on the apparatus. The lock may be released, for example, by pressing a button on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus serving as the alternate apparatus, or may be released after a predetermined time has elapsed since the lock was first set.

[0124] In addition, when the image forming apparatus 10B, which is the alternative apparatus, selects not to execute the process, the control unit 35 may change the setting values ​​of the shared pinning settings, which the image forming apparatus 10C, which is the apparatus itself, cannot execute, to setting values ​​that the image forming apparatus 10C can execute, as shown in FIG. 13, and notify the image forming apparatus 10C whether to execute the process.

[0125] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a modified example of the display screen of image forming apparatus 10C when shared setting information including setting values ​​that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus itself is selected.

[0126] 17, control unit 35 of image forming apparatus 10C displays on display unit 33 a message indicating that the setting value "full color copy" in the settings of the accepted shared pinning cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus itself. Then, control unit 35 of image forming apparatus 10C controls to simultaneously display and notify the user whether to change the setting value "full color copy" that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus itself to the setting value "monochrome copy" that can be executed on the image forming apparatus itself, execute the setting value "full color copy" that cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus itself on an alternative image forming apparatus that can execute the setting value, or cancel the accepted shared pinning.

[0127] In other words, if the received shared setting information includes setting values ​​that cannot be executed on the device itself, the control unit 35 may simultaneously notify the user whether to change the setting values ​​to settings that can be executed on the device itself and execute the information, or to execute the information on another image forming device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information.

[0128] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the setting contents of the received shared setting information include "full color copy." However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applicable to cases in which, when an image forming device that does not have a stapler finisher receives shared setting information that includes "stapled print," it notifies the user whether to perform the print using an alternative process that removes the "stapling" and executes the print, or to perform the print using an alternative device that is an image forming device that has a stapler finisher.

[0129] It also applies to cases where, when an image forming device that does not have A4 paper in its paper feed tray receives shared setting information including "print 100 sheets of A4 paper," it notifies the user whether to execute the printing using an alternative process that changes the paper size and executes the printing, or to execute the printing using an alternative device that is an image forming device that can hold 100 or more sheets of A4 paper in its paper feed tray.

[0130] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0131] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by a single processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate.

[0132] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be similarly applied to any information processing device, such as a personal computer or mobile terminal device, that stores setting information in which setting values ​​are stored for each setting item and executes processing using the stored setting information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0133] 10A, 10B, 10C Image forming device 11 CPU 12 Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Scanner 17 Print Engine 18 Control Bus 20 Terminal equipment 30 Network 31 Authentication Section 32 Operation input section 33 Display section 34 Data transmission / reception unit 35 Control Unit 36 Image reading unit 37 Memory section 38 Image output unit 50 Pinned Mark

Claims

1. a processor; The processor, at predetermined intervals, receiving, from one or more other information processing devices connected to each other via a network without going through a management server, shared setting information that is registered in each of the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​in processing contents are stored for each setting item, and that is used by a plurality of users to execute processing; registering the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing device in the own device; transmitting shared setting information registered in the information processing device to the other information processing device; An information processing apparatus that mutually reflects shared setting information between the information processing apparatus itself and the other information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing device described in claim 1, wherein the processor generates list information that aggregates shared setting information registered in the other information processing device and shared setting information registered in the own device, and transmits the list information to the other information processing device.

3. The processor: receiving, from the other information processing device, configuration information of the other information processing device and dynamic information that changes depending on the usage status of the device; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus generates the list information by aggregating the received configuration information and dynamic information of the other information processing apparatus and the configuration information and dynamic information of the information processing apparatus itself.

4. a processor; The processor, at predetermined intervals, transmitting shared setting information, which is registered in the device and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, to a specific information processing device that is connected to each other via a network and set in advance, without going through a management server; receiving, from the specific information processing device, sharing setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; The shared setting information registered in the other information processing device is registered in the information processing device. An information processing apparatus that mutually reflects shared setting information between the information processing apparatus itself and the other information processing apparatus.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the processor receives list information that aggregates the shared setting information registered in the other information processing apparatuses and the shared setting information registered in the information processing apparatus itself.

6. The processor: transmitting configuration information of the specific information processing device and dynamic information that changes depending on the usage status of the device to the specific information processing device; The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein the information processing device receives the list information that aggregates the configuration information and dynamic information of the specific information processing device and the configuration information and dynamic information of the other information processing devices that the specific information processing device has transmitted.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the shared setting information is shared setting information including a setting value that cannot be executed on the device, the processor notifies the device that the setting value cannot be executed.

8. The information processing device of claim 7, wherein the processor notifies the user whether or not to change the setting value in the shared setting information to a setting value that can be executed on the device itself and execute the shared setting information if there is an alternative process that can be executed by changing the setting value of the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the device itself.

9. The information processing device of claim 8, wherein when it is selected to change the setting values ​​to values ​​that can be executed on the device itself and execute the setting values, the processor changes the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the device itself to settings that can be executed on the device itself and executes the setting values.

10. A processor, The processor, at predetermined intervals, receiving, from one or more other information processing devices, shared setting information that is registered in the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, and that is used by a plurality of users to execute processing; When the shared setting information includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the own device and the user selects not to execute the shared setting information by changing it to a setting value that can be executed on the own device, the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the own device is notified of information about another information processing device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information. Information processing device.

11. A processor, The processor, at predetermined intervals, transmitting shared setting information, which is registered in the device and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, to a specific information processing device that has been set in advance, the shared setting information being used by a plurality of users to execute processing; receiving, from the specific information processing device, sharing setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; When the shared setting information includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the own device and the user selects not to execute the shared setting information by changing it to a setting value that can be executed on the own device, the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the own device is notified of information about another information processing device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information. Information processing device.

12. A processor, The processor, at predetermined intervals, receiving, from one or more other information processing devices, shared setting information that is registered in the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, and that is used by a plurality of users to execute processing; If there is another information processing device that can be an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information including a setting value that cannot be executed by the own device, the information processing device notifies the user whether or not the shared setting information is to be executed by the other information processing device. Information processing device.

13. A processor, The processor, at predetermined intervals, transmitting shared setting information to be used by a plurality of users to execute a process, among setting information registered in the own device and having setting values ​​for processing contents stored for each setting item, to a specific information processing device that has been set in advance; receiving, from the specific information processing device, sharing setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; If there is another information processing device that can be an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information including a setting value that cannot be executed by the own device, the information processing device notifies the user whether or not the shared setting information is to be executed by the other information processing device. Information processing device.

14. The information processing device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein when execution by the other information processing device is selected, the processor notifies the other information processing device so that the operation is not executed until the shared setting information is executed in the other information processing device.

15. The information processing device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein when the processor selects not to execute the shared setting information on the other information processing device, it notifies the processor whether to change the setting value of the shared setting information that cannot be executed on the other device to a setting value that can be executed on the other device and execute the shared setting information.

16. A method for controlling a computer system comprising: The processor, at predetermined intervals, receiving, from one or more other information processing devices, shared setting information that is registered in the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, and that is used by a plurality of users to execute processing; If the shared setting information includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the own device, the information processing device simultaneously notifies the user whether to change the setting value to a setting value that can be executed on the own device and execute the information, or to execute the information on another information processing device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information. Information processing device.

17. A method for controlling a computer system comprising: The processor, at predetermined intervals, transmitting shared setting information, which is registered in the device and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, to a specific information processing device that has been set in advance, the shared setting information being used by a plurality of users to execute processing; receiving, from the specific information processing device, sharing setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; If the shared setting information includes a setting value that cannot be executed on the own device, the information processing device simultaneously notifies the user whether to change the setting value to a setting value that can be executed on the own device and execute the information, or to execute the information on another information processing device that is an alternative device that can execute the shared setting information. Information processing device.

18. The information processing device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein when there are multiple other information processing devices that can be the alternative device, the processor determines the other information processing device to be the alternative device based on location information of each of the other information processing devices.

19. The information processing device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein when there are multiple other information processing devices that can be the alternative device, the processor determines the other information processing device to be the alternative device based on dynamic information of each of the other information processing devices.

20. At preset intervals, receiving, from one or more other information processing devices connected to each other via a network without going through a management server, shared setting information that is registered in each of the other information processing devices and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, and that is used by a plurality of users to execute processing; registering the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing device in the own device; transmitting shared setting information registered in the information processing device to the other information processing device; and causing a computer to execute a step of mutually reflecting shared setting information in the information processing device itself and the other information processing device.

21. At preset intervals, transmitting shared setting information, which is registered in the device and in which setting values ​​for processing contents are stored for each setting item, to a specific information processing device that is previously set and connected to each other via a network without going through a management server, the shared setting information being used by multiple users to execute processing; receiving, from the specific information processing device, sharing setting information registered in one or more other information processing devices including the specific information processing device; registering the received shared setting information registered in the other information processing device in the own device; and causing a computer to execute a step of mutually reflecting shared setting information in the information processing device itself and the other information processing device.

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