Information processing device and program

Abstract

To prevent a situation in which when an attribute for inhibiting a change in a setting value is provided to a specific setting item in common setting information available for a plurality of users, processing is executed with the changed setting value of the setting item.SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus 10, in a case where individual setting information available only for a specific user is changed to common setting information available for a plurality of users, when a control unit 35 receives designation of a setting item for inhibiting a change in a setting value among setting items included in the setting information, the control unit provides an attribute for inhibiting a change in a setting value to the setting item that has received the designation to inhibit a change in a setting value. When processing is executed by using the setting information including the setting item provided with the attribute for inhibiting a change in a setting value, the control unit 35 provides the attribute for inhibiting a change in a setting value to a setting item corresponding to the setting item provided with the attribute for inhibiting a change in a setting value among setting items in setting information generated when the processing is executed.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 information processing device that acquires identification information for identifying a user, accepts a request to execute a job for a device to be used, executes the job using the functions of the device, generates the identification information and the execution results of the job as history information, conceals all or part of the history information depending on the viewer's authority, and presents the history information as concealed history information.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an automatic job template generation device that collects operation history of a multifunction device for each user based on information on access to the multifunction device on the Web, analyzes operation frequency at regular intervals based on the collected operation history, and, based on the analysis results, creates new job template buttons on an operation screen for job execution parameters that are frequently operated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-154819 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5032361 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A function is available that stores the setting values ​​for each setting item of a process executed in the past as setting information, and by using the stored setting information, it is possible to execute a process with the same setting contents as a process executed in the past. In such a function, if setting information frequently used by multiple users is registered as shared setting information, multiple users can use the same setting information.

[0006] In this way, when shared setting information is provided to multiple users, there are cases where it is desired to prohibit the execution of a process with the setting value of a specific setting item changed. However, even if an attribute prohibiting the change of the setting value is assigned to a specific setting item included in the shared setting information, if a process is executed using that shared setting information or if the shared setting information is duplicated as personal setting information, it is still possible to execute a process with the setting value of the specific setting item changed.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and program that can prevent processing from being executed with the setting value of a specific setting item changed when an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value of that setting item is assigned to shared setting information that can be used by multiple users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor, wherein when a process is executed, the processor generates setting information in which setting values ​​at the time of the execution of the process are stored for each setting item; Displaying a setting screen including personal setting information available only to a specific user and shared setting information available to multiple users; When personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if a setting item included in the setting information is designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed, an attribute that prohibits the setting value from being changed is assigned to the setting item designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed; When processing is executed using setting information including a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting the change of the setting value has been assigned, an attribute prohibiting the change of the setting value is assigned to the setting item corresponding to the setting item to which an attribute prohibiting the change of the setting value has been assigned, among the setting items of the setting information generated when the processing is executed.

[0009] In a second aspect of the information processing device of the present invention, in the information processing device of the first aspect, the processor does not accept an operation to change the setting value of a setting item that has been assigned an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value on a screen that displays the setting contents of the setting information.

[0010] An information processing device of a third aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the second aspect, wherein the processor displays, on a screen displaying the setting contents of the setting information, operators for changing the setting values ​​of setting items that have been assigned an attribute that prohibits changing the setting values ​​in an inoperable state.

[0011] An information processing device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the second aspect, in which the processor does not display operators for changing the setting values ​​of setting items that have been assigned attributes that prohibit changing the setting values ​​on a screen that displays the setting contents of the setting information.

[0012] An information processing device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein when the processor copies shared setting information as personal setting information, if the shared setting information includes a setting item with an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, the processor copies the shared setting information including the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0013] An information processing device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein when personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if the processor receives a specification to prohibit changes to setting values, it assigns an attribute to all setting items included in the setting information that prohibits changes to setting values.

[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 the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​in setting items included in shared setting information through operations by a user with predetermined authority.

[0015] An eighth aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the seventh aspect, wherein the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​in setting items included in shared setting information through operations by an administrator user who has performed a pre-set authentication process.

[0016] An information processing device of a ninth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of the seventh aspect, in which the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​in setting items included in the shared setting information through operations by a user who registered the shared setting information.

[0017] An information processing device of a 10th aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the 7th aspect, wherein the processor deletes an attribute that prohibits changing of a setting value assigned to a setting item included in shared setting information by operation of a user with predetermined authority.

[0018] An eleventh aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the seventh aspect, wherein the processor assigns an attribute to a setting item included in shared setting information that prohibits the setting value from being changed by an operation by a user with predetermined authority.

[0019] A program according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes a step of generating, when a process is executed, setting information in which setting values ​​at the time of executing the process are stored for each setting item; displaying a setting screen including setting information in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and including personal setting information that can be used only by a specific user, and shared setting information that can be used by multiple users; When personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if a setting item included in the setting information is designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed, an attribute that prohibits the setting value from being changed is added to the setting item designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed; When processing is executed using setting information including a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting a change to the setting value has been assigned, the computer is caused to execute a step of assigning an attribute prohibiting a change to the setting value to a setting item corresponding to the setting item to which an attribute prohibiting a change to the setting value has been assigned, among the setting items of the setting information generated when the processing is executed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the information processing device of the first aspect of the present invention, when an attribute that prohibits changes to a setting value is assigned to a specific setting item in shared setting information that can be used by multiple users, it is possible to prevent processing from being executed with the setting value of that setting item changed.

[0021] According to the information processing device of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from changing the setting value of a setting item to which an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value has been assigned.

[0022] According to the information processing device of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from changing the setting value of a setting item to which an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value has been assigned.

[0023] According to the information processing device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user from changing the setting value of a setting item to which an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value has been assigned.

[0024] According to the information processing device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when setting information including a setting item to which an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value is assigned is copied, it is possible to prevent the setting value in the copied setting information from being changed.

[0025] According to the information processing device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to assign an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting values ​​collectively to all setting items included in the setting information.

[0026] According to the information processing device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, any user having a preset authority can change the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0027] According to the information processing device of the eighth aspect of the present invention, if the user is an administrator, it is possible to change the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0028] According to the information processing device of the ninth aspect of the present invention, any user who has registered the shared setting information can change the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0029] According to the information processing device of the tenth aspect of the present invention, any user having a preset authority can delete the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0030] According to the information processing device of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, any user having a preset authority can be given an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0031] According to the program of the 12th aspect of the present invention, when an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value of a specific setting item in shared setting information that can be used by multiple users is assigned, it is possible to prevent processing from being executed with the setting value of that setting item changed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [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 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a personal setting information management table stored in a setting information storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a shared setting information management table stored in a setting information storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed when a user touches an icon for using a quick function. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when a general user pins job history information to register it as personal setting information. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen after job history information 64 has been pinned and changed to personal setting information 65. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation menu when user A operates the operation menu button 60 of personal setting information 66 in a pinned state. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when an administrator user registers new sharing setting information. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen after job history information 67 has been changed to shared setting information 68. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing an operation performed when an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​of some setting items is added when changing personal setting information to shared setting information. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of shared setting information in which an attribute prohibiting changes to setting values ​​is assigned to some setting items. [Figure 14] 14 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen when a general user attempts to execute a print job using the shared setting information shown in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 when a job is executed using shared setting information including a setting item to which an attribute of "unchangeable" has been assigned. [Figure 16]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of job history information generated in a state in which the executed setting contents include additional attributes that cannot be changed. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation performed when a general user changes shared setting information into his or her own personal setting information. [Figure 18] This figure shows how personal setting information 72 with the same settings as the shared setting information 69 is newly created and added to the list display screen, while the shared setting information 69 itself remains as it is. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1, an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured with an image forming apparatus 10 and a terminal apparatus 20, which are interconnected via a network 30. The terminal apparatus 20 generates print data and transmits the generated print data to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 30. The image forming apparatus 10 receives the print data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 20 and outputs an image on paper in accordance with the print data. The image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called multifunction device that has multiple functions, such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile functions.

[0038] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0039] 2, the image forming apparatus 10 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 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 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.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the above control program.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming device 10 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 setting information storage unit 37, and an image output unit 38.

[0044] The authentication unit 31 executes authentication processing for a user who attempts to use the image forming apparatus 10. 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.

[0045] The data transmitter / receiver 34 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the terminal device 20 .

[0046] The control unit 35 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 10, and performs various functions, such as generating print data based on a print job received from the terminal device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 34, controlling the output of the generated print data from the image output unit 38, and controlling the reading of an original image by the image reading unit 36. The setting information storage unit 37 stores job history information indicating the execution history of various jobs, such as print jobs, scan jobs, copy jobs, and fax transmission 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] Here, the setting information storage unit 37 stores a personal setting information management table for managing personal setting information that is available only to specific users, in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and a shared setting information management table for managing shared setting information that is available to multiple users.

[0049] An example of the personal setting information management table stored in the setting information storage unit 37 is shown in FIG.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, the personal setting information management table manages job history information, including the name, job type, setting contents, and last use 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. When a user wants to execute a job with the same settings as the settings of a previously executed job, the user can execute the job with the same settings, such as the setting values, in the job history information by selecting the job history information. Note that job history information is also included in personal setting information available only to specific users. In other words, job history information is personal setting information in an unpinned state. However, in the following description, pinned setting information available only to specific users will be referred to as personal setting information, and unpinned setting information available only to specific users will be referred to as job history information.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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 undeleted even if the number of jobs executed later exceeds the upper limit.

[0053] For example, referring to the personal setting information management table in Figure 4, we can see that setting information named "General Affairs Department" and "Fax to Travel Agency" 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 you register frequently used job history information as personal setting information by pinning it, you can use that personal setting information multiple times to execute jobs with the same settings.

[0054] Here, the personal setting information and job history information shown in Fig. 4 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. Note that shared setting information is available to all logged-in users.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows an example of a shared setting information management table for managing such shared setting information.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 5, the shared setting information management table manages information such as the name of each job, the job type, and setting contents.

[0057] For example, referring to the shared setting information management table in Fig. 5, the shared setting information named "recommended copy settings" has a job type of "copy" and its settings are stored. For example, in the shared setting information named "recommended copy settings," the setting value "1 copy" is set for the setting item "number of copies," and the setting value "100%" is set for the setting item "magnification."

[0058] However, if general users who use devices are allowed to freely register their personal setting information as shared setting information, there is a risk that shared setting information with similar settings will be registered by each user, resulting in the addition of unnecessary shared setting information.Furthermore, if a large number of shared setting information is registered, it may become difficult to know which shared setting information to select, making it difficult to use.

[0059] Therefore, when the control unit 35 displays a setting screen including the above-mentioned personal setting information and shared setting information on the display unit 33, it accepts an operation to register the personal setting information as shared setting information only from an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the device.

[0060] Here, a general user is a user who is permitted to use the device but is not permitted to change important settings of the device. 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.

[0061] However, it is also possible to allow not only administrator users but also general users to register new shared setting information. In this case, the general user who registers new shared setting information becomes a user with special authority for that shared setting information, and is able to modify the settings of that shared setting information and change its attributes.

[0062] In the image forming device 10 of this embodiment, a quick function is provided that allows a new job to be executed using the settings of a previously executed job by selecting the above-mentioned job history information, personal setting information, and shared setting information.

[0063] Figure 6 shows an example of the display screen that appears when the user touches an icon to use a quick function.

[0064] The control unit 35 generates a display screen as shown in Fig. 6 based on the personal setting information management table and the shared setting information management table stored in the setting information storage unit 37, and displays it on the operation panel. In the example display screen shown in Fig. 6, it can be seen that shared setting information 61, personal setting information 62, and job history information 63 are displayed in a list.

[0065] The example of the display screen for the quick function shown in Fig. 6 is an example of a display screen that is displayed when user A logs in in a state in which the personal setting information management table shown in Fig. 4 and the shared setting information management table shown in Fig. 5 are stored in the setting information storage unit 37. However, due to display space limitations, some of the job histories displayed on the job history list display screen are omitted.

[0066] In the example display screen shown in FIG. 6, the shared setting information 61 and the personal setting information 62 are displayed with a pinned mark 50 indicating that they are in a pinned state.

[0067] As new jobs are executed, the oldest job history information 63 is deleted in order. However, the shared setting information 61 and personal setting information 62 with pinned marks 50 are not affected even when new jobs are executed, and continue to be displayed in the same location without changing the display position.

[0068] When a user wishes to execute a job with the same content as a job executed in the past, the user can execute the job with the desired settings without having to specify detailed settings by simply selecting the setting with the same or similar content as the setting of the job to be executed from the list of shared setting information 61, personal setting information 62, and job history information 63 displayed in this manner.

[0069] For example, a user can simply select shared setting information named "Support Center" to perform scan transmission to the same destination as usual without having to enter destination information or various setting values.

[0070] Next, the operation when the user performs an operation on such a display screen will be described.

[0071] First, an example of an operation when a general user pins job history information and registers it as personal setting information is shown in FIGS.

[0072] In the operation screen shown in FIG. 7, an operation menu button 60 is displayed on the right edge of the shared setting history, personal setting information, and job history information, allowing various operations to be performed.

[0073] For example, FIG. 7 shows an operation menu that is displayed when user A, a general user, operates the operation menu button 60 displayed in the job history information 64.

[0074] 7, an operation menu consisting of the operation items "Pin" and "Delete" is displayed. When the user selects the operation item "Pin" from this operation menu, the job history information 64 is pinned and changed to personal setting information.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows an example of the operation screen after the job history information 64 has been pinned and changed to personal setting information 65.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that new personal setting information 65 with a pinned mark 50 attached has been created by pinning the job history information 64 in FIG.

[0077] FIG. 9 shows an example of an operation menu when user A operates the operation menu button 60 of the pinned personal setting information 66.

[0078] 9, when user A operates the operation menu button 60 for personal setting information that is already pinned, operation items "Unpin" and "Delete" are displayed in the operation menu. When user A selects the operation item "Unpin" from this operation menu, the pinned state of this personal setting information 66 is released, and the information returns to normal job history information. When user A selects the operation item "Delete" from this operation menu, this personal setting information 66 is deleted.

[0079] Next, an example of operations when an administrator user logs in to the image forming apparatus 10 and registers new sharing setting information is shown in FIGS.

[0080] 10, when an administrator user who is a machine administrator operates the operation menu button 60 for job history information named "user3@sample.com" while logged in to the image forming apparatus 10, operation items "Make Shared" and "Delete" are displayed in the operation menu. When the administrator user selects the operation item "Make Shared" from this operation menu, this job history information 67 is registered as shared setting information.

[0081] FIG. 11 shows an example of the operation screen after the job history information 67 has been changed to the shared setting information 68.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 11, it can be seen that new shared setting information 68 with a pinned mark 50 attached has been created as a result of an operation to share the job history information 67 in FIG.

[0083] As described above, an administrator user can register new shared setting information. The newly registered shared setting information is then displayed on the quick function display screen of all users. This allows all users to execute jobs using the same setting contents.

[0084] In this way, when providing shared setting information to multiple users, there are cases where it is desired to prohibit the execution of a process with the setting value of a specific setting item changed.

[0085] For example, when creating shared configuration information for printing a document based on document data stored on an internal network, you may want to require special settings to prevent the contents of the document from being leaked, such as printing a specific pattern in the background, embedding a digital watermark, or printing an annotation such as "Copying prohibited." In such a case, you can limit users who can change the settings in the shared configuration information to administrator users and assign attributes that prohibit changes to certain setting items included in the shared configuration information. This means that general users can only execute jobs using the preset settings for setting items whose settings cannot be changed. In other words, by using this shared configuration information, you can ensure that jobs are always executed under the special setting conditions.

[0086] However, even if an attribute prohibiting changes to a setting value is assigned to a specific setting item included in shared setting information, if a process is executed using that shared setting information, or if the shared setting information is duplicated as personal setting information, the process can be executed with the setting value of the specific setting item changed. In other words, when a user executes a job using shared setting information, the job history information for that job is generated as personal setting information, and if that user is able to change the setting content, the job can be executed with the setting value changed even for a specific setting item whose setting content should not be changed.

[0087] Therefore, in the image forming device 10 of this embodiment, when an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value of a specific setting item in shared setting information that can be used by multiple users is assigned, a method described below is used to prevent processing from being executed with the setting value of that setting item changed.

[0088] First, when the control unit 35 executes processing such as a job, it generates setting information in which the setting values ​​used when the processing was executed are stored for each setting item. Specifically, when a user executes processing such as a job, the control unit 35 generates setting information in which the setting values ​​used when the job was executed are stored for each setting item as job history information. Then, when each user pins this job history information, it becomes personal setting information, and when an administrator user performs an operation to change the job history information or personal setting information to shared setting information, new shared setting information is generated and registered.

[0089] Then, the control unit 35 displays, on the operation panel, a setting screen including personal setting information that can only be used by a specific user and shared setting information that can be used by multiple users.

[0090] Here, when personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if the control unit 35 receives a designation of a setting item included in the setting information whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed, the control unit 35 assigns an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value to the setting item that has been designated as prohibiting changing the setting value.

[0091] When a process is executed using setting information that includes a setting item that has been assigned an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, the control unit 35 assigns an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value to a setting item that corresponds to the setting item that has been assigned an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, among the setting items of the setting information generated when the process is executed.

[0092] In addition, the control unit 35 does not accept an operation to change the setting value of a setting item that has been assigned an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value on the screen that displays the setting contents of the setting information, regardless of whether the setting information is shared setting information, personal setting information, or job history information.

[0093] Specifically, on a screen that displays the setting contents of the setting information, the control unit 35 displays the controls for changing the setting values ​​of setting items that have been assigned an attribute that prohibits changing the setting values ​​in a state where they cannot be operated.

[0094] Alternatively, the control unit 35 may not display an operator for changing the setting value of a setting item that has been assigned an attribute that prohibits changing the setting value on the screen that displays the setting contents of the setting information.

[0095] In the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, shared setting information can be copied to personal setting information by a general user's operation. Therefore, when copying shared setting information to personal setting information, if the shared setting information includes a setting item with an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, the control unit 35 copies the shared setting information to personal setting information, including the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0096] In addition, the control unit 35 may not manage an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value for each setting item, but when personal setting information is changed to shared setting information and a specification to prohibit changes to the setting value is received, the control unit 35 may assign an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value to all setting items included in the setting information at once.

[0097] However, there may be cases where it is inconvenient to be unable to make any changes to setting information in which an attribute that prohibits changes to a setting item has been assigned to it. Therefore, the control unit 35 may be configured to allow a user with preset authority to change the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value of a setting item included in the shared setting information.

[0098] Specifically, the control unit 35 may be able to change an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​in setting items included in shared setting information, for example, through operations by an administrator user who has performed a pre-configured authentication process.

[0099] It is also possible to grant authority to change the shared setting information to specific general users other than the administrator user. In this case, the general users who are granted authority to change the shared setting information are users with predetermined authority.

[0100] Furthermore, as described above, if even general users are allowed to register shared setting information, the general users will become users with pre-set authority over the shared setting information they have registered.

[0101] Therefore, the control unit 35 may be configured to allow a general user who has registered the shared setting information to change the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting values ​​of the setting items included in the shared setting information.

[0102] Furthermore, changing the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value mentioned above includes not only deleting the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting, but also adding a new attribute that prohibits changes to the setting.

[0103] That is, the control unit 35 may delete an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value assigned to a setting item included in the shared setting information, by an operation by a user with preset authority.

[0104] Furthermore, the control unit 35 may assign an attribute to a setting item included in the shared setting information that prohibits changes to the setting value, by an operation by a user with a preset authority.

[0105] By doing this, for example, when an administrator user checks the shared setting information registered by a general user, for setting items that are deemed dangerous unless changes to the setting values ​​are prohibited, the administrator user can use his or her authority to assign an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting values.

[0106] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0107] First, the flowchart in FIG. 12 shows the operation when an administrator user changes personal setting information such as job history information to shared setting information by assigning an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting values ​​of some setting items.

[0108] In step S101, the control unit 35 waits until it receives an operation to change personal setting information to shared setting information, and when it receives an operation to change personal setting information to shared setting information, in step S102, it registers the selected personal setting information as shared setting information in the shared setting information management table shown in Figure 5.

[0109] Then, in step S103, the control unit 35 checks with the administrator user whether there is any setting item for which the administrator user wants to set the setting value to be unchangeable.

[0110] In step S103, if it is received from the administrator user that there are no setting items for which the setting value is to be set to unchangeable, the control unit 35 ends the process.

[0111] Then, in step S103, if the control unit 35 receives from the administrator user a notification that there is a setting item for which the setting value should be set to unchangeable, the control unit 35 receives in step S104 the selection of the setting item for which the setting value should be set to unchangeable.

[0112] Next, in step S105, the control unit 35 sets an attribute of "unchangeable" as an additional attribute for the selected setting item. That is, the control unit 35 assigns an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value to the selected setting item.

[0113] FIG. 13 shows an example of shared setting information in which an attribute prohibiting changes to setting values ​​is assigned to some setting items in this way.

[0114] In the shared setting information example shown in Figure 13, we can see that the setting items "Print background image" and "UUID (Universally Unique IDentifier) ​​printing" have been assigned the attribute "unchangeable," which prohibits changes to the setting values. Here, UUID printing refers to the function of printing a different identifier for each document to be printed.

[0115] That is, in the shared setting information shown in FIG. 13, the setting to print a background image called "cherry blossom paper" as the "print background image" and the setting to turn UUID printing "on" cannot be changed.

[0116] FIG. 14 shows an example of an operation screen when a general user attempts to execute a print job using the shared setting information shown in FIG.

[0117] 14, the setting items "Print background image" and "UUID printing" are displayed in grayout, and the controls for changing the setting values ​​of the setting items to which the "unchangeable" attribute has been assigned are displayed in an inoperable state. Note that the setting items to which the "unchangeable" attribute has been assigned, "Print background image" and "UUID printing", themselves may not be displayed, and the controls for changing the setting values ​​of the setting items to which the "unchangeable" attribute has been assigned may not be displayed.

[0118] The operation of the image forming apparatus 10 when a job is executed using shared setting information including setting items to which the attribute "unchangeable" has been assigned is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0119] First, in step S201, the control unit 35 accepts the selection of shared setting information by a user operation, and then in step S202, the control unit 35 executes a job based on the selected shared setting information.

[0120] Then, in step S203, the control unit 35 generates the executed setting contents, including the unchangeable additional attributes, as personal job history information for the user.

[0121] An example of job history information generated in this way is shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 16 shows a case where a general user selects the shared setting information shown in Fig. 13, changes the setting item "number of copies" from "1 copy" to "2 copies," and executes a job.

[0122] Referring to Figure 16, when a job is executed using setting information that includes a setting item that has been assigned the "unchangeable" attribute, the "unchangeable" attribute remains assigned to the generated job history information.

[0123] Therefore, even if this user selects the generated job history information and executes a job, the setting values ​​for the setting items "print background image" and "UUID printing" cannot be changed.

[0124] This prevents general users from changing the setting values ​​of the setting items "print background image" and "UUID printing" and then executing a job.

[0125] In addition, even in the job history information generated when this user selects the job history information shown in Figure 16 and executes the job again, the setting items that have been assigned the ``unchangeable'' attribute will remain in their original state, that is, the job history information will be generated with the ``unchangeable'' attribute assigned.

[0126] Finally, the operation performed when a general user changes the shared setting information to his / her own personal setting information will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0127] For example, if a general user uses shared setting information 69 named "recommended copy settings" under his / her own management, he / she operates the operation menu button 60 of this shared setting information 69, as shown in Fig. 17. Then, in the example display screen of Fig. 17, a setting item "Copy as personal setting information" is displayed, and it is assumed that this general user selects this setting item.

[0128] As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, the shared setting information 69 itself is left as it is, and new personal setting information 72 with the same settings as the shared setting information 69 is created and added to the list display screen.

[0129] When creating new personal setting information 72 by duplicating shared setting information 69 in this way, if the shared setting information includes a setting item with an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, the control unit 35 will duplicate the information including the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

[0130] As described above, in the image forming device 10 of this embodiment, if the attribute "unchangeable" is assigned to at least some of the setting items of the shared setting information, the state in which the attribute "unchangeable" is assigned is inherited in all of the job history information of jobs executed based on the shared setting information, the job history information of jobs executed by selecting the job history information, and personal setting information generated by duplicating the shared setting information.

[0131] Therefore, for setting items that an administrator user assigns the attribute "unchangeable" when generating shared setting information, a job will be prevented from being executed with the setting value of that setting item changed.

[0132] 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.).

[0133] 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.

[0134] [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]

[0135] 10 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 Setting information storage unit 38 Image output unit 50 Pinned Mark 60 Operation menu button 61 Shared settings information 62 Personalized Settings Information 63, 64 Job history information 65, 66 Personal settings information 67 Job history information 68, 69 Shared settings information 72 Personalized Settings Information

Claims

1. a processor; When the processor executes a process, it generates setting information in which setting values ​​at the time of executing the process are stored for each setting item, Displaying a setting screen including personal setting information available only to a specific user and shared setting information available to multiple users; When personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if a setting item included in the setting information is designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed, an attribute that prohibits the setting value from being changed is assigned to the setting item designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed; When a process is executed using setting information including a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting changes to the setting value is assigned, an attribute prohibiting changes to the setting value is assigned to the setting item corresponding to the setting item to which an attribute prohibiting changes to the setting value is assigned among the setting items in the history information generated when the process is executed. Information processing device.

2. 2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor does not accept an operation to change a setting value of a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting change of the setting value has been assigned on a screen displaying the setting contents of the setting information.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the processor displays, on a screen displaying the setting contents of the setting information, an operator for changing the setting value of a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting the change of the setting value has been assigned in an inoperable state.

4. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor does not display, on a screen displaying the setting contents of the setting information, an operator for changing the setting value of a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting change of the setting value has been assigned.

5. An information processing device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the processor copies shared setting information as personal setting information, if the shared setting information includes a setting item with an attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value, the processor copies the shared setting information including the attribute that prohibits changes to the setting value.

6. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the processor receives a specification to prohibit changes to setting values ​​when personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, it assigns an attribute to all setting items included in the setting information that prohibits changes to setting values.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​of setting items included in shared setting information, in response to an operation by a user having a preset authority.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​of setting items included in shared setting information, in response to an operation by an administrator user who has executed a preset authentication process.

9. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor changes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​of setting items included in the shared setting information, in response to an operation by a user who has registered the shared setting information.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processor deletes an attribute that prohibits changes to setting values ​​assigned to setting items included in shared setting information, by an operation by a user having a preset authority.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processor assigns an attribute to a setting item included in the shared setting information, the attribute prohibiting changes to the setting value, by an operation by a user having a preset authority.

12. generating setting information in which setting values ​​at the time of executing the processing are stored for each setting item when the processing is executed; displaying a setting screen including setting information in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and including personal setting information that can be used only by a specific user, and shared setting information that can be used by multiple users; When personal setting information is changed to shared setting information, if a setting item included in the setting information is designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed, an attribute that prohibits the setting value from being changed is added to the setting item designated as a setting item whose setting value is to be prohibited from being changed; When a process is executed using setting information including a setting item to which an attribute prohibiting a change of a setting value has been assigned, assigning an attribute prohibiting a change of a setting value to a setting item corresponding to the setting item to which an attribute prohibiting a change of a setting value has been assigned, among setting items in history information generated when the process is executed; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

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