U.S. patent application number 14/552716 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for information processing apparatus capable of changing settings thereof, method of controlling the same, and storage medium.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Noritsugu Okayama.
Application Number | 20150153969 14/552716 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53265368 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150153969 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okayama; Noritsugu |
June 4, 2015 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF CHANGING SETTINGS
THEREOF, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
An information processing apparatus that improves
user-friendliness in changing settings concerning the control
thereof. Settings of the information processing apparatus are
classified according to categories, and restart information
indicative of whether or not restart of the information processing
apparatus is required to cause changes of the settings to take
effect is stored on a category-by-category basis. A configuration
file for changing the settings is acquired. Before changing the
settings based on the configuration file, it is determined based on
categories of to-be-changed settings and the restart information
whether or not the restart is required to cause the changes in the
settings specified in the configuration file to take effect. The
results of determination are displayed.
Inventors: |
Okayama; Noritsugu; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
53265368 |
Appl. No.: |
14/552716 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1285 20130101;
G06F 3/123 20130101; G06F 3/1204 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2013 |
JP |
2013-247631 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus that is capable of changing
settings thereof, comprising: a storage unit configured to classify
settings of the information processing apparatus according to
categories, and store restart information indicative of whether or
not restart of the information processing apparatus is required in
order to cause changes of the settings to take effect, on a
category-by-category basis; an acquisition unit configured to
acquire a configuration file for changing the settings of the
information processing apparatus; a determination unit configured
to determine, before changing the settings of the information
processing apparatus based on the configuration file, whether or
not the restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings specified in
the configuration file to take effect, based on categories of the
to-be-changed settings and the restart information; and a display
unit configured to display results of determination by said
determination unit.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said display unit displays an instruction screen for
receiving an execution instruction for executing processing which
changes the settings of the information processing apparatus, the
instruction screen including the results of determination by said
determination unit, the information processing apparatus further
comprising a changing unit configured to change the to-be-changed
settings when the execution instruction has been received from a
user via the instruction screen.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein when the execution instruction has not been received from
the user via the instruction screen, said changing unit does not
execute changing of the settings.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein in a case where a predetermined setting of the
to-be-changed settings has been changed by said changing unit, said
determination unit determines again whether or not the restart of
the information processing apparatus is required in order to cause
the change of the predetermined setting to take effect, and wherein
said display unit further displays results of determination with
respect to the predetermined setting by said determination
unit.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said display unit further displays a time period to be
taken to complete changing of the to-be-changed settings.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein said storage unit further stores time information for
calculating the time period to be taken to complete changing of the
to-be-changed settings on a category-by-category basis, and wherein
said display unit displays the time period calculated based on the
time information as the time period to be taken to complete
changing the to-be-changed settings.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said acquisition unit acquires the configuration file from
an external apparatus on a network.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said acquisition unit acquires the configuration file from
a storage medium connected to the information processing
apparatus.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the storage medium is a USB storage device.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the information processing apparatus is a printing
apparatus equipped with a printer.
11. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus
that is capable of changing settings thereof, comprising:
classifying settings of the information processing apparatus
according to categories, and storing restart information indicative
of whether or not restart of the information processing apparatus
is required in order to cause changes of the settings to take
effect, on a category-by-category basis; acquiring a configuration
file for changing the settings of the information processing
apparatus; determining, before changing the settings of the
information processing apparatus based on the configuration file,
whether or not the restart of the information processing apparatus
is required in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings
specified in the configuration file to take effect, based on
categories of the to-be-changed settings and the restart
information; and displaying results of determination by said
determining.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer-executable program for executing a method of controlling
an information processing apparatus that is capable of changing
settings thereof, wherein the method comprises: classifying
settings of the information processing apparatus according to
categories, and storing restart information indicative of whether
or not restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of the settings to take effect, on a
category-by-category basis; acquiring a configuration file for
changing the settings of the information processing apparatus;
determining, before changing the settings of the information
processing apparatus based on the configuration file, whether or
not the restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings specified in
the configuration file to take effect, based on categories of the
to-be-changed settings and the restart information; and displaying
results of determination by said determining.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus capable of changing settings thereof, a method of
controlling the same, and a storage medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a recent image forming apparatus, the number of setting
items editable by a user are increased according to improvement in
the function of the image forming apparatus. As a technique for
simplifying registration of settings of a series of setting items,
an import function or an export function has come to be provided
which makes it possible to take out configuration data indicative
of settings of an image forming apparatus to an external device,
and register the configuration data in another image forming
apparatus of the same type or in an image forming apparatus of a
different type.
[0005] Further, there has been proposed a technique in which when
installing an application operable by the image forming apparatus,
the frequency of restarting the image forming apparatus is reduced
to thereby increase the possibility of continuing the operation of
the apparatus (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
2012-221201).
[0006] However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-221201 concerns the update of the
application that operates in the image forming apparatus, and hence
there is no mentioning about a technique concerning the import of
configuration data.
[0007] Further, with the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-221201, it is impossible to continue
the operation of the image forming apparatus, without restarting
the image forming apparatus after importing the configuration data.
Furthermore, it is impossible to notify the user of whether or not
the restart is required, before or during the import of the
configuration data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides an information processing
apparatus that improves user-friendliness in changing settings
concerning the control of the information processing apparatus, a
method of controlling the same, and a storage medium.
[0009] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an information processing apparatus that is capable of
changing settings thereof, comprising a storage unit configured to
classify settings of the information processing apparatus according
to categories, and store restart information indicative of whether
or not restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of the settings to take effect, on a
category-by-category basis, an acquisition unit configured to
acquire a configuration file for changing the settings of the
information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured
to determine, before changing the settings of the information
processing apparatus based on the configuration file, whether or
not the restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings specified in
the configuration file to take effect, based on categories of the
to-be-changed settings and the restart information, and a display
unit configured to display results of determination by the
determination unit.
[0010] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of controlling an information processing
apparatus that is capable of changing settings thereof, comprising
classifying settings of the information processing apparatus
according to categories, and storing restart information indicative
of whether or not restart of the information processing apparatus
is required in order to cause changes of the settings to take
effect, on a category-by-category basis, acquiring a configuration
file for changing the settings of the information processing
apparatus, determining, before changing the settings of the
information processing apparatus based on the configuration file,
whether or not the restart of the information processing apparatus
is required in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings
specified in the configuration file to take effect, based on
categories of the to-be-changed settings and the restart
information, and displaying results of determination by said
determining.
[0011] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing
a computer-executable program for executing a method of controlling
an information processing apparatus that is capable of changing
settings thereof, wherein the method comprises classifying settings
of the information processing apparatus according to categories,
and storing restart information indicative of whether or not
restart of the information processing apparatus is required in
order to cause changes of the settings to take effect, on a
category-by-category basis, acquiring a configuration file for
changing the settings of the information processing apparatus,
determining, before changing the settings of the information
processing apparatus based on the configuration file, whether or
not the restart of the information processing apparatus is required
in order to cause changes of to-be-changed settings specified in
the configuration file to take effect, based on categories of the
to-be-changed settings and the restart information, and displaying
results of determination by said determining.
[0012] According to the present invention, when it is determined
that a category shown in a device configuration file is a category
in which the restart of the information processing apparatus is
required, a notification that the change of settings requires the
restart of the information processing apparatus is displayed on a
display section, and when the user has instructed to change the
settings via a console section, the settings are changed. This
makes it possible to notify the user that it is necessary to
perform the restart of the apparatus beforehand, and therefore it
is possible to improve user-friendliness in changing the
settings.
[0013] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
(with reference to the attached drawings).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system including an image
forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus
shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of settings management
information stored in an HDD shown in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of data category
information stored in the HDD shown in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a device configuration
file showing settings to be changed.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram of another example of the device
configuration file showing settings to be changed.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram of another example of the device
configuration file showing settings to be changed.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an import/export service in
the FIG. 1 image forming apparatus.
[0022] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams of examples of a screen
displayed on an LCD panel shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams of other examples of the
screen displayed on the LCD panel shown in FIG. 2.
[0024] FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams of other examples of the
screen displayed on the LCD panel shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an import process performed by a
CPU appearing in FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an export process performed by the
CPU appearing in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The present invention will now be described in detail below
with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments
thereof.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 200 including an
image forming apparatus 201 as an information processing apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, the system 200 is comprised of a
management target image forming apparatus group 205, a management
server 204, a remote user environment 206, and a service
environment 209.
[0030] Out of these, the management target image forming apparatus
group 205, the management server 204, and the remote user
environment 206 are connected to a network 203, and the remote user
environment 206 and the service environment 209 are connected to
the Internet 207.
[0031] The management target image forming apparatus group 205 is
formed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses including the
image forming apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment, an
image forming apparatus 202, and so forth.
[0032] Particularly, the image forming apparatuses 201 and 202 are
capable of reading originals, performing image processing on image
data read from the originals, and outputting the processed image
data. Further, they are also capable of receiving image data
processed by the other apparatuses and PDL (Page Description
Language) data generated by a client computer, via the network 203,
and printing the image data and the PDL data.
[0033] Further, the image forming apparatuses 201 and 202 are also
capable of transmitting read image data to various apparatuses,
such as a file server and a mail server, via the network 203.
[0034] The management server 204 performs communication with each
image forming apparatus included in the management target image
forming apparatus group 205 via the network 203 in order to export
and import settings concerning the control of the image forming
apparatus.
[0035] For this communication, known protocols, such as HTTP (Hyper
Text Transfer Protocol), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), and
FTP (File Transfer Protocol), are used.
[0036] The remote user environment 206 is operated by the service
environment 209. Through this operation, it is made possible to
export and import the settings for controlling each image forming
apparatus included in the management target image forming apparatus
group 205.
[0037] The above import and export can also be performed by
directly connecting a USB storage device 208, referred to
hereinafter, to each image forming apparatuses.
[0038] Although in the following description, out of the image
forming apparatuses of the management target image forming
apparatus group 205, the image forming apparatus 201 will be
described as an image forming apparatus to be managed, by way of
example, the present invention is also applied to the image forming
apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus 201.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus
201 shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 201
includes a main controller 100 and a sub controller 101.
[0041] The main controller 100 is comprised of a CPU 108, a RAM
109, a console section interface 112, a network interface 113, an
external serial interface 114, a flash ROM 110, an HDD (hard disk
drive) 111, and a bus bridge 116, which are connected to each other
by a system bus 115.
[0042] Further, the main controller 100 is connected to an LCD
(liquid crystal display) panel 104 which is a display section for
displaying information for a user, an operation section 103
comprised of operation buttons and a touch panel for receiving an
operation input by the user, a USB host 128, and a card reader/coin
apparatus 127. The LCD panel 104 and the operation section 103 form
a console section 150.
[0043] The CPU 108 executes various programs stored in the flash
ROM 110 and the HDD 111 and loaded into the RAM 109, to thereby
control the overall operation of the image forming apparatus
201.
[0044] The RAM 109 has programs and data stored therein, and is
used as a work area for the CPU 108. The console section interface
112 provides an interface between the LCD panel 104 and the
operation section 103, and the main controller 100. The console
section interface 112 displays an image on the LCD panel 104, and
transmits information input from the operation section 103 to the
CPU 108.
[0045] The network interface 113 provides an interface with the
network 203. The external serial interface 114 provides an
interface between the USB host 128 and the card reader/coin
apparatus 127, and the main controller 100.
[0046] The flash ROM 110 and the HDD 111 are nonvolatile storage
devices, and store, in addition to various programs, image data and
data of settings (configuration data) imported into or exported
from the image forming apparatuses. Further, settings management
information and data category information, referred to hereinafter,
are stored in the HDD 111 which corresponds to a storage unit.
[0047] The bus bridge 116 connects between the main controller 100
and the sub controller 101.
[0048] Next, a description will be given of the sub controller 101.
The sub controller 101 is comprised of a CPU 117, a RAM 118, a
memory image processor 123, a device interface 120, a scanner image
processor 121, a printer image processor 122, and a modem 125, and
is connected to a scanner 105 and a printer 106.
[0049] The CPU 117 controls the overall operation of the sub
controller 101. Image data obtained by the scanner 105, image data
to be printed by the printer 106, and image data stored in the
flash ROM 110 and the HDD 111 are loaded into the RAM 118 so as to
be processed by the CPU 117.
[0050] The device interface 120 provides an interface between the
scanner 105 and the printer 106, and the sub controller 101.
Control signals, image data, and the like are exchanged between the
scanner 105 and the printer 106, and the CPU 117, via the device
interface 120.
[0051] The scanner image processor 121 performs various kinds of
processing, such as color space conversion, movement, color
adjustment, density control, and delay amount control, on image
data obtained by the scanner 105. The printer image processor 122
performs various kinds of processing, such as color space
conversion, movement, color adjustment, density control, and delay
amount control, on image data to be printed by the printer 106.
[0052] The memory image processor 123 performs image processing,
such as rotation, scaling, color space conversion, gray scale
transformation, synthesis, encoding, and decoding, on image data
stored in the RAM 118.
[0053] The modem 125 incorporates an NCU (Network Control Unit),
and is connected to a public communication line 107 to perform
modulation and demodulation of FAX image data which is to be
transmitted or has been received.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of the settings management
information stored in the HDD 111 shown in FIG. 2.
[0055] In FIG. 3, the settings management information is stored as
data of a device settings database 315, referred to hereinafter,
and is composed of the items of "setting name", "data category",
"setting ID", "data type", "data size (bits)", and "restart
required".
[0056] Out of these, the "setting name" indicates the name of each
setting. The "data category" indicates a category to which each
setting belongs. The "setting ID" indicates an ID assigned to each
setting. The "data type" indicates an expression of each setting,
such as character string or binary. The "data size (bits)"
indicates a size (in units of bits) assigned to data of each
setting. The "restart required" is associated with other restart
information, and indicates whether or not the restart of the image
forming apparatus 201 is required when an associated one of the
settings has been changed. If the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required, it is indicated by 1, and if the restart
of the image forming apparatus 201 is not required, it is indicated
by 0.
[0057] Next, a description will be given of the restart of the
image forming apparatus 201. Hardware constituting the image
forming apparatus 201 includes hardware required to be reset when
settings concerning thereon have been changed, and hardware on
which changed settings come to take effect only at the start of the
image forming apparatus 201, due to the characteristics of the
hardware.
[0058] When the settings of such hardware have been changed, it is
required to restart the image forming apparatus 201, so that the
item of "restart required" is included in the above-described
settings management information.
[0059] Further, in the above-mentioned data category, e.g. a
category of "scanner device settings" is a category of settings
concerning the control of the scanner 105, and a category of
"printer device settings" is a category of settings concerning the
control of the printer 106. Further, a category of "modem settings"
is a category of settings concerning the control of the modem
125.
[0060] Further, a category of "coin manager settings" and a
category of "IC card reader settings" are categories of settings
concerning the control of the card reader/coin apparatus 127,
respectively. A category of "network settings" is a category of
settings concerning the control of the network interface 113.
[0061] Note that in the present embodiment, the restart required
flag is set to 1 for all the settings in the category of "printer
device settings", and hence the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required after any of these settings has been
changed. However, combinations of settings requiring the restart of
the image forming apparatus 201 are not limited to specific
categories.
[0062] Further, although in the present embodiment, information of
a data category is embedded in the settings management information,
the information of a data category may be included in data or
commands other than the settings management information.
[0063] As described above, in the settings management information,
each setting is provided with other restart information indicative
of whether or not the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
required when the setting has been changed.
[0064] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of the data category
information stored in the HDD 111 shown in FIG. 2.
[0065] In FIG. 4, the data category information is stored as data
of the device settings database 315 together with the
above-described settings management information, and is composed of
the items of "data category", "restart required", and "import time
period".
[0066] Out of these, the "data category" and the "restart required"
have the same meanings as those of the "data category" and the
"restart required" of the above-described settings management
information. However, the "restart required" is restart information
indicating whether or not the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required when a setting belonging to an associated
one of the categories has been changed. If out of settings included
in the associated "data category", at least one setting includes
the "restart required" set to 1, the "restart required" for the
data category is set to 1.
[0067] Further, the "import time period" represents a result of
counting a time period to be taken to import a setting belonging to
each data category in units of minutes, using standard import data,
and varies with the throughput of the image forming apparatus 201,
the kind of settings supported by the image forming apparatus, and
the number of settings.
[0068] As described above, in the data category information,
settings are classified into the categories, and there is provided,
on a category-by-category basis, restart information indicative of
whether or not the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
required when a setting belonging to a category is changed.
Further, the data category information further includes a time
period to be taken to change the settings belonging to each
category, on a category-by-category basis.
[0069] FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams of examples of a device
configuration file showing settings to be changed.
[0070] Import data imported into the image forming apparatus 201
and export data exported from the image forming apparatus 201 are
in a common format. The device configuration files shown in FIGS. 5
to 7 show examples of the import and export data items.
[0071] In FIGS. 5 to 7, the device configuration files are
expressed in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format, such that
data categories and setting IDs can be determined by tags, and data
types, settings, etc. are expressed therein. Further, these device
configuration files are received by the image forming apparatus 201
generally in a compressed state.
[0072] Next, a description will be given of the restart of the
image forming apparatus 201 in cases where the above device
configuration files have been received. For example, in the device
configuration file shown in FIG. 5, the data categories of settings
included in the device configuration file can be obtained from
"data_category_id" within "data_categories" tags.
[0073] Then, in the data category information shown in FIG. 4, by
referring to "restart required" associated with each data category
obtained from the FIG. 5 device configuration file, it is possible
to determine whether or not the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required after the device configuration file have
been imported.
[0074] Fox example, in the FIG. 5 device configuration file, data
categories are "address book" and "department management settings".
In the data category information shown in FIG. 4, "restart
required" associated with each of these data categories is equal to
0, and hence the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 after
the FIG. 5 device configuration file have been imported is not
required.
[0075] On the other hand, in the FIG. 6 device configuration file,
the data categories are "scanner device settings" and "system
management settings". In the data category information shown in
FIG. 4, "restart required" associated with each of these data
categories is equal to 1, and hence the restart of the image
forming apparatus 201 after the FIG. 6 device configuration file
have been imported is required.
[0076] Further, when no data categories are shown in a device
configuration file as in the FIG. 7 device configuration file, it
is not known whether or not the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required.
[0077] Note that even when whether or not the restart is required
is not known before a device configuration file is imported, the
same is determined during import of the device configuration file.
Specifically, e.g. in a case where a setting of a setting ID
"auto_sleep_time" of the FIG. 7 device configuration file is
imported, it is determined that the restart the image forming
apparatus 201 is required, since "restart required" associated with
this setting ID in the settings management information is set to
1.
[0078] Further, as to the "import time period", e.g. in the FIG. 5
device configuration file, the data categories are "address book"
and "department management settings". In the data category
information shown in FIG. 4, import time periods associated with
the respective data categories are "15" and "10", respectively, and
hence the import time period to be taken to complete the import of
the FIG. 5 device configuration file is 25 minutes, which is the
total sum of those import time periods.
[0079] On the other hand, in the FIG. 6 device configuration file,
the data categories are "scanner device settings" and "system
management settings". In the data category information shown in
FIG. 4, import time periods associated with the respective data
categories are "5" and "5", and hence the import time period to be
taken to complete the import of the FIG. 6 device configuration
file is 10 minutes, which is the total sum of the import time
periods.
[0080] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an import/export service in
the FIG. 1 image forming apparatus 201.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 8, an import process and an export process
will be described in the mentioned order. In the import process
performed by the image forming apparatus 201 in a case where the
apparatus imports a device configuration file received via the
network 203 (hereafter referred to as the network import process),
an import service requestor 301 is a transmitter of the device
configuration file, and an import service provider 300 is a
receiver of the device configuration file.
[0082] The import service requestor 301 and the import service
provider 300 communicate with each other using a SOAP message via
an intranet 302.
[0083] After an HTTP server 303 and a SOAP server 304 interpret a
request message, in a network import section 305, a device settings
import CGI 306 is started for executing processing requested by the
request message.
[0084] Further, in accordance with the request message, the SOAP
server 304 causes the device settings import CGI 306 to started.
The started device settings import CGI 306 causes a network import
module 307 of the network import section 305 to primarily store the
received device configuration file in a temporary area of the HDD
111.
[0085] As described hereinabove, this device configuration file is
a compressed collection of the plurality of XML files shown in
FIGS. 5 to 7 by way of example.
[0086] After primarily storing the received device configuration
file, the network import module 307 requests an import management
module 309 to perform secondary storage. The import management
module 309 reads compressed data from the temporary area, and
decompresses the data.
[0087] After decompression of the compressed data, the import
management module 309 initializes a device configuration file
database 310. After initialization of the device configuration file
database 310, the import management module 309 registers the
setting IDs described with reference to FIG. 3 in the device
configuration file database 310, by parsing the acquired XML
files.
[0088] In doing this, the import management module 309 determines
data categories of settings described in the XML files, and
determines how long it will take to import the XML files and
whether or not the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
required to be performed after importing the XML files, so as to
cause the settings to take effect.
[0089] The import management module 309 requests a device settings
import module 314 of a settings management module 313 to perform
tertiary storage. Upon receipt of the request, the device settings
import module 314 acquires settings matching setting IDs indicating
data to be processed, from the device configuration file database
310 secondarily stored, and registers the settings in the device
settings database 315.
[0090] This device settings database 315 is composed of the
settings management information described with reference to FIG. 3
and the data category information described with reference to FIG.
4. Although in the present embodiment, data categories are included
in a device configuration file, the data categories may be included
in import data or a communication command transmitted from the
import service requestor 301 to the import service provider 300.
Further, the data category information shown in FIG. 4 is
configured to be capable of being referred to from other modules
via the device settings import module 314.
[0091] As described above, some settings require the restart of the
image forming apparatus 201 when they are changed, so that if a
setting requiring the restart of the image forming apparatus is
registered in the device settings database 315 by the tertiary
storage, a power control module 316 is notified that it is
necessary to restart the image forming apparatus 201.
[0092] In the present embodiment, the device settings import module
314 reads settings from the device configuration file database 310
one by one, and registers the settings in the device settings
database 315. This completes the network import process for
importing the contents of the device configuration file which the
image forming apparatus 201 has received via the network 203.
[0093] Next, an import process for importing settings from the USB
storage device will be briefly described. A USB import module 312
of a USB import section 330 performs the import process on behalf
of the network import module 307 of the network import section 305
so as to import settings from the USB storage device 208 of the USB
import section 330.
[0094] The USB import module 312 detects that the device
configuration file is stored in the USB storage device 208. After
storing the device configuration file in the temporary area, the
USB import module 312 requests the import management module 309 to
perform secondary storage. The details of the subsequent import
process are the same as those of the network import process.
[0095] Next, a description will be given of the export process. In
the export process performed by the image forming apparatus 201 for
exporting a device configuration file requested via the network 203
(hereafter referred to as the network export process), the import
service requestor 301 receives the device configuration file, and
the import service provider 300 transmits the device configuration
file.
[0096] Upon receipt of an export request via the intranet 302, the
import service provider 300 requests the import management module
309 to create an export file.
[0097] Upon receipt of the request for creating the export file,
the import management module 309 requests an export module, not
shown, to store settings to be exported, in the device
configuration file database 310.
[0098] When the import management module 309 receives from the
export module a notification to the effect that the storage of the
settings to be exported in the device configuration file database
310 has been completed, the import management module 309 creates a
device configuration file in the temporary area.
[0099] When the import management module 309 completes compression
of the device configuration file, an export requester, i.e. the
aforementioned import service requester 301 is notified via the
import service provider 300 and the intranet 302 that the creation
of the device configuration file has been completed.
[0100] After that, when the device configuration file is requested
via the intranet 302, the import service provider 300 sends the
created device configuration file to the export requester. With
this, the image forming apparatus 201 completes the export process
for exporting the device configuration file requested via the
network 203.
[0101] Next, an export process for exporting settings to the USB
storage will be briefly described. When it is detected by a console
section control module 317 that an operation making an export
request is performed on the operation section 103, the import
management module 309 starts the export process. The details of the
export process from this to completion of compression of the device
configuration file by the import management module 309 are the same
as those of the network export process.
[0102] Then, upon receipt of a notification that creation of the
device configuration file has been completed, the USB import module
312 requests the import management module 309 to send the device
configuration file.
[0103] The USB import module 312 stores the obtained device
configuration file in the USB storage.
[0104] As described hereinabove, in the present embodiment, the
import process and the export process are controlled by common
modules, such as the import service provider 300 and the import
management module 309. However, the import process and the export
process may be separately controlled by different modules.
[0105] Further, although in the present embodiment, the secondary
storage into the device configuration file database 310 is
performed, settings may be directly registered in the device
settings database 315 without performing the secondary storage.
[0106] The secondary storage is performed for filtering off
settings which are not supported by the image forming apparatus
201, using the device settings import module 314, by taking it into
account that different settings are supported by different image
forming apparatuses.
[0107] Next, a description will be given of an example of a screen
displayed on the LCD panel 104 in the present embodiment.
[0108] FIGS. 9A to 11C are diagrams of examples of the screen
displayed on the LCD panel 104 shown in FIG. 2.
[0109] Each of the screens shown in FIGS. 9A to 11C is created by
the console section control module 317.
[0110] FIG. 9A shows a screen displayed when import is started
which does not require the restart of the image forming
apparatus.
[0111] On the FIG. 9A screen, the user can select whether or not to
start importing device information, which is a device configuration
file, by pressing a "YES" button or a "NO" button on a touch panel.
Further, FIG. 9A shows that it takes approximately 25 minutes to
import the device information. As described above, in the present
embodiment, the total sum of time periods indicated by category
information associated with categories shown in the device
configuration file is displayed on the LCD panel 104.
[0112] FIG. 9B shows a screen displayed before starting import
which requires the restart of the image forming apparatus. The FIG.
9B screen shows that the restart of the image forming apparatus is
required, in addition to the information shown in FIG. 9A.
[0113] FIG. 10A shows a screen displayed before starting import
which has the possibility of requiring the restart of the image
forming apparatus.
[0114] As described hereinabove, when no data categories are shown
in a device configuration file, it is not known whether or not the
restart of the image forming apparatus is required. The FIG. 10A
screen is displayed when such a device configuration file is to be
imported.
[0115] FIG. 10B shows a screen displayed during import. FIG. 10B
shows that device information is being imported. Further, since
this import requires the restart of the image forming apparatus
201, it is also shown that the main power of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required to be turned off and on again.
[0116] FIG. 11A shows a screen displayed during import in a case
where the import has the possibility of requiring the restart of
the image forming apparatus. FIG. 11B shows a screen displayed
during import in a case where it is determined during import that
the restart of the image forming apparatus is required, when no
data categories are shown in a device configuration file as in the
FIG. 7 device configuration file.
[0117] Further, FIG. 11C shows a screen displayed when the import
requiring the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
terminated. Since the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
required, it is also shown that the main power is required to be
turned off and on again.
[0118] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the import process performed by
the CPU 108 shown in FIG. 2.
[0119] Referring to FIG. 12, the network import module 307 of the
network import section 305 or the USB import module 312 of the USB
import section 330 stores a device configuration file, which is
received via the intranet 302 or stored in the USB storage device
208, in the temporary area (step S401). Then, the import management
module 309 reads out the device configuration file stored in the
temporary area, and determines based on data categories in the
device configuration file whether or not the restart of the image
forming apparatus 201 is required (step S402).
[0120] This step S402 corresponds to the operation of a
determination unit configured to determine, before changing the
settings of the information processing apparatus based on the
configuration file, whether or not the restart of the information
processing apparatus is required in order to cause changes of
to-be-changed settings specified in the configuration file to take
effect, based on categories of the to-be-changed settings and the
restart information.
[0121] If it is not determined in the step S402 that the restart of
the image forming apparatus 201 is required (NO to the step S402),
the console section control module 317 and the import service
requestor 301 are notified that the restart is not required or it
is not known whether or not the restart is required (step S404),
and the process proceeds to a step S405.
[0122] The case where the answer to the question of the step S402
is negative (NO) includes a case where the to-be-changed settings
do not require the restart after the change and a case where no
categories are shown in the device configuration file.
[0123] In the case where the device configuration file does not
show categories to which the to-be-changed settings belong, as
described above, the CPU 108 causes the LCD panel 104 to display a
notification of the possibility of requiring the restart of the
image forming apparatus 201 due to the change of the settings.
[0124] On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S402 that
the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is required (YES to
the step S402), the console section control module 317 and the
import service requestor 301 are notified that the restart is
required (step S403).
[0125] This step S403 corresponds to the operation of a display
unit configured to display results of determination by the
determination unit.
[0126] Then, a time period to be taken to complete the import is
calculated as described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, and the
calculated time period is notified to the console section control
module 317 and the import service requestor 301 (step S405).
[0127] Thus, when the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is
not required, the FIG. 9A screen is displayed. Further, when the
restart of the image forming apparatus 201 is required, the FIG. 9B
screen is displayed. When it is not known whether or not the
restart is required, i.e. when there is a possibility of the
restart being required, the FIG. 10A screen is displayed.
[0128] Next, it is determined whether or not "YES" has been input
on the screen shown in FIG. 9A, 9B or 10A (step S406). Although in
the illustrated example, it is presupposed that whether or not to
start import of the device configuration file is input via the
operation section 103, it is also possible to receive a request for
starting or aborting the import, from the import service requestor
301, using an apparatus other than the image forming apparatus
201.
[0129] If it is determined in the step S406 that "YES" has not been
input (NO to the step S406), abortion of the import is notified to
the console section control module 317 and the import service
requestor 301 (S414), followed by terminating the present
process.
[0130] On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S406 that
"YES" has been input (YES to the step S406), the device
configuration file is secondarily stored in the device
configuration file database 310, and reception of the request for
starting the import is notified to the console section control
module 317 (step S407).
[0131] Upon receipt of the request, in a case where the restart is
required, the console section control module 317 displays the FIG.
10B screen. In a case where there is a possibility of the restart
being required, the console section control module 317 displays the
FIG. 11A screen.
[0132] Then, the device settings import module 314 extracts
settings loaded into the device configuration file database 310 one
by one, and registers the settings in the device settings database
315 (step S408). Since the settings are registered one by one, the
steps S408 to S412 are repeatedly executed until all the settings
are registered. This step S408 corresponds to the operation of a
changing unit configured to change the to-be-changed settings when
an execution instruction has been received from a user via an
instruction screen.
[0133] Next, it is determined whether or not it is not known from
the device settings file that the restart of the image forming
apparatus 201 is required and also it is found that the registered
setting requires the restart of the image forming apparatus 201
(step S409). As described above, in the step S409, when the device
configuration file does not show categories to which the
to-be-changed settings belong, it is determined based on other
restart information in the settings management information whether
or not the settings shown in the device configuration file require
the restart of the image forming apparatus 201.
[0134] If it is determined in the step S409 that it is known from
the device settings file that the restart is required or it is
found that the registered setting requires the restart (NO to the
step S409), the process proceeds to a step S411.
[0135] On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S409 that
it is not known from the device settings file that the restart is
required and also it is found that the registered setting requires
the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 (YES to the step
S409), the requirement of the restart is notified to the console
section control module 317 (step S410). This causes the FIG. 11B
screen to be displayed. Thus, when it is determined that the
settings shown in the device configuration file are settings which
require the restart of the image forming apparatus 201 after being
changed, the CPU 108 causes the LCD panel 104 to display a
notification that the changes of the settings require the restart
of the image forming apparatus 201.
[0136] Then, it is determined whether or not the import has been
completed (step S411). As described above, since the settings are
registered one by one, it is determined in the step S411 whether or
not all the settings have been registered.
[0137] If it is determined in the step S411 that the import has not
been completed (NO to the step S411), the remaining time period to
be taken to complete the import is notified again (step S412), and
the process returns to the step S408. The re-notification in the
step S412 will be described hereinafter.
[0138] On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S411 that
the import has been completed (YES to the step S411), the
completion of the import is notified to the console section control
module 317 and the import service requestor 301 (step S413),
followed by terminating the present process. In this case, e.g.
when the import requiring the restart has been completed, the FIG.
11C screen is displayed.
[0139] When the FIG. 11C screen is displayed, an operation of the
user for turning on and off the main power of the image forming
apparatus 201 is awaited. However, the image forming apparatus 201
may be automatically rebooted.
[0140] Further, the re-notification in the step S412 is performed
as follows: For example, in a case where the settings of the data
categories of the "address book" and the "department management
settings" are to be imported from the FIG. 5 device configuration
file, a total import time period is 25 minutes.
[0141] When the import of the setting of the data category "address
book", which takes 15 minutes, has been completed, the remaining
time period is 10 minutes. This time period of 10 minutes is
notified in the step S412. Through this notification, the time
period to be taken to complete the import, shown in FIG. 10B, is
updated. As described above, whenever each setting is changed (step
S408), a time period obtained by subtracting a time period
indicated in category information of a category to which the
changed setting belongs from the total sum of import time periods
is displayed on the LCD panel 104 (step S412).
[0142] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the export process performed by
the CPU 108 shown in FIG. 2.
[0143] Referring to FIG. 13, upon receipt of an export request from
the USB import module 312 or the network import module 307, the
import service provider 300 reads out settings to be exported, if
any, which are managed by the device settings database 315 (step
S501). In the illustrated example, the settings are read out one by
one.
[0144] Then, it is determined whether or not any to-be-exported
setting could be read out (step S502).
[0145] If it is determined in the step S502 that any to-be-exported
setting could be read out (YES to the step S502), the
to-be-exported setting is stored in the device configuration file
database 310 as a device configuration file in the XML format (step
S503), and the CPU 108 returns to the step S501.
[0146] On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S502 that
no to-be-exported setting could be read out (NO to the step S502),
it means that reading of all the settings to be exported has been
completed, and hence data categories are added to the device
configuration file (step S504), followed by terminating the present
process.
[0147] The device configuration file created as above is output as
an export file to the USB storage device 208 via the USB import
module 312, or is transmitted e.g. to the management server 204 of
image forming apparatuses via the import service provider 300.
[0148] For example, when the FIG. 5 device configuration file is
exported, first, all the settings (address 1, address 2, and
address 3) belonging to the "address book" are read out one by one,
and are stored in the device configuration file.
[0149] Then, all the settings belonging to the "department
management settings" are similarly read out, and stored in the
device configuration file.
[0150] With this, since all the settings to be exported are read
out and stored in the device configuration file, the data
categories are added to "data_category_id" within the tag
"data_categories", followed by terminating the FIG. 13 export
process.
[0151] As described above, in the present embodiment, when settings
are output to an external device, categories to which the settings
belong are output together with the settings.
[0152] As described heretofore, in the present embodiment, it is
possible to notify the user of requirement of restarting the image
forming apparatus, and a time period to be taken to complete import
of settings. This makes it possible for the user to use the image
forming apparatus in a scheduled manner.
[0153] Further, according to the present embodiment, in a case
where it is determined that a category shown in a device
configuration file requires the restart of the image forming
apparatus (YES to the step S402), the notification that a change of
a setting requires the restart of the image forming apparatus is
caused to be displayed on the LCD panel 104 (step S403). Further,
when the user instructs to change the setting via the operation
section (YES to the step S406), the setting is changed (step S408).
This makes it possible to notify the user of the requirement of the
restart of the image forming apparatus in advance, and hence it is
possible to improve user-friendliness in changing the settings.
[0154] It is to be understood that although in the above-described
embodiment, the description has been given of the image forming
apparatus as an information processing apparatus, by way of
example, the processing and the arrangement based on the intention
of the present invention do not use the features of the image
forming apparatus, but can be realized by a general information
processing apparatus, and therefore the present invention can be
applied to a general information processing apparatus.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0155] Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized
by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes
computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)
recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more
fully as a `non-transitory computer-readable storage medium`) to
perform the functions of one or more of the above-described
embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the
functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus
by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.), a flash memory
device, a memory card, and the like.
[0156] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0157] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2013-247631 filed Nov. 29, 2013 which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
* * * * *