Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method for specifying application associated with function of device

An information processing system includes an acquisition unit, a first specifying unit, a second specifying unit, and a display controller. The acquisition unit acquires device specifying information. Based on first correspondence information in which each the device specifying information is associated with first function information representing a function that the device has, the first specifying unit specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on second correspondence information in which each application is associated with second function information representing a function necessary to use the application, the second specifying unit specifies an application associated with the second function information representing a function contained in the first function information specified by the first specifying unit. The display controller performs control for displaying an application list screen for providing the application specified by the second specifying unit on the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-215694 filed in Japan on Oct. 22, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, because of spread of various communication devices represented by mobile phones and information mobile terminals, development of applications usable on communication devices is growing. In order to promote the use of these applications, websites and applications that introduce applications and enable direct download and installation of the applications into a communication device are also being developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system including: an acquisition unit that acquires device specifying information that uniquely specifies a device; a first specifying unit that, on the basis of first correspondence information in which each the device specifying information is associated with first function information representing a function that the device has, specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit; a second specifying unit that, on the basis of second correspondence information in which each application is associated with second function information representing a function necessary to use the application, specifies an application associated with the second function information representing a function included in the first function information specified by the first specifying unit; and a display controller that performs control for displaying an application list screen for providing the application specified by the second specifying unit on the device that is specified by the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: an acquisition unit that acquires device specifying information that uniquely specifies a device; a first specifying unit that, on the basis of first correspondence information in which each the device specifying information is associated with first function information representing a function that the device has, the first function information associated with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit; a second specifying unit that, on the basis of second correspondence information in which each application is associated with second function information representing a function necessary to use the application, specifies an application associated with the second function information representing a function included in the first function information specified by the first specifying unit; and a display controller that performs control for displaying an application list screen for providing the application specified by the second specifying unit on the device that is specified by the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method including: acquiring device specifying information that uniquely specifies a device; first specifying of, on the basis of first correspondence information in which each the device specifying information is associated with first function information representing a function that the device has, specifying the first function information associated with the device specifying information acquired at the acquiring; second specifying of, on the basis of second correspondence information in which each application is associated with second function information representing a function necessary to use the application, specifying an application associated with the second function information representing a function contained in the first function information specified at the first specifying; and performing control for displaying an application list screen for providing the application specified at the second specifying on the device that is specified by the device specifying information acquired at the acquiring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the information processing system, the information processing apparatus, and the information processing method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example of the device according to the present invention, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that is one mode of an image forming apparatus is exemplified below; however, the device is not limited to this. An MFP is an apparatus that has multiple different functions, such as a copy function, a scanner function, a print function, and a FAX function.

FIG. 1is a diagram showing an exemplary schematic configuration of an information processing system100according to the embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1, the information processing system100includes an MFP1, an application store server2, a translation server4, and a device management server5that are connected via a network8to one another.

The application store server2displays a list of applications usable by the MFP1and provides, to the MFP1, a web page for subscription for the use of each application or downloading each application, i.e., a web page for providing an application usable by the MFP1(hereinafter, referred to as an “application store6”). More specific descriptions will be given below. In this example, the application store6corresponds to the “application list screen” according to the claims. Furthermore, in this example, according to the descriptions of an application for acquiring the application store6from the application store server2and displaying the application store6on the MFP1(hereinafter, referred to as a “store start application3”) and an application for providing the functions of a web browser (hereinafter, referred to as a “browser application2b”) are installed in the MFP1. Specific description of the MFP1will be given below.

The translation server4provides a translation application that is one of applications provided by the application store6. Specific description of the translation server4will be given below.

The device management server5manages, for each device that the information processing system100includes, device specifying information that uniquely specifies the device and first function information representing the functions that the device has by associating them with each other (by linking them to each other). Specific description will be given below. For the convenience of description,FIG. 1exemplifies only the single MFP1as the device that the information processing system100includes. Alternatively, the number and type of devices that the information processing system100includes are arbitrary.

With reference toFIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the MFP1will be described. As shown inFIG. 2, the MFP1includes a main unit10capable of implementing various functions, such as the copy function, the scanner function, the FAX function, and the printer function, and an operation unit20that accepts operations by a user. Accepting an operation by the user is an idea including reception of information (including, for example, a signal representing the value of coordinates of the screen) that is input in accordance with an operation by the user. The main unit10and the operation unit20are communicably connected to each other via a dedicated communication path30. For the communication path30, for example, it is possible to use a communication path according to the universal serial bus (USB) standard. Alternatively, a communication path according to an arbitrary standard may be used regardless whether the communication path is wired or wireless.

The main unit10is capable of performing operations according to an operation accepted by the operation unit20. The main unit10is communicable with an external device, such as a client PC (personal computer) and of performing an operation according to an instruction received from the external device.

The hardware configuration of the main unit10will be described first. As shown inFIG. 2, the main unit10includes a CPU11, a ROM12, a RAM13, a hard disk drive (HDD)14, a communication interface (I/F)15, a connection I/F16, and an engine unit17that are connected one another via a system bus18.

The CPU11comprehensively controls operations of the main unit10. The CPU11controls entire operations of the main unit10by executing a program stored in, for example, the ROM12or the HDD14by using the RAM13as a work area and implements various functions, such as the copy function, the scanner function, the FAX function, and the printer function that are described above.

The communication I/F15is an interface for connecting to the network8. The connection I/F16is an interface for communicating with the operation unit20via the communication path30.

The engine unit17is hardware that performs general information processing and processing other than communications in order to implement the copy function, the scanner function, the FAX function, and the printer function. For example, the engine unit17includes, for example, a scanner (image reading unit) that reads an image on an original by scanning, a plotter (image forming unit) that performs printing on a sheet material, such as paper, and a FAX unit that performs FAX communications. The engine unit17may further include a finisher that sorts printed sheets and a specific option, such as an automatic document feeder (ADF) that automatically feeds an original.

The hardware configuration of the operation unit20will be described here. As shown inFIG. 2, the operation unit20includes a CPU21, a ROM22, a RAM23, a flash memory24, a communication I/F25, a connection I/F26, and an operation panel27that are connected to one another via a system bus28.

The CPU21comprehensively controls operations of the operation unit20. The CPU21controls entire operations of the operation unit20by executing a program stored in, for example, the ROM22or the flash memory24by using the RAM23as a work area and implements various functions, such as displaying of information (image) corresponding to an input received from the user.

The communication I/F25is an interface for connecting to the network8. The connection I/F26is an interface for communicating with the main unit10via the communication path30.

The operation panel27receives various inputs corresponding to operations by the user and displays various types of information (such as information corresponding to an accepted operation, information representing the operation status of the MFP1, and information representing the setting state). In this example, the operation panel27is configured of a liquid crystal display device (LCD) with a touch panel function. Alternatively, for example, the operation panel27may be configured of an organic EL display device in which a touch panel function is installed. In addition to, or instead of, this, an operation unit, such as a hardware key, and a display unit, such as a lamp, may be provided.

The software configuration of the MFP1will be described here.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary software configuration of the MFP1. As shown inFIG. 3, the main unit10includes an application layer101, a service layer102, and an OS layer103. The entity of the application layer101, the service layer102, and the OS layer103is various types of software stored in, for example, the ROM12and the HDD14. The CPU11executes the software so that various types of functions are provided.

The software of the application layer101is application software (it may be simply referred to as an “application” below) for providing given functions by running hardware resources. For example, as the application, there is a copy application for providing the copy function, a scanner application for providing the scanner function, a FAX application for providing the FAX function, or a printer application for providing the printer function.

The software of the service layer102is software between the application layer101and the OS layer103and that is for providing, to the application, an interface for using the hardware resources that the main unit10includes. More specifically, it is software for providing functions of accepting an operation request to a hardware resource and arbitrates the operation request. As the operation request that the service layer102accepts, a request for, for example, reading by a scanner or printing by the plotter is assumed.

The function of the interface from the service layer102is provided to not only the application layer101of the main unit10but also an application layer201of the operation unit20. In other words, the application layer201(application) of the operation unit20is also capable of implementing the functions by using the hardware resource (e.g., the engine unit17) of the main unit10via the interface function of the service layer102.

The software of the OS layer103is basic software (operating system (OS)) for providing basic functions that control the hardware that the main unit10has. The software of the service layer102converts requests for using the hardware resources from various applications into commands that are interpretable by the OS layer103and passes the commands to the OS layer103. The software of the OS layer103executes the commands so that the hardware resources perform operations according to the requests from the applications.

Similarly, the operation unit20includes the application layer201, a service layer202, and an OS layer203. The application layer201, the service layer202, and the OS layer203that the operation unit20includes have the same layer structure as that of the main unit10; however, the functions provided by the applications of the application layer201and the type of operation requests acceptable by the service layer202are different from those of the main unit10. The applications of the application layer201may be software for providing given functions by running the hardware resources that the operation unit20includes. The applications are mainly software for providing the functions of a user interface (UI) for performing operations on the functions (the copy function, the scanner function, the FAX function, and the printer function) that the main unit10has and for display. The applications of the application layer201include the browser application2band the store start application3.

According to the embodiment, in order to keep independency of functions, the software of the OS layer103of the main unit10and the software of the OS layer203of the operation unit20are different from each other. In other words, the main unit10and the operation unit20operate independently of each other by using separate operating systems. For example, Linux (trademark) may be used as the software of the OS layer103of the main unit10and Android (trademark) may be used as the software of the OS layer203of the operation unit20.

As described above, in the MFP1according to the embodiment, because the main unit10and the operation unit20operate on the separate operating systems, communications between the main unit10and the operation unit20are performed not as communications between processes in a common device but as communications between different devices. This corresponds to, for example, an operation of the operation unit20to transmit received information (the contents of instruction from the user) to the main unit10(command communications) and an operation of the main unit10to notify the operation unit20of an event. Here, the operation unit20communicates a command to the main unit10, which enables use of a function of the main unit10. As the event notified from the main unit10to the operation unit20, there are the status of performance of operations by the main unit10and the contents of setting made by the main unit10.

According to the embodiment, because power is supplied to the operation unit20from the main unit10via the communication path30, it is possible to perform power control on the operation unit20differently (independently of) from power control on the main unit10.

The functional configuration of the MFP1will be described here.FIG. 4is a block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of the MFP1. As shown inFIG. 1, the MFP1includes an operation screen display unit111, an application store requesting unit112, an application store display unit113, and an application use controller114. For the convenience of description,FIG. 4mainly exemplifies functions according to the present invention; however, the functions that the MFP1has are not limited to them.

The operation screen display unit111performs control for displaying an operation screen for performing various operations on the operation panel27.FIG. 5is a diagram showing an exemplary operation screen on which an icon2afor starting the store start application3is displayed.

When the user presses the icon2a, the store start application3starts. The store start application3(application store requesting unit112) performs control for requesting the application store server2to display the application store6. Although specific descriptions will be given below, device specifying information that enables uniquely identifying of the MFP1is added to the header of a signal requesting a display of the application store6(which may be referred to as a “display request” below).

As a response to the display request, the application store display unit113(the browser application2b) performs control for displaying the application store6received from the application store server2on the operation panel27. The application use controller114performs control for using an application selected by the user on the MFP1(including control for installing the application). Specific exemplary operations of the MFP1will be described below.

With reference toFIG. 6, the functional configuration of the application store server2will be described. As shown inFIG. 6, the application store server2includes an acquisition unit211, a first function information requesting unit212, a second specifying unit213, a second correspondence information storage unit214, and a display controller215. For the convenience of description,FIG. 6mainly exemplifies the functions according to the present invention; however, the functions that the application store server2has are not limited to them.

The acquisition unit211acquires a display request from the MFP1. In this example, because the device specifying information is added to the header of the display request, by acquiring the display request, the acquisition unit211is capable of acquiring device specifying information that enables uniquely identifying of the MFP1that has issued the display request. In this example, the acquisition unit211corresponds to the “acquisition unit” according to the claims.

The first function information requesting unit212requests, from the device management server5, the first function information that is associated with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit211. According to the embodiment, the first function information requesting unit212transmits a signal requesting the first function information (which may be referred to as a “first function information request” below) to the device management server5and receives, as a response to the signal, the first function information from the device management server5. In this example, the header of the first function information request is added with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit211.

With reference toFIG. 7, the functional configuration of the device management server5will be described. As shown inFIG. 7, the device management server5includes a first specifying unit501and a first correspondence information storage unit502. For the convenience of description,FIG. 7mainly exemplifies the functions according to the invention; however, the functions that the device management server5has are not limited to them.

On the basis of the first correspondence information in which each set of device specifying information is associated with the first function information representing the functions that the MFP1(corresponding to the “device” according to the claims) has, the first specifying unit501specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit211. The first function information according to the embodiment is information in which each set of function identifying information that identifies functions installable in the MFP1(which may be referred to as a “device configuration information key” below) is associated with values representing whether there are such functions or representing the types of the functions (which may be referred to as “device configuration information values” below).

FIG. 8is a diagram showing first correspondence information according to the embodiment. According to the example shown inFIG. 8, a device configuration information key representing the “print color type”, a device configuration information key representing the “FAX function”, a device configuration information key representing a “duplex unit”, a device configuration information key representing an “OCR function”, a device configuration information key representing a “saddle-stitching/stapling function”, and a device configuration information key representing a “punching function” are associated with the device specifying information representing “3284CA”.

According to the example shown inFIG. 8, the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “print color type” represents “color”, the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “FAX function” represents “yes”, the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “duplex unit” represents “yes”, the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “OCR function” represents “no”, the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “saddle-stitching/stapling function” represents “no”, and the device configuration information value corresponding to the device configuration information key representing the “punching function” represents “no”. In other words, it can be considered that the first function information shown inFIG. 8represents the color printing function, the FAX function, and the duplex printing function as the functions that the MFP1has and that are specified by the device specifying information representing “3284CA”.

According to the example shown inFIG. 8, the first correspondence information is information in which the first information is associated with one set of device specifying information. Alternatively, for example, the first correspondence information may be information in which each of multiple sets of device specifying information is associated with first function information corresponding to the device specifying information. The first correspondence information is previously stored in the first correspondence information storage unit502.

According to the embodiment, upon receiving a first function information request from the application store server2(the first function information requesting unit212), the first specifying unit501determines the device specifying information that is added to the header of the received first function information request. By referring to the first correspondence information stored in the first correspondence information storage unit502, the first specifying unit501specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information added to the header of the first function information request (which can be considered as the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit211). The first specifying unit501then sends the specified first information as a response to the first function information request.

The device management server5according to the embodiment has a hardware configuration of a general-use computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The functions of the above-described first specifying unit501are implemented by the CPU by executing the program stored in, for example, the ROM. Alternatively, the functions may be implemented by using, for example, a dedicated hardware circuit (semiconductor integrated circuit). Furthermore, the above-descried first correspondence information storage unit502may be implemented by using, for example, the ROM or the RAM.

FIG. 6will be referred back to continue explanation of the application store server2. On the basis of the second correspondence information in which each application is associated with second function information representing the function necessary to use the application, the second specifying unit213specifies the application associated with the second function information representing the function contained in the first function information specified by the first specifying unit501.FIG. 9is a diagram showing exemplary second correspondence information according to the embodiment. According to the example shown inFIG. 9, the second function information representing the OCR function is associated with the “translation application”. The translation application is an application for providing a translation service of translating PDF text information with transparent texts generated by performing OCR processing on image data read from an original and notifying the user of the translation result, where it is given that the device has the OCR function. According to the example shown inFIG. 9, the second function information representing the FAX function is associated with an “easy FAX application” for providing an easy FAX service, and the second function information representing the color printing function is associated with a “material print application” for providing a material print service. The second correspondence information is previously stored in the second correspondence information storage unit214.

According to the embodiment, upon receiving the first function information from the device management server5as a response to the above-described function information request, the first function information requesting unit212requests the second specifying unit213to specify the applications associated with the second function information representing the functions contained in the first function information received from the device management server5(which can be considered as the first function information specified by the first specifying unit501). Upon receiving the request, the second specifying unit213refers to the second correspondence information stored in the second correspondence information storage unit214and specifies the applications associated with the second function information representing the functions contained in the first function information received from the device management server5.

An exemplary case will be assumed where the first function information shown inFIG. 8is received from the device management server5. In this case, while the functions represented by the first function information include the color printing function, the FAX function, and the duplex printing function, they do not include the OCR function, the saddle-stitching/stapling function, and the punching function. According to the example shown inFIG. 9, the translation application is excluded from applications to be specified (the second specifying unit213does not specify the translation application) because, while the second function information associated with the translation application represents the OCR function, the functions represented by the first function information received from the device management server5(the first function information specified by the first specifying unit501) do not include the OCR function. On the other hand, according to the example shown inFIG. 9, because the second function information associated with the easy FAX application represents the FAX function and the functions represented by the first function information received from the device management server5include the FAX function, the second specifying unit213specifies the easy FAX application. According to the example shown inFIG. 9, because the second function information associated with the material print application represents the color printing function and the functions represented by the first function information received from the device management server5include the color printing function, the second specifying unit213specifies the material print application.

FIG. 6will be referred back to continue the explanation. The display controller215performs control for displaying the application store6for providing the applications specified by the second specifying unit213(corresponding to the “application list screen” according to the claims in this example) on the MFP1(the device specified by the device specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit211). According to the embodiment, the display controller215generates the application store6such that applications other than the applications specified by the second specifying unit213are not displayed.FIG. 10is a diagram showing an example of the application store6in the case where the translation application is not specified by the second specifying unit213. The application store6is a web page that displays a button for, for each of the applications specified by the second specifying unit213, proceeding subscription for the use of the application or downloading of the application (the button saying “PROCEED” in the example shown inFIG. 10). According to the example shown inFIG. 10, it is assumed that the second specifying unit213specifies, in addition to the easy FAX application and the material print application, a photo management application, a photo easy processing application, a document management application, and an easy scan application.

FIG. 11is a diagram showing another example of the application store6in a case where the second specifying unit213specifies the translation application. According to the example shown inFIG. 11, it is assumed that the second specifying unit213specifies the photo management application, the photo simple processing application, the document management application, and the easy scan application are specified in addition to the translation application, the easy FAX application, and the material print application.

According to the embodiment, the display controller215generates the application store6for providing the applications specified by the second specifying unit213(which can be considered as the applications usable by the MFP1that has issued the display request) and sends the generated application store6as a response to the display request received from the MFP1. The MFP1(the application store display unit113) that has issued the display request performs control for displaying, on the operation panel27, the application store6received from the application store server2as the response to the display request. According to the embodiment, because applications displayed on the application store6are only applications usable by the MFP1that has issued the display request, the request will not be rejected when the user presses the button for proceeding subscription for the use of an application or downloading of the application (the button saying “PROCEED” in this example). Accordingly, compared to the conventional case, it is possible to improve the usability to users.

The MFP1that has issued the display request (the application use controller114) performs control for using, on the MFP1, an application that is selected by the user from among the applications displayed on the application store6. For example, it is assumed that the application store6shown inFIG. 11is displayed on the operation panel27of the MFP1and the user selects the translation application (presses the button saying “PROCEED” and shown inFIG. 11in this example). It is here assumed that the translation application is software (i.e., a web application) that enables the use of the application arranged in the translation server4by using the browser application2bof the operation unit20. According to the embodiment, when the application selected by the user (the application selected from among the applications displayed on the application store6) is a web application representing an application used via the network, the application use controller114executes a process for using the web application between the application use controller114and the application server that holds the Web application. In this example, upon detecting pressing of the button of the translation application saying “PROCEED”, the application use controller114does not download the translation application from the translation server4and accesses the translation server4to execute a process for using the translation application (e.g., a process for registering user information that uniquely identifies the user). According to this example, it can be considered that the translation server4corresponds to the “application server” according to the claims.

According to the embodiment, the translation application used to provide the translation service is a web application. Alternatively, for example, the translation application may be a general application that is installed in the operation unit20. In this case, upon detecting pressing of the button of the translation application saying “PROCEED”, the application use controller114performs control for downloading the translation application from the translation server4and installing the translation application in the MFP1; however, the mode in which the translation application is a web application is advantageous in that the translation application does not have to be installed in the MFP1(the operation unit20). This also applies to other applications displayed on the application store6. Furthermore, the store start application3does not have to be an application to be installed in the MFP1as long as the store start application3has a function of acquiring device specifying information, and it may be a web application or an application in another mode.

The application store server2according to the embodiment has a hardware configuration of a general computer that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM. The functions of the acquisition unit211, the first function information requesting unit212, the second specifying unit213, and the display controller215that are described above are implemented by the CPU by executing the program stored in, for example, the ROM. Alternatively, for example, at least part of the functions of the respective acquisition unit211, the first function information requesting unit212, the second specifying unit213, and the display controller215described above may be implemented by using a dedicated hardware circuit (such as a semiconductor integrated circuit). The second correspondence information storage unit214described above is implemented by using, for example, the ROM or the RAM.

According to the embodiment, the application store server2, the translation server4, and the device management server5are independently provided. Alternatively, for example, a mode may be employed where a single server obtained by integrating them is provided. Alternatively, for example, a mode may be employed where four or more servers to which the functions of the application store server2, the translation server4, and the device management server5are distributed are provided. To be short, it suffices if a mode be employed where the information processing system100to which the present invention is applied has at least the function of the acquisition unit211, the function of the first specifying unit501, the function of the second specifying unit213, and the function of the display controller215.

Alternatively, for example, one single server that has the functions of the respective application store server2and the device management server5may be provided. According to this mode, it can be considered that the single server corresponds to the “information processing apparatus” according to the claims. In short, it suffices if a mode be employed where the information processing apparatus to which the invention is applied has at least the function of the acquisition unit211, the function of the first specifying unit501, the function of the second specifying unit213, and the function of the display controller215.

FIG. 12is a sequence chart representing an exemplary operation procedure taken by the information processing system100according to the embodiment. First, when a user touches the icon2aon the operation screen (seeFIG. 5) (step S1), the OS of the operation unit20starts the store start application3(step S2). The started store start application3requests device specifying information that enables uniquely specifying of the MFP1from the OS of the operation unit20(step S3) and receives device specifying information as a response to the request from the OS of the operation unit20(step S4). The store start application3then requests the OS of the operation unit20to start the browser application2bthat is previously installed in the MFP1(step S5). The request is added with the device specifying information and the URL of the application store server2, and the OS of the operation unit20that has received the request starts the browser application2b. The OS of the operation unit20passes the device specifying information and the URL of the application store server2to the browser application2band instructs the browser application2bto transmit the above-described display request to the application store server2(step S6).

The browser application2bthat has started accesses the URL of the application store server2and transmits the display request having the header added with the device specifying information (step S7). The application store server2that has received the display request from the MFP1transmits, to the device management server5, a first function information request requesting first function information associated with the device specifying information added to the header of the display request (step S8). As described above, the header of the first function information request is added with the device specifying information added to the header of the display request. Upon receiving the first function information request from the application store server2, the device management server5determines device specifying information added to the header. The device management server5refers to the first correspondence information stored in the first correspondence information storage unit502and specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information. With reference to the first correspondence information stored in the first correspondence information storage unit502, the device management server5specifies the first function information associated with the device specifying information. The device management server5sends the specified first function information as a response to the first function information request (step S9).

The application store server2that has received the first function information from the device management server5as a response to the first function information request refers to second correspondence information stored in the second correspondence information storage unit214and specifies the application associated with the second function information representing the functions contained in the first function information received from the device management server5. The application store server2then generates the application store6for providing the specified application (step S10). The application store server2then sends the generated application store6as a response to the above-described display request at step S7(step S11). The browser application2bof the MFP1that has issued the display request performs control for displaying, on the operation panel27, the application store6received from the application store server2as a response to the display request (step S12).

As described above, according to the embodiment, because the applications that are provided from the application store server2to the MFP1and displayed on the application store6are only applications usable by the MFP1, the request is not rejected when the user presses the button for proceeding subscription for the use of any one of the applications displayed on the application store6or downloading of the application (the button saying “PROCEED” in the example). This makes it possible to improve the usability to users.

The functions of the respective units (the operation screen display unit111, the application store requesting unit112, the application store display unit113, and the application use controller114) of the MFP1described above are implemented by the CPU by executing a program stored in a storage device (such as the ROM12, the HDD14, the ROM22, or the flash memory24). Alternatively, for example, at least part of the functions of the respective units of the MFP1may be implemented by using a dedicated hardware circuit (e.g., a semiconductor integrated circuit).

According to the embodiment, the main unit10and the operation unit20operate independently of each other by using separate operation systems. Alternatively, for example, a mode may be employed where the main unit10and the operation unit20operate by using the same operation system.

The program executed by the information processing system100(the MFP1, the application store server2, and the device management server5) according to the above-described embodiment may be configured to be provided by way of recording it in a computer-readable recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a universal serial bus (USB) or may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network, such as the Internet. Alternatively, various programs may be configured to be provided by way of previously installing them in a ROM, etc.